Chapter 82

Chapter 82

"Everything's good. Mr. Fields put me in charge of the 'Spring Meadow' project proposal," I said softly.

Matthew smiled and said, "Yeah, I know. Alan told me. He thinks highly of you."

My heart skipped a beat. So he already knew. Seems like he had been keeping tabs on me all along.

About half an hour later, the car stopped in a hidden alley. The restaurant looked pretty ordinary—no sign at the entrance, just a wooden door. It looked low-key and mysterious.

"This place has a nice atmosphere, and it's quiet. Good for talking," Matthew said as he led me inside. The interior was elegantly decorated with private rooms—very discreet.

A server led us to a room by the window and handed us menus. Matthew let me order first. I casually picked two light dishes, and he added two specialty items.

Before the food arrived, I felt a bit stuffy and stood up. "I'm going to the restroom."

"Okay, be careful," Matthew nodded.

The restroom was at the end of the hallway. Just as I got there, I ran right into a familiar figure.

When I saw who it was, I stepped back in shock, my heart sinking—it was William!

What was he doing here?

William didn't put on airs like he used to. Instead, he looked at me and said, "Layla, finally found you."

I was about to speak when he cut me off.

He said matter-of-factly, "Stop pretending. If you really got over me, why would you avoid me for so long? Coming here—you're just waiting for me to find you, aren't you?"

I laughed in anger and shot back, "William, are you out of your mind? Do you own this place? I need to report to you when I go out to eat? What do you mean I'm avoiding you? I just can't be bothered to see you!"

He raised an eyebrow and said confidently, "Can't be bothered, yet we just happen to run into each other at this private restaurant? You came here alone? Who are you kidding? Let's be honest—you can't let me go. You want to talk to me but can't swallow your pride, so you're pretending this is a coincidence, right?"

His smug certainty that I couldn't live without him made me sick.

I clenched my fists, suppressing my anger. "Stop flattering yourself. I'm here with a friend. It has nothing to do with you. And we're done. Don't be so full of yourself—I don't have time to stage coincidences with you."

That look on his face, so sure I still cared about him, made my stomach turn.

"A friend?" William clearly didn't believe me. He stepped closer, getting in my face. "What friend? Guy or girl? I think you're just making excuses to get my attention. Layla, I'm telling you, stop wasting your energy. As long as you come back with me, I can pretend nothing happened before, and we can go back to how things were."

"How things were?" I looked at him, suddenly finding it incredibly ironic. "William, did you forget you were fooling around with Olivia on our anniversary? Forget you locked me up? Forget all those hurtful things you said? I don't want to live like that for even one more second!"

William frowned, his tone impatient. "Those were all misunderstandings! I told you, Olivia and I are done. I'll get rid off the baby too. Layla, didn't you used to love me the most?

For me, you'd wake up early every day to make breakfast. For me, you gave up your design dreams and stayed home as a housewife for three years. For me, you were willing to do anything. So why can't you give me one more chance now?"

Hearing him list these things out, my heart ached—not from being touched, but from disgust and regret.

How could I have been so stupid before? For a man like this, I gave up my own pursuits and lived so pathetically. Every day revolved around him, taking care of his meals and daily needs, thinking that would earn me a lifetime of happiness. And what did I get? Betrayal and lies.

I looked at him, my eyes cold. "William, I was blind before—that's why I did those things for you. Now I'm awake. I can't take back that devotion, but I can guarantee I'll never give it to you again. Stop pestering me. We're impossible."

With that, I turned to leave.

But William grabbed my wrist, gripping it so hard it hurt. "Layla, you can't leave! I won't let you! You're my wife, and you'll only ever be mine!"

"Let go of me!" I struggled hard. "William, let go! I'm telling you again—you and I are done!"

Not only did he not let go, he gripped even tighter, his eyes wild. "Done? I don't agree to divorce, so you'll always be my wife! Layla, don't even think about getting away from me. Not in this lifetime!"

Looking at his obsessive, ugly face, my stomach churned. How had I never noticed before what a selfish, terrible person he was?

"William, you're completely unreasonable!" I gritted my teeth, using all my strength to try to shake off his hand. "If you don't let go, I'll scream!"

"Go ahead and scream!" William sneered. "So what if someone comes? I'm your husband. It's normal for married couples to pull and tug at each other. Who's going to care?"

Looking at William's hand gripping my wrist, all the disgust and rage welled up inside me, and I couldn't hold back. I started cursing, "William, can you have some self-respect? You think everyone's as shameless as you? I really was blind before to treat trash like you like treasure!"

"What did you say?" William's face instantly darkened, and he gripped my hand even tighter.

I said loudly, "I said I was blind—blind to date you for seven years, blind to marry you, blind to give up design for you and be a free maid at home for three years. I was so stupid to believe your lies, to believe you'd treat me well forever."

"Now I'm awake. In my eyes, you're just a selfish scumbag who fooled around with another woman on our anniversary and dared to lock me up. Someone like you doesn't deserve marriage, much less to be loved."

I said emotionally, "You think I'll come back? Dream on. Even if every man in the world died, I still wouldn't have anything to do with you again! Let go of me now, or I won't be nice about it."

William's face turned from red to pale from my scolding, his eyes full of hostility. Not only did he not let go, he suddenly shoved me against the hallway wall, one hand braced above my head.

His other hand still gripped my wrist tightly, forming a confined wall-slam position.

The smell of alcohol on him made my stomach churn. Instinctively, I raised my knee and drove it hard into his groin.

"Ahhh!" William screamed.

He instantly released my hand and crouched on the ground clutching himself, his face pale, unable to say a word.

I shook my reddened wrist and looked at his pathetic state. I felt no sympathy, only satisfaction.

Just as I turned to leave, a familiar figure rushed over—it was Matthew.

Seeing the scene before him, his brow furrowed instantly. He quickly walked to my side, looking me up and down. "Layla, are you okay? Did he do anything to you?"