She Was Never Just the Wife novel Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Chapter 66

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At the Aloft, “Ms. Stein, we’ll be heading out now,” Lina, Aetheria’s chief stylist, said with a flawless professional smile, giving a polite nod. Behind her, her assistants had already packed up the massive garment cases and tool kits.

“Thanks for all your hard work today, Lina, and everyone,” Laylah said from the doorway, offering a graceful smile. Her voice was soft and warm. She was now dressed in a light champagne silk blouse and wide-leg pants, perfectly tailored to highlight her elegant silhouette.

Lina’s gaze flicked over Laylah’s pricey new outfit and her carefully done makeup, which couldn’t quite hide a trace of tiredness. Deep down, Lina remained the picture of professionalism.

Gossip about the rich, early morning drama, the future Lucero bride, these might become watercooler talk after she left, but not a hint of it would show while she was on the job.

She smiled and nodded again. “You’re too kind. Thanks for your cooperation. Have a wonderful day.”The door closed softly, and the sound of footsteps faded down the hallway.

Laylah leaned against the closed door, her gentle smile fading like the tide, leaving only a calm surface, and beneath it, a tension she couldn’t quite shake.

She didn’t linger in the entryway. Instead, she turned and walked back to the living room, sinking into the wide, plush sofa. Her phone was right beside her. She reached out, picked it up, and unlocked the screen.

Sensational push notifications and thumbnails instantly flooded her notification bar: [Breaking! Beckham’s secret rendezvous at Aloft confirmed! Emily arrives early to take control!]

[Starlight Media Exclusive: Laylah returns with her son. After years of twists and turns, is their love finally seeing the light?]

[High-society drama kicks off! Lucero Group heir’s scandal goes viral. Emily hints at an upcoming engagement!]

Laylah’s heart clenched, and her fingers felt icy. She tapped open her favorite news app, and as soon as the page loaded, it was instantly flooded with photo-heavy reports.

All the photos were from this morning at the entrance of Aloft. There was a shot of her, shielded by Emily, looking up in panic. Another showed Beckham with a stormy expression, pushing a microphone away.

And a close-up of Emily speaking directly to the camera. The resolution was low, but every image was bursting with raw energy and explosive hints. The oversized men’s shirt she wore was especially eye-catching in every shot.

The comments section was already a boiling sea of envy, mockery, speculation, and insults. People relentlessly linked her name to the Lucero family, calling her scheming, social-climbing, and willing to use her son as leverage. The crowd kept chewing over it, again and again.

A strange, heady thrill washed over Laylah. Her name and the spot she’d been fighting to claim were suddenly thrown together in the spotlight, in a way she never saw coming.

19:38 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 66

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It was like some secret undercurrent suddenly bursting out into the open, exposed for everyone to see. But right on its heels came a cold wave of fear. The way everything was blowing up was totally out of her hands.

What would Beckham think? What would the Lucero family do? The mysterious man’s warning still echoed in her mind, ‘He’s digging into it, very carefully.’ Was all this media frenzy going to lift her, or set her world on fire?

Her phone buzzed in her palm, the familiar ringtone. It was her mother, Monica. Laylah steadied herself, answered the call, and softened her voice. “Mom?”

“Laylah!” Monica’s voice shot through the phone, urgent, anxious, and a bit incredulous, but with a hint of excitement she couldn’t quite hide. “Where are you right now? What’s going on with all that news?

“You and Beckham… Did they really catch you on camera? And Emily said something about an engagement? How did things get so crazy?”

Monica fired off question after question, and Laylah could practically picture the look on her mom’s face right now. “Mom, take it easy,” Laylah replied, her tone weary and a little hurt. “I only saw the news myself. This… really caught me off guard.”

“Caught off guard?” Monica clearly wasn’t buying it. “The photos are all over the place, clear as day! And they recorded what Emily said! Be straight with me. Did someone set you up?

