Chapter Twenty: I'm Here for You

Elise's mom, Maria, rushed up toward them and said, "Layla, why are you being so mean? Elise is only looking out for you. I know you've always been headstrong. But are you seriously expecting the whole Hammond family to deal with the fallout of your stubbornness? I don't think that's a good idea."

Layla rolled her eyes in response.

Doris had been by Layla's side since she was a kid, and she knew her like the back of her hand. She sensed that Layla wasn't the type to act on impulse or be reckless. After a moment of silence, Doris asked in a serious tone, "Layla, be straight with me. Are you thinking about divorce because Ashton has been messing around?"

If that was the case, Doris could see where Layla was coming from. Layla's integrity mirrored that of her mother's, and she held steadfast to her principles.

Elise chimed in, "Well, given Ashton's social status, having a few side flings is normal, isn't it? Isn't that the norm in high-society marriages? You should be content as long as he comes home to you. You can't be so self-centered. You must also consider the Hammond Group's interests."

Elise and Maria had been quietly adding fuel to the fire, but Doris didn't give them any mind. She stayed loyal to Layla and said," If Ashton really did this, I will demand an explanation from the Hayes family for you."

Layla's eyes welled up with warmth. Doris had always been the one to comfort her since she was little, and because of this, Layla had never dared to tell Doris about the divorce, fearing it would break her heart.

With the situation now escalated, Layla realized there was no longer a need to keep the truth hidden.

Layla, with tears welling up, sat down in front of Doris, holding her hand tightly and confessing, "Grandma, I'm sorry, but I don't love him anymore. I can't see a future with him. Actually, I've found someone new."

When Doris heard this, her sad eyes suddenly brightened. "Wait, you're not kidding, right?"

Elise, arms crossed and with a cold tone, teased, "So does this mean you're splurging on a toy boy? I can't believe you're admitting to this. Aren't you scared of catching something after getting involved with someone like that?"

Doris asked with a frown, "Layla, is this true?"

But before Layla could respond, Elise rudely cut in, "I knew it! You just lack that special something. Your ex-husband left you for someone else, and now you have to pay to find a man who will have you. With your personality, who would want you, no matter how successful you are?"

Elise, lips painted bright red, placed a hand lightly on Layla's shoulder, like a sinister monster ready to pounce.

As Layla felt more embarrassed, Elise grew more thrilled.

Onlookers began to chuckle at the exchange, shooting unfriendly looks at Layla.

The atmosphere instantly turned tense.

To add to the discomfort, someone jokingly quipped, "Layla, if no one else wants you, I'll do it for free!"

Malicious laughter filled the room.

Doris felt displeased by the situation.

She was overwhelmed with mixed feelings of love for Layla and uncertainty about how to handle the situation.

Layla, catching sight of Elise's smug expression, felt the urge to slap her right there. A deep and soothing voice cut through the tension at that very moment, "Sorry I'm late."

All heads turned in unison towards the entrance, where a man made a striking appearance.

His tall, imposing figure and striking good looks made it impossible for anyone to look away.

Clad in a form-fitting shirt that accentuated his well-defined muscles, his facial features resembled a work of art, with prominent brows and a sharp nose exuding a magnetic charm.

Tristan effortlessly captured attention wherever he went, as if he had a natural aura that commanded the spotlight.

As the sound of his voice echoed in the room, Layla's heart skipped a beat.

Walking confidently towards her, Tristan wore a gentle smile as he wrapped his arm around her waist. With a polite nod towards Doris, he introduced himself, "Hey, Grandma. I'm Tristan, and I'm the one who's lucky enough to be dating Layla."

The people who had just mocked Layla for supposedly only attracting men with money felt a pang of defeat wash over them.

They couldn't help but observe the city's renowned figure, Tristan, with a blend of surprise and envy written all over their faces.

It was hard for Elise to fathom Layla's luck. After breaking up with the wealthy Ashton, Layla was now dating Tristan, a man who seemed to overshadow Ashton by leagues.

Elise even wondered what could possibly be drawing them to Layla.

To amend her earlier harsh words towards Layla, Maria gathered her courage and pushed her way through the crowd to catch Tristan's attention. She worried that Tristan might take offense to her previous behavior and was eager to make things right.

But to her surprise, Tristan seemed oblivious to her presence. He focused solely on Layla as he leaned in with concern, asking softly, "Are you alright?"

Layla shook her head in a daze, her heart fluttering as Tristan flashed her a reassuring smile.

He gently touched her waist, saying, "I'm sorry for being late. It won't happen again."

Caught in the intensity of Tristan's gaze and the warmth of his touch, Layla found herself at a loss for words.

She was unsure how to react to the guy who had unexpectedly arrived to rescue her, especially after their earlier argument.

She couldn't help but wonder about his intentions.