Layla's POV
The soft shake from the air hostess pulled me out of a sleep I didn't even remember slipping into.
"Miss Forbes," she said gently, "we'll be landing in approximately two hours. Would you like lunch?"
I nodded slowly, still half-asleep. "Yeah, thanks."
The tray was laid before me neatly—perfectly grilled salmon, fresh greens, and a warm bread roll. First-class luxuries that normally made me feel spoiled… but today, it all tasted like cardboard. 😣
I was restless.
I stabbed at the salad with my fork, chewing slowly, barely tasting anything as my mind kept slipping back into chaos. Thoughts of Mom, Dad's cryptic call, and the silence on the other end of every number I dialed—it was driving me insane.
After eating, I opened my laptop, trying to distract myself with work. Contracts, upcoming deals, reports from Luna… none of it sank in. I kept rereading the same line, again and again, until I realized I'd just been staring blankly for ten straight minutes.
Focus, Layla, I told myself.
But how could I?
I sighed and shut the laptop. Reached into my bag and pulled out the latest book I'd been pretending to read for the past month. Maybe, if I buried myself in fiction, I could delay reality just a bit longer.
But even that didn't last long.
Just as I was starting to relax, the pilot's voice came through the speaker.
"Lady Forbes , we'll be landing in Valencia in approximately ten minutes."
And that was it.
My stomach twisted. Nerves, fear, adrenaline—whatever it was, I suddenly felt like I could either scream or vomit. Or both.
I pressed my palm against the window, looking out at the sprawling city below. Valencia.
Home.
Or… what used to be home.
⸻
The plane touched down smoothly, but my heart was anything but calm.
As soon as the jet door opened, I was greeted by a line of familiar faces—men in black suits with dark glasses, stone expressions, and comms in their ears. My bodyguards. Our staff. Security.
So… Dad knew I landed.
Yet still hadn't answered any of my calls.
I clenched my jaw but said nothing, stepping down the stairs and into the waiting warmth of the Valencia sun. The heat wrapped around me like an old memory.
A fleet of black Rolls-Royces stood parked beyond the gate. I didn't ask questions. I simply slid into the backseat of the nearest one, and the driver nodded without a word.
We were off.
The drive took about an hour. I sat in silence, fingers tapping against my thigh. The city blurred past the windows, and so did the memories. Riding bikes with Lev through the backstreets, sneaking out with Sofia and Summer, getting caught by Mom when I came home smelling like vodka and mischief.
I took a deep breath and pulled my phone off airplane mode.
The screen exploded with notifications.
10 missed calls – Olivia
41 missed calls – Lexi & Aurora
63 new messages – Group Chat
1,242 new messages total
All variations of:
Where are you???
You just LEFT??
Wtf is going on??
CALL US. NOW.
You didn't even say goodbye…
Guilt settled like a stone in my chest, but what was I supposed to say?
"Hey, sorry I ghosted you, turns out I'm from a secret mafia family and my mom's possibly been kidnapped. NBD."
Nope.
Not happening.
I stared at the screen, still, silent, frozen. Then—buzz. Another call.
Olivia.
I didn't even think—I declined it immediately. I couldn't talk to her. Not yet.
Then… another call.
This time, the name across the screen stopped my breath.
Dad.
I hesitated for half a second, then answered. "What the hell is going on?!"
"Layla—"
"No, don't Layla me!" My voice cracked with panic. "You called me, told me Mom was gone, and then just—what? Disappeared?! You couldn't pick up your damn phone? I've been losing my mind! Where is she? What do you mean you can't find her?!"
There was a pause. Then his voice dropped into that familiar, commanding tone that always silenced a room.
"Layla Liliana Forbes," he said, calm but stern. "Stop bombarding me with questions. I don't know anything right now."
My breath hitched.
"I've called every contact I have, every informant, every ally. Nothing. I came home from work last night, your siblings were asleep. I went to my office, passed out working. When I woke up… she was gone."
