Chapter 194 The Cad
"Responsibiltyle?" Phillip scoffed. "Sounds like you think I made Phillip's scoff echoed in the room. "You make it sound as though I coerced her do somethinginto an act she didn't want to. It was unwilling to partake in. Our actions were mutual, why. Why should there be any responsibility? I never promised her anything attached? I made no promises of commitment before we slept togethershared a bed, like makingoffering her to be my girlfriend or something."
."Layla shot backcountered, her voice sharp as a knife, "But you surely led her to believe something,on, didn't you? Alice was naive enough to..."
"Naive? You think?" Phillip interrupted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Are you suggesting that a woman who hops intoshares a bed with a guyman after merely two days is naive? It's her own faultShe has only herself to blame for being too easy."
Layla clenched herLayla's teeth and was at a loss forground together in frustration, words.
failing her."After it happenedthe deed was done, she started acting like began to act as though I was her boyfriend, talking about ," Phillip continued, his voice laced with derision. "She even spoke of introducing me to her parents, what. What a joke.farce! I never thought about it like thatentertained such notions. I told her made it clear that I wasn't interestedhad no interest in a relationship, and she just ran off crying."
"You don't want a relationshipin tears.""You're not against relationships, you just don't want one with her. You're just playingtoying with her feelings," Laylaemotions," Layla's words hit the nail on the head.
"That's right. their mark."Exactly," Phillip agreed, his tone unapologetically dismissive. "As a manager, an Ivy League gradgraduate, why should I datesettle for a junior assistant? My girlfriend, if not aan heiress, should at least be atmatch my level in positionstanding and income," Phillip's tone was unashamedly disdainful of Alice.
"If that's the .""In that case, you shouldn'tshould have touchedkept your hands off her."
," Layla retorted.Phillip was unconcerned,shrugged, unfazed. "Ninety percent of men wouldn't turn downrefuse a woman who throws herself at them. We're all adults, don't take it too seriously. here, no need to overthink things. Don't calllabel me a realist, who isn't these days?in this day and age? She was interested in attracted to me as a manager too, wasn't she?"
Layla trembled with rageanger, "Alice must be blind to have fallen for a jerkscoundrel like you. You'll get what's coming to you."
your comeuppance."With thatthose parting words, she left stormed out of the room angrily.
."KarmaMy comeuppance? Please." Phillip rolled his eyes.
...
Seven dismissively....The clock struck seven in the morning.
"Good morning, boss," the driver saidgreeted respectfully as he opened , holding open the door to the back seat.
"Hey, bro, mind giving meif I hitch a ride?" Nora Eilish climbedslid into the car from the other side. "Where are you off toheaded this early?"
"Dragon Bay Resort. MeetingI'm meeting a friend."
"What kind of friend? Must be pretty important for you to take time out of someone special to warrant your attention despite your busy schedule, a. A girlfriend, perhaps?" Nora teased pretendingly.
, feigning innocence."When things are official, I'll bring her home to introduce her properly."
It for a proper introduction."His sister's words seemed his sister had taken things seriously.
to have struck a chord.Nora's fingers tensed onclenched in her lap, but she kept a teasingmaintained her playful tone, "Anyone who capturesmanages to capture my brother's heart has got to be sspecialomeone special."
A complete player!
"She is indeed special special to me," Anthony said, thinking of her face withadmitted, a tender smile playing on his lips.
as he thought of her.Fire blazedflickered in Nora Eilish'sNora's eyes as she held back. her emotions. "Say, brother, do you have any recommendations for a top-notch designer?"
"Didn't you gocollaborate with Layla before?"
"Her?..." Nora's voice drippedwas laced with icy sarcasm.
"What happened?"
"It's nothing serious"Nothing major, just got swindleda minor swindle. Nathan had vouched for her so enthusiastically, I was convinced she was top-notch. Turns out, he had a personal stake in it since she was his girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?" Anthony's expression tightened.
"Yeahhardened."Yes, they dated, were an item, though I'm not sure if they've broken up though. Back then,. Nathan was head over heels for quite smitten with her," Nora sighed. "That Layla surely has a way with romance."
"..."
"It was only sure knows how to play the game of love.""...""Only later did I found outdiscover that her designs were copiesplagiarized and there couldmight have been a betrayal. That's why Nathan requested a transfer abroad."
