Chapter 67
~LAYLA~
The words hit me like a physical blow. I staggered back, my hand flying to my mouth. “What?” I whispered. “What did you just say p>
Axel’s face crumpled, and I could see pain etched in every line on his face. He ran his hands through his hair, leaving it dishevelled.
“Your father,” he said. “Charles Watson. He destroyed my family p>
“That’s I said, shaking my head frantically. “My father… I know he’s not perfect, but he… did he go that far p>
“Sit down, Layla. Please p>
I remained standing, even though my legs were trembling. “Tell me. Tell me everything p>
Axel sighed deeply, looking older than I’d ever seen him. “Your father and mine were childhood friends. They grew up together, went to the same schools, and dreamed of building an empire together. About forty years ago, they started a business partnership p>
“What kind of business p>
“Import-export, initially. Legitimate stuff. But Charles Axel’s jaw tightened. “Charles got greedy. He started getting involved in illegal dealings. Money laundering, using the company’s account, smuggling, things that put both their lives at risk p>
My knees gave out, and I sank into the chair opposite him. “Oh my p>
“My father tried to get him to stop. Tried to convince him they had enough money, that they didn’t need to risk everything. But Charles was addicted to the power, the easy money. When my father refused to be part of it anymore, they broke things off. But not before Charles pushed all the illegal operations onto him and walked away clean p>
“And then p>
“When the authorities started investigating, when the mafia Charles had been working with grew suspicious, my father was left holding the bag for everything.” Axel’s voice turned bitter. “Charles made sure all the evidence pointed to my father, and away from him p>
The room felt like it was spinning. “For real p>
“For real, Layla. Your father saved himself by destroying the one person who trusted him most. My father started his own legitimate business after their partnership ended, but it was too late. The damage was done p>
I pressed my hands to my temples, trying to process what he was telling me. “What happened to your parents p>
“They were hunted. For fifteen years, we lived like fugitives, constantly moving, always looking over our shoulders. The mafia wanted their money back, and they wanted blood for the betrayal they thought my father had committed p>
Tears were streaming down my face now. “Axel p>
“My father got sick. Really sick. We’d been running for fifteen years, and his body couldn’t take it anymore. He was dying, and he knew it.” Axel’s voice cracked. “When he finally discovered that Charles was the real mastermind behind everything, he did something desperate. He came to Charles, begging him to tell the truth, threatening to go public with what he knew p>
“What happened next p>
“Your father… turned us away, cast us out like we were nothing… like all those years of friendship meant nothing p>
Suddenly, a memory came rushing back, clear as day.
It was a winter night when I was maybe five or seven years old. I’d been reading in my room when I heard raised voices downstairs. My father, angrier than I’d ever heard him, was shouting at someone on the doorstep.
“Get out! Don’t you ever come back here, Robert! You made your choice p>
And there had been someone else. A man with greying hair, coughing violently, and beside him p>
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “There was a boy p>
Axel looked up sharply. “You remember p>
“I remember my father screaming at someone. And there was a young boy with dark hair, about my age. He was crying p>
“That was me p>
The world tilted on its axis. “You were there… at our house p>
“My father thought Charles might have some mercy left in him. He was wrong p>
I closed my eyes, the memory becoming clearer. I had sneaked downstairs after my father went to bed. They were still there, sitting on our front steps in the snow.
“You came outside,” Axel said softly.
“I remember asking why you were crying. You told me your father was dying p>
“You said you were sorry and that you hoped he’d get better. You went in, brought me a sandwich and… and you gave me your piggy bank. Then you ran back inside before your father could catch you p>
Tears were falling freely now. “That was you. That little act of kindness… that was you p>
“It was the only kindness anyone had shown us in years p>
“What happened after that p>
Axel’s face darkened, his hands clenching into fists. “Three days later, we got a call. Your father said he’d changed his mind, that he wanted to meet my dad somewhere private to discuss everything. He sent a car to pick him up, and my mom went with him p>
I felt a chill run down my spine. “A car p>
“My parents were so hopeful. They thought Charles had finally found his conscience. They got into that car believing they were finally going to get their lives back p>
“And p>
“The brakes failed on a mountain road. Both my parents died instantly when the car went over the cliff.” His voice broke. “The police called it a mechanical failure, but I knew better. I was supposed to be in that car too, but I’d caught the flu and stayed behind at the motel p>
I felt like I was going to be sick. “Oh God, Axel. You think my father p>
“I know he did. Years later, when I had the resources, I hired private investigators. The brake lines had been cut, Layla. It was made to look like an accident, but it was murder p>
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “No, he wouldn’t. He couldn’t p>
“I was barely ten when they died. Alone, with nothing left except the truth and a burning need for justice p>
“Oh God, Axel. I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry p>
“After my father’s funeral, I swore I’d get revenge on Charles Watson. I spent the years that followed working, saving every penny, changing my identity, and building a new life. And I kept tabs on you p>
“On me p>
“I watched from a distance. Saw how he treated you, how he controlled every aspect of your life. I knew you were as much his victim as my parents were p>
“So when you proposed marriage p>
“I won’t lie to you, Layla. It started as revenge. Marrying his daughter, getting close enough to destroy him from the inside, to make him pay for what he took from me p>
I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. “So everything between us has been a lie p>
“No,” he said firmly, leaning forward. “That’s not true. Yes, revenge brought me to you initially. But getting to know you, seeing who you really are p>
He paused. “You’re nothing like him, Layla. You’re the little girl who showed kindness to a stranger, who gave away your piggy bank because you thought it might help p>
Without thinking, I stood up and crossed to him. He rose from his chair, and we stood there looking at each other, two people whose lives had been intertwined by tragedy and circumstances beyond our control.
“I always thought you seemed familiar,” I whispered. “There was something about you that I couldn’t place p>
“I was trying to protect you. From the truth, from the pain of knowing what your father really is p>
The space between us disappeared. His hands cupped my face gently, his thumbs wiping away my tears.
“Layla p>
And then we were kissing. It wasn’t gentle or tentative like our previous kiss. This was raw, filled with years of pain and the relief of finally sharing the truth.
When we broke apart, I rested my forehead against his chest, trying to catch my breath.
“There’s something I need to tell you too,” I said.
He tensed slightly. “What is it p>
“Something I’ve been keeping from you p>