Chapter 1

The night was deep in Lasville, Somersia, but the lights in Murray Estate were still shining brightly.

Robert Murray lay in bed. His body was growing weaker with each passing day. The chill of autumn had worsened his condition, causing him to cough up blood.

Now, he leaned weakly against the bed as he gazed at the man in a tailored suit beside him. "Stephen, do you agree to do what I just asked of you?"

Stephen Yates, 27 years old, was an orphan abandoned at a young age. He was later adopted by Robert and grew up alongside his granddaughter.

After graduating, he joined Murray Group and became Robert's trusted right-hand man as the company's CEO.

Out of gratitude and loyalty, Stephen would never refuse Robert's request. "I agree, Grandpa. I'll marry Layla."

Layla Murray, 23, was the heiress of Murray Group. She was known throughout Somersia for her spoiled and headstrong nature.

As the only child in the Murray family, she had been doted on by Robert to the point of becoming unruly.

Since graduating from college, Layla had done little but cause trouble, much to Robert's dismay.

Stephen leaned back in his chair. As he thought about the lady who would soon become his wife, his eyes flashed. "But she doesn't want to marry me."

Robert responded gravely, "As long as you agree, I have my ways to make her agree to marry you."

Just then, the late-returning Murray family heiress, Layla, had finally come home. With a delicate face and a slender figure, it was her bright eyes that drew the most attention.

Raised like a princess, Layla had the grace to match, along with a spoiled temper.

While swinging her bag and humming a tune, she entered the living room.

Alfred Weissman, the butler, had been waiting for her. "Ms. Murray, Mr. Murray Senior wants to see you."

"Grandpa's still awake? Staying up late isn't good for his health. He doesn't know how to take care of himself at all. He's not young like us anymore." Layla quickly voiced her complaints about Robert.

The door to Robert's room opened, revealing Layla's adorable face. "Good evening, my dear grandpa."

Layla was a master at charming people. She had a face that could fool anyone and a way of speaking that left people disoriented.

Whenever Robert tried to scold her, she could always talk her way out of trouble with her "legendary speeches." She'd make his anger vanish.

"Come in."

As soon as Layla stepped into Robert's room and saw Stephen by his side, her mood soured instantly. She rolled her eyes discreetly.

Stephen was well aware that Layla was biased against him and was already bracing himself for her harsh words.

"Layla, I want you to marry Stephen," Robert announced.

Layla froze for three seconds. "What? Marry who?"

Robert coughed, then repeated, "I want you to marry Stephen."

"Absolutely not! Are you out of your mind, Grandpa? Sometimes I wonder if you're actually his grandpa. You've already given him the CEO position, and now you want to give him your precious granddaughter too?

"Why don't you just give yourself to him? If someone has to marry him, you should do it. I'm young and have my whole life ahead of me. There's no way I'm marrying him."

The furious Robert began coughing violently. "You think marrying Stephen is beneath you?"

"With his status, he doesn't deserve me," Layla retorted haughtily. Her beautiful face was full of disdain.

"I think it's you who doesn't deserve Stephen. In what way are you better than him? He surpasses you in every aspect—academics, skills, and character. You're the one who doesn't measure up to him."

Feeling insulted, Layla pointed at Stephen and snapped, "With his background, how could he ever be worthy of me? I'm the heiress of the Murray family, and he's just an employee."

Robert's hands trembled with rage. He clutched his chest and coughed so hard he almost vomited.

Upon seeing that, Stephen quickly handed him a tissue.

When Robert finally pulled the tissue away, there was blood on it.

Seeing the bright red stains, Layla panicked. She realized the severity of the situation. Robert was all she had left in this world.

She pushed Stephen aside and tossed her bag into his arms. Stephen, who was accustomed to her actions, caught the bag effortlessly and held it with practiced ease.

Layla sat on the bed. She patted Robert's back as tears streamed down her face. "Don't scare me like that, Grandpa. The fortune teller said you'd live to be 108. Please don't cough up blood."

As Robert continued to cough up blood, Layla started to cry harder. "What should I do? Grandpa, stop coughing up blood. I'm scared you'll die. Please, Grandpa, stop..."

Alfred chimed in, "Ms. Murray, there's an old saying that when someone is gravely ill, a joyous event in the family can ward off the bad luck."

Upon hearing that, Layla paused her crying. In a teary voice, she said, "B-But I'm afraid that if I find Grandpa a new partner, Grandma will rise from her coffin."

Robert couldn't hold back a laugh, which caused the fake blood to spray all over the floor. Some of it even splattered onto Stephen's polished shoes.

Even Stephen, usually so composed, almost laughed at her words.

Robert looked at Layla. "It's you marrying Stephen to ward off the bad luck, not me marrying a new wife."

He might not die from his illness, but Layla might just drive him to his grave.

"Grandpa, I don't want to sacrifice my happiness for you." Layla sobbed.

Robert continued to cough.

For the next few days, Layla stayed by Robert's side, not daring to leave. Every time she refused the marriage, Robert would start coughing up blood again, and once, he even fainted.

Finally, with a pout, Layla relented. "Fine, I'll get married. Just stop coughing up blood, Grandpa."

…

After Layla agreed to the marriage, Robert's health began to improve day by day.

Two months later, the wedding day arrived.

Layla sat in the bridal room. She was being attended to by the stylists. She rested her chin in her hands, looking annoyed at the thought of the man she was about to marry.

Ever since she was born, there had been a boy five years older than her by her side, telling her what she could and couldn't do.

Whenever Robert scolded her, he would say, "Layla, learn from Stephen. He was the top student in his school this year, while you came in last again."

When they were kids, she would deliver love letters to him at school.

Layla's resentment toward Stephen began in middle school when she realized that all her friends were only hanging out with her because of Stephen.

For various reasons, she looked down on her husband-to-be, who had grown up in her house.

"The groom is here to fetch the bride! Throw the flower petals!"

At the entrance, lively shouts filled the air, followed by the blast of fireworks.

