Chapter 1477:
Lyla’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction when she caught Carola’s dislike for Elena. The more tension there was between Carola and Elena, the more space there was for her.
Outwardly comforting but secretly instigating, Lyla said, “Please don’t take it to heart, Mom. Since Elena refused you outright, there’s nothing any of us can do. Us throwing a birthday party for Wesley just won’t happen. Still, you’ll always have me by your side. I’d never resent your love for Wesley.”
Lyla made sure her words drew a line—only she, Carola, and Wesley were truly family.
Carola’s anger simmered. She was Wesley’s mother, and there was no way she’d stand by while someone like Elena kept her from her own child.
“There’s no reason I can’t throw my own son a birthday party,” Carola spat.
“Elena can’t control what I do, no matter how stubborn she gets.”
Lyla seized the moment and continued, “But with Elena around, Wesley’s never going to choose you over her. He won’t celebrate with you, and he won’t come home. What do we do now?”
Lyla bet Carola would catch her drift.
Carola’s frustration finally spilled over.
“Let them end things, then.”
A quick, victorious glint flashed in Lyla’s eyes. Her recent efforts to subtly influence Carola were finally paying off. She masked her excitement with a show of innocence.
“Are you sure, Mom? Do you honestly want Wesley and Elena to split up?”
Though the words slipped out in the heat of the moment, the more Carola mulled it over, the more certain she became that a breakup was the only way. She watched her son slip further away, all because of one stubborn, spiteful woman. No way was she going to let someone like that have any hold over Wesley.
Turning to Lyla, Carola asked, “You once told me you cared about Wesley, didn’t you? If you could be with him—and stay close to us—would you take that chance?”
𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗴⍺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧸ⅽ𝗈𝗺
Lyla fought to hide the grin tugging at her lips and answered with a gentle nod, “I’d say yes, Mom.” She was more than willing. How she wished she could marry Wesley this instant.
“But Mom, Wesley is so wrapped up in Elena. How are you going to pull them apart?” Lyla dropped the question deliberately.
Carola faltered, uncertain for a moment.
“If you can find a way for me to get Wesley alone, maybe I’ll have a real shot at winning him over,” Lyla proposed quickly.
Carola looked troubled.
“He won’t even see me these days. How am I supposed to arrange that for you?”
Leaning in close, Lyla murmured her plan quietly.
Carola’s eyes widened.
“Are you sure this will work?”
Lyla’s confidence didn’t waver.
.
.
.