CHAPTER 20: A LATE APOLOGY

~LAYLA~

Axel’s firm hand wrapped around mine as he pulled me up from the floor, holding me as if I were fragile.

I staggered to my feet, leaning slightly against him. In that position, I could feel the anger in him. He was practically vibrating, and the hall could feel it as well judging from the way everyone quieted down. Still, he looked calm.

His eyes swept across every face in the hall: my parents, Cassandra, Daniel, the reporters, and the guests before he spoke. "Who," Axel asked slowly, "was responsible for hurting my wife?"

No one said a word. The whole place was so quiet you’d think it was a burial ground. Of course, Axel was here, and suddenly, no one could develop a spine.

Charles was the first to speak up. He straightened his posture, held his chin high, and didn’t look intimidated at all. "I am. I am her father, and I have every right to reprimand my daughter when she brings shame to this family. She only got what she deserved."

My breath hitched, and I dug my nails into my palms.

Axel’s head tilted a little, maintaining a hard-to-read expression. "Interesting," he said coldly. "You think slapping your daughter in front of a room full of people is discipline?"

"She needed it," Charles snapped. His hand gestured toward me like I was filth again. "She has always been reckless. And her mother..." He turned to his wife with contempt. "This is on you, too. You coddled her, made her too gentle and indulgent. You created this shame."

Axel’s eyes narrowed. "No. What you created was a pattern. You need to learn how to treat women."

He gently placed his hand on my arm to steady me and leaned in a bit closer. In a soft voice, he asked, "Are you okay?"

My throat was raw, but I managed a small nod.

Before I could say anything else, Cassandra stepped forward with her fake concern painted across her face. "Axel," she said sweetly, "I know it must be hard knowing your wife is cheating on you already barely after a few weeks of marriage. I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling."

My heart dropped and my eyes darted to Axel, wondering what he’d say.

But his face gave nothing away. He didn’t even look at me.

Instead, he turned to Cassandra. "And what gave you that idea?" he asked in a sharp voice.

She gestured with mock innocence toward the massive screen behind her. The damning images still burned brightly for everyone to see.

"That," she said simply.

Axel turned and glanced over his shoulder for a brief moment. "They’re fake," he said flatly.

The room gasped.

Daniel laughed. "Fake? Come on, man. You can’t be serious." He walked closer with an arrogant grin on his face. "I get it, though. Denial is easier, but trust me, I know. I was with her, too, remember? A leopard never changes its spots."

He clapped Axel on the shoulder like they were friends. "And the truth is you’ll never satisfy her. Not the way she needs... "

Daniel was still talking when Axel struck him in the face so hard that the sound echoed throughout the hall.

It seemed like something out of a movie but Daniel flew backwards, crashing to the ground with a curse, clutching his nose as blood spilled down his mouth and chin.

The crowd let out startled gasps. They had not seen that coming at all.

Axel spoke in a low, threatening voice. "Say another word, and I’ll end you."

Daniel groaned, trying to sit up, blood dripping down his shirt.

Axel didn’t spare him another glance. He turned instead to Charles.

Charles sneered. "You should be thanking us. We’re helping you punish your unfaithful wife."

"Punishing who? My innocent wife?"

"She’s not innocent," Charles spat.

"Innocent or not, you had no right to lay a hand on my wife!" Axel said to my father. "I warned you last time, didn’t I?"

Meanwhile, I leaned weakly against the wall. My leg hurt badly, and my heart was pounding to the point I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

I shouldn’t have come here, but I didn’t want to appear scared of Cassandra. Who knew she could go this far? I didn’t realize how desperate my sister could be until now.

My voice was a bit shaky as I reached for Axel’s sleeve. "Please, let’s just go."

But he didn’t move, his gaze locked on Charles. Then he lifted one hand in a gesture. Suddenly, the doors at the back of the hall opened, and two police officers stepped in, dragging a man between them.

My breath caught when I saw who it was.

It was him, the man from the club.

I didn’t know whether to be relieved or scared. "Axel, what’s going on?" I asked, unsure of his plans.

He leaned just enough for me to hear, his lips brushing my ear. "I’m clearing your name."

