You are Nothing

"Layla, if Papa asked you to choose between them, who would you choose?" Jayden suddenly asked. Instantly, Agatha lifted her head in surprise. "Hey! What are you doing?" Vania's eyes widened in anger. "Why? Isn't this fair? I don't have the right to make decisions without my child's consent. She also has the right to speak up, which woman she likes and deserves to be near her." Agatha swallowed hard. It was truly an unexpected conversation. Especially after Jayden glanced at her briefly. She didn't know the meaning behind that look, but Agatha's heart easily felt affected. Vania clenched her hands and swallowed her emotions again. "Alright, it's better this way. But whatever her decision is, you mustn't violate it!" "Of course, that's how it is. Because Layla's choice is also mine." Jayden smiled wryly. "Should I do that, Dad?" Layla asked softly, looking up at Jayden with uncertainty. "Yes, Honey. You have to do it." Jayden gently stroked Layla's head. "Dear, you will choose me, right? I am your mother, Layla. I am the birth mother who gave birth to you." Vania looked at Layla gently. She was quite confident and smiled sweetly. Jayden didn't need to persuade Layla to determine her answer because it was already clear that even though the girl was still silent at the moment. Layla clearly wouldn't choose Vania. Meanwhile, Agatha sitting next to Vania could only resign herself if Layla suddenly changed her mind. Layla felt uneasy. She was afraid that if she chose Agatha, the woman named Vania would do something harsh to Agatha. But she couldn't have Vania even though she claimed to be her birth mother. Because according to Layla, as her father had said, her mother had gone far away and wouldn't come back. And she would always believe in that. "Don't worry, whatever your answer is, Papa will protect Aunt Agatha." Jayden, understanding Layla's anxiety, held the girl's hand. Layla looked at her father who seemed to be also smiling. At that moment, Layla's heart suddenly calmed. She was no longer restless. As she looked ahead again, specifically at the two women, Layla's gaze stopped at Agatha, who also smiled gently as usual. Layla's heart, which had been pounding fiercely, now beat slowly back to normal. A wide smile formed on Layla's face. Now she was confident with her answer. "I choose Aunt Agatha, Dad." Agatha was startled, her reflex smile emerged sweetly. While Vania, who was already convinced that she would be chosen, spontaneously widened her eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed in annoyance, her hands clenched tightly. Jayden, observing that, scoffed immediately. He then firmly grabbed Vania's hand that was about to be raised. "Don't hurt Agatha; she is an important woman to me." Jayden then let go roughly. "What do you mean, Jayden?!" Vania hissed angrily. "So you're saying I'm not important to you?!" "Yes, since when are you important to me? Never at all. You are nothing to me, Vania." Vania widened her eyes, then stood up and immediately slammed the table. "Jayden Byhantara! I am the birth mother of your child! I am the one who gave birth to her! I should be more important than that woman who is just a maid!" Agatha was taken aback. Layla was also taken aback by Vania's raised voice. Realizing something, Agatha immediately stood beside Layla, quickly took the girl's hand, and held it tightly. Jayden stared firmly at Vania. He held back his hand from slapping the girl. "How dare you say that after leaving Layla! Do you forget who once intended to abort her, huh? Even after I forced you to give birth to her, you chose to leave with your cheating lover!" Vania's body froze. Her voice seemed to disappear in her throat. Her heart pounded rapidly after the facts Jayden spoke that she couldn't deny. Meanwhile, Agatha, who didn't expect Jayden's response, immediately hugged Layla. Hoping the girl didn't hear anything and didn't understand their conversation. "I..." Vania's murmur was barely audible. Jayden chuckled briefly, mocking his past foolishness. "You crazy woman. It was the right decision for me to consider you nonexistent." "What did you say?" Vania felt a sharp headache and ringing in her ears. "Yeah? Why? Are you surprised that I consider you gone from this world?" Jayden laughed briefly. A bitter laugh. "For me and Layla, you are already deceased." At that moment, Vania's heart seemed to stop beating. Not only that. She could barely stand because her legs felt weak. Fortunately, she chose to maintain consciousness to look at her former boyfriend's face. Despite that, her heart felt torn apart hearing his statement. "How can you be like this?" Jayden, not bothering with Vania's confusion, looked warmly at Agatha and Layla in his embrace. "They are important to me now. Layla, whatever you choose is the right decision." Layla smiled, feeling safe in Agatha's embrace. Agatha also looked at Jayden with gratitude and emotion. However, Vania, who was still standing before them, tried to gather her strength. "Jayden, you can't corner me like this! I am Layla's birth mother!" Vania whispered almost hoarsely. Jayden just coldly stared at her. "A birth mother who abandoned her child just like that? You have no right to act as if you still matter in Layla's life." Agatha held Layla's hand tighter, providing support for the girl's decision. Vania tried to speak again, but Jayden didn't give her a chance. "I don't need you, Vania. Your presence will only disrupt the peace of my family. Now, go," Jayden said firmly. Vania, although firmly rejected by Jayden, remained persistent in her place. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, and she kept apologizing. "Jayden, please listen to me. I know I made a big mistake, but I truly regret it. I want to make amends. Layla, dear, I didn't mean to leave you. I don't know what to do without you." Jayden remained cold. "Vania, go. You have made your choice before. Now let me and Layla build a life without you. I have been living peacefully without you. So don't try to ruin it." Vania stuck to her stance. "I will change, Jayden. I won't leave you both again. I promise." However, Jayden just shook his head firmly. "Your promise is too late. We have been happy without you. Now go, and let us continue living in peace." Vania, without losing hope, tried to reach for Jayden's cold hand. Her tears kept flowing, and words of regret came out of her lips. "Jayden, please, give me a chance. I can't bear to lose both of you. I know I was wrong, but I can change. I beg you, don't leave me alone." Jayden, although slightly affected, remained firm in his decision. He roughly pulled Vania's hand from his grip. "Vania, this is over! You really have to go! And I hope we don't need to meet again!" Vania continued to cry, mourning this perhaps inevitable loss. She tried to speak again, but Jayden shook his head and averted his gaze, indicating that any further words wouldn't change the decision already made. Meanwhile, Agatha and Layla, who were next to Jayden, remained silent, although their hearts were touched by this tense situation. "Jayden, at least let me touch Layla and tell her that I am her birth mother. I beg you."