Chapter 144

Laila’s POV

I couldn’t stop the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind as I stepped into Nolan’s house. The door clicked behind me, and I couldn’t help but feel like a stranger in my own skin. A part of me still couldn’t believe what had just happened—what Hamilton had just said to me. Her words echoed in my mind, harsh and biting. *”You are nothing but an imposter. This is not your home. You don’t belong here.”*

Her words felt like daggers, but they didn’t hurt as much as I thought they would. I had been through far worse. I had spent years of my life buried in confusion, struggling to grasp the truth of who I was. Now, standing here, I was beginning to see just how deep this entire game went, and the rules were shifting faster than I could keep up.

I tried to push away the lump in my throat, but it was hard. I had never felt so alone in my life. As Hamilton dragged Mara—her daughter, not Lila—out of the house, I watched them leave. I knew something w