Chapter 3

Shortly after seven the next evening, Seth returned home earlier than usual. He strode quickly toward the staircase, but a flicker of movement in his peripheral vision made him halt. On the sofa, Layla sat motionless, her posture unnervingly calm.

A packed suitcase stood beside her. Seth walked slowly toward her, his eyes narrowing at the luggage. "What exactly is this supposed to mean?" He slipped off his suit jacket and tossedit carelessly onto the sofa before loosening his tie and sitting down across from her.

Layla's face was drawn and pale as she slowly raised her head to meet his gaze. Her eyes eerily empty of emotion. "Seth, I don't love you anymore." The words struck him unexpectedly, causing a strange tightening sensation in his chest, like a rope constricting his heart, squeezing until he could barely breathe.

His expression, however, remained controlled. "Is this some kind of manipulation tactic?"

Seth had been at Jennifer's North Shore Heights residence until his secretary called that afternoon, informing him about last night's incident. He immediately headed home after hearing the news.

Layla's face remained impassive, not a single emotion crossing her features. "Think whatever you want. I won't explaining. You always believed I loved you, that i'd never leave, no matter how you treated me. That was true once. Not anymore. Seth, I don't love you."

Hearing her words, Seth stared at her with a deadened gaze, cold fury building inside him.

"Layla, I don't want to hear that joke a second time. Is this about last night? Is that why you're throwing a tantrum?" He spoke dismissively, masking any genuine concern."

Layla had grown used to his attitude. Seth didn't love her and wouldn't care if she were hurt. If anything, he'd probably consider it a favor from God if she were gone, clearing the way for Jennifer.

"It's already evening, about fifteen hours since last night," Layla said calmly. Her eyes betrayed profound sadness." "If I hadn't fought Brian off, I'd have either been raped or drowned myself in the bay by now. You'd be looking at my corpse instead of having this conversation."

Seth grew increasingly irritated, viewing her words as melodramatic manipulation. He yanked his tie off completely.

"Layla, you're clearly fine. There are security guards at the entrance, and you're smart enough to handle yourself. You called me just to play damsel in distress and force me to come home, which worked—you got my secretary to relay your message. And now, here i am."

His words cut through Layla like a thousand knives.

In his eyes, even her instinctive call for help during a genuine threat was just another calculated move.

What kind of woman did he think she was?

Seth's executive assistant, Ryan Gray delivered a bank card with a $200,000 limit to Layla on the tenth of every month for her expenses. That afternoon, Layla had mentioned the previous night's incident to Ryan, hoping he would tell Seth. Perhaps he would show concern or confront Brian.

But Ryan called back later to confirm he had told Seth. Layla learned that even after hearing about the attack, Seth had spent the day with Jennifer.

That knowledge had finally killed whatever remained of her heart.

Layla's lips curved into a bitter smile. "Well, now I understand your perception of me. So why keep torturing each other, Seth? Let's get divorced. You can marry Jennifer and live happily ever after."

Seth's eyes narrowed, a cold, dangerous edge settling over his expression. he leaned back slightly, draping one arm across the sofa.

"Layla, you know I hate these gamesespecially from you. Do you have an idea how many women would kill to be Mrs. Stanton? You schemed your way into that position, and now you suddenly want out? Do you expect me to believe that?"

Layla remained composed, though her chest felt unbearably heavy.

"I've already had a lawyer draft the divorce papers. I only want this house and one car. Give me whatever money you think is fair. I don't want anything else." She reached into the coffee table drawer and placed the document in front of him.

Seth barely glanced at it before tearing it in half , then into smaller pieces , tossing them into the trash.

“I have digital copies,” Layla said quietly. “I can print more.”

In an instant, Seth was on his feet . He grabbed her roughly, pulling her forward. Layla gasped, startled by the sudden force. in three years of marriage, his cruelty had always been cold and distant never physical.

Until now.

“It hurts… Seth, let go…” she cried, her voice trembling.

But Seth didn’t release her. The anger he had been suppressing finally surfaced, sharp and volatile.

“Is this how you acted last night?” he said coldly. “You claim you fought him off, yet now you can’t even push me away?”

Layla froze.

The pain was still there, but something deeper replaced it—shock, disbelief, and a crushing sense of despair.

“Or is this what you wanted?” Seth continued, his voice laced with suspicion. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

For a moment, Layla could only stare at him, her mind going blank.

She had known he didn’t love her.

But she had never imagined he would think so little of her.

Her hands slowly fell still. The struggle drained out of her, replaced by a hollow emptiness that spread through her chest.

“What… are you doing?” she asked weakly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Seth didn’t answer.

The room seemed to close in around her, the air growing suffocatingly heavy as fear crept in, silent and suffocating.

And in that moment, Layla realized something with absolute clarity—

The man in front of her was no longer someone she recognized at all.