Between love and betrayal

DNA does not lie

The world was small, and it was inevitable to avoid the enemies around her. Returning to her hometown, it was logical to run into someone from her past at some point, but, for God's sake, why her?

Fate was unfair, and indecipherable. Still, Layla couldn't go down because of him — after all, she had nothing to do with Bradley anymore.

—She's very pretty. She's engaged, to a rich man. God, I wish I was her. Soon they'll be married, and she'll be a noblewoman. She has it all, money, beauty, and an enviable fiancé,— Samantha hummed over and over.

Layla just listened, smiling slyly, sounding a little jealous and bitter. She didn't need to think too hard, that boyfriend was Bradley, there was no doubt about it.

Francin wouldn't waste the opportunity Layla had handed her on a silver platter, she was desperate, it showed.

—Hey, San, can I call you San? You shouldn't be jealous. Somewhere out there is your true love, maybe the world has something better in store for you than what she has,— Layla replied.

Wow, those words cheered Samantha up.

—Thank you very much, Miss Layla. I suppose Milka's father is a handsome, wealthy man, isn't he? —said Samantha.

Layla smiled, unable to contain her mockery. Of course, she nodded, but added that she was gone.

Samantha immediately regretted it, she had hit a hidden key. She felt stupid for asking that question, but how could anyone leave such a beautiful and successful woman?

Maybe not everything was as rosy as she had imagined. Samantha lowered her face and felt really embarrassed.

—Hey, calm down, it's all in the past. My life without that man is so much better, I'm a very happy person now.

Wow, she was really nice, patient and kind.

Minutes passed and the airport entrance was still blocked by the crowd. Francin was about to show his face, everyone was shouting and pushing and shoving.

The guards were alerted and began to guard the airport. There was a scuffle between the journalists and the guards, until they decided to withdraw and the entrance began to unblock.

It was the perfect moment. Layla, Milka and San had to hurry to get out of there unhindered. They had to run. As the heat abounded, the sun was above them exposing its rays one hundred percent.

At that moment, right there, in a paper-white dress, stood Francin, with her upturned face and her fake smile adorning her face.

Layla was looking at her with real intrigue, that dress was familiar to her, yes, how could she forget, that dress was from the last design she had made herself.

She still looked radiant, beautiful, there was no denying it. And that off-white dress fit her like a goddess, it seemed to have been designed specifically for her.

Her curves were pronounced, and her make-up was perfect. Wow, it wasn't just the men who were staring at her, the women, and even Layla was watching her closely.

Francin was proud and confident, she wasn't too strange, she was perfect. While Layla had put on the first thing she found in her wardrobe. A real ugly duckling from the puddle.

Layla was silently mocking herself, while her gaze praised Francin's beauty. But that didn't depress her. She knew the woman's temperament, and how bitter she was.

—Miss Cleare, Miss Claire. What are your plans now? —asked one of the reporters anxiously.

—Oh, boy, I'm in awe of this experience. There are so many designers I'd like to work with these days,— the woman replied.

—Miss Claire, are you currently acting or just modelling,— said another of the reporters.

—Yes, I have some acting jobs, but now I want to focus on modelling, nothing else.

The reporters asked her hundreds of questions, but Francin answered only a few. For her, her time was precious, even though she loved being the centre of attention.

—Miss Francin, it is said that you are about to get married. Is it true? —

Francin turned to the journalist and stared at him.

—I have no answer, it's a personal matter. When I have good news, you'll be the first to know,— Francin replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Francin's assistant pushed people aside and headed for the limousine. The questions were starting to overwhelm Francin, and that was totally unfortunate for everyone.

All the celebrities acted the same way, to keep the reporters on edge and in the spotlight, keeping everyone guessing what the hell was going on in their lives.

—Hey, look, that's Bradley Simons' car,— mentioned one reporter.

Of course, the business tycoon owned that same luxury car, with the number plate everyone knew.

—Oh yes, it's the car of the son of one of the richest families in the country.

—I think it's the same man Miss Cleare is seeing.

The journalists were muttering among themselves.

Layla heard them, their whispers were not low. But, she stilled her thoughts and looked up until the road led her to the car the company had sent for her.

A black car, with blacked-out windows, it had a sticker on the front, "Help for low-income children", a bit odd for a fashionable company.

But what was Bradley's car doing there, if a limousine was looking for the supermodel? Did he want to surprise her?

Layla doubted it, he wasn't a very attentive man, he was cold and distant, but I suppose he could have changed, for her, couldn't he?

