Chapter 23
A sharp glint appeared in William’s eyes. “Are you planning to take her from me by force? You’d better think carefully about whether the Xander family has what it takes to challenge me.”
Hearing the threat in his words, Mr. Xander’s heart sank. Layla refused to leave, and William wouldn’t let her go–this was a deadlock.
“Layla…” Tears welled up in Xena’s eyes as she knelt on the ground. “I know I was wrong. Please forgive me. Please don’t be mad at Mom and Dad anymore, okay?”
Shane Immediately stepped forward to pull her up. “What are you doing? Get up!”
“Xena, stop begging her,” Mrs. Xander sald, her voice thick with disappointment as she turned to Layla. “If I had known back then that this is the kind of daughter I’d give birth to after fighting to keep the pregnancy, I should’ve let her die.”
Those words were like a knife stabbing into Layla’s heart.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself for this fallout, the pain was still suffocating
Nothing was more despairing than hearing a mother curse her own child to die.
“You don’t deserve to be a mother,” William said coldly, his sharp, menacing gaze radiating pure hostility.
Mr. Xander panicked and quickly stepped in front of his wife, “Mr. Lucas, please show mercy. Let Layla come home with us.”
“Let her go?” William let out a mocking laugh. “If the Xander family ever becomes qualified to negotiate with me, I might
consider it.
“Take care on your way out. I won’t be seeing you off.”
With that, William stepped back and, without a hint of courtesy, closed the door firmly in their faces.
As Mr. Xander stared at the shut door, the meaning of William’s words sank in. They would never have a chance to take Layla
away, not in this lifetime.
Inside the villa, William turned to Layla. When he saw the shattered light in her eyes, it felt as though something was squeezing his heart, leaving him completely at a loss for words.
Layla forced a bitter smile. “Sorry, you had to see that.
She turned and headed up the stairs, her steps unsteady, as if she might crumble at any moment.
William’s lips parted slightly, but in the end, he didn’t call out to her.
The Xander family disgusted him.
If not for his concern about Layla’s health and his unwillingness to risk any complications, William wouldn’t have tolerated the
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ander family causing such a scene.
anything happened to Layla, every single Xander would pay the price with their lives.
Meanwhile, the Xander family was leaving Luxe Villa when they spotted Sean hurrying toward them.
“You went to see Layla, didn’t you?” Sean asked urgently
“Of course,” Shane answered angrily, cutting in. “But don’t bother going after her. What’s the point of bringing back a woman like that? She’s nothing but trash!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Sean’s fist flew and landed squarely on Shane
“I won’t allow you to insult Layla like that!” Sean roared.
Shane, enraged, fired back, “Sean, have you lost your mind? She’s run off with William Lucas, and you’re still defending her? Are you that far gone?
“Sean, we understand you still care about her,” Mr. Xander interjected awkwardly. “But this is our fault. We didn’t raise her
properly, and she’s made such a mess of things.
“From now on, we’ll treat her as if she were never our daughter. You should move on too.”
Sean froze, staring at their cold, indifferent faces. Suddenly, Layla’s voice echoed in his mind: “Sean, when we get married, we’ll be family, right? Then I’ll finally know what it feels like to have real family.
She had longed so desperately for love and family, but now, even he couldn’t give that to her.
Sean’s chest ached as if a knife was twisting inside him. A wave of bitterness and revenge surged within. Why should he be the
only one left to regret everything?
“You don’t know, do you?” Scan’s voice turned cold, his lips curling into a bitter smile. “Layla’s sick. She doesn’t have much time
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