Chapter 201 Who's Watching the Play?
Who's Watching the Play?
AtWithin the hallowed halls of a bridal boutique.
With a, Layla, her heart full of sweetness and nerves, Laylaaflutter with sweet anticipation and nervous excitement, slipped into theher first wedding dress.
The As she gazed at her reflection, the woman in the mirror was mesmerizing.
staring back at her was nothing short of enchanting. The wedding dress is the most beautiful attire for a woman.
, the epitome of feminine beauty, transformed her into a vision of loveliness. The snow-white, vintage puff-skirt dress, the diamond tiara that crowned her head, and the floor-sweeping veil made all conspired to make Layla stunningly beautiful, look like a princess.
straight out of a fairy tale."It's gorgeous."
breathtaking," one voice murmured."Every detail is just perfect, it suits you so well."
," another voice chimed in."Layla was already sweet, but she's a perfect match for this princess style."
," a third voice added.The sincere compliments of the sales associates filled the air, warming Layla's ears.
heart. The excitement bubbling in Layla'sher throat was aboutthreatened to spill out.
over. Would Samuel like it?
Holding upapprove?Gathering the hem of her dress, Layla slowly stepped out of emerged from the fitting room.
Samuel was standing, engrossed in front ofa phone call, stood by the floor-to-ceiling window on the phone.. The sudden appearance of theher silhouette in front ofagainst the window maderendered him lose his ability to speak.speechless. The voice on the other end of the phone no longer mattered.
call became inconsequential.For a few seconds, Samuel's hand froze mid-air before slowly falling to his side.
His eyes shonesparkled as he turned back and gazed unwaveringly to gaze at Layla, draped in a snow-white wedding dress.
his gaze unwavering. Layla's cheeks glowed with a blush of endearing shyness, her distinct black and whiteflushed a delicate pink, her dark eyes locked withmeeting Samuel's in the air.
a silent conversation. In that instant,moment, they both understood what the other was thinking.
knew. This was the wedding dress.
Choosing a wedding dress was likeakin to choosing a life partner; in that moment, everything seemed guided by fate—it was this one.
"Layla, there are a few more dresses, do you want to try them?" thea sales associate asked enthusiastically.
, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.Layla shook her head, her gaze fixed onnever leaving Samuel,. "It's this one."
Now, just a look A single glance was enoughall it took for her and Samuelthem to comprehendunderstand each other's desires.
"Alright then." The sales associates leftretreated, gently closing the door behind them.
Samuel stepped forward, approaching the woman he adoredmoved towards Layla, his eyes filled with deep, passionate admiration as he continually exclaimed,. "Layla, you look absolutely beautiful."
So ," he murmured, his voice heavy with emotion.She was so pure, so radiant, that Samuel longedyearned to touch her, yet he couldn't bear to.
mar her perfection. Layla's skin was as delicate and white as porcelain white.
."I can't wait to walk down the aisle and show the whole world my beautiful bride. But..." Samuel's voice trailed off.
"But?" Layla prompted him.
Samuel smiled, half-joking, half-serious, his tone a mix of jest and seriousness as he said, "I don't want to share your beauty with them. Layla, I want it all to myself."
"You're so domineering," Layla teased.
"I only desire to possess the woman I'm madly in love with. I don't feel that way about anyone else."
"You're such a contradiction," Layla said, clearly enjoying the conversation.
banter."You're mine." Samuel gently lifted Layla's chin and kissed her, a tender and loving gesture.
Walking As Layla walked back into the company, Laylaoffice, her mind was still dizzy witha whirl of sweet memories.
Wearing The experience of wearing the wedding dress had made the ideaconcept of marriage even more tangible.
Samuel had already arrangedliaised with the wedding planners, and soon, she would become his wife.
EveryEach step Laylashe took felt like walking on clouds; she felt likeas if she could fly and couldn't help wanting to dance.
AsHowever, as she walked intoentered the office, Layla sensed something was off.
amiss. Everyone was there, arms crossed, watching her.
Layla had been in this situation many times before; itshe was called being the butt of the joke.
What now?
But what was the joke this time?"Look who's back—Layla. With that happy face, who have you been seducing this time?" Gioanna was the first to sneer.
"Almost losing your job, and still in the mood for men," Jane chimed in.
"That's what you don't get, she seduces men to keep her job," another voice added.
Layla's eyes fellgaze settled on KennthKenneth, who guiltily glanced atmet her eyes before looking down.
quickly averting his own. She had a pretty good ideastrong inkling of what had happenedtranspired, but unfortunately, Gioanna didn't know howlacked the sensitivity to read the room.
