Layla's life sparkles on the outside—luxury, success, and a marriage to billionaire Aiden Black. But beneath the glamour lies a loveless marriage built on cold convenience. Aiden is a man obsessed with power, keeping Layla at arm’s length as he builds his empire—until Daniel Grayson, the man who shattered her heart years ago, reappears. Now a billionaire rival to Aiden, Daniel returns with a dangerous reputation and an even more dangerous agenda. The moment they meet again, long-buried emotions reignite, and Layla is thrust into a whirlwind of passion, regret, and suspicion. Trapped between two powerful men—one determined to keep Layla and the other driven by vengeance. Layla must decide: reclaim her lost love with Daniel or remain in Aiden’s golden cage.
Lihat lebih banyakDANIEL —If anyone had told me that this would be this tough, I wouldn't have believed it.Never in my life have I seen a servant reject a million-dollar deal just to protect his boss. Maverick is such a dumbass, and I hope he didn't realize I was the one behind this deal.I exhaled deeply and took out my phone to call my advisor."Hello, man. What's up?"Richard sighed in disbelief as he heard my voice. "I'm genuinely surprised, Mr. Daniel. I never thought he'd reject the offer," he uttered."That's exactly why I called you, so what do we do now, Richard? I need this man taken down." I replied, my voice reeking of desperation."You don't have to worry, Mr. Daniel. Nothing is ruined. I'm glad Aiden's lawyer didn't disclose our identity to Maverick," he stated, sending a sense of relief to my body."Come to think of it, Mr. Daniel, we've compromised Aiden's lawyer, so that's a win."A smile crept onto my lips at his statement. Since we've compromised Aiden's lawyer, I think we've got h
AIDEN —I was sitting on the terrace of my hotel room, enjoying the beautiful, mind-relaxing breeze, sipping from a cup in my hand filled with coffee while waiting for Maverick's feedback. Since he had left for a business negotiation in the morning, I hadn't seen or heard from him. None of his phone numbers were going through. I had been restless since then, which is why I decided not to go home and wait for him here, as I am more accessible to him at the hotel. Moreover, he was with me here in the morning before leaving, so he would likely come back here if he returns today.I waited until it was a few minutes to ten o'clock when it dawned on me that something had gone wrong."What if the so-called business proposal was a scam orchestrated by Daniel?" A thought echoed in my mind. I placed the coffee on the table, sprang from my seat, and left for my hotel room.Hastily, I put on my shirt and dashed out of the room, heading to the elevator for downstairs. I went to the reception
LAYLA —About twenty minutes after the chat with Gray, my phone began ringing, and it was Aiden.I accepted the call and placed the phone to my ear. "Hello.""Hello, Layla. I won't be home tonight. Make sure everything is in order," he said and ended the call.I felt a sense of relief, knowing that I was free to go to the appointment I had with Gray. However, I was also scared because I knew Aiden was unpredictable. He might have said that to me in order to make me feel unmonitored and do something fishy without my knowledge he has someone monitoring me or he might even come back tonight.Even though Aiden wasn't at home, I knew I would still face a hassle leaving the compound because his guards were watching me. I needed to find a way to leave without being seen by them; otherwise, they would definitely block my way. If I stubbornly left, they would have to inform Aiden when he returned the next day."I think the best idea is to bribe one of the security guards to make this mission sm
LAYLA—"Hi," he said to me with a charming, warm smile."Hi," I replied with a neutral expression. Although I was captivated by his handsome features, I tried to remain neutral and resist the temptation."Seems you're alone?" The young man pressed on."Yeah," I snapped. "Although I'm..."I couldn't finish when he threw a pack of cheese to me. "You should keep yourself busy with that while you enjoy the cinema. My name is Gray, by the way," he commented."Well, it's just cheese," I said inwardly and began munching on the cheese while my gaze fixated on the cinema. However, thoughts of the young man couldn't leave my head. Was it his kindness or his handsome features? Man is something else!As the show ended, Gray turned to me. "I believe you enjoyed the show." He asked with a charming smile, and I nodded, blushing."This is my card. Maybe when you're bored, you can call me, and we can go out and chill," he said, winking at me flirtatiously. I couldn't resist the temptation. This was wha
LAYLA —I must say this month is the worst month of my marriage, especially the past few days. It has been drama upon drama, trouble upon trouble.I was still happy that people were realizing that my life isn't really what they think it is when things took a drastic turn. The media blog, which has been posting about Aiden's dark side and how he kept me as his handbag, suddenly started debunking the news.It all started from the most renowned blog, CBC News, which claimed that their account was hacked at first and that they weren't responsible for spreading the rumors.I let out an exasperated sigh and stood up from my bed to go greet Aiden as usual before he leaves for work.Nonetheless, when I walked to his room door, it was still locked, but when I knocked, he stated that he's busy and doesn't need disturbance as if I came to disturb him.He didn't even allow me to say a word, so I just quietly turned back and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.Although we have a lot of maids
