Chapter 65
“Layla! Layla!”
Upon hearing the voice from outside, a voice etched in her memory that seemed older than before, Lola’s eyes instantly welled up
with tears.
She stumbled out and stopped in her tracks the moment she saw her parents.
When Lola had just woken up just now, her consciousness was still blurry, and she felt numb. Now, seeing her parents looking older than she remembered stirred her emotions deeply.
Immediately, the overwhelming longing and the grievances she had suffered over the years erupted.
“Mom… Dad…” Lola’s tears fell uncontrollably.
Her voice was so choked up with tears that it was nearly unrecognizable. Lola’s vision blurred as tears fell from her eyes.
Jasmine had been unable to hold back her tears for a while, having cried several times on the way there. She then approached Lola warily and carefully. “It’s really you, my Layla… All these years… It’s my fault, I had thought that…”
There were too many things that couldn’t be explained in just a few words. So, Lola hugged Jasmine tightly.
Lola felt that her mother was just like before, even smelling the same, with the only difference being that her mother had aged.
She waited for the lump in her throat to pass before speaking softly. “I’ve missed over a decade of time to be with you, Mom. I’m sorry.”
Mason, who was usually composed, found his eyes welling up at the sight before him.
“Layla, we’re sorry. It’s been so many years, yet we didn’t realize…” He choked up.
Mason couldn’t finish the rest of his words as it all got stuck in his throat.
Scott sighed softly, and a glint of coldness flashed in his eyes as he thought, ‘Now that Layla is back, it’s time to settle old and new
scores.‘
Lola and Jasmine hugged each other and cried for a long time. It wasn’t until close to evening that they all calmed down.
Lola then recounted to them everything that had happened to her over the years.
“What?! Jenna tricked you into going to Willowcroft Tower, then had someone take you away, and she has been pretending to be you for all these years…” Jasmine was in disbelief, unable to fathom that the daughter who had been with her for so long had such a malicious heart.
Lola said, “I don’t know the details, but Jenna told me there was something important she needed to tell me. So, I followed her.”
She then remembered how helpless she felt when she was left alone in an unfamiliar place.
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Lola continued, “Even though many years have passed, I can never forget how Jenna sent me away and how smug she looked at
the time.
“I can’t forget the many nights I suffered from hunger. Though I was later adopted, once that family’s biological heiress was found, my life became a daily struggle. In the following years, I…”
Lola suddenly paused, feeling as if she had forgotten something.
She wondered, “Why do I remember something important from when I was thirteen? Something so significant that it could change my entire life. But why I can’t remember what it is?‘
Lola rubbed her temples and murmured curiously, “How odd… Why do I feel like I’ve forgotten something?”
She then looked toward Scott and asked, “Scott, where was I when you found me?”
He tensed up and thought nervously, ‘This is bad. I need to find a way to smooth this over.”
Scott replied, “You were in Jenna’s basement, you had passed out and don’t remember anything. As for how Jenna found you, I don’t know either.”
“Layla,” he said as he sat down next to Lola. “Listen to me. Now that you’re back, let’s just start a new life. The people and things from the past aren’t worth reminiscing over. Let’s not dwell on them, alright?”
She nodded obediently, thinking that Scott was as gentle as she remembered.
Lola responded, “Okay, I got it.”
As Jasmine watched over their close interaction, she glanced over at Mason.
Their brief eye contact conveyed a bit of difficulty and helplessness.
“Layla, go get ready. You’re coming home with us. As for Jenna, she doesn’t need to come back! We don’t need such a heartless daughter in our family!” Mason said with a face full of anger when he mentioned Jenna. He continued, “Exiling her is already merciful! If it weren’t for the fact that she is also my blood, I would not have spared her!
“Someone who schemes against their own kin out of jealousy does not deserve to be a part of the Lewis family anymore!”
Lola did not plead for Jenna. Although her past memories were fragmented, the sight of her own wounds and the exhaustion she felt in her body were enough to tell her how much she had suffered.
She thought that a woman like Jenna truly did not deserve any plea for mercy.
Therefore, Lola simply said, “Okay.”
She only had the clothes and jewelry she had changed out of to take with her. Afterward, Lola was led by the servants to take a bath, which they said was a custom for bringing more luck.
Lola didn’t quite understand, but she went along with them anyway.
After she left, only Scott, Mason, and Jasmine remained in the living room.
110, 20 JU!!
Jasmine was the first to speak. “Scott, I know you and Layla are childhood sweethearts, but now you’re married to Jenna. What are you planning to do? Layla doesn’t seem to know about this.”
Mason, who was usually conservative and strict with old custom, said with a stern face, “Regardless, you need to sort out your marriage with Jenna first before anything else.
“We’ve all been deceived by Jenna over these years, and I know it’s not easy for you.
“But even so, we can’t wrong Layla.”
Scott clearly understood what Mason meant. Being already married on his part was indeed unfair to Layla.
Scott lowered his gaze and shared his inner thoughts, saying, “Let’s not tell Layla about my marriage just yet.
“Her mental state is fragile, and she can’t handle the shock. In her memory, I am still her childhood sweetheart with whom she was betrothed.
“As for Jenna, I’ll handle the divorce properly and ensure we never have contact again.
“Mom, Dad, don’t worry, I will definitely treat Layla well. In fact, I’ve had my suspicions about Jenna for a while and have been searching for Layla all this time.
“However, there’s one thing I’m really worried about… That is, we can only erase parts of Layla’s memory. She often remembers the past, and to be safe, I think it’s best if she forgets all memories of these past years.”
Scott gradually unfolded the plan he had been considering for a long time. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Jasmine was slightly taken aback. “But won’t that have an impact on Layla’s health? Besides, that’s our forbidden technique. My Layla can’t bear so much.”
Scott became somewhat agitated. “No, it won’t! I know a very skilled hypnotist. It’s just hypnosis, we won’t be using any forbidden. techniques!”
Upon hearing that, Jasmine glanced at Mason, her expression complex and conflicted.