THE BRIDE HE NEVER CHOSE

Layla's POV

Dominic Foster stared at me, beads of sweat gathered on my forehead. I held my breath, hoping he wouldn’t find out who I was.

I could feel his gaze burning through my skin. After a moment, he turned and left. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Then I stood up, ready to start searching for anything that could help me find my sister’s whereabouts.

But then, a chill crept down my spine.

“So, you were pretending,” his voice laced with anger and disgust.

“N…no,” I stuttered.

I cursed inwardly. Why now, of all times, did I have to stutter?

Suddenly, the door flung open.

A woman walked in, “she was elegantly dressed, her styled hair framing her face,” and her eyes scanning the room like a predator. I didn’t need anyone to tell me. That was Maisie.

I saw a dangerous glint flash through her eyes, and she quickly masked it with a smile.

“Dominic, when did Raina get back?” Maisie’s voice rang through the room like honey laced with poison.

My stomach turned; her voice was sugar and venom.

“Hmph, what a white lotus flower,” I sneered inwardly. Pretty on the outside, rotten to the core.

I couldn’t believe someone like Dominic couldn’t see through her.

“A moment ago,” he replied. His cold, icy voice…” gave me the shivers.”

He took a last glance at me and left.

A dangerous glint flashed through Maisie’s eyes, accompanied by an evil smirk.

“I thought the lessons I gave you were enough to make you stay away,” She said while staring daggers at me.

“Dominic is mine,” an obsessed look flashed through her eyes.

I scoffed, “Take him. I never signed up for damaged goods.” I said my heart was pounding, but my face remained calm.

My sarcastic remark made her eyes widen.

She looked at me for a while longer and stormed off.

I waited for a moment, then I began searching the room again. This time, I found her diary.

The first entry stated, “I married the cold, ruthless billionaire, and my life is a living hell.”

The second entry stated, “Maisie White tortures me for getting married to Dominic Foster.”

The last entry stated, “I have finally fallen in love with the heartless Dominic Foster.”

My head was throbbing with pain, although Raina and I never got along, and she always bullied me, but this was plain foolishness; I was caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea.

I paced around “Raina’s” room, thinking of what to do next. I decided to go downstairs.

I saw Xander biting his lips and anxiously waiting for someone.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, since the way he was walking made me dizzy.

He looked at me, sweating profusely. “Mr. Foster has insomnia and trouble sleeping, the doctor treating him hasn’t arrived, and his condition is getting worse.”

Who would have thought the great Mr. Foster suffers from insomnia…I thought, clearly amused.

“Well, I can help,” I told him resolutely.

“How can you help?” his voice heavy with doubt.

“You will find out when the time comes. Besides, everything comes with a price.” The calculation in my voice was evident at that moment, but I didn’t care.

We got to his room, and he was sweating profusely and furrowing his brows as if he was having a terrible nightmare.

As I wanted to touch his forehead, he suddenly grabbed my hand.

“What are you doing here?” his icy, hoarse voice made my heart flutter for some reason.

Get yourself together, Layla, you can’t let your heart flutter for the person responsible for your sister’s disappearance.

I tried to remain as calm as possible, battling with my inner thoughts, and admiring his looks.

Ahem…I coughed.

“Treating you…what else?” I replied with my eyes darting over the room.

“How are you, of all people, going to treat me?” The disgust and disdain in his voice were even evident.

I smirked, silently counting how many hidden identities I had.

I decided to reveal one of them to him.

“Well, I am Mr. Geon,” I smirked, internally trying to rub my identity in his face. I am not one to brag, but this guy just pushed my buttons.

“Looks like people just claim to be what they are not these days,” he sneered.

“You want proof?” I murmured

I tapped a button, Dominic’s private screen across the room, normally used for high-security investors ‘ meetings, suddenly flashed.

I showed him the transaction under the code name “Geon”

Including our transactions.

I saw his eyes widen in surprise, and then I pulled out a signed black envelope from my coat.

It was a sealed non-disclosed contract, signed with his digital fingerprint, sent months ago, and I quietly tossed it on his bed.

I saw him pick it up, and his hands trembled slightly.

“I never show my face to clients,” I said coolly.

“But I made an exception, congratulations I said with a smug smile.

At that moment, my ego soared to new heights.

The look on his face was priceless.

“Why are you helping me?” he snarled

“Well, I have my reasons, and everything comes with a price,” I replied, looking at his handsome, cold face.

“You have been living at the Fosters’ residence, how come you have never told me about your identity?” Dominic Foster’s sudden question threw me off guard.

I panicked, and I tried to hide it, but his eyes looked at me as if he was trying to uncover all the secrets I had.

“Like I said, everything comes with a price; there wasn’t any need to, well, until now.”

“What are you trying to achieve, Raina Ross? I, Dominic Foster, would never let you have my child.” His gaze threw me off guard.

I looked at him and declared, “I, Raina Ross, am not interested in bearing your children, Mr. Foster.”

“Why would I bear the children of a man I do not love?”