"Please. Please"
"I don't want to lose you."
Layla grabbed tightly at Henni's dress. Her eyes begged Henni for a simple promise.
"Fine, fine. Geez..." Henni said, scratching her head. Henni had never seen Layla like that before. It's just a simple promise; Layla didn't have to get so worked up over something so small.
Both of them walked towards the end of the hallway. Layla was about to go straight ahead while Henni turned towards the stairs.
"Where you going, girl?" Henni said with one hand on her hip. "The way's up here," she said, then pointed upstairs.
No, the way's straight ahead. You still have work that wasn't finished yet."
"My work, not yours. Get up here," Henni said, pointing her finger up the stair.
"No," Layla said with a pout.
Henni facepalmed herself. "Come on, Lady, don't be such a baby." Henni's face lit up when she saw a familiar face coming down the hallway.
"Jane! Look, Lady, she's roaming around instead of being in bed".
Oh shit. Layla bit her lip, as she glared at Henni.
Jane didn't notice the pair until Henni called her out. And when she saw Layla out of her room, she got angry.
"Layla, why are you outside of your room? When I told you to rest for the whole day!"
Layla slowly turned around. "Umm... I just went out for fresh air; I was feeling suffocated in that room", she lied. Hopefully, she buys this excuse. Fingers crossed.
"What? You told me you came to see me! Such a betrayal," Henni said in a theoretical manner. Henni then stopped abruptly from her dramatic act, as if she remembered something else.
"Aye, Jane, want to see something else she got while she was out to get some fresh air". Henni smirked at Layla, who was glaring at her, to try to stop her from speaking further.
"Take a look at her forearm," Henni said, adding fuel to the fire, all while smiling. Henni leaned against the railing, watching the drama unfold. All she needed was some popcorn and tea.
Jane was confused until she saw Layla swiftly hide her hand behind the long dress she was wearing. Jane crossed her arms, and in a firm tone she said, "Show me your arm."
Layla didn't want Jane to see the wound. She internally cursed Henni for snitching on her.
She slowly moved her arms forward to bring them into Jane's view. As soon as Jane saw the bandage, she was shocked. "Layla, what is this?"
"The wound seemed to have reopened, so I patched it up," Henni said. Henni's expression changed into anger. "That bastard. If I ever get a chance, I will beat him. Who beats his daughter like that-"
"Henni. Stop!" Jane stopped Henni from saying anything further. Even walls have ears. And with the whole mansion out there to get them, such a talk can prove fatal to them.
"Layla, go to your room. And "Jane turned towards Henni. I believe you also have a lot of work to do, so go back now. Try not to give them any reason to punish you. Both of you hurry."
With that said, all of them went to their designated areas.
Jane and Henni were given a lot more work than usual, but they can't complain.
Jane had been so busy that she didn't even get the chance to check up on the sick Layla. It hurts her so much. Chloe made her promise to take care of her daughter. She said her daughter's life will be a 'harder one'.
It seemed like Chole was right about that. Jane wasn't able to protect Layla when the master hit her with his cane. The poor little girl just wanted her dad to be with her after her mother's death.
She should have stopped Layla from grabbing his coat. She should have held Layla in a tight embrace. She should have been quicker to defend that scared little girl after the first hit. She should have...
All of those thoughts ran through Jane's head. If she could have done something more back then maybe Layla would have had a better outcome. The poor thing was unconscious for such a long time after that traumatizing event.
Both Jane and Henni were so scared. Jane did tell the master of the house about Layla's condition, and he just said to let it be. When Jane asked for a doctor, he said 'the best one would survive the race, and if she didn't wake up, she was never fit to be a Synder.'
Not something one would expect from the father of an ill child. But at least Jane had some jewelry that her daughter gave her as a gift after getting married. Those were enough to pay the doctor's fees. And Layla thankfully opened her eyes again. Jane was so scared that she would lose Layla as well after Chole.
Jane always prayed that Layla can live a happy life. Hopefully, this wish of hers comes true.
Layla climbed up the stairs, walking through the same gloomy hallway to her room.
As she reached her room, she plopped onto her bed. She wished Henni would let her stay and help her; it would be much better than staying cooped up in this boring room. Right now, she needed information. Staying inside isn't going to help her gain more insights.
She sighed. There's nothing she can do now.
She stared up at the ceiling. Things were different in this life. Like the meeting with her stepbrother in that garden. In her previous life, she never met him in the garden; she only met him directly at dinner after she gained consciousness. And she never met the head maid this early, either.
Changing the past comes with consequences. She wondered what else would change; hopefully the change was for the better.
As she was deep in thought, a knock came from the door. She sat up straight and straightened her dress from wrinkles. She ordered for them to come inside.
An old man wearing a black suit came inside and bowed to her. He had his black hair combed back, with a few strands of white in between. His face, which had a few wrinkles on his forehead, had a neutral expression.
It's the butler.
"Good morning, lady. Happy to see you awake and well. Master wants you to join today's dinner at 8"
Oh, it's happening. This was the dinner where she met all of her stepfamily and he broke the news about his second marriage. This was where she met Elijah and her stepmother in her previous life.
"Alright, I will be there," she said in a sweet tone.
The butler bowed once again and left.
Layla sighed. Her first meeting with them in her past life was not at all pleasant. Her stepmother constantly made fun of Layla and her biological mother. Her father didn't even defend her or her mother. She remembered feeling alone and sad in that big dining room, filled with the giggles and laughter of her stepfamily.
Just thinking about her previous life was giving her a headache. She was in no mood to attend the dinner, but she couldn't ignore an order directly from her father. If he got angry, things could start to go bad real quick. The worst would be Jane and Henni paying for Layla's mistakes.
The best course would be to be more submissive and gullible. That way she wouldn't attract their attentions.
Time passed rather quickly. Laila was standing in front of a mirror, getting ready for the dinner.
Jane was straightening out a few creases on her cream-colored cotton dress. While Henni was putting Layla's hair in a ponytail. Though Henni was late, she still insisted on helping her get ready.
The style was very simple, yet Layla still looked good. Maybe because of Jane's fashion sense. Jane chose the dress, which was simple yet elegant. She was saying how Layla should be more presentable to them as she was a noble's daughter and leave a good first impression.
Layla didn't care about presentation or making a good impression. She just doesn't care. She didn't even want to see their faces, if that is at all possible. That's why she didn't fight with her maids and gave them full control of dressing her. But that too was under the condition that her whole style will be very simple and not at all eye-catching.
At about quarter past seven, a knock on her door came. It meant that the butler was there. Layla got up from her seat and walked to her butler after saying a quick goodbye to both of her maids.
Jane the whole time of dressing Layla, told her to make a good impression, while Henni said to roast the old fool. Layla was tempted to take the second option, but she has to go the safe route.
She walked along with the butler, all while thinking about the consequences of taking Henni's advice. Both of them were silent throughout the whole walk to the dining room.
The butler opened the big door separating the hallway and dining area. "Lady is here," he said, while bowing.
All three of them were already sitting at the table. Everyone's eyes locked onto Layla.
Layla bent her knees outward, one foot behind the other, and bowed her head. With her hand, she held her dress out.
"Good evening, father. I hope I am not late," Layla said with her fake smile.