Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Cicely Wagner’s face fell into a mask of terror at the sight of Sarah. “You… You…”
“With such a big mess back at your home, here you are, hiding from your debts, aren’t you? Still making such a show of yourself. Aren’t you worried your creditors might find you?” Sarah asked.
“Please, Sarah… Let’s not talk about it here…” Cicely’s earlier bravado melted away, replaced by a meeker demeanor as she spoke to Sarah.
“What happened just now?” Turning to Shirley, Sarah offered a polite smile. “I’ll have her apologize. Would that be alright?”
“She clumsily spilled juice all over me!” Shirley exclaimed, clearly upset.
“I’m sorry! Let me help you clean it up, okay? I’m really, really sorry!” Cicely hurriedly apologized, bowing deeply to Shirley, her demeanor meek.
Shirley continued to chastise Cicely a few more times to release her frustration before she finally let Cicely go.
Leila observed the situation from a distance, struck by how oddly flawless the timing seemed. Sarah arrived promptly, coincidentally familiar with the woman who had caused the spill. It was almost too perfect. In such a vast mall, this woman had just happened to walk by the store’s entrance and collided with Shirley. It seemed almost orchestrated.
“Hello, I’m Sarah. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?” Sarah approached Shirley with a respectful and composed air.
“Yes, I remember you from when you were little…” Shirley hesitated, taking in Sarah’s expression.
Sarah’s reputation as a shameless mistress was no secret among their social circles, and Shirley, being Landon’s mother, was certainly aware of it.
Shirley harbored disdain for Sarah, wishing instead for Landon to leave his current wife, Leila, for a woman of stature and pedigree. Yet, encountering Sarah here today, Shirley found her initial impression surprisingly positive.
“Oh, you remember me? That makes me elated! Since we’ve bumped into each other, how about grabbing a bite together? What do you say?” Sarah was as thrilled as if she had hit the jackpot when she learned Shirley remembered her. She affectionately clasped Shirley’s arm.
“Well… How about having dinner at my place? You’ve helped me out and kept that woman from bothering me!” Shirley proposed, shooting Leila a sharp look from a distance.
Despite Sarah’s tarnished reputation and her family’s lesser status, Shirley found Sarah infinitely preferable to Leila.
“Can I really come over for dinner? That’s wonderful!” Sarah exclaimed, her voice brimming with childlike excitement.
“Let’s get you out of those wet clothes first. Come on. I’ll help you change,” Sarah said, easing Melinda aside as she took Shirley’s hand, leading her toward the changing room.
With nothing left to keep her there, Leila texted Gilbert for a ride. It would be a while before Gilbert arrived, and Shirley and the others were quick to leave.
By the time Leila reached home, Shirley, Melinda, and Sarah were already gathered in the living room, and Landon had returned as well.
Sarah continued to hold Shirley’s hand, chatting and laughing, lighting up the room with her smiles. Landon, typically stern, relaxed in a single chair nearby, his demeanor softened.
Leila observed with a twinge of sadness, thinking they looked like a family. It would have been better if she had seen it earlier. Landon’s affection and Shirley’s fondness for Sarah were clear. Soon, Sarah would bear Landon a healthy heir, solidifying their happy family picture.
“Dinner’s ready. Let’s eat.” The butler approached to announce that dinner was served. Shirley, with a warm smile, invited Sarah to join them, inadvertently excluding Melinda. Leila was left unnoticed.
As Leila walked toward the stairs, passing by the sofa, Landon intercepted her. “Dinner’s ready. Aren’t you hungry?” he asked.
Leila hesitated, and at his words, Sarah and Shirley paused their conversation to look in her direction.
“Leila, come and have dinner with us,” Sarah called out, her tone gentle, sounding like a compassionate hostess.
“Why invite her? She’s an adult. She won’t let herself starve,” Shirley remarked with a frown, her voice tinged with disdain.
Feeling more like an intruder in someone else’s home than a member of the household, Leila couldn’t bring herself to join them. She shook her head and gestured to Landon that she had no appetite and preferred to rest for a while.
Then, Leila turned and ascended the stairs. Landon stayed behind and didn’t follow her. Once Leila reached her bedroom, she closed the door, cutting off the sound of Shirley’s loud voice. Leaning against the door, she allowed herself a quiet cry.
Roderick, before his passing, had encouraged Leila to get along with Landon, but likely never foresaw such a day. Leila pondered what advice Roderick would offer if he were still alive. Would he suggest persevering, or would he think it best to part ways?
Drawing a deep breath, Leila resolved herself. Ever since she was young, Roderick had advised her never to suffer in silence and not to cling to what wasn’t meant to be hers.
Leila no longer felt obliged to hover around Landon like a burden to him. After five years without winning his affection, she realized there was no reason to persist in a joyless marriage. Moreover, she couldn’t continue living a life filled with discontent.
Leila pulled out her phone and sent a message to Brent. “I’m ready to start working as an advisor in your company anytime. But could I ask you for a favor?”
Brent responded swiftly, “That’s wonderful! My grandfather will be thrilled! How can I assist you? I’ll help however I can.”
“Could I possibly get an advance on my salary for the next two years? That’s twenty million. I urgently need some cash…” Leila fumbled for words to explain her situation, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. As she phrased her response, she accidentally sent the half-completed message.
