Layla POV

“Ella, which one do you think will look great on me? Yellow or the pink dress?” I asked, holding up two dresses as I smiled at my best friend.

Both of us have been friends since kindergarten, and now, we live together.

“The yellow. Blake is going to drool when he sees you in it.” Elle replied with a smile.

“You think?” I mumbled, putting the pink dress back in the closet.

Although I was excited about my boyfriend of five years returning to the country, I still felt a bit nervous since he had been away for two years, and a lot had happened in my life during that time that I didn't tell him about.

I could help, but worry, and I guess Elle noticed it because she got off the bed and approached me.

“You and Blake are going to be fine. Sure your status may not be the same as before, but you are the same Layla, and that's what matters.” Elle softly said, touching my arm.

“Thank you. I needed to hear that.” I mumbled, pulling her into my arms and hugging her tightly.

After I had gotten dressed, I left the apartment and got into a taxi.

During the entire ride to the airport, my heart kept racing and my emotions were a mixture of fear and excitement.

Once the taxi stopped and I had paid the driver, I rushed out of the cab and hurried into the building.

The lobby was crowded with people waiting for their loved ones, but I kept my eyes focus on the escalator.

Finally, I saw Blake and my lips curved into a smile, then my heart sunk when I saw Nora, holding his hand.

The thought of my stepsister and my boyfriend together left a dull ache in my chest, yet I kept my emotions together, wanting to give Blake the benefit of the doubt.

After he and Nora walked up to me, he gave me an icy stare, and I gazed at the tiles, pressing my lips.

“Why are you and my sister together?” I mumbled without lifting my head.

I have never same so much hate in his eyes, and it scared me that my worst nightmare was about to become reality.

“We meant in New Orleans, and she was way honest with me than you have been in the two years that I have been away,” Blake replied.

Holding in my breath, I raised her head and met his eyes.

“I was going to tell you everything, but I didn't want you to worry about me, and I wanted you to focus on your studies,” I mumbled, hoping that he would understand and not get mad at me.

“Why would I worry about a nobody?!” Blake asked with a smirk.

Staring wide-eyed at him, I felt speechless, and my heart ached with every beat it made.

“Why are you looking at me like that! Are you not a nobody? I only dated you because you were the legitimate daughter of the Wilson family.” Blake uttered with no remorse in his expression.

“What do you mean?” I whispered, holding my tears in my eyelids.

“Your father has died and so has your mother. I don't want to be involved with an orphan. Also, I don't date a girl that is not in my League.”

“You and Nora?”

It was hard for me to believe that my boyfriend of five years was breaking up with me because I had no parents or money.

When my father was still alive, I was a princess, and Blake treated me as such. But now, hearing the disgust in his tone as he spoke to me left me feeling like a dagger had been stabbed in my heart.

“Oh, Nora and I? We are dating. At least she still has a mother and wealth.” Blake said.

‘That because they stole what was mine. My dad left the properties in my name, but they bribed the lawyer and took it all away from me!’ I screamed in my head, yet I couldn't bring myself to utter those words.

Instead, I balled my fingers into a fist and allowed my tears to flow.

“Let's go. I can't wait to introduce you to my mother.” Blake said, gazing at Nora with a smile on his face.

“You can go ahead. I will catch up with you.” Nora replied, letting go of his hand.

After Blake left, she walked closer to me and whispered, “When our father was alive, you had everything. Now that he is dead, I will make sure that you have nothing. This is a promise.”

Sadness was all I felt when I stared into her step-sister's eyes and saw nothing but hate glowing in them.

“I have treated you with nothing but kindness. Why would you want to see me suffer?” I whispered, sniffing softly.

“Just because,” Nora said with a smirk.

Then she frowned at me and hit my shoulder as she walked away.

Unable to bear the pain, I squatted on the floor, rested my forehead on my knee, and wept bitterly.

“Mom and dad, you guys are dead. Now Blake has left me too. There's no reason to live.” I whispered, choking on my sob.

After I had sat there for a while, I finally gain the strength to rise to my feet, walked out of the building, and got into a cab.

A while later, as are sat in the taxi, sobbing in silence, I got a call from Elle, but I turned off my phone and leaned back on the seat, closing my eyes.

“Miss, we are here.” A deep man's voice echoed into my ears.

It took me a while to raise my eyelids. Then my gaze met the driver’s eyes before I took my focus off him and placed it on the windshield as I stared at the beach.

“How much?” I mumbled without taking my focus off the water.

“Twenty bucks.” The driver said.

Once I had paid him, I got down from the cab and approached the ocean.

Then I took off my sandals and walked barefoot towards the water.

“Mom and dad, I am sorry that I couldn't be the daughter that you both wanted me to be. But don't worry, I am coming to you guys so we can be a family again.” I mumbled, sobbing loudly.

After staring at the wave for a few seconds, I walked into the water and allowed my body to sink under.

‘It will all be over soon.” I thought, closing my eyes shut.

As I was slowly losing consciousness, I felt a hand grab onto my waist, yet I was too tired to open my eyes, even when I felt my body moving upward.