บททั้งหมดของ Seven Minutes with my Ex's Uncle : บทที่ 41 - บทที่ 50

The city had grown quiet by the time Elias drove away from Layla’s neighborhood.The familiar street where he had dropped her off disappeared behind him as the car moved through the sleeping roads. The yellow streetlights passed one by one across the windshield, casting brief shadows across his face before fading again into darkness.For a long time, Elias drove without turning on the radio,without calling Marcus,without doing anything except thinking.His hands rested firmly on the steering wheel, but his mind wasn’t on the road.It was still three blocks away,still standing beneath that streetlight where Layla had leaned toward him with that sudden, hesitant kiss.The memory lingered longer than he expected. Her soft voice saying goodnight,the way she had smiled before running toward her house and that simple trust in her eyes.Elias tightened his grip slightly on the wheel.That trust was dangerous,not for her but for him.The car finally slowed as it approached the tall iron gates

Layla tried to pretend nothing had changed but everything had.The moment she stepped outside the school gates that afternoon, the black sedan was still there,waiting,just like it had been in the morning. Her stomach tightened. He wasn’t joking. Elias had really stationed someone here. A bodyguard or a guard or whatever name rich, controlling men like him used. Layla crossed her arms and walked past the gate, refusing to look at the car but she could feel it. The weight of someone’s gaze following her every step. Beside her, Chloe noticed immediately. “You see that?” Chloe murmured. Layla kept her voice casual. “See what?” “That’s the car.” Layla sighed internally. Of course Chloe noticed,Chloe notices everything. “I don’t know what you're talking about.” Chloe stopped walking. Layla took two more steps before realizing she had stopped. She turned back and saw Chloe was staring straight at the sedan. Her eyes narrowed. “That car was here this morning,” Chlo

Layla’s heart skipped. The room went completely silent but before she could respond—Elias stepped even closer.His voice dropped to a whisper.“And I’m not willing to take that risk againFor a moment, she forgot how to breathe.Elias’s words echoed inside her head.I couldn’t lose you.The sentence didn’t sound like the cold, calculated statements he usually made. It didn’t sound like the calm billionaire who always seemed to control every situation.It sounded… raw,honest and somehow that made it far more dangerous.Layla stared at him, her heart pounding painfully against her ribs.“You couldn’t lose me?” she repeated softly.Elias didn’t respond immediately. His dark eyes stayed fixed on her face, as if he was studying every tiny reaction she made but the tension between them had shifted.The anger that had filled the room moments ago had melted into something heavier,something deeper,something neither of them seemed fully prepared for.Layla finally exhaled slowly.“You’re afraid

Layla froze. Elias froze.They both turned their heads toward the door and standing there was Elias’s secretary, holding a tablet.Her eyes widened in pure shock because the scene in front of her was… very unexpected.Her usually composed boss was sitting on the couch, Layla,half leaning over his with his hands at her waist and they were very obviously in the middle of something.The secretary blinked rapidly.“…Oh.”Layla’s eyes widened slightly.Elias closed his eyes briefly like he was reconsidering every life choice that led to this moment.The secretary looked like she wanted to disappear.“I—I’m sorry, sir.”Neither of them moved.“I didn’t realize you were… busy.”Layla slowly straightened up.Her face was trying very hard not to laugh.Elias, however, looked deeply unimpressed with the situation.The secretary turned around immediately.“I’ll come back later!”And then the door closed again.For a few seconds, the room stayed completely silent.Elias leaned back against the cou

Elias’s eyes darkened. He didn’t raise his voice or slam his hand on the table.He didn’t show anger the way most people did and that was what made him dangerous.Marcus stood across from the desk, watching carefully as Elias scrolled through the posts again.Each headline.Each comment.Each insult directed at Layla.Elias’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.“The school?” he asked quietly.“Yes.”“The rumors are everywhere?”Marcus nodded.“Students, online pages, even anonymous blogs. It’s spreading fast.”Elias leaned back slowly in his chair.His fingers tapped once against the desk.Then he said calmly,“Get Serena.”Marcus didn’t hesitate.“Yes, sir.”A few minutes later, the office door opened.Serena walked in with perfect posture,sharp eyes and unshakable composure. She stopped in front of the desk.“You called for me, sir.”Elias turned the tablet toward her.“Read.”Serena stepped forward and scanned the screen.Her expression didn’t change but her eyes sharpened.“I see.”