Stephen was warmly escorted into Murray Estate's hall. He was holding a bouquet of roses as he made his way to the bridal room.

As he pushed open the door, a beam of light seemed to shine in, so bright that others had to shield their eyes, but Stephen couldn't bear to look away.

There she was, standing at the foot of the bed in a white gown like a princess. She was the girl he had grown up with.

She was as strikingly beautiful as the most dazzling pearl in the world and more radiant than the roses in his hand. She was more enchanting than anything else.

Stephen's grip tightened on the bouquet as he walked toward Layla, who was dressed in her wedding gown.

Stephen was the most sought-after gentleman in Somersia. He was admired by all.

His chiseled face and deep-set eyes were captivating. Standing at six feet two inches, his frame seemed perfectly suited to protect Layla's petite figure.

Women adored his looks, while men respected his skills.

People often said that Robert had great foresight as he had adopted this promising boy over 20 years ago.

Under Stephen's leadership, Murray Group had reached new heights.

During the financial crisis that had bankrupted countless companies, Murray Group had not only survived but thrived. They became the wealthiest company in Somersia.

Everyone envied the fact that the best had been kept within the family.

In contrast, many believed that Layla didn't deserve Stephen. She was a spoiled, troublesome lady with a difficult personality. How could Stephen possibly marry her?

Chapter 2

As Stephen approached Layla in her wedding dress, she haughtily turned her face away.

He looked at her with a gentle smile, then placed the bouquet in her arms and wrapped his arm around her slim waist. Gently, he bent down and lifted her into his embrace.

Startled, Layla instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and widened her eyes with reproach.

Today was Stephen's big day, so he was in high spirits. His smile never faded.

He carried Layla downstairs, out of the living room, and into the car to head to the wedding venue.

Both Stephen and Layla had no parents, so their wedding lacked many of the usual formalities. When they arrived, they walked side by side down the aisle.

Layla's wedding caused a stir among the high society of Somersia.

Many came to offer their blessings. Robert, being both the groom's and bride's grandfather, was in high spirits. His eyes sparkled with vitality.

"Congratulations, Mr. Murray Senior!"

"Thank you."

The newlyweds exchanged rings on the stage. Layla's lips were pursed, while Stephen's smile remained serene.

As he slipped the ring onto her finger, his gaze softened.

After a busy day and seeing off the evening guests, Stephen was called away by Robert for a conversation. Once their discussion was over, Stephen was finally allowed to return to the bridal room.

In the room, Layla was still in her wedding dress. She pulled out a divorce agreement and slammed it down in front of Stephen. "Sign it. We're getting a divorce."

Stephen removed his jacket and sat on the couch. He looked at the blank divorce agreement, picked up a pen, and signed without even reading the content.

Noticing his decisiveness, Layla said, "Stephen, don't think you can get your hands on my company. Don't think I don't know about your mistress.

"You plan to marry me, take over my company, and then live happily ever after with your mistress. As long as I'm here, don't even think about it!"

After her outburst, she swiftly snatched the signed divorce agreement from Stephen. Since it was her first divorce, she had overlooked the fact that Stephen had written the divorce date as February 30th.

Naively, she had copied the same incorrect date.

Stephen smiled faintly as he glanced at the date she had written.

"Even though we're getting a divorce, this matter with your mistress isn't over. If she dares to flaunt herself in front of me, I'll make her disappear!" Layla threatened as she carefully placed the divorce agreement away.

Stephen had heard these accusations about his mistress from Layla before. He had denied them, but she didn't believe him.

Whenever he asked her to provide evidence, she would argue, saying, "You kept her so well hidden. How am I supposed to know where she is?"

Stephen was left speechless by her antics.

"Go take a shower and get some sleep." Stephen did not want to engage with her. So he stood up, unbuttoned his shirt, and headed for the bathroom to wash the gel out of his hair.

Layla, who was enraged by his dismissal, chased after him in her wedding dress. "Coward! You've always been like this. When you can't argue with me, you just run away. Besides being a weakling, what else are you good for? Your mistress must be blind to be with someone like you—"

"Are you done?" Stephen turned around. His eyes were piercing as he shouted at her.

Startled, Layla took a step back. "Why are you yelling at me? I didn't say anything wrong. You're just a scumbag. A walking disaster."

Stephen went into the bathroom and turned on the faucet. The sound of the faucet drowned out the noise from outside.

Layla continued to shout for a while but then fell silent.

Stephen waited five minutes but heard nothing.

When he opened the door, he found that Layla had vanished. Only her white wedding dress was left crumpled on the floor.

The bride had run away on her wedding night!

Half an hour later, Layla arrived at Peony Bar.

"Come on, let's celebrate! Congratulations to Layla on her wedding!" The noisy dance floor was packed with a variety of people dancing.

Nearby, a group of rich young men were raising their glasses in a toast.

In the center of the group was Stephen's bride from earlier that day.

Layla pulled out her credit card and handed it to a friend. "I'm in a great mood today. Drinks are on me!"

Cheers erupted around her. Layla was rich and was known for her lavish spending.

"Layla, didn't Mr. Yates say anything about you running away on your wedding night?"

"Hah! He's just a hired hand. It's not like he can control me," Layla replied dismissively.

At home, Stephen received a text about an 80-thousand-dollar transaction at Peony Bar. He grabbed his car keys and headed out to find his runaway bride.

Before long, Stephen arrived at the bar. He entered and quickly spotted Layla. She was with friends. They were discussing the performers on stage and hadn't noticed his arrival.

When Stephen appeared, everyone held their breath.

Years ago, Stephen had disciplined these families' businesses by using his position as Layla's brother to command them to stay away from her.

Now that Stephen had become Layla's husband, they all secretly mingled with her while being careful not to be caught by him.

But today, they had been caught in the act.

Layla's friend tapped her on the shoulder. "Layla, look behind you."

"Why? Look at number four on the stage. That guy is simply a gem of this world."

