**Lailaâs POV:**
I couldnât stop the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind as I stepped into Nolanâs house. The door clicked behind me, and I couldnât help but feel like a stranger in my own skin. A part of me still couldnât believe what had just happenedâwhat Hamilton had just said to me. Her words echoed in my mind, harsh and biting. *âYou are nothing but an imposter. This is not your home. You don't belong here.â*Her words felt like daggers, but they didnât hurt as much as I thought they would. I had been through far worse. I had spent years of my life buried in confusion, struggling to grasp the truth of who I was. Now, standing here, I was beginning to see just how deep this entire game went, and the rules were shifting faster than I could keep up.I tried to push away the lump in my throat, but it was hard. I had never felt so alone in my life. As Hamilton dragged Maraâher daughter, not Lilaâout of the house, I watched them leave. I knew somLailaâs POV I had never been good at keeping promises, especially the ones I made to myself. I swore I would never fall in love again. I promised myself that my heart would remain closed, locked away where no one could hurt me. But in the quiet moments, when I was alone with my thoughts, I couldn't help but feel a flicker deep inside me. I didn't know why, but whenever he spoke those words, whenever he looked at me with those eyes filled with affection, my heart betrayed me. It skipped a beat, and for a moment, I forgot every rule I had made for myself.Why was my heart doing this? Why, despite everything I had gone through, was it still responding to him? I told myself I wouldnât try to fall for him, that I wouldnât look for love or allow any man to make my heart beat in ways I didnât understand. But now, here I was, fighting with myself, questioning everything I thought I knew about my emotions.Every time he told me he loved me, every time he touched m
Lailaâs POV I stood frozen in the doorway, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure Nolan could hear it. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, but I wasnât sure if I could process what had just happened. For weeks, I had been caught in a web of deceit, one where my identity was being stolen, my name sullied, and my future threatened. But in this moment, I was more confused than ever.Mara stood before me, her real face exposed, and I couldnât help but feel a strange sense of disbelief. How had I missed it? Was I so blinded by everything else that I hadnât seen the truth? The woman I had thought was my enemy, the one who had been plotting against me with Hamilton, wasnât the person I had imagined her to be. The person in front of me wasnât her. But then who was it? Was the woman I had seen with Hamilton a mere puppet, a hired actor? The possibility gnawed at me, making my stomach churn with dread. They were playing a deeper game than I could have ever anticipa
Lailaâs POV I sat there, the glass of cold water in my hand, but the chill did little to calm the boiling frustration inside me. Nolanâs words echoed in my head, each one a harsh reminder that nothing in my life had been normal for weeks now. I could hardly believe what had just happenedâMara, of all people, was free. How had it all happened so fast? I had thought that her actions, her betrayal, would cost her everything. After all, how could anyone possibly let her off the hook after she had taken a loan worth billions, used it to impersonate my fatherâs company, and run away with her mother? It didnât make sense. She had admitted everything, gone to the police, confessed her guilt. And yet here I was, sitting in the parlor, still reeling from the news that she was out there, breathing, planning her next move as if nothing had happened.I clenched my fist around the glass, the water sloshing slightly. I could feel my pulse quickening, my chest tightenin
Nolanâs pov The air in the boardroom was thick with tension, and I could feel it pressing against my chest. I had left the house early that morning, determination coursing through my veins. I couldnât allow Mr. Williams to go through with this. Not when I knew that Lila, the real Lila, was out there. I had failed her in my past life, and now, I would do everything I could to make it right. No matter what it took, I wouldnât let him win. I was a shareholder in the Martins Group, and that meant my voice mattered. When I arrived at the office, the weight of the situation settled over me. Mr. Williams had been playing everyoneâhe was about to take control of the Martins Group, and once he did, the company would no longer belong to its rightful heirs. All the wealth, all the power, it would fall into the hands of Mr. Williams and Mrs. Hamilton. And that was something I could not, would not, allow. As I entered the boardroom, I felt every set of eyes on me. The atmosphere was tense, lik
Lailaâs POV The moment I walked into the room, I felt all eyes on me. The expressions on their faces spoke volumesâshock, disbelief, disdainâbut what struck me most was the sudden change in the atmosphere. Hamilton's face twisted into a look of annoyance, while Mr. Williams sat there, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. But then, there was Nolan. His eyes, deep and intense, locked with mine, and I felt a strange surge of confidence. There was something about him, something comforting, as if he believed in me when no one else did. I took a deep breath and stepped forward, determined. I had to do thisânot just for me, but for my fatherâs legacy, for everything he had worked for, and for the justice that was so desperately needed. The room was tense, thick with the weight of unspoken words. Just as I gathered the courage to speak, a sharp voice cut through the silence. "Why are you here?" It was Hamilton, her tone condescending, eyes narrowed in disdain. "Youâre not supposed to be here.
