Chapter 294

"Samuel." Nora had given up on him. Her love and illusions shattered. He had been her world for over a decade, and she had turned down countless suitors for him. If she hadn't met him, her life would have been different. She regretted loving him.

Now, both he and Layla were her enemies. Layla shivered at the sound of his voice. His presence overwhelmed her, and she dared not breathe.

"You throw it back!" Samuel handed a glass of champagne to Layla. "Samuel, you've already let me down. You can't treat me like this," Nora said, her anger palpable.

Hatred filled Nora's eyes, turning them bloodshot. "You throw it back," Samuel insisted. Layla stood still. Nora wanted to escape, but Samuel held her back. "Stay." Nora's legs refused to move, and she stood there, unable to resist his authority.

Samuel placed the champagne in Layla's hand, and she suddenly felt powerless. At that moment, she just wanted to escape, not to retaliate. As Layla tried to pull away, Samuel grabbed her hand and splashed the champagne on Nora's face.

"Ah!" Nora cried, her face drenched, tears of humiliation welling up. She wanted to kill them, to tear them apart. Seeing Nora's angry, bloodshot eyes, Layla felt only exhaustion. She thought it was all over, but she was still trapped.

"Get lost!"

"I won't let you off," Nora shouted, her anger fueling her as she ran off.

Samuel took out a handkerchief to help her wipe the champagne off her face. As Samuel's fingers touched her, Layla instinctively recoiled. Just moments ago, she could confront those "enemies", but in front of Samuel, she was like a weak little rabbit, soft and defenseless.

Samuel paused. "You do it yourself."

"Thank you," Layla said, taking the handkerchief and wiping her face.

"I didn't want to come today, but..."

"I'll go back first."

"Layla, I miss you." Samuel's voice was hoarse as she turned around. "I really miss you."

Layla's eyes welled up. She had been avoiding looking at him, unable to bear the sight of his haggard appearance, afraid she would soften. Samuel had lost a lot of weight, his once strong frame now lean.

Not only had he lost weight, but his spirit had also been drained, and his state was very poor. He must have suffered a lot to become like this, as if he had a serious illness.

"I promised to let you go, but it's a thousand times harder than I imagined. I work hard during the day to numb myself, but at night, I think of you even more, and I miss you even more. I drank a lot of alcohol, trying to get myself drunk, but the more I drank, the more sober I became, and my mind was full of you."

"Layla, I love you."

"Without you, I don't even know how to go on living."

"We are clearly in love, why do we have to torment each other? Shouldn't we live better after Oven's death? He wouldn't want to see you torture yourself like this, so unhappy."

A bitter smile appeared on Layla's pale face. "I know Oven wanted me to be happy, but when I see you, I will think that he died because of me. I can't get over that in my heart."

"Samuel, I'm also in pain, just like you, but not every relationship can have a happy ending. There are always regrets and the pain of separation. You will get through this." She also comforted herself in this way, telling herself that she could get through it, just like enduring a long winter...

"What if I can't make it?" Samuel smiled bitterly, his voice filled with pain.

Layla's nose felt as sour as if she were holding a lemon. "I don't know..."

After saying that, Layla tried to escape, but Samuel grabbed her and pulled her back into his arms.

"Let me go."

"What are you doing?"

"Samuel..."

"How can you be so cruel, just saying we're over?" Samuel held her arm tightly, shaking her shoulders, accusing her of her cruelty, "Layla, don't you have a heart?"

"You're despicable!"

"I hate you." In a fit of anger, Samuel lowered his head and bit her lip. Layla felt a sudden pain on her lips, so intense. His teeth, like sharp blades, cut her lips, drawing blood. The taste of blood filled their mouths.

"I love you..." he murmured hoarsely in pain.

Layla couldn't help but cry.

She gave up resistance and let him vent.

Time passed, as if a century had gone by. Samuel stopped, looking at her tear-streaked face. His heart ached as if it had been torn to pieces.

"I'm sorry, Layla, I'm sorry..."

"I want to set you free, but it's too difficult. It would take my life."

"I love you, I really do..." Samuel's breath was filled with pain. The night seemed to never end, always shrouding them. There was only endless darkness, and endless pain, with no way out. The night was deep. The lights still flickered downstairs in the apartment building, but it seemed as if the light couldn't reach the car, and the darkness inside the car could never be dispelled.

Layla reached out to push the car door. Samuel grabbed her hand. She trembled.

Please don't let her hurt anymore, okay? Her heart was about to be torn apart.

"I lost control tonight. I'm sorry..." Samuel took a deep breath, his voice low.

Layla choked, not saying a word. The next second, there was a small velvet box in her hand.

"Merry Christmas."

"I don't want it." Layla tried to push it back. He had already left her with so many things, those memories were enough to suffocate her, she didn't want to leave behind one more thing that belonged to him, that would be enough to "kill" her.

"Consider it my last Christmas gift to you. Please accept it." He held her hand tightly, so tight that it hurt a little.

"I beg you." Samuel's eyes were deep and sincere, making it impossible for her to refuse.

It was as if once Layla refused, that one glimmer of light in his eyes would be destroyed, and his whole world would collapse. She couldn't bear it.

"Thank you."

Samuel smiled faintly, but that smile was indescribably bitter.

"Don't come looking for me again." Layla pushed the door and got out of the car, disappearing into the night as if fleeing.

As soon as she entered the elevator, the tears she had been holding back poured out, and she couldn't help but cry.

The man in the car had his face hidden in the darkness, his emotions indiscernible, and when the headlights from the opposite side shone, his eyes were wet and red. At the same time, in the Eilish family villa, there was a warm scene.