Chapter 3

When Layla announced in the locker room that she was treating everyone to supper, her colleagues cheered excitedly. "Layla, you're so generous! Did you meet a big shot?" "With Layla's charm, wouldn't it be effortless for her to impress someone influential?" "Thank you, Layla!" Everyone cheered and hurried to change clothes, joyfully discussing which upscale restaurant they should go to. No one noticed Samantha in the corner or how she was feeling. Soon, after everyone had left the locker room, Layla finally noticed Samantha in the corner. She walked over and tenderly caressed Samantha's cold face and asked, "Why are you crying?" Samantha glanced upward, her eyes falling on Layla's beautiful and charming face. Layla was a close friend Samantha had made at the club. As a newcomer, Samantha had felt lost, and the others seemed indifferent to her struggles. However, Layla had been the only one willing to lend a helping hand. "I accidentally misplaced a bottle of alcohol yesterday," Samantha admitted. "Because of that, over 8,000 dollars were deducted from my salary this month. Now, I don't have enough to pay for my tuition." "It's just money. I'll lend it to you," Layla replied. "But…" She bit her lip, feeling embarrassed at the thought of having to borrow money. Layla offered a warm smile. "Don't worry about it. I've already transferred the money to you. Pay it back whenever you can. It's not a big deal. Please don't cry. It hurts me to see you sad." Samantha stared at the notification of receiving 20 thousand dollars on her phone screen, biting her lip to hold back her tears. She had never expected anyone to help her in her lowest moment, yet Layla's remarkable kindness had shown her otherwise. "Thank you, Layla!" she exclaimed. "I promise to repay you as soon as I earn the money." "Samantha, what happened to your neck?" Layla frowned. "Why is there a red mark?" She quickly covered her neck. "I… must've gotten a mosquito bite." Layla couldn't help but grumble. "That mosquito is so fierce. Let's go eat something delicious later." "I'm tired. I just want to go home and rest. Is that alright?" "Of course. Stay safe." "I will." After gathering her belongings, Layla said goodbye to Samantha and left elegantly. Samantha returned to her seat, gathered her things, and got ready to leave. As she approached the club's entrance, she unexpectedly ran into her adoptive father, Matthew Newton. Matthew was there for a business meeting, smiling as he tried to impress a big shot. However, it appeared he was being turned down. Samantha averted her gaze, attempting to ignore the situation entirely, and chose a lengthy detour to sneak past them unnoticed. However, before she could escape, Matthew spotted her. She lowered her head further, avoiding eye contact. "Samantha?" he called, his face twisting in anger. "What's going on? Are you working here? Have you no shame? It's so disgraceful!" She quickly shook her head to clarify. "No, I only came here to work as a waitress. I didn't do anything else… I…" She stopped mid-sentence, unable to continue. Remembering the events of last night, she felt guilty and couldn't find the words to explain herself. Matthew sneered. "Are you so guilty you can't continue? You stole Lily's necklace at home and acted disgracefully outside. We're lucky to have kicked you out of the Newton family. Otherwise, you'd embarrass us all!" "I didn't steal the necklace. It wasn't me." "If you didn't take it, how could it possibly have ended up in your pillowcase? Stop lying. It's truly appalling!" Samantha saw the unmistakable disgust in Matthew's eyes, and it felt like a dagger piercing her heart, leaving her to bleed silently. She had once been part of a loving family, but everything changed the day Matthew unexpectedly brought a young woman home. He revealed that there had been a mix-up at birth. Samantha was never truly a Newton. The young woman revealed that she had been an orphan since childhood, losing her mother in elementary school and never knowing her father. Samantha had grown up believing she belonged, yet she was suddenly cast aside as an outsider, living under someone else's roof. The young woman who took her place was Liliana Johnson, a rising star in the entertainment industry. She was beautiful, well-mannered, and always a delight to those around her. The love Samantha had once received from her parents swiftly shifted to Liliana, leaving her neglected and forgotten. With nowhere else to go, Samantha could only retreat into the shadows, silently watching the happiness that was no longer hers. Then one day, Liliana's necklace went missing. After a lengthy search, it was ultimately hidden in Samantha's pillowcase. As she gazed into the disappointed eyes of the Newtons, she felt utterly powerless to justify her actions. Matthew was so frustrated and kicked her out of the Newton family. And just like that, Samantha truly became an orphan with no one left to rely on. "I didn't take it," Samantha insisted. "Mr. Garrett is coming through. Please clear the way!" The club's security guards swiftly moved in, dispersing the crowd obstructing the entrance and interrupting Matthew's lecture. Matthew no longer paid attention to Samantha. Instead, he was eagerly looking inside the club. "Mr. Garrett is here too? Why am I only hearing about this now? I shouldn't be begging Mr. Zain Quigley. I should've gone straight to Mr. Garrett." Leonardo stepped out of the elevator, flanked by a group of bodyguards dressed in black. A crowd had gathered, eager to see the well-known figure in Jedo. As the leading contender among the heirs of the prestigious Garrett family in Jedo, he commanded everyone's attention. Rumors surrounded him. Some claimed that Leonardo had little interest in women, presenting himself as distant and abstinent. Others even speculate that he had taken a vow of celibacy. It was hard to believe that a man constantly surrounded by beauty could remain entirely unaffected. Getting close to him seemed nearly impossible, as he appeared to have no discernible weaknesses. As he exited the elevator, his towering six-foot-two frame instantly drew the crowd's attention. His striking good looks were intensified by a captivating blend of intensity and detachment. A small mole at the corner of his eye added a hint of allure, further enhancing his enigmatic charm. The women in the crowd couldn't contain their admiration and began to praise him softly. "He's so handsome!" "I can't believe how incredibly charming Mr. Garrett is!" "He's good-looking, but he seems hard to seduce. I have a feeling he might not be interested in women at all." "Stop guessing. Don't try anything recklessly," someone warned. "Women who've tried seducing Mr. Garrett… Well, let's just say it didn't end well for them." "Tsk. That's terrifying. I guess I can only admire him from a distance." Samantha glanced in that direction as well. Coincidentally, she locked eyes with Leonardo's captivating gaze. Her breath caught. The man from last night was none other than Leonard, the very person everyone had been talking about. She could hardly wrap her mind around it. After hearing the whispers around her, she quickly averted her gaze and chose to distance herself from the trouble. Women who attempted to seduce him rarely met a good end, so she made up her mind to steer clear of him from now on. With everything she was going through, all she wanted was to survive. As Simon watched Leonardo stop, he followed his gaze. Besides a group of infatuated women and some eager men wanting to meet Leonardo, he didn't notice anyone significant. "Mr. Garrett, what are you looking at?" he asked. "There's someone over there who looks familiar."