Although Linsey had offered to loan her ten million, Leila knew assembling such a sum would require pulling resources from multiple places. By comparison, the Hayes family had deeper pockets, and if Brent could agree, Leila preferred to manage the financial matter independently.
Yet, twenty million was no small amount. Jerome had already stretched generosity by offering to advance Leila a year’s salary, and Leila felt her current ask might be pushing boundaries. Aware of the magnitude of her request and the possibility of not fulfilling her responsibilities, and consequently not being able to repay the advance, Leila typed again. “I can draft an IOU. I promise I won’t let you down.”
But before she could send her message, Brent’s reply popped up. “No problem at all! Just send me your bank details, and I’ll arrange the transfer immediately!”
Leila rubbed her eyes and gazed at Brent’s reply on her phone. It was real. Tears welled up in her eyes. The Hayes family was incredibly kind.
Leila recalled Jerome’s previous words that Roderick had entrusted Jerome to take care of her while Jerome failed to do so. She felt compelled to ask Jerome what had really happened back then.
Putting aside her thoughts, Leila began typing a new response after deleting her previously typed words. “Thank you so much! Without your help, I’d be at a loss.”
Brent’s voice came through a voice message, his laughter easy and carefree. “Don’t see it that way. It’s just an advance on your salary. You’re worth it. No pressure!”
Leila had always been a grateful soul. She texted back, “What exactly are my duties? I want to start getting ready.”
“I’ll forward you some plans and materials. Look them over first,” Brent promptly sent the documents.
Leila stayed in her bedroom, absorbed in reading and planning her work, completely losing track of time. Her focus shattered when the bedroom door swung open.
Landon strolled in, radiating ease and good cheer. Observing his buoyant mood, Leila’s heart sank a little. Sarah had visited, and his spirits had noticeably lifted, a stark contrast to his demeanor when she was alone with him.
“You’re not hungry?” Landon inquired nonchalantly as he fetched a robe from the closet.
Leila simply shook her head. She had no appetite at all.
“You should try to eat a bit even if you’re not hungry,” Landon suggested.
Leila remained silent, convinced Landon probably wouldn’t bother her much today. She turned her attention back to the documents on her phone. However, Landon abruptly grabbed her phone and threw it onto the bedside table.
Without changing into his robe, Landon loosened a few buttons on his shirt and leaned down, planting a forceful kiss on Leila’s cheek. It was more than she could bear. For the first time, Leila pushed Landon away with all her might.
Taken aback, Landon staggered to the side. Seizing the moment, Leila leapt from the bed and went straight for the door, her eyes warily fixed on Landon, her expression complex. Downstairs, Landon had just shared a cozy dinner with Sarah, seemingly part of a perfect little gathering. Yet, here he was, upstairs, getting intimate with her.
Leila’s look became one of caution, tinged with disgust. Landon’s face quickly morphed from relaxed to darkened expression as his earlier ease disappeared. He didn’t approach her. Instead, he picked up his robe and walked into the bathroom.
Leila let out a relieved breath. She picked up her phone and laptop and stealthily exited the bedroom, heading into the adjacent guest room. There was no study designated for Leila in the house, and she could no longer use Landon’s. After all, she had once been accused of stealing documents from there and wouldn’t take that risk again.
Seated at the vanity in the guest room, Leila switched on her laptop and began to write down some ideas. It had been ages since she had delved into this kind of work. Ever since marrying Landon, her days were filled with cooking and waiting for him. Yet, back in school days, Leila had not only won awards in competitions but had also gained hands-on experience with large financial projects.
Soon, Leila found her rhythm. Time flew, and before she knew it, it was past midnight. Feeling somewhat tired, she leaned back on the nearby couch to organize her thoughts but inadvertently dozed off.
When Leila awoke the next morning, Landon stood in the doorway of the guest room. Fortunately, the computer screen had automatically shut off, so he hadn’t seen what she had been working on. Landon gazed at her with a cold expression and asked, “Are you avoiding me? Did you intentionally sleep here?”
Rubbing her eyes, Leila stood up, still enveloped in fatigue. Perhaps her drowsiness made her audacious, as if parts of her brain were still asleep. She gestured to Landon, asking about Sarah’s whereabouts since she had assumed Sarah would spend the night with him.
“You’re getting bold!” Landon snapped, his voice rich with annoyance at Leila’s audacity. He walked over to her, pressing his cold thumb against her throat. Leila’s breath hitched. The weight of his presence was intimidating, suffocating even, yet she stood her ground.
Raising her head, Leila locked eyes with Landon, her gaze icy and unyielding-something she hadn’t dared to do during the past five years. She resolved not to continue sacrificing her dignity in this marriage. Their eyes held for a tense few seconds until Landon finally backed down. He stepped back and commanded, “Send me lunch at noon.”
With that, Landon turned and left. But Leila had reached her limit and would not comply this time.
After washing her face, Leila texted Brent, “Is it okay if I only work half a day today?”
Brent, understanding as ever, agreed. After dressing formally, Leila descended the stairs with her laptop in hand. The butler, surprised by her readiness to leave, inquired, “Madam, will you be returning later? Mr. Kensington asked for his lunch at noon.”
Leila paused, considering her next move. She gestured to the butler to have the chefs prepare the meal and deliver it to the Kensington Group. She specifically requested the delivery stop at the reception area and that she would handle the rest by taking the meal upstairs herself.