After teasing me about Claudia, Layla finally let it go when she noticed I wasn't in the mood. But I could tell she was itching to continue. Thankfully, she had enough sense to stop.
She leaned against me with a satisfied smile. "Ah, Honey… you really are a ladykiller," she said. "I thought only a few women would truly love the real you, but it turns out there are quite a lot. If they can accept every part of you… I suppose that's a good thing."
I wasn't sure why, but hearing her say that made me feel oddly reassured. Then, a darker thought crept into my mind.
"What about Miranda?" I asked.
Layla blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in topic. "Hm?"
"You know," I hesitated a bit before speaking. "She only loves me because she thinks I'm the same Edward from her childhood." The words felt strange in my mouth, almost bitter. "If she ever saw the real me—the 'true' me you're talking about—I don't think it would be the same…"
