Ayla couldn't say no to him when Toby insisted. She wasn't sure how long she could hide the truth from him. But if she rejected him too many times, he would be suspicious. After leaving the cafe, Toby drove her back to her school. “Lala, can you have dinner with me tonight?”. Toby eagerly waited for her response. He even was very reluctant to leave Ayla. Ayla felt guilty again to lie to him. But she had no other choice. She gave him a half-smile and said, "Toby, I have work tonight. Let's do it sometime later. Toby thought for a moment and then said, "Okay! This is my card. It has my new phone number. Call me if you have time. "Okay. " Ayla nodded with a smile and took the card from him. The card had his title printed on it. "Executive Director and Deputy CEO of Smith Group". After exchanging goodbyes to each other, Toby left and Ayla went back to attend her classes. When she returned to the villa after school, Brian hadn't come back. She was temporarily relieved for his absence. So, Ayla helped Maria prepare the dinner and waited for Brian to come back. She knew today she'd have to give him an explanation for her seemingly rendezvous with Toby. "Mrs. Clark, you can have your dinner. Mr. Clark hasn't called yet. He might not return tonight. Maria was worried about Ayla's health. It was almost midnight now, and still she didn't eat or drink anything. She had been waiting for Mr. Clark since she returned from school. Ayla smiled at Maria and said, "Don't worry. I'm fine. He'll be back soon. However, she was well aware of the possibility that once he returned, things might go haywire. Perhaps, she'd have to face his wrath

She still couldn't believe that she bumped into him while being with Toby. But she wanted to get it over with. So she waited anxiously. Brian came back around one o'clock in the morning. Ayla was already trembling with fear with the thought of facing him. As soon as Brian came in, a rush of cold, bitter wind entered the villa along with him. "Mr. Clark. Ayla mumbled h is name and wa lked up to him. She bowed politely wonderi ng whether she had any cha nce to negotiate with him. Brian glared at her. This woman had the audacity t o come and stand before him a fter he caught her red handed. "Well, have you had you r dinner? I've cooked a s per your instruction. Ayla accumulated a lot of courage t o say that to him. Brian said nothing a nd walked directly i nto the dining room. The table ha d already be en prepared. He noticed the d ishes and the so up on the table. They looked de licate and del icious indeed. Despite being co ld, they still l ooked appetizing. But he did n ot show any appreciation. She had chea ted on him fo r God's sake. How could he forgive her? Did she think making a few delicious dishes would make him forget everything? But how wrong she . was! Arlene shouldn't have u nderestimated him and though t that he wouldn't find out. He had been being genero us with her. He provid ed her a good life. He even gave her the permission to go to school. Yet, she cheated on him. "Arlene, how dare you! How can you think cooking food for me would make up for you r deed? Did you think I would forgive you . easily? You are my legal wife. Do you s till remember that?" . Brian shouted aloud and with a wave of his hand, threw awa y all the dishes to the floor. The porcelain dishes an d bowls broke into piec es and scattered around. Ayla fli nched in fright. She was about to bend down and clean up, but she was pulled back and presse d on the table by him the next second. The suddenne ss took her by surprise. "What. W hat are y ou doing?"

She trembled being held by him tightly. "What am I doing? What exactly do you think I am doing?" . Brian gr itted hi s teeth. This woman was indeed a te mptress, and she thought s he could tempt him as well. Many men might want to spend time with her, but he didn't. All he wanted was t o humiliate her in every way possible. “Arlene, since you love talking and laughing with other men, you would n't refuse your own husband, right?" . Brian spat the words o ut bitterly. They were filled wi th hatred. "No, no! You're misunde rstanding things, Mr. Cla rk. He and I are just. Ayla couldn't finish her sentence because she wa s tightly gripped by him. Two streams of tears rolled down from th e corner of her eyes. But it didn't make Brian feel sorry even the slightest. This time Br ian was even more brutal. Almost anima listic. Ayla held the edge o f the table tightly and endured the pain. She w as af raid. He'd always humiliate her like this, and she could n't do anything about it. Ayla didn't know how long he continued h is torture on her, because at one point, she fainted because of the terrible pain. When she regained her senses, she w as the only one present in the dini ng room, lying on the table, naked. Enduring the pain, Ayla sat u p and collected her dress from the ground to cover her body. She went back to h er room and walked into the bathroom. She looked a t herself in the mirror. Her body was c overed with br uises all over. It hu rt. She hu rt ever ywhere. She couldn' t even stand any longer. She collapsed on the g round as the shower ke pt pouring on her head. Ayla grabbed a scru bber and washed her body with hot water. She rubbed her body hard t o wash away all the eviden ces of torture left by him. What Brian had given her was the worst pain anyone could have, and this mome nt would never fade away from her life. "Toby, w hat shou ld I do?" . She whispered then broke do wn completely. Tears streamed down her face, mingling wi th the running water