Her friend glanced at Stephen's dark expression and then patted Layla, "Your husband is here."

"What husband? I'm sing… Stephen?" Layla turned around and was startled to see Stephen standing there.

The last time she was at the bar, Stephen had dragged her back and sent her abroad. He even convinced Robert that studying overseas was more suitable for her.

Then she had been left alone overseas, only to be brought back after she pretended to be sick.

Stephen's jaw was clenched in anger. He stepped forward, grabbed Layla's slender wrist, and pulled her into his arms. Without saying a word, he dragged her out of the bar.

At the door, Stephen warned in a low voice, "It's our wedding night, Layla. How dare you run away?"

"I divorced you an hour ago. What wedding night? I'm single!" Layla retorted.

Stephen pulled out his phone and found Robert's number. He threatened Layla, "I'm calling Grandpa right now to tell him we signed the divorce agreement. Then I'll send you abroad. This time, I won't bring you back even if you try to kill yourself."

"You despicable, shameless bastard!" Layla shouted at Stephen.

Stephen's throat tightened. "Get in the car."

In light of his threat, Layla got into the car. Meanwhile, Stephen entered from the other side.

Once they were home, Layla stormed into the bridal room and shoved Stephen out. With a fierce temper, she demanded, "We'll sleep in separate rooms!"

"What's all this noise in the middle of the night?" Robert came out wrapped in a coat.

"Layla wants us to sleep separately," Stephen said.

"Separate rooms? That's ridiculous! If you two dare to do that, I'll cut off all of Layla's credit cards tomorrow," Robert said firmly.

Layla pouted angrily, "Grandpa, I sacrificed my happiness to ward off your bad luck, and you're throwing me under the bus for a stranger? Don't you know your precious Stephen has a mistress?"

Robert responded, "Where did you see that? Stephen is your husband. You should trust that he loves you."

Layla muttered softly to Stephen, "Hmph! A tattletale." She was careful not to let Robert hear, or she'd be in for another lecture.

Back then, Stephen had left her to fend for herself abroad and even linked her bank card to his phone to monitor her every move. He made it impossible for her to make friends, leaving her to live in his shadow. This was not love at all.

Robert watched as Layla held the door open for Stephen. As Stephen entered the room, Robert turned to the nearby maid and instructed, "Keep watch over their door. If Stephen is thrown out again, notify me immediately."

Inside the room, everything was decorated in white. Layla angrily swept the flower petals off the bedspread and hurled a pillow from the bed onto the couch.

Chapter 3

After a glance at the furious Layla, Stephen went to the couch. He removed his shoes and socks before lying down to sleep.

Seeing how he managed to fall asleep so peacefully, Layla made a show of loud noises. She walked loudly to the shower, cranked up the music on her phone, and threw things on the floor to disturb him.

Unfortunately, Layla's efforts were in vain. Stephen remained unmoved on the couch. He had fallen asleep with just his jacket draped over him.

Frustrated, Layla put on her pajamas and threw herself into bed. She covered her head with the blanket, fuming until she fell asleep.

Ten minutes later, Stephen's eyes opened.

Marrying someone she had loathed since childhood was unbearable for Layla, even though they had grown up together.

He quietly got up, walked to the bedside table, and gently lifted the blanket from her face to ensure she could breathe.

He then turned off the lights and returned to the couch to sleep.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

On the other end was a woman's voice. It was faint, as though she had been crying for a while. "Congratulations on your wedding, Stephen."

Irritated, Stephen hung up and set the phone aside. He was restless and spent the rest of the night awake.

The next morning, Layla woke up to find that Stephen had already left.

"He ran off pretty quickly." As she stepped outside, she saw Robert practicing his morning exercises. Sometimes, she wondered if her marriage was just a scheme orchestrated by him.

His health seemed fine. His exercise moves were even more precise than hers.

"Grandpa, if I divorced Stephen now, would you still be coughing up blood?" Layla asked.

Robert chased after her while playfully swatting at her.

"No divorce, no divorce. I was just joking."

Later that morning, a news story caused another uproar in Murray Estate's living room.

"Shocking News: Murray Group's Heiress Spotted Partying at Peony Bar on Her Wedding Night! Paying Everyone's Bill!"

The story came with photos and videos.

A nosy reporter had leaked Layla's bar escapade on the front page.

Robert, seeing the morning paper, was shaking with anger. "Layla Murray! I've spoiled you too much. Alfred, freeze all of Layla's cards now!"

Many people had sought to marry their daughters to Stephen, but he had never shown interest. In the end, Robert had feigned illness to trick Stephen into marrying Layla.

Now, instead of trying to make the marriage work, Layla had gone to a bar on her wedding night. She needed to be taught a lesson.

In the end, all of Layla's credit cards were frozen.

Money couldn't buy everything, but one couldn't do anything without money.

Layla knew this well, so she went to Murray Group to have Stephen unfreeze her cards. As the head of Murray Group, his word was law, and no one dared to ignore it.

Layla, who was in high heels, chose fashion over warmth despite the winter chill. She wore thin denim jeans, a simple white blouse, and an oversized coat draped casually over her shoulders. Her limited-edition handbag swung at her side as she entered Stephen's office.

As soon as she entered, she tossed her chain bag onto Stephen's lap. "Grandpa froze my cards. Unfreeze them for me." She knew that within Murray Group, Stephen's authority was second only to Robert's.

Stephen placed her bag on the desk and leaned back in his chair before calmly saying, "Ask Grandpa to unfreeze them."

Layla slammed his laptop shut and snapped, "If he agreed to unfreeze them, why would I come to you?"

Stephen glanced at Layla's hand, which had struck his laptop, and then turned his sharp gaze toward her. "You embarrassed me nationwide by going to a bar on our wedding night, and now you come to my office yelling at me. Why on earth would you think I'd help you unfreeze your cards?"

Layla stared at Stephen in disbelief. Was he blaming her?

