Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
After Leila explained her side, one officer responded, “From what you’ve described, you might be innocent, but we can’t release you yet. There’s a serious allegation of attempted murder against you, accusing you of poisoning your husband during your time together. We must wait for the hospital report to confirm whether there was indeed any poisoning.”
Leila simply nodded, aware that the hospital report might not come as easily as hoped. Landon’s illness was a secret closely guarded by those who knew.
Leila knew she was resigned to endure a bit longer at the station.
Before long, Leila nodded off at the table. She was jolted awake by the sound of someone entering and tapping the table in front of her. “Leila, you’ve been bailed out. You’re free to leave now.”
Glancing at the clock, Leila noted it was deep into the night. Landon probably acted swiftly.
Yet, as Leila emerged, it was Brent she encountered, not Landon.
Brent’s face wore a look of concern as he came closer.
“Are you alright? I got here as fast as I could. I’ve already lined up the best lawyer for you. You’ll be fine. Even if Landon decides to take this to court, I’ve got your back.”
A wave of gratitude washed over Leila. She nodded her thanks to him.
Fingers poised over her phone, she typed out a message, “Do you really trust me? Aren’t you worried I’m capable of doing what they say I did to Landon?”
Brent shook his head. “I know you too well. You wouldn’t hurt him. Even if you did, it wouldn’t be for money. But if it was out of spite? Then maybe, just maybe, I’d believe it.”
Leila’s lips curved into a smile upon hearing his words.
Brent motioned toward the car. “Come on. Let’s head out.”
“Wait!” A voice erupted nearby.
Landon strode toward them, flanked by his bodyguards. His complexion was pale, though he appeared better than he had earlier that day.
As Landon’s path intersected with Brent’s, the two men stood firm, neither yielding an inch.
Landon’s expression turned frosty. “Mr. Hayes, this is a family issue. Have you developed a taste for meddling in other people’s problems?”
Brent met his gaze without wavering. “I have no interest in getting involved. But ask yourself, how much has Leila endured while being with you? I’m not concerned about why you were hospitalized suddenly, but I’m certain Leila wasn’t behind it. Your relatives? They seem more interested in tormenting Leila than in your recovery.”
Landon remained unshaken by Brent’s accusations. “But don’t forget, Mr. Hayes, what exactly Leila has traded with her freedom. Who has really been exploiting her? Who has tormented her? You claim to protect her, but it seems you lack the means to do so.”
Brent was overwhelmed with frustration, his fists clenched tightly as he struggled to find the words to retort. He was consumed by guilt, reproaching himself. But who could have predicted things would turn out this way?
Brent’s voice faltered, the right words eluding him.
Landon had no interest in hearing Brent out. He strode over to Leila and seized her wrist. “Come back with me.”
Leila smoothly withdrew her hand from his grasp. She used sign language to question Landon whether he was aware of who had sent her to the police station.
Landon frowned. “I know. And then?”
Leila’s lips curled into a cold smirk. She signed, a dismissive flick of her hand conveying there was nothing further to discuss.
Leila then approached Brent, typing quickly on her phone. “Take me back. I’ve been stuck here all afternoon and I need to rest.”
Leila could feel the chill of Landon’s stare piercing her back, yet she resisted the urge to look his way.
A few paces later, a thought struck Leila, prompting her to send Landon a message. “Don’t worry. I’ll attend Sarah’s birthday party. I intend to keep my promise, and I trust you’ll keep yours.”
Landon could only watch, a mixture of frustration and helplessness washing over him, as Leila climbed into Brent’s car and they pulled away.
Seething with anger, Landon suddenly started to cough, his body weak and trembling.
Edgar, alarmed by his condition, rushed to his side. “Mr. Kensington, the doctor was clear about your need to rest quietly in the hospital. Today’s fainting episode was unexpected. We’re uncertain of what might come next.”
Gradually regaining his composure but still feeble, Landon caught his breath and muttered, “Let’s head to the car.”
Once inside, Landon leaned back and pressed a hand to his temples, soothing himself slowly.
Edgar turned the ignition and steered the car toward the hospital, the road unfolding quietly ahead.
