William didn’t respond. Levi didn’t dare push his luck any further and waved a hand dismissively. “Alright, alright. We’ve known each other long enough—no need to be so formal. Miss Xander is my patient. Helping her is just what I’m supposed to do.”But the truth was, he wasn’t just trying to save Layla, he was trying to save William too. If something really happened to her, he couldn’t even begin to imagine what William would turn into.Early the next morning, Levi stopped by for rounds. After checking Layla’s wounds and going over the usual precautions, he casually mentioned that he would be taking some time off. Layla looked surprised. “You’re suddenly taking time off?” “Don’t worry. Before I leave, I’ll make sure everything is set. The doctor covering for me is one of my med school juniors. I’ve given him strict instructions to keep a close eye on you.” He offered a reassuring smile. “Just keep cooperating like before, and everything will be fine.” “That’s
“Obviously, Uncle William told me,” Carter said matter-of-factly. “He was worried about your mental state, so he told me to put work on hold and come back to keep you company.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Carter realized something was off. He turned to Levi, looking nervous. “Uh… Levi, was I not supposed to say that?” Levi sighed in exasperation. “Does it even matter now? You already did.”Layla frowned. “Why wouldn’t you be allowed to say it?” “Uh…” Carter hesitated, at a complete loss. He obviously couldn’t just blurt out that his uncle liked her—that was why he was so meticulous about everything.Levi stepped in smoothly. “William was just worried you’d feel too pressured.”He glanced at Carter knowingly. “I’m guessing your uncle told you to say you just happened to finish work and heard the news after you got back.”Carter immediately took the easy way out. “Exactly! That’s exactly what he told me! Levi, no wonder you’ve been friends with him for so many years
For the next two hours, Xena was in pure agony. She was so frustrated she could have strangled Carter on the spot. Finally, the hospital room door swung open, and Carter strolled out, casually humming a tune. The moment she saw him, Xena’s tears welled up instantly. “Mr. Carter, I’m really exhausted. Can I take a break before continuing? You wouldn’t want someone collapsing right outside my sister’s hospital room, would you?” Carter arched a brow. “You’ve barely been kneeling.”He shoved his hands into his pockets, looking down at her with a lazy smirk. “You’re the mastermind behind an attempted murder, and you can’t even handle kneeling for a little while? How are you planning to survive prison?” “You…” Xena’s face turned pale with panic. “I swear I didn’t do it! Why won’t you believe me?” “Still playing innocent?” Carter let out a mocking laugh. “My uncle already found the driver. Haven’t you noticed he hasn’t been around today? That’s because he’s with the poli
Layla held up her phone for Carter to see, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Looks like the fish took the bait.” “That fast?” Carter’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Damn, if I’d known, I would’ve come back sooner! My acting skills would’ve been put to good use!”“If you came back earlier, Xena would’ve still been under police investigation. There wouldn’t have been a chance for her to make that call.”Carter scratched his head. “Good point. They needed time to track him down. If we said we found him too soon, Xena wouldn’t have bought it.”Layla tucked her phone away. “We still need to keep an eye on Xena. If she senses something’s off, she might panic and pull something reckless.”“Exactly!” Carter glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned. “She made the call a while ago, but she still hasn’t come back? I’ll have someone check the restroom.”He turned to the bodyguards outside the door. “Go see if she’s in the bathroom.”Half an hour later, a bodyguard rushed back,
“Do you really think they’d stop talking just because I hide?”Layla yanked her hand free. “I’m not going to stick my head in the sand. Pretending this isn’t happening won’t make it go away.”“But—” Carter hesitated, looking uneasy.“Didn’t you just say we have enough people? What, are you actually worried the Xanders will hurt me?”“Not a chance!”Mike stepped forward, his voice firm. “As long as I’m here, no one will lay a finger on Miss Xander.”Carter hesitated a moment longer before sighing in defeat. “Fine, we’ll do it your way—for now. But if things go south, you listen to me. If I say we leave, we leave.”Layla nodded, her gaze shifting past Carter’s shoulder toward the maternity ward’s operating room, her expression unreadable. What a coincidence. Xena had just finished making that phone call, and now she had lost the baby. They say even a tiger wouldn’t eat its own cub, but Xena? She was willing to sacrifice her own child to achieve her goal. How ruthles
“She was the one who chose to kneel. From start to finish, I never forced her.“And let’s be real—those legs belong to her, don’t they? If she wanted to stop, I wouldn’t have stopped her. But she insisted on playing the victim, and now she’s played herself right into losing her own child. Who else is there to blame?“We’re all adults here. She made a choice, and choices come with consequences.”Layla turned to Xena, a faint, almost taunting smile on her lips. “Didn’t you say that whatever happened, you’d take full responsibility? Those were your own words, weren’t they?”Xena froze, staring blankly at Layla, as if unable to process how effortlessly she had deflected the blame.Seeing Layla’s indifference, Mr. Xander seethed, his chest tightening. “Your sister just lost her child, and you have the nerve to stand here making sarcastic remarks? Do you even have a heart?!”Layla flashed a brilliant smile. “I don’t know, Mrs. Xander—did you remember to give me one when you gave birth
