Between love and betrayal

A broken heart

***

Six years ago, when Layla woke up unconscious in that hospital after being run over, the first thing her eyes looked at was Harry, the man who had carried her to the hospital.

Harry was really nervous, he had never been in such an embarrassing situation, he had just bought his car, and he hit that young woman who was walking without looking at the road.

He was devastated and really worried. When she suddenly grabbed his hand, and he shed tears of happiness, he hadn't killed her!

The doctors communicated with her respectfully, as she was a stranger with no family or friends to know about her. Harry knew of her pregnancy, and prayed to the universe that she would not lose her baby.

Harry was not a simple man, on the contrary, he was an overseas businessman, owning several companies in Croatia and Florida. But his world came crashing down when he heard his car crash into the leggy young woman,

Layla regained consciousness, and began to get to know Harry better, she still didn't know it was him who had hit her, but she doubted he cared, she wanted to leave her life behind, and make a fresh start.

She spent a week in hospital, feeling lonely and depressed. When she was able to call Merle and told him what had happened. Merle immediately went to see her and they both decided it was time to leave that city that reminded them so much of evil.

They wanted to run away, without looking back, and not let anyone but Harry know about it. She made sure to keep a low profile and came up with a plan to get out of the country for good.

Harry set out to help her, how could he not? She was beautiful, and she possessed something inside him that made him shiver from head to toe. Before long, Layla's problems were diminishing.

He offered to pay off the debt and help her with her new life. When Layla was fully recovered, she and Merle set off on a trip abroad.

Harry had arranged a place for them to stay, but Merle separated from Layla by taking a job in another city, while Harry witnessed all the obstacles Layla had to survive since her arrival in Croatia.

It was not easy, hundreds of difficulties lay before her, but, her heart was frozen, and she had to fight not only for her, but for the beauty growing inside her womb.

Layla was starting a new life, and after all, nothing would have happened if Harry hadn't run her over. Maybe she had to go through the torment, so that beauty would come into her life simultaneously, right?

Her life was on the rise, she started studying design at one of the most prestigious universities in the country, there she met countless people who supported her and brought her into the presence of the owner of the fashion company KG Odjeća.

Layla got a dream job, where her intelligence took her to the top, being the most sought-after designer in the fashion industry.

The world was under her feet, with two beautiful daughters, and a huge future ahead of her, she never imagined she would return home, for work or for any other insignificant reason.

***

She was worried about her little Jazmín. She had left her with pain in her soul.

—How is Jazmín,— Layla asked again.

The voice behind the mobile, she sighed a little, it didn't sound good at all, however she trusted her imagination was wandering.

—Little Jazmín is fine. Merle came to visit and they are both asleep at the moment. Don't worry, Merle and I will take good care of Jazmín, we will keep an eye on her breathing and her meds. You must take care of yourself. I know how hard it must be to go back,— said Harry in a soft voice.

It was magical to know that he was there, always there for her.

—I thought about going to Vienna, so you can see Jazmín often and not leave her completely far away. I know you can't be with her all day now, but I'd love to,— Harry added tenderly.

Layla was delighted. Every word that came from his lips increased her happiness in such an exorbitant way.

—Oh, Harry, I thank you for every gesture you make for me. That sounds really wonderful,— Layla said happily.

She was truly grateful to him, for everything, from the moment she met him he seemed to have been a fallen angel just to take care of her, yet something in her kept things from going his way.

Deep inside her, she was broken.

—I want to make you happy, I want to marry you and make you the happiest woman in the world,— she said softly.

It wasn't the first time Harry had mentioned that, he used to do it often, but she would ignore him, or change the conversation. She was afraid of making the same mistake she had made with Bradley, but this time she just smiled unavoidably.

Harry was an exceptional man, the kind who would open the door for you to get out of the car and hold your hand as you walked down the street.

He was the perfect man for any woman with two fingers in front of her, but she thought she was inferior, she didn't think she deserved him. She felt broken inside, without a shred of happiness to offer him.

She was a single mother, divorced, with a history of sadness, Harry didn't deserve that, he deserved a complete woman, one who was devoted to him.

Layla simply walked away from him, and waited for the moment when he would find that perfect woman.

The silence under those horns intensified, Harry felt disappointed, he knew Layla had ignored him again, so he just said goodbye and wished her luck on her first day in Vienna.

—See you soon,— Layla replied so sweetly.

It was sad, unrequited and ignored love. Harry was torn up inside, the woman of his dreams had once again decided to ignore his advances, it was one moment at a time, but he had to get over it.

Harry sighed lightly and walked towards Jazmín's room, she was there, curled up under Merle's arms, with an angelic face, it was inevitable not to look at her and smile.

