جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

Autumn had arrived, bringing cooler weather with it.Layla curled up on the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the trees by the lake sway gently in the breeze, their falling leaves fluttering like delicate butterflies.After a rare few days of peace and quiet, she felt noticeably more rejuvenated.A knock at the door drew her attention. Turning her head, she offered a soft smile. “Mr. Lucas, not working today?”“It’s the weekend.” William walked over and handed her a cup of hot latte. “I just made this. Try it.” “Thank you.” Layla took the cup, cradling it in both hands. The warmth brought a sense of comfort and contentment. William didn’t leave immediately but stood there quietly, watching her. Although they had been living under the same roof for a while, this was their first time alone together. William stood tall before her, his usual formal suit replaced with a casual khaki outfit that added a relaxed air to his otherwise polished demeanor. The

Shane was the first to react, frowning as he questioned, “Sean, what are you talking about? Layla’s perfectly fine. You…” “Do you think I’d joke about something like this?” Sean gave a bitter smile. “If I could, I’d wish it was all just a bad joke, so I could turn back time and still have a chance to make things right with her.” Sean’s seriousness sent a wave of panic through Mrs. Xander. She rushed forward, grabbing Sean’s arm, and asked anxiously, “Tell me—what’s wrong with Layla?” “She has a tumor in her brain,” Sean said grimly. “It’s in a dangerous spot, and the chances of a successful surgery are very slim.” His words hit the Xander family like a bolt of lightning. They stood frozen, their faces full of disbelief. Mrs. Xander thought back to the cruel words she had said earlier. Guilt and heartbreak overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face. “How… how could I say something so horrible to her?” she muttered, her voice breaking. Overcome with regret,

It was a large transfer notification. Layla squinted, carefully counting the digits in the amount. Not only did it cover her startup capital, but it also included funds from the sale of her shares, far exceeding what she had expected. With this sum, she could now consider herself quite wealthy. William glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “What’s making you so happy?” Layla put her phone away. Compared to him, this was nothing but a drop in the ocean, so she chose not to brag. “Nothing much. I just got what I wanted,” she said casually. “Sean transferred the money to you?” William asked. “Yep.” Layla held up her phone. “Tonight, dinner’s on me.” “No need. Tonight, I’m taking you to a cocktail party,” William replied. At first, Layla thought this was his polite way of declining, but then he added, “There’s a charity auction tomorrow evening. Once it’s over, we can go for dinner.” Realizing he wasn’t dismissing her offer, Layla nodded. “That wo

“Cough, cough…” Mrs. Watson cleared her throat, shooting a warning glance at the young woman, silently telling her to watch her words. But the woman deliberately ignored her, smirking as her lips curved into a mocking smile. “Miss Xander, why don’t you teach me a thing or two? I’d love to land a rich man like you.” The others exchanged awkward glances, unsure of the situation and too nervous to speak up. Amid the uneasy silence, Layla slowly glanced at the model, her expression calm and measured. “With just you?” The model froze for a moment before springing to her feet. “What about me? I’ve got the looks, the body, and I’m young!“And you, an old woman who’s been played out, still think you’re better than me?” Her harsh words rang clear through the soft strains of the violin music, startling everyone. Mrs. Watson’s expression immediately darkened. “That’s enough! Do you even know where you are?” The young model, full of bravado, crossed her arms and shot a defian

“Mr. and Mrs. Watson have a great relationship. Word is, they’ve been together since their college days, and Mr. Watson is known to be a doting husband who listens to his wife,” Layla replied.Layla had looked into Mr. Watson when she sought to collaborate with him, tailoring her approach to his personality. Seeing the couple together in person today stirred an unexpected wave of envy in her. She had once been obsessed with the idea of finding a pure and genuine love like theirs. She had loved Sean for so many years, believing they would become a couple others admired. But in the end, it was all a joke, one that anyone could laugh at her expense. She must have been born under an unlucky star. All these years, she had experienced neither sweet love nor the warmth of family. To leave the world like this felt like a bitter regret. Noticing the hint of sorrow in her eyes, William said softly, “You could try living a little longer. Who knows? You might find the right person.”