LAYLA'S POV
For a moment, I felt like I was in one of those stress dreams, where you show up to class only to realise it's the final exam and you never even knew the class existed. Or worse, the one where you're giving a speech and suddenly realise you're in your underwear.
Except this wasn't a dream.
This was real.
And Daniel Hart was standing just a few feet away from me, his hand at the small of my sister's back like I'd never existed at all.
I couldn't tear my eyes away. Not from his smug expression, or the way Cassandra clung to his arm like she was flaunting a trophy she'd stolen.
My stomach tightened.
Then I felt it.
Axel's hand was lightly pressing against the small of my back. His fingers didn't linger, didn't grope or possess. It was just a simple, reassuring gesture, and like a switch being flipped, my brain snapped out of the fog.
Right. I was standing beside him now.
I turned to Cassandra first. Our eyes met across the crowd like drawn swords. Her glossy lips curved into something too sweet to be genuine. Then she leaned in and whispered something into Daniel's ear. They both laughed.
And I smiled.
That exact moment gave me the confidence I didn't know I needed. That laugh would be the last one they'd be sharing today.
I turned back to the reporter.
"Was I left at the altar?" I repeated, tilting my head just slightly. "Yes, I was. But then, when life gives you lemon, you make lemonade."
The reporter was stunned by my answer, but the others around him chuckled and I didn't wait for a follow-up. Axel stepped forward just then, his body subtly shielding me from the rush of questions that came afterward.
"We'll take questions after the announcement," he said firmly.
And just like that, we were moving again.
He guided me up the small set of stairs toward the stage-like platform. I glanced around as we walked, taking in the sheer scale of the setup.
The hall was full now. Not just reporters, executives in tailored suits, and delegates from high profile events were all present.
This wasn't just press. This was power on display. And it was all Axel's doing.
As soon as everyone settled down, Axel walked toward the podium. Just like that, his demeanour changed from the mysterious, aloof billionaire to looking like the king of the game. He looked calm and perfectly in control.
"I'm sure many of you are wondering why I called this meeting," he began. "While I'll address upcoming projects shortly, I'd like to first speak about something personal."
At that, the crowd hushed, and looked up in anticipation.
"I've built my empire from the ground up," he continued. "made mergers, takeovers, and expansions no one thought possible. I've broken records, made headlines, and created more jobs than I can count. Most people would say I'm the youngest billionaire in the country."
There was not a single ounce of bragging in his tone, just stating facts. Solid facts.
"But," he added with a pause, "there was one thing I had yet to conquer."
Silence fell across the hall, the anticipation building up. Everyone could sense he was about to drop something massive.
He looked at me, and a soft emotion lit up his usually emotionless gaze. Damn, this guy was good.
"Marriage."
Although I knew this was coming, my heart still skipped. I could almost hear the gasps of shock around me and the realization dawning on people quick enough to figure it out.
Someone muttered, "No way."
Axel walked over to me. Then slowly, he took my hand in his and took me to the stage.
There he announced to the crowd. "I'd like to officially announce that Layla and I are married."
And just like that, everyone lost it.
Bright flashes went off all around us, and questions flew at us like missiles from the reporters.
"How long have you been together?"
"Was this recent?"
"Wasn't she engaged…?"
"Didn't she almost marry…?"
The noise blurred into one loud, blinding storm but I kept smiling for good reasons.
I glanced past the cameras and saw my family. Somehow they'd made their way inside the hall and were standing near the far wall.
But right now, my mother's face was pale with confusion.
Daniel's expression twisted with what was obviously disbelief, then anger and finally, jealousy.
Cassandra looked like someone had just sucker-punched her in the throat.
And finally, my father, Charles Watson looked like he was seconds from having a heart attack.
I wonder if there was a black dress in my ensemble.
Seeing all that, satisfaction and a strange calm washed over me. I'd made my first move and it made its mark.
Axel squeezed my hand lightly, then spoke into the mic. "That's all for today. Thank you all for coming."
He offered me his arm and I looped mine through it without hesitation, and together, we stepped off the platform.
As we made our way toward the back exit, a reporter shouted after us. "Miss Layla! Wasn't it just a few days ago that you almost got married to someone else?"
A wicked idea slipped into my mind, and I answered.
"Axel and I have been dating for a while now."
"What?!" The reporters were stunned, taking the bait.
Axel shot me a raised brow, but I wore a smug expression. If we were going to play this game, we were going to see it to the end.
And Axel bought right into it.
"I've always been in love with Layla," Axel confessed, and this time it was my turn to look at him in surprise.
He went on, dragging out the words. "Her loyalty to Daniel Hart was admirable, even when I showed her evidence of her fiancé cheating on her with her sister."
I smiled inwardly. Cassandra was going to have a hard time showing her face in public after this.
I'd discovered that my father had controlled the entire narrative of my disastrous wedding. He had paid off reporters, silenced guests, and wiped away every shred of incriminating footage. All that remained online were empty rumors with no evidence.
As for the wedding, his official statement had been: "There has been a change. Layla wishes Cassandra and Daniel a happy married life."
What a fucking joke.
And now, I couldn't help but savor this very moment.
"Nonetheless, I wish to thank Daniel for giving me the opportunity to settle down with the woman I love. That would be all."
Axel took my hand, leading me away just as chaos exploded. The press erupted like gasoline hitting flame.
"You're saying there was an affair?"
"Did your sister really steal your fiancé?"
"I heard rumors of a baby, is Daniel Hart the father of Cassandra Watson's child?"
The guards moved in, shielding us and forcing a barrier between us and the mob. And when the reporters couldn't reach us, they shifted their frenzy, shouting, shoving, and chasing leads straight toward Daniel and Cassandra.
I didn't need to look back. I could already imagine the panic on their faces.
We made it to the entrance, and the driver rushed to open the car door. I was halfway in when a strong hand suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Layla."
The voice stopped me cold.
I turned my head, stiffening. "Dad."
He looked furious, absolutely livid. "You're a disgrace to this family," he spat. "What the hell have you done?"
I didn't get a chance to respond because Axel was there in a flash. His hand clamped down on my dad's… on Charles Watson's wrist so fast that the older man flinched.
"You'd do well," Axel whispered coldly, "to never touch my wife like that again."
My father tried to pull away, but Axel's grip only tightened.
"Or I'll forget our new family ties," Axel continued, his eyes darkening, "and teach you a lesson you'll never recover from."