Between love and betrayal

Family sacrifices

Tilin, tilin, tilin. The three of them looked at that entrance, and their hearts beat fast. They knew, it was them. Yes, they had come to demand their payment.

—What are we going to do? we don't have any money,— said Merle as he covered his mouth with his hands and his eyes filled with tears.

They were foolish, selfish. Will was recovering from a heart attack, how could they be so insensitive and cash in all at once?

—I'll take care of them,— Layla said, lifting her body off the couch and heading toward the entrance.

Layla inhaled and spoke in succession, as her heart raced. She didn't know what to say, or what to do, but she had to face it, it was time to face it.

—Daughter, please don't be rude. They can be dangerous,— Will said in a small shout.

Merle had gotten up from the floor, and decided to protect Layla and follow him to the entrance. They were both scared. They knew how dangerous these men could be, they were upset and kept a nasty and nefarious appearance. Physically they were there, but their thoughts had gone to another part of the universe, fear perhaps.

Layla put her hands on the doorknob, and with a great sigh she drew strength to turn it and extend the door forward.

Sure enough, it was them. Six men, large in stature, opaque black suits and terrifying in appearance.

—We want to speak to Will Delfigalo now,— said the one who appeared to be the leader of the pack of men.

—I'm sorry, my father cannot see anyone at the moment, he is in poor health,— said Layla authoritatively. —If you wish to leave him a message, I will gladly give it to him or help him immediately to answer your questions,— she added.

The men looked her up and down, expressing terror in those deep, cold eyes.

—I said we want to talk to Will, not you. Tell him to come and pay us what he owes us,— said another of the men.

Layla was stunned, the man had a thick, grim voice and a rather frightening look in his eyes.

—We don't have your money now. You must give us a few days to get it,— Layla replied with a tight lump in her throat.

It was a lot of money, Layla knew that in days they were not going to meet, but, it was the only thing her lips could intoned at that moment. She had to calm down and then figure out how the hell to find a million dollars,

—Stop playing with us, you devils! Pay us or you'll pay the full consequences of ripping us off,— one of the men exclaimed.

His shout terrified Layla, completely. She felt between a rock and a hard place, she had no other idea but to try to find more time.

—We are people of our word. Yes, we will pay you. I am the wife of a business tycoon, he will give us the money, but he needs time to check the transfer process,— Layla said, with no choice but to tell a half-truth.

For the first time in her life, Layla was using Bradley and his professional status for her own good. With that, she longed for a few more days to find a solution.

—That's fine. You have 4 days to get our money to us. And I expect you to pay us back or you will regret it for the rest of your life,— said the leader of the group in a threatening tone.

They looked authoritative and fierce. Layla kept her weakness behind a shield of bravery.

—Okay, you'll get your money in four days,— Layla nodded.

The men turned and walked away from the house. Layla was stunned, as if her body could not assimilate the fact that the men had left. A sigh escaped her and, stepping back, she closed the door.

She looked back into the living room, and there stood Merle, surveying everything around him.

—I think I bought some time,— Layla mentioned to Merle.

They both remained silent, they knew it was very little time, but it was definitely better than nothing.

—Are they gone? —Will asked, seeing Layla return with her face down.

—Yes, they are gone. We have four days to get a million dollars, and pay them. They don't look like people who understand much. We have to pay them as soon as possible,— Layla replied.

—We'll have to sell our house, our cars, we'll be out on the street! everything is ruined, everything!— mentioned Merle, agitated and destroyed inside.

It was inevitable not to lose faith. The world was falling down on Layla and her family. She didn't understand how this had happened... things were fine a few weeks ago, and now? Now her father was about to lose everything in just a few days.

Will sighed sadly as he watched Layla and Merle fall apart because of Martin's greed. Things were not supposed to be this way. He felt useless, unable to help himself and cheer up his wife and daughter.

Layla held back tears, and stood there, doing nothing, staring at the wall, imagining a thousand things in her head. She felt exhausted, saddened. She felt a hatred inside her for not being able to do anything. She was exhausted, it was too late, it was time to go home, she wasn't helping anything there, just making her father feel bad, so with a dismissal she took a cab and returned home.

