Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Edgar’s voice was barely a whisper.
Landon frowned as he opened the document bag. Upon seeing the words “divorce agreement,” he let out an angry laugh.
“Where is she?” Landon tried calling Leila, but her phone was turned off.
Edgar quickly checked and reported back, “She’s likely on a plane, just boarded, possibly preparing for takeoff to Halstead.”
“Why Halstead?” Landon’s expression darkened. “Contact the airport. Stop that plane from taking off! Get her off that plane!”
After Landon issued the command, Edgar quickly took action. With the Kensington Group’s significant influence in the city, delaying a flight and removing a passenger should have been simple.
However, it was too late. The plane Leila was on had already taken off.
Turning back a plane already in the air would require a serious reason, like an emergency, and was not easily justified. Landon’s expression darkened further, anger flaring in his eyes. Leila had always informed him of her whereabouts, but this time, she left for Halstead without a word and sent him divorce papers just before boarding.
“Contact our people in Halstead,” Landon ordered, his voice low and tense. “Have them wait at the airport. As soon as Leila gets off the plane, intercept her. Bring her back to me!”
Meanwhile, Leila had managed to take a nap on the flight, waking only when Irene gently nudged her as they approached their destination.
Straightening her outfit, Leila reviewed the schedule again. It was packed. They had a screen test at the studio immediately after landing, followed by intensive preparations for the shoot.
“Thank goodness Mr. Lyndon arranged first-class tickets,” Irene remarked with a smile. “It’ll help us get out of here quickly.”
As Leila and Irene left the terminal, they were suddenly surrounded by a dozen burly men, dressed inconspicuously as regular passengers. Had they not gathered so deliberately, they would have blended into the crowd.
“Mrs. Kensington,” the leader of the group addressed her respectfully but firmly, holding up a photo for verification. “Mr. Kensington wants you to return immediately. Please cooperate and don’t make things difficult for us.”
Leila’s heart sank. She had expected Landon to resist letting her go. Even though he had shown interest in ending their marriage and being with Sarah, he seemed determined to make her endure the fallout from their tumultuous five-year relationship.
But Leila wasn’t about to give in. She stood her ground, shaking her head defiantly and gesturing firmly at the leader, refusing to leave. Her chin lifted in a display of silent resolve.
By now, the situation had drawn the attention of passersby, making it crucial to act quickly without causing a scene.
Sensing the tension, the leader’s face grew serious. “I don’t know the details between you and Mr. Kensington, but we have our orders…”
Irene, growing frustrated, jumped in, her voice rising. “We have a job to do too! And your line of work isn’t exactly legal! You should think twice before it’s too late. Stop working for Landon!”
Irene’s fiery temperament mirrored Linsey’s, though she was more practical. But this time, her irritation got the better of her. “What are you going to do? Drag us off? Tie us up? Knock us out? We’re just two women-lay a finger on me, and you’ll regret it!”
“That’s not…” the leader stammered, caught off guard by Irene’s sudden outburst and the growing attention of the crowd.
But Irene wasn’t backing down. She raised her voice dramatically. “Help! I won’t be your drug mule anymore!”
“Hey, calm down! Don’t make a scene!” the leader said, clearly flustered. The rest of his men hesitated, unsure how to handle the escalating situation.
“She’s just being dramatic!” the leader tried to explain to the gathering onlookers. “Miss, if you don’t want to come, fine, but shouting like this could get us all in trouble!”
Irene shot him a fierce glare. “Get lost!”
Finally, they made it outside, where Irene successfully led Leila to their waiting car. They headed directly to Halstead University’s studio, a popular filming spot for the university’s film and television students.
“This is Leila!” Irene introduced her as they entered the studio. “She has a condition that affects her voice, so she uses sign language to communicate. I’ll translate for her.”
“Understood,” said the director, a young graduate of Halstead University, shaking Leila’s hand. “We’re here to shoot a promotional video for my alma mater.”
Leila greeted him with a smile and quickly focused on the task at hand.
Irene interpreted Leila’s signs. “How are we shooting this? What do you need her to do?”
Surprisingly, Leila felt completely at ease in front of the camera, her nerves absent.
