Chapter 20: Pathetic excuses

Chapter 20: Pathetic excuses When Alekis first asked Layla to call him "father," a small part of her was unexpectedly pleased. Her own father had never treated her like his daughter, but perhaps her father-in-law would. However, she quickly realized how wrong she was. "I am not a liar," Layla snapped, her voice sharp and resolute. "I have no idea what your son has done. Why don’t you call him and ask for the truth before you come here accusing me?" She was done tolerating baseless accusations and wasn’t going to stay silent anymore. "Since there’s nothing more to discuss, Sir, I believe it’s best for you to leave." With that, Layla stood from her seat, gave him a curt bow, and turned on her heel, walking away with fury simmering beneath her composed exterior. She walked briskly, not realizing where she was going until she found herself in a part of the mansion she had never explored before. She paused, catching her breath, then continued down the long, unfamiliar corridor until she reached its end, where an old, ornate door stood waiting in the dim light. Placing her hand on the door, Layla paused when she noticed a fingerprint scanner embedded in the handle, realizing she couldn’t simply push it open. Her curiosity was interrupted by a deep, masculine voice behind her. "Madam, do you wish to enter?" the voice inquired. Startled, she turned around to find a tall man standing there. "Umm... no. I was just curious," Layla replied, slightly flustered. "What’s your name?" she asked, trying to regain composure. "It’s Aiden, Madam. I’m your personal bodyguard, appointed by the Boss," he replied with a soft, reassuring smile. "Hmm. Aiden, can you tell me more about Lucius? I barely know anything about him beyond what I’ve seen on social media or heard through gossip," she suggested, thinking this might be a good opportunity to learn more about her enigmatic husband from someone close to him. Aiden’s expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of hesitation. "What would you like to know, Madam?" he asked carefully. "Is Lucius involved with... the mafia?" Layla asked, her voice dropping as if the walls had ears. "I’m sorry, Madam, but I’m not at liberty to discuss such matters. You’ll need to ask the Master directly," Aiden replied, bowing his head respectfully, avoiding her gaze. Layla sighed but didn’t push further. She knew Aiden wouldn’t betray his loyalty to Lucius, and asking him would get her nowhere. Lucius had always been tight-lipped about his affairs, and she doubted that would change now. "I want to go back," Layla finally said, her voice softer. Without missing a beat, Aiden gestured for her to follow him and led her back to the living room. Layla’s tension eased when she saw that Lucius’s father had left. She headed upstairs to their bedroom, feeling the weight of unanswered questions settle over her. Once inside, she paced the room, her mind racing. "Why do I feel like Orabela is the one spreading rumors about me? Who else would stoop so low?" she muttered under her breath. "She cheated on me with Roderick, and now she’s trying to ruin my life. Well, I’ll make sure Roderick leaves her for good." With a sharp resolve, Layla grabbed her phone and dialed Roderick’s number, having memorized it when they exchanged contacts long ago. The phone rang only once before Roderick picked up. "Layla!" he exclaimed, his voice hurried. "Why didn’t you reply to my messages? I’m sorry about what happened, okay?" His apology sounded practiced and insincere to her ears. "I didn’t call to hear your pathetic excuses," Layla snapped, cutting him off. "Tell Orabela to stop trying to sabotage my life. I’m not the same Layla you used to know—I have my husband now, and I’m not alone. You two deserve each other anyway, so keep dating. No one else would want you." Without waiting for a response, Layla ended the call abruptly and blocked Roderick’s number. She had no interest in hearing more of his lies. A slow smile crept onto her lips as a plan began to form in her mind. "There’s a wedding reception tomorrow," she mused aloud, "and I’m going to make sure Orabela knows her place." ~~~~~ "Layla said that for me?" Orabela muttered in disbelief, her mind racing to process the words. It was hard to believe that the once timid Layla had spoken with such venom. But then again, after what had transpired last night, Orabela wasn’t sure anything Layla did could shock her anymore. She had assumed that once the rumors started spreading, Layla would crumble—retreat into tears and defeat like she always had. Yet, something was different this time. Layla seemed... stronger, more determined. Orabela could hardly recognize the woman she had once underestimated so easily. "Why didn’t you go home? Staying alone in the hotel in this condition isn’t wise," Orabela stated and sat before him on the mattress. She took Roderick’s hand in hers and continued, "Mom desires to see you after I told her about us. If you don’t wish to go home, you can come to my house. I’ll take good care of you or you can let me stay here by your side." Roderick’s mind rang with Layla’s words, which she said on the phone. "Why don’t you apologize to Layla?" Roderick asked. "What do you mean?" Orabela frowned at him. "You started this mess, Bella. You revealed about us without asking me once. Indeed, I proposed to you but that was to keep your heart. Now, Layla is hurt and she’s doing all this," Roderick said. "I won’t apologize to her. She’s the one who is ruining my life. And why are you suddenly soft on her? Doesn’t she annoy you?" Orabela clenched her fists. "I was just suggesting a way to soothe Layla’s anger. That way we both will be safe and can live a peaceful life. Don’t you think? And don’t forget, she’s my aunt now. I need to show her some respect because of my uncle too," Roderick explained to her. "I won’t ever say sorry to that bitch! She is the one who needs to apologize to me. Because of her, I was slapped for the first time, Rick!" Orabela’s eyes brimmed with tears. "Why did you mess with her then? Didn’t I warn you not to do so? My uncle will ruin you if you keep that attitude," Roderick stated in annoyance. Just then, the doorbell rang, bringing a halt to their argument. Roderick decided to check and her eyes widened in shock to see Roger before him.