He couldn't deny it, Harry was happy in spite of everything. Maybe she used to reject his marriage proposal, but that didn't stop him from feeling joyful every time Milka and Jazmín hugged him after a long day at work, or played in the yard with him.

He treated them like his own daughters, and he treated her like the most beautiful woman in the universe.

Harry didn't care that she had decided to close her heart, he understood her. He knew exactly the reason for her decision, but his hopes remained, for that day when she would love him as much as he had loved her from the moment he met her.

Layla had forbidden all entrance of love into her life, Bradley had taken away that trace of happiness she found in companionship.

But still, she inwardly fought her demons, for she knew what a wonderful person Harry was.

Harry, ever since he had heard that Layla would be returning to her hometown on business, had moved heaven and earth to bring one of his companies to Vienna, so that she wouldn't have to face her past alone.

He wanted to support her in everything, and nothing was going to stop her. A few days ago, his employees started the move, so that one of his companies could move to Vienna as soon as possible,

But, something went wrong and things were not going as well as he had hoped.

***

When she hung up the call she immediately lay down to sleep. She was exhausted and her eyes were closing from one second to the next.

When the sun rose in the east and the morning was warm, Layla opened her eyes and immediately got into the shower.

She stood there, motionless, feeling the drops of water running down her body. She sighed coldly, and thought only of what the day had in store for her.

When she finished showering, she went out to get dressed and make Milka some breakfast. she was a spoiled child, who slept late, so in the meantime Layla busied herself unpacking and dusting the floor....

—Hi mommy, good morning,— she heard a sleepy, childish voice behind the door.

She wanted to make him feel special affection, to make him forget that he was in an unfamiliar place, new to her.

—Go brush your teeth so we can have breakfast together,— Layla whispered to Milka as she gently stroked her back.

Milka turned around and quietly obeyed. Minutes later, Layla and Milka sat down in the dining room for breakfast. Lyla wasn't the best cook, but day by day she dedicated herself a little more to making her daughters feel special.

—Well, Milka, when you're done eating, you're going to shower and go to school,— said Layla.

Milka looked at her angrily. She definitely wasn't happy about going to school and being surrounded by spoiled, dumb kids.

However, her gestures of indolence would do no good, her mother had the last word.

—Girl, you mustn't be frustrated. You will make friends at school. There will be playgrounds and games for you,— Layla told her, trying to soothe her helplessness.

Milka turned her face away and nodded slightly. When they had finished, she got down from her chair and went straight to take a shower.

They both got ready and headed for a high school a short distance from the flat. Milka was shocked when she saw it. It had huge walls, tinged with apple green.

There were fruit trees and flowers in the garden, a big playground and lots of children her age playing and running around.

—Oh, you must be Miss Delfigalo, right? —said a woman with a stout build and short hair.

She looked elderly, but with a kind and caring personality. Señora Pilar was the deputy director of the institution, and she kindly welcomed Layla and Milka in the upper garden.

When they entered, Milka looked around and saw that there were huge classrooms, with different types of seating and clothing. It was strange, at her old school they wore uniforms, and this was really new to her.

—I'm going to ask you a few questions, OK, Milka,— said Mrs. Pilar.

After a few brief minutes, Mrs. Pilar and Milka entered her office and engaged in a series of routine questions. They wanted to know Milka's level of German, and her level of education.

—Wow, she's a very smart girl,— Pilar mentioned.

Layla was grateful for all the compliments, and decided to hand over little Milka's records as well.

Things were going great, until Mrs. Pilar read out her marital status. It was a bit gloomy, it was a Catholic school, where they gave extraordinary importance to the union of two parents.

Mrs. Pilar looked at the sheet with some intrigue, harbouring many wrong thoughts.

—Excuse me, Mrs. delfigalo, but, we attach importance to familiarity, and I note that you are a divorced woman, but, here we need the presence of both parents at the time of a meeting,— added Mrs. Pilar with a somewhat intriguing tone.

Layla felt offended, she didn't expect such words. There were thousands of divorced women in the world, and they had just confronted her.

—I'm sorry, Mrs. Pilar, but is it a problem that I'm divorced? Can't little Milka study because I'm divorced? —said Layla in a rather annoyed but gentle tone.

It was a strict school, there was no denying that, but Layla didn't consider being a divorced woman an excuse for not enrolling Milka in the school.

—We place a lot of importance on the children's family environment, and a divorce is not something they're happy about. Are you currently with someone else? —asked Mrs. Pilar with some embarrassment.

—That happened long before she was born, and I have brought her up with a lot of love. She is an intelligent, optimistic and very bright child for her age. I don't think there are any problems that would prevent her from studying here. She has me as her mother and father,— Layla said, annoyed.

She was going through a situation she was not prepared for. I had never heard of such a hindrance in any institution.