Chapter 1

Layla's POV

In the ancestral mansion of the wealthy and influential Torres family, a shocking and unimaginable incident was unfolding.

The rain poured down heavily as screams and shattering of glasses could be heard.

"Mom!" I shrieked, my voice piercing the air as I witnessed a shocking scene unfold before my eyes. My grandmother's face was twisted in a fierce scowl as she violently pushed my mother, her words cutting deep like a knife.

"Leave this place, you slut!" she bellowed, her voice echoing through the halls. "Oh, you think we didn't know? You seduced my son into marrying you just to inherit his properties. You poverty-stricken being!" The venom in her words was palpable, her anger and resentment boiling over like a pot left unattended.

We've pretended for far too long," my grandmother's voice dripped with hostility, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "Now that my son is dead, you'll leave this house with nothing! You came here with nothing, but you've managed to produce a bastard. You'll take nothing with you, not a single shred of what rightfully belongs to our family. Leave, and never set foot in this house again!"

With a firm shove, she thrust me towards my mother. "Go with your mother!" she commanded, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. I felt like I was being torn apart.

"Is this what I truly deserve?" My mom asks as tears flowed down her gorgeous face.

"After the love and care I showed this family, after all the sacrifices I made to make sure this family didn't crumble, this is all I get! Being sent out like a slave in the rain?"

The sadness in her voice was visible.

I also broke down in tears. I couldn't bear to see my mother cry.

Where do we go from here? I asked myself.

My mom gave up her dream as an actress for these ungrateful brats, and this is how they treat us?

Emilia, my aunt, broke into laughter. "We owe you nothing, Bitch! Get lost and let's enjoy our inheritance." She said amidst laughter.

"Leave before we call the cops!" My grandmother threatened.

Clad with nothing but a flimsy nightgown, I stood vulnerable and shivering as the rain poured down on me. The icy droplets seeped through my soul, mirroring the chill that had taken hold of my heart.

Is this the end of my life of opulence and extravagance? I wondered, as I stared at the beautiful building that had sheltered me from birth.

I surrendered to the deluge as it soaked through my thin garment and onto my bare skin. Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the raindrops as I succumbed to the abyss of hopelessness.

"Let's go, Layla, darling," my mom's voice was laced with a sense of urgency, as she gazed down at me with tears in her eyes.

"Where to, mom?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear and uncertainty. "We have nowhere to go!" I screamed, refusing to accept the harsh reality that had befallen us.

"Let's hide from the rain first, baby," she said, her voice cracking as she knelt down to my level and enveloped me in a warm embrace. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I couldn't protect you. I'm a terrible mother. I should have fought for what's rightfully yours."

I pulled back, my eyes brimming with tears. "It's okay, mom. I'm sorry too." I took her hand, and we stood up, continuing our journey through the relentless downpour. The universe seemed to be against us, as if the rain was a manifestation of our struggles.

We trudged on, our feet heavy with the weight of our circumstances. Our bank accounts had been seized, leaving us with nothing. The rain poured down, a constant reminder of our plight.

We hailed a taxi and we explained our plight to the driver. We begged him to take us as far away from the neighborhood to a place where our names were unknown to start a new life.

Out of pity, he obliged.

Days turned into weeks, and our struggles only intensified.

My mom took on remote jobs to keep us alive. She worked relentlessly, day and night.

Her beauty gave her privileges wherever she went.

Our lives continued, and in no time we got accustomed to our new life.

One certain evening, I was in school working on a project when I got called by our neighbor, reporting that my mom had slumped.

I rushed straight to the hospital only to hear the most shocking news of my life. "My mom! Cancer!" I exclaimed, refusing to believe the doctor's words. "But how?" I asked, as if he had the answer. Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared blankly at him.

He blinked, seemingly uncomfortable under my intense gaze. "She's been diagnosed with stage four cancer and requires immediate surgery," he explained, his voice detached. "You have only two weeks to raise the $100,000 needed for the operation. If not, she'll...she'll pass away. Time is of the essence." He cleared his throat, his eyes locked on mine from behind his glasses. "Get to work immediately if you want to save your mother."

I felt like my world was crumbling around me. "Why is life so unfair to me?" I lamented, my voice shaking with despair. "First, my dad, and now my mom?" I collapsed to the floor, overcome with grief. "Where am I supposed to get the money?" I cried out in frustration.

"I can't help you further," the doctor said curtly. "Please leave my office."

I dragged myself out, feeling defeated. I racked my brain, trying to think of someone or somewhere to borrow the money from, but my mind was a blank.

I wouldn't be given a loan because I have no job.

I considered reaching out to my father's family, but my pride wouldn't let me.

Just as I felt like giving up, a message popped up on my phone screen, and a glimmer of hope crossed my face.