She Was Never Just the Wife novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Chapter 47

47

Dusk spread across the skyline as the streetlights came on one by one, tracing the city in gold and neon. Laylah merged into the evening traffic in the white Porsche Beckham had given her.

A faint scent of gardenia filled the car, soft and out of place against the tension coiled tight in her chest. Her hands on the wheel were slightly damp, her fingertips cold.

The navigation pointed toward an old creative park on the west side. Mist & Mirror was tucked deep inside that so-called arts district, a place that looked cultured on the surface but drew all kinds underneath.

The light turned red.

Laylah braked, her gaze drifting to the right. A side road led toward the upscale apartments on the east side. Celia lived there now. She knew that. Someone had already given her the details.

A thought surfaced, sudden and sharp. “Turn around. Go see her. Now!’

‘And say what? Ask if she’s behind the leaks? Beg her to stop? Or drag her down with me?’ she wondered.

Her grip tightened around the wheel until her knuckles turned white. Something deep inside her surged. ‘Go find her. Tear that calm mask off her face. Make her feel it too. The fear. The pain.’

The light turned green.

A horn blared behind her, snapping her back. She drew in a breath and pressed the gas.

‘No. I can’t go. If I go now, I’ll only ruin everything. She’s too careful. Too dangerous. I’ll only expose myself and walk straight into her trap,’ she thought to herself.

Laylah bit down hard on her lower lip, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes. If she wanted to win, she had to be colder and more ruthless than Celia.

At the next intersection, the white Porsche cut left and sped toward the west side.

*****

The creative park was eerily quiet at night. Most of the artsy shops had shut their doors, leaving only a handful of bars and private clubs glowing with dim, suggestive lights.

Laylah parked in a shadowed corner, slipped on her sunglasses and a wide-brim hat, then pulled her coat tighter as she headed toward a nondescript three-story building deeper inside.

The sign for Mist & Mirror was easy to miss unless one knew where to look. Laylah lifted her hand and knocked three times in a steady rhythm against the heavy black door.

It opened just a crack. An eye studied her from the darkness before the door swung wider. A middle-aged woman in a modernized dress stood there, her expression blank. Without a word, she stepped aside and let Laylah slip inside.

19:32 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 47

47

The lighting was low. Sandalwood lingered in the air, mixed with something herbal she couldn’t quite place, She followed the woman through layered curtains until they stopped at a small room lit by a single floor lamp.

“He’s inside,” the woman said quietly, then disappeared back into the shadows

Laylah steadied herself and pushed the door open.

A man was already seated inside. He looked to be in his fifties, dressed in a gray traditional suit, sitting by the table.

He had one of those faces one wouldn’t notice twice, easy to lose in a crowd, but his eyes were sharp enough to make people look away. A small black velvet box rested on the table before him.

“Ms. Stein, have a seat.” His voice was rough, like gravel.

Laylah sat across from him, her gaze drawn to the box. Her pulse started climbing again.

“It’s all here.” He nudged it toward her without opening it. “Just as you requested. Blue for him. Pink for you. It’ll take effect within twelve hours. The pink one boosts your chances.”

She reached for it, but his hand came down lightly on the lid.

“Where’s the money?” he asked.

Laylah pulled out a thick envelope and slid it across. He counted quickly, nodded, and lifted his hand.

“What about the side effects?” she asked, holding his gaze. “You said we’d discuss that in person.”

He took a slow sip of coffee, his eyes shadowed and unreadable in the dim light. “The blue one creates a strong dependency.

“After it wears off, there may be fatigue, some brain fog, and maybe short-term memory lapses. But don’t worry. It’s not lethal and won’t leave any lasting damage.”

“And the pink one?” Laylah pressed, her fingers already brushing the cold surface of the box.

He paused for a few seconds. “It’s a highly potent ovulation drug, mixed with traditional compounds. It forces your body into peak fertility in a short time, but it puts heavy strain on the ovaries.”

“How heavy?” Her voice tightened.

“One dose could affect your fertility for three to five years. More than once…” He met her eyes. “You risk permanent infertility. But you only need it once, don’t you, Ms. Stein?”

Laylah’s breath caught. The mention of permanent infertility sent a sharp chill through her.

But she quickly forced herself to steady. Just once. One shot. That’s all I need. If I get pregnant with Beckham’s child, if I become his wife, the rest won’t matter. Medicine’s come this far. There’s always a way’

“Anything else I should know?” she asked, her voice even again.

19:32 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 47

15 vouchers

He shook his head. “Best results within six hours. The blue pill dissolves easily and has no taste. Timing is up to you.”

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