Chapter 203
A wave of surprise washed over Layla, causing her to jolt in place.
"I... I'm sorry," she stammered, attempting to untangle herself from the warmth of Anthony's embrace. However, his grip remained unyielding, holding her close to his chest.
The rhythmic thumping of a heartbeat echoed in her ear, a sound that was not her own but belonged to Anthony. The rapid pulsations caused her own heart to flutter in response. As she lifted her gaze to meet his, she noticed the deepening shade of red that was spreading across his face, his breaths coming out in quick, heated bursts.
The heat from his body seeped into hers, igniting a warmth that left her feeling flustered. "Anthony..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I'm okay now," she reassured him, her hand fumbling to find the car seat in an attempt to push herself up. Despite her struggles, Anthony's arm only drew her in closer, causing her body to stiffen in discomfort.
His face loomed over hers, his gaze as fierce as a burning flame, taut with tension. "Layla..." he murmured, his hot breath fanning across the tip of her nose. "Don't you understand my feelings for you?"
A buzzing sensation filled Layla's head, momentarily erasing her thoughts. Yet, in the midst of the blank void, a voice echoed: It's finally come...
She had always convinced herself that Anthony's feelings for her were nothing more than friendship and gratitude. However, she had sensed that there was more to it than that.
"I like you, Layla."
"Let me go first," she requested, exerting a significant amount of effort to free herself from his grasp.
"I'm sorry, that was too forward of me," Anthony admitted, his gaze darting around nervously like a child caught in the act. A mixture of unease and embarrassment painted his features, but despite the internal chaos, he couldn't suppress his emotions.
Even the most logical minds couldn't resist the allure of love.
"But I'm serious about you, Layla. I-" he began, only to be interrupted by Layla's clear and decisive voice.
"I'm sorry, I already have a boyfriend," she declared.
Her words left Anthony stunned, his body frozen in place as a look of pure astonishment etched itself onto his face. He found himself struggling to breathe.
With his throat constricted by emotion, even speaking seemed like an insurmountable task. "You... you..." he stammered, his voice rough with disbelief. "You have a boyfriend?"
"Who is it?"
"You can ask Nora," Layla replied coolly, her gaze unwavering. Determined to set the record straight, she didn't shy away from his questioning gaze, meeting it with honesty. "Nathan?"
"Is that what she told you?" Layla asked, a nonchalant smile playing on her lips.
"No? Then why would she..." A shocking realization suddenly dawned on Anthony.
His face, previously flushed with agitation, turned ashen. "Samuel?"
Despite his shock, Anthony's tone was confident, and Layla didn't deny it. "How can you be with him?" Anthony demanded, his usual composure slipping. "He's an extremely cold person, not right for you."
The moment Layla heard this, she immediately leapt to her man's defense without hesitation. "You think Samuel is cold because you don't understand him. He has a warm heart."
"Samuel has been engaged to the Eilish family for years, yet he's been stringing Nora along."
"That engagement was the doing of the Holland family. Samuel never agreed to it."
"But he never denied it, either." Anthony, who seldom got emotional about someone, couldn't hide his hostility toward Samuel. "If Samuel didn't want to be in the engagement, no one could have pressured him. Yet, he never made it clear to Nora, and after letting her feelings deepen, he hurt her like that."
"If you think that publicly rejecting the marriage is right, then that's just naive. If he could do that to Nora, he could do the same to you."
Growing increasingly exasperated, Layla held her ground. "I am not Nora," she declared, "and the fate that befell them will not befall Samuel and me. You have no right to pass judgment without understanding the nature of our relationship. Samuel treats me with kindness and respect, and we are deeply in love."
Her statement was resolute, a testament to the depth of their affection. Their bond seemed unbreakable, as solid as stone. Any attempt to sever it felt almost criminal, a violation of something pure and true.
Anthony was momentarily struck dumb.
A tumult of emotions raged within him: worry and disappointment for Layla, jealousy towards Samuel. For the first time in his life, he had developed feelings for a girl, only to be rebuffed by Layla.
But feelings, he knew, could not be forced.
No matter how influential he was, Anthony could not win the heart of a woman who did not reciprocate his feelings. He refused to coerce her into something she did not want.
Anthony's emotions eventually settled, but a trace of disappointment lingered in his eyes. "You're right," he conceded, "it's your life, and you have the right to make your own decisions. My words hold no weight."
Yet, Anthony couldn't help but worry about Layla, afraid that she might get hurt.
"If you've chosen him, you must have your reasons to love him. I wish you happiness," he said, remorse tinging his voice. "I apologize for my earlier abruptness."
Layla nodded in acknowledgment. "I know you care. But Samuel truly treats me well. He adores me and makes me feel cherished. I've never been treated so well before."
Anthony managed a bitter smile. He could have treated her the same way, but now it was too late.
Love, after all, was a matter of timing...
Despite his regret and disappointment, Anthony chose to sincerely wish for Layla's happiness.
"Can we still be friends?" Layla asked, not wanting to lose a kindred spirit.
"Of course," Anthony replied, forcing a smile despite the pain in his heart.
Meanwhile, at the Eilish family home...
"Bro, have you been drinking?"
"Brother? What's wrong? I've been calling you, but you didn't respond."
Anthony's gaze slowly focused on Nora.
His emotions were a whirlwind.
He felt drained, merely shook his head, and slumped onto the couch, carelessly discarding his tie.
"Did you go networking? I'll have the maid make you some hangover tea."
"Nora..." Anthony interrupted her, "I confessed my feelings to Layla today, and she told me she's dating Samuel. You knew about this, didn't you?"
"So when you said she betrayed Nathan, you were trying to slander her in front of me?" Anthony's brow furrowed.
Nora bit her lip. "I wasn't slandering her, I was stating facts. I helped Nathan when he was pursuing her, but she immediately moved on to Samuel. Layla always knows how to climb the social ladder with men."
"Layla's not that kind of person."
"How well do you know Layla?"
"Layla is the one who saved my life at the orphanage."
"What's it to you? People change. Have you ever looked into Layla's family background? Women raised in those kinds of environments are often desperate for money, and they are willing to do anything to get it. She'll use whatever means necessary to climb to the top..."
Anthony thought of Sarah. Indeed, one's early family life can impact who they are. But Layla was different; she was still the same kind-hearted girl she had always been.
It was because of Layla's innocence that Anthony worried she might get hurt by being with Samuel. It never crossed his mind that Layla might be with Samuel for financial gain or social status.
"Samuel likes Layla for a reason, and you shouldn't blame everything on a girl," he said.
Nora couldn't help but laugh.
Yeah, she used to think like that too - that only brainless women confronted the other woman, while smart women figured out how to deal with the man.
But as it turned out, she was wrong; it wasn't possible to destroy a relationship from one side alone. As the victim in a love triangle, Nora couldn't help but despise the other woman. She believed every 'other woman' was guilty and deserved to go to hell.
Especially a woman like Layla, who used her innocent looks to deceive men; dying a hundred times wouldn't be punishment enough.
Nora regretted not acting when she had the chance.
But now, any last bit of kindness in her had been worn away by Layla; she wouldn't go easy on her again.
"Given the situation, even if you can't understand or bless, at least don't place the blame on Layla. She's innocent."