Chapter 225
In the elegantly furnished private room, Darwin, with a broad grin on his face, engaged in a lively conversation with Nora.
"The more I see you, the more I find myself pleased. I eagerly await the day you become a part of our esteemed Holland family," he said.
Nora, internally frustrated by Samuel's aloofness, maintained a pleasant facade for Darwin's sake. "Uncle..." she began.
"No, no, not uncle. Call me dad," Darwin corrected her.
Casting a glance at the expressionless Samuel, Nora felt her cheeks warm up. She hesitantly addressed Darwin as "Dad."
A radiant smile spread across Darwin's face. "That's my girl. My greatest wish is to see you married and blessed with a well-behaved grandson. How about we plan the wedding for the end of this month? What do you think?"
Nora, eager to expedite the process, agreed. The longer the delay, the higher the risk.
"We'll follow your arrangements," she said.
"Good girl," Darwin replied, his gaze shifting to Samuel, becoming more intense. "When will you find time to prepare for the wedding? And didn't I ask you to quit smoking? Nora dislikes the smell of cigarettes."
Samuel, extinguishing the cigarette in his hand, took a deep breath and retorted, "If you're so keen on preparing, then do it yourself."
Taken aback, Darwin held back his urge to slam the table. "What did you just say, young man?"
Nora's expression soured at the exchange.
"I have other matters to attend to. I'm leaving," Samuel declared, rising from his seat without a hint of concern.
"Hold on!" Darwin called out, hobbling after him with his cane. "Don't forget our agreement."
Samuel paused, his narrowed eyes flashing a dangerous glint. As he turned around, his gaze was that of a predator, causing Darwin to shudder in fear.
If not for their familial bond, Darwin feared Samuel might have killed him.
"Where is Mom?" Samuel asked through gritted teeth.
"Once you marry Nora, I will tell you. Until then..." Darwin's words were cut short as Samuel seized his collar.
Trembling, Darwin stammered, "What are you doing? I... I'm your father... Are you rebelling?"
"If you dare harm Mom, I will make the entire Holland family pay," Samuel threatened, his eyes filled with a chilling bloodlust.
"You're part of the Holland family too. Are you willing to lose everything?" Darwin countered.
"I don't mind," Samuel sneered, releasing his grip.
Darwin, likely paralyzed with fear, staggered back a few steps.
Samuel turned his back on him and strode out of the room.
As he exited the hotel, Nora hurried after him, reaching out to grasp his hand. "Mr. Holland..."
At her touch, Samuel swiftly shook her off.
Nora bit her lip in embarrassment. "I just wanted a lift, is it necessary to treat me this way?"
"Why vent your frustrations on me? Even if it wasn't me, Uncle Darwin would still force you to marry someone else. Layla will never be able to marry into the Holland family."
Ignoring his words, Nora climbed into the car.
"Get out of the car!" Samuel demanded.
Nora crossed her arms defiantly. Despite Samuel's attempts to persuade her, she was determined not to leave.
With a forceful slam, Samuel shut the car door.
The atmosphere inside the car turned icy cold.
Nora shivered, regretting her decision to get in the car.
Her resentment grew. She was a catch, why did Samuel despise her so much? Others treated her like a treasure, pursuing and begging for her attention, yet Samuel couldn't stand her.
Was this their future? Nora spending her life begging for his attention, enduring his mistreatment, and forever jealous of Layla?
Nora had questioned herself countless times if this was the future and marriage she desired.
If only she had never met Samuel, never fallen for him, things wouldn't have escalated to this point. But since Nora couldn't turn back time, she had no choice but to tread this path to its end.
With these thoughts, Nora once again forced herself to swallow her pride.
"I didn't drive today. Since you're heading back to the office, it's not a bother for you to give me a ride," she said.
"It's your uncle who is forcing us to get married, not me. Why are you giving me that look? I am already feeling miserable enough," she added.
"No one is forcing you to make yourself miserable," he retorted.
Nora was left speechless. Yes, she was being foolish of her own accord!
"Stop the car!" The words exploded from Samuel, his gaze abruptly chilling.
A cluster of burly men had overtaken a construction site, their banners held high as they encircled a small figure at the center.
They were tightly packed, an oppressive swarm of human bodies.
"The corrupt developers promised us compensation and housing, but we've received nothing!" they bellowed, their voices echoing off the skeletal structure of the unfinished building.
Trapped within their midst was Layla, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She struggled to break free, but the towering figures surrounding her were unyielding, their height dwarfing her petite frame. She had been stepped on more than once in her futile attempts to escape.
Layla had been attempting to negotiate with them, but their arrogance only seemed to swell with each passing moment.
"The Eilish Group has substantial financial resources. They will not default on their payments," she assured them, her voice steady despite her predicament.
"Then why haven't we seen a dime?" they retorted.
"We have to follow procedures," she reasoned.
"Don't feed us that crap. We're not fools. If they don't pay up, they're not leaving today," one man spat out, his eyes hard.
"I am just a designer," Layla protested.
"We don't care. You're from the Eilish Group, so we'll get our money from you," they declared.
"Right! Teach her a lesson. Show the Eilish Group we won't be pushed around," another man bellowed, brandishing a knife and advancing on Layla.
Layla hadn't anticipated the presence of weapons. She was trapped, unable to evade the incoming threat.
Just as the knife was about to connect, a tall figure shoved her aside.
A sharp "whoosh" filled the air as the man's suit was sliced open, blood seeping through the fabric.
Layla was frozen in shock. "Samuel?"
In the blink of an eye, Samuel disarmed the man and brought him to the ground. Security guards flooded the scene, dispersing the disgruntled crowd.
"Are you okay?" Samuel was at her side in an instant, his eyes filled with concern as he helped her to her feet.
Layla glanced at Samuel's wound, her brow furrowing as she gently pushed him away.
"I'm fine," she insisted, refusing his aid.
"You're injured. We need to get you to a hospital," he countered.
"It's just a scratch. It's not necessary," she dismissed.
"We're going!"
Layla's heart ached. She found herself oddly missing Samuel's domineering nature.
A stretch motorhome was parked nearby, but Samuel ignored it, flagging down a taxi instead.
Was Nora in the motorhome? What was she to him?
A wave of resistance surged within Layla. She vowed never to be the other woman.
"I'll go back to the office," she declared.
"I'm not debating this with you." Samuel seized her wrist, hailing a taxi and guiding her inside.
"Samuel, listen..."
"I said no. Can't you understand?" His refusal to listen only fueled her anger. She glared at him, her eyes ablaze. "Your fiancee is waiting for you. Aren't you afraid she'll misunderstand?"
'Nora is nothing!' Samuel cursed inwardly.
Throughout the entire ordeal, his only concern had been Layla. The sight of the knife-wielding man had stolen his breath, his heart pounding in his chest.
He would gladly trade his life for hers. He couldn't bear the thought of her being harmed, not even in the slightest.
But he kept these thoughts to himself, unable to voice them.
"That's not your concern," was all he could manage to say.
Samuel pulled Layla into the car, his domineering nature on full display.
"Drive!"
"No, don't drive," Layla shouted, her voice desperate.
But the balance of power was clear. The driver didn't dare defy the commanding presence in the backseat. Without a moment's hesitation, he pressed his foot to the gas pedal.
The car lurched forward.