“We’ll need a range of shots, some close-ups, and some wide angles. It’s important we capture the details of your restoration work,” the director explained.
“When you’re on camera, exaggerate your movements a bit to convey what you’re doing,” added a woman with long curly hair, standing nearby with an encouraging smile.
The director frowned slightly at the interruption but didn’t comment, continuing to discuss the specifics with Leila.
“Just stay focused. You look great-don’t worry about the angles. We’ll make sure we get the best ones,” he reassured her.
Leila nodded, her eyes scanning the setup. Antique artifacts were laid out on the table, ready for her to work on for the shoot.
“Let me show you how it’s done first. I’m studying acting,” the curly-haired woman said, stepping forward to demonstrate.
Leila gave her a polite nod, grateful for the guidance. But as the woman turned away, Leila overheard her whispering to the director, “If my shots turn out better than hers, can I take over? Would that be okay?”
“What’s this about?” Irene, ever alert, moved closer, her tone sharp. “Isn’t Leila supposed to be the star of the video?”
“Well, I’m a student here too, and wouldn’t it make more sense to feature me in the video?” the woman replied softly, her voice sweet but with an unmistakable challenge behind her words.
Irene bristled with anger at the woman’s insinuation, but Leila gently tugged at Irene’s sleeve, signaling her to remain calm. Leila gestured to Irene in sign language, saying, “Things don’t always go as planned, but as long as we give it our best, there will be no regrets.”
These wise words had once been shared with Leila by Roderick.
With a composed nod, Leila stepped back, allowing the test shoot to proceed.
“Action!” the director called, though his voice lacked enthusiasm. He didn’t comment further as the camera rolled. The woman positioned herself skillfully, instantly finding a flattering angle. She moved with the composure of a practiced student, her profile photogenic under the camera’s gaze.
When the cameras stopped, the woman turned confidently to the director. “How did that look?” she asked.
The director’s response was lukewarm, his brow furrowing slightly. “It was… acceptable,” he muttered, unimpressed.
Sensing what she thought was her moment, the woman looked at Leila dismissively. “So, I suppose that wraps it up for Leila, doesn’t it? Thanks for your time.”
Irene’s frustration was obvious, but Leila calmly motioned for her to interpret her next words carefully.
Sidestepping the woman’s comment, Irene addressed the director after translating Leila’s sign language. “The techniques used just now don’t fully capture the essence of the artifacts.”
“Oh? Explain,” the director’s interest was piqued as he leaned forward.
“The way she handled the tweezers was too forceful. It could leave permanent marks on the artifacts,” Leila observed, pointing out the errors. Irene translated her words with precision. “Also, her approach angle was wrong. Anyone familiar with artifact restoration would know it’s inappropriate. Plus, she held the magnifying glass upside down. From that angle, it’s impossible to properly examine the details.”
As Leila’s list of corrections grew, the woman’s confidence faded, her expression darkening under the scrutiny.
“Let me try again,” the woman pleaded with the director, realizing her mistakes.
But the director’s patience snapped. His voice grew stern as he replied, “Do you understand the essence of what we’re doing here? This is about professionalism. We’re promoting our school’s new major, not making just any ad!”
His frustration was evident as he continued, “You may have the look, but your techniques are wrong. If we continue this way, the final product will be misleading. It could even cast doubts on the credibility of our program.”
He paused, visibly irritated, then fixed a firm gaze on the woman. “Why are you still here?” he asked sharply.
Her confidence shattered, the woman quietly gathered her things and left.
“Sorry about that,” the director apologized to Leila and Irene. “She’s the daughter of one of the school’s directors. She wanted to audition, and I felt obligated to give her a chance.”
Irene, concerned, asked, “But you were harsh. Aren’t you worried she’ll cause trouble through her father?”
The director shrugged casually. “My dad has more influence than hers. She won’t dare cause problems.”
He then turned his focus back to Leila, helping her prepare for her turn in front of the camera.
“You don’t need to exaggerate your emotions,” he explained. “We’re going for professionalism, not a commercial or music video. Just focus on your techniques, and that will be perfect.”
Leila nodded, understanding the expectations.