Shane scoffed. “Evidence? Didn’t you say you’d show us proof if we asked? Well, where is it?”“We have it!” Carter shot back, frustration thick in his voice. “Xena contacted that driver today. The police traced the call and pinpointed a location!“For all we know, they’ve already caught him! Once the evidence piles up, let’s see how you keep defending her then!” Layla sighed inwardly, too late to stop him. This kid never thought before he spoke. But still, she caught it—a fleeting moment of panic flashing across Xena’s face. So the number was right. Chris frowned and turned toward Xena. “What number? Who did you call?” “I didn’t—” Xena frantically shook her head, eyes wide with feigned innocence. “I just answered a wrong number. It wasn’t the driver at all.” She turned to Layla, her voice trembling. “Layla, are you really not going to let me go?” Tears streamed down Mrs. Xander’s face as she threw her arms around Xena, shielding her. “Don’t be scared, sweethea
“You…!” Mr. Xander was furious, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white. “Fine. I see how it is. You’ve grown wings and forgotten where you came from! We should’ve never brought you back in the first place!” “Layla, why are you still so stubborn?!” Mrs. Xander sobbed, her entire body trembling. “What does the Xander family owe you?!” Owe? Wasn’t she simply asking for what was supposed to be hers? A father’s love. A mother’s care. A sibling’s protection. Were those things she was supposed to beg for? Layla’s chest tightened with bitterness, but her smile only grew colder. “It’s not me who refuses to change. It’s you.” There was no point in arguing anymore. Layla made up her mind, her voice steady and unwavering. “I’m not letting Xena off the hook. There’s nothing to discuss.” “Fine.” Chris’s gaze turned ice-cold. “If this is how you want it, then the Xander family won’t back down either. We’ll make sure Xena gets justice.” Layla let o
Mr. Perry Sr. sat at the head of the table, with William and his eldest son, Wilfred Perry, seated on separate sofas beside him.Meanwhile, the two younger men—Sean and Felix Perry—were left standing.Sean was an illegitimate child, whereas Felix was the rightful firstborn. The two had been at odds since childhood, constantly competing in the shadows. Felix wasn’t as sharp as Sean, but he had received far more paternal affection. Over the years, Wilfred had taken him under his wing, guiding him in expanding the family's overseas business and personally grooming him for the future. Now that both had grown into capable men, their ambitions for the heir position were no longer hidden. Tonight, as soon as William arrived, he brought up one of Felix’s overseas projects—one that had helped strengthen business ties between the Lucas and Perry families. His words were full of praise, subtly painting Felix as a talented and promising young man. Mr. Perry Sr., delighted by the flat
“Sis, how can you think like that? You’re not going to die, you hear me? We’ll spend the New Year together—not just this year, but next year, and for many, many more years to come…” By the time Carter finished speaking, two silent tears had already slipped down his face. He quickly wiped them away with the back of his hand, then grumbled, “I don’t care what you say. Without my permission, you’re not allowed to die.” Layla chuckled. “Oh? And what, are you the Grim Reaper now?” “You’re still laughing!” Carter huffed, pretending to be angry. “It’s all because of your nonsense. Stop saying such ridiculous things!” “I think it sounds kind of romantic, though…” “Romantic, my ass!” Carter didn’t even bother arguing. He just peeled an orange and stuffed two slices straight into her mouth. “Eat more, talk less. Fill your head with good thoughts instead of all this death nonsense. As long as my uncle is around, you’re not going anywhere.” Layla chewed the orange, but it t
Layla was lost in thought, so much so that she didn’t even notice William standing at her bedroom door for quite some time. “What are you thinking about?” The sudden voice startled her. She sat up in a hurry, looking toward him. “When did you get here?” “I’ve been here for a while.” William walked over to the hospital bed and casually asked, “What did Kiera want from you?” “She seems to think Sean still has feelings for me, so she came asking me to put in a good word for her. She wants me to tell him to move on so they can get engaged smoothly.” Layla let out a mocking laugh. “Miss Jenkins is certainly… naïve. Imagine asking your boyfriend’s ex to help you win him over. Honestly, it’s a miracle I didn’t slap Sean when I saw him. “She wants me to play matchmaker? I was this close to telling her I’d rather curse Sean to never know love and die alone.“Besides, I don’t even think he still has feelings for me.” Layla paused, lost in thought for a moment. “It’s just
