Love On Ice: Don’t Leave Me, My Charming Liar

Chapter 53: Only when a sharp pain shot through her back did she glance at the clock-it was already ten at night. Gathering her belongings, she locked up and made her way to hail a taxi. She hadn't returned to Cloudscape Mansion recently, and Ethan hadn't bothered to check in. Resting her head against the taxi's window, the faint glow of streetlights illuminated her weary face. Thoughts of Ethan persisted, stirring a gentle ache in her heart. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her that day. Stepping out of the elevator, Nyla was greeted by Vicki, who turned sharply upon seeing her.

"You changed the password. How scared are you that I might drop by? Do you still see me as your mother?" Nyla had no energy left for a confrontation at her door. She simply wanted peace. She slipped past Vicki, using her fingerprint to unlock the door, and as it swung open, Vicki barged in. With resignation, Nyla followed, flicking on the lights and shutting the door. "What's on your agenda today?" Nyla asked wearily, swapping her shoes for slippers, flinging her bag onto the couch, and filling a glass with water before sitting down.

"Where have you hidden Claudine?" Vicki demanded, her tone sharp. A sudden, sharp pain seized Nyla's stomach. Collapsing onto the couch, she clutched a pillow to her abdomen. Her voice was exhausted yet firm. "What, no longer able to use her to manipulate me, so you show up yourself?" Vicki's temper flared. "What are you implying? When have I ever used Claudine to manipulate you? Sure, I told Ryland about helping Claudine, but I didn't expect him to use her against you. I admit some fault, but haven't you deceived me as well?

Wasn't it you who forced Trevor abroad, destroying my rapport with Florence?" As Vicki ranted, Nyla's disbelief grew; the pain in her abdomen worsened, forcing her to shift for some relief. 1Ɫ∆ŦE$† ₡Ḥ∆₱†€₤S 1₦ gɑlοvєlѕ.сo She laughed bitterly, her gaze frosty. "Me, deceive you? Without the evidence I gathered, do you understand what could have happened?" "I just wanted you to apologize to Trevor; would anything really have happened?" Despite the heater running, a coldness enveloped Nyla. Her grip tightened on the pillow. Feeling betrayed and pitiful, she scoffed, "Just apologize?

If I did apologize, Trevor, knowing he was backed by the Brooks family, would keep harassing me, leaving me defenseless and degraded." Pushing through her pain, Nyla sat upright to confront Vicki. "You feel proud of a potential alliance with the Fowlers and only cherish your position in the Brooks family. You question whether I regard you as a mother, but do you truly see me as your daughter? You knew there was foul play in Dad's death, yet you said nothing. You've always been more concerned with your status as Mrs. Brooks. Now you come here questioning me about Claudine?

Vicki, don't assume you can control me. I'm done listening to you!" For the first time, Nyla's words spilled out unfiltered, releasing her built-up frustrations. . . .