Chapter 162 A Warning Unheeded
Layla offered a gentle shake of her head, her voice softening. "I'm fine, thank you, Anthony. Once again, you've been my knight," Layla saidshe expressed with a gentle shake of her head.
sincere gratitude.Anthony's eyes crinkled as he smiled, looking every bit thein response, his smile radiating the charm of a noble gentleman. "It must be fate," he quipped.
Layla thought to herself that she seemed to cross paths lightly, his words hanging in the air between them.In the quiet recesses of her mind, Layla found herself musing over the frequency of her encounters with the Eilishes more often than not—a dubious sign. Nonetheless, . It was an unsettling pattern, yet her impression of Anthony wasremained overwhelmingly positive. And reallyAfter all, who wouldn't have a favorable viewcould resist the allure of such a gracious and kind man?
HidingFrom her hidden vantage point behind a pillar, Sarah was watching them,watched the exchange with a frantic and seething with gaze, jealousy. seething within her. Each flash of Anthony's smile was throwing fuel onlike a spark igniting her fire.
fury. How coulddare Layla just show upappear here? Did Anthony know she wasn'tnot realize the deceptive angel everyone thought she was?
What was she to do?he was entertaining?Panic surged within Sarah felt a surge of panic that nearly sent her running, her, threatening to send her fleeing. Her fingers twistingtwisted the hem of her dress hem to the point of distortion.
, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear."Layla, I'm back!" Alice arrived, starstruckAlice's voice cut through the tension, her eyes wide with admiration at the sight of Anthony, quickly fixing. Hastily, she adjusted her hair. "Hey there, handsome. I'm I'm Alice."With a nod of acknowledgment, Anthony excused himself, leaving Alice."
Acknowledging her with a nod, Anthony walked off.
to marvel at his retreating figure. "Wow, who was that hunk? Such a refined air about him. He's on a whole other level compared to Mr. Holland, huh?"
"That's Nora Eilish's older brother, Anthony."
Alice's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! That's the Anthony? The one who's always compared to Mr. Holland? That's him! He keeps such a low profile, always abroad."
"Yeah, he's a real gentleman."
"How do you know Anthony? Has he taken a shine to you?" Alice asked excitedly.
, her voice tinged with excitement."You're reading too much into it."
...
...Sarah, fighting theher urge to flee, gripped barely suppressed, clung to her dress so tightly, her hands were sweating.
slick with sweat. She stood still, cautiously watchingwatched Anthony's expression. Seeing no carefully, searching for any sign of change. Seeing none, she mustered up the courage to ask, "Who was that woman just now?"
"Miss Adkins? She's a friend of mine."
A friend? Layla, of all people, was his friend. Wouldn't that make it easier for her to slip up?
Why let her impersonate Layla if they were going to meet? Was fate playing games with her?
So anxious was Sarah that she wasSarah's anxiety left her at a loss for words for quite some time, stammering, her voice shaky as she stammered, "How do you two know each other? She's not from the same world as us."
"I don't judge friends by their status."
"Anthony, I know you're a good guy, but it's important to be cautious. The way those ladies were clustering around her, she must be trouble. You should stay away from that type, she looks like a gold-digger."
At thather words, Anthony's gaze hardened,. "Judging someone's character by their appearance is quite presumptuous. You're my friend and so is Layla. I don't appreciate unwarranted judgments about my friends."Sarah was left reeling, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.Layla, he even called her name so affectionately.And he considered her just a friend? No wonder she felt disappointed.Sarah forced a smile, her voice resigned. "I'm just looking out for you, worried about someone taking advantage. Let's drop the subject.""I'm going to catch up with some friends.""Sure, go ahead."As soon as Anthony left, Sarah's facade crumbled. With a resentful look, she turned on her heel, ready to settle scores.
Sarah was snubbed and bristling with anger.
Layla, he even called her name so affectionately.
And he considered her just a friend? "SampleNo wonder she felt disappointed.
Sarah feigned a smile, saying resignedly, "I'm just looking out for you, worried about someone taking advantage. Let's drop the subject."
"I'm going to catch up with some friends."
"Sure, go ahead."
As soon as Anthony left, Sarah's facade fell, and with a resentful look, she went off to settle scores.
...
"Try this matcha roll, it's delicious."divine," Alice, busy devouring her cake, shoved one suggested, her attention primarily occupied by the cake she was eagerly consuming. She thrust a piece into Layla's hand.
Watching without waiting for a response.Layla, observing Alice's ravenous consumption, Layla voracious appetite, couldn't help teasing,resist a playful jab. "Are you here to rub elbowsmingle with high societythe upper crust, or merely to indulge in cake?"
"Hehe, whysatiate your sweet tooth?"Chuckling, Alice retorted, "Why not doaccomplish both? We just metencountered the city's most eligiblecoveted bachelor, Anthony, didn't we? So handsome.Quite the looker. You should totally go for definitely pursue him."