It was inexplicable, Bradley was home. He never was. But there he was already, comfortably seated on one of the living room furniture, resting his elbows on his knees, and with his hands he held his face.

When he saw her, he looked up, as if he had been waiting for her for hours. Layla didn't understand him, he had stopped caring about her a long time ago. However, her weariness was stronger than her intrigue, and she just ignored him. She didn't want to talk to him, or know anything about anything, it was wrong, her heart was breaking into a thousand pieces.

She walked ignoring him and placed her bag on a chair in the dining room, she turned towards the hallway that led to her room. But, just as she was about to enter, a scream behind her echoed off the walls.

—Layla, stop!—

It was Bradley, his voice cold and thick. He was a little annoyed, he didn't understand. He had stood up and grabbed her arm, Layla was stunned, she turned and stared into his eyes.

—What do you want, Bradley? —

Layla was dying inside, the world had fallen apart on her in less than a month. She didn't feel like doing anything but going to her room and sleeping. You could tell, her sighing in bed betrayed her spite.

***

The men, after seeing Layla that afternoon, asked who the tycoon was who was married to her. Bradley's name came to their ears and they immediately went to his company to claim their debt.

A thorough scandal broke out in the reception of that company. The commotion could be heard from Bradley's office. Hours later, enraged, he arrived home and she was not present.

***

—Layla, what have you done? You gave my name to your father's people, and they went and made a scene full of shouting and lawsuits at my company,— said Bradley.

He was furious, you could see it in the rapid breathing and the clenching of his hands. He knew how dangerous these people were, to the point of making a fuss outside and inside his company.

—I just told them who my husband is, you're still my husband, remember that,— Layla said sarcastically.

Bradley sighed angrily, Layla's smirk making his skin tingle with helplessness. He couldn't bear to even look her in the eye without wanting to utter that cold, disgusted look he used to get.

—You...are...are...are...— Bradley mentioned half—heartedly.

The words just wouldn't flow from his lips. He had nothing to defend himself with, it was true, even in the eyes of the law she was his wife.

—I asked you for a divorce and you ignored me. Now, if you don't want any more scandals in your company, accept, let's divorce,— Layla said brazenly.

She may have looked focused on what she wanted on the outside, but inside her soul was screaming with depression and exhaustion. She was, after all, accepting that Bradley wasn't the man for her.

Bradley looked at her and a small argument flowed between the two of them, still, with no intention on his part of opting for divorce, let alone helping her pay off the debt Will owed her.

Layla was at a crossroads of sorts, she was realising the reality she had lived with for 5 years, only then she decided to remain blind and silent. It was useless to play along.

—I'm not giving you a divorce, cut the crap,— he replied in annoyance.

He was at the point where Layla's voice annoyed him, the look in her eyes, everything about her when she pronounced divorce, was one of utter distaste.

—Yes you will, and I'll go to your parents myself and tell them we're getting a divorce. But I'll do it my way, is that what you want,— Layla said in a raised tone of voice.

He was stunned to hear her. That couldn't happen. That marriage was floated by his parents, they were the main reason for him to sign that piece of paper. He couldn't let Layla do something like that, it would tear his parents and his grandmother apart.

She was aware of the worry she had sown in her husband, so as a last word she asked for a divorce again and turned around to go to her room.

There, standing there, stunned and speechless, was Bradley, watching her leave him with the silence of the room.

As hard as it seemed, Layla wiped away the tears welling up in her eyes, sat on the edge of the bed and leaned the side of her body against the back of the bed.

***

The next morning, Layla got up early and went straight to the shower. She looked in the mirror and realised that she was totally emaciated. Her eyes were puffy with dark bags, her skin was pale and dull, her lips were bleak and dry, she had had a bad night and it showed.

When she showered she got ready, took a taxi to an agent to calculate the sale price of the house and the cars, but the money would not be enough for the debt, they were still short of half the money.

Before noon, she went home and sat on her bed, wondering how on earth she was going to find the other $500,000.

She was worried, phenomenally stressed, the mental exhaustion was killing her. Suddenly a sharp pain invaded her belly. Layla fell into worry, she had completely forgotten about her pregnancy.

