She Was Never Just the Wife novel Chapter 43

Chapter 13

Chapter 43

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The taillights of the police car disappeared at the end of the road, and the shrill siren faded into silence. The afternoon sun still shone brightly on the exquisite courtyard of the Stein Mansion, where roses bloomed, and the fountain gurgled softly.

Everything looked exactly the same as it had a few minutes ago, yet it felt utterly different. Laylah stood alone on the empty driveway, her fingertips cold and trembling.

Aiyana’s last, desperate cry still echoed in the air, tangled with the fading siren, like a knife twisting in my chest. Fear, anger, disappointment, and a deeper terror of losing control all wove together into a suffocating net, wrapping her tight.

Laylah forced herself to take a deep breath and let it out slowly, fighting the nausea in her throat and the urge to scream. ‘Don’t lose it. Not now. Every step counts,’ she thought.

Her phone buzzed urgently again. It was her mom’s call. Laylah stared at the name for a couple of seconds, refusing to answer.

She could imagine the chaos on the other end of the line, her father’s roar, her mother’s wailing, and endless questions and panic. Picking up the phone now would only overwhelm her with emotions, offering no benefit.

Without a second thought, she declined the call and swiftly shut off her phone. Instantly, the world fell into a heavy silence, but the crushing pressure inside her didn’t let up one bit.

Laylah turned and strode back into the main building. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor, the sound echoing through the empty, luxurious hall. Brayden was still standing frozen by the door, his face pale and shaken.

“Brayden,” Laylah said, her voice back to its usual gentle calm, though a faint tension lingered beneath the surface. “If anyone asks about the police visit today, say it was a routine check. A misunderstanding that’s already being handled.

“Especially if Mr. and Mrs. Stein ask, that’s what you tell them. Understand?” Her gaze was steady on Brayden’s face, leaving no room for argument.

Brayden nodded quickly. “Yes, Miss Stein.”

“And make sure everyone in the house keeps their mouths shut. I don’t want to hear any rumors getting out,” Laylah added, her tone still soft, but it sent a chill down Brayden’s spine.

“You can count on me, Miss Stein. I’ll make sure everyone knows.”

Laylah didn’t say another word. She walked straight up the stairs, not to her own room, but right to Aiyana’s door. The door was still half-open, left that way when Aiyana had bolted out in a panic.

Laylah stepped inside and closed the door behind her, shutting out the rest of the world.

The room was thick with Aiyana’s favorite perfume, mixed with the sugary scent of leftover snacks. The bed was unmade, covers thrown aside, and makeup was scattered all over the vanity.

19:31 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 43

6.47

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The laptop was still on, the screen showing a paused video chat. The avatar of the girl named Sarah on the other end was grayed out, clearly having been scared off by the recent events.

Laylah’s eyes swept the room, sharp and unyielding. She headed straight for the desk, yanked open the drawers, and rifled through them. She checked the nightstand, crouched down to look under the bed.

She was hunting for any clue that might tie back to last night, Louis, those illegal drugs, anything. A note, a contact list, a weird pill bottle, a suspicious bank transfer, anything that could be used as evidence.

“That idiot,’ Laylah fumed to herself. ‘She never thinks before she acts. Who knows if she left something behind that could blow everything up?’

But after tearing the place apart, all she found were a few risqué fashion magazines, some overpriced but tacky jewelry, and a handful of flirty selfies with random guys.

Maybe Aiyana wasn’t dumb enough to leave anything truly dangerous lying around. Or maybe she never handled the real thing herself.

Laylah straightened up, catching her breath for a moment. She felt a bit steadier, but her doubts only deepened. ‘How much does Louis really know? He ratted out Aiyana.

‘Did he mention me too? And that glass of water, what will Celia tell the police? What chain of evidence do they have now?’ she wondered.

Laylah walked over to the window, staring down at the tranquil garden below, her fingers clenched without her realizing. Celia actually had the guts to call the cops, and she did it so fast.

This wasn’t the Celia she remembered, the one who always took it, who would put up with anything to keep the peace. She wondered, ‘Was it last night’s incident that truly enraged her, or is there someone behind her actions? Elliott?’

Thinking about Elliott made Laylah’s heart sink further. That man was impossible to read. If he really got involved, and worse, if he took Celia’s side, things would get exponentially more complicated.

‘I can’t wait any longer,’ Laylah thought. ‘I need to make a move, at the very least. I have to know what’s really going on.

Laylah powered her phone back on, ignoring the flood of missed calls, mostly from her parents and a handful of relatives. She quickly pulled up a number she’d saved but never dialed before, an expensive, well- connected private investigator with a reputation for getting results.

She sent the names, asking for the latest on the police investigation, the specifics of Louis’s statement. And, if possible, everything about Celia’s movements after she left the party last night, especially whether she kept in touch with Elliott.

Money wasn’t an issue. Speed was all that mattered. Once the message was sent, Laylah felt a slight relief, but the heavy stone in her heart hadn’t budged. Next, she had to face her parents and Beckham.

She needed to come up with a convincing story that would clear her name completely.

*****

19:31 Mon, May 11 d…

Chapter 43

47

55 vouchers

Meanwhile, across town, the Lucero Group CEO’s office was thick with tension. Beckham stood stiffly by the floor-to-ceiling window, clutching his phone so hard his knuckles were white.

It was a short, confidential message he’d received: [Aiyana was taken from the Stein Mansion by the police, busted for some drugs, and inciting trouble. Apparently, it’s tied to last night’s party. Celia is believed to be the one who tipped them off.]

Every word burned into his mind, making his eyes sting. ‘Aiyana? Drugs? Inciting trouble? Last night’s party? Celia reported Aiyana?’ Beckham wondered.

The scattered pieces of information collided in his mind, trying to form a terrifying truth.

Celia’s unusual pallor and early departure last night, the glaring bruises on her wrist this morning, her cold words, and that secretly taken photo of her being carried away by a stranger all seemed to connect into a disturbing pattern.

‘She wasn’t sneaking off with some stranger last night, but was actually set up?’ Beckham wondered.

The idea made his breath hitch, a tangle of emotions knotting in his chest, leaving him restless and uneasy. ‘Was it anger? Outrage at Aiyana’s reckless behavior? Or a flicker of fear and guilt I could barely admit to myself?

‘If that’s the case, then all the harsh accusations and rough treatment I directed at her this morning were my fault.

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