"Go for"Pursue him? As if she could." A disdainful sneer cut in,stands a chance." A scornful scoff interrupted their conversation, the sound of contemptderision echoing from someone'sa nearby nose.
Layla turned and caught sight ofswiveled around, her eyes landing on Sarah, barely recognizable in aher designer evening gown, barely recognizing her.
"Who areattire."And who might you?" asked be?" Alice.
inquired, her brow furrowed."My sister," Layla admitted reluctantly.
"I'm confessed, her voice laced with reluctance."I bear no relation of yours, stop climbing the family tree," Sarah glaredto you, cease your attempts at familial association," Sarah retorted, her contemptuously, "Thinkinggaze filled with disdain. "Dreaming of getting your hooks intoensnaring Anthony? Have you even looked in the mirror?glanced at your reflection? Anthony is my boyfriend."
"Seriously, boyfriend.""Anthony? Can't, really? Is he seeblind?" Alice gasped in astonishment.
That vibe, that manner of speaking, her surprise evident.Sarah's demeanor, her speech – even decked out like a debutantedressed to the nines, she couldn't hideconceal her rough edges.
coarse nature.“I’m the leadleading lady in Director Sue’s latestupcoming film, about to hiton the big timebrink of stardom,” Sarah declared withannounced, her nose tilted upwards in the air.
pride.Alice snorted dismissively. “Talk to mein disbelief. “Come back when you'reyou've actually made a starname for yourself. Don't blowtoot your own trumpethorn too loudloudly, or you'll end up eatingyou might have to swallow your words.”
“Layla, I'mconsider this a warning you, stay away from , steer clear of my Anthony, or you'll regret itrue the day!” Sarah said, flouncingdeclared, storming off in a huff.
“Man, she’s something else. Without you saying so“She’s quite the character. Had you not mentioned it, I never would’ve guessed she’s your sistersibling. You two are nothing alike.”
as different as chalk and cheese.”“You know what they saythe saying, like mother, like daughter.”,” Layla said withreplied, a slymischievous grin.
playing on her lips.Alice caught on quicklyswiftly, “You mean... she’s your stepmom’s kid? No wonderstepmother’s child? That explains it. Your stepmom’sstepmother probably noisn't a saint either. Poor Anthony, so younginnocent and already blindoblivious to the truth. He’s gotreality. He has that naive and clean-cut, wholesome heir look. Aren’tAren't you gonna warngoing to enlighten him?”
“Nah, it's not my place to meddleinterfere in other people's romances. Pretensesothers' affairs. Deceptions will come to light sooner or later.be exposed eventually. No one can fake it forever.”
maintain a facade indefinitely.”“That's true. You know, itIt baffles me how successful men always fall for such fakers. Guessimposters. I guess I'm just a facadepretense away from marrying into the high societyelite myself,” Alice saidmused, shaking her head in amazement.
...
wonder....Sarah had barely takenadvanced a few steps when a waitress carrying , burdened with a tray of champagne, accidentally bumped intocollided with her.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” the waitress quickly apologized.
hastily.“Do you even lookwatch where you’re going? Do you have any idea how muchcomprehend the cost of this designer gown costs? Can you even afford to compensate?”
“Dammit, arerecompense?”“Are you tryingattempting to jinxcurse me or what?” Sarah exploded, her outburst bringing tears to the waitress’s eyes.
“I'm reallytruly sorry, letallow me to clean that up.”
“Don't you dare touch me withlay your filthygrubby hands on me...” Sarah pushedshoved the waitress to the ground, only to finddiscover Anthony standing rightdirectly behind her.
“An-Anthony…” Terrified, Sarah’sFear washed over Sarah, her face went pale, anddrained of color as she stammered tryingstuttered, attempting to findconcoct an excuse, “Anthony, I... I'm not typically like this usually...”
...”But Anthony had seen enough.
GentleShe was gentle and demure in front of him, she was his presence, yet arrogant and foul-mouthedvulgar with others.
He was loathreluctant to apply label her with Director Sue’s label to her – roughneck.
term – a ruffian.Her rough upbringing and not knowing the etiquette of silverware wasunfamiliarity with table manners were one thing, but spewing vulgarityher crude language was something Anthony couldn't overlook.
ignore.A person's actions reflectreflected their character.
His angel, she wasn't supposed to be likebehave this.
way."Anthony..." Sarah rushed forward, grippingclutching his suit jacket, "I, I just gotbecame jealous seeing you so close with that woman, and that's why I lost my temper, I really didn't mean..."
"Let's go," Anthony replied coolly, without a hintresponded, his tone icy, devoid of any blame in his voice.
."How about a glass of champagne first?" Sarah suggested as she turned,, turning around and discreetly spikedslipping something into his drink with something. .
She had waited all night and finally, her chanceopportunity had comearrived. A slycunning glint flashed acrossflickered in her eyes.
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