Chapter 70

Chapter 70

After hanging up Matthew's call, I had just set my phone down on the table when I heard someone pounding on the apartment door like crazy.

I didn't need to guess—it was William coming after me.

I dragged my feet going to answer it. The moment I cracked the door open, he burst in like a wild beast out of control, grabbing my wrist with a grip so tight it felt like he was going to crush my bones.

"Layla, why did you run? Olivia is carrying my child. Can't you just cut her some slack?"

I winced in pain, trying hard to shake off his hand. "William, be reasonable! You're the one who tore up the contract and came after me. What does that have to do with me?"

William let out a cold laugh. "If you hadn't insisted on working with Brown Legacy Jewels, hadn't insisted on getting close to Matthew, would any of this have happened? Layla, I think you did it on purpose—on purpose to embarrass me!"

While we were arguing, there was a noise at the door, and then Olivia walked in, tears still on her face, saying softly, "William, stop fighting with Layla. I'm fine."

When William saw her, he got even angrier. He turned and yelled at her, "Who told you to follow me? How many times have I told you to stay in the hospital and stop making trouble!"

Olivia flinched at his shouting, tears instantly falling. She covered her belly and crouched down on the floor. "I... I was just worried you hadn't eaten. I wanted to take care of you. I didn't expect you'd be here. William, my stomach feels a bit uncomfortable. Please don't be so mean, okay?"

William used to fall for this act every time, but this time he had no patience at all. He stepped aside, looking disgusted. "Olivia, stop using the baby as an excuse every time. You think I can't see what you're up to?"

Olivia froze, looking up at him in disbelief. "William, how can you say that to me? I'm doing this for you, for our child!"

William sneered coldly. "If you hadn't set me up back then, would I even be involved with you? Now you come here playing the victim, trying to drive a wedge between me and Layla. You think I'll still believe you?"

He moved closer to Olivia step by step, warning her, "Let me tell you, Olivia, I'm keeping this baby for now, but if you dare cause trouble again, if you dare bother Layla again, don't blame me for being heartless. I'll have someone drag you to the hospital for an abortion. Don't push your luck!"

Those words hit like thunder. Olivia's face instantly turned deathly pale, her lips trembling, too shocked to even cry. "You... what did you say? William, you can't do this to me. This is your child too!"

William's eyes didn't soften one bit. "My child or not, I won't let you use it as a bargaining chip! Either behave yourself, or we'll both go down together. Your choice."

Seeing his fierce expression, Olivia finally got scared. She slowly stood up, supporting herself on the ground, not daring to look at William or me. Clutching the thermal container she hadn't even opened, she practically fled, not even bothering to close the door.

William watched her retreating figure, his chest still heaving. When he turned to look at me, the hostility in his eyes had faded a bit. He said reluctantly, "Layla, I didn't mean to be harsh with you..."

"Stop." I cut him off, pulling my wrist back. "William, we've been over for a long time. If you have any feelings left for what we had, stop pestering me. Let me go, and let yourself go too."

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end just let out a heavy sigh, turned around, and slammed the door on his way out.

The apartment finally fell quiet. I looked at the empty doorway, feeling completely drained, and collapsed onto the sofa. My wrist was already red and swollen, still aching. I felt so wronged.

Early the next morning, I forced myself to go to the office.

As soon as I walked into the design department, I noticed my colleagues looking at me strangely. Ember rushed over, grabbed my hand, and whispered, "Layla, be careful. Mr. Wood has been angry all morning, and it seems like it's directed at you."

My heart sank. I had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, before I could even settle in, Zhang from HR came to tell me that Walter wanted to see me in his office.

I pushed open the door. Walter sat behind his desk with a document in front of him, his face dark. "Layla, this is a resignation letter. Sign it."

I picked up the document, my fingers trembling. "Mr. Wood, why?"

Walter let out a cold laugh. "You have the nerve to ask? The Brighton Corporation project fell through, and you messed up the Brown Legacy Jewels collaboration too. Do you know how much money the company lost because of you?"

"It wasn't me who messed it up, it was William..."

Walter interrupted, "I don't care whose fault it is! Bottom line, the company can't keep someone like you. Sign it. According to the contract, the company will give you severance pay. That's more than fair."

Looking at his determined expression, I knew there was no point in saying more.

Someone must have been adding fuel to the fire behind the scenes—maybe Scarlett, maybe Philip, maybe even William.

They'd wanted to kick me out of the company for a while now. This was just an excuse.

I didn't argue. I picked up the pen and signed the resignation letter without hesitation. "Thank you, Mr. Wood. I don't need the severance pay. I wish the company all the best."

With that, I turned and walked out of the office without looking back.

My colleagues' eyes followed me—some sympathetic, some mocking, some just watching the drama unfold.

Ember wanted to see me out, but I stopped her with a look.

Walking out of the office building, I pulled out my phone, wanting to send Ember a message to let her know I was okay.

Back at Emerald Crest Residences, I shut myself in the apartment. Looking at the empty room, all the hurt I'd been holding in came flooding out.

I pulled out a half-empty bottle of red wine from the cabinet. Without bothering with a glass, I drank straight from the bottle.

The harsh liquid burned my throat and made tears stream down my face, but I couldn't stop.

The more I drank, the dizzier I got. The dizzier I got, the more I wanted to cry. All the hurt, frustration, and anger came surging up with the alcohol.

I leaned against the sofa and before I knew it, I'd finished the whole bottle. My consciousness started to blur, and everything in front of me doubled.

I don't know how long I'd been drinking, or when it got dark outside. In my haze, I thought I heard someone knocking on the door. The sound got louder and louder, but I didn't even have the strength to get up and answer it.

In my confusion, someone pushed the door open.

"Layla?" Matthew quickly walked over, crouched down in front of me, and gently patted my cheek. "Wake up, it's Matthew."

I groggily opened my eyes, saw his face, and smiled. "Matthew? How did you get here? I'm not drunk, I can still drink..."