"Know your place, Stephen. Murray Group belongs to me. You're just an employee. You have to follow my orders. If you don't, I'll have you fired."

Stephen rose from his seat and looked down at his petite wife. "Leaving the company in a loser's hands would mean it would go bankrupt within a year."

"Who are you calling a loser?" Layla's eyes blazed with anger.

Stephen looked away from her, unimpressed.

"Layla, I'll only help you support the company until your 25th birthday. After that, Murray Group's fate will be none of my concern. If you continue with this arrogant attitude, you'll be the one driving Murray Group to ruin."

Layla blinked in shock. Did that mean Stephen planned to leave when she turned 25?

"Hah! You sure talk a good game. If you plan to leave on my 25th birthday, why not leave now? You're just deceiving Grandpa. You manipulated him into making me marry you so you can gradually take over Murray Group."

Stephen looked at Layla, who was spewing harsh words. Her accumulated grievances and resentment toward him had become deeply entrenched over the years. "Get out!"

Yet Layla refused to leave the office. "Unfreeze my cards, and then I'll leave."

When Stephen's subordinate came in to report, they saw the notoriously bad-tempered Layla causing a scene and quickly backed out to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

Stephen eventually stood up, taking his laptop and files with him as he left the office to work elsewhere. He left Layla alone in the office.

Stephen's secretary looked at his disgruntled expression. Despite his respected status, he was married to the only person who disrespected him—Layla.

This was not the first time Stephen had been provoked to this extent. However, no one dared speak about his family matters.

Inside the office, Stephen's phone, which he had forgotten, rang. Layla saw a woman's name on the screen.

A woman?

Layla picked up his phone. Her eyes gleaming with craftiness. Without Stephen's permission, she answered the call and held the phone to her ear.

A child's voice came through the receiver, calling out, "Daddy…"

Layla's eyes widened. Stephen had a child with his mistress!

Fuming, she stormed out of the office, slammed the door, and slapped Stephen across the face. "You scumbag!"

After throwing the phone at him, she stormed out in anger.

Everyone in the CEO's office watched in shock. Did Stephen get slapped in the face?

Seeing the caller ID on his phone, Stephen put it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Uncle Stephen, Mommy is asleep. I can't wake her up. She has a headache."

"I'll be right there, Dylan." After saying that, Stephen hung up. He set aside his work and grabbed his car keys to rush to his godson's side.

After Layla entered her car, she was so enraged she shouted.

Upon arriving home, she found Robert reading a book. She stormed up to him, grabbed the book from his hands, and shook him while shouting, "Stephen is a scumbag! He even has a son! Grandpa, are you trying to make me a stepmother?"

Looking at his impatient granddaughter, Robert mumbled, "Don't get angry. Stay calm. You'll make yourself sick. You're here to repay past karma."

"Grandpa, even if you bleed yourself dry, I'm getting a divorce from Stephen. Divorce, divorce!"

Chapter 4

Hearing Layla's incessant complaints, Robert sighed. "You keep accusing Stephen of having a mistress. Where's your evidence? You're just throwing dirt at him without understanding him properly."

Furious, Layla retorted, "Would I lie to you about this? I saw it with my own eyes! Five years ago, Stephen took a woman to OB-GYN.

"What kind of man would do that unless he was involved with her? And today, I heard Stephen's illegitimate child call him 'Daddy.'"

Robert, who was sitting cross-legged on the couch, closed his eyes as if meditating. "I don't believe it without concrete evidence."

Layla realized Robert was stubborn and would only believe it when presented with undeniable proof. "Fine, I'll find the evidence. When I do, even if you try to force me to stay, I'm still divorcing him."

With that, Layla stormed out.

Once she got in the car, she clenched her fists. Her beautiful eyes blazed with anger. "Stephen, you fraud. You're going to regret this!"

At the hospital, Stephen was holding hands with a four-year-old boy while arranging admission for a woman.

"Mr. Yates, Ms. Sampson's condition requires immediate surgery."

The boy clung to Stephen's hand while crying, "Daddy, is Mommy going to die? I'm scared."

Stephen picked up the boy and told the doctor, "Give us some time to think."

In the ward, the woman woke up. "Thank you for coming, Stephen. If Layla finds out, she'll make a scene."

Stephen held Dylan and stood at the foot of the bed. "Layla can be hasty, but she means well. Focus on getting better and taking care of Dylan. I have a meeting at the office now, but I'll come back once it's over."

Lucy Sampson nodded weakly.

Back at the office, Stephen went about his meetings as usual.

In the underground parking lot, a black Volkswagen was parked beside his car. Layla was inside. She was plotting how to catch him in the act.

After the meeting, Stephen wrapped up his company duties and headed to the parking lot. He caught a glimpse of the car lurking in the shadows and intending to follow him but chose not to confront it.

He pretended not to notice and drove off to the hospital.

Layla, who was wearing sunglasses and a mask, followed him closely.

Once at the hospital, she trailed him up the stairs while filming everything with her phone.

Stephen glanced at the clumsy follower behind him. Wary of the crowded hospital that might slow her down, he deliberately walked at a slower pace to ensure she could keep up before heading upstairs.

He was curious to see what kind of tricks Layla might be planning this time.

When they arrived on the third floor, Layla became puzzled. "What's he doing here?"

She watched as Stephen entered a ward. She quickly followed while still holding her phone.

Before Stephen could even sit down, Layla burst into the room with her phone and exclaimed, "Got you this time, Stephen!"

She pointed the camera at the woman on the bed and the child eating cookies. "I remember you. Stephen was with you at the OB-GYN years ago."

She then aimed the camera at the boy. "This must be your illegitimate child, right? I have video evidence now. What do you have to say?"

Stephen frowned as he looked at her. "What do you want now?"

Layla took off her mask and sunglasses. "I'm gathering proof of your affair so I can divorce you."

Upon hearing that, Lucy in the bed immediately sat up. "You've misunderstood, Layla. We're not—"

Before she could finish, Layla cut in, "Wow, your mistress actually knows my name." She was as sharp-tongued as always.

