**Lailaās POV**
The room felt suffocating, the air thick with tension as everyoneās eyes darted between me and the woman standing beside Hamilton. Her resemblance to me was uncanny, but I could see through her frail facade. I clenched my fists, the sharp bite of my nails grounding me in the chaos. This wasnāt just an accusationāit was a calculated attack.She smiled smugly, a faint, victorious curve of her lips, as if she had already won. Her posture was meek, her arms clutching Hamilton like a lifeline. But I wasnāt fooled. That woman was no victim; she was a manipulator.Hamiltonās words hung in the air, each one digging into me like a dagger.āThis imposter,ā he began again, his voice laced with contempt, āhas no proof of her identity. Sheās been parading around as Laila, but the real Laila would never behave this way.āI stepped forward, my legs trembling beneath me, but I refused to let my fear show. āWho are you to decide how ILailaās POV I stood there, frozen, as the weight of their words settled around me like a suffocating fog. My heart thudded painfully against my ribs, but I refused to let the turmoil show on my face. Instead, I focused on keeping my expression neutral, my lips pressed tightly together. Hamiltonās accusations cut deep, her voice sharp and precise like a blade aimed directly at me. "Iām not Lila?" The thought swirled in my mind, bitter and hollow. I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails biting into my palms as I fought the urge to lash out. Anger surged within me, but I buried it deep. Now wasnāt the time to lose control. Hamiltonās words carried on, dissecting me piece by piece as if I were some sort of experiment under her scrutiny. "She doesnāt even swim well anymore," she spat, her eyes narrowing. "And she doesnāt care for loveāshe doesnāt even want Nolan anymore!" Her triumphant smirk made my stomach churn. She was right about some thing
**Lailaās POV:**I couldnāt stop the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind as I stepped into Nolanās house. The door clicked behind me, and I couldnāt help but feel like a stranger in my own skin. A part of me still couldnāt believe what had just happenedāwhat Hamilton had just said to me. Her words echoed in my mind, harsh and biting. *āYou are nothing but an imposter. This is not your home. You don't belong here.ā* Her words felt like daggers, but they didnāt hurt as much as I thought they would. I had been through far worse. I had spent years of my life buried in confusion, struggling to grasp the truth of who I was. Now, standing here, I was beginning to see just how deep this entire game went, and the rules were shifting faster than I could keep up.I tried to push away the lump in my throat, but it was hard. I had never felt so alone in my life. As Hamilton dragged Maraāher daughter, not Lilaāout of the house, I watched them leave. I knew som
Lailaās POV I had never been good at keeping promises, especially the ones I made to myself. I swore I would never fall in love again. I promised myself that my heart would remain closed, locked away where no one could hurt me. But in the quiet moments, when I was alone with my thoughts, I couldn't help but feel a flicker deep inside me. I didn't know why, but whenever he spoke those words, whenever he looked at me with those eyes filled with affection, my heart betrayed me. It skipped a beat, and for a moment, I forgot every rule I had made for myself.Why was my heart doing this? Why, despite everything I had gone through, was it still responding to him? I told myself I wouldnāt try to fall for him, that I wouldnāt look for love or allow any man to make my heart beat in ways I didnāt understand. But now, here I was, fighting with myself, questioning everything I thought I knew about my emotions.Every time he told me he loved me, every time he touched m
Lailaās POV I stood frozen in the doorway, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure Nolan could hear it. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, but I wasnāt sure if I could process what had just happened. For weeks, I had been caught in a web of deceit, one where my identity was being stolen, my name sullied, and my future threatened. But in this moment, I was more confused than ever.Mara stood before me, her real face exposed, and I couldnāt help but feel a strange sense of disbelief. How had I missed it? Was I so blinded by everything else that I hadnāt seen the truth? The woman I had thought was my enemy, the one who had been plotting against me with Hamilton, wasnāt the person I had imagined her to be. The person in front of me wasnāt her. But then who was it? Was the woman I had seen with Hamilton a mere puppet, a hired actor? The possibility gnawed at me, making my stomach churn with dread. They were playing a deeper game than I could have ever anticipa
Lailaās POV I sat there, the glass of cold water in my hand, but the chill did little to calm the boiling frustration inside me. Nolanās words echoed in my head, each one a harsh reminder that nothing in my life had been normal for weeks now. I could hardly believe what had just happenedāMara, of all people, was free. How had it all happened so fast? I had thought that her actions, her betrayal, would cost her everything. After all, how could anyone possibly let her off the hook after she had taken a loan worth billions, used it to impersonate my fatherās company, and run away with her mother? It didnāt make sense. She had admitted everything, gone to the police, confessed her guilt. And yet here I was, sitting in the parlor, still reeling from the news that she was out there, breathing, planning her next move as if nothing had happened.I clenched my fist around the glass, the water sloshing slightly. I could feel my pulse quickening, my chest tightenin