Reporters rushed forward, their cameras flashing wildly. Guests murmured among themselves, taken aback by what was happening.

I looked back toward Cassandra. For the first time today, she looked unsettled. Her face had paled, and her nails were digging into her palm.

"What is this?" she demanded, her voice trembling slightly.

Axel’s expression was almost amused. "Why? Don’t you recognise this man?"

Cass blinked, pretending to be confused. "Why would I?"

Axel motioned to the screen behind us, where the images were still displayed. "Because he’s in those photos."

She let out a nervous laugh. "Why would you bring him here? What’s the point of this circus?"

The smirk that curled Axel’s lips chilled even me.

"The point," he said in a rising voice, "is that my wife deserves an apology.from every single one of you, and I’m going to get it one way or another."

The crowd stirred. Axel doesn’t make empty threats after all.

He turned his gaze on the man. "Tell them what happened that night."

The man’s eyes darted around the room. When they landed on me, I could see the guilt in them.

He swallowed. "She’s telling the truth. I-I... I assaulted her that night."

Gasps reverberated across the room, while Cassandra’s hand clenched into a fist.

Axel’s voice was colder than ice. "Why?"

The man’s adam’s apple bobbed. He looked around the room, his eyes moving nervously, before finally blurting, "I don’t know her. I’d never met her before. I was paid to approach her, touch her and make it look real. But I was drunk..so... things got a bit out of hand."

My breath caught.

I turned to Cassandra, and I could see the colour had completely left her face.

"You..." I started, but Axel’s voice won over mine.

"Paid by who?"

The man’s gaze pinned Cassandra on the spot, and though he didn’t say a word, every eye in the room shifted toward my sister.

Cassandra’s lips parted, her gaze snapping wildly from side to side. "This is ridiculous! Lies! Why would I...?"

But her trembling voice gave her away.

Axel let the silence stretch, a cruel smirk tugging at his lips. "I don’t believe in second chances," he said finally, nodding to the officers. "Get them out of my sight."

They dragged the man away as murmurs rippled louder through the room. Unlike him, who went quietly, Cassandra kicked up a fuss.

"Don’t you dare put a hand on me! Do you know who I am?! Where’s the warrant for this arrest?!"

Two policemen grabbed her by the arms and lifted her clean off the ground while she kicked the air furiously.

"You bitch, Layla!" she screamed as they dragged her. "You’ll pay for this! Do you think I don’t know you’re trying to ruin me? Your schemes won’t work!"

Then her bravado cracked, and she cried out, desperate. "Daniel, help me!"

"I’m coming, my love!" Daniel declared, rushing after her dramatically.

The spectacle was enough to sway public opinion in an instant.

"God, look at Cassandra, she looks vicious," one guest whispered loudly, making sure everyone heard.

Another muttered, "If Layla was innocent all along, then her family owes her an apology."

And speaking of family, my once-loud father now stood quietly, suddenly demure.

"My son," He said with a sweet tone. "This shouldn’t have come to this, after all, families fight all the time. We were only concerned for her."

Axel’s voice dropped to a tone so dangerous it made even me shiver. "You were concerned, really? Tell me then, does concern look like defamation? Does concern look like assault, because the last I checked, both are punishable by law, and I am pressing charges against you all."

My mother groaned, "W-we didn’t mean it! In fact, we’re sorry. You’d say we owe you, no, your wife an apology, right?"

She turned to me. "I’m sorry, Layla. Please accept it."

But Axel chuckled wickedly. "I’m afraid it’s a little too late for that. You should try harder next time."

Then he turned back to me, and his eyes softened just slightly, only for me. In one fluid motion, he bent down and lifted me into his arms, bridal-style.

Everyone gasped in surprise at the sight while I held tightly onto him, burying my face into his chest. He was safe and strong, my anchor. And did I forget to mention, he smelled good.

At this point, cameras were beginning to flash like lightning even as Axel leaned in and kissed me in one of the most possessive ways possible.

My heart skipped a beat, maybe two, or three? I honestly had no idea. But almost as quickly as the kiss started, Axel pulled back. "It’s time to go home, love."