I couldn't speak. My throat was dry. He continued.
"I've sent the gang out. Every corner of the city is being searched. But there's no trace. No signs of struggle. Nothing."
Silence.
"I just knew I had to call you," he added softly. "I need you. Your family needs you."
I bit my lip, my eyes stinging.
"I'm almost home," I said finally. "We'll talk then."
⸻
When we reached the mansion, everything looked the same. The tall iron gates. The winding stone path. The sprawling gardens I used to race through with Lev when we were kids. The towering house that never quite felt like a home.
I stepped out of the car and was immediately greeted by our staff. Familiar faces. Smiles mixed with shock. Maids, chefs, guards… all lining up like I was some returning royal.
I ignored them all.
Because the second I stepped through the front door, I saw him.
"Lev!" I breathed.
My little brother ran toward me, arms wide, and I met him halfway. I dropped my bags and hugged him tight—so tight I thought I might never let go.
"I missed you so much," I whispered into his hair.
"I missed you more, sis," he mumbled back, voice shaky. "Thank God you're back."
Behind him, I saw Lara and Lily standing in the hallway, frozen.
"…You actually came back," Lara said quietly.
I didn't wait—I reached out and they rushed into the hug. The three of us clung together, years of silence collapsing in an instant.
Tears fell.
From all of us.
"Did Mom get kidnapped?" Lara asked between sobs.
"Maybe…" Lily whispered, "maybe she ran away because of Dad."
I pulled back slightly, my brows furrowing. "What?"
Lily hesitated. "They fought a lot… when we were at school, or asleep. Then they'd act all normal around us. But something was definitely wrong."
I opened my mouth to ask more, but then—
"Layla." My father's voice echoed from his office down the hall. "Come here. We need to talk."
Of course.
Duty calls.
⸻
His office hadn't changed.
Bookshelves lined the walls, cigars on the tray untouched, and his desk was still buried in papers, blueprints, and a half-drunk glass of bourbon.
He looked… older. More tired than I remembered.
I sat across from him.
"Talk to me," I said softly.
He told me everything he knew—which wasn't much. He was frustrated, helpless, and I could see it in his eyes. My father never admitted defeat. But this?
This shook him.
"I'm here now," I said, placing my hand over his. "We'll find her. I promise."
He looked at me for a long moment. Then, for the first time in years… he hugged me.
Tightly.
"I missed you, kiddo."
"I missed you too," I whispered. "But I don't know if I'm staying."
He didn't push. Just nodded.
"You should eat," he said, standing. "You look exhausted. I'll check on the calls. We'll talk more in the morning."
⸻
I made my way toward the kitchen, already dragging my feet. The moment I stepped inside, I was wrapped in a warm hug.
"Nancy," I breathed, smiling.
The maid—my childhood partner-in-crime, therapist, secret-keeper—smiled at me like I'd never left.
"Welcome back, sweetheart," she said, already scooping rice onto a plate. "You look like hell. Sit."
I did.
She didn't need to ask what I wanted. She just knew.
After eating and catching up on a few stories, I finally excused myself.
Before heading to my room, I peeked in on the others.
Lily and Lev were asleep, curled up like they used to be when I'd read them stories. My heart clenched.
Lara was still awake. She met my eyes, and for a moment, everything was quiet between us.
"Goodnight, Lara."
"Goodnight, Layla. I'm glad you're back."❤️🩹
⸻
When I finally opened the door to my room, everything came rushing back.
The posters. The books. The scent of lavender still hanging in the air.
It was like walking into a time capsule.
A part of me wanted to cry. Another part felt… at peace.
I collapsed onto the bed, fully clothed.
My phone buzzed again. Messages. Olivia. Lexi. Aurora.
But I couldn't deal with it.
Not tonight.
I closed my eyes and let exhaustion pull me under.
Tomorrow… tomorrow I'd face everything.🥱💤
⸻