Chapter 615: Release
Brenda's head snapped up like she'd been hit with a sledgehammer. "Wait, what? She's dead? No way... Nora can't be dead. You're messing with me, right? This can't be real!"
Layla just smirked. "Oh, it's real. You ever heard of sleep deprivation and nonstop questioning? That stuff can kill, you know."
"She knew it too. Tried to pull that stunt on me back in the day. But guess what? She couldn't handle it and Samuel ended up torturing her to death."
"No, stop it! You're lying! I won't believe it!" Brenda screamed, losing it.
"Why would I lie? You know how far Samuel will go. He loves me too much to let Nora off the hook. Once he decided to use the same method on her, she was done for. They tried to save her when she passed out, but she was too far gone. Hahaha."
"I don't believe you! You're just trying to scare me! Nora can't be dead!" Brenda shook her head like crazy.
"Believe what you want. Nora's dead. If you can't handle it, keep lying to yourself. Someone as nasty as her, the world’s better off without her. She'd just keep hurting people if she was still around," Layla's voice was ice-cold, dripping with sarcasm.
"Samuel gave her so many chances, but she kept coming after me. This is what she gets. She died this morning, her body’s not even cold yet. Wanna see it?"
"No—no—" Brenda screamed, covering her ears, collapsing to the ground, wailing, "If you want revenge, come at me, why kill my daughter—murderer— God, why—"
Brenda's eyes were bloodshot, filled with rage. "You're a monster! A devil!"
"Devil? Look who's talking. You left me in that hellhole of a family for your own sake. Who's the real heartless one here, Brenda?"
"You knew I might die if I stayed, but you still left. You could've taken me with you. You're the real murderer!" Layla spat with venom. "Everything today was set in motion nineteen years ago!"
Brenda just cried, sobbing uncontrollably, wailing in pain.
Watching Brenda break down didn't make Layla feel any better. The hate was too deep, especially since it was for her own mother. As she took her revenge, Layla's nose tingled, and she couldn't help but tear up.
After what felt like forever, Layla wiped her tears away with a cold smile. "Hurts, doesn't it? I just wanted you to feel the pain of losing someone you love. When you ditched me and I got bullied, I thought about dying too."
"While you were living it up with the Eilish family, I was starving and getting beaten by my stepmom. You only cared about yourself, Brenda. You don't deserve to be called a mother!"
"From now on, we're done. Don't ever show your face to me again."
She walked to the door. "Nora's not dead. I'll let her go, only because you saved me once. But from now on, we're done. We go our separate ways."
She stormed out of the hospital and jumped into the car.
Tears started streaming down her face, and then Layla just lost it, crying her heart out.
"What happened?" Samuel pulled her into his arms, "Layla, what's wrong?"
"Let Nora go..." she sobbed.
"No way."
"I'm begging you, let her go..." Layla pleaded, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
"I can't let someone who hurt you off the hook," Samuel's heart broke seeing her tears, but he stayed firm.
"Brenda... Brenda is my mom..."
"What did you say?" Samuel was floored, "She's your..."
Layla laughed through her tears, "Yeah, she's the woman who ditched me when I was two. Never thought she'd be Mrs. Eilish. Life's got a sick sense of humor, huh? What a cruel joke."
Samuel, still reeling from the shock, felt even more heartache for her. "What are you gonna do?"
"From the moment she left me, she was dead to me. I won't see her again... but she did save me... and she gave me life..."
"You're too kind, Layla. You shouldn't go soft on people who hurt you," Samuel shook his head, sighing.
"But what else can I do? That woman gave birth to me, and Nora, she's her only daughter." Layla cried and laughed bitterly, "I don't want anything to do with them, with the Eilish family anymore. Samuel, can you let Nora go? I'll cut them out of my life completely, I'm begging you..."
Samuel closed his eyes. Seeing Layla cry like a heartbroken child, how could he say no?
He didn't agree, but he got it. She was always so kind. Even after being abandoned, she couldn't hate those who hurt her.
How could he not feel heartache, not want to protect Layla?
"Alright, I'll let her go," Samuel gave in, making a call, "Tell Anthony to head to Tranquil Haven Estates, Villa 14, and pick someone up."
"Yes, Mr. Holland."
"Feel better now?" Samuel asked Layla gently.
She nodded, still sobbing.
"Your mom made the biggest mistake of her life abandoning you. She was wrong, you don't need to punish yourself for her mistakes. Layla, you're amazing, the best woman in the world. You should and will be happy. At least now you have me, right?"
"In the future, I'll always protect you, so you won't be hurt, sad, or wronged. As for Brenda, if you don't want to forgive her, then it's okay to never contact her again. Life's a balance of gains and losses. Those who abandoned you aren't worth your love or your tears."
"Think about it, when you cry for Brenda, who hurts the most? Isn't it me and the baby? When you're sad, the baby feels it too."
Layla sniffled, "You're the best at comforting me, always bringing up the baby."
"I'm just being real, aren't I? I know logic doesn't always work with feelings. You'll still be sad when you're sad, but don't let it consume you. Don't dwell on the past, don't fear old wounds, just look forward. You know our future is bright, right?"
"Yeah." Layla nodded, wiped her tears, and leaned on his shoulder, "It's good to have you. We will be happy."
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