The unstoppable vengeance of Micheal Krux.

36; The woman nobody spoke about

Chapter 36; The Woman Nobody Spoke About

The next morning, Layla woke up with a headache.

She barely slept after overhearing the conversation outside her father’s study, and the little rest she managed to get only left her more exhausted. Her mind kept replaying the same sentence over and over again.

“If Michael ever finds out what truly happened to his mother, then all of us are finished.”

That sentence refused to leave her alone.

Layla stood in front of the bathroom mirror while adjusting the sleeve of her cream blouse, but her thoughts were far from the reflection staring back at her.

Who was Michael’s mother?

And what could have happened so badly that even her father sounded afraid after all these years?

Downstairs, the dining room was unusually quiet.

Her father sat at the head of the table reading financial reports while a cup of coffee rested beside him untouched. Gabriel was there too, typing something on his phone with a tired expression.

Nobody spoke immediately when Layla entered.

That silence alone irritated her.

Normally, breakfast conversations in the Luxter mansion were filled with discussions about meetings, business deals, or social events. But lately, every room in the house felt tense the moment she walked in.

Layla sat down slowly and picked up a glass of juice.

Her father finally looked up from the documents in his hand.

“You’re late,” he said calmly.

Layla almost laughed at the sudden normal tone.

As if she had not overheard them discussing buried secrets just hours ago.

“I didn’t sleep well,” she replied.

Gabriel glanced at her briefly before looking away again.

The awkwardness between them was becoming impossible to ignore.

One of the maids placed breakfast in front of Layla carefully before leaving the dining room quickly.

Her father folded the document in his hand and finally faced Gabriel.

“The investors from Singapore are arriving this afternoon,” he said. “I don’t want any mistakes.”

Gabriel nodded immediately. “Everything is already prepared.”

“And Michael?” her father asked coldly.

Gabriel’s jaw tightened slightly. “We still can’t get a direct meeting with him.”

Layla slowly looked up.

So even now, Michael was still refusing to see them.

Her father scoffed in irritation. “Arrogant boy.”

“He knows he has the upper hand right now,” Gabriel replied carefully.

Layla remained quiet, listening.

“What exactly does he want from this family?” she suddenly asked.

Both men looked at her immediately.

Her father’s expression hardened slightly. “You should stop concerning yourself with him.”

“But you’re concerned,” she replied calmly. “Both of you are.”

Nobody answered.

Layla set her fork down slowly before speaking again.

“You keep talking about Michael like he’s dangerous, but nobody wants to explain why.”

Her father sighed impatiently. “Because you don’t understand the kind of people the Krux family are.”

Layla frowned slightly. “What does that even mean?”

Her father leaned back in his chair.

“Michael’s father was clever,” he said slowly. “Too clever. He built relationships with powerful people quietly while pretending to be loyal to everybody around him.”

Gabriel remained silent.

Layla watched her father carefully. “And his mother?”

The moment the question left her mouth, the atmosphere changed immediately.

Her father’s face darkened.

Gabriel looked uncomfortable again.

Layla noticed both reactions instantly.

So there really was something there.

“She was worse,” her father muttered coldly.

Layla’s brows pulled together. “Worse how?”

Her father laughed bitterly under his breath.

“That woman walked into this city with nothing,” he said. “Yet within a few years, powerful men were destroying friendships, partnerships, and even families because of her.”

Layla stared at him quietly.

The hatred in his voice sounded too personal.

Almost emotional.

“She manipulated people,” he continued. “And Michael inherited more from her than he realizes.”

Gabriel finally spoke carefully. “Sir, maybe this conversation is unnecessary.”

“No,” Layla said immediately. “I want to hear it.”

Her father looked directly at her.

“Michael’s mother was the kind of woman who made men stupid,” he said bluntly. “Even your grandfather trusted her once.”

Layla’s eyes widened slightly.

Her grandfather?

Now this was becoming bigger than she expected.

“What happened to her?” Layla asked quietly.

Nobody answered immediately.

Her father picked up his coffee slowly before finally replying.

“She died.”

Layla stared at him.

“How?”

“A car accident,” he replied casually before taking a sip.

Layla’s stomach tightened instantly.

The answer came too quickly.

Too smoothly.

Almost rehearsed.

And suddenly she remembered something else.

Michael also had a car accident.

Five years ago.

The same night everything changed.

Her mind froze for a second as a dangerous thought entered it.

No.

That could not be possible.

Could it?

Layla looked toward Gabriel immediately, but he avoided her eyes completely.

That alone made her heart beat faster.

“Wait,” she said slowly. “Are you saying—”

Her father’s phone suddenly rang loudly on the table.

He picked it up immediately, irritation already visible on his face.

“What is it?” he snapped.

A few seconds later, his expression changed completely.

Gabriel noticed it too. “What happened?”

Her father slowly stood up from his chair.

“The media just released another article,” he said darkly.

Gabriel immediately collected his own phone.

The moment the screen loaded, his face lost color.

Layla grabbed her tablet quickly and opened the business headlines.

Then she saw it.

BREAKING NEWS:

UNKNOWN SHAREHOLDER ACQUIRES 7% OF LUXTER ENERGY OVERNIGHT

Layla’s heartbeat stopped for a second.

Seven percent?

That was impossible.

Nobody could secretly acquire that much of Luxter Energy without planning it carefully for months.

Her eyes moved lower down the article.

Then she saw the final line.

Sources claim the mysterious buyer may be connected to businessman Michael Krux.

The dining room became completely silent.

Then her father slammed his coffee cup against the table so hard it shattered across the floor.