In between thoughts, Layla looked up, and noticed a big traffic jam. All the journalists had jammed the streets, luckily, the black car was very close to them, while Francin's limousine was in the middle of the traffic jam.

Francin stopped, and headed for Bradley's car, he needed to know who to get out of there with.

Meanwhile, Layla's chauffeur got out of the car and opened the door expecting the three princesses to get in immediately.

The air was on, the heat was not high inside the car.

—Thank you very much, sir. It's very kind of you to be so attentive and to have parked nearby.—

The car started up and drove past Bradley's car. A great memory entered Layla.

—Oh dear, look Miss Layla, that's Francin Cleare's boyfriend's car. I'm sure he came to pick her up. That's great your love. I wish I had a man like that,— Samatha mentioned.

Layla couldn't contain herself, she had to turn her gaze. unconsciously she did, and saw her, Francin, standing there, talking to the driver of the car.

Layla couldn't see who it was, the car windows were ajar, and dark, so she couldn't see the driver well, but she knew perfectly well it was him.

Nerves invaded her body, of course, she was in front of the man she loved so much a few years ago.

—Mum, what a beautiful car, look,— said Milka in surprise.

—It's the fiancé of supermodel Francin Cleare. She's a very beautiful woman. His name is... his name is... Bradley, Bradley Simons, a very rich and well known man in Vienna,— said Samantha proudly.

—What a strange name,— replied sweet Milka with a big smile. —Do you like that man, Miss Samantha? —she added.

—Anyone would like him. He's a big, handsome man. He has a lot of business all over the capital,— Samantha replied with enthusiasm.

She could see herself smiling splendidly. She was really living the life of that model.

A little sad, but, it was better than her reality.

Milka would remember that name, Bradley, a man too important to be forgotten. Maybe in the future they would meet and she would recognise him by name.

Layla was willing to leave it out, she didn't want little Milka to go into the past. Although, he was her father, at some point she would tell her, but that was not the day.

—Little one, weren't you tired, come, lie down here on my lap, rest,— Layla mentioned.

She didn't want Samantha to reveal any unnecessary information. Still, she was very grateful for her attention. She did a lot of thinking, and although her past with Bradley wasn't pretty, she was quite pleased with him for always keeping a low profile about his relationship with her.

It was nice to be invisible. The world's attention was always on her ex-husband, no one ever remembered Layla's face. He was a ghost and she liked that a lot.

But, Milka was the bimba image of him. Her eyes, her eyebrows, the way she looks at her hands when she is nervous. Her hair and the shape of her feet, she was the spitting image of her father, and anyone could tell right away.

Layla couldn't bear the thought. She had nine months with Milka in her belly, she didn't understand why she looked exactly like Bradley... it wasn't fair. She just brought out her fair skin, and moles on her back.

It was something she couldn't change, so as fate would have it, and it was something she learned to live with.

—It's okay mommy, I love you so much,— Milka replied before falling asleep on her mother's lap.

Layla sighed heavily and stroked her little girl's back. She leaned her head against the window and looked at her city, the one she had left 6 years ago.

***

On the other hand, Francin got what he longed for, to be with Bradley again. The two of them were to enjoy their forbidden and unattainable love.

However, Francin never had the chance to really get to know Bradley, he knew nothing more about him outside of those rooms where they met almost every day.

It turned out that she had been under the illusion that Bradley was not the attentive man she thought he was. He hadn't picked her up at the airport, he was just passing through, catching a flight.

In the eyes of reporters, however, that fact did her no favours. With dissimulation and a fake smile, Francin turned the car around and climbed into the limousine, without saying a word.

The reporters didn't wait to stun her with questions. Wasn't her fiancé going to pick her up?

—Mrs. Cleare, have a juice, to calm your nerves,— her assistant insisted.

She was beside herself, wanting to explode with fury, Bradley had indirectly embarrassed her in front of everyone. She couldn't stand it, but there was nothing to say about it.

Francin raised her glass and pressed her lips together to take a small sip of juice, then handed the glass back to her assistant and fell into a trance-like state.

It was very clear what he thought about what had just happened with Bradley, his face showed it clearly.

His assistant tried his best to snap him out of his bad mood, but it was a total failure.

Francin leaned back in his chair and rested his eyes for a moment. In his mind, only Bradley's name kept ringing, and it was distracting.

All in all, Francin could tell that Bradley was the opposite of what she had known. Had she known, it would never have occurred to her to go back to him.

As a woman, she believed Bradley was the one to elevate her status, financially and professionally. He was a young man with a lot of money and influence. Francin needed him more than he needed her.

Therefore, her goal was only one thing, to do everything she could to wear the ring that would make her Mrs. Simons.