Chapter 4

Layla had truly crossed a line. She had ordered Jules to be locked inside the utility room in front of all the staff.

“Open the door, Layla…”

“Miss Turner, please let Mr. Fanon out. He’s going to die inside there at this rate.”

Though the employees were trying to speak up for Jules, Layla remained standing adamantly outside while listening to the stifled sobs from inside the utility room.

She started to interrogate him icily, “Jules, did you or did you not threaten Roland into resigning? I can sympathize with you being jealous of him, but don’t you think it’s too much to treat a young man like that?”

Jules pleaded, “Please let me out… I’ll tell you everything!”

It was only when his incessant pounding on the door grew weaker that Layla finally gave the order to unlock the door.

The moment the door swung open, Jules gasped desperately for air.

Meanwhile, Layla looked at him, who was curled up and trembling in the corner, then pressed him again. “Ready to talk now?”

Jules looked up wearily at her. For the first time ever, he lied to her. “Yes… I forced him into resigning. I promise I’ll bring him back to you.”

Layla finally looked satisfied, a wicked, almost succubus-like smile playing on her lips.

Her voice came out sounding merciless. “Good job, Jules. Don’t you put a finger on him again. Haven’t I told you that he’s a young man with a temper? You have to be patient with him to keep him happy!”

Jules resigned to his fate and nodded resignedly. “I understand. I’ll make sure to bring him back.”

Upon leaving the office, he stopped by the law firm to hand over the divorce papers.

“Wonderful, Mr. Fanon. After the month-long cooling-off period has passed, and provided there are no complications, your divorce with Miss Turner can be finalized!”

Jules heaved a sigh of relief and thanked the lawyer appreciatively, “Great, thank you.”

Shortly after leaving the firm, he received a call from the men he had tasked to track down Roland.

“Mr. Fanon, we found him. He’s drinking at a bar.”

Jules took a moment to compose himself before heading to the appointed bar.

Upon his arrival, he called Layla to provide an update.

After the call, just as he was about to open the door to step into the private room, he overheard the voices of Roland and the other occupants in the room spilling out through the door.

“So, I heard you managed to woo that woman, haven’t you? Isn’t she your mom’s friend? You’re not very picky, are you?”

Roland sounded like an entirely different person when he answered, “Her? She’s more than a decade younger than my mom. After my mom passed away, I was strapped for cash. She just happened to show up and offer me a job and was willing to give me some extra money on the side, so I took it, because why not?”

“It’s not easy having to pretend to be with an old hag, is it?”

“What are you talking about? She’s way more beautiful than any of my ex-girlfriends. Just between me and you, she’s got some moves in the bedroom! She’s even telling me about how I’m much better than her husband, who’s apparently too shy and boring for her.”

Upon hearing this, Jules’ expression darkened. His fingers dug into the flesh of his palm.

Too shy? Boring?

The first time they did it, he was very gentle with her, for he did not want to risk hurting her.

She cupped his face as tenderly as if she were holding something precious, then kissed him softly and whispered, “Jules, I love you the way you are. It’s so pure and wonderful.”

Fast forward five years, she had gotten bored of him and was done with him.

One of the men cried out, “You little vermin, why did you quit if you had it so good?”

Roland cocked a look and revealed a sharp glint in his eyes that screamed ambition.

“What do you know about playing the long game? She’s got a husband, and I’m not going to spend my whole life as her side piece. I’ve got to be smart about this and manipulate her into resenting that old husband of hers!”

Jules had enough. He threw the door open and barged into the room.

Roland turned deathly pale the moment he saw him and cried out, “What are you doing here?”

Jules announced bluntly, “Congratulations, your plan worked. Layla has been hysterical since you quit. She asked me to look for you, so here I am. Now, come with me.”

He grabbed Roland by the arm so he could take him back to Layla.

Roland tried to squirm away. “Don't touch me! I’m not going back with you so easily! I want Layla to come get me herself!”

Jules let out an incredulous laugh. “Who exactly do you think you are?”