Layla Xander was gravely ill, with little time left. From that day forward, she had a revelation—when confronted with life and death, nothing else mattered. Selfish, leeching family members? She cut them off. A fiancé who proposed one day and cozied up to her 'good sister' the next? Out of her life. With nothing holding her back, she was finally free. Rumors about her slowly began to spread through her social circle. “Miss Xander has landed herself a wealthy benefactor.” “Miss Xander was seen vacationing with a young heartthrob.” “Miss Xander’s fortune has skyrocketed. She’s throwing around millions like it’s nothing.” Later, when the truth came to light, those who had abandoned her were left in tears, begging for forgiveness. Her leeching parents wept, “You’ll always be our sweet daughter. Come back home, won’t you?” Her scumbag ex-fiancé pleaded, “You’re the only one I’ve ever loved. Please, give me another chance.” But it was too late! A man stepped in, blocking everyone from getting near her. His face was cold and menacing as he growled, “Anyone who dares disturb Miss Xander again will leave here with broken legs.” And then, later still, that same man—once so untouchable and feared—knelt on one knee before her. His voice was deep and unwavering. “Whether in life or death, you’ll always be mine.” … William Lucas never claimed to be a good man. As the head of an elite and powerful family, his path had been paved with blood, and his decisiveness struck fear into anyone who dared cross him. No one could have guessed that this untouchable figure, feared by all, had been hiding away a tender place in his heart—for a girl. A secret he had carried for eight long years. Every ounce of gentleness he had was reserved solely for her.
View MoreFollowing Layla’s request, William had the police called in. By the time officers arrived, he had already prepared all the necessary documents—medical reports, evidence, and statements. Levi, Layla’s attending physician, had also shown up early to assist with the investigation. Watching everything unfold so smoothly and efficiently, Layla felt a quiet shock ripple through her. “So, while I was unconscious, William had already planned for this,” she silently remarked. Her gaze shifted toward him, a flicker of gratitude rising in her chest. With the officers' assistance, Layla gave a detailed description of the driver. Moments later, the police produced a sketch. The lifelike face on the white paper startled her. It was exactly him. Xena only stole a brief glance before subtly furrowing her brows. A perfect match. Layla’s memory was annoyingly sharp. Once she nodded in confirmation, the officers carefully put the sketch away. “We’ll do everything
Mrs. Xander rushed forward anxiously. “Xena, are you okay? Did they hurt you?” Xena shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I was just scared… I don’t even know what I did wrong…” Mr. Xander’s expression darkened as he turned to William.“Mr. Lucas, you’ve already found Layla. Can we take Xena home now?”“Don’t you all want to know what she’s done?”Layla forced herself to sit up, her body still weak.Without a word, William reached out to steady her, his grip firm but natural.Then, he lowered his voice just enough for her to hear.“Say whatever you want—I’ve got your back.”Layla froze for a moment, instinctively glancing at him.A warmth spread through her chest, and her confidence grew.Before she could speak, Xena abruptly cut in, panic flickering across her face.“Layla, you begged me to let you go! And I was the one who told Mr. Lucas where to find you!“What are you trying to say now? Are you blaming me for setting you free? Did I force you to run
At the hospital, Layla slowly opened her eyes, momentarily disoriented by the stark white walls.For a moment, it felt like a dream—like she couldn't tell what was real anymore.“Where… am I?” Her voice was hoarse and scratchy. “You’re awake?” William’s hand instantly gripped hers, his voice urgent. “Do you feel any discomfort?” “I…” Layla instinctively tried to move—only to suck in a sharp breath of pain. “Ahh—” “Don’t move.” William gently pressed her down, his voice soft yet firm. “You have two fractured bones and a stab wound in your abdomen. You need complete rest.” Layla’s brows furrowed slightly as she murmured, “So it wasn’t a dream. Xena really tried to kill me.” William didn’t catch her words. “What?” Before she could answer, a chaotic commotion erupted outside. The door was pushed open, and a group of people forced their way into the room despite the guards’ attempts to stop them. Sean rushed straight to her bedside, his face fu
For a brief moment, Xena truly thought she was going to die at William’s hands. But just as she was on the verge of suffocation, he let go. She gasped for air, chest rising and falling violently. The sharp, metallic taste of blood spread in her throat—it hurt to even breathe. “If anything happens to her, you’ll die with her.” His words weren’t a threat. They were a cold, emotionless statement of fact. Xena’s terror spiked. She knew he meant it. No! Layla couldn’t die! Desperate, Xena blurted out, “Mr. Lucas, I don’t know where she was heading, but I saw which direction she went!” William’s piercing gaze locked onto her. “Show me.” *The night was eerily silent as an old van rumbled along a narrow, uneven road, surrounded by towering, two-meter-high wild grass. Inside the van, Layla stirred awake, her head no longer throbbing as violently. The sedative Xena had injected into her had dulled the pain but now, clarity set in. She remained still
