Chapter 10
“Of course,” William replied
“Then…… can I move into your place?” Layla asked tentatively.
William: “2”
Even Mike, the usually stole bodyguard trailing behind Willam, couldn’t hide the flicker of surprise on his face. He shot Layla a glance, clearly amazed at her audacity. This was William Lucas she was addressing someone who valued peace and quiet so much that even his household staff had to avoid big during his hours at home.
“Yes, you can.”
Hearing William’s response, Mike’s expression faltered completely.
He stared at William in disbelief. “Did those words really just come out of Mr. Lucas’s mouth?” he questioned
himself.
“You don’t need to worry. I won’t stay for free,” Layla quickly offered. She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and held it up for him. “Add my contact info. You can name your price, and I’ll treat it like I’m renting a room. I promise to keep a low profile. You can pretend I’m not even there if you like.”
“That won’t be necessary,” William said as he added her as a contact. His tone was casual but firm. “Since you’re offering to pay, feel free to let me know if you need anything.”
And just like that, in front of Mike’s disbelieving eyes, the two scaled a deal to become housemates.
Mike felt his grasp on reality slipping. “Is the boss… possessed?” he wondered.
Putting her phone away, Layla glanced at William curiously “Were you heading to meet your client just now?”
“I already did,” he replied calmly, his tone betraying no emotion. “I can take you to see the house now.”
Mike: “???”
He had only just learned they were here to meet a client, yet now he was finding out the meeting had already happened.
A while later, Mike drove, with Layla and William sitting silently in the back seat. Layla gazed out the window, but her mind was elsewhere. Her impulsive decision to move in was now catching up to her.
“Once this storm blows over, I’ll have to find the right time to tell him about my condition,” she thought. “It wouldn’t be right to die in his house. If it’s too much trouble for him, I can always move out later.”
Still, she couldn’t help but glance at William. He really was a good person. Rich, generous, and remarkably willing to help her it felt almost too good to be true.
The car eventually approached its destination, and Layla swallowed nervously. Of course, someone like William wouldn’t live anywhere ordinary.
The neighborhood was breathtaking–a gated community developed by the Lucas family, surrounded by scenic mountains and pristine lakes. It was the pinnacle of luxury living in North City.
Layla silently thanked her foresight in demanding money from Sean. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to set Toot in a place like this.
Noticing her hesitation, William spoke in his usual calm tone. “Don’t worry. I’m fair–I won’t overcharge you. Just a token amount will do.”
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Chapter 10.
Layla forced a sheepish smile. “My wallet can handle it.”
Soon, the Maybach came to a stop in front of a sleek, architecturally stunning villa. William stepped out first, with Layla following closely behind. They entered the villa, one after the other.
“Take a look around. Feel free to pick any room you like,” William said.
“Alright.”
Feeling more than a little guilty, Layla didn’t dare to look too closely. Instead, she discreetly pulled out her phone and began searching for nearby rental prices, mentally calculating the cost per square foot.
Even with some preparation, the numbers she found were w–dropping. She pressed a hand to her forehead and muttered under her breath, “Impulsiveness is the devil.“.
“How about this room?” William suggested, standing in the middle of a spacious room. “It’s well–ventilated, with bright sunlight. Perfect for…”
He paused–briefly before amending his words, “…boosting your energy-
“Ah?” Layla blinked, glancing around the room. Only one thought echoed in her mind: “This room must be worth at least ten grand a month.”
“I’ll arrange for someone to help you pack your things later You can move in today,” William added. “The staff will come to tidy up after I leave for work each day. If you have any special requests, you can let them know. I’ll leave you to settle in.”
With that, William walked past her and out of the room.
Layla wandered around the space, taking in the floor–to–ceiling windows that offered a clear view of a tranquil lake. Trees reflected in the shimmering water, creating a picturesque scene.
She felt a wave of relief wash over her. Pulling out her phone, she transferred the rent to William, adding a message: “Thank you for letting me stay. I appreciate it.”
That evening, after Layla left the company, the internet erupted.
The hashtag “Sean Perry: Useless Scumbag” rocketed to the top of the trending list, holding the number one spot for half an hour before disappearing without a trace.
But the internet has a long memory. No amount of PR could stop netizens from dissecting the story, and the Perry family business quickly became collateral damage. By the next morning, their stock prices had plummeted.
When Mr. Perry Sr. learned of the scandal, he was so furious it nearly sent him to the hospital. Without hesitation, he ordered Sean to be brought back to the family estate immediately.
As soon as Sean stepped through the door, a booming voice commanded, “Get down on your knees!”
Not daring to hesitate for even a moment, Sean knelt down right there in the entryway.
Standing behind him, Xena froze in fear, not daring to make a sound. She could only watch Sean with tear–filled eyes, her expression brimming with pity.
Mr. Perry Sr. approached, leaning heavily on his cane. The moment he caught sight of Xena
deepened.
“You two still dare to be seen together!” he barked.
his anger only
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Chapter 10
Sean looked up, his voice steady, “Grandpa, if you’re angry take it out on me.”
“You’re still defending het!”
Mr. Perry Sr. laughed coldly before raising his cane and bringing it down hard on Sean’s shoulder.
“You’ve completely lost your mind! I’ll beat some sense back into you if it’s the last thing I do!”
Seeing this, Xena cried out and lunged forward, shielding Sean with her body. The cane struck her squarely, and she let out a muffled groan of pain.
Sean wrapped his arms around Xena, a flicker of defiance flashing in his eyes as he looked at Mr. Perry Sr.
“You’re still putting on a show right in front of me?” Mr. Perry Sr. sneered. “Let me make one thing clear: even if Layla doesn’t marry into this family, there’s no chance it will be Xena. The Perry family won’t tolerate such disgrace.”
His tone was sharp, cutting deep as he turned his full disdain toward Sean. “I’ve warned you before, Sean. Without Layla, you’re nothing.”
Disappointment etched itself across Mr. Perry Sr.’s face. He had once hoped Sean might learn something from Layla’s strength and skill, but now it seemed all her efforts had been wasted.
“Whatever Layla wants, you’ll give it to her,” he ordered coldly, “Even if it means getting on your knees to beg for her forgiveness, you’ll do it.”
‘Grandpa Perry, it’s not fair to put all the blame on Sean!” Xena said, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes. “Layla was the one who ignored the family’s reputation and blew this out of proportion. Sean tried to stop her but she just wouldn’t listen…”
“I know Layla,” Mr. Perry Sr. interrupted sharply, fixing Xena with a piercing glare. “She’s not the kind of girl to act recklessly. If she went to such lengths, she must have been pushed to her limit.”
His gaze turned colder. “But you… you’re nothing but an outsider with no manners. I guess it’s true that a stray child from outside can’t escape their bad upbringing ”
“Grandpa, there’s no need to be so harsh with your words,” Sean said, straightening his back as he met Mr. Perry Sr.’s gaze
head–on. “Fine, I’ll go and ask for Layla’s forgiveness. Is that what you want to hear?”
The defiance in Sean’s tone wasn’t lost on Mr. Perry Sr., who scoffed dismissively. “Two days from now, I’ll have Layla come here. You’ll apologize to her in front of me, and I’ll judge for myself just how sincere you are.
“And one more thing.”
He turned to Xena. “Go back and tell the Xander family to come over that day as well. Make sure they show a better attitude and help convince Layla.”
With that, Mr. Perry Sr. turned away, dismissing them curtly. “Now get out of my sight.”
