Chapter 19
The late morning sun streamed softly through the tall windows of Lucas’s coastal home, casting golden lines on the hardwood floor. Layla sat cross–legged on a large woven mat in the sunroom, her fingers playing with Zack’s as they flipped through glossy travel brochures.]
“I vote Greece,” Zack said, holding up a picture of white cliffside houses and deep blue waters. “Santorini. Romantic, peaceful. Just like you deserve.”
Layla laughed, light and free, like a melody that hadn’t been heard in years. “Just like I deserve?” she echoed teasingly. “Not like we deserve?“N
He leaned in with a grin, brushing his thumb across her cheek. “Fair enough. We deserve.”
Her heart fluttered–genuinely fluttered–for the first time in a long while. With Zack, everything felt easy. Real. There were no haunting silences, no tightrope walks around bruised egos. Just kindness, patience, and a warmth that she hadn’t realized she’d been starved of. Lucas had been surprisingly supportive of their blossoming relationship. His home had become a peaceful retreat, a place to breathe again. No shadows. No games.
As Zack continued reading out dreamy destinations, Layla stood, stretching. “I’ll go freshen up. Be right back.”
She slipped quietly into the hallway and headed to her guest room, her bare feet silent against the wooden floor. Just as she turned the corner, she froze. Her brother’s voice echoed from his office–calm, but tense.
“He’s in the hospital now. I already handled it. He won’t be a problem anymore.“}]
Layla’s heart stilled.
There was a pause, and then the other person on the line said something she couldn’t make out.
Lucas replied, “Of course I hurt him. That was his punishment. He doesn’t get to walk away clean after what he did to Layla.”
A sharp pain stabbed at her chest. Brent?
She pushed the door open softly and stepped in. “Lucas?”
He turned, startled. “Layla. I didn’t know you were there.”
“What happened?” she asked quietly, voice trembling. “To Brent?”
Lucas sighed, placing his phone down. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
“I did,” she said. “You said he was hurt. Hospitalized?”
Lucas met her gaze, unwavering. “Yes. I made sure he suffered for what he did to you. He deserved that much.“}
Layla blinked, mind spinning. “Why? Why go that far?“}
Lucas tilted his head. “Are you pitying him?“}
“No,” she answered quickly. “No, I’m not. But…” She swallowed, torn between past and present. “Just promise me he’ll never come back. I don’t want chaos. I just want peace, Lucas. That’s all I ever wanted.”
His gaze softened. “You have my word. He won’t disrupt your life again. I’ll make sure of it.”
Layla nodded, even as her heart pulled in strange directions.
She returned to her room and closed the door gently behind her.
For the rest of the day, she laughed and smiled like nothing was wrong. Zack showed her a hidden cove on the property. They shared tea and cookies on the terrace, their legs tangled beneath a blanket.
But Brent stayed in the back of her mind.}]
Late that night, when the house was quiet and the stars spilled across the sky like glitter, Layla stood by the window, arms wrapped around herself. She had asked for peace. She had wanted to move on. So why did she feel a strange heaviness in her chest?
He’s in the hospital… alone…
She turned from the window.
No. She wouldn’t go. That chapter was over. She’d chosen herself this time. She wouldn’t be dragged back into guilt or memories. Not again.
Brent groaned as he stirred, pain blooming across every inch of his body. He blinked slowly, eyes adjusting to the pale blue walls of the hospital room. Machines beeped steadily beside him. The air smelled of antiseptic and sorrow.
His wrists were bandaged. His chest felt like it had been crushed. And yet… the worst pain wasn’t physical.
“Did anyone visit?” he whispered hoarsely to the nurse checking his IV.
She shook her head softly. “No visitors, Mr. Westwood.”
He turned his face away.
Alone.M
The tears came slowly at first, and then all at once. He cried into the pillow, silent and broken.§
He had thought maybe–just maybe–Layla would come.
Even just to spit on him. Even to tell him he didn’t matter. But there was nothing. Just silence.
He stayed there for days. No one visited.}}
Not his staff. Not his father.
Certainly not Layla.
The only sounds were his own thoughts echoing like ghosts in the sterile room. Then, one morning, a soft ding from his phone lit up the screen.N
A text from one of his staff: Sir, I thought you should know–Zack was seen buying a diamond ring yesterday. A very expensive one.}] Could be… a proposal.
Brent stared at the message for a long time.
And then, slowly, his hand fell to his chest, where the wounds had started to scab over–but the ache inside only deepened.
He closed his eyes.N
So this is how it feels to lose everything.
