Chapter 76
By the time Layla arrived home, the food was already on the table.
She kicked off her shoes and hurried inside, tossing her bag carelessly onto the floor. After wiping off her lipstick with a tissue, Layla quickly took a bite of the spaghetti. Then, she grabbed a crab stick from the table and began devouting it.
Stephen poured her a glass of water. “Slow down.”
“I’m starving.” Her cheeks puffed up because of the food
After a few bites of spaghetti and two crab sticks, Layla finally began to feel better. “If I’d waited any longer, my stomach would have started hurting.”
When Layla was younger, she was a picky eater and often skipped meals at school. While she was with Stephen, he made sure she ate properly. But after they separated, she started dieting with her friends, which ultimately wrecked her stomach. One night, the pain became so unbearable that she fainted in Stephen’s arms. It was the first time he rushed her to the hospital, still in his pajamas.
Though her condition improved, Layla didn’t change her habits. As she grew older, she began drinking excessively, further damaging her stomach and liver. She became one of those beautiful people cursed with poor health.
At one point, in sheer desperation, Stephen locked her in the house, forcing her to drinkbitter medicine and refusing to let her leave until she
she was well. During that time, the house was filled with Layla’s furious curses directed at Stephen. Even her drinking friends received stern warnings and threats from him. Eventually, Layla stopped going to drinking parties and only occasionally had a small drink. Even if she tried to keep up with others, they wouldn’t dare to challenge her anymor
“How’s your stomach holding up after skipping lunch?” Stephen sat beside Layla as he watched her eat with gusto. He gently reminded her, “No matter how hungry you are, eat slowly. Don’t gulp down your food.”
Layla quickly finished another crab stick, then scooped up some spaghetti sauce with a spoon and drank it before twirling another forkful of spaghetti “We had some drama at work during lunch. I had a feeling something was off yesterday. Tiffany tried to steal my client, and now she’s paying the price. When the trouble started at noon, everyone else was in a meeting while I snuck out to buy some bread. It was so awlaward ”
After finishing her sentence, she tossed the spoon aside, picked up the plate, and drank the spaghetti sauce straight from it while slurping up the noodles. Layla’s mood noticeably improved after eating some food.
Noticing her enjoyment, Stephen asked, “Did you say you had bread for lunch?
Laylanodded. “Yep, the lunch boxes were awful, so Thought some bread instead.”
Stephen said, “Meet me at the corner after work tomorrow.”
“Why?” she asked.
“I’ll take you out for lunch.”
Layla was in a good mood, so even though she declined, she didn’t give Stephen the cold shoulder. “There’s no need for that. I actually like the bread.”
“If you’re not there tomorrow, I’ll come to the sales office to find you”
Layla glanced at the man who was threatening her. “Tsk, go ahead. I’ll just pretend I don’t know you.”
“I’ll bring our marriage certificate along.”
Layla was speechless. “You’re shameless!
Stephen stood up. “Finish your meal and head upstairs for a shower and some rest. I’ll take you to Elmsbury to visit your grandpa this weekend
“I’m not going to see him. He abandoned the family, so why should I care!”
Now that her hunger was sated, Leyla began to pick at her food, chewing slowly and thoughtfully.