Kiera looked at Layla, her eyes shining as if she could see her past self reflected in her. “Now that I finally have a chance to be with him, I don’t want to give up. I believe he’s still the same boy I remember. Deep down, he’s not a bad person.” For a moment, Layla was almost convinced. Back then, Sean had indeed been dazzling—full of ambition and charm. She had once clung to that same illusion, hopelessly devoted to him. Until the day she finally woke up and realized that the man Sean had become was nothing special. A filter was just a filter—it was bound to crack one day. Some people were better left in memories. “Have you ever heard of the suspension bridge effect?” Layla suddenly thought of the psychological theory and blurted out the question. “Huh?” Kiera looked confused. “The suspension bridge effect is when someone in a tense or dangerous situation mistakes their heightened emotions for attraction to a person nearby,” Layla explained seriously. “Bas
“Go ahead and set your things down. Whatever you have to say, take a seat and say it.” Layla gestured for Kiera to sit, hoping to steer the conversation away from unwanted questions. For some reason, that question just now had made her heart beat a little faster. She had always thought her relationship with William was straightforward, yet the moment it was brought up, a strange sense of unease crept in. Thankfully, Kiera didn’t seem too eager to pry. After placing the gift bag on the table, she took a seat in a separate armchair. Her gaze landed on Layla’s knitted beanie, and a hint of pity flashed in her eyes. “Miss Xander, you’re so young. It’s just not fair that you have to go through this.” Layla chuckled lightly. “The world’s too crowded for luck to keep tabs on everyone. A few getting overlooked is just how it goes.”Seeing her still in the mood to joke, Kiera relaxed a little. “Don’t overthink things. Just focus on getting better.” “At this stage, it’s the
Layla answered each of Mr. Perry Sr.'s questions, casually mentioning that her father had already declared their ties severed and that she no longer had anything to do with the Xander family. Mr. Perry Sr. let out a pleased chuckle. “They were never worthy of being your family. From now on, you don’t need to waste another second worrying about them.“I wasn’t planning to invite them to my birthday celebration anyway.” He smoothly shifted the conversation. “But you must come.” Layla hesitated. “I don’t think I can make it. My chemo starts in a couple of days. I can’t leave the hospital.” “This…” Mr. Perry Sr. sounded genuinely disappointed. “That’s such a shame…” After a brief pause, he forced a lighthearted laugh. “No worries! Once you recover, you can come to my birthday party every year.” Then, his voice softened with a rare seriousness. “Layla, you have to get better.” She could hear the sincerity in his words—the deep, unspoken concern behind them. Not want
Fighting back the nausea, Layla forced herself to take a closer look at the body, carefully confirming the suspect’s identity.Once the police had recorded her statement, they dismissed her, telling her to go home and wait for further updates.Back at the hospital, Layla ran right into Xena, who was getting discharged. The Xander family crowded around her, fussing over her like attendants catering to a queen.The image was so ridiculous that Layla almost burst out laughing.“Layla Xander! You actually have the nerve to show up here?” Shane was the first to spot her, immediately stepping in front of Xena like a human shield. “What now? Trying to throw more dirt on Xena?“Didn’t you swear up and down that you had evidence? And now? Nothing. Just baseless accusations. Do you think the law bends to your will?” Layla shot him a look—one reserved for the truly dim-witted. “You’ve been here for days, and you still haven’t gotten your head checked? What a waste of a hospital stay
“We live in a lawful society.” Chris sighed, shaking his head. “No matter how powerful William is, even he can’t just take lives like they’re nothing.” “But…” Shane swallowed hard. “That guy is really dead.” “Enough.” Mrs. Xander finally snapped, unable to listen any longer. “Stop talking about death. It’s giving me chills.” Her gaze fell on Xena, eyes brimming with concern. “No matter what happens, we have to protect you. We can’t let you suffer any more harm. If Layla—” She caught herself, remembering how heartlessly Layla had severed ties with them. Her expression turned cold. “If Layla dares to slander you again, I’ll be the first to make her pay!” “Mom…” Xena’s eyes shimmered with emotion as she reached for her mother’s hand. “As long as you all believe in me, I don’t care what anyone else says.” “That’s your problem, Xena! You’re too soft. That’s why Layla walks all over you!” Shane huffed, his frustration evident. Xena shook her head, placing a gentle
“I…” Xena bit her lip, fear creeping into her voice. “I thought everything was going smoothly. I didn’t expect to fall into their trap. You have to help me.” “Layla is already as good as dead.” The man’s voice was low and cold. “All you had to do was wait. She’ll be gone soon enough. And you couldn’t even manage that? Pathetic.” Xena scrambled to explain. “I know I was too impatient! But help me this once, and I promise—I’ll listen to you from now on. I’ll do whatever you say.” Silence. Xena’s heart pounded in her chest, her grip tightening around the phone. If he refused, she had no one else left to turn to. Then, finally, he spoke. “He’s already taken care of.” The man's voice was low and chilling, like something straight out of hell.“Don't ever make me clean up your mess again. You're a damn nuisance.”The call ended abruptly.Xena clutched her phone, frozen for a moment before realization sank in. Then, her lips curled into a slow, triumphant smile.Relief