The little boy on the bed looked at the stern-faced Layla in fear and called out to Stephen, "Daddy, who is she?"

The use of "Daddy" infuriated Layla. "I'm your father's legitimate wife!"

Stephen moved over and grabbed Layla's wrist. After snatching her phone away, he pulled her out of the ward.

In the hospital corridor, he hissed, "So you came here just to spy on my so-called mistress and illegitimate child?"

So, all this time, Lucy and Dylan were the "mistress" and "illegitimate child" Layla had been referring to?

Layla quickly reclaimed her phone. "That's right. I've got the evidence of your affair. I'll show this to Grandpa and get a divorce."

Stephen scoffed coldly. "Ignorant and foolish."

"You're coming home with me to face Grandpa. I don't believe he'll side with you this time." Layla, having never accepted Stephen since their marriage, had been determined to catch him in the act and put him firmly in his place.

Just then, Lucy emerged from the ward while pushing her IV stand. She weakly said, "Layla, there's nothing between Stephen and me. We're—"

"Of course, you're denying it. Stephen is not the chairman of Murray Group yet. If you admit it, Grandpa could dismiss him from his CEO position at any moment." Layla's words were biting.

"Layla, I—"

Noticing the escalating situation, Stephen cut off Lucy. He knew Layla too well. "Alright, Dylan, take your mom home. I need to go back."

After instructing Dylan, he turned his intense gaze to Lyla. Grabbing her wrist firmly, he said, "Aren't we going home? Let's go."

Layla nearly stumbled as he dragged her. She slapped his hand away. "Get your filthy hands off me. Disgusting."

At 6:00 pm, in the living room of Murray Estate, Robert was sitting cross-legged on the couch. He was deep in meditation.

Meanwhile, Layla showed him the video on her phone. "Look, this woman is the mistress, and this boy is Stephen's son."

Robert opened his eyes briefly, then exhaled slowly and closed them again. "Alfred, have you finished packing my luggage?"

Alfred appeared. "Yes, Mr. Murray Senior."

"Let's leave."

Frustrated with Layla's constant drama, Robert decided to retreat to Elmsbury for some peace and quiet.

"Grandpa, I've given you the evidence. Why are you still ignoring the truth?" Layla asked.

Before getting into the car, Robert looked at Layla. "Your video shows nothing more than Stephen visiting a hospitalized friend. I even know the woman you're talking about. Don't you know her?"

Layla blinked, confused. "How would I know? Stop talking in riddles, Grandpa. If you keep this up, I'll feed you chili powder!"

Robert addressed Stephen. "Take care of Layla while I'm away. I'm leaving to escape this madness."

With that, he hurriedly left with his driver.

Now, it was just Layla and Stephen in Murray Estate.

Stephen remained silent throughout while waiting for Robert's car to disappear.

After that, he took Layla's phone and deleted the video. "See? Everything you've done is in vain."

Furious, Layla tried to slap Stephen again.

This time, he took her wrist firmly. He twisted it behind her back and pinned her against the doorpost. As he stepped closer, he bent slightly to press his lips to her ear.

As he breathed in the faint scent of her perfume, he said in a pleasant voice, "Calm down. Dylan isn't my illegitimate child, and Lucy isn't my mistress. Apart from you, there's no other woman or child in my life."

Layla struggled, but her efforts were in vain. She gritted her teeth in frustration. Her warning came out in a defiant tone that lacked any real intimidation. "Let me go, Stephen. I don't believe a word you say."

Stephen was frustrated with her stubbornness. He moved even closer. Layla felt his breath on her neck. Her discomfort grew with each passing second.

Chapter 5

After Robert left, Stephen's actions grew bolder.

The next morning, when Layla came downstairs, the sight of the people in the living room made her blood boil.

She had to restrain herself from attacking Stephen. While pointing at the child in his arms, she demanded, "What are you trying to do by bringing him here?"

Was he trying to make his illegitimate child a part of this family?

"Fine. If he stays, I'm leaving. Both of you can stay here. But as long as I'm alive, this house will never be the Yates'."

Fuming, Layla retreated to her bedroom and started packing her bags for a vacation. She had even arranged for someone to accompany her.

Stephen placed Dylan in the living room. "Dylan, wait here for a moment."

He went upstairs and saw Layla searching for her ID. "Looking for this?" He pulled out Layla's ID from his pocket.

When she saw her belongings in Stephen's possession again, Layla was furious. She tried to snatch the ID back. "Give it to me!"

Stephen held it behind his back, dodging Layla's attempts while explaining, "I have nothing with Lucy. Dylan is her son, and I'm his godfather. He's still young and often confuses the word 'godfather' with 'father'. He'll mix up 'Uncle Stephen' and 'Daddy'."

Layla stood up. "I don't believe you."

Stephen was speechless. He knew she wouldn't take his word and would always see it as an excuse.

He noticed that Layla's anger had started to subside. Stephen realized she was starting to listen to what he was saying. He smirked slightly. "Take care of him, and I'll unfreeze your cards."

Layla remained unmoved by the offer. Even without money or an ID, she could still enjoy herself. If she couldn't go abroad, she could have fun domestically.

Stephen added, "Trust my abilities. I'd like to see who in Somersia will lend you money if I issue a blacklist order. You've experienced it before. Don't lose your friends again."

Layla frowned as she recalled her 21st birthday when she was ready to go out and celebrate with friends. Stephen had frozen all her cards and even confiscated all her IDs.

She had to borrow money from friends to go out. But eventually, all the companies owned by the families of those friends were summoned by Stephen for a "chat."

He had the power to cut off all her avenues and had done so without hesitation.

Layla bit her lip. Her face was flushed with anger as she glared at Stephen. She wanted to scratch his defiant face.

As some clothes were scattered around, the maid came in to help Layla tidy up. The latter gritted her teeth and followed Stephen downstairs to the living room.

