Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
While her new therapist wouldn’t give me any information from their sessions, I could see the results for myself. Layla was finally rising above her past, and I couldn’t be happier. She worked so hard to overcome her mental demons, and her self-image was one of the hardest hurdles for her to get past. Despite everything I said and did, I knew deep down she still believed she was the definition of ugly. That her birthmark made her a monster. For her to show Joy and Hannah…
“She really talked to you without her makeup on?”
“Yep.” Hannah gave me a significant look. “She even wore her hair back in a ponytail.”
“No shit.” I sat back, a little stunned.
Usually, Layla used a filter on her video camera that made the birthmark disappear. In the online world—hell, even in the real world—very few people knew about the purplish red stain that covered half her face. This was a big deal for Layla, a huge step in her struggle to love who she was. It took her two years to finally feel safe enough to show me her birthmark without any makeup masking her face.
I had to admit, the first time I saw it fully, I was shocked, but I think I managed to hide my surprise. It had taken an enormous amount of strength and trust for Layla to show me her true self. When she was a teenager, she’d been bullied ruthlessly about how she looked for the one semester she’d attended a public high school. She’d hidden the bullying from her parents, afraid she’d disappoint them. After all, she’d been the one who begged to attend a public high school in her quest to be ‘more normal.’ Her parents had been against it, but she’d insisted and, in an effort to give her a feeling of control over her life, they relented.
Layla never went into detail, but I knew the bullying had been bad.
Bad enough that, if she’d given me some names, there would be a few less bitches and dickbags polluting the earth with their presence.
Hannah released a watery sigh, her gaze focused on the windows. “It took Layla a great deal of courage to show us. I swear, that woman has no idea how unbelievably gorgeous she is. But she thinks you’re secretly disgusted by how she looks. That you won’t go out with her in public because you’re embarrassed to be seen with her.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not embarrassed to be seen with her. Why would she even think that?”
“Because you totally said as much?”
“What the fuck are you talking about? I would never say that to her.”
“Layla thinks the reason you keep ditching her is because she’s not good enough for you. She thinks she’s too ugly to ever hope to catch the eye of ‘a guy as great as Mark.’” Hannah gave me a dismissive look that let me know she didn’t agree with Layla’s opinion. “And when you gave her that ‘we’re just friends’ crock of shit…well, I’m sure you can figure out why she thinks you’re ashamed of her.”
Frustrated, I grasped a handful of my hair, gritting my teeth as I hit a sore spot on my scalp that Leo had bashed into the floor during our scuffle. “You know that’s not how I feel.”
Her mouth softened, the lines around the corners of her eyes disappearing. “I do know, Mark. And I know you need her just as much as she needs you, but you’re really messing things up for yourself. You could be so happy together if you just stop being stupid and gave things a chance.”
For one brief moment, I allowed myself to think about giving in, to be the selfish fuck I was instead of the good man I’d once been.
But I couldn’t.
I just fucking couldn’t do that to Layla.
I loved her too much to put her in harm’s way.
The thought of living through losing another woman I loved was enough to break me.
Shaking my head, I looked away while Leo finished cleaning the blood off his knuckles. “I can’t.”
“Well then, you should have no problem when Layla starts dating whatever lucky guy ends up capturing her heart at the charity ball. Mrs. Cordova says there will be plenty of great guys just dying for a chance to win Layla’s regard.”
“Hannah…” I tried to keep the bite out of my voice as I gripped the bloodied tissue in my fist. “Please tell me Mrs. Cordova isn’t playing matchmaker.”
“She’s not,” Hannah assured me with a small smirk. “At least, not with you. She’s decided you’re unworthy of Layla. That you don’t deserve her regard, and it’s best for you both to move on.”
“What?!” I roared as Leo jumped up from the couch, putting himself in my face.
“Do not yell at my wife,” he snarled, the inner psycho he kept barely leashed staring at me.