#Chapter 300: Promises

The room seemed to spin as Layla’s confession hung in the air between us. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even think straight. My eyes widened as I stared at her, desperately searching for some sign that this was a bad joke, a dream—anything but reality. But it was the truth. I could see it in Layla’s eyes. “He’s really Nathan’s?” I stuttered, grappling with the enormity of her revelation. Layla nodded, her eyes rimmed with red from crying. “I didn’t find out until recently. I thought he was Cade’s,” she said, referring to her bodyguard-turned-fiancé. “How did this happen, Layla? Nathan and I—” She cut me off with a wave of her hand, her face flushed with the stress of her confession. “I understand how complicated this sounds, but let me explain,” she said. “If you’ll hear me out, that is.” I paused for a moment, unsure if I wanted the truth. But finally, I decided that it was better this way. Perhaps Layla did have a good explanation, something that wo