Nolanās pov The air in the boardroom was thick with tension, and I could feel it pressing against my chest. I had left the house early that morning, determination coursing through my veins. I couldnāt allow Mr. Williams to go through with this. Not when I knew that Lila, the real Lila, was out there. I had failed her in my past life, and now, I would do everything I could to make it right. No matter what it took, I wouldnāt let him win. I was a shareholder in the Martins Group, and that meant my voice mattered. When I arrived at the office, the weight of the situation settled over me. Mr. Williams had been playing everyoneāhe was about to take control of the Martins Group, and once he did, the company would no longer belong to its rightful heirs. All the wealth, all the power, it would fall into the hands of Mr. Williams and Mrs. Hamilton. And that was something I could not, would not, allow. As I entered the boardroom, I felt every set of eyes on me. The atmosphere was tense, lik
Lailaās POV The moment I walked into the room, I felt all eyes on me. The expressions on their faces spoke volumesāshock, disbelief, disdainābut what struck me most was the sudden change in the atmosphere. Hamilton's face twisted into a look of annoyance, while Mr. Williams sat there, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. But then, there was Nolan. His eyes, deep and intense, locked with mine, and I felt a strange surge of confidence. There was something about him, something comforting, as if he believed in me when no one else did. I took a deep breath and stepped forward, determined. I had to do thisānot just for me, but for my fatherās legacy, for everything he had worked for, and for the justice that was so desperately needed. The room was tense, thick with the weight of unspoken words. Just as I gathered the courage to speak, a sharp voice cut through the silence. "Why are you here?" It was Hamilton, her tone condescending, eyes narrowed in disdain. "Youāre not supposed to be here.
Laila's POV: As Mr. Leonard made his declaration, I couldnāt help but feel the weight of the room pressing down on me. His words echoed in my mind like a relentless drumbeat. He had one critical way to prove to them that I was not the real Miss Laila. I could feel my heart lurch, my breath caught in my throat. What was this ācriticalā way he was talking about? My mind raced, every possible scenario playing out in rapid succession. I had no idea what he meant, and the uncertainty clawed at me. But then, a part of me understood why he chose to use the word "critical." It wasnāt just importantāit was definitive, a way to cut through all the doubts and questions. My stomach churned with anxiety as I thought about it. What if it was something I didnāt know about? What if there was a way he could prove that I wasnāt Laila and I couldnāt defend myself against it? I bit my lip, trying to steady myself. I didnāt want to mess this up. Not for me, not for Lilaās family. I didnāt want to dest
Lailaās POV As I sat on the soft sand beside Nolan, the cool ocean breeze brushed against my skin, its salty scent filling my lungs with a sense of calm. The sun, now dipping below the horizon, bathed everything in a soft, golden hue. I leaned against him, feeling his warmth seep into my bones. For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace. The chaos, the threats, and the betrayals that had once consumed my life seemed like a distant memory, fading with the setting sun. But despite the serenity, the thoughts still raced in my mind. I was torn between two livesāLila and Mirandaāand it was hard to reconcile them. One life, full of memories I had no control over, and another that had become my reality, shaped by my choices and the people I met along the way. Nolan, though, had always been a constant. He was the thread tying everything together, even when I couldnāt see it. I turned to him, meeting his deep, sincere gaze, and
Lailaās POV I continued to run through the dark, damp basement, my heart hammering in my chest as the man pursued me relentlessly. Each of my footsteps echoed in the vast, empty space, and I couldnāt believe I had come here alone. What was I thinking? What had possessed me to ignore Lanceās warnings? I shouldāve listened to him. Now, here I was, running for my life, the walls closing in around me as I realized I had made a grave mistake. I stumbled, my foot catching on something hidden in the shadows, and fell to the ground. Pain shot through my knees, but I didnāt have the luxury to stop and nurse the wound. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and my pulse quickened. āHamilton,ā I gasped, my voice trembling with fear, āPlease⦠you donāt have to kill me.ā I wasnāt sure if I was pleading for my life or bargaining for a way out, but I had to try something. āIāll give you money! Iāll give you anything you want! Iāll give you back the company!
