Chapter 39
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Layla stopped, realizing she had almost forgotten why she had come. She tumed back and said, “I hope you’ll be straight with me.”
When Layla got to Regina’s dressing coom, Regina told everyone else to leave and faced Layla alone. “Thanks for coming today,” she said, sounding serious.
Layla asked, “Aren’t you going to ask who I am?”
Regina looked at her and said, “I can tell just by looking at you. Layla, the truth is, you’re not really right for Stephen, but he chose you anyway, even though everyone was against it.”
Layla frowned. “Who was against it?”
Regina shook her head. “That’s not something you need to low.”
Layla leaned back on the couch and asked casually, “What’s your connection with Stephen?”
Regina looked at her with a hint of a smirk. “Are you worried that Stephen and I might be secretly working together to take over the Murray Group?”
Layla shrugged. “He’s my husband, so yeah, I’m a bit concerned.”
Regina replied, “We only have a business relationship.”
Layla then asked, “Olay, but how do you know Lucy Sampson!
Regina hesitated, thinking back to the shock she felt when Stephen showed up at the hospital with a pregnant woma
The news had caused a stir among both the Murray family and Regina’s own circle, with people guessing who the child might belong to. Regina had looked into Lucy’s background to find out more.
After a moment, Regina said, “I saw them together at the hospital. I was curious because it seemed like the CEO of Murray Group had an illegitimate child. But after checking, I found out it was just a misunderstanding.”
Layla listened but wasn’t completely convinced by Regina’s explanation.
Layla’s curiosity got the best of her. “Who did you marry?” she asked.
Regina frowned and said, “That’s a personal question, I’d rather not talk about it.”
Layla was bored with the conversation. She stood up, ready to leave.
But Regina had more to say, “Layla, without Stephen, you’re nothing”
Layla turned back and looked at Regina.
“You keep say
saying you want to take over the Murray Group, but you’re still relying on Stephen. If he weren’t around, you couldn’t keep it going.
“Your grandfather is too old to run things, and you clearly can’t manage it either. If you push Stephen away, the Murray family will fall apart under you. You just argue, act spoiled, and keep criticizing Stephen, using the security he gave you as a shield.”
Regina continued, “People have feelings. If you mistreat Stephen and he leaves, it’ll be the Murray family’s own fault.”
Layla’s fists were clenched, and she was fuming with anger. Regina’s words had hit her hard. “This is a Murray family issue,” Layla said sharply. “It’s none of your business either.”
Regina looked at her coolly. “I don’t want to get involved, but I’m sticking up for Stephen. He’s done so much for you, and you’ve treated him badly. Someone like you will eventually lose Stephen and everything connected to the Murray family.”
Layla’s eyes were filled with defiance. “If I lose everything, I don’t care. If he wants to leave, he should just go.”
With that, Regina told her assistant to escort Layla out.
As Layla lett, her anger grew even more intense. Once in her car, she gripped the steering wheel tightly, her hands shaking with rage.
In the dressing room, Regina watched Layla drive away and then pulled out her phone to call Stephen.
Regina said, “She’s got a good heart but is too inexperienced. She talks without thinking and just tries to win the argument. She needs some teaching, but it’ll take
time.
Stephen was sitting in his high–rise office, looking out at the city. He asked, “What did she say?”
She answered, “I pushed her buttons like you told me to. And you’re right, though. She did come to ask about Lucy. If you get the chance, maybe you could say something positive about me to her.”
Before Regina left, Stephen had asked her to stay a few more days. Later, he privately told her, “Do me a favor and upset Layla a bit. She’ll come to you.”
As expected, a few days later, Layla did show up. Regina hadn’t anticipated that Layla would end up saving her. Despite her tough exterior, Layla proved to be gruinely kind hearted.
Alter finishing her task, Regina lung up and turned her attention to dealing with Dorothy.
