Chapter 13
Sean hadn’t managed to hear a word from Layla before Xena suddenly dropped to her knees, pleading desperately.
“Sis, please, let Sean go,” Xena’s voice was choked with sobs. “You love him, don’t you? How can you bear to let him suffer like this? If Grandpa Perry keeps going, Sean might really get hurt!”
Susan quickly joined in, raising her voice. “Layla, do you want my son dead before you’re satisfied?”
to?
Layla calmly set down her teacup, her gaze shifting to Xena with an air of indifference. “First of all, whether or not I love him is none of your business. And second, whether or not he’s hurting, you’re in no position to feel sorry for him.
“He betrayed me. He deserves this.”
Hearing this, Susan raised her voice in protest. “What has Sean ever done to wrong you? You’ve been his only girlfriend, his only fiancée, from the very beginning!
“My son is outstanding! He’s already treated you better than most would. What more do you want?”
Layla curled her lips into a mocking smile. “That’s true. Mr. Perry also had only one wife from start to finish. So how did we end
up with you and Sean?”
Her tone turned colder, laced with a faint sneer. “Oh, right. Your position isn’t the same as mine.”
Susan’s face turned red with anger. She had entered the Perry family as a mistress, securing her place only by giving birth to
Sean.
Layla had always known that Susan got along well with Xena Xander. Susan had often praised Xena’s “sweet and obedient”
nature in front of Layla.
But now, seeing the two of them together, Layla realized they were cut from the same cloth–birds of a feather.
“You…” Susan’s hand trembled as she pointed at Layla, her voice shaking with outrage. Layla’s words struck a nerve, a clear jab at her past.
“You haven’t even married into this family yet, and you’re already speaking to me like this? Such poor upbringing!” she added.
Unfazed, Layla leaned back in her seat, unhurried. “I don’t plan on marrying into your family. So don’t rush to claim me as your daughter–in–law.”
“Layla Xander!” Sean growled through clenched teeth, his voice strained and heavy with the taste of blood. “You’re going too far.”
“Sis.” Xena’s eyes brimmed with tears, her delicate expression practically begging for sympathy as she stared at Layla. She looked like a fragile flower about to wilt under the slightest breeze.
“All the blame lies with me. If my leaving will calm you down and stop you from targeting Sean, I’ll disappear completely….
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“Don’t say that!” Mrs. Xander’s heart sank.
Xena had a history of depression, and such statements were alarming to hear.
She rushed forward, pulling Xena into a protective embrace. “It’s not your fault! You can’t leave!”
“Layla Xander, do you even have a conscience?” Mrs. Xander accused, her tone sharp, “No matter what, Xena is your sister! How
can you be so heartless?”
Layla met her gaze calmly.
“You all are the heartless ones,” she replied evenly.
Fuming, Shane stood up aggressively. “What is wrong with you? Do you want to push her to the brink? Will you only be happy if you drive her to her death?”
“She won’t die,” Layla stated coldly, her unflinching eyes locking onto Xena. A trace of disdain flickered in her expression.
Years ago, when Layla first returned to the Xander family, Xena had expertly used her “fragility” and self–harm tactics to garner the family’s full attention. Layla, naive and guilt–ridden at the time, had bent over backward to accommodate her.
Later, Layla discovered that Xena’s “depression” was a fabrication. But by then, the family dismissed her accusations as jealousy.
No one believed her.
“Enough!” Mr. Xander erupted, unable to contain his fury. Rising to his feet, he glared at Layla. “I should’ve known–a daughter raised by some gutter trash would grow into nothing more than an ungrateful brat!”
Layla’s lips curled into a bitter smile as she stared at her father. The words she had held back for years were finally unnecessary to
hide.
“Because of your neglect, I was switched at birth, left to rot in darkness for twelve years.” Her voice was steady, cutting like a
blade.
“When I returned, you already had Xena–the perfect, polished daughter who fit every standard of a proper lady.
“You didn’t want to waste time and effort grooming me, the girl dragged out of the slums. So you taught me to make way for her, to give in, to pave the road for her.”
Layla met her father’s paze without flinching. “Now you:
-did you ever truly see me as your daughter?”
me of being ungrateful and ill–mannered? Ask yourself honestly
Her words were sharp, each one a piercing truth that peeled away their pretense.
Mr. Xander’s face tightened, his mouth opening as though to argue, but no words came.
Shane, however, barked angrily, “The Xanders have fed you, clothed you, given you a life of luxury, and you act like we owe you something!”
“You’re right,” Layla replied, her smile carrying a trace of despair. “You don’t owe me anything. I was foolish to ask for too
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much.
“You treated me like an outsider, and I still hoped for a family connection. How laughable.”
Her tone was calm but hollow, carrying a resignation that chilled the room.
Turning toward Mr. Perry Sr., Layla bowed her head slightly. “Grandpa Perry, I appreciate your kindness.
“I’m grateful for your help in standing up for me and sorry for the trouble the division of shares has caused your family. But as
for anything else, I don’t think there’s any need for further discussion ”
“Layla, you-” Mr. Perry Sr. hesitated, the weight of Layla’s words sinking in.
Pushing her to sit down and talk further would only make things harder for her. Yet, deep down, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing such an exceptional granddaughter–in–law.
After a long sigh, he relented, “I’ll have Sean take you home. We can talk about everything else another time.”
Then, with a swift kick to Sean’s leg, Mr. Perry Sr. commanded, “Get up!”
Sean stumbled, nearly falling flat, his posture resembling a grovel before Layla. What little dignity he had left was in tatters.
Begrudgingly, he stood, clenching his teeth. “I’ll take you.”
“No need.”
Layla refused without hesitation, stepping past Sean, but he caught her wrist before she could leave.
“Where are you staying now?” His voice was cold. “I went to your apartment, but the security said you’ve moved. And what’s
going on between you and Carter?”
Layla yanked her arm free, her disgust clear. “If you have the time to dig into my life, you should use it to pay me back the money
you owe.
At the mention of money, Mr. Perry Sr. quickly interjected. “Don’t worry, Layla. Whatever you’re owed, we’ll make sure you get it
Immediately.”
“Thank you, Grandpa Perry.”
Layla expressed her gratitude and left without looking back.
Sean took a step forward to follow her, but Xena grabbed his arm, her voice tinged with concern. “Sean, you’re injured. You
should focus on recovering.”
Mr. Perry Sr. glanced around the room at the remaining people, his patience worn thin. Waving them off, he
you, get out.”
H
d curtly, “All of
Once outside the estate, the Xanders prepared to leave. Xena, however, kept glancing back, her worry for Sean evident.
Seeing this, Mr. Xander’s tone grew sharp. “You better cut that out. Even if your sister and Sean don’t end up together, you’ll
never be accepted into the Perry family. We won’t allow the Xander name to become a joke.”
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The idea of two sisters fighting over the same man, with the younger sister taking the older’s place, would ruin their family’s
reputation.
Xena lowered her head, concealing the resentment in her eyes. “I understand, Dad.”
Meanwhile, back in the estate, Mr. Perry Sr. called for his butler. With a contemplative expression, he instructed, “Look into Layla’s recent activities–what she’s been doing and who she’s been meeting.”
The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that something about Layla had changed.
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