Chapter 13: The Empty Cup

Layla sat at the foot of the banquet table as far away from Alistar as she could. She couldn't stand the sound of his voice. She knew he would be bragging and she couldn't bear to hear it. The falsehoods and misinformation was never something she could play along with, especially to her father. She preferred to sit with Cassias more than anyone else and was more than happy to do so.

"Where's his nanny?" Tabitha innocently asked between bites of roast and garlic potatoes.

Layla immediately turned red from embarrassment. She was always an honest person but ever since she went along with Alistar's lie, the dishonesty snowballed into an avalanche of deceit. It was difficult to keep up with all the lies she had to tell to cover for him and his lies. She was flustered and panicked but after six years, she couldn't do it anymore. So instead she told the truth, "he doesn't have."

"Oh?" Tabitha responded. Layla could hear the tone of judgment in her voice, Tabitha did not hide it well.