Mr. Xander led the family upstairs. But when they reached the room, they found it completely empty. He froze. “No… no way…” Stunned, Mr. Xander turned sharply to Xena, grabbing her by the arm. “Weren’t you watching her? Where is she?” Xena trembled, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn’t even dare to meet William’s gaze.“I… I let her go…” “What?!” Mr. Xander’s eyes widened in fury. “How could you let her go?!” “Dad…” Xena’s eyes filled with tears. “She kept begging me to let her leave when she woke up. I couldn’t bear it.” “You—” Enraged, Mr. Xander shoved Xena toward Mrs. Xander, then turned to William. “Mr. Lucas, as you can see, Layla is already gone.” But William’s eyes never left Xena. “You’re coming with me.” Xena’s face drained of color. “Mr. Lucas, she really left! If you go back now, she’s probably already waiting for you at Luxe Villa…” William didn’t respond. Beside him, Mike immediately stepped forward and dragged Xena aw
“Layla, why are you making things so difficult for yourself? You’re sick. You should’ve just behaved, but instead, you decided to rebel.“If you had just stepped aside and let me have Sean, then quietly died in bed, none of this would’ve happened. At least you would’ve lived a little longer.” Her lips curled into a smirk. “But now? You brought this on yourself.” Xena let out a soft laugh, as if enjoying a private joke. “Once you’re dead, I’ll marry Sean with my child in tow. The entire Xander family will rely on me to keep their status afloat.” Her voice dropped into a whisper. “It won’t be long before they forget they ever had a daughter named Layla.” She clicked her tongue in mock pity. “You really are hard to kill, though. Surviving those two lowlifes and still making it back here? I have to admit, I didn’t see that coming.” Layla gritted her teeth, her fingers digging into the edge of the bed, desperately trying to maintain her composure. Her voice was hoar
Chris hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “Layla, I’ll get your medicine—but you’re not leaving this house.” Since yesterday, William’s men had been searching everywhere for Layla. If he went straight to Levi, it would be like walking into a trap. He needed to find another way. Layla didn’t know what was going through his mind. The only thing she heard was “medicine”, and that alone was enough to make her exhale in relief. “You can have the medicine.” Mr. Xander’s voice cut through the room, his expression unreadable. There was a flicker of concern in his eyes, but his tone remained firm.“But you have to agree to two conditions. First, you cut all ties with William. Second, you go to Mr. Perry Sr. and plead on Xena’s behalf so she can keep her child.” His gaze darkened. “If you don’t agree, you won’t be getting any medicine today.” Mrs. Xander’s face paled. “Honey, you can’t do this! Layla is in so much pain—just let her take the medicine first. Whatever
Over the next few days, Chris needed to get through to Layla and convince her to stay.As long as she was willing to stay, William wouldn’t be able to just take her away by force. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. Besides, Layla is my sister. It’s only natural that I brought her back.” Chris’s voice grew more resolute. “Even if William shows up at our door, he has no right to take her, and I’m not afraid of him.” After reassuring his anxious friend, Chris ended the call. Just then, Xena approached, concern evident in her eyes. “Is William giving you trouble?” Chris turned around and smiled gently. “No, you don’t have to worry.” But Xena still looked uneasy. “If anything happens, don’t carry the burden alone. Bringing Layla home was a decision we all made. We’ll face it together.” Hearing her speak so sensibly, Chris couldn’t help but compare her to Layla. One was considerate and understanding, while the other acted as if the whole family owed her something. The
Thirty minutes later, William strode into the banquet hall, his presence carrying a chilling weight. Without hesitation, he headed straight for the stage and, in one swift motion, snatched the violin from the musician’s hands. The music came to an abrupt stop. Laughter and chatter died down as all eyes turned toward the stage. A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd as they recognized him.What was the infamous William Lucas doing here?“Apologies for the interruption,” William said, his deep voice cutting through the silence. “I’m looking for someone. Has anyone seen Miss Layla Xander?” The moment his words fell, whispers erupted from the guests below. “Layla Xander? The Xander family's daughter? She’s here?” “Look at him—he seems desperate to find her. What’s going on?” *Scarlett rushed onto the stage, barely squeezing through the sea of murmurs. Her expression was laced with frustration. “William, what the hell are you doing? Are you trying to make
“The tumor in your brain is growing rapidly, and its location is quite problematic. The chances of a successful surgery are very low.“If you don’t undergo surgery, you may have less than a year left.” The doctor’s words echoed endlessly in her ears. Layla Xander stumbled out of the hospital in a daze. By the time she got into a cab, the medical report in her hand was already crumpled from her grip. Finally, it dawned on her. She needed to tell her fiancé, Sean Perry, about this. Her hands trembled uncontrollably as she pulled out her phone and typed a message with great difficulty: “Sean, come home early. I have something to tell you.” Suddenly, a loud crash jolted the car, sending it shaking violently. The impact threw her forward, her head hitting the seat in front of her. Pain shot through her skull, and her vision went black for a moment. Chaotic noises erupted all around her. Before she could process what was happening, the car door was yanked open, and...
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