Chapter 21

Layla's shirt was torn, revealing a large expanse of smooth skin. She was pressed into the corner of the car seat like a little rabbit driven to desperation, panicked and helpless.

She shouted, "Let me go."

Samuel's lips and tongue invaded, domineeringly plundering her sweetness, making it hard for her to breathe.

She thought, 'Was he really going to force me in the car?'

Layla was so scared she started crying. "Please don't do this to me."

"Please..." she cried, her tears mixing with the blood on her lips, a strong taste of iron filling Samuel's mouth.

He couldn't help but frown, taking a deep breath and stopping his assault.

"Please stop..." Layla pleaded for his mercy, curling up into a ball, her face full of tears, her lips still bleeding. She trembled, looking so fragile and pitiful.

Samuel propped one hand above her head, his breathing erratic, his collar disheveled. The lust on his face hadn't completely faded, but his heart was gradually filled with pity and irritation.

He thought, 'How could I do this to a young girl? Am I crazy?'

However, he was in a bad mood, which made him act out of character in a fit of anger.

Samuel never needed to use force on a woman.

He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her, then sat to the side.

Layla's tears fell like broken beads as she sobbed uncontrollably. She shouted, "Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong? You betrayed our four-year relationship. How could you be with my best friend?" Her throat was too sore to continue.

She cried because he bullied her, which annoyed Samuel, but crying for Vincent annoyed him even more. He frowned and snorted coldly. "Is a cheating man worth your tears? What do you see in him?"

"He was good to me." Layla sobbed. "No one has ever been that good to me. He said he would protect me for life and give me a home. I don't have a home. They are a family, and I'm an outsider."

She continued, "I want a home. It doesn't have to be big, just cozy. I wanted to wake up with him every morning and say good morning, go to work together, hold hands on the way home, buy groceries, and cook together."

Samuel couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted coldly, "You can forget about that now!"

Layla wiped her tears, choking. "I want to get out of the car."

"Do you want to go back to school and face those two?" Samuel's face was stern. "Come home with me."

Layla felt even more heartbroken, saying bitterly, "That's your home. I don't have a home."

Samuel felt uncomfortable. "Come with me, or get a hotel room, your choice."

Layla immediately stopped crying, looking at him nervously.

He said, "Relax. I have no interest in a crying woman!"

Half an hour later, the car arrived at Hillside Manor.

Layla was a bit apprehensive, not daring to get out of the car. She thought she must be crazy to follow him into the lion's den.

Samuel got out first. Seeing her still hesitating and hiding in the car, his face darkened, "Do I need to carry you out?"

Layla had no choice but to comply. Anyway, it was too late to run away now.

"Mr. Holland, you're back." The butler, Elbert Morris, was surprised to see Layla.

"Layla, this is the butler, Mr. Morris," Samuel introduced briefly. "Arrange a guest room for her."

Elbert replied, "Yes, Mr. Holland. Ms. Adkins, this way, please."

Hearing about the guest room, Layla felt a bit relieved and quickly followed Elbert.

The exterior of the villa was grand, while the interior was even more luxurious, like a small castle, with every piece of furniture looking priceless.

Layla, being a design student, knew that even a painting on the wall could cost millions of dollars. The Hillside Manor was in a top-tier wealthy area, with each house worth billions of dollars.

'Is it even possible for a sex worker to amass a hundred-billion-dollar fortune?' Layla felt a twinge of doubt.

Following Elbert up to the third floor, a strange question suddenly popped into her mind.

"Does he often bring women back here? If it's inconvenient, you don't have to answer." Layla regretted asking immediately.

Elbert was quite candid and replied, "You are the first female guest Mr. Holland has brought home."

Layla thought, 'It made sense. He would obviously spend the night at the client's place, not bring them to his own home.'

Elbert opened a room door and said, "You'll be staying here from now on."

Layla quickly waved her hand and refused, "I'm staying for one night. I'll leave in the morning."

Elbert smiled but said nothing. If Samuel brought her back once, there would be a second and third time. He was a bit surprised that Samuel would like such a young girl. He thought a mature and gentle type would suit Samuel's taste better. Nora Eilish was that type, but Samuel...

He shouldn't be curious about the master's preferences. Elbert nodded. "You should rest early. Good night."

"Good night." Layla closed the door and locked it.

The room was her favorite minimalist style. Layla habitually took a serious tour around.

If she wasn't mistaken, this villa should have been designed by Nathan Marley, a Pritzker Architecture Prize winner and her idol.

She had only seen his work in magazines before. This was her first time seeing it in person and truly experiencing the brilliance of Nathan's designs.

Design required effort and talent. A genius like Nathan might only come around once every few hundred years. She couldn't reach his level, but she hoped that with continuous effort, she could slowly get closer to him. One day, she hoped to receive a trophy from his hands.

Layla felt a surge of excitement. The dream temporarily dulled the pain of her breakup.

Men were unreliable. All she had left now was her career.

Her phone vibrated again. It was Vincent's ninth call. Layla ended the call immediately, feeling disgusted.

As soon as she put down her phone, a text message came in.

Vincent: [Layla, pick up the phone. I have something important to tell you.]

What could a scumbag have to say? He had tried to hit her.

Layla blocked his number, making her world a bit quieter.

She put down her phone and was about to take a shower when there was a knock on the door.

Layla asked cautiously, "Who is it?"

Elbert replied, "Ms. Adkins, it's me."

Hearing it was Elbert, Layla breathed a sigh of relief. However, could Samuel have called her to his room? She wasn't about to walk into the lion's den.

Layla opened the door a crack, showing half her face. She asked, "What's up?"

Elbert replied, "Mr. Holland asked me to bring you some warm milk. He said it helps with sleep."

Layla's eyes moved down to the milk.

She hesitated and thought, 'What if he put something in it? I shouldn't drink things from strangers.'

Out of politeness, she took it first.

"These are for you," Elbert said, handing her a delicate paper bag. "Have a good night."

"Thank you." Layla closed the door and put the milk on the table without drinking it.

She pulled out a set of skincare products from the paper bag and was surprised. It was an internationally renowned brand, costing over twenty thousand dollars for a set. The ones she usually used were only about two hundred dollars.

It was so expensive! Samuel was really wealthy.

The bag also contained a professional women's outfit for the next day, a white blouse paired with a pencil skirt. She didn't recognize the brand, but the quality showed it was a luxury item.

There was also a set of pure white lingerie. It was very beautiful, with a style that was both youthful and mature.

Seeing the size of the lingerie, Layla blushed. He was spot on with the size. No wonder he was so experienced.