What Separates Me and You

"It's regarding work. We won't be going in the same direction." Lewis leaned against the car and lit a cigarette.

Upon hearing that, Nancy didn't think much of it and left in another car.

Lewis smoked in the parking lot until the other cars had left and he was the only one there.

He hurled the cigarette butt on the ground and put it out with his foot. Opening the car door, he was about to leave when someone called him from behind.

Lewis paused and looked back to see Layla behind him, furious. Turning, he put his hands into his pocket and casually leaned against the car. "Mrs. Saunders, how can I help you?"

Layla took two long strides and stood before him, fixing her stare on him. "What the hell did you do? Why did Derek leave the country?"

Lewis laughed. "What has that got to do with me?"

"Stop pretending. Why would Derek give up so easily if not for you? I don't understand. Lily already has her own family. Was she such an eyesore to the Alvarez family that you had to drive her to her death?" Layla asked through gritted teeth. She was furious and full of hatred. She wanted to avenge her daughter's predicament but was at the end of her rope. No one sided with her.

Oh, how resentful she was!

Lewis studied her subtly. He only spoke moments later, "Why don't you bring that question to my father?"

Layla's face changed. "What did you say?"

"Haven't you wondered why he never intervened in this matter?"

Layla was visibly more upset at his words. "Why? What other reasons could there be? They were both his daughters-no, he never saw Lily as his daughter," said Layla as she laughed self-depreciatingly. "You people are the only ones he sees as his family. I saw right through Robert Alvarez since long before."

Lewis said, "Daphne grew up pampered and never had to slaughter a chicken since young. Do you think she would have the guts to do this if no one was there to back her up?"

Layla kept quiet, but Lewis' words fanned the sparks of rage in her.

Regardless of Robert's role in this matter, it was a fact that he had never voiced out.

He should've spoken up for his daughter, who died in vain, even if he was only putting on an act. But, no, he didn't even bother to pretend that he cared.

That showed what Robert thought of Lily-she was a nobody to him. It was a tragedy for Lily to have a father like him!

Daphne deserved to rot in hell, and Robert more so. Everyone in the Alvarez family deserved the worst punishment they could think of!

Lewis gave her a meaningful glance and said, "Take my advice and end it here. My father won't be happy with you if you continue making a fuss."

Layla's temper erupted, and she increased her tone. "He won't be happy? Who gives him the right to be unhappy? He turned a blind eye to Lily's death. Does he want me, her mother, to do the same to her too? Lily would have no one left to avenge her!"

"Even so, what can you do? At this stage, your efforts will all go down the drain. Just be careful not to do something at the expense of yourself."

"So what if I do?" said Layla, her eyes reddening. "My poor daughter. What's the meaning of my life if I can't even avenge her?"

"Then I wish you the best of luck, Mrs. Saunders," said Lewis breezily. He opened the car door, got in, and drove off.

Alone, Layla didn't budge an inch as she watched Lewis' car drive off. She looked weary and older than her age. She even had a hunched posture. That showed how impactful Lily's death was to her as a mother.

She clenched her fists, and her nails dug into her flesh, drawing blood.

A while later, she inhaled deeply, seemingly having come to a decision as she suppressed her emotions. She pulled out her phone and phoned Robert.

Robert wasn't so cold-hearted to the extent of refusing to answer her call. He picked it up after several seconds. "Hello?"

Layla's fingers trembled as she grasped the phone. Her heart ached at Robert's calm voice as she found her daughter's death unfair.

With all her effort, she tried to sound calm. "The verdict's out. Do you know that?"

Robert was silent briefly before he said, "I know. My condolences on your loss."

Layla burst out in laughter, which then turned into a sob. "Robert, that's your daughter too. How can you be so calm?"

"Then what do you want me to do? Will you only be satisfied if I bawl my eyes out at her grave? Or should I kill myself now to keep her company?" asked Robert cruelly and with a hint of fury. But he quickly kept his emotions in check and advised Layla with concern, "Layla, you can't wake up the dead no matter how grievous you are, but we who are alive must continue with our lives. Do you agree with me?" Hear, hear! What high-sounding, unsympathetic words!

"Yes, you're right." Although tears streamed down Layla's face, she kept her tone steady. "I lost everything. I lost my daughter. Robert, what should I do?"

Layla was once in a marriage of convenience with Robert. Those days, her parents were still alive, and she had a home. Now, her parents had passed away; her brother inherited the family wealth and grew distant from her after he had his own family. What was more, he eyed the shares she held. Layla had gone to her brother for help regarding this incident, but his response was perfunctory. In the end, the burden was all for her to bear.

She really had nothing left now.

Robert sighed. "I'll give you some money. Live on as you should. Life is short and bitter, and you shouldn't waste your remaining time on the deceased."

Layla almost crushed her phone with her bare hands listening to him. She withstood the urge to murder and asked calmly, "I want to meet you. Can you keep me company?"

There was another round of silence from Robert's end, but he eventually agreed. "Send me your location."

"Okay." Layla hung up. She couldn't contain her hatred anymore. It showed on her face, and her expression soon turned murderous.

Since the law failed to avenge her daughter, she would take things into her own hands!

Robert was unaware of that. He drove to the location Layla sent him. He didn't know what lay in store for him.

Layla sent him the address of a remote area. It was an old neighborhood comprised mainly of mansions.

Robert scanned these old mansions from inside the car and let out an exclamation. Many years back, he used to live here with Layla.

They had lived a blissful life as a family of three.

It was such a pity that Layla suffered an injury when she gave birth to Lily and could no longer conceive. Otherwise, they wouldn't have divorced.

If only Layla could've borne him a son, Lewis wouldn't even exist.

Robert shook his head and sighed at that thought as he got out of the car. He walked toward a mansion that had its door ajar. He stood at the doorway, pondering for several moments before he stepped inside He was a sentimental person, indeed. At that moment, all he thought of was how he was to face Layla, whom he had parted ways with long ago.