Chapter 24
Shane was the first to react, owning as he questioned, “Sen, what are you talking about? Layla’s perfectly fine. You…”
“Do you think I’d joke about something like this?”
Sean gave a bitter sinile. “If I could, I’d wish it was all just bad joke, so I could turn back time and still have a chance to make things right with her.”
Sean’s seriousness sent a wave of panic through Mrs. Xander. She rushed forward, grabbing Sean’s arm, and asked anxiously, “Tell me what’s wrong with Layla?‘
“She has a tumor in her brain,” Sean said grimly. “It’s in a dangerous spot, and the chances of a successful surgery are very slim.”
His words hit the Xander family like a bolt of lightning. They stood frozen, their faces full of disbelief.
Mrs. Xander thought back to the cruel words she had said earlier. Guilt and heartbreak overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face.
“How… how could I say something so horrible to her?” she muttered, her voice breaking
Overcome with regret, she turned and tried to rush back into Luxe Villa, but several security guards immediately stopped her.
“Let me in! I need to see my daughter!” she cried desperately.
The guards didn’t budge. “Sorry, ma’am,” one said firmly. Mr. Lucas has just issued an order. From this point on, none of you, including this gentleman,” he nodded toward Sean, “are allowed to set foot in the estate.”
י
Sean had been blacklisted after his last visit and had been showing up at the gates every day since, only to be turned away. If even he couldn’t get through, the Xanders stood no chance.
But Mrs. Xander, consumed with worry for her daughter, refused to listen. She pushed against the guards with all her might, screaming, “Let me in!”
The guards stood firm, as immovable as a wall of iron.
Mr. Xander, the family’s head, knew he had to stay composed even in the face of such devastating news. Gently placing a hand on his wife’s shoulder, he tried to calm her,
“Let’s go home for now,” he said quietly. “We’ll have other chances to see her. No matter what, she’s still our daughter. She can’t avoid us forever.”
Xena stepped closer, taking Mrs. Xander’s hand and speaking softly. “Mom, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t get too worked up. Maybe… maybe it’s all just a misunderstanding.”
Mrs. Xander stopped crying and turned to Xena. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Xena said hesitantly, “it wouldn’t be the first time Layla’s done something like this. She used to fake illnesses to get attention. Remember when Sean was overseas for work? She said she had a terrible headache, and Sean got so scared he cut his trip short and flew back immediately.‘
“Layla would never joke about something as serious as her life!” Sean snapped, his voice sharp, though his -expression betrayed a flicker of doubt.
After all, Xena wasn’t wrong. Layla had often used illnesses to seek attention in the past.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 24
But then Sean’s expression hardened as he added, “Besides this isn’t just something she said. My grandfather is the one who discovered it. Do you really think he’d lie to everyone to help her stage some kind of act?”
“Isn’t it possible?” Xena replied innocently, her wide eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Your grandfather loves her so much. Wouldn’t it be possible for him to help her with a little performance?”
Her voice trembled as she added, “I just… I just really hope it isn’t true…”
That final sentence turned all her accusations into a heartfelt wish, making her seem like the most kindhearted person in the room.
A heavy silence followed as no one present doubted “sweet, innocent” Xena’s intentions.
“She’s not entirely wrong,” Mr. Xander murmured, frowning, “I saw Layla earlier, and she didn’t look like someone gravely ill.”
“I think so too,” Shane chimed in with a nod. “Knowing Layla, if she were really that sick, she’d already be in the hospital, soaking up all the attention she could get.
“But…
