Chapter 4 4

THE CONFRONTATION😡

"Stop the wedding!" Layla's voice rang out, steady and strong, even though deep down her heart was racing. She masked her nerves behind the weight of her words, holding her chin high as all eyes in the grand church turned toward her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Mr. Whitmore, Victoria's father, rising slowly from his seat. His face was twisted with confusion, his brows furrowing so tightly they almost touched. His steps were steady but sharp as he made his way toward her, joined by a couple she could only assume were the groom's parents, judging by the matching expressions of shock and concern on their faces.

"What is the meaning of this? Who are you?" Mr. Whitmore demanded, his voice loud and laced with sharp anger. His whole face tightened, his jaw clenched, and his eyes burned into her, expecting an answer.

Layla met his gaze calmly and, after a short breath, lifted her hand and pointed straight at the groom. Her other hand rested gently on her stomach, adding weight to her words.

"That man," she said clearly, "he's the father of the child I'm carrying."

Gasps echoed across the room. The groom's face paled instantly, his expression tightening as if the words had knocked the air right out of his chest. His wide, bewildered eyes searched Layla's face, struggling to process what she'd just declared.

"What?" he blurted, his voice hoarse with confusion.

Layla took a slow step forward, gently patting her still-flat stomach as if cradling a secret life. "Yes. Just like I said, I'm pregnant. With your child."

She locked eyes with him, her gaze unwavering. "Maybe you don't remember, but it happened. One night, in a bar. Just once. But once was all it took."

She said the words with so much confidence, so much practiced emotion, that even she almost believed them. Inside, her heart drummed with nerves, but she pressed on, giving the performance of a lifetime.

"I was devastated when I found out you were getting married," Layla continued, her voice softening just enough to sound wounded. "What about me? What happens to me and our child? You can't just sleep with someone, toss them aside, and move on with your life like nothing ever happened."

She gestured with her hand, her fingers trembling slightly to match the heartbreak in her voice. "No, I won't let that happen."

Her eyes glistened as she stared him down. "What about me, huh? And what about our unborn child?" she asked, her voice cracking at the edges, pushing the emotion further.

The groom took a step back, his face tight with panic, his hands raised slightly like he needed space to breathe. "Who... who are you?" he stammered, completely rattled. His mind raced, grasping for any memory of her - but it came up blank.

"What are you saying?" he mumbled, struggling to find the right words. "I don't even recall ever meeting you. I don't know you."

Layla let a single tear slip down her cheek - crocodile tears, but convincing ones. She made sure the pain in her eyes looked deep and genuine.

"You don't remember me?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "How could you forget? You used me, left me, and now you're marrying someone else like I never even existed."

She turned, facing the shocked crowd that filled the church pews, their faces a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

"That man," she pointed once more at the groom, her voice louder now, "is the father of my unborn child. If this wedding goes on, it's not just me who'll suffer, my child will suffer too. And so will the bride."

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she painted the perfect picture of a heartbroken woman.

"She'll never be enough for him," Layla whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Not when he can so easily use one woman and promise the world to another."

The groom's jaw tightened, his hands slowly balling into fists at his sides. His entire body stiffened, the quiet signs of rising anger barely hidden beneath his wedding suit. He took a step toward her, deliberate and controlled, his mind scrambling for a way to untangle this mess.

His family stood behind him, confusion written all over their faces as they whispered frantically to one another.

Stopping just in front of her, the groom squared his shoulders and stared Layla down.

"Alright then," he said coldly. "If you're telling the truth... what's my name?"

A smug, confident smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He was sure she wouldn't know... after all, this had to be some mistake, some desperate stunt.

But Layla didn't flinch. Her lips curled into a soft, steady smile.

"You introduced yourself as Logan Maxwell," she answered smoothly, without a second's hesitation.

The groom's face twitched. His eyes widened as the name hit him like a slap, the disbelief clear as day on his face.

"What?" he muttered, nearly stumbling over the single word.

"That's not my..." he started, but Layla cut him off sharply.

"Don't you dare try to deny it." Her voice was sharp as a whip. She held his gaze like a mother scolding a child. "You might've lied about your name, but your face... I'll never forget your face."

She placed a hand to her forehead dramatically, feigning the perfect mix of anger and heartbreak. "Logan Maxwell, or Leo, or whatever name you're going by these days."

Her voice softened, almost dreamy, as she pressed on, weaving the perfect lie. "I remember your face from that night... that wonderful, beautiful, sinful night."

She could see it, the cracks spreading across his confidence, the way doubt flickered in his eyes. The more she spoke, the deeper it sank in, and she knew it. She was winning.

"Please," the groom said at last, his voice strained as he tried to anchor himself, "stop this nonsense."

"Oh, so now you're going to lie and pretend you're not the father?" Layla raised her voice, letting the fire of betrayal fill every word. "You got me pregnant, dumped me, and now you're just walking down the aisle like nothing happened."

She shook her head, letting her voice rise with anger. "You're a jerk. A cheat. A liar."

And before another word could be spoken, Layla raised her hand and slapped him -hard- across the face. The sound echoed through the church, leaving the groom staggered and silent.

Even Victoria, the bride, stood frozen shocked..