Chapter 125

"Mom, don't listen to her. It's not like that!" Vincent stammered, his eyes darting nervously, his face flushed with guilt.

"Vinny, be a man. Don't you have any backbone?" Layla sneered with contempt.

"You..."

"That's because you're not man enough!" Lucy defended her son with a venomous glare. "A girlfriend? Don't flatter yourself, dear. Vinny was just playing around with you. You were one of his flings, that's all. You should count your blessings he even noticed you."

"I'm sure it was you who took advantage of my innocent, young son, deceiving him with your schemes. I've seen plenty of gold-diggers like you, prowling from the dregs, desperate to marry up."

Layla felt like she'd swallowed a fly upon hearing Lucy's biting comeback. Instead of getting angry, she laughed sarcastically. "I used to wonder how such a despicable man could exist, but after meeting Mrs. Holland, I'm not surprised at all."

That barb hit both mother and son, igniting Lucy's fury. "You're nothing but a filthy cockroach."

"It was her who hit me!" The girl in the pink dress shouted, summoning the bodyguards with a few of her wealthy friends.

"Get her out of here!" commanded Lucy.

Layla took a step back, her demeanor firm. "Nobody has the right to make me leave except for Samuel."

"Get it through your head. This is my party, and if I say you leave, you leave! Your kind only ruins classy events like this. What are you waiting for? Take her out."

"Yes, Miss."

The bodyguards were about to move in.

"Touch her and you won't leave this place alive," a deep, authoritative voice warned.

Layla's eyes brightened, "Samuel."

The others turned pale with fear and rage, but no one dared speak a word against the chilling authority that now filled the room.

The chill in the air seemed to drop suddenly, foreshadowing the drama about to unfold.

Dressed to the nines in a sleek black tuxedo, Samuel stepped beside Layla, his presence a towering fortress. Emboldened by his support, Layla's confidence surged.

The tables had turned.

Lucy broke the tense silence first, "Seriously, Kessie? Look at the caliber of woman you've brought into our home. Attacking a guest at my own dinner party? Presumptuous much? Or perhaps, you brought her here to cause a scene on purpose?"

Samuel let out a derisive snort, his brows arching with a cool defiance, "So what if my woman shakes things up a bit? It's not like we can't afford a little chaos." His arrogant words were tinged with an undeniable fondness, tapping into the envy and desire of the women around them.

Which woman wouldn't want to be indulged without limits by a man of overwhelming power?

Layla was moved. He was the epitome of masculinity, and inside, she was mentally cheering his allure.

"You..." one of the women began.

"Mr. Holland, don't let her innocent act fool you. She laid her hands on me just now. A woman like her isn't worthy of you," the woman in pink hurriedly interjected.

"Absolutely..." another chimed in.

"I didn't hit you; you started it. You threw a flower pot, splashing my dress, and I simply asked for an apology," Layla clarified. She loathed being falsely accused.

"Because you..." the woman in pink attempted to retort.

"What's your name?" Samuel's gaze landed on her, his eyes as formidable as a predatory cat.

"I-I'm Kessie, my father is the CEO of Phoenix Ventures," she stammered nervously.

"Acquire Phoenix Ventures immediately," Samuel instructed Mr. Vandella, who nodded and promptly initiated the process.

The information sank into Kessie's brain after a frozen few seconds. Fear crumpled her pretty features, and she started sobbing, pleading, "Holland-Mr. Holland, please... I didn't mean it. My father, he'll kill me."

"I'm young, naïve... please have mercy..."

"It doesn't concern me whether you're naive or not, but messing with my woman? That's a death wish."

The other daughters of fortune present wore expressions of pure terror, trembling as they stepped back, grateful they hadn't been the ones to toss the flower pot, sparing themselves from financial ruin.

"I-I didn't... It wasn't just me, they also" Kessie pointed at the other women, but they all vehemently shook their heads in denial.

"It was you who bullied Miss Adkins. Don't drag us into this. We did nothing," one of them asserted.

"Exactly, stop making things up."

"You..."

"Were they involved too?" Samuel asked Layla softly.

"Miss Adkins" The spoiled daughters of high society pleaded with Layla with their eyes, looking utterly pitiful.

It was their own fault; they were reaping what they had sown. But Layla thought there was no need to involve their families in such petty squabbles between women. A warning to Kessie should suffice.

"It's nothing; let's forget about it. I can't be bothered to hold a grudge," Layla said nonchalantly.

"Thank you, Miss Adkins," the heiresses sobbed with gratitude.

"Miss Adkins, please, spare me too. It was my fault, I offended you. Would a slap be enough to appease your anger? Miss Adkins, I have a 90-year-old grandmother and younger siblings to care for" Kessie cried, kneeling before Layla, reaching out to embrace her legs.

Layla stepped back.

"Take her away," Samuel ordered.

"Miss Adkins, Mr. Holland... please have mercy" Kessie's desolate cries faded into the distance.

Layla felt a twinge of pity. Had she gone too far?

"What's going on? Why is Kessie being dragged out by the security, sobbing?" Holland hurried over upon hearing the commotion.

"Oh, just up to her usual antics. Kessie was a guest I invited, and here Layla goes bullying her, hurting her feelings. Unaware of why Kessie lashes out and bankrupts Phoenix Ventures just like that. How impressive!" Lucy mocked with a sinister tone.

"What? Bankrupt? Kessie's grandfather is my old war buddy. How can I face him after this?" Holland fumed, thumping his cane on the ground with a clang.

"Dad, don't get too worked up over this. It's not worth it. Kessie's sole focus is on Layla now; she's not concerned with anyone else's life. I wouldn't dare cross her path; who knows, she might even target me!" Lucy added, further fueling the situation.

Jovan chimed in with his own jab, "Exactly. Look at the wounds on my back-her doing. She even threatened to kill me."

"She threatened me just the same," Vincent hurriedly added.

All fingers pointed at Samuel.

Holland, in a rage, pointed his cane at Layla, "You beast, would you make enemies with the entire Holland family for this woman?"