Chapter 16 Clue

A week later, Layla hobbled her way to Doris's hospital room with the help of a crutch.

Usually full of vigor, she now appeared pale and clearly upset.

The past week had been tough for her. Doris had been prying into her relationship with Ashton, while shareholders had been pressuring her after hearing rumors of their divorce. Despite all this stress, Layla was not pregnant, and her injured ankle made everything even more challenging.

Arriving at her grandmother's hospital room with a heavy heart, Layla hesitated before entering.

She could hear Ashton's voice inside.

Observing Ashton taking care of Doris with tenderness, Layla frowned, feeling no sense of appreciation for his concern.

Maybe six months ago, this situation would have moved her to tears, and she was willing to sacrifice everything for him. But now, it was too late for everything.

Ashton helped Doris put on her shoes and then caught sight of Layla as he looked up.

He flashed a smile and was ready to say hello, but his expression shifted once he noticed the crutch. Hastily, he went over, checking if there were any other injuries. A wave of relief washed over him after confirming it was just a sprained ankle.

"How did you manage to hurt yourself?" He asked.

Before Layla could reply, he lifted her up, saying, "Come on, let's get you checked out."

Layla furiously pounded his shoulder and objected, "Let me go! It's none of your business."

Ignoring her anger, Ashton carried her to the examination room, arranging for a doctor to come check on her. He resignedly added, "If you don't want me around, I can wait outside. Just make sure to cooperate with the doctor during the examination."

Layla remained cold to him, while the nurse, on the other hand, couldn't contain her excitement and found them adorable together.

This scenario caught James off guard as he was on his way to fetch medicine for Tristan, leaving him unsure how to react.

After the check-up, Layla seized the chance to sneak back to the company to tackle her workload while Ashton was not around. She preferred dealing with office tasks over enduring her grandmother's ramblings at the hospital.

"Miss Hammond, we have a business visit planned for next week with our partner company. I've gathered some gift options for our associates. Please take a look and see if they meet your approval," the secretary said as she handed Layla an iPad.

Layla skimmed through the gifts on the screen, not entirely impressed, her brows furrowing slightly. Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind, causing a faint smile to play on her lips. "My friend wore this incredible watch by Stellaris a few days ago, and I believe that it would make a perfect gift. Could you check its official website for that watch for me?"

Stellaris was a luxury brand under the Frucht Group. Recalling the watch she once saw on Simon's wrist, Layla couldn't deny his exceptional taste in fragrances and accessories, surpassing that of a typical male model.

After getting an idea of the watch's style, the secretary swiftly researched and reported, "It seems to be a new release from Stellaris. However, the word is their latest collections aren't out yet. They'll probably come next quarter as they're not even on the official website."

The secretary then showed Layla the search results to confirm Stellaris hadn't unveiled their new seasonal items online yet.

Layla pondered over how Simon managed to get that watch.

Taking a deep breath, she sent away the secretary and immediately dialed Bruno, "Please come to my office now. I need to ask you something."

Half an hour later, a disheveled and anxious Bruno entered Layla's office. "Miss Hammond, what's up?"

Layla's piercing gaze swept over Bruno, causing him to squirm uncomfortably under her scrutiny. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease, worrying if their plan had been exposed.

Sensing Bruno's unease, Layla flashed a gentle smile and said, "I need your help with something."

With a precise drawing of Simon's watch displayed on her iPad, Layla handed it to Bruno, her gaze fixed on him. "Could you find this watch for me?"

Bruno, initially self-assured, felt a wave of dizziness and beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he examined the sketch on the screen.

Noticing his distress, Layla calmly asked, "What's the matter? Is there an issue?"

This wasn't just a question, but a highly challenging one at that.

Nervously, he cleared his throat and absentmindedly fidgeted with his fingers. "It is from Stellaris' latest J11 series, part of this year's newly unveiled Deep Sea Monster collection. It's currently showcased at international exhibitions, so you might have to wait about six months if you want it."

Layla's expression hardened as she quipped, "Then may I ask, how did Simon get that watch? Who is he? Is there some sort of secret going on here?"

Prompted by a sudden realization, Bruno hurriedly suggested, "Maybe it's a replica! Yes, a replica. Otherwise, how do we explain him having such an expensive watch?"

In a sharp tone, Layla retorted, "I hope you're right, Bruno. Do you know my biggest pet peeve?"

Bruno swallowed hard, too afraid to answer.

Layla's unwavering gaze bore into him, making him feel like prey in the presence of a predator. "Deception and taking me for a fool are unforgivable sins in my book. Mark my words. Those who dare to deceive me will regret the day they were born."