Laylah returned with a pallid expression, she was far from her usual self. The Mayor felt something was wrong, but it wouldn't be best to speak about it. Something must have triggered her to lash out, he thought.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said all those things. I was upset, and I shouldn't have lashed out at you." She apologized earnestly.
"Her verdict just proves that her husband was sick, and he died from the illness." Liam responded, quickly trying to cover for what she had done.
Though the Mayor wasn't pleased with her outburst.
"Ms Laylah, did you get into an argument with a customer at the shop? You Just lashed out at her, which I'm sure is unlike you." He spoke up, unable to let it slide.
Laylah didn't know how to justify her actions. She had gone overboard and needed to make things right.
"I'm sorry. I got into a small argument, and I couldn't talk back because he was an elderly man." She lied, hoping it would be enough reason to let it slide.
"An elderly person can be corrected if at fault. We are humans, and not perfect. If he was at fault, you should have corrected him." The Mayor said.
"I'm sorry, I will keep that in mind." She responded, feigning a smile.
"Uncle, I think she will have to come with us to see her husband's body. If he has other family members, we need to meet them."
"There's no one to meet, his parents died at a young age. I also don't have parents, I stay with his grandmother." The lady breath out in a hurry.
"Ms Laylah, please help her get ready, let's head to the hospital. We will be outside waiting for you." The Mayor said.
Liam and his uncle headed back to the car and got inside. As they waited, Liam thought about the scandal.
The press was still waiting for him to deliver a verdict regarding last night's incident, but he wasn't ready.
If he does not say a word by the end of the day, they would be at the Mayor's house.
A few minutes later, Laylah walked out, supporting the lady. The convoy with the Mayor directed them to a different car. They got inside, and the convoy drove off.
"How old is your pregnancy?" Laylah strike a conversation with her. She understood how she must be feeling loosing her husband.
"It's six months, I still have four months to my delivery date. I wish all this was a dream, my husband was the happiest when I conceived." She sniffed.
Laylah stroked their tangled hands.
"It's okay. I understand how you must be feeling. I lost both my parents and my sister, I'm alone. You will be fine as time passes."
The lady nodded in response, sobbing silently.
They arrived at the hospital, and everyone stepped out of the car. As Liam came into view, murmurs escalated around the area. The incident was the talk of the people, and everyone was discussing what had happened.
"Ignore them. Let's go inside, your mother is waiting." They turned on their heels, and went directly to the morgue.
Rose saw them coming, and stride to catch up with them. When she saw the lady in tears, she quickly pulled her into a hug to console her. She felt bad, for what happened.
She accompanied her to the morgue, while the others stayed behind. The Mayor engaged in a conversation with the doctor who had been with Rose, while Liam and Laylah waited.
The Mayor's phone began to ring, so he excused himself and pulled the phone from his pocket.
"There are reporters outside the hospital. There's news circulating that Liam came to see her corpse." The Mayor ended the call, turning to face Liam.
"You will have to get ready. This is your chance to put this off, what we discussed last night."
"Mayor, is something wrong? You sound like something is going on." The doctor queried.
"Doctor! Doctor! Doctor!" A blonde female nurse came running, panting heavily.
"Doctor, you need to see this. The reporters are outside trying to break in. The security who came with the Mayor are stopping them."
The doctor turn to look at the Mayor.
"Is that what you mean by he should get ready?"
"Yes, he has to go out and address them. The reason they haven't come to the house is that they fear being sued. If he doesn't give a verdict, they will surround the mansion."
"I will handle things myself, but please do not make me do something I'm not ready for." Laim pleaded, hoping he would understand.
"Ms. Laylah, it's time we pick a wedding date. It will be announced here. When do you think the wedding should be held?" The Mayor asked.
Liam looked at Laylah, they both stare at each other.
"Let's go on a date and decide on a wedding date before we announce it." He responded instantly.
"I would love that, but we can't keep delaying our wedding. Uncle, next weekend is fine."
"Next weekend? We need to prepare ahead." Liam objected.
"A wedding date has been picked, preparation starts immediately." They heard Rose, and turn to her direction.
She marched toward them, still holding the lady's hands.
"Sweetheart, you will accompany your fiancé outside to address the reporters about what happened last night."
"Liam, why don't you want to get married? There's a rumor about you being impotent, this is the only way you can prove to them, you are not. Announce the wedding." The doctor suggested.
"You are just pushing her. Laylah doesn't want to have the wedding soon, right? We spoke at the coffee shop." Liam held her hands, hoping she would play along, but she couldn't betray his mother.
"I have changed my mind, let's have the wedding. I can't wait to be with you." She feigned a smile, knowing it was all for the money she would be paid.
"That's final, Liam. Please go ahead and do what's required. Your mother and I will be at the doctor's office."
Rose pulled her closer, patting her shoulders.
"It's okay. Let's go get you something to drink." She excused herself, and walked out.
The Mayor, doctor and nurse followed behind leaving the both of them. Liam opened his mouth to talk, but Laylah quickly place her hands on his lips.
"Don't say a word, let's go out there and get done with this. Go ahead I need to fix my hair."
Liam stride to the exit, the reporters ran towards him, the security barricade them, protecting Laim from them.
"Mr Liam, what happened at your mansion?"
"Is this a payback to what you did to your ex-girlfriend? Is someone after you?"
"What can you say about the trending news of your ex? Are you the murderer? Is her family out for revenge?" The question kept coming from them.
"I will make this brief to the concise. I am entitled to answer your questions, but I chose not to do that. Since you are all gathered here, I will use this media to inform the public of my wedding, that will be held next week."
Everyone gasped, looking from one figure to another, when Laylah showed up from behind, and wrap her hands around him. They looked stunned.
"Who is she? Are you engaged?"
"Is she the lady you are getting married to?"
"Yes, I'm his fiancée and soon to be his wife. I would like to address the words you used. My man is not a murderer. As for the fire incident, someone is behind it."
"What do you mean? Can you please tell us what you mean?" A female reporter insisted, but she ignored, casting her a hostile stare.
Liam looked down at Laylah and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. They both looked like a happy couple. He held her hands, and they walked back into the hospital together.