Landon shot Edgar a look of displeasure. “Edgar, now you have the guts to make decisions for me?”
Edgar exhaled a weary sigh. “Mr. Kensington, if you fired me right now, I’d still drag you back to the hospital. Please, don’t get upset with me. Consider this. You’re on your own at the moment. If something were to happen to you, what then? What about the Kensington Group? What about your employees? You’d just be playing into the hands of those who want to see you fail.”
Landon let out a sigh, his tone even. “I hadn’t realized you’ve become so talkative. I’m not planning to die anytime soon. And forget the hospital. Sarah foolishly alerted the media, and now they’re swarming outside. Do you really want my health to become a public spectacle?”
Understanding the situation, Edgar turned the car around, his thoughts heavy. “I didn’t tell the truth to your wife, yet she seemed to pick up on something. Miss Miller overstepped today, not just targeting Leila but completely ignoring your situation. What’s your plan?”
“Hold onto her for a bit longer. She might be useful down the line.” A glint of cold determination flickered in Landon’s eyes as he made his way directly to his study upon arriving home.
Meanwhile, Sarah remained in the living room, kneeling and crying. “Landon, I’m truly sorry. Please, don’t be mad. Let me explain. I was duped into doing it by someone else.”
Despite Sarah’s tears soaking the evening, Landon remained unmoved, his door firmly shut.
As the clock struck past midnight, Sarah’s cries dwindled to a weary silence.
Slumped against the cold floor, her gaze hardened with deep-seated bitterness. Did Landon really love her? Her heart sank under the weight of his indifference. How could he be so heartless?
Sarah’s mind raced for any reason behind Landon’s coldness toward her. Perhaps it was her own actions against Leila that had turned him away. Could it be that Landon harbored feelings for Leila, especially now that she was carrying his child? What role did that leave for her? Was she doomed to be the perpetual other woman, never to claim his name?
These thoughts swirled in Sarah’s mind, fear causing her body to shiver.
A shadow of spite flickered in her eyes. No, this couldn’t be her fate.
As dawn crept in, Edgar approached Sarah. “Miss Miller, Mr. Kensington was merely caught in a moment of rage. Please get up,” he said, extending a hand to help her.
Sarah’s face clouded over, yet curiosity got the better of her. “Did Landon send you?”
Edgar forced a smile. “Of course,” he lied.
A glimmer of relief passed through Sarah’s stern features.
Edgar muttered a curse under his breath. Landon was still seething over Sarah’s careless actions that had hurt Leila.
Realizing that if they continued to ignore Sarah, she might catch on, Edgar decided to console her.
Once Sarah calmed down, she began to overreact again. “But I feel like Landon doesn’t even care about me. If he did, he’d come to me himself instead of sending you. Maybe he’s still angry and doesn’t want to be around me. If that’s the case, I might as well leave.”
“Please,” Edgar quickly intervened. “That’s not true. Mr. Kensington is upset, not because you did something intentionally wrong, but because you were thoughtless. Look, Mr. Kensington fell ill suddenly, and because of you, the whole city knows about it. You ought to see the bigger picture. What Landon needs is a partner who stands by him and helps manage things.”
Sarah’s eyes sparkled with sudden understanding.
“Edgar, are you being honest? Is this really what Landon wants?”
Edgar nodded firmly. “Absolutely.”
A blush tinted Sarah’s cheeks as she smiled brightly, her eyes glowing with joy. “So, that’s how he thought? I really messed up, didn’t I? I deserve some kind of punishment.”
Edgar fought back a grin. No wonder Landon called Sarah a moron. Such half-hearted words would only be believed by Sarah.
Unaware of Edgar’s amusement, Sarah was lost in her daydreams. Indeed, to stand by Landon’s side, she knew she had to be sensible.
Sarah resolved to better herself, to be the perfect partner for Landon, one who would never let him down.
Fueled by this thought, Sarah felt a surge of motivation.
A sudden idea struck her, and she approached Edgar with a bright smile. “Edgar, I went too far yesterday. Could you please take me to see Landon? I owe him an apology.”