Chapter 154 -
Huxley let out a laugh and said, "You want to leave the moment I arrive, Layla? You don't want to see me that badly? I was planning to share a drink with Asher. That being said, if you two are in the middle of something, I'll do it next time." With that, Huxley was about to leave. "Huxley, you're my cousin too. You're thinking too much. I always have time for you, but it's getting late." Layla smiled. In the past, Layla thought that Huxley was someone alright. He was someone humble and did not carry an air of superiority around him despite being a scion. However, it seemed that her impressions of him had changed lately. She felt that Huxley was somewhat... pretentious and fake.
Asher then said with a smile, "You came just in time, Huxley. I bought two bottles of wine a few days ago. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare something for us while we share a drink. Why not stay here for the night, Layla? The three of us can have a chat."
After what Huxley had said just now, she could not leave even if she wanted to. As such, Layla nodded with a smile and said, "Then, you two should chat for now. I'll go to the kitchen to see if there's anything to eat."
Rose had already warned Asher, but he was still completely unguarded toward Huxley. They were cousins in the end, and Asher did not want what happened between him and Griffin to happen between him and Huxley. That would simply create an opening for their enemies to take advantage of.
After a short while, Layla came back with a tray of dishes. Asher also took out the bottle of wine that he did not finish last time from his room. After sitting down, they drank and chatted. Layla was worried that it would affect her work performance the next day, so she had tea instead. After they had eaten and drunk, Huxley then said with a shameful smile, "To be honest with you, Asher. I've always been doubtful of your abilities. After what happened with the Gentlemen, I believe that you do have the ability to become the household's next patriarch. I'm truly impressed this time."
When he said that, Huxley took the wine bottle over and sneaked the pill in without anyone noticing. He did not pour a drink for Asher immediately though. Instead, he said, "You have to drink three glasses just for this."
When Layla saw that the two of them had drunk quite a lot, she then said, "Huxley, don't drink too much. It's getting late. If you want to drink, find some other time."
"Are you worried that Asher's going to get drunk? You know how much he can drink. This is nothing to him," Huxley said.
"I'm more worried about you. You're the leader of a company... You're busier than all of us," Layla said.
Huxley then said with a smile, "It's fine even if I don't go to the company tomorrow. Asher, it's up to you if you'd like to drink."
Asher had never had a chance to drink a glass of wine that Huxley had personally poured for him. As he was quite happy as well, he then said with a smile, "I'll drink it, of course!" With that, he downed the glass of wine in one gulp.
"Asher can handle his drinks. You don't have to worry." Huxley filled up Asher's wineglass again as he held the bottle up.
Layla could see that Huxley was obviously trying to make Asher drunk. However, Asher was still thinking about how good their relationship was. In a fit of anger, Layla grabbed Asher's wineglass and said, "He can handle his drinks? I can see that he's already drunk. I'll drink on his behalf."
When Huxley heard what she had to say, his hands shuddered, and he almost dropped the wine bottle onto the table. He wanted to stop Layla, but it was already too late.
He could only watch as Layla finished up Asher's drink, and a layer of sweat covered his palm. Even his legs were shaking.
Huxley's plan was to drug Asher and then find a chance to leave. Once the drugs had taken over and Asher was losing his mind, he would suddenly appear and save Layla when Asher was about to take advantage of her.
However, Huxley did not expect Layla to drink on Asher's behalf.
What am I supposed to do now?!
Even Huxley was in a panic.
"You still have to work tomorrow, so stop drinking. Give me the glass," Asher said with a frown. However, Layla ignored him. Instead, she said to Huxley, "I'll drink all three glasses that were meant for him. Pour it."
"Layla, this is between the two of us. Why did you jump in like that? Well, since you're worried that he'll get drunk, I suppose we should stop here." Huxley immediately left after saying so, pretending to be slighted.
"Huxley." Asher wanted to make Huxley stay, but he left without even turning back.
Once he had left Asher's room, Huxley wiped the sweat on his forehead. He then quietly sneaked around outside to spy on what was going on inside through the window.