Laila's POV: As Mr. Leonard made his declaration, I couldnât help but feel the weight of the room pressing down on me. His words echoed in my mind like a relentless drumbeat. He had one critical way to prove to them that I was not the real Miss Laila. I could feel my heart lurch, my breath caught in my throat. What was this âcriticalâ way he was talking about? My mind raced, every possible scenario playing out in rapid succession. I had no idea what he meant, and the uncertainty clawed at me. But then, a part of me understood why he chose to use the word "critical." It wasnât just importantâit was definitive, a way to cut through all the doubts and questions. My stomach churned with anxiety as I thought about it. What if it was something I didnât know about? What if there was a way he could prove that I wasnât Laila and I couldnât defend myself against it? I bit my lip, trying to steady myself. I didnât want to mess this up. Not for me, not for Lilaâs family. I didnât want to dest
Lailaâs POV I wasnât afraid. No matter how much Hamilton sneered or how many empty threats she made, I couldnât be shaken. I was Laila, and nothingânot her manipulative schemes or the drama unfolding around meâwas going to take that away. They could say they were going to take a DNA test, but I knew the truth. I owned this body, my body. There was no doubt in my mind that I was Mr. Martinâs daughter, and I had all the strength to prove it. We went to the hospital the following day, where they took my blood sample, as well as Hamiltonâs. It felt like a strange formalityâjust another step in the twisted game they were playing. I wasnât worried. I knew who I was, and they couldnât change that. By the time we returned to the mansion that evening, I had already mentally prepared myself for the moment when everything would finally be revealed. Nolan, who had been by my side through it all, stayed close, his reassuring presence providing me with the strength to walk into this final conf
Lailaâs POV I couldnât believe what had just transpired with Mr. Williams. The nerve of that man! He stood there, with that smug look on his face, as if he could intimidate me into submission. His arrogance was unbearable, but it wasnât just thatâthere was something darker in his eyes, a hidden agenda, a lie that he believed he could pull over my eyes. But I was done being the naive little girl he had known. I wasnât her anymore. I could feel the heat rising within me, my fists clenched tightly as I stood there, face-to-face with him, watching his once-comfortable mask of authority slip away. He had no idea what was coming. The years of my fatherâs hard work, the legacy he had built, were not going to fall into the hands of a man like him. Not on my watch. âYou think you can just come in here and strip me of everything Iâve worked for?â Mr. Williams had scoffed earlier, his face red with frustration, veins popping on his forehead as his hands clenched at his sides. âIâve worked
Lailaâs POV I continued to run through the dark, damp basement, my heart hammering in my chest as the man pursued me relentlessly. Each of my footsteps echoed in the vast, empty space, and I couldnât believe I had come here alone. What was I thinking? What had possessed me to ignore Lanceâs warnings? I shouldâve listened to him. Now, here I was, running for my life, the walls closing in around me as I realized I had made a grave mistake. I stumbled, my foot catching on something hidden in the shadows, and fell to the ground. Pain shot through my knees, but I didnât have the luxury to stop and nurse the wound. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and my pulse quickened. âHamilton,â I gasped, my voice trembling with fear, âPlease⌠you donât have to kill me.â I wasnât sure if I was pleading for my life or bargaining for a way out, but I had to try something. âIâll give you money! Iâll give you anything you want! Iâll give you back the company!
Lailaâs POV Mr. Williams slowly looked at Hamilton, a bitter smile curling at the edges of his lips as he braced himself for what was coming. His eyes, once warm and inviting, now glinted with the realization that he had outlived his usefulness. The situation had shifted drastically, and the cold air seemed to settle heavier with each passing second. "You really thought you could just use me, didnât you?" Mr. Williamsâ voice was raspy but laced with a cold edge of sarcasm. He turned his gaze to Hamilton, his old ally, but now she was nothing more than an enemy. "I was your friend once, Hamilton. A loyal one. And this is how you repay me?" Hamilton stood motionless, her expression frozen in a mask of rage and contempt. "You were never a friend, Mr. Williams," she snapped, her voice sharp and filled with venom. "You were always a means to an end. Nothing more." He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a grimace. "A means to an end...?â he repeated, his voice betraying a tr
Lailaâs POV I couldn't believe it. Everything that had happened up until this point felt like it was straight out of a nightmareâonly, this was my reality. I was standing in the middle of a dark, damp basement, the air thick with tension and the smell of mildew, and yet, it felt like I was suffocating from the weight of betrayal. Mr. Williamsâ words echoed in my mind: "You have one taskâget out of this basement alive, and youâll get the proof." The audacity. I had come here trusting him, believing his promises. He seemed genuine, his voice calm and reassuring when he spoke to me on the phone. But now, standing here, staring at him with a twisted smile on his face, I realized how wrong I had been. How could I have been so naive? I had ignored Nolanâs warning. I should have listened to him. Nolan had always been there for me, offering his wisdom and caution when I needed it most. But instead, I had decided to trust Mr. Williams, thinking that he was the key to uncovering the tru
