"You ruined your life, but why did you have to ruin mine, too?" Orabela’s voice was laced with anger and betrayal as she glared through the glass at Seraphina, who sat on the other side of the visitation room.
"If you never truly accepted as your daughter, then why did you have to open your mouth and tell everything to Dad? You should have kept lying, kept pretending right until the end!" Her fists clenched as she tried to suppress the fury simring beneath the surface.
Seraphina’s face fell, the pain in her expression evident. "I was bound, Bella. I reached a point where I couldn’t stay silent any longer. But that doesn’t an I didn’t try to give you the best life I could," she said, her voice trembling as she tried to et Orabela’s hard gaze. "You know Darius won’t abandon you. I know him. He’ll always keep you as his daughter."
Orabela let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "And what about my future? All my dreams, everything I was promised, shattered. I’m no longer the heiress, no longer in line to lead. That bastard Roderick left stranded, humiliated, and I have nothing left," she spat, her voice sharp and cold.
"If only you had walked away from Dad’s life long ago, none of this would have co out. And you... you were the one who pushed Lucius to the point where he took everything from . Do you have any idea what you’ve done to ?"
Orabela’s voice cracked as she spoke, the rawness of her emotions seeping through. She quickly turned away, grabbing her handbag and preparing to leave, but Seraphina pressed her hands desperately against the glass, her voice breaking as she called out.
"Bella, please," she pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears. "I always loved you, in my own way. I know I failed, and I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you to the very end. But don’t hate , Bella. I don’t think I could bear it."
Orabela paused, her back still turned to her mother, fists clenched at her sides. She hesitated for a brief mont, then took a steadying breath. Without looking back, she strode out of the room, leaving Seraphina sitting alone, her tear-streaked face pressed against the glass as she watched her daughter walk away, knowing she had lost her forever.
As Orabela settled into the driver’s seat, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, seeing Kylie’s na flash. With a sigh, she picked up.
"What is it?" she asked, her tone sharp and impatient.
On the other end, Kylie’s voice was cheerful yet insistent. "I postponed the reunion to tomorrow. Just co, please. Everyone wants to see you. And Layla—she’s coming, too."
Orabela’s grip tightened on the wheel, her expression hardening. "Kylie, don’t play gas with ," she snapped. "I know you’re aware of everything now—my real identity, all of it. And don’t even think about ssing with Layla. Lucius would tear you apart before you and that gang of ours could even think of humiliating her."
Before Kylie could respond, Orabela hung up, her jaw clenched in frustration. She switched off her phone, tossing it onto the passenger seat with a hint of annoyance. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she drove off to her penthouse.
~~~~~
Layla lifted her gaze from the file as Aiden approached, his tone professional but cautious. "Just wanted to let you know, Orabela will be joining the company as an employee soon," he inford her. "But she’ll have to start from zero."
A faint, almost ironic smile played on Layla’s lips. "Good for her," she murmured, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. "Maybe this way, she’ll understand what real struggle feels like."
Shifting her focus back to the docunt in front of her, she added, "I’ve gone through the proposal. Go ahead and schedule the eting with Mr. Young for tomorrow."
Aiden nodded, gathering the signed file from her desk. "Sure thing, I’ll set it up imdiately," he affird before stepping out.
Layla leaned back in her swivel chair, her father’s words echoing in her mind. She sighed softly, her thoughts drifting. "Am I being too harsh on my mother?" she murmured to herself, before shaking her head as if dismissing the question.
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted her. "What are you mumbling about?"
Startled, Layla turned the chair to see Lucius standing by the doorway. Her face lit up in surprise and relief. Rising quickly, she moved toward him. "You? Here?" She hadn’t expected to see him at this hour, and in an instant, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face into his chest. "I needed this," she whispered, feeling the warmth and strength that only he seed to bring her.
Lucius smiled, his embrace reassuring as he held her close. "It’s past lunch hour, and my work wrapped up early. I thought I’d co see you," he replied.
Layla pulled back slightly, just enough to look up into his eyes. Before she could say anything, Lucius leaned down, capturing her lips in a tender kiss.
His hands remained steady at her waist as he nibbled softly on her lips, drawing her deeper into the mont. She closed her eyesand took a step back while her hands moved to his neck, loosening his tie. He also brought his hand to her shirt and began undoing the buttons.
Layla tried to catch her breath, her cheeks flushed as she gently pushed Lucius back. "What if soone cos?" she murmured, feeling a mix of exhilaration and nerves.
A playful grin spread across Lucius’s face. "Roger won’t let anyone in," he assured her, brushing a kiss over her cheek before trailing more down to her neck. His fingers slipped to loosen her shirt collar, exposing her skin to his lips as he leaned her back against the desk.
The table gave a soft thud as Layla’s body t it, and she gasped at the sensation as he lifted her onto the edge. Lucius’s kisses grew deeper, and his hand found her chest, teasingly brushing his thumb over her sensitive peak. "What’s gotten into you today?" she asked breathlessly, squirming slightly. "You’re... uncontrollable."
He chuckled softly, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. "Don’t you want to be?" he teased, nipping at her earlobe as a soft moan escaped her.
Layla let her head fall back, closing her eyes as his hands road her body, igniting sensations she could hardly contain. Just then, the door swung open.
"Madam," Roger announced without looking up, "your father is calling you to his office."
Layla froze, eyes wide as she swiftly adjusted her blouse. Lucius turned sharply, shooting Roger a steely glare. "I told you not to co in."
Roger hesitated, realizing the situation, and stamred an apology. "My apologies, sir. I... I’ll be outside." He quickly backed out, closing the door behind him.
Layla took a deep breath, her cheeks flushed with both embarrassnt and laughter, and glanced up at Lucius. "Well," she whispered, adjusting her blouse further, "I suppose that’s one way to break the mont."
"He always ruins the mont. I want Roger to get married soon," Lucius said and turned around to face Layla before kissing her once again.
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