“Is this aimed at you, or at Beckham? Or… is there something you’re not telling me?” She lowered her voice, probing.

Laylah’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly denied it. “Mom! What are you talking about? How could I possibly… Beckham was drunk last night. I only brought him home to take care of him.

“I had no idea Emily would suddenly show up, and I definitely didn’t expect a swarm of reporters outside… Honestly, I’m still totally lost here!” Her voice was laced with panic, embarrassment, and a shaky, helpless edge.

Monica was silent for a few seconds, probably sizing up the situation. Then her tone softened, but the scheming undertone got stronger. “Alright, alright, I’m not blaming you. It’s all so sudden.”

She switched gears, her excitement bubbling over. “But, maybe this is actually a blessing in disguise! With all this drama, the Lucero family will have to make things right for you, for their reputation, and for Ricardo!

“Emily said it out loud, the engagement… Laylah, looks like the title of Lucero’s bride might really land in your lap this time!”

Hearing her mother’s barely concealed excitement, treating her and this whole scandal as nothing more than bargaining chips and ladders, Laylah felt a wave of revulsion, like a splash of cold, filthy water. Her stomach twisted.

‘Here we go again, always the same. To my parents, my sister and I are commodities, tools to prop up family name and claw our way higher.

the

After Aiyana fell from grace, all the expectations and pressure were piled onto me, the sensible and valuable daughter, thought Laylah.

ச 19:38 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 66

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“Mom, Laylah managed to say, trying to dampen her mother’s enthusiasm. “It’s really not as simple as you think. Beckham… He doesn’t seem happy about any of this. And the Lucero family might have their own agenda.”

“He’s not happy?” Monica scoffed. “So what? The whole world knows now. What can he do about it? For a family like the Lucero family, reputation is everything! And you’ve got Ricardo. That’s your biggest leverage!

“Laylah, don’t mess this up. Don’t back down now! The public’s on your side, and the Lucero family is under a ton of pressure! Keep playing the victim, the lovesick one, and wait for them to come begging you!”

Monica got more and more worked up, as if she could already see her daughter walking down the aisle in a grand wedding. “Don’t worry, the family’s got your back!

“If you need anything, say the word! Your sister… well, we can’t count on her anymore. The whole Stein family is counting on you now! Don’t let this opportunity slip by!”

“Yeah… I know, Mom,” Laylah replied, her voice dry and strained as she forced the words out. ‘Support? Yeah right. All they care about is getting the biggest return on their investment.

‘The whole family’s counting on me? That so-called expectation feels like another set of invisible shackles, weighing me down no matter how fancy my new clothes are, Laylah thought bitterly.

After hanging up, Laylah sat on the sofa for what felt like ages, watching the last rays of sunset slip through the curtains and stretch long, faded streaks across the carpet.

The silk blouse still felt smooth against her skin, but instead of warmth, it was another layer, an elegant shell that cut her off from the raw disgust and fear twisting inside her.

‘I can’t stay here any longer, Laylah told herself. She grabbed her handbag and car keys, determined to leave. As she reached the entryway, her phone rang again. It was Beckham.

Laylah took a deep breath, steadied herself, and swiped to answer, her voice gentle and a little nervous. “Beckham?”

“Where are you?” Beckham’s voice was lower and rougher than usual, heavy with fatigue and something he was holding back.

“I… I’m still at Aloft,” Laylah answered in a soft, cautious voice. “Beckham, you saw the news too, right? How did this happen? Those reporters…” She sounded lost, uneasy, and genuinely worried about him.

There was a short pause on the line. “I saw it. I’ll take care of it. Stay out of it.”

His calm made Laylah’s heart clench. “But… is this going to be a big problem for you and Lucero Group? I… I’m so sorry about all this.”

“I said, stay out of it.” Beckham cut her off, his voice icy and clipped. “Take a few days to rest. Don’t come in to work.”

‘Don’t come in to work. Laylah’s heart sank. ‘Is he trying to keep me away for now?’

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