Lailaās POV Mr. Williams slowly looked at Hamilton, a bitter smile curling at the edges of his lips as he braced himself for what was coming. His eyes, once warm and inviting, now glinted with the realization that he had outlived his usefulness. The situation had shifted drastically, and the cold air seemed to settle heavier with each passing second. "You really thought you could just use me, didnāt you?" Mr. Williamsā voice was raspy but laced with a cold edge of sarcasm. He turned his gaze to Hamilton, his old ally, but now she was nothing more than an enemy. "I was your friend once, Hamilton. A loyal one. And this is how you repay me?" Hamilton stood motionless, her expression frozen in a mask of rage and contempt. "You were never a friend, Mr. Williams," she snapped, her voice sharp and filled with venom. "You were always a means to an end. Nothing more." He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a grimace. "A means to an end...?ā he repeated, his voice betraying a tr
Lailaās POV I couldn't believe it. Everything that had happened up until this point felt like it was straight out of a nightmareāonly, this was my reality. I was standing in the middle of a dark, damp basement, the air thick with tension and the smell of mildew, and yet, it felt like I was suffocating from the weight of betrayal. Mr. Williamsā words echoed in my mind: "You have one taskāget out of this basement alive, and youāll get the proof." The audacity. I had come here trusting him, believing his promises. He seemed genuine, his voice calm and reassuring when he spoke to me on the phone. But now, standing here, staring at him with a twisted smile on his face, I realized how wrong I had been. How could I have been so naive? I had ignored Nolanās warning. I should have listened to him. Nolan had always been there for me, offering his wisdom and caution when I needed it most. But instead, I had decided to trust Mr. Williams, thinking that he was the key to uncovering the tru
**Hamilton's POV** I was in my office when the call came in. It was a frantic voice on the other end, trembling with fear and urgency. āMrs. Hamilton, itās about your daughter... Mara.ā My heart dropped before I even heard the rest of the sentence. āShe was pushed... we donāt know who did it, but she was found lying in the kitchen of the Mountainās Group of Companies... and sheās been... hurt.ā My mind couldnāt make sense of the words, but the panic in the voice was clear. They told me Mara was still breathing, just barely. Without wasting a second, I ordered the ambulance to be sent immediately. My hands were shaking as I hung up, feeling like the world was collapsing around me. What happened? Who would do this to my little girl? The journey to the company felt like an eternity. Every second, every heartbeat, was filled with dread. I couldnāt imagine her in that condition. It felt like the air itself had thickened, and the suffocating fear clung to me. When we arrived, I saw her,
Hamiltonās POV We had just been celebrating our latest triumph. The business was thriving, and every new plan we executed was a success. We were stealing Lilaās clients, breaking down her network one piece at a time. The feeling of victory was sweet, and I couldnāt help but smile as Mr. Williams and I sat together, discussing how far weād come. āIāll take you out for coffee,ā I told Mr. Williams. āLetās celebrate. Weāve earned it.ā He smiled, clearly as pleased with our success as I was. Just as we were settling into the idea of a relaxing break, a sudden, sharp realization hit me. The Redwood Furniture Company, one of our major suppliers, hadnāt responded to our latest inquiry about stock mandates. My stomach turned. We had been relying on them for a crucial shipment, and without it, everything could come crashing down. I glanced at Mr. Williams. āDid they respond to your call?ā I asked. He picked up his phone again, dialing the number. But his expression shifted almost immed
**Lailaās POV** I was determined to get to the root of this. I couldnāt let Michaelās lies go unpunished, especially after everything he had done. The moment I heard they had apprehended the criminal, I knew I couldnāt waste time. Without hesitation, I decided to follow Nolan to meet him. As we arrived, I could see the fear in Michael's eyes. He refused to speak unless I gave him something in return. The arrogance in his voice grated on my nerves. "I'll only tell you the truth when you sleep with me," he said, his voice dripping with smugness. I clenched my fists, fighting the surge of anger coursing through me. My company, my reputation, everything I had worked for was hanging by a thread. I was not the type to trust easily, but I had no other choice but to take this step. My heart was pounding, but my face remained steely, betraying no emotion. The knife in my hand gleamed under the dim light, and I stepped closer to him, my eyes narrowing. "Tell me what happened. Why did you d
Lailaās POV Iām so thankful for Nolan. Heās been my anchor, the only person I can trust, especially when everything else around me felt like it was closing in. Every time I thought I couldnāt face the overwhelming pressure of these accusations, he would be there, showing up with that reassuring calm in his eyes. I had no idea what this woman and the man with her were planning. I didnāt understand why they had come to my hotel, why they were accusing my security team of something so vile. But Nolan always seemed to have a way of cutting through the noise. "Iām not making any payments until Iām sure,ā I had said to them, trying to stand my ground despite the anger and frustration burning in my chest. āWe need an investigation. Itās not right to just pay without proof.ā But before I could say more, Nolan had pulled me aside, his voice low and urgent. āItās a setup, Laila. Theyāre trying to ruin us, trying to tarnish the reputation of this hotel. Someone has been targeting us from
**Laila's POV:** Every single day, I walk into the office with the heavy weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. Itās as if the universe conspires to test me, one problem at a time, with no relief in sight. And yet, I have no choice but to face it. Someone, somewhere, is working against me. Thereās no other explanation. I can feel their eyes on me, their whispers in the shadows. My rivals, my enemiesāthey are always lurking, waiting for an opening to devour me and, more importantly, my fatherās company. Iāve spent my entire life building this empire, and now, with the way things are going, it feels like Iām standing on the edge, waiting to be pushed off. They donāt want me here. They donāt want me to have this second chance that fate has granted me, but I wonāt let them take it away. This is my opportunity to prove myself, to show them all that Iām not just some helpless pawn. Iāll fight with everything I have. This morning, as I sat in my office, trying to focus on the endle