Chapter 303

"You're leaving as soon as he wakes up? What the hell, Layla? Why are you being so selfless? What a noble role are you playing?" Joseph was exasperated, his heart aching from Layla's actions.

"I shouldn't have come," Layla said lightly. "You're here now, so spare me the talk. You were clearly worried about him. You even called his name in your sleep on the plane. Samuel did the same, calling out for you while unconscious. If you don't love him, I won't stop you from leaving, but you both love each other madly, so why can't you be together? Why must you torture yourselves and each other, acting like masochists?" Joseph's voice was low and intense.

Layla's pale lips formed a bitter smile. "Love isn't enough for us to be together."

"Nonsense. If love isn't enough, what else do you need to be with each other? Why did Samuel give up billions and call off the wedding? Wasn't it all because of love?"

Layla shook her head. "You don't understand."

"Stop being cryptic. If you keep doing this, you'll end up destroying yourselves!"

Joseph's frustration boiled over.

"You said I don't understand, then tell me what happened between you guys until I understand."

"This is between him and me. Others don't need to know."

"You'll drive me crazy sooner or later!" Joseph stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Three days passed, and Samuel woke up.

"Layla?" Samuel reached out anxiously, afraid she might disappear.

Layla quickly held his hand. "I'm here. Don't move. You're still injured."

Samuel had lost even more weight, his face and lips pale, but his eyes were bright. "You're here. You were worried about me?"

"Joseph brought me."

Samuel's eyes dimmed briefly, then he said, "What matters is that you're here. That's enough." How long had it been since he last saw her? It felt like an eternity.

"Now that you're awake, I should go." Layla tried to suppress her reluctance and pulled her hand away.

"Don't go, Layla..." Samuel almost fell out of bed in his haste.

"Don't do this." Layla hurriedly supported him. "Your wounds will reopen."

"Don't go..." Samuel disregarded his injuries, his eyes filled with anxiety as he looked at her. "Please..."

Layla's heart ached at his gaze as if leaving was the cruelest thing in the world. Despite knowing she shouldn't hesitate, Layla couldn't bring herself to leave.

"Fine, I'll stay and take care of you until you recover." She was worried about his condition worsening.

"OK." Samuel finally lay back down, relieved.

"You're so careless. How did Jovan manage to ambush you?"

Samuel forced a smile. "You're the only one on my mind. Nothing else matters."

"Don't you even care about your own life?" Layla's voice was filled with urgency.

"If I lose you, the rest of my life would be a living hell." He had endured so much torment. Layla couldn't bear to see him like this. There was no right or wrong in matters of the heart, and she had also suffered a lot. She couldn't help but feel guilty. The person who used to be so full of vitality was now tortured beyond recognition by her. She felt deeply sinful.

"You shouldn't think like that. Your life is still long."

"It's just a long punishment."

"Samuel." Layla's eyes were filled with pain and anxiety. "Can a relationship really destroy you? The person I know shouldn't be so fragile. You should act as if nothing has happened and continue to live proudly."

"I wish I could, but I can't. Layla, you are my everything." Samuel looked at her with deep, intense eyes. Layla's heart trembled even more. He gently took her hand, and she didn't have the strength to pull it away.

"Oh! Have you two made up?" Joseph walked in, pushing the door open. Layla quickly withdrew her hand.

"Ignore me."

"Get out."

"Samuel, how can you be so heartless? I brought the person from City A to Country F for you, and you want me to leave? I treated you like a brother, and you're telling me to leave. It's breaking my heart," Joseph said with a serious tone, even pretending to wipe away tears.

"Look at you, one in a coma and the other by the bedside for six days and nights. Talk it out. There's nothing that can't be resolved. Listen to my advice, okay?"

"You took care of me for six days and nights?" Samuel only noticed this point.

Joseph quickly said, "Of course! She hasn't slept for more than two hours a day these past few days. I wouldn't be able to handle it. That's true love. Don't glare at me. I advised her to sleep. I really did, at least a hundred times a day, but she wouldn't listen."

"I'm fine now. You should go rest," Samuel said. Layla was indeed physically overwhelmed, and she felt dizzy while speaking.

"OK."

Samuel reluctantly watched her leave. Joseph wanted to laugh at Samuel's expression. "Don't look. She can't bear to leave you."

"Thank you."

Joseph was surprised. "What did you say? Thank you? It's the first time I've heard you say that. Can you say it again? I'll record it quickly."

He hurriedly took out his phone. Samuel gave him a look of disdain. "Take good care of her."

Layla slept for a long time, from nine o'clock in the evening until ten o'clock the next morning, a full thirteen hours. She was in a deep sleep, so her strength recovered a lot.

"Miss Adkins, you're awake." The nurse came in with breakfast.

"Where's Samuel?"

"Samuel just woke up, and he asked me to tell you that he's fine."

Layla breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay."

"Have your breakfast." Layla took a few sips of oatmeal, tasteless. She hadn't eaten much these past few days, and suddenly she felt very hungry.

"Is there any meat?"

"What kind of meat?"

"Anything." She really wanted to eat meat.

"Okay, please wait." The nurse quickly brought back chicken legs and steaks. Layla grabbed the meat and ate it as if she had been hungry for days. The nurse was frightened by her ferocious eating and kept reminding her, "Slow down. Be careful not to choke. No one is going to take it from you."

A greasy feeling suddenly surged in her throat. Layla covered her mouth and rushed into the bathroom, hugging the toilet and retching heavily, throwing up everything she had just eaten.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Joseph walked in and handed her a tissue. "Why did you throw up?"

"Miss Adkins said she wanted to eat meat, and then she ate it so quickly that I couldn't stop her," the nurse explained.

"Are you okay? Don't scare me. If anything happens to you, Samuel will kill me."

Layla had almost finished throwing up, and she struggled to support herself against the toilet, looking exhausted. "I'm, I'm fine."

"Take some stomach medicine."

"I don't want to take medicine." Layla took a few deep breaths. "I'm fine now. I'll go take care of him."