Chapter 2 The Hickey on the Neck
Layla walked into the nearest pharmacy, pretending to browse.
"Need any help?" asked the stern-faced pharmacist.
"I need... contraceptives," Layla mumbled, blushing.
The pharmacist handed her the pills.
"Thanks." Layla paid, rushed out, and swallowed a pill dry.
'So bitter. Are contraceptives always this bitter?'
After she left, the pharmacist took off his white coat, revealing a suit. He called, "Mr. Holland, she took the pill."
On the hotel's top floor, Samuel smoked a cigarette, staring out the window.
'Vitamin B, not too bad, right?' he pondered.
Layla took the bus back to school, where she worked as a teaching assistant in the afternoons.
At the school gate, she felt uneasy.
Yesterday...
Vincent Sivan's mom had confronted her there.
In a Mercedes, Vincent's elegant mother had looked at her with disdain. "One million dollars, leave my son."
"You think you're a match for Vincent?Vincent was just messing around with someone like you. Don't dream of marrying into the Sivan family."
Layla had naively pleaded, saying Vincent truly loved her.
However, she found Vincent and Emilia Brown in bed together that night.
In a fit of rage, Layla threw a bucket of water on them and fled. Vincent panicked and rushed downstairs, but Layla had already vanished.
When Layla arrived at the school dorm, exhausted from a sleepless night, Vincent, looking disheveled with red-rimmed eyes, grabbed her shoulder. "Layla, please, let me explain."
"Let go of me," Layla said, disgusted. It was the same hand that had touched Emilia.
"Vincent, if you don't let go, I'll make sure everyone knows your dirty secret!"
Vincent released her but blocked her path.
"Layla, forgive my moment of weakness."
"Moment of weakness? Was it your first time with Emilia? Every time was a moment of weakness?"
Vincent hurriedly defended himself, "I made a mistake all men make, but I love you."
"Enough! You're shameless. Don't blame every man for your actions! What's the difference between you, who indulges in lust, and an animal?"
"Go tell your mom to take a good look at her son and see if he's worthy of me." She shoved Vincent to the ground.
"Layla, please don't hit Vincent." Emilia, crying, rushed out and pushed Layla aside, standing in front of Vincent. "I like Vincent; it's all my fault. Hit me instead."
"Sorry, but Vincent is a normal guy. You refused to take things further, so he turned to me. You can't blame him."
Layla laughed at the absurdity. But given what Emilia had done, it wasn't surprising.
"So, is it your job as a good friend to sleep with him in my place? Are you enjoying being a home-wrecker and hoping to marry into the Sivan family soon? Unfortunately, your wish will never come true!"
"If Vincent cheated once, he'll cheat again. I hope you can protect him when other women come knocking."
A flash of hatred crossed Emilia's eyes, but she continued to cry pitifully. "While blaming Vincent, did you notice the hickey on your neck? You were with another man last night, weren't you?"
"Layla..." Vincent's red eyes fixed on her neck, his face pale. "What's going on?" He had waited four years, always being rejected, and now she had slept with another man?
"I'm single. Why can't I be with someone else?"
"So, you're just a loose woman, pretending all this time. I was wrong about you!" Vincent stormed off in anger.
Emilia wiped away her tears and looked at Layla with disdain. "The male prostitute last night did a good job, didn't he?"
Layla suddenly looked up at Emilia, realizing she had been set up, and clenched her fists.
Meanwhile, in the Holland Group CEO's office.
"Mr. Holland, the person who tampered with your drink last night was indeed sent by Wyatt. The goal was to ruin your reputation," the assistant reported.
Just as he suspected, it was time to settle the score.
Samuel's eyes turned cold as he stubbed out his cigarette.
"Have you looked into the woman from last night?"
"Yes, her name is Layla Adkins. She's 21, a senior in college. Good grades, well-behaved. She went to the bar because her boyfriend cheated on her. And..." the assistant hesitated.
"Go on."
"Her boyfriend is Mr. Sivan."
Interesting.
"Keep an eye on her."
He had no interest in the arranged marriage with the Eilish family. The more his father pushed, the more he resisted.
Samuel smiled meaningfully. That little girl was his useless nephew's girlfriend. Things were getting more interesting.