Chapter 55

"Mr. Marley?"

Nathan strode into the room under everyone's gaze.

Layla looked at him gratefully, using her eyes to plead for help, hoping he would assist her.

Now everyone believed she was the mole betraying the company, and she couldn't defend herself.

"I believe in her character. She would never betray company secrets." Nathan asserted resolutely.

Under his authoritative presence, no one dared to say much, only exchanging secret glances with each other, feeling very disgruntled. This favoritism was just too obvious, wasn't it?

"Mr. Marley," Molly stepped forward, gathering courage, "If you value her and disregard company regulations by assigning important projects to her, we have nothing to say. But if she betrayed company secrets and you still defend her, that's not right."

"You don't have any evidence to prove that Layla leaked the confidential information!" Nathan retorted, "Just having a meal with Mr. Torres doesn't count as evidence."

"But it's too coincidental that she had dinner with Mr. Torres on the same day the leak happened. And Mr. Torres' reason for recruiting her doesn't make any sense." Molly argued.

"Yeah, Mr. Marley, do you trust her so much?"

"Don't be fooled by her innocent appearance. Female students nowadays are very capable, not as simple as you think..." Some female employees who had secret crushes on Nathan didn't want him to be deceived, making them even more resentful of Layla, so they whispered their grievances.

What kind of spell did she cast on their idol?

"In any case, until there is evidence, I will believe Layla."

Nathan's assertive voice just finished saying these word when there was a commotion.

"Found it! The confidential files were sent out from this computer!" the technician shouted. "Even though the records were deleted, I recovered them. The recipient was Mr. Torres from the Hill Group."

Layla turned pale. Because that computer was hers!

Startled, she stood up from her chair. "No, it wasn't me. I didn't send it."

"This computer belongs to you. So, who else could it be?" Molly's eyes gleamed as she seized the opportunity and pressed on aggressively.

This was solid evidence, and everyone was excited. Those who didn't dare to speak up earlier now accused her with excitement.

"I knew it from the beginning! The design department's secrecy has always been flawless. It was only when she joined that something like this happened. If it's not her, then who?"

"That's right, she must be a spy from the Hill Group."

"I didn't do it." Layla denied urgently. She was innocent, but all the evidence pointed towards her, putting her in a disadvantageous position.

Even with a strong mentality, she was just a young woman who had just entered society, and she became flustered facing such a situation. She looked at Nathan, at a loss. "Trust me, I didn't do it."

Molly blocked Layla's gaze, crossed her arms, and pushed her forcefully. "Do you still want to try deceive Mr. Marley?"

"Shameless!"

"Mr. Marley, you said you wanted evidence earlier. The evidence is right in front of you, are you still going to defend her?" Molly asked.

Nathan frowned, a hint of conflict showing on his handsome face.

He believed in Layla's character, but her current situation was unfavorable. Anything he said would be useless, so he could only choose to remain silent.

"Mr. Marley..." Layla grew even more desperate. Did he not believe her as well? If that's the case, then there would be no one to help her.

"Just give up, Layla. Mr. Marley has seen your true colors and won't help you anymore." Molly exclaimed in excitement. "You are a traitor who leaked company secrets, the company won't let you get away with this. Security, come and arrest her."

"Right! We can't spare her. She should be put behind bars!"

"She caused the company to lose millions of dollars. She should rot in jail!"

The security guards stepped forward and grabbed Layla's arms while she struggled in panic. "I didn't leak any company secrets, it really wasn't me!"

But her explanation was feeble and pale, only resulting in more scorn and gloating.

No one helped her, everyone laughed, revealing that kind of triumphant smile one sees after getting rid of a troublemaker.

The smile of resilience and revelry.

Layla's eyes turned red, filled with extreme sadness. Was she really so terrible in everyone's eyes? Did they all wish she would be imprisoned?

Just as she fought hard for her dreams, believing that the future would become brighter and brighter, fate pushed her into the abyss.

Her mother abandoned her, Vincent betrayed her, her colleagues despised her. Was she destined to be unworthy of happiness?

Pain tore her heart apart, giving up the struggle and explanation. Since no one would care about her, well, what was the point in trying to insist on her own innocence?

Unable to hold back her tears, a drop fell from the corner of her eye.

Despairing, Layla was about to be escorted away by the security guards, and everyone revealed an expression of wild joy.

"It wasn't Layla who leaked the secret, but someone else!" A majestic voice resounded.

The faces of the crowd changed drastically as they widened their surprised eyes, looking at the man who walked steadily towards them, as if he were a godlike figure, handsome and majestic.

Dressed in a tailored black suit, it accentuated his tall and straight figure. His face was proud, and his deep black eyes were like burning flames, exuding an air of imperial dominance.

At the moment he appeared, everything else paled in comparison, only he stood out. His naturally imposing presence was like dazzling starlight, rendering everyone unable to look directly at him, only able to bow down and worship at his feet.

"Mr. Holland!" No one dared to believe their eyes, so intimidated by his powerful presence that they were unable to speak.

Molly's face turned pale, trembling in panic. Why did the CEO suddenly appear? Could it be that he was Layla's true support?

Impossible, that was Samuel! No matter how many socialites threw themselves at him, he would never give them a second glance. It was impossible for him to be interested in a mere intern.

Molly tightened her fingers.

Layla's face was full of astonishment.

The CEO they were talking about, could it be... him?

Impossible, wasn't he a male escort?

It can't be him...

"Mr. Holland, Mr. Vandella." Mr. Brooks greeted them respectfully.

Layla felt as if she had been struck by lightning, collapsing onto the chair, too shocked to form words, her eyes completely confused. It felt like a hundred bees buzzing around her ears, and her mind was blank.

He really was the CEO of the Holland Group!

No wonder he could freely enter and exit the top floor of the Holland Group, sleep in the CEO's rest area, and ride the CEO's elevator. No wonder he could live in a multi-billion-dollar mansion, and everyone respectfully called him Mr. Holland. No wonder he said his name was Samuel.

So many things in the past that she found strange now had a reasonable explanation - the man she had always mistaken as a male escort was the CEO of the Holland Group, Samuel!

Samuel cast a half-smile towards her, and the young girl turned pale, her eyes wide open, as if she had seen a ghost.

Sitting there like her soul had been sucked out, her expression was even more vivid than he had imagined. He hadn't revealed his identity to her earlier, all in anticipation of this moment. And it proved that the wait was worth it. Very interesting indeed!

With Samuel's presence, the atmosphere turned tense, and everyone held their breath. "You just said someone leaked classified information... If not Layla, then who?" a weak voice asked.