My blessing

With crossed arms and a defiant look in her eyes, Laila had waited for Noah to finish saying what he was saying, since it was clear that he wasn't going to let her interrupt. So, when it appeared the end had come, she asked, "Are you done now?" But before Noah could answer, Laila answered her own question for him. "Good. That is a lovely scenario you have created there but that won't happen. Why do you have to assume the worst? Yes, he has made plenty of mistakes. No one will deny that. He is a flawed human being, and he is certainly not someone I can consider a good partner, but that does not mean he can't at least become a good friend. I talked to him about what a friendship with me would mean, almost immediately after I offered him the chance of a friendship between us. I told him clearly that being friends with me will mean having you in his life as well and that I won't accept our friendship causing trouble in my marriage with you. So, why would he accept the friendship for those ulterior motives, knowing that it will make him lose it all. Besides, if he really wanted another opportunity to be a couple with me, why was he initially willing to walk away from me altogether because of what Maria and I had done?"

Noah scoffed. "Don't be so naïve! Do you really think that he meant it when he was 'walking away'? The moment you would tell him there was still a chance, he would have come running back. But then again, why do I even bother saying this. You know just as well as I do, that you have always been weak to Jake's words. He has had a way about him since we were teenagers, that made you forgive so many shitty things for years, so why wouldn't it have the same effect this time around? If he hadn't messed up back then, who knows how long before you would have reached a breaking point. Heck, you already proved just how long you can continue to be blind to his flaws in your previous life, didn't you? Since you ended up marrying him despite him messing up and my guess is, that if you hadn't accidentally ended up in this timeline, he would have found a way to get you back in that life as well."

Laila's eyes had turned red. She was feeling so angry and so upset. She said, "That is so mean. It is so uncalled for you to say things like that to me. For you to bring my previous life into this, when it has nothing to do with our current situation, is a low blow. All I asked is for you to be open to me being friends with him. If you trusted me, you wouldn't react this way. Or will you use your past insecurities as a reason to dislike Jake forever? Because in case you haven't noticed, I am married to you in this life, and I am carrying your child. Not his. So, if those things have changed, there is no reason to believe that nothing else could have changed. Including Jake."

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, just because you might hope for your 'friendship' with Jake to resemble what you have with Maria, it doesn't mean that this is what will happen. In fact, I have a strong feeling it will resemble what you had with Olivia more. The big difference between Jake and Maria, is that while although Maria loves you a great deal, it isn't a romantic love. The same can't be said about Jake. Nor is he someone who has proven himself to be trustworthy. You have told me what Jake did to you in your past life. Even if I don't take that into account, he did the same to Suzy in this life. If that isn't enough of a reason to distrust him, like the vulture he is, he swooped down the moment the thought he could push me out of the picture. So, forgive me when I don't immediately jump of joy at the thought of inviting a man like that in our family home. Having a snake like him nearby, lurking, waiting for his chance to pounce at any sign of weakness, is not something I am comfortable with. But you are your own person. I can't forbid you to do anything. If I did that, I would be no better than him back in the day. But if what you are looking for is my blessing, that I can't give you."

After saying that, Noah lifted up both of Maria's suitcases and proceeded to walk out the room, leaving Laila feeling defeated and upset.