Asher knew that Huxley was slightly angry. She then glanced at Layla and said, "Huxley poured that glass of wine for me. You shouldn't have drunk it."
"Are you an idiot, Asher? He's obviously trying to get you drunk. You can't see through something so obvious?" Layla asked.
"Impossible. You really think too much. He has no reason to get me drunk," Asher said with a frown.
Layla glared at Asher as she puffed. "Fine, I'm simply being a busybody. I was just trying to help you with the drinks. I don't have time for this." With that, Layla was ready to leave the room. However, Layla could suddenly feel her body getting warmer and warmer, as if insects were crawling all over her. It was so itchy that she could not handle it. Very quickly, Layla's face became red as she felt her strength leaving her body. In short, she was getting enamored. Despite Layla's best effort to control herself, she could not control her body. She could not help but tug at her clothes as she looked at Asher with dreamy eyes. "So... So hot..."
Asher was stunned by Layla's facial expression. Her face was red and her eyes were losing focus. Sweat began to form on her forehead as well. Asher asked with a frown, "Are you really that bad at drinking?"
Asher's first reaction was that Layla was drunk. Well, he had rarely seen Layla drink to be honest. Layla could feel her consciousness becoming more and more blurry as the drugs were taking effect. She could feel the emptiness within her. She wanted to have it badly.
When Huxley saw what was happening when he was spying, he was so shocked that his face was covered in sweat. His mind was in overdrive when he suddenly came up with a plan. He quickly went over to Amber's place.
It was nearly ten. Amber was just about to go to bed when she suddenly heard Huxley knocking on her door. "Amber. Come out, quick. I have something to tell you."
When Amber heard the urgency in Huxley's tone, she quickly opened the door and asked, "What is it?"
Huxley pretended to be very ill. He was even drenched in sweat as his face was unnaturally red. He said, "Amber, I think I've been drugged. I was drinking with Asher just now and I ended up like this after I was done drinking. Layla's still in Asher's room. Go and take a look now and see if they're alright. Now."
Now that Layla had drunk the wine, Huxley had to change his plans. He had to pretend that he had been drugged. Only then would Asher become the suspect.
When Amber heard him, she quickly ran toward Asher's room. When she got there, she was so appalled by what she saw that she almost went into shock. She saw Layla approach Asher with her clothes in a complete mess. She cried out in disbelief, "Asher! Layla! What are you doing?!" Even though Amber was just a highschooler, she had an inkling about what was going on. She had never dreamt that Asher and Layla had that kind of relationship. Even though she was shocked, she quickly regained her composure and yelled at them, "Are you two crazy?! You can't do this!"
Asher was also quite confused. He was not sure what came over Layla. He then said, "Amber, get her out of here! She's gone mad!"
In truth, Layla could hear the conversation between Amber and Asher. However, she had completely lost control of herself. Driven by the emptiness she felt, she only wanted to get closer to Asher.
The ruckus in the middle of the night instantly drew the attention of Marguerite as well as Luke and his wife. They thought that Asher was in trouble again and quickly made their way there. When Luke saw what was happening, they were in quite the shock. They quickly said, "Marguerite, get Layla out of here!"
After a moment of hesitation, she then dragged Layla and Amber out of the room.
At this time, Solomon, Liam and his wife had also arrived. Solomon could instantly tell that Layla
had been drugged, and his face instantly darkened. He then asked in a serious tone, "Asher, what's going on here?!"
Asher then said with his brows tightened, "I'm not sure too, Grandpa. It's like she suddenly transformed into another person."
Huxley's mother raised an eyebrow and then said, "Dad, it's obvious that Layla has been drugged. If the Knights find out about this, how are we supposed to explain this to them?" She was already quite angry at Asher, and if possible, she wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible and have Huxley inherit the Crawfords. She would not let such a good opportunity slip away.
"Drugs?!" Asher furiously retorted, "Are you saying that I'm the one who drugged her?! She's my cousin! I would never do something as inhumane as that!"