Chapter 2

Standing outside was none other than Brian, Susan's stepson.

"Layla, I know you're at the door. Open up." Brian hammered on the door repeatedly, making it rattle.

Layla's delicate eyebrows furrowed as she responded with icy detachment, "Do you need something?"

Through the video intercom, Layla could see Brian's body swaying slightly. He'd clearly been drinking.

Ever since Susan had come running to her for help and gotten a car and housing, Brian had essentially become dependent on her too, living with Susan and even presuming to call himself Layla's "brother."

She'd first encountered Brian because Susan would occasionally invite her over for dinner, supposedly to strengthen their mother-daughter relationship. Layla knew better, though—Susan's only real goal was to make it easier to ask for more money.

That was how she'd ended up meeting Brian. From the beginning, his intentions toward her had been inappropriate, though he'd initially backed off somewhat after learning she was married to Seth.

But as he gradually realized that Seth didn't really care about Layla, the sleazy Brian had grown increasingly aggressive, even trying to make physical advances on several occasions.

Since then, Layla had stopped visiting her mother's home. When Susan needed money, Layla simply transferred it directly.

Brian's sudden appearance tonight puzzled her. He must have known Seth wasn't home, but how did he know that?

As Layla was searching for excuses to stall, Brian spoke again, "You might not care about me, but you can't ignore your own mother. She got arrested for drunk driving last night, and she assaulted an officer too. She's still locked up. I just came to let you know."

In that instant, Layla's pupils contracted as her mind went blank. She knew Susan well enough to believe she was entirely capable of such behavior.

Taking a deep breath, Layla opened the door and asked urgently, "Which police station is my mother at?"

Brian smirked as he pushed his way inside, slamming the door shut behind him and quickly pulling Layla into his arms. "You're such a dutiful daughter."

Realizing she'd been tricked, terror flashed in Layla's eyes as she struggled with all her might. "You jerk! Let go of me! Let go!"

But Brian held her tightly, tearing at her clothes and throwing her onto the sofa. She scrambled to get up and run, but he pinned her down again.

Brian forced his kisses on her and groped her body as she screamed and fought desperately. Her beautiful face contorted with rage and despair, tears streaming down her cheeks as she approached a breakdown.

"You bastard! Let me go! Let go!"

No matter how hard she struggled, it was useless. Seeing that Brian had already torn her top and was pulling down her pajama pants, Layla screamed in desperation. In her panic, she spotted an expensive vase beside the sofa and grabbed it without hesitation, smashing it down hard on Brian's head.

With the sound of shattering porcelain, Brian let out a howl of pain and clutched his head as he fell to the floor, blood flowing from his forehead and pooling on the ground.

Layla scrambled up from the sofa, panting in terror. She grabbed a fruit knife from the table and screamed, "You bastard! Get out!"

Brian moaned as he staggered to his feet. Seeing Layla clutching the knife with gritted teeth, he snarled, "You bitch, how dare you do this to me! I'm going to have you today. You think that knife scares me? Go ahead, stab me! I dare you!"

Layla gripped the knife tightly, her chest heaving. "I have security cameras here! If you hurt me, Seth won't let you get away with it!"

This threat didn't intimidate Brian at all. He laughed mockingly, "Everyone knows he doesn't give a damn about you. You think he cares?"

Layla's face turned ashen as she gasped for breath. "Whether he cares about me or not, I'm still Mrs. Stanton! If you hurt me today, you're disrespecting him! He'll kill you for that!"

This finally gave Brian pause. His heart raced as he instinctively glanced around, seemingly searching for security cameras.

Afraid he might lose control again, Layla shouted, "If you don't get out right now, I'll cut off my mother's allowance. Neither of you will live comfortably again, I promise you that! And you'll go to prison! Attempted rape will get you at least ten years!"

Nothing mattered more than money. Though Brian was seething with rage, he clutched his bleeding head and left, cursing as he went.

Layla quickly locked the door, then slid down against it until she was sitting on the floor.

Her hand still gripped the knife, trembling visibly. She was clearly terrified.

After a moment to compose herself, the first person she thought of in her fear was Seth. With shaking hands, she went upstairs and reached for her phone to call him.

After several consecutive calls that were all rejected, just as she was about to give up, a text message came through:

Seth: [I'm busy. Call again and I'll block you.]

Those few words nearly killed Layla. She crouched on the floor, her entire body shaking with pain as she wept uncontrollably. "Seth, why do you treat me this way... What did I do wrong..."

Just then, another notification popped up on her phone—a news headline: #The Stanton Group CEO Gifts Custom Pink Rolls-Royce to His Lover, Romantic Beachside Date.

The glaring headline nearly blinded Layla. She froze, and a moment later, tears fell from her eyes.

As if by coincidence, Susan called at that very moment. Layla didn't want to answer, but her finger slipped, and her mother's urgent voice came through the speaker: "Layla, what's this news about? Why is Seth with another woman? What's going on? And he bought her such an expensive car!"

It was all about money again!

Her own mother, and when something like this happened, her first concern wasn't how her daughter was doing but only about the money.

Layla gave a bitter smile, her eyes reflecting nothing but endless sorrow and emptiness. "Do you know what Brian did tonight?"

At these words, silence fell on the other end of the line. Susan stammered, "I... I just asked him to check on you, and maybe get some money. You know I just bought a car, and I'm short on living expenses."

"Between you and me, is it only ever about money?"

Susan's tone grew impatient. "I'm your mother. It's your duty to support me. I'm asking about you and Seth. That's a Rolls-Royce, for God's sake! You're his wife—find a way to get it for me!"

Her mother's attitude left her completely hopeless. Layla laughed bitterly and said, "Is money all you see?"

This silenced Susan, who awkwardly changed the subject. "Fine, fine, handle it however you want. Just don't get divorced, whatever happens."

With that, she hung up first.

In that moment, Layla felt a thousand-pound weight on her chest, an invisible pressure that made it impossible to breathe.