In the living room stood a pitiful little boy, who was too timid to eat the fruit given to him by the maid. He stood awkwardly and seemed afraid to drink the water in front of him.

"I don't know how to take care of people, Stephen. If you're afraid I'll abuse him, you better take him wherever you go," Layla said as she sat down.

Stephen glanced at Layla, who was tough on the outside but had a soft heart. Despite her bad temper, he knew she wasn't truly heartless.

"I'm busy with work, and his mom is in the hospital. Since you have time, you can lend a hand."

Turning to the child, Stephen said, "This is my wife. You can call her Aunt Layla from now on."

"I don't want to be an aunt!" Layla protested. She resisted the idea of being called an aunt at her age.

When Dylan saw Layla come downstairs, he immediately tried to please her. He held the cup of water with both hands and went up to Layla. "Aunt Layla, would you like some water?"

Layla slammed the cup Dylan offered onto the floor. "I said, don't call me that. Can't you understand that?"

The cup shattered with a crash. Shards of glass were sent flying, and some of them landed on Dylan's feet.

Seeing Layla's outburst, Dylan was immediately terrified and burst into tears.

In the Murray family, Layla was the youngest, so she was pampered by Robert and indulged by Stephen.

Outside, with Stephen as her protector and the powerful Murray Group backing her, no one dared to cross her.

Thus, her temper was the worst among everyone.

Stephen quickly picked up Dylan and checked for injuries from the broken glass.

Layla blinked in guilt when she saw Dylan crying. She quickly turned away. She refused to meet Stephen's eyes, but her proud stance remained unshaken.

Their initial encounter was unpleasant. After Stephen managed to calm Dylan down, the little boy looked up at him. He was still pouting.

Stephen gave him a reassuring nod and said, "Layla doesn't hate you. She likes you too. She didn't mean to scare you, so don't be afraid."

Dylan, who was comforted by Stephen's words, carefully looked at Layla and said, "Aunt Layla, my mommy and daddy are just friends. Daddy isn't really my dad. Mommy told me he's my godfather."

Layla felt a pang of guilt for unintentionally hurting Dylan, but she masked it with indifference. She pretended not to care as she gazed at him.

As Layla calmed down and watched the "father and son" repeatedly explain themselves, doubt began to creep in.

Could she have really misunderstood Stephen?

Since their first interaction hadn't gone well, Stephen took Dylan away in the afternoon.

Left alone in the living room, Layla angrily hugged a couch cushion. She imagined it was Stephen as she pounded on it.

The maid, who had been observing everything, commented, "Ms. Murray, that child doesn't look anything like Mr. Yates. Besides, he isn't the type to let his own child suffer."

"Shut up. Did I ask for your opinion?" Layla snapped at the maid. After tossing the cushion aside, she stormed back to her bedroom.

Once inside, Layla lay on her bed and stared at the heart sticker still stuck to the ceiling light.

Her delicate face was twisted with displeasure, and her eyes reflected her frustration.

She pouted and bit her lower lip in anger. She was angry at herself for marrying Stephen and even angrier at him for being such a jerk. How could she have ever had feelings?

"Ugh, this is driving me crazy. I don't want to think about it anymore." Layla rolled over in bed, trying to avoid looking at the heart sticker.

But as she tried to sleep, images of Stephen and Dylan kept creeping into her mind.

She opened her eyes again. After cooling down, she started thinking about the woman in the hospital.

Something didn't add up.

If Robert knew Stephen had someone else outside, why would he still allow her to marry him?

Layla felt she had some vague memory of the woman but couldn't quite place it.

If that child was really Stephen's, how could he bear to let him suffer under her care?

And just like the maid had said, Dylan didn't resemble Stephen at all. Besides, would Stephen really let his child suffer?

He said Dylan was his godson. But for a three-year-old, it was understandable that he might confuse "godfather" and "father.".

Layla couldn't figure it out. She was frustrated and unable to sleep.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Stephen brought Dylan to the ward and apologized to Lucy. "I'm sorry. Layla's been spoiled and has a bad temper. She scared Dylan."

Lucy smiled gently. "We've already caused you so much trouble, Stephen. You should explain things to Layla."

Stephen was well aware of Layla's stubbornness. He replied, "Layla's disliked me for a long time. She'll see everything I say as an excuse. She only believes what she sees.

"No matter what I say, if she's made up her mind about something, no one can change it. She needs time to calm down and figure things out on her own."

Having known Layla since she was a child, Stephen understood her too well and didn't bother wasting his breath on explanations.

Lucy apologized again. "I'm sorry, Stephen, for causing you more trouble."

Stephen reassured her. "It's not your fault. Layla's just going to be giving me a hard time for a while."

Dylan looked up at Stephen and asked with confusion, "Daddy, why did you marry a pretty tigress?"

The term "pretty" was his way of acknowledging Layla's looks, while "tigress" recognized her temper.

Chapter 6

Lucy gently patted Dylan's head and said, "Because Uncle Stephen likes that pretty lady."

In the evening, when Stephen returned home, Layla kept a stern face and gave him the cold shoulder.

Stephen ignored her too. It wasn't until bedtime that Layla, with a touch of irritation, asked, "So, how's that kid's foot from today?"

Detecting the concern in her voice, Stephen replied, "He's fine." There was a faint smile on his lips as he lay down.

The next day, Stephen once again brought Dylan to Layla.

Layla, who was trying to keep her cool, was speechless.

"Do you want to die, Stephen?" she hissed through gritted teeth.

Dylan was holding his Galactic Defenders toy. He was frightened to tears by Layla's loud voice. "Daddy went to work…"

Layla clenched her fists and angrily pounded the bed. "Go cry somewhere else. You're so annoying, just like your dad."

Poor Dylan stood by the door, crying loudly. The noise kept Layla from her sleep, and in her frustration, she got out of bed.

She stormed out wearing her silk pajamas. Her hair was in disarray.

"Shut up."

