005

Nolan arrived home hoping to have a conversation with his wife, but he was met with silence. After much waiting, he decided to confront the maiden of her whereabout.

“What do you mean she didn’t inform you?” he roared, the vein in his neck pumping in and out. “You’re the one who stays home with her; how did she leave your sight?”

He looked ready to strangle the maid from earlier that morning, but his mother was quick to step in, grabbing his arm and stopping him from hitting her.

The maid didn’t understand why he was so enraged. It wasn’t as if Layla mattered to them or as if they wanted anything to do with her. “I—I'm sorry,” she stammered. “I had to clear the dining room. She went to her room, so I didn’t think she would be inside.”

“You didn’t think?” Nolan echoed.

This time, he grabbed an object and hurled it in her direction. The maid barely managed to dodge it.

Sophia stepped fully in front of him.

“You need to calm down,” she said coldly. “I don't understand why you’re so worked up. She’s not a child; she can leave the house without informing anyone. Besides, she’s never been useful to anyone in this house. All she does is cause trouble. This is just her usual attempt at seeking attention.”

“Grandma is right,” Zara added casually. “She’s always causing trouble. I don’t even know why she’s my mom.”

She said it without looking up, still munching on her snacks, her eyes glued to the screen.

If Layla had been there, it would have hurt her, but the maid was secretly relieved she hadn’t witnessed what her daughter had just said. But if only she knew Layla had heard worse than that.

“I know, Mother, but the maid isn’t supposed to leave her alone. She should know when Layla is heading out,” Nolan snapped.

A knock at the door diverted everyone’s attention. It creaked open, and a few guards marched in, bowing their heads in respect.

“Don’t tell me you ordered a search for her?” Sophia inquired, following each of them with her gaze.

“How did it go? Any news about her?” Nolan asked.

“I… I’m sorry, boss, but I don’t think she’s anywhere near this precinct. We even went as far as the hospital searching for her, but to no avail,” one of the guards reported.

“Nothing good ever comes out of her. Keep searching; she could be doing this on purpose.”

“Yes, boss,” they chorused, before marching out of the room.

“Why would you even be looking for her? You went so far as to order a search? I can’t believe you’d do such a thing over a nobody,” Sophia remarked, disbelief in her voice.

“I need to explain to her why the surrogacy is necessary,” Nolan replied, his breathing heavy.

He hated not getting results and hated it when things didn’t go according to plan. After leaving for the office, he spoke with Ashley, thinking he would discuss with Layla why she was chosen as the surrogate. Without even informing her, he assumed she would understand; she always did. The surrogate, the son—these were necessities, decisions made with reason, not sentiment.

Layla may be hurt at first, but the hurt fades. Logic remains, and in the end, she will see that he acted for their future. She will have no choice but to accept it, he foolishly told himself.

He's never considered her feelings or even asked for her opinion. All he does is make decisions, and she has to abide by them if she doesn't want further humiliation.

She huffed, accompanied by a sinister laugh.

“Did you hear what you just said? Don’t be foolish. Ashley wouldn’t be happy if she found out you were searching for her,” Sophia said confidently, as though she were speaking straight from Ashley’s mind.

The only reason she favored Ashley over Layla was the connection Ashley’s family had and how greatly she's used that influence to help Nolan. It would give her son access to influential people and help him position both himself and the company better.

Layla, an orphan, could do nothing of the sort. To Sophia, she was nothing more than a liability, someone who had married into her son’s life accidentally. If she had known, she would have stopped it right when her husband proposed the wedding.

“Ashley wouldn’t find out,” Nolan replied. “And even if she did, it’s not like she would do anything.”

“She wouldn’t do anything?” Sophia scoffed. “Is that reason enough for you to go searching for her? I’ll forgive you this once, but if anything goes wrong with the company, you’ll have me to deal with.”

With that warning, she turned and headed for the staircase.

Nolan followed her with his gaze until she disappeared, then turned to his daughter.

“Grandma is right,” Zara said casually. “You shouldn’t let her know. I’d rather lose her than lose Mummy Ashley.”

She didn’t wait for a response before walking out of the room.

Nolan ruffled his hair, resting his hands on his waist as he had a rethink. His mother was right; she's not a child to have left without informing the maidens of her address.

He pushed the thought aside and proceeded upstairs. 'She will come home when she's exhausted from hiding,' he thought.