Chapter 118
"Miss Adkins, the boss rushed back as soon as he heard about the incident. He hasn't slept in days and has been constantly searching for you," Mr. Vandella hastily explained.
Layla gazed at the dark circles under Samuel's tired eyes and felt a twinge of sympathy. "You must be exhausted."
"As long as I can find you, it's worth it," Samuel admitted with a heavy heart. "It's my fault you were in trouble. I'm sorry."
That "I'm sorry" carried a weight of guilt.
Layla felt her resolve soften. Was this the first time he ever apologized? She couldn't recall him ever uttering those words before.
She had her grievances against him, but his apology seemed to wipe them all away.
"You think?" she retorted with a hint of playful sarcasm. "Twice in my life I've been kidnapped, both times because of you. Being associated with you means never having a day of peace, always living in fear. It's exhausting."
She was half-teasing, half-complaining, but Samuel took her words to heart. It was his failure to protect her that got her caught up in his turbulent world.
He was all too familiar with the perils that lurked in the shadows, and he had inadvertently dragged her into his dangerous realm. She deserved to thrive in the sunlight, yet he had planted her at the edge of a dark cliff.
Had he known the depth of his future care for her, he might have acted differently.
Seeing the regret in his eyes, Layla softened. "It's okay, I don't blame you. Look, I'm fine. And talk about a twisted family-your dad and brother are something else. You, at least, seem normal."
"Mercilessness runs in the Holland family," Samuel said with a bitter chuckle. If they had any shred of humanity, they wouldn't have treated his mother so cruelly all those years ago.
Layla's mouth went agape, "But aren't you part of the Holland family too?"
"I'm not like them," he said, reassuring himself as much as her. He might not consider himself an angel, but he was no devil either.
"That's true," Layla agreed, acknowledging his semblance of a conscience.
"You seem exhausted. Time to get some sleep," Samuel said softly, stroking her hair and tucking her in.
He leaned down, kissed the top of her head, and recognized the lingering shock in her eyes. "I'll stay right here with you, not going anywhere."
"Maybe you could... sleep beside me? It looks uncomfortable sitting like that, and you must be more tired than I am," she suggested, her concern for him evident.
"Alright," he agreed, touched by her care. Samuel slid into bed beside her and drew her into his arms.
This time, Layla didn't mind the firmness of his embrace. Nestled in the crook of his arm, she felt secure, almost adoring the scent of him, the way it made her head spin with a hint of intoxication.
She couldn't deny it any longer-she was falling for him.
Despite his domineering nature and calculated methods to get her pregnant, Layla found herself increasingly drawn to him over time. She watched, wide awake as she slowly but surely sank deeper.
Exhausted at this moment, Layla didn't want to overthink. She quickly fell asleep.
In one room, a man wrapped his arms around a woman, kissing the top of her head; the atmosphere was peaceful and comforting.
On the other side, Jovan's room was engulfed in an ominous gloom, as if a sinister storm could break out at any moment.
Jovan lay sprawled on the bed while Emily, her hands trembling, tried to remove shards of glass from his back using tweezers.
His muscular back was almost completely covered.
Though Jovan never cried out in pain, each time she plucked a piece from his flesh, Emily's hands shook violently, the sight causing her great distress.
"Damn it, don't stop!" Jovan clenched his teeth tightly, despite the fear evident on his face.
"But I... Ah!" Emily was suddenly yanked toward Jovan, tumbling onto the bed, staring up at him with wide, panicked eyes.
"What's wrong? Dare you disobey my orders now? Do you want to die?" Jovan's face twisted with rage.
"I-I wasn't... I'm just worried about you," Emily stammered weakly, shivering.
"Worried about me? You probably wish I'd died at his hand so you could be free, right? Too bad he didn't even glance your way. Disappointing, isn't it? You wish he had taken you with him, don't you?" He sneered.
Emily bit her lip, wondering if he was mocking her. Mocking her for abandoning the man she loved for money, only to end up like this? Did he despise her?
"Speak up!" Jovan's growl broke the silence.
"I-I didn't," Emily blurted out, her face flush with embarrassment, unable to meet his gaze.
"Didn't? Ha, you must think I'm a fool, obsessing over him in your head. You claim it was for your dad that you were with me, as if it was some sort of sacrifice. Your dad passed away last year, and I didn't stop you from leaving. Yet you stayed, indulging in the lavish lifestyle I provided," Jovan sneered.
Emily's face burned with heat.
She never considered herself a gold digger, but once accustomed to luxury, it was hard to go back. Her expenses now ran into the millions each month. She lived in a mansion, traveled in luxury cars, and didn't blink at the price tags on designer items, basking in the envy of others.
She used to be a dancer, but over the years Jovan had spoiled her to the point of no return; she was now too old to go back to dancing. Even if she taught dance, a monthly salary of ten thousand wouldn't come close to supporting her, let alone maintaining her current lavish lifestyle.
Jovan showered her with luxury but never a dime of his own money. Without savings, sometimes, even as she despised him, the terror of being abandoned by him was greater.
But she sensed that day was drawing near. He had tired of her, and now with another woman by Samuel's side, Emily felt her worth diminishing.
With panic setting in, Emily stammered, "It's not what you think. I-it wasn't him on my mind. Jovan, I'm your girl; it's you I'm thinking about, only you."
Jovan, far from fooled, sickened by the transparency of her thoughts, snapped, "Disgusting wretch, know your place. You're nothing but a high-class call girl I bought! Get out!"
He shoved her away, and Emily's head hit the floor with a thud, beginning to swell instantly.
Tears circled her eyes, but she swallowed her humiliation and muttered, "I'll find you a doctor."
Wiping her tears, she fled the room, her sobs breaking through, "Samuel, I'm sorry... I'm truly sorry..."
Having left him for money, she now faced the consequences of her karma. She deserved it, with no right to seek him out again. Besides, he wouldn't want her, not after Jovan had ruined her.