Chapter 18: Cornered and Alone

*Layla*

It didn’t take long for me to become used to being on Dante’s arm, but I never got used to how close I always seemed to be to Nicolo and his penetrating suspicions. At a business dinner with some of Dante's associates, I found myself seated next to him, his presence looming and intimidating.

As the conversation turned to my background, I saw my opportunity to drop a carefully crafted hint. "You know, I never thought I'd end up in a place like this," I said wistfully. "After my father died, my mother struggled to make ends meet. And she wasn’t always able to be there for me. But I was determined to make something of myself, to build a better life."

Nicolo's eyes narrowed, his gaze boring into me. "Is that so?" he asked, his tone skeptical. "And how exactly did you manage that?"

I met his gaze, my own unwavering. "My father left enough money for a good education. And then I put in a lot of hard work and determination. It wasn't easy, but I never gave up."