Chapter 176

"Layla!" The cry echoed through the room, a desperate plea lost amidst the chaos. Layla, overpowered by the goons in Anastasia's employ, was swiftly subdued and cast to the ground.

"Release me!" she demanded, her voice a fierce growl.

A sinister chuckle filled the air. "It's been an eternity since I've had a girl like you... the exhilaration is unparalleled."

"Scream all you want, it only fuels my excitement."

"Allow me to introduce you to the pleasures of womanhood; you'll be pleading to stay." Mr. Anastasia straddled Layla, his hands clawing at her clothes.

"Unhand me..." Layla retaliated, sinking her teeth into Mr. Anastasia's finger, her gaze as wild as a wolf cub's.

"Cursed girl! I'll teach you respect!" Mr. Anastasia struck Layla, a blow that sent stars exploding across her vision.

From a distance, Jason watched his daughter's humiliation, his voice raw as he screamed, "Release her!"

"Do not lay a finger on my child."

"Layla..."

Tears streamed down Jason's face, the bitter taste of regret filling his mouth. His gambling addiction had not only led to his own beating but now his daughter was being violated.

In that moment, Jason was consumed with remorse, wishing he were dead rather than witness his daughter bear this disgrace.

"Dipshit... release my daughter..." Jason yelled hysterically, "Monster!"

"Come at me if you dare!"

"I'll end your life!"

"Monster!"

Jason's relentless curses only served to enrage Anastasia further, who dropped Layla and delivered a swift kick to Jason, "You old fool, I'll play you both to death today!"

...

Atop the hotel's rooftop, Samuel had succumbed to sleep, a bottle of liquor held loosely in his grip.

The shrill ring of his phone jolted him awake. He brought it to his ear, his heart pounding.

"We've obtained the information."

Samuel's expression shifted rapidly, a furrow of worry etching itself between his brows.

...

On the precipice of a cliff, the sea breeze howled its mournful song.

Jason was bound, ropes gagging his mouth, reducing his curses to muffled grunts.

Anastasia's thugs were preoccupied with filling a sack with rocks.

"Release my father!" Layla cried out, her hands bound behind her back as Mr. Anastasia gripped her hair, a twisted excitement lacing his voice, "How thrilling is it to be with me while watching your old man get tossed into the sea, huh?"

"Boss, you certainly know how to entertain!"

"Exhilarating!" The thugs, who had long lost their humanity, egged him on, their vile encouragement echoing around them.

"Boss, once you're done, leave some for us, eh?"

"What's the hurry? When have I ever disappointed you with my leftovers? You'll get your turn soon enough. Just wait."

Layla was pinned down, her voice hoarse from screaming, as she lay despondently staring up into the night sky, tears of despair streaming down her face.

"Save me, Samuel, please save me..."

She sobbed uncontrollably.

Jason was stuffed into a sack filled with rocks as the thugs zipped it shut; inside, he twisted and writhed in a futile struggle. In that moment, he was like a fish laid out on a cutting board, utterly at the mercy of others.

The goons hoisted the heavy sack onto their shoulders.

"Daddy, daddy, please..." Layla's shirt was ripped apart, exposing her flesh, "let him go..."

"Three, two..."

Suddenly, beams of intense light pierced the night, halting the thugs in their tracks.

Only the rumbling of engines could be heard as several SUVs burst through the darkness, hurtling toward them.

With a screeching halt, the SUVs stopped short and over a dozen burly bodyguards in black suits piled out, their powerful frames unmistakable.

"What's all this?" Mr. Anastasia squinted, blinded by the vehicles' lights.

The bodyguards moved swiftly, promptly knocking down the feeble thugs.

Mr. Anastasia stepped back, visibly shaken.

Amidst the blinding golden light, the door of the central SUV swung open, and a pair of long legs emerged, the black dress pants exuding an air of unmatched prestige. However, the man was cold, his aura menacing, like Satan himself had come to claim souls from the depths of hell.

"Who are you?" Mr. Anastasia asked, terror striating his voice.

The man's silhouette was hauntingly sharp and his gaze deadly. His chilling voice rang out, "Someone you can't afford to mess with!"

...

"Dad, save me, save my dad..."

"No, don't-"

"Nathan..."

"Samuel, I never betrayed you."

"Don't abandon me, please, I'm begging you..." Layla awoke crying, her eyes sore and swollen, her face soaked with tears.

Through her blurred vision, she could see a familiar contour gazing at her with concern.

"Layla, Layla?" came a warm, anxious voice calling her name.

Her tear-filled eyes gradually focused. "Samuel?" she said with a voice of disbelief.

"It's me."

Layla weakly lifted her hand, and he held it against his cheek. Crying and laughing, she said, "Samuel, I dreamt about you again..."

"This isn't a dream," he assured her.

Layla gave a bitter smile, "No, it's a dream. You're only this gentle with me in dreams."

"Samuel, I've missed you so much, truly."

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault."

"I couldn't protect our happiness."

"I love you, Samuel..."

"Sweetheart," Samuel's heart shattered as he kissed her fingers and caressed her face, "this isn't a dream. I'm real. Feel me."

He held her hand, tracing the outlines of his own face with gentle touches. "Can you feel it? Huh? Layla..."

The warmth from his skin tingled across Layla's fingers, so vivid and real. A flicker of hope sparked within her, but she quickly shook her head.

"No, this can't be happening."

Fear gripped her-the fear that it was all a dream, that her hopes would be shattered, sending her heart plummeting into an even deeper abyss. The anguish of such a potential disappointment was too much for her to bear.

"I'm sorry, I hurt you," Samuel said, his voice tinged with regret. Even the strongest of men couldn't help but show a glimmer of tears. "Layla, believe me, it's really me. You're not dreaming."

"Really?" The disbelief in Layla's eyes slowly turned into wonder. She seemed like a fragile creature, scared and cautious, as she asked with a tremor in her voice, "Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me. I saved you, don't you remember?"

Layla's expression turned to one of confusion as she sifted through her memories.

Mr. Anastasia had threatened to kill her father, and they were tied up at the edge of a cliff. Then came a few off-road vehicles, and he appeared-like an avenging angel or perhaps a devil himself.

This wasn't a dream!

Layla's eyes snapped open. "Is it really you?

"Has heaven heard my prayers?" She had been calling out his name in her heart all this time. Every time danger loomed, he was the one who arrived first to pull her to safety.

"Yes. No matter where you are, I'll find you," Samuel promised, vowing to himself he would never let her suffer again.

"Samuel..." Layla sobbed as she threw herself into his arms, crying uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry, so sorry..."

Even after the terrible things she had done, he had saved her. She felt so moved, and her guilt intensified, making it even harder to look him in the eye.

"I'm the one who should be saying sorry. I should have never blamed you without getting to the truth first," Samuel soothed her, patting her shoulder gently. "That night, nothing happened between you and Nathan."