DANIEL—Just when I thought I had achieved a great win, I was devastated by the news that CBC News Channel had debunked the news about Aiden and even the one about his marriage to Layla."How much could he have paid them for the collateral damage?" I thought deeply, confused about what to do next.I took out my phone and called my adviser so we could discuss the matter and determine the next step. I didn't want to make any decisions on my own to avoid making a devastating mistake.The phone rang for a few seconds, and he picked up. "Hello, Mr. Daniel. Good morning. How are things going?" The young man on the other end of the call inquired in a friendly tone.I breathed a sigh and gulped hard. "Richard, I'm deeply disappointed to hear this question from you when you're aware of the issue we're tackling lately," I snapped, not masking the feeling of disappointment in my tone."I'm deeply sorry, Mr. Daniel. What's the matter this time?""Haven't you been online? Things are taking a drama
Words cannot express how I felt upon returning from the restaurant. All my plans for damage control in the media have been shattered by Layla. However, I must find other ways to curb the rumors and protect my image and reputation.I tried as much as I could to prevent myself from setting my eyes on Layla, let alone confronting her, because it would not end well for her. Out of anger, I might strangle her, and her death would only prove the allegations in the press to be true. I don't want to add salt to injury.I was boiling with rage. How could she challenge me and have the audacity to leave before me during a lunch date I organized for a purpose?"It must be Daniel who's backing her up because the Layla I know has no say when I give her instructions at home, let alone outside where eyes are on us," I concluded, gritting my teeth with irritation.I took a deep breath and finally went to my wardrobe to undress. I had slumped on the mini cushion chair in my room upon returning from the
LAYLA—My heart pounded in my chest at the question. I didn't know what to request to please him. It wasn't about choosing less expensive food. Aiden is a billionaire, so the most expensive food here isn't even up to a fraction of his wealth.I was afraid to request something less valuable to him because I'm sure everything we're going to eat here would be posted online so he could appear as the best husband who spoils his wife with lunch dates and more.I swallowed hard and randomly selected rice and chicken from the menu presented by the waitress.I expected him to react, but he was cool. He even chose the same thing I did, and the waitress left to get our orders."I believe you know why we're here." Aiden remarked, his nonchalant and icy tone creating a deep pit in my heart, reminding me of the reality of my marriage."Yes, I do," I stuttered, losing my appetite instantly. The food in front of me suddenly felt like a punishment."Good. Now eat. As time goes on, I'll tell you what t
Layla—I couldn't shake off the thoughts about what has been trending in the media about my marriage with Aiden.Although I was somewhat happy that people would realize that my life isn't as cozy as they think, I was scared that Aiden would think I'm the one who did that because no other person knows about our marriage."It must be the handiwork of Daniel, as he's determined to uncover Aiden and bring him down," I mumbled, sighing in regret. Right now, I regret involving myself in this rivalry because I'm not certain if Daniel is doing this because of me or if he's only after what he'd gain.I was still lost in my reverie of thoughts when my phone awakened in sign of an incoming call.Upon glancing at the screen and noticing that it's Aiden, my heart sank into my stomach."Good afternoon, honey," I greeted him as soon as I answered."Where are you?" That was his first remark, ignoring to respond to my greeting. His voice was a mix of rage and ice."I—I'm at home, at the playground," I
LAYLA — The elegant ballroom was alive with the sound of clinking champagne glasses and soft chatter. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, admiring the sparkling city lights of Manhattan. My life seemed as glamorous as the view from the outside. I was married to Aiden Black, a billionaire venture capitalist known for his ruthless business acumen and unmatched success. Aiden was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the country, turning heads wherever he went. I, the stunning and poised socialite, as people mostly call me, was the perfect accessory by his side. Beneath the surface, our marriage was just a facade, a beautiful lie. The glamorous parties, designer clothes, and luxurious lifestyle couldn’t fill the emptiness in my heart. I had learned long ago to accept the icy distance between us, the love that had never been there. Aiden was more concerned with his business empire than me. He had always been that way—detached, ambitious, and laser-focused on success....
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