"Slap!"

Layla's cheek burned with the sting, her head bowed in shame. She cradled her cheek, her fingers trembling as she clutched her dress tightly. "I didn't do it," she whispered, her voice quivering with the effort to hold back tears. "I never stole anything from Orabela's room."

"She's lying!" Orabela's voice rang out, laced with indignation as she looked pointedly at their father. "This gold hairpin, the one Mom gave me yesterday, was found under her bed. Layla's mother discovered it herself," she added while accusing her. 

Darius Rosenzweig turned to his mistress. "Is this true, Seraphina?"

Seraphina nodded at him. "Yes, I found it there myself. I will ensure Layla is properly disciplined," she promised.

Layla's heart sank and she looked up at her mother with a gaze of disbelief. But then, her mother never stood for her. She would always support Orabela's and her lies. 

"I didn't steal it, Dad," she pleaded, her voice breaking this time. "I have no interest in such petty things. Someone's trying to frame me. Please, believe me."

"More lies," Orabela's mother, Miriam Rosenzweig, interjected with a sneer. She was the one who slapped her before. Turning to Darius, she said, "I've told you time and again, she doesn't belong here. Your illegitimate daughter is nothing but trouble for Orabela. She poisons everything she touches," she spat, her words dripping with venom.

Each word struck Layla like a dagger, cutting deep into her already wounded heart. She had become the family scapegoat, blamed for every misfortune. 

"Apologize to Orabela," Darius told her with a stern tone. 

"Dad, I did–"

"Do what you are told! How many times do I have to tell you not to steal and ask me for anything you want?" Darius burst out in anger. 

"I didn't do it. I will not apologize for something I have never done," Layla stood her ground. 

Ever since Layla was born in this family, she was made feel low about it. Just because she was a daughter of a mistress, born out of wedlock. 

She was forced to give everything to Orabela, who was the legitimate daughter and heiress of the Rosenzweig Family. While she had to live with the identity of an illegitimate daughter, who had no rights just like a slave. 

Whenever Layla thought it was her time to shine, Orabela snatched the limelight be it in school, home or outside. Every opportunity that came to her, slipped through her hands within seconds as soon as Orabela would discover it. 

Layla Rosenzweig was nothing for anyone around her. 

"Layla, you aren't supposed to speak this way to your father," finally her mother, Seraphina spoke and grabbed her arm. Her grip was so firm that imprints of her fingers were left behind. 

"I don't understand why every single day I have to hear only complaints about you. And now, you are acting all innocent," Darius said with a harsh tone and a look of disappointment in his eyes. 

Layla noticed Orabela's smug smirk, a silent confirmation that this was all part of her plan.

"It's time, Darius," Miriam said as she turned to her husband. "We should marry Layla off to the man whose proposal we have received for her. It's the best solution." She wanted to get rid of her husband's mistress's daughter as soon as she could.

"What? No!" Layla's voice trembled with both shock and anger. "I have a boyfriend! I'm not going to marry anyone!" How could they even consider such a thing? She hadn't even had the chance to start her career, to live her life on her own terms.

Orabela's eyes sparkled with mischief as she lounged on the couch across from their parents, one leg elegantly crossed over the other. "You have a boyfriend? Who? Tell us," she pressed, her tone dripping with mock curiosity.

"It's none of your business!" Layla shot back, her voice growing more desperate. "I'm not marrying anyone, Dad. You can't force me into this."

"Layla, mind your manners!" Seraphina's voice cut through the room like a whip as she squeezed her arm tightly.

Orabela seized the opportunity to shift the focus. "Well, since Layla has brought up the topic of boyfriends," she said, her tone remained sweet and calculated, "I have a boyfriend too. I've been wanting to introduce him to you both for a while now. I think this is the perfect time to do so."

"Who is it, Dear? Why did you hide it from us?" Seraphina asked, her tone changed into a sweet one, causing Layla to chuckle slowly. 

Her own mother treated her like trash and it hurt Layla even more. But she was used to it. She was determined not to fall in the trap this time and run away if she could. 

"My boyfriend is the next heir of the De Salvo family, Roderick De Salvo," Orabela announced with a smug. 

"What? No! This can't be true," Layla promptly intervened. A tear streaked down her cheek when she heard Roderick's name. He was her boyfriend, not Orabela's. 

'God, no! This can't be true. She can't snatch the man I love,' Layla thought in her mind. 

"What do you mean by that?" Orabela arched her eyebrow at her and again left her seat. Walking to her, she showed Layla a picture of her and Roderick together. "He proposed to me yesterday. See this ring in my hand," Orabela said with a smile. 

Layla's eyes stopped blinking as she stared at the picture. 

"Why didn't you tell us before, Orabela?" Miriam was happy to find out that her daughter was already in love with a man and that too, the heir of the De Salvo Family. Even Darius was happy for Orabela. 

"No! No! He can't cheat on me," Layla murmured as tears streamed down her cheeks. 

"Why are you crying, Layla?" Orabela snatched the phone from her. "Don't tell me that you are jealous of me. Shouldn't the sisters get happy for each other? Or are you crying because you would marry a man in his forties?" She smirked while throwing harsh comments on her.

At that moment, Layla wanted to slap Orabela for eyeing the man she loved.

"This girl always jinxes Orabela's happiness," Miriam sharply said with a disdainful look and glanced at Seraphina with bitterness.

"Mom, don't say that. I think Layla is upset because she got a proposal from an old man. I've heard that he is quite ugly in appearance. He is going to be bald soon and has a big potbelly too. Any woman would hate to marry such a man," Orabela didn't stop adding harsher remarks to Layla's already shattered heart. "But then, you are the illegitimate daughter of this family. It's hard for you to get married after certain age, Layla," she added with an evil smirk.

"I won't get married," Layla let out her protest in a loud enough voice.

"You can't say no to this proposal!" Darius finally barked at her. I'm not going to feed you forever in this house. So, be ready to get married tomorrow. Because it's an order. You have to marry him, Layla," he pronounced with a stern gaze.  

Hello Dear Readers,

This is my first time trying a forbidden romance and age gap trope here. Since this story is a part of a contest please support me through votes, comments and reviews.