She reached up and placed her palm on her belly, stroking it gently as she murmured words of encouragement to herself. She decided to rest for a moment.

She stared at the ceiling, her back completely flat on the bed. She remembered those good times when there was nothing but happiness between her and Bradley.

They had had failures, as all marriages do, but they were happy, until a while ago, when that happiness was defeated by the reality that invaded them from one day to the next.

Bradley had arrived at the house, in the afternoon, as if it were something strange. He went into the bedroom and then into the bathroom. Layla was exhausted, she wanted to sleep, so when the pain stopped, she curled up between the pillows and closed her eyes, letting exhaustion take over.

The coldness of Bradley's anger was in the air, she could hear nothing but the sound of the shower running.

A couple of hours passed and Layla was waking up from the dream. She sighed before she opened her eyes, got up and went straight to the shower. Her face was flushed and her eyes were sunken. the atmosphere was quiet, maybe Bradley was out.

While she was getting dressed, Layla looked down and opened one of her drawers. She looked at the beige folder with a divorce settlement she had prepared herself some time ago.

She looked at it next to the wedding ring she had taken off. She had been devastated by it all, but it was better to let it go than to continue a loveless marriage. She had already signed the document, but there was still that empty line above Bradley's name.

She thought of nothing but the five years she'd been there, with him, loveless, living under a mirage she'd created for herself. She longed only for a future with her son, and her parents. Layla knew she would survive without Bradley by her side.

Layla left the room and went to the kitchen. Violet had prepared a chunky steak with mashed potatoes and a boiled egg. She savoured it without resentment and then went to deal again with the agent who would help her sell her father's house and cars.

Will's house cost $800, but, due to the rush and desperation between them, they had to cut it down to half the price, and that broke Will and Merle.

The agent found them a place to stay while the prospective buyers looked at the house.

Bingo! Before long, there was a buyer. Layla heard the news and felt a relief in her gut. It might not be much, but they could cover some of the debt, one step closer.

They had arranged to meet at Will's old house, and Layla immediately took a taxi to meet the agent and her father. On the way, Layla's mobile rang a couple of times until she picked it up, it was Merle, calling her.

—La, Layla, something's happened. It's your father, he... —he mentioned in tears.

Layla was stunned, what the hell had happened, she had just been discharged. He was cold, his body started to shiver.

— What happened? He was getting better,— Layla said.

Merle couldn't pronounce the words, but you could hear his breathing quicken. Merle was totally lost. Layla heard her and thought only the worst, hung up her mobile and hurried to the taxi.

A few minutes later, Layla arrived at the house and ran to see the ambulance parked in front. As she approached, she saw two tall men carrying a stretcher, and on it lay her father, on his side, with an oxygen mask over his face.

Her nerves started to fray, she couldn't believe it, she just stood there until one of the paramedics urged her to accompany her father. Will was taken to the hospital, where he was immediately attended to by several doctors.

Doctors came in and out of the hospital, giving no response. Merle arrived a few minutes later, having taken a taxi. When Layla saw Merle, she had doubts.

—Why has my father relapsed again? What happened, Merle,— Layla insisted impatiently.

—Layla, we went to the house when we got the call from the agent, but behind us came the people concerned, furious, demanding immediate payment. They said that your husband's tycoon had washed his hands of the debt, that he had nothing to do with it, that you had lied to them,— Merle sobbed.

Layla could feel the words like heavy bullets in her body, what had she lied about? Bradley was still her husband, she had no right to throw them into the pot like that, she had to give the men a clue, that if they would honour that debt, wouldn't they?

It was obvious, the 4 days they had given Layla had been taken away from her by that loudmouth Bradley. Layla could see the rage and worry in Merle...

As Layla went into a kind of mental trance, with red eyes and a weakened body, with no soul in her body, she sat down on one of the waiting benches.

Her eyes were empty, and she could hear nothing but her own thoughts. —What monster have I married? I'm not happy, I never was. How can a person hate me so much, as to send me to this?—

She was pale, lifeless, hopeless, with nothing to make her glow. Merle sat down beside her, and his lips only served to make matters worse.

