LOGINEmily stared intently at Olivia, hoping to get the answer she wanted."What do you want to hear, Emily? Sophia is my daughter," Olivia said."Do you think I'm deaf, Olivia?" Emily snarled."I heard Sophia clearly call herself Layla," she said, shaking Olivia's shoulders."Isn't it too much of a coincidence that Sophia is the same age as Mr. Noah, especially when you were with me when they were born, you even held them as babies," Emily insisted, her voice low and firm."Please don't deny it, Olivia. This is about Layla's future, too. She has to know her parents are Sir Evan and Miss Elena, and Sir Alistair has to know that Layla is still alive."Hearing this, Olivia broke down, covering her mouth to stifle a sob."I love her, Emily. She's like my own daughter," she confessed, weeping.Emily stumbled backward, her heart seeming to stop at Olivia's admission. She stared at her friend in disbelief."So it's true. She is Layla," Emily said, her voice barely a whisper.Olivia sobbed and no
Elena could not tear her gaze from Layla’s face. Something she couldn't understand was churning inside her, tightening her chest.Layla looked up at them."Welcome, Sir and Madam," Layla said, nodding respectfully to Elena and Evander.For a moment, everyone present fell silent, as if captivated by Layla’s courtesy."Yes, thank you, child. You are very polite," Evander said with a smile, stroking Layla’s head as she smiled back at him.Layla then turned toward Elena, and the woman seemed to snap out of a daze, offering a nervous smile."You are so sweet, darling," Elena praised."Thank you very much, Madam," Layla replied."Alright, perhaps you two should get acquainted," Alistair said, waving Noah over."No... ah, I mean Noah," Alistair said, nearly slipping up and calling Noah by his real name.Elena and Evander both swallowed hard when they heard it."This is Sophia. Maybe you can be playmates while you're here," Alistair said with a smile.Noah walked closer and looked at Layla, a
The day of Evander and Elena's arrival had come, and Alistair was a flurry of activity, preparing to welcome his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.“I’m going to the airport to pick them up. You all get everything ready here,” Alistair instructed Olivia and the other servants.“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison.Alistair left at once. Emily glanced at Olivia for a moment before following her employer out the door.Olivia stood in silence, watching them go. She then turned to Layla, who was standing beside her."Your parents are coming home," Olivia said to herself.A wave of sadness washed over her as she considered that Layla would soon meet Evander and Elena, and she wondered if they would recognize their own daughter.“Why are you sad, Mother?” Layla asked, shaking Olivia's hand.Olivia knelt to be at eye level with her.“I’m not, sweetheart. Now, let’s go get ready. Little Mr. Noah will be here soon,” she said.Layla’s eyes widened, a sight that made Olivia pause. She had seen ph
Consumed with thoughts of Noah, Alistair could not rest while awaiting his grandson’s arrival. He had deployed all his men to ensure their safety, from the moment they landed at the airport until they reached the house. In the flurry of activity, he had neglected his own health and failed to keep to his schedule.That afternoon, as Alistair tried to rise from his chair, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, and a sharp pain pierced his chest. He staggered, falling back into his seat.“Mr. Alistair!” Layla cried out, startled to see the old man clearly in pain.Alistair, clutching his chest and struggling to catch his breath, opened his eyes to find Layla standing before him with a worried expression.“Sophia,” he managed, his breathing ragged.“What’s wrong, sir? Are you sick? Should I get my mother?” Layla asked.Caught between the pain and a sense of amusement at Layla's concerned face, Alistair managed a faint smile.“Yes, please call either your mother or one of the other se
Alistair was restless. He had just received word from Elena that they had been terrorized by Julian. They were cutting their trip short and would be coming home much earlier than scheduled."What is it, Sir?" Emily asked, seeing how unsettled Alistair was."They're coming home immediately. There was an incident, a threat from Julian," Alistair answered, his brow furrowed deeply.At that moment, Olivia, who was working nearby, froze and turned her head sharply toward Alistair."You mean, Mr. Julian?" Emily asked, and it was clear from her friend's worried expression that she shared the concern.Alistair nodded. "Yes. I have to prepare everything and make sure it's all secure for when they arrive."Emily nodded and quickly followed Alistair toward his study.Meanwhile, Olivia, having overheard the conversation, turned pale. Her heart seemed to stop, and a wave of weakness washed over her body.Is he really still after us? He even followed Miss Elena abroad.Olivia's thoughts flew to Lay
Olivia felt like she was dreaming, being back in the Montgomery home. She hugged Layla with a surge of emotion, but she knew she couldn’t cry and make everyone suspicious."This is your room. I've prepared everything, including a bed for Sophia," Emily said with a smile, eager to see Olivia and Sophia's reactions.And she was right. When Emily opened the door, Sophia squealed with delight at the room she would share with her mother. It was painted in soft shades of her favorite colors, pink and light blue."Look! It's Princess Sofia!" she shouted happily, pointing to a wardrobe meant just for her.Sophia pulled away from Olivia and ran cheerfully into the room. The little girl jumped up and down on the bed with glee.Olivia smiled sadly at the sight, her heart aching with the bitter thought that Layla should have been given all of this, and even more luxurious things, from her grandfather."Be careful, Sophia, you'll fall," Olivia cautioned.Sophia giggled, then let herself fall back