Terrified, Dylan covered his mouth, but his tears continued to stream down his face.

Layla glanced at the back of his feet. Noticing that the glass shards from yesterday hadn't hurt him, she beckoned him with a wave. "Let's go to the living room."

Dylan, who was still sobbing, obediently followed. His eyes were filled with fear as he looked at Layla.

Layla sat cross-legged in the spot where Robert often meditated. She mimicked his posture but with less formality. "How old are you?"

"I'll be four after cutting a cake," Dyan answered.

Layla rolled her eyes in her mind. It turned out that the scene she had witnessed at the OB-GYN five years ago was actually Stephen attending to the birth of this child.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Dylan Sampson," he answered, still scared.

Layla took a deep breath and mumbled, "So you're not a Yates."

Soon, the maid prepared breakfast, and Layla got up. "Come and eat."

Dylan, with small steps, hurried to catch up with Layla.

…

At Murray Group, Stephen was busy at work when Lucy called him. "Stephen, why did you send Dylan back to Murray Estate? Layla's going to be mad at you again."

Stephen chuckled. "Don't worry. She may be fierce and arrogant, but she has her limits." He had sent Dylan back to give Layla a hint to unravel the misunderstanding herself.

Lucy sighed. "You should go home and check on them."

"Lucy, with your health in its current state, you can't take care of Dylan. Whether you have the surgery or not, he'll need to be under my care sooner or later. Layla will have to interact with him eventually.

"So let them spend time together for now. Let Dylan give Layla a hard time and test her patience."

…

Back at Murray Estate, Layla was at her wit's end.

Covering her ears, she shouted, "Stop crying already!"

She was thoroughly exasperated by Dylan's constant crying. "Don't think I won't hit you. I've even hit Stephen before, so I'm not scared of a kid like you."

Dylan was scared by Layla's threats. When he was scared, his first reaction was to cry.

"I want to watch Galactic Defenders," he said.

Layla closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Pointing at the TV, she instructed the maid, "Turn it on and play Commander Spark."

"No, I don't want to watch Commander Spark. He always gets defeated. I want to watch Commander Hampton!"

How dare he say Commander Spark was no good?

Layla decided to have a serious debate with the little kid in front of her. "Commander Spark was my childhood hero. When he first came out, Commander Hampton wasn't even on the scene.

"How dare you think Commander Spark is weak? Let me tell you. Commander Spark could easily take down Commander Hampton."

Since it was about his hero, Dylan countered, "No, Commander Hampton is the best."

Layla argued back, "Commander Hampton isn't as cool as Commander Spark."

"No, Commander Hampton is cooler."

The argument over the characters of Galactic Defenders continued in the living room. Eventually, the young Dylan couldn't outmatch Layla as she was an adult. He was forced to spend the entire afternoon beside Layla watching Commander Spark.

When Stephen called home, he asked the maid if Layla and Dylan were getting along well. All he heard on the other end was the sounds of their argument.

He chuckled softly. "Seems like they're having fun."

When he got home that afternoon, a distressed Dylan ran to him while crying. "Daddy, Layla scared me."

Layla, not addressed as "aunt," leaned back against the couch. With her hand propped up, she looked at Dylan. "Finally, you've said something I wanted to hear."

"Uncle Stephen, let's go to the store and buy Commander Hampton. I want him to beat Commander Spark."

Layla heard this and was not having it.

"Let's get Commander Spark. I don't believe my Commander Spark will lose to your little Commander Hampton."

Stephen had barely been home for five minutes when Layla draped herself on his arm.

Glancing at Dylan, she deliberately said, "Honey, come with me to buy Commander Spark."

She forgot her dislike for Stephen. For the first time in years, she willingly linked arms with him, though it was only to spite a little kid.

Stephen looked at her profoundly. "Why are you arguing with a child, Layla?"

"I've never lost at anything from childhood until now. My childhood hero can't lose either."

With that, Layla dragged Stephen off to the store.

Since her cards were frozen and she had no cash, she had to let Stephen pay.

At the toy section of the store, Stephen held Layla's hand with one arm and Dylan's hand with the other. They resembled a family of three shopping together.

"I want this, Stephen. Buy it for me," Layla demanded while pointing at a toy.

Meanwhile, Dylan pointed in another direction. "Uncle Stephen, Commander Hampton is over there."

"Buy this for me first." Layla clung to Stephen's arm and refused to let go.

"I want Commander Hampton."

Stephen turned to look at the young lady with her brows furrowed. At this moment, Layla was no longer the arrogant rich lady but a childlike girl. She was eagerly seeking something she wanted.

It reminded him of when she was a child. Her bedroom was overflowing with toys, and she wanted more but had no place to put them. She would cuddle up to him and, with a soft, pleading tone, ask him, "Stephen, can I keep my toys in your room?"

"We'll get Commander Spark first, then we'll buy Commander Hampton." Stephen finally did something to make Layla happy.

On the way back, Layla happily played around with Dylan in the backseat while Stephen drove. Stephen occasionally glanced at them. He smiled faintly.

As night fell, the city lights illuminated the dark.

A light rain cleansed the earth. Neon lights flickered and cast a spectrum of colors through the glistening raindrops.

A modest Rolls-Royce Phantom drove along the road. As he felt the breeze, Stephen said to the woman in the backseat, "Layla, Dylan's mom is about to have surgery. Can he stay with us for a while?"

Upon hearing that, Dylan looked nervously at Layla. He hadn't forgotten that the pretty lady in front of him disliked him.

Chapter 7

If Layla didn't agree to take Dylan in, he would have no place to go.

Layla was silent for a long time. Sensitive Dylan took the initiative to speak up. "Daddy, pretty miss, I can live on my own. Mommy says real men aren't afraid of the dark. Don't worry about me."

Seeing his determined eyes touched something in Layla.

She grudgingly said, "Since you called me pretty miss, I'll consider it."