—Is he the man you love so much? The man you fought against us to marry? Is he the love of your life? —said Merle with a sarcastic tone.

I could understand her, Merle was frustrated, but Layla? Layla was in an alternative world, where she was despised.

—Merle, I'm so sorry, I'm a complete i***t,— Layla said half-heartedly as she stared into the void.

—I really hope a miracle happens and we find the money to pay off the debt. If we don't, I don't know what will happen to us, I... —Merle said before bursting into tears for Layla's man.

It was ironic, time was slowing down in the middle of the wait. Layla stared at the door, waiting for some doctor to come out with good news. But, nothing happened.

There was an almost eternal silence, for a while, she blamed herself for everything, she had no way to apologise to her father or to Merle. She stood there, in a trance, waiting for her father to survive again.

Minutes passed, hours even, when footsteps approached the door. Opening it, Merle and Layla stood up, anxious to hear what they had heard last time, but they could only watch as the doctor reached up to remove the mask from his face and swung his head from side to side as his gaze fell to the floor.

The world stopped. Layla looked at him and her legs trembled. A lump in her throat gripped her. She lost her balance and collapsed to the ground. Merle was at the same point of sadness as Layla, only his body pushed against the wall and slowly slid to the floor.

In that waiting room, two women could be heard sobbing and moaning desperately.

—Doctor, please tell me my father is all right,— said Layla.

She was in shock, she knew what was going on around her, but she couldn't accept it. The saddened doctor looked at her, he understood her, he understood the pain that was gnawing at her soul at that moment.

—We have done everything in our power. Mr Will suffered a blockage of blood flow to his coronary artery, a heart attack. He arrived unconscious and we were unable to revive him, his heart had already stopped beating. I am very sorry for your loss. I will leave you alone for a moment,— he said quietly.

Her father, her beloved father had died, and she couldn't help it. The doctor turned around and immediately Layla felt a strong pressure on her arm.

—It's your fault, it's all your fault! If it wasn't for your stupidity, we would have paid the debt, and none of this would have happened! You're a disgrace to this family, you've ruined everything! —said Merle, screaming and crying.

Layla made no response, she just stood there, motionless, feeling Merle shaking her body again and again, as words of hatred spilled from her lips.

Merle reached her climax, and collapsed back onto the bench to cry, releasing Layla. She was confused, abused, she felt so guilty as Merle let her know.

Minutes later, a phone rang, it was the real estate agent, calling her. She turned away from Merle's presence, and answered. The agent was waiting for them at the meeting point.

Layla hung up and looked at Merle sadly. Maybe her father was dead, but there was still a debt to pay. She tried to say goodbye to Merle, but she only looked at her with hatred, and silence.

Layla was exhausted, and her tears had stopped flowing from her eyes, after all she had other problems to solve. She took a taxi and went to meet the man who would help her with the house and the cars.

The agent was talking to her, but Layla simply didn't listen to him, she was only thinking about her father, she had to organise things. However, everything flowed quickly, both parties were in agreement and they got things done faster than expected.

Time was passing, he had to organise his father's funeral that very day. It was a dark day yes, the clouds were grey and her eyes were soaked in tears.

She needed an outlet, so she took out her phone and called Brianna, she answered immediately and the two met.

—My friend, cry, unburden yourself to me, even though I can't bear to see you like this,— Brianna said as she ran to hug her.

Layla tried to show her strength, but it was no use, her face showed her pain. Brianna was dying internally to see her best friend in that state. Her hatred for Bradley was growing, she blamed him for everything. He was a complete bastard in her eyes.

How could a man be like that to his own wife? His hatred led to the death of his own father-in-law. Brianna couldn't understand it.

As the days passed, the house and the cars were sold. Merle was left living in that rented room the agent had arranged for him, while his soul had gone to Will the moment he died.

Merle was devastated, even more than she was. You could see the sadness just by looking at her, she wasn't talking, she wasn't eating, she was slowly dying inside. Maybe she was just her father's wife, but Layla loved her like a mother, and seeing her like this broke his heart.

She only had Will in her life and he had left this world.