Chapter 3 Zoe Hawke!
1167 Words
The night was as dark as ink, and inside Ashford City's biggest club, lights and shadows danced in a dizzying array. The electric music surged like a tidal wave, enveloping the entire space.
As Leila watched the seductive pole dancers on stage, she felt an overwhelming urge to let loose. Her best friend, Sophia, immediately knew what Leila wanted and quickly handed her a sparkling red sequined mini dress.
Leila swept her hair up into a high bun, her body elegantly draped in the dress that showcased her stunning figure—she looked absolutely mesmerizing.
As the music blared, Leila started moving around the pole. At first, she was a bit hesitant, but soon she found her rhythm. Her body was fluid and strong, every movement exuding a wild, untamed beauty.
"That woman... she looks so familiar," one man whispered.
"Isn't that Leila, the famous actress?" another one mused.
"No way! An A-list actress dancing at a nightclub?"
"Well, whatever the case, she's gorgeous. I need to go introduce myself!"
A group of eager young men surrounded her, their eyes full of admiration, showering her with sweet words as if they were free. Leila couldn't help but smile.
It had been so long! Too long since she had felt this kind of appreciation and admiration.
To please Nicholas, she had forced herself to imitate his idea of Zoe, turning into someone she wasn't. Looking back now, she realized that if it weren't for her brief memory loss, she would never have done something so foolish.
Just then, Nicholas and Zoe emerged from the VIP lounge.
Zoe was linked arm-in-arm with Nicholas, her face wearing a sweet, elegant smile, but her eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence. As soon as she spotted Leila on stage, she froze.
"Nick, look at that woman..." Zoe's voice trembled as she feigned innocence, sneaking a glance at Nicholas to gauge his reaction.
Nicholas followed her gaze and froze. That dazzling red figure on stage—could it be Leila?!
Watching her twist and move in front of a captivated crowd, Nicholas felt a surge of anger rise in his chest.
"What a slut!" Nicholas gritted his teeth, and his eyes darkened with fury. "Is she already selling herself after breaking the contract with me?"
Without another word, he grabbed Zoe's arm and stormed toward the backstage area.
Leila was too caught up in her flirtations with the men to notice them at first. Sweat slid down her graceful neck, adding a touch of allure to her already intoxicating presence.
Suddenly, a high-pitched, pretentious voice pierced the air. "Leila? What are you doing here?"
Leila turned to see Zoe and Nicholas standing behind her, Nicholas' face twisted with anger. A flash of realization struck her like lightning.
"Zoe Hawke!"
Nicholas' old girlfriend, the one he could never forget—Zoe!
The one who had orchestrated the accident that had caused Leila to fall off the cliff three years ago.
Now, Leila understood everything. Nicholas had been there to "save" her that night, but Zoe hadn't known. She had left him without a second thought, running off to Euravon. And now... she was back. She must have heard about Leila being around Nicholas.
What a venomous, manipulative woman!
"Do you two know each other?" Nicholas asked, his gaze switching suspiciously between Leila and Zoe.
"She's my sister," Zoe explained softly before turning to Leila. "Leila, it's been three years. What are you doing here? Are you... are you working as a stripper now?"
She pretended to gasp in shock, covering her mouth theatrically. "If Grandpa knew about this, he'd probably faint from the shock."
Leila's gaze burned with fury, her eyes like flames as hatred simmered all around her. She was done talking with Zoe.
She marched toward the seemingly fragile woman, and Zoe instinctively took a step back, nervous. She backed into Nicholas' arms, where he caught her.
Zoe, regaining her composure, hissed, "Do you know Grandpa fell ill because of you running away from home? And now you're here, cavorting around like this. You're bringing shame to the Hawke family!"
"What does the Hawke family have to do with you?" Leila's voice was a low, cold growl. "You're just a worthless bastard who's never been accepted by the family—someone born from an affair."
Zoe's face changed instantly, her eyes flashing with venom. "You're going too far!" She turned to Nicholas, her voice softening again. "Nick, what she's saying about me is just..."
The sharp sound of a slap rang out through the club, and the crowd froze in shock. Zoe covered her cheek, staring at Leila in disbelief.
But then, her face twisted with horror, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Nick..."
"That slap was for the three years of suffering I've endured." Leila added coldly, "I've never done anything wrong to you, yet you dared to manipulate me like this."
Nicholas could no longer hold back. He lunged at Leila, grabbing her wrist. "How dare you hit her after all that?!" he shouted. "I'm telling you, from now on, you'll never work in showbiz again!"
And then, another slap!
This time, Nicholas was the one reeling, clutching his cheek in shock and rage as he stared at Leila.
"This is what you're begging for, right, you piece of trash?" Leila shot back, her voice full of disdain. "That slap was for the humiliation and betrayal of the last three years."
Nicholas was seething with fury. He raised his hand to strike again, but a man passing by swiftly grabbed his wrist.
"Be a gentleman." A deep, magnetic voice rumbled, like the smooth tones of a cello. Leila looked up, only to see a tall, muscular figure.
The man let go of Nicholas' hand without saying another word and walked away. Several young men who had been watching the scene stepped in, positioning themselves between Leila and any potential threat.
"Hey, man, what the hell is wrong with you? You think you can just go around hitting women?" one of them called.
Sophia had also arrived at Leila's side, casually flicking Nicholas off.
Nicholas' face turned ashen, and with one last venomous glare at Leila, he turned and walked off—forgetting all about Zoe.
"You okay?" Sophia asked, concern etched on her face.
"Of course." Leila waved off her concern. "Just haven't hit anyone in a while, my hand's a bit sore." She looked at Zoe, who was still frozen in place, about to cry, and turned her eyes away dismissively. Then, addressing the crowd, she shouted, "Big thanks to the gentlemen who helped me earlier. All of tonight's bills are on me!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and excitement as people danced around Leila and Sophia, making their way to the bar.
Zoe stood there, watching Leila with a mix of hatred and frustration, and then she gritted her teeth and made a phone call.
'Just wait, Leila. I won't let you have a chance to go home.'
- Writer