Dylan was really using "Uncle Stephen" and "Daddy" interchangeably. An adult might do that deliberately, but a child so young couldn't. Their unguarded moments might reveal the truth.

Layla was troubled and feeling unsure inside.

When Layla said that, Stephen knew she had agreed. However, she wasn't one to admit it easily.

Stephen continued, "I'll take Dylan to visit his mom tomorrow. Do you want to come?"

"No," Layla replied stubbornly.

She held a deep disdain for mistresses who feigned weakness to win a man's sympathy.

The next day, as Stephen was getting ready to leave with Dylan, Layla appeared in a yellow dress and sat in the passenger seat of his car. Her face was partly hidden behind large black sunglasses.

Stephen glanced at her and chuckled. "Didn't you say you weren't coming?"

Layla reclined the seat and lay back. "The hospital isn't just for her."

Stephen smiled. He didn't call her out and just drove to the hospital.

The drive was monotonous and tiring.

Layla stayed up late last night, trying to drive Stephen out of her room by blasting the volume while binge-watching shows. But the noise ended up giving her a headache instead.

She hadn't slept well all night, so she spent the entire drive catching up on sleep.

Arriving at the hospital, Stephen looked at the sleeping woman beside him. He paused for a moment, then gently removed her sunglasses and studied her serene face. She rarely looked this peaceful, and he was reluctant to wake her.

Dylan sat quietly in the back seat. He was aware that Layla was like a tigress. If he disturbed her sleep, he would be in trouble.

He wondered why Stephen enjoyed watching the sleeping pretty miss.

"Daddy, are you afraid of Layla?" Dylan asked softly.

Stephen's emotions were clear in his eyes. Only when Layla was asleep could he let them show. As he looked at her delicate, sleeping face, he answered, "Yes."

Dylan became even more obedient. If even Stephen was afraid of her, she must be really scary.

Stephen let her sleep a bit longer, then gently woke her up after putting the sunglasses back on her. "We're here."

Layla, who was still half-asleep, didn't want to get out of the car. "I'm not going. You go. I want to sleep."

"Are you not going to look for evidence of my affair?" Stephen reminded her with a chuckle.

Instantly, Layla was fully awake. "Let's go."

Dylan was familiar with the hospital. He ran to press the elevator buttons and knew where the service elevators were.

Layla was curious about how he knew so much.

"Daddy, Aunt Layla, the elevator is here," Dylan announced.

Layla walked over and gently pinched his cheek. "Yesterday you called me pretty miss, and today you're calling me aunt? I'm still young and single. Don't ruin my chances with that."

Dylan cutely replied, "But you're married to Daddy. You're his wife."

Layla scoffed, "What do you know, little kid?"

As they bickered, the elevator arrived.

Just as they reached the door, they ran into the doctor making rounds.

The doctor explained Lucy's surgery and reassured the patient. Upon seeing Stephen, the doctor started discussing the details with him again.

Layla went directly to the ward and looked at the weak woman in bed. When she saw her poor condition, her usual arrogance softened a bit.

Dylan went in, climbed onto a stool by the bed, and hugged Lucy's neck affectionately. He called her "Mommy."

"What brings you here today, Layla? Thanks for taking care of Dylan yesterday. He can be quite a handful. I'm sure he gave you a hard time," Lucy addressed Layla politely.

Seeing no one else around, Layla directly spoke. "Lucy, right? I'll give you 500 million dollars if you convince Stephen to divorce me and disappear from my life with your family."

Lucy's reaction was unexpected.

She smiled while looking at Layla with calm eyes. "Layla, you've misunderstood. Stephen has no other women, and I'm not his mistress."

Layla frowned, and her displeasure was evident. "I saw you both together at the prenatal checkup five years ago and heard Dylan call him 'Daddy'. How could there be nothing between you? I'm a reasonable person. If you two really love each other, I'll step aside."

Lucy held Dylan close. "Layla, I grew up in an orphanage, just like Stephen. We were both abandoned by our parents at a young age.

"Stephen was later adopted by the Murray family, but he never forgot us. He visited on weekends, brought us books, taught us to read, and donated money. He helps anyone from the orphanage who is in need, so we've stayed in touch.

"But our relationship is not what you think. Dylan's biological father is someone else. Stephen is just his godfather. He's stayed true to you all these years."

"W-What?" Layla was stunned.

So Lucy wasn't a mistress after all? And Dylan really wasn't Stephen's son? What did Lucy mean by Stephen staying true to her?

"No way. Do you think I'll fall for that? Stephen knows I'm not easily deceived. He never mentioned his relationship with you."

"That's because you've always been biased against him. You wouldn't believe his explanations. But you can ask Dylan. He knows Stephen isn't his biological father."

Dylan nodded. "Aunt Layla, Daddy really isn't my real dad. He's my godfather." But Dylan didn't quite understand the difference between a godfather and a real father. He only had one father now, didn't he?

Layla was a bit panicked. Had she really wronged Stephen? What should she do now?

"Layla, you're the envy of everyone in the orphanage." Whenever Stephen talked about her, he always showed a hint of affection.

Perhaps he cared for them out of sympathy and pity, but when it came to Layla, there was always a certain sparkle in his eyes.

"Why?"

At that moment, Stephen entered the room and interrupted what Lucy was about to say.

"The surgery is scheduled for Friday. Dylan will stay with me during this time."

Layla hadn't finished asking her question and couldn't get it out now.

Lucy said, "There are still two days before the surgery. Let Dylan stay with me for a while."

Stephen didn't refuse. After sitting in the ward for a short time, he stood up to leave.

Layla followed him. After understanding the situation, she felt a twinge of guilt toward Lucy and Dylan.

Back in the car, she asked the cold and indifferent man, "Why didn't you say earlier that they weren't your mistress and illegitimate son? Were you trying to play the victim and let me misunderstand, so that when the truth came out, I'd feel guilty and fall into your trap?"

Stephen replied, "You always impose the worst possible motives on me, Layla. If I had explained everything from the start, would you have believed me?"