Who was really the laughingstock here was still up in the air.
atmosphere.The question of who was the true object of ridicule remained unresolved. Kenneth had made a special tripjourney, and everyone speculatedspeculation was rife that it might bewas to inform Layladeliver the news of her dismissal.
"DefinitelyLayla's termination."Absolutely. Layla’s reputation is completely shotin tatters; the Eilish Group can't wait to get rid themselves of her," one person saidasserted confidently.
“It’s for the best. BetterIt's preferable for her to goleave than for us to suffer because ofendure her,” added presence,” another.
chimed in.“Kenneth, just saygive the wordsignal, and I will go packimmediately start packing Layla’s things right now.”
Most peoplebelongings.”The majority were keeneager to see Layla take a fall. Apart fromwitness Layla's downfall. Gioanna and Jane who were the most enthusiastic,fervent, but some colleagues also usedseized this opportunity to ventair their jealousy.
pent-up envy.“Kenneth?”
“You, you’ve got ityou’re all wrongmistaken. I – I came here to apologize to Layla,” Kenneth stuttered embarrassinglystammered, his face turning red.
flushing with embarrassment.His statement sent a ripple of shock waves through the crowd.
Gioanna and Jane’s expressions souredfaces instantly.
soured.A smirk played on Layla’s lips curled into a smirk, not surprised in the slightestleast. Kenneth’s awkward demeanor didn’t quite fit the profiledidn't align with that of someone who had come to stir up trouble. It was just that the pot. Gioanna and Jane were simply too eager to pushsee her out the door that they failed to readnotice Kenneth’s distressed expression.
“Kenneth, you must be confusedmistaken. Layla seduced you, why would you apologize?” Gioanna’s arms felldropped from her chest as she incredulously questioned Kenneth.
“Exactly,” chimed someone else.
echoed another.“The – the messages were fakefabricated, I made them up,” Kenneth confessed, devoid of his usual wit and humor, his face looking as red as a beet and greasyslick with shame. "It was meI who hadharbored inappropriate feelings for Layla, I harassedpestered her relentlessly. That night, I insisted on entering Layla’s room. Blinded by desirelust, I plannedintended to harass her, but Layla kickedexpelled me out."
."“I’m sorry, Layla. I thought ill of you and smearedtarnished your name with lies. I am scumdespicable,” he admitted.
“Kenneth--” Gioanna was lividseething, “It was Layla who seduced you; why are you covering for her?"
“I’m telling the truth. I swear on my daughter's life. What I did was disgraceful; I’m ashamed. But I’ve been with the Eilish Group for so many years, and now my namereputation is mudruined. No other company will hire me. Layla, I apologize to you, and I promise to never make the same repeat this mistake again. Can you forgive me?”
The company had already startedinitiated an investigation, and Kenneth couldn't takewas buckling under the pressure.
He pleaded withimplored Layla with nervousanxious eyes, as if she was his last beacon of hope. "My wholeentire family reliesdepends on my income. I – I can't lose my job. Please, forgive me... Layla..."
Layla responded calmlycomposedly, "Some thingsactions can be forgiven, but someothers can't. Kenneth, there is zero tolerance for workplace harassment has zero tolerance in my eyesbook. If I forgive you today, you'll just do it againrepeat your actions in the future."
"No, no, I won't, I can't... I swear this is the last time," Kenneth pleaded.
"I can't trust your promises," Layla said without a flinch.
Though youngunflinchingly.Despite her youth, Layla's gaze was steadyunwavering, and it was clear there was no room for negotiation on this matter.
Kenneth felt a lump in his throat, wishing he could slappunish himself for what he'd done.his actions. Losing his job was preferable a better alternative to jail time—this he told himself in consolation. All the sameHowever, he dared not reveal the involvement ofimplicate Miss Eilish of the Eilish family; this burden he'dhe would have to shoulderbear alone.
"I'm sorry, Layla. I'll leave now," Kenneth said, his face the picturea portrait of misery as he departed.
exited.Gioanna and the others were still trying to process what had happened.
grappling with the turn of events.They had joyfullygleefully assumed itLayla would be Laylathe one getting fired, but instead, it was Kenneth.
His look of utterabsolute despair and fear had also caughttaken them off guard.
by surprise.Even if Kenneth had harassed Layla, losing his job seemed extreme, not to mention Layla seemingly holding his future in her hands. They were from two separate companies; by what rightauthority did Layla have swayinfluence over the other company's executive?
Unless... behind Layla stood a top-tierhigh-ranking executive from the Eilish Group!
This thought maderealization filled everyone increasingly fearfulwith growing trepidation, their attempts at self-comfort did little to hidemask the look of dread spreading across their faces.
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