"Layla's not that kind of woman!" Anthony insisteddefended with conviction.
"I wish that were true, but the facts provedsuggest otherwise. I was duped too." Nora challenged Anthony, "Are you close to her? You seem to trust her quite a lot."
"Man, you'rebit.""You're starting to remind me ofsound like Nathan. He trusted Layla completely, and ended up getting burned in both in his jobprofessional and lovepersonal life. It just goes to show that even the wisest of men aren't immune to being can be fooled by a woman."
"There must be some misunderstanding. I don't likeappreciate you talking aboutspeaking ill of her that way."
."Nora raised her hands in a mock surrender, "No offense meantintended, I'm just sharing what I know. If you don'tchoose not to believe it, that's your call."
prerogative."Anthony stared out the window.
, lost in thought.He believed in Layla, unconditionally.
Halfway through the drive, Nora suddenly clutched her stomach, crying out in pain. Anthony immediately rushed her to the hospital.
She was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis and needed to be admitted for observation. Anthony had no choice but to cancel his trip to the resort and stay ed with Nora at the hospital....Alice awoke, her eyes swollen and puffy.
...
Alice woke up with Her eyes puffier than walnuts.
She opened her eyesfluttered open, and started crying again, beratingfresh tears began to flow once more. Self-reproach filled her voice as she chastised herself, "I'm such an idiot, ita fool, he was all just a game to himmerely playing with me, and I... I thought he likedhad genuine feelings for me..."
"Why am I so stupidnaive, Layla?"
"I'm she lamented."I was the one who suggested we drink.indulge in drinks. He invited meextended an invitation to his room, and I didn't say norefuse. I knew what was going to happen, andaware of the potential consequences, yet I went. It's my fault along. I am to blame, but I really thoughttruly believed he cared... When he saidconfessed he didn't want a relationship, it brokeshattered my heart. I gaveoffered him something so precious... who's going to wantvaluable... Who would want me now...?"
"I understand how you're feelingyour pain. , Llet it all out, cryingtears can helpbe therapeutic," Layla soothedcomforted her. "Remember"Always remember, the one who truly loves you won't mindbe bothered by these things. Don't worry too much. You're a good girlperson; you'll find a man who knows how to cherishvalue you."
"It's over for me, I'm ruined," Alice sobbed even harder.
wept with renewed intensity.Layla handed her a tissue to wipedab her tears, "Did you guystwo take any precautions last night?"
Alice choked backstifled a sob. "Should we I poptake another one of those pills, just to be safe?"
ShakingShe then vehemently shook her head vigorously, Alice protested, "Those things are nasty for you.harmful. I thought using a condomprotection was supposed to be the safest? I'm not takingI won't take any more."
"Alright, no more pills," Layla concededagreed, not wishingwanting to add to her friend's distressanguish., "The group's meeting up at nine, but how about I stay with you in your room to rest up?"
Alice wiped her tears, her voice quiveringshaky yet resolutedetermined, "That would justonly give him more reasonammunition to look down onbelittle me. I need to be there."
present.""Then you should take a showerfreshen up first."
"Mhm."
Half an hour later, they both headed made their way to the lobby.
"I left my phone. Wait here, I'll be right back," Layla said, turning back toward their room.
Alice stood listlesslyaimlessly in the lobby, as if her soul had been drained.
spirit seemingly sapped.*Ding*
The elevator doors slid openparted to reveal Phillip. He frownedA frown creased his forehead when he sawspotted her.
Alice's first instinct was to bolt.
flee."Come with me," he commandedordered with just a mere glance.
Pathetically, Alice trailed behindfollowed him meekly, her eyesgaze fixed on his back—a back figure that had turned as coldicy as his demeanorattitude, a stark contrast to the warmth he had shown herradiated just yesterdaythe previous day. He was the first man she had been so close tointimate with, yet now he seemedfelt like a totalcomplete stranger. The thought made her nose tingletwitch with the impending threat of more tears.
Without meaning toUnintentionally, she bumped into his back, stopping shorthalting abruptly and looking up at him nervouslyanxiously. What was he going to say? Surely itIt would undoubtedly be words a million timesfar more cuttingpiercing than those of the night before.
She didn't want to hear it; she wantedyearned to hide awayretreat like a turtle retractingwithdrawing into its shell, pretending none of this had ever happenedtranspired.
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