Chapter 65

Chapter 65

I hung up on my assistant, gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white.

I sank back into the car seat, my head filled with everything my assistant had told me.

When Layla first joined the company, Abigail and Scarlett treated her like a free servant. Every morning she had to bring three coffees with different sugar levels, at lunch she had to pick up takeout and sort it all out, and she even quietly emptied the office trash cans.

I remembered how at home, Layla couldn't even open a water bottle cap. I never let her do any housework, but now those two women were bossing her around.

Anger flared up inside me. I slammed my fist on the center console, making the screen flicker.

I cursed under my breath, "Layla, why are you so stupid? You don't know how to fight back when people bully you, just keep taking it..."

Regret washed over me like a tide. If I hadn't cheated with Olivia, if I hadn't believed those rumors, how would Layla have ended up like this?

She should still be the pampered heiress of the Scott family, not some junior designer at the company watching people's faces and swallowing her pride.

I pulled out my phone and opened Layla's WhatsApp. My finger hovered over the text box for ages. I typed and deleted, deleted and typed, finally managing "don't go anywhere tonight," then hesitated and deleted it again.

I was afraid my concern would only make her more disgusted. After all, in her eyes now, I was probably even more revolting than Abigail.

Night fell. Inside Brighten Bar, the lights were dim and the music loud.

I chose a booth by the window. A bottle of whiskey sat in front of me, untouched. I just stared coldly at the entrance.

Before long, Philip showed up with Abigail and Scarlett.

Abigail wore a tight red dress and high heels. As soon as she walked in, she looked around. When she spotted me, she immediately put on a shy expression and walked over with an affected sway.

Philip smiled obsequiously, pulling Abigail and Scarlett to sit down. "Mr. Brown, sorry we're late. Quick, pour Mr. Brown a drink."

Abigail picked up the bottle and carefully poured me a glass, her voice soft. "Mr. Brown, let me toast you. If I've offended you before, please forgive me."

I glanced up at her and said coldly, "Forgive you? When you were spreading rumors that Layla stole your boyfriend, did you think about asking for forgiveness?"

Abigail's face went white instantly. She nearly dropped her glass and stammered, "Mr. Brown, you've got it wrong, that was all a misunderstanding..."

I laughed coldly, picked up the glass on the table, and swirled it gently. "I heard you told the client that Layla had a bad reputation, and that's how you stole her project? Abigail, you've got some nerve, talking about my wife behind her back."

Seeing things going south, Philip quickly tried to smooth things over. "Mr. Brown, it's all a misunderstanding! Abigail just got confused for a moment. Don't hold it against her. We're here tonight to talk business, not about unpleasant things."

I looked at Philip and said mockingly, "People like you? You think you're qualified to talk business with me?"

I picked up the glass and held it out to Philip. "Want to talk business? Fine. Drink this first. One glass, one business opportunity. How about it?"

The glass was full to the brim.

Philip couldn't hold his liquor normally, but to please me, he had no choice but to take it and down it in one gulp.

The harsh liquor made him cough. His face turned bright red instantly.

"Mr. Brown, I... I drank it..." Philip said breathlessly.

I ignored him, poured another glass, and held it out to Abigail. "Same for you. If you want me to give you a chance, drink this."

Abigail looked at the glass, her face showing difficulty. She couldn't hold her liquor well, and tonight she'd planned to act delicate and seduce me, not get into a drinking contest.

But seeing my cold stare, she didn't dare refuse. She could only force herself to pick up the glass and take small sips.

I urged her impatiently, "That slow? Drink it down, or forget it."

Abigail had no choice but to gulp it down. Her throat immediately felt like it was burning, and her head spun.

She tried to lean on me pretending to be drunk, but I pushed her away in disgust. "Get away from me. You're dirty."

Scarlett watched from the side, too scared to breathe, regretting deeply that she'd come at all if she'd known this was how I'd act.

Scarlett sat there trembling, quietly edging backward, trying to slip away.

"Stop right there." My cold voice rang out. Her steps froze instantly. She slowly turned around, her face deathly pale.

I looked at her and said, "When you had Layla buying you coffee and taking out your trash, you were pretty cocky, weren't you? From today on, don't give her any more trouble. Next time it won't be as simple as drinking."

Scarlett nodded frantically. "I understand, Mr. Brown. I won't dare again."

The more I talked, the angrier I got. Thinking of all the grievances Layla had suffered, I slammed my hand on the table. The glasses shook and fell over, spilling alcohol everywhere. Other people in the bar looked over, murmuring among themselves.

Philip and Abigail didn't dare make a sound. Scarlett was shaking even more.

I stood up, straightened my clothes, and said coldly, "The business deal? Don't even think about it. If I find out you're bullying Layla again, you'll face the consequences."

With that, I turned and left without another glance at them.

As I stormed out of Brighten Bar, the evening breeze carried a chill that hit my face, and the anger I'd just suppressed flared up again.

I tugged at my collar and got in the car, but didn't start it right away. I just stared blankly at the scratches on the steering wheel.

Those were marks I'd made gripping it earlier, just like my feelings for Layla—deep and messy.

My mind kept replaying what my assistant had said: When Layla first joined the company, she'd get up before dawn every day to buy three coffees. Scarlett wanted low sugar with no milk, Abigail wanted full sugar with double foam, while Layla herself only drank plain water.

At lunch, when picking up takeout, she had to sort it all out, even picking out dishes people didn't eat beforehand. She emptied the office trash for a whole month until Ember couldn't stand it anymore and stood up for her.

"Silly woman, don't you know how to say no?" I muttered.

At home before, Layla was too lazy to even wash her own cup, but now she had to wait on others. This was all my fault.

If I hadn't cheated, if I hadn't spread rumors about her and Matthew, how would she have ended up like this?