Layla's birthday was supposed to be a celebration, a night to remember, surrounded by loved ones and warm memories. Instead, she found herself alone in a dimly lit restaurant, waiting for a man who seemed to have forgotten her special day Again. Layla's anxiety grew with each passing minute, her eyes fixed on the door as if willing Luca to walk through it. But the minutes ticked by, and he was nowhere to be seen. She had arrived at the restaurant early, excited to celebrate her birthday with the man she loved. But as the hours dragged on, her excitement turned to worry, and then to dread.
He was the one who had booked the venue, or so he said. But now, she wasn't so sure. Had he forgotten? Was he standing her up on her special day? The thoughts swirled in her head like a toxic storm, making her stomach twist with anxiety.
She tried calling him, but his phone went straight to voicemail. No text, no call, no sign of life. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. Layla's mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Had he been in an accident? Was he in trouble? Or was he simply avoiding her?
The waiter came by, clearing the table for the third time, and Layla felt a pang of embarrassment. As the hours ticked by, Layla's anxiety grew, like a slow-burning fire in her chest. She checked her phone obsessively, hoping for a message or a call from Luca. But nothing. Just like the past five years, he was running late. Or was he even coming at all? The waiter had already cleared the table, and the staff was starting to clean up around her.
Just as she was about to give up, a call from her friend snapped her back to reality. "Layla, don't tell me he still hasn't shown up?" The frustration in her friend's voice was palpable.
Layla sighed, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. "He said he had an emergency," she replied, trying to sound convincing. But deep down, she knew better. She had heard that excuse before, and it always ended in disappointment.
As she hung up the call, a lady approached her table, smiling apologetically. "Ma, we're about to close. Would you like me to call you a cab?" Layla glanced around, realizing she was the only one left in the restaurant. She quickly paid the bill and stepped out into the chilly night air, the city lights twinkling like cold, unforgiving stars.
Determined to confront Luca, she drove to his place, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. When she arrived, she let herself in, using the password he had given her. What she found made her blood boil.
A bra lay on the floor, followed by a trail of clothes leading to the bedroom.As she headed to the room, Layla heard a muffled moan, and her heart sank. She hoped against hope that it wasn't what she was thinking. Her mind raced with possibilities, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had been building up all night.
She approached the door, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle. The moaning grew louder, and Layla's heart raced with anticipation. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she might find inside.
With a gentle push, the door creaked open, and Layla's eyes widened in shock. The scene before her was like a punch to the gut, leaving her breathless and reeling. Luca, the man she loved, was entwined with another woman, their bodies wrapped in a passionate embrace.
Layla's world shattered into a million pieces as she took in the sight. The moaning she had heard was not what she had hoped it was. It was the sound of Luca's betrayal, the sound of her heart breaking into a million pieces. Layla's heart sank as she pushed open the door, revealing Luca in a compromising position with none other than Harper Dawson , the woman he had sworn meant nothing to him. The same woman he had told her was just a colleague, a friend.
Layla's world shattered into a million pieces. The tears flowed uncontrollably as she confronted the man she loved, her voice barely above a whisper. "How long has this been going on?" The question hung in the air like a challenge, a dare to tell the truth.
The look of fear on Luca's face was all the answer she needed. With a fierce cry, Layla flung the bra at him and ran out into the night, leaving behind the shattered remains of her heart. The city lights blurred together as she drove away, the only sound being her own sobs and the pounding of her heart.