Chapter 18
Walliams frowned, clearly puzzled. “Yeah, and this house is perfect in terms of location and surroundings. Honestly, if someone wanted to buy it now they wouldn’t even be able to get it”
Adrian knew all of thes, of course. He had carefully chosen this villa to give is the perfect home. Bat realizing that he was thinking about Isis again, Adrian condena help but frown
He sighed and said, “Dad, Mom, I get it, this house is great, but the problem is, it’s not livable right now. Layla and 1 are in a rush to get married, and not having a place to live isn’t ideal.
bouncing around like this”
“Maybe we should sell it, buy a renovated place, and move in quickly so we don’t keep bouncing around
His reasoning sounded sensible, like he was thinking about the family, ba Zor completely disagreed. She started. “What do your knee? Silly boy! Layla’s just playing you!”
“That house is your pre–marriage property, she continued. “Now that you to are married, any new house you buy will be joint property. In other words, the house that should belong to us could end up with her half of al
Adrian frowned “Mom, that’s not inurl Layla’s not like that
Silly boy, why are you so blind” Zor felt Adrian was completely dupeil, and she couldn’t hold back her frustration.
“Anyway, I don’t agree with selling the house. We’ll get is renovated quickly, and in the meantime, we can rent somewhere as a temporary place, Just tell Layla if she doesn’t agree, it means she doesn’t truly love you,” she said.
Zoe felt unfairly treated. After all, when bis married imo the family, Isis’d used her own money to help them out. Now she thought, Layla comes along and expects us to hand over money? It is not happening!
Unable to convince Zoe, Adrian turned to William. He thought, Surely, as the head of the company, William would have a more rational perspective, right?”
After a moment
a moment of thought, William spoke slowly. “Adrian, have you and Layla talked about the engagement gift
Adrian was taken aback, thinking, “Aren’t we discussing the house! Why is him suddenly bringing up the engagement gir
He sighed. “No, Dad. Layla and I truly love each other. The engagement gift doesn’t matter.
William’s face hardened. “How can it not matter?
ert Marriage is a serious commitment, and these things are important!
“Even though this is your second marriage, we still need to make it a big deal. At the very least, we can’t let it go by quietly like Isis’s wedding did
As he heard Isis’s name again. Adrian’s patience wore thin. “We’re divorced. Can we please stop talking about Isish
“And besides, Layla never asked me for money, so I won’t ask her for anything. Let’s just drop it. We’ve already got enough on our plates with everything going on in the family”
Wilham and Zoe exchanged a look, and then William spoke up again, “Well, if that’s the case, then it makes sense. Let’s go back to the house discussion
Clearing his throat, William added, “Here’s what I think since we’ve already provided the house, it seems only fair that the bride’s side should cover the costs for renovations and furnishings, don’t you think?”
Zor nodded vigorously. “Yes, exactly! That’s how it should be
Adrian was taken aback. “But how can we do that? Mom, Dad, we can’t ask Layla for money”
“Why not?” Zor shot back immediately. “Look at other families–this is just the way things are! Go ask around the whole Sans City, and you’ll see that in every marriage, both the groom’s and bride’s families chip in for the wedding house
“If the groom’s side covers it all while the bride’s family contributes nothing isn’t that basically selling their daughter!”
Heaning William and Zue argue so confidently, Adrian was momentarily unsure. But the idea of bringing it up with Layla made him uncomforuble. He wasn’t sure how to even start that convention.
He realized he was stuck in a dilemma–Layla wanted one thing, and his parents wanted something else. He wondered. What am I supposed to do?
Adrian couldn’t understand why his life back in the country wasn’t turning out as he’d imagined. He thought that with the family’s wealth now, he and Layla could pursue their dreams together, balancing love and career–creating a perfect life.
things were a complete men. He didatroon have a proper home and was staying at hotels every day.
uld probably ack about the homme agati, md he wasn’t in the noood in deal
alt. He thought, “Maybe I should just take
ala waining for Addin to temom, decided
hins herself. But when she got to his room, she found out he had already left.
As she turned is lewer, Adour’s litle sister, Alice, walked in after school. She towed her backpack onto the floor and bourdiately started complaining
“Mo” When are we going home! Don’t you know? Everyone at school is talking about how terrible our house looks! They’re all making fun of me!
Zoe inmeshately bristles with anger. She wavrinharassed, for, after all
“Going home! Gang hoone where? Our house is still being renovated Do you want to go back to a shell ́a place with no wall?” Zoe snuppeil, clearly frustrated!
Alice Frore. “What? It’s still a construction site? How am I supposed to explain this now?
“I was planning to bring my friends over once the house was finished, but now? How am I supposed to show my face! I be the laughingstock?
Alwr burst into tears, but Zoe, ahrady imitated, wasn’t in the mood to condort her. Layla, seeing this, thought that as the new sister–in–law, it was time to get along with Alec aid maybe shone everyone she was better than Isis had been..
Layla walked over
ver is comfort Alice, “Alice, don’t cry. Chore we buy a new lane, I promise you can have your friends over to visit, okay?”
Alier stopped crying. “Wait, what? We’re buying a new house?”
Layla sınded. “Yes, your brother and Fare getting a new place”.
As soon as for brand this, her face darkened. She thought, “What new house Host Adrian said anything to her?”
Abee’s face la up with excitement. “Great Then I can show my friends and make them at their works
As she listened to Layla confoning ber, an idea sullenly popped into Alice’s head. She grinned sweetly and asked. “Layla, can you buy me a giftr
Layla fel warm inside. Without thinking, she smiled and agreed, “Suret What would you liker
Layla assumed that av a teenager, Alive probably wanted something like clothes or a toy–nothing too expensive. She was happy to spoil Alice a
Alice grimmed mischievously. Tve had my eye on the new Hennes bag. It’s not that expensive–only about 30 thousand dollars)”
Layla’s smile froze on her face. She thought, “A handbag? For 30 thousand dollars? is this really something a high schooler expected? Is she trying to take advantage of me?
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