The unexpected news shocked Ayla. How could it be possible? Why didn't Toby tell her anything? It meant the woman she saw with Toby that day was his fiancee. If he was engaged already, why did he promise to be with her? He promised to give her a good life in the future. Was it nothing. but a lie?. "Don't tell me you don’t know that," Brian taunted, noticing her surprised expression. Ayla's eyes darted towards the documents in Brian's hand. She realized they were all related to Toby. Of course! He was Brian Clark! Aman whose one word was enough to decide if a person would continue to live or just die. It was ridiculous for her to expect anything good from him. "Why are you silent now? Arlene, I didn't really expect that you'd date such a man. Why are you now pretending to be surprised?". Brian dropped the photo of Toby on the table and looked up at Ayla. Ayla considered whether she should tell him the truth. She bit on her lips before opening her mouth. "Mr. Clark, actually, I want to tell you something. "Tell me something? Are you even qualified to talk to me? What would you tell me by the way? Apparently I know things more. than you,”. Brian sneered, intimidating her. "Mr. Clark, I can do anything you want me to do. I will help keep your villa clean, cook for you, and wash your clothes. I will do. everything to pay back the money my father owes you. But, will you please give me freedom after that?" Her voice broke at the. end. Ayla wanted nothing but to be free. No matter what kind of life she would lead in the future, she didn't want to stay prisoned like this forever. She had no freedom here, and she didn’t want to lose herself. Brian and Jaime exchanged a look before turning towards Ayla at the same time. "I have many servants. I don't need your help in anything. ” Brian scoffed. "If I give you freedom and let you roam freely, how much would you make by selling yourself? Even if you trade yourself, it won't. be enough to pay me back. Your father took sixty million dollars from me, and gave you to me to pay my debt back

Do you think. you can make that much money easily?". His words struck her like a cannon ball. She was really scared now. Clayton owed him more than what she had expected. She couldn't make that much money even if sh e worked all her life. Did that mean she'd lose her freedom for ever? Brian deliberately thought about h er request before speaking, "Give me some . time to think about it. If you can make me happy, you can stay here peacefully. What Brian actual ly meant was he wo uldn't let her go. He was possessive over his bel ongings. He didn't like sharing his owned things with anyone. Then he turned to Jaime and instructe d him, "Jaime, investigate the Smith Group and see if it is worth buying. He would like to s ee how important T oby was to Arlene. If he bought Smit h Group, Toby wou ld work under him. How woul d she re act then? . Jaime nodde d and stood up to leave. Seeing him stand up, Ayla immediately g rabbed Brian’s hand and pleaded, "Mr. Cl ark, please, don't do that to my Toby. "Whoa! Your Toby? That sounds intimate. "Bria n shook her hands away. "Why did you even think that I'll listen to your useless begging? The more you beg to me, the more miserable his life will be, and . I prom ise you that,” . Brian said bitterly then arose from his seat and stepped towards the exit. "No! Please, no! I w on't see him anymore . I promise I won't!" . Ayla shouted behind Bria n helplessly. Jaime looked at Ayla dis approvingly. "Mrs. Clark, please b ehave yourself. Don't embarrass Mr. Clark. "Jaime, please. You have to help me. Ple ase persuade him to not hurt Toby. Please ! I promise, I'll listen to him always. Ayla said th at without th inking twice

Practically, she had los t everything. She couldn't afford to lose Toby as well. She didn't want him to get i nto such predicament where t he chance of winning was nil. Jaime didn't say anything, because he couldn't make a decision wheth er to accept Ayla’s request or not. It made Ayla more worried. Jaime left after giving her an i ndifferent look. She brought out her phon e, but couldn't make her self dial Toby's number. After that encounter in the mor ning, Ayla made herself busy in gardening to distract her mind. Maria found her squatti ng in the garden, trimm ing flowers and plants. Ayla didn't even go to her room u ntil it was dark. As she finished fresheni ng up and changing her c lothes, Brian came back. She went up to hi m and took the co at from his hand. Brian sat down on the sof a as his eyes fell on Ayla 's phone on the tea table. It was a very ol d model. Why was she using t his old phone being Clayton's daughter? . "Make me a cup of coffee," he or dered her then picked the remote control and switched on the TV. Leaning against the sofa, he concentrate d on the news on it. A few moments la ter, Ayla's phone started ringing. Brian glanced a t it, annoyed b y the ringtone. Ayla came running from the kitchen when she h eard the phone ringing. She read the number di splayed on the screen and froze immediately. She didn't dare to answer it in front of Brian. “Answer it! Who is it?" . Brian didn't look a t her, but he knew she was hesitating. Ayla wanted to answer the pho ne in her room. But if she tried to avoid him now, she'd look more suspicious. She had no o ther way but to answer it. "H ell o. “Lala, where are you? Wh y didn't you come to sch ool today? Are you sick?” . Toby bombarded her w ith questions soon a fter she answered it. He went to the school today t o look for her. When he learned she d idn't show up in the s chool, he got worried. He couldn' t help but call her. "I'm fine. I'm not sic k. I had something els e to deal with today. Ayla tried her best to keep he r voice as low as possible, but it didn't escape Brian's ears