Turning his head to look at Lyla Hunt, Marcellus West was now sure he wasn't imagining it. The person before him truly resembled his long-lost love, so much so that it was uncanny. His thin lips parted slightly as he issued a clear, straightforward command.
"Let's go to the office."
Lyla blinked in surprise and excitement. "Are we going to West Enterprises?"
"Yes," he answered.
This was it—her job was secured! Lyla struggled to remain composed. "What position do you have in mind for me, Mr. West?"
Marcellus allowed a hint of a smile to touch his lips. "I happen to need a secretary."
Marcellus's deep gaze lingered on Lyla's face. The resemblance wasn't just striking; she looked exactly like the woman who haunted his dreams for years. It was bizarre, and keeping her close seemed the best way to uncover the truth.
Sitting poised, Lyla spoke with confidence. "Mr. West, you have a keen eye. I'm perfect for the role of executive secretary. I'm charming, hardworking, and always follow instructions to the letter."
Restarting the car, Marcellus asked casually, "What's your name?"
Lyla paused, caught off guard. Did he really not know? It seemed Marcellus West hadn't paid much attention to his rival, Westley Grant. They say you should know your enemy.
With a smile, though her heart was pounding, Lyla introduced herself, "Mr. West, I'm Lyla Hunt. Lyla like the breeze—gentle yet undeniable."
There was no immediate reply. Marcellus appeared focused on driving, though internally, he was far from calm. She looked exactly like his lost love.
The car eventually came to a stop at West Enterprises. Meeting Marcellus's deep, dark eyes, Lyla's heart skipped a beat. Had he realized she was Westley Grant's wife and decided to back out?
Her eyes shone with urgency. "Mr. West, I finalized my divorce with Westley Grant yesterday. We're no longer connected."
"I need this job desperately," she pleaded. "If you give me this chance, I promise I'll excel."
"In the whole city, you're the only one willing to hire me."
Marcellus frowned slightly at her words. Seeing his furrowed brow, Lyla felt even more anxious. She had to seize this opportunity to become Marcellus West's secretary, no matter what.
Rummaging through her bag in a rush, she handed Marcellus her divorce papers. He examined them closely and, without returning them, asked in a serious tone, "How long were you married?"
Lyla hesitated, then replied, "Two years."
"And why did you divorce?"
Without hesitation, Lyla covered her side where her kidney was. "Westley wanted me to donate a kidney to his beloved, and I refused. That's when I saw his true colors and decided to leave."
Hearing her words, Marcellus's hand clenched into a fist as emotions surged within him.
Lyla felt a sudden chill, and she swore earnestly, "Mr. West, I promise I won't reconcile with Westley or betray you."
After what seemed like an eternity, Marcellus nodded slightly, his voice cool. "Come upstairs to finalize your employment."
Lyla was momentarily stunned but quickly nodded. "Thank you, Mr. West."
In her eagerness, she forgot about her aching knee and hurried along. Their entry procedures concluded smoothly, and Marcellus handed her a tube of ointment.
"Thank you, Mr. West."
"You should take some time to heal before starting work," Marcellus advised, but Lyla hastily shook her head, waving her hands.
"No need, Mr. West. I'll start tomorrow."
He didn't insist, merely giving her a thoughtful look. "Very well. Ezra, please show... Ms. Hunt out."
Marcellus almost slipped into calling her by his lost love's name. Ezra Simpson appeared just in time to inform Lyla that her bicycle had been repaired and was ready for use.
In high spirits, Lyla left West Enterprises, riding her bicycle more carefully this time. As she was enjoying the ride, her phone rang—it was an unknown number.
"Hello, who's calling?"
"Ms. Hunt, could you come to the hospital? Edgar's medical fees have been stopped."
It took a moment for Lyla to find her voice. "I'll be right there."
Edgar Hunt, her twin brother, had been in a coma since a car accident three years ago, and their father had been covering his medical expenses. At the hospital, Lyla quickly learned that Edgar's medical account was now empty. Without additional funds, the hospital would cease treatment, and Edgar could slip from temporary unconsciousness into a permanent coma.
Pouring all the money she had into Edgar's account, Lyla realized her financial situation was dire. Without the supplementary card from Westley, her savings amounted to less than a thousand dollars.
At that moment, Lyla regretted focusing on her relationship rather than her career. But it didn't matter now—she had secured a new job.
Standing before her family's mansion, she rang the bell and waited. When a servant finally opened the door, she hurried to the living room, where she found her father, stepmother, and stepsister.
Without preamble, she demanded of her father, "Why did you stop funding Edgar's medical care?"
Instead of answering, her father scrutinized her with displeasure. "Did you really divorce Westley?"
Gulping nervously, Lyla straightened her back at the recollection of Westley's kidney demand. "Yes, I did. He wanted me to donate a kidney to his beloved, and that's unacceptable."
Lyla confidently believed her father would support her decision, given his past kindness. But his cold, piercing gaze indicated otherwise.
"Compared to your brother's medical needs and our family business, a single kidney means nothing."
Lyla was prepared for disappointment, but hearing those words still stunned her.
"Don't blame your father," her stepmother, Khalani, chimed in soothingly. "Since your divorce, all our deals with Grant Enterprises have been terminated."
Recovering her composure, Lyla realized why Westley had been so arrogant at the registry. He'd predicted she'd come crawling back.
"You want Edgar to continue treatment? Reconcile with Westley," her father stated bluntly.
Lyla reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "I'll never go back to him."
Her father snapped back, "Then I won't pay another cent for your brother's care."
Khalani quickly interjected, "Darling, don't be hasty. If Lyla won't reconcile with Westley, we still have Anastasia."
"Mrs. West adores Anastasia. She'll soon marry Marcellus West. As his wife, our business will thrive through partnership with West Enterprises."
Lyla watched her father's demeanor melt into delight as he clasped Anastasia's hand. "Anastasia, once you marry Marcellus, I'll transfer shares of the company to you."
Eyes wide, Lyla grabbed her father's arm. "Dad, are you crazy? Edgar and I are your real children; she has no blood ties to you."
Khalani had brought Anastasia into the family, and she was a year older than Lyla.
Her father's disdainful look was that of seeing a useless rag, while Khalani and Anastasia appeared serene and content.
Then, Lyla heard her father's voice cutting through her thoughts. "Since you won't remarry Westley, there's something you should know. Anastasia is my biological daughter."
"You..."
Lyla staggered back, collapsing onto the floor.
Khalani gazed down at her, her voice velvety. "Now you understand. It was your mother who tore us apart, so she was the other woman."