**Hamilton's POV** I was in my office when the call came in. It was a frantic voice on the other end, trembling with fear and urgency. âMrs. Hamilton, itâs about your daughter... Mara.â My heart dropped before I even heard the rest of the sentence. âShe was pushed... we donât know who did it, but she was found lying in the kitchen of the Mountainâs Group of Companies... and sheâs been... hurt.â My mind couldnât make sense of the words, but the panic in the voice was clear. They told me Mara was still breathing, just barely. Without wasting a second, I ordered the ambulance to be sent immediately. My hands were shaking as I hung up, feeling like the world was collapsing around me. What happened? Who would do this to my little girl? The journey to the company felt like an eternity. Every second, every heartbeat, was filled with dread. I couldnât imagine her in that condition. It felt like the air itself had thickened, and the suffocating fear clung to me. When we arrived, I saw her,
Hamiltonâs POV We had just been celebrating our latest triumph. The business was thriving, and every new plan we executed was a success. We were stealing Lilaâs clients, breaking down her network one piece at a time. The feeling of victory was sweet, and I couldnât help but smile as Mr. Williams and I sat together, discussing how far weâd come. âIâll take you out for coffee,â I told Mr. Williams. âLetâs celebrate. Weâve earned it.â He smiled, clearly as pleased with our success as I was. Just as we were settling into the idea of a relaxing break, a sudden, sharp realization hit me. The Redwood Furniture Company, one of our major suppliers, hadnât responded to our latest inquiry about stock mandates. My stomach turned. We had been relying on them for a crucial shipment, and without it, everything could come crashing down. I glanced at Mr. Williams. âDid they respond to your call?â I asked. He picked up his phone again, dialing the number. But his expression shifted almost immed
**Lailaâs POV** I was determined to get to the root of this. I couldnât let Michaelâs lies go unpunished, especially after everything he had done. The moment I heard they had apprehended the criminal, I knew I couldnât waste time. Without hesitation, I decided to follow Nolan to meet him. As we arrived, I could see the fear in Michael's eyes. He refused to speak unless I gave him something in return. The arrogance in his voice grated on my nerves. "I'll only tell you the truth when you sleep with me," he said, his voice dripping with smugness. I clenched my fists, fighting the surge of anger coursing through me. My company, my reputation, everything I had worked for was hanging by a thread. I was not the type to trust easily, but I had no other choice but to take this step. My heart was pounding, but my face remained steely, betraying no emotion. The knife in my hand gleamed under the dim light, and I stepped closer to him, my eyes narrowing. "Tell me what happened. Why did you d
Lailaâs POV Iâm so thankful for Nolan. Heâs been my anchor, the only person I can trust, especially when everything else around me felt like it was closing in. Every time I thought I couldnât face the overwhelming pressure of these accusations, he would be there, showing up with that reassuring calm in his eyes. I had no idea what this woman and the man with her were planning. I didnât understand why they had come to my hotel, why they were accusing my security team of something so vile. But Nolan always seemed to have a way of cutting through the noise. "Iâm not making any payments until Iâm sure,â I had said to them, trying to stand my ground despite the anger and frustration burning in my chest. âWe need an investigation. Itâs not right to just pay without proof.â But before I could say more, Nolan had pulled me aside, his voice low and urgent. âItâs a setup, Laila. Theyâre trying to ruin us, trying to tarnish the reputation of this hotel. Someone has been targeting us from
**Laila's POV:** Every single day, I walk into the office with the heavy weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. Itâs as if the universe conspires to test me, one problem at a time, with no relief in sight. And yet, I have no choice but to face it. Someone, somewhere, is working against me. Thereâs no other explanation. I can feel their eyes on me, their whispers in the shadows. My rivals, my enemiesâthey are always lurking, waiting for an opening to devour me and, more importantly, my fatherâs company. Iâve spent my entire life building this empire, and now, with the way things are going, it feels like Iâm standing on the edge, waiting to be pushed off. They donât want me here. They donât want me to have this second chance that fate has granted me, but I wonât let them take it away. This is my opportunity to prove myself, to show them all that Iâm not just some helpless pawn. Iâll fight with everything I have. This morning, as I sat in my office, trying to focus on the endle
**Nolanâs POV:** I was famishedâhaving skipped lunch before the board meeting had left me ravenous. My stomach growled in protest as I drove to the restaurant, hoping to grab something quick for a takeaway. The thought of eating at home, away from the suffocating pressure of work, was a comforting one. When I finally got to the restaurant and grabbed my food, the hunger pangs in my stomach intensified, urging me to hurry. As I walked out, my thoughts drifting back to the exhausting day, somethingâor rather, someoneâmade me freeze. A woman bumped into me. I steadied myself and looked up to meet her gaze, and for a moment, I felt a jolt in my chest. She looked exactly like Lila. But something wasnât right. The womanâs eyes held a different glintâsomething that Lilaâs soft, serene gaze would never possess. I knew in that instant. This wasnât Lila, it was someone else. But she was wearing her face. As she looked up at me, the seductive smile that stretched across her lips was all wron