Chapter 32

The nurse replied, "A handsome man in a suit and glasses. Isn't he your friend? I wanted to ask you for his contact information."

Wearing a suit and glasses... Could it be Mr. Vandella? So, the hospital bill was paid by that man? How did he know about her brother's hospitalization? Layla had mixed feelings for a moment, unsure of what she was feeling. But amidst the complicated emotions, there was a sense of gratitude. At least he helped her solve an urgent problem.

She had said some harsh words to him yesterday, so why did he still secretly help her today? Did he have some ulterior motive? Layla couldn't make sense of it all.

"What's wrong? You mentioned borrowing something just now?" Alice asked.

"It's nothing, let's go eat." Layla replied.

They had lunch in the employee cafeteria, and while waiting for the elevator, she subconsciously looked around. They had bumped into each other at the company before, would it happen again today? Whether it was a coincidence or not, a familiar figure strode into the CEO's elevator in front of her.

"Wait." without thinking too much, she caught up from behind and grabbed him.

The woman, with a leg still outside the elevator, pulled him back before he could step in.

"You're in the wrong elevator. This one is exclusively for the CEO." she said.

Samuel lowered his gaze and looked at the woman who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, clinging onto him.

So, she still didn't know that he was the President of the Holland Group, only that he was Vincent's uncle?

With an expressionless face, he looked at her with a cold gaze, colder than how one would look at a stranger. He pulled his hand away from hers and took a step back.

Layla's palm was left empty, and his gaze towards her was as icy and indifferent as the first morning.

Although she felt that he usually had a chilly temperament, she only realized now that his previous gaze was already quite gentle compared to this.

"What are you doing?" she asked him.

"I'm just following your wishes, keeping my distance from you at work."

His tone was devoid of emotion, and Layla couldn't detect any trace of resentment. Maybe he really didn't want to have anything to do with her anymore, especially after the way she spoke to him yesterday.

But then why did he help her today?

Although she often accused him of meddling in her affairs, she didn't really think he was someone who enjoyed meddling in others' business.

On the contrary, she believed he was someone indifferent to many things, someone cold to the core.

However, Layla didn't seek him out to argue. Instead, she calmly said, "I have something I want to ask you, please come with me."

After she took two steps, she realized he wasn't following, that he intended to enter the elevator. So, she hurriedly went back and held onto him.

"Didn't I just tell you? Only the CEO can use this elevator, even high-level executives can't. If you were discovered, you would be fired."

"Then that means you won't see me at the company, which would suit you just fine."

If the earlier statement was just Layla overthinking, this one was definitely a defiant remark from him, right?

However, faced with this man's cold facade, she was momentarily speechless.

"Did you ask Mr. Vandella to pay for my brother's hospital expenses?"

"My affairs are none of your concern." Samuel averted his gaze, looking straight ahead. She was too petite, not within his line of sight.

"But this matter involves me." Layla believed she had the right to know. She couldn't just accept someone's favor without knowing the reasons.

There could be someone passing by at any moment, so she summarized her statement, "Vincent and I have broken up. I won't have any further involvement with him, including anyone related to him."

Samuel's expression still remained cold, but there was a slight hint of a change.

"But I won't just accept a favor from someone without returning it." Layla took out a piece of paper, "This is an IOU I wrote, with my signature and thumbprint. I will repay the five thousand dollars within three months, along with five hundred dollars in interest."

Samuel felt a hint of irony. Interest? Heh. She made it very clear what she thought of him, treating him as a moneylender?

"Also... I would like to invite you for a meal. Are you free tonight?" Layla asked sincerely.

After some internal struggle, she had made her decision.

Solving complex problems with simple solutions - that's the way to go.

He lends her money, and she repays him as soon as possible. He helps her in times of urgency, and she shows her gratitude by inviting him for a meal. As for his true intentions, she can't guess nor does she have control over them.

All she can do is stick to her principles of repaying debts and favors, and then cut ties cleanly with him once it is all settled.

Samuel thought to himself: Ultimately, her actions are all aimed at distancing herself from him to avoid future entanglements.

Does she really think he lacks a meal or a woman?

It's better if she doesn't mention repaying the money or inviting him for a meal, by doing so, she would only ruin his mood.

"No need, I I have the money to spare." Samuel said, brushing away the IOU from her hand, as he strode into the elevator.

It was after 9 pm when Samuel finished a social engagement and came back home with a faint scent of alcohol.

He didn't have an appetite tonight and only drank, without touching even a bite of food, which made his stomach ache slightly. His face turned slightly pale.

Upon entering the house, a strong aroma of food greeted him, different from the usual scent.

"You're back, Sir." Mr. Morris happily welcomed him. "Miss Adkins has arrived."

"You came back just as I finished the last dish. Did you come back because you smelled the food?" Layla, wearing a small floral apron, came out holding a bowl of soup.

She tied her hair in a ponytail, revealing a clean and small round face, dressed casually, exuding a youthful aura. Pouting her lips, even a slightly reproachful gaze was filled with a youthful spirit.

Samuel's heart felt as if it had been struck and was frozen in place.

"Four dishes and a soup, all made by me alone. Impressive, right?" Layla proudly raised her chin at him.

Mr. Morris praised her readily, "Yes, she washed the rice, cooked the food, and did all the chopping and frying by herself. Wonderful work, Miss Adkins!"

"I wanted to make something you like, but Mr. Morris said you don't have any preferred dishes, so I made my own specialty." Layla untied her apron. "Don't you need to wash your hands? The food will get cold and it won't taste as good."

A surge of uncontrollable emotions welled up inside of Samuel, indescribable but quite intense, causing him to clench his fists.

"Have you already eaten? You drank alcohol, right? Then eat a little, or it will go to waste."

"I told you, you don't need to treat me to a meal." Samuel's tone became unexpectedly harsh.

"This is cooking for you, not treating you to a meal. The ingredients are all from your house. I'm a person who keeps my word. I promised to cook for you, and I won't go back on my word. Aren't you going to eat after I cooked all this food?"

She began to feel a bit frustrated, after all, this meal was specially made for him.

During her four-year relationship with Vincent, she never cooked for him.

"Yes. Miss Adkins took an hour-long bus ride, walking through the mountain roads. She worked hard. Don't waste her efforts, Sir." Mr. Morris advised.

Layla looked at Samuel.