Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Confused by his behavior yet sensing the gradual relaxation in his tense frame, Leila remained still. Feeling an inexplicable surge of worry, Leila made a gesture, posing a question even though she knew perhaps she shouldn’t pry. She desired to understand what was ailing him, as his symptoms suggested sickness.
Landon, feeling slightly better, closed his eyes as he replied with a coldness that belied his earlier vulnerability. “What does it matter to you? The more you know, the more it will bother you.”
Leila’s brow furrowed at his response. Even in his moment of apparent need, his arrogance surfaced, making it hard for her to empathize fully. Slowly, her eyelids grew heavy, and the soothing sound of the rain soon ushered her into a peaceful slumber.
With his headache finally subsiding, Landon felt a wave of relief wash over him. He glanced down at Leila, who was sleeping peacefully in his arms. It had been ages since they had shared such a restful moment, perhaps even since the early days of their marriage. After marriage, Leila always seemed timid and anxious in Landon’s presence, like a frightened rabbit wary of a looming predator.
Landon found it hard to understand her fear. Perhaps the absence of love had fostered this apprehension.
As she slept, Leila stirred slightly, her subconscious reacting as she tried to push Landon’s hand away. Despite this, Landon tightened his hold, not ready to let go of the moment of closeness they had unexpectedly shared.
Leila ceased her feeble attempts to disengage and eventually turned over, settling back into a deeper sleep. Landon, feeling the calm enveloping them both, drifted off. It had been ages since he had experienced such peaceful slumber, undisturbed and genuine.
Meanwhile, in the garden, Sarah endured a long and lonely night waiting for Landon. She had set the scene with hopeful anticipation, but as the night stretched on, no one came. Dawn found her waking up with a start, her head resting awkwardly on the garden table. The candles she had lit flickered out hours ago, and the scattered remnants on the table told her that she had been waiting in vain.
Sarah glanced down, noticing her body covered in swollen mosquito bites. Despite Sarah having specifically instructed the servants not to disturb her last night, the night had passed, and it was now morning. The garden was bustling with activity as the servants went about their morning duties, casting curious and somewhat pitying glances at Sarah.
The evening prior, Sarah had demanded much from the staff, insisting that some who had already completed their shifts stay late to help arrange the perfect setting for what she had hoped would be a romantic rendezvous. Sarah’s insistence had not gone unnoticed, and now, as she sat there in the light of day, it was clear to everyone that she had waited alone all night.
Feeling the weight of their stares-a mix of judgment and curiosity-Sarah’s frustration and embarrassment boiled over, causing her to tremble with anger. Sarah’s voice rose sharply as she shouted at the servants, “Stop gawking! Isn’t there work to be done?” Her command scattered them swiftly, but the sting of their mocking looks lingered, deepening her humiliation.
Seething, Sarah made her way back to the mansion, intent on confronting Landon for answers. Yet, as she approached his quarters, hesitation slowed her steps. Perhaps Landon had a legitimate reason for missing the night. Discovering that Edgar was not yet on duty and unavailable to provide insights added to her frustration.
With no outlet for her escalating anger, Sarah’s emotions exploded into physical action as she violently shattered several bottles. Caught in a whirlwind of fury, an idea suddenly occurred to her. Leila was a convenient scapegoat for her ire.
With renewed purpose, Sarah rounded up a few servants and strode toward Leila’s room.
As Leila awoke to the morning sunlight filtering through the window, she paused, momentarily disoriented as if parts of her memory were missing. Just as she was beginning to gather her thoughts, Landon stirred beside her, jolting her back to reality. The memories of the previous night flooded back, and with them, a wave of horror washed over Leila. She couldn’t believe she had allowed herself to fall asleep so defenselessly next to Landon.
Leila tried to rise but found Landon’s hand still resting on her, holding her in place. While Leila pondered how to gently awaken him without causing a scene, a commotion at the door caught her attention. The rapid footsteps approached, growing louder. Then, forceful banging on the door echoed through the room.
“Leila, open the door now!” It was Sarah’s voice, insistent and sharp, resonating with urgency and anger.
Leila’s muscles tensed up, and she nudged Landon with more urgency. Landon stirred at the noise, his eyes flickering open for a moment, but he quickly dismissed the disturbance and drifted back to sleep.
Panic initially gripped Leila, but a sudden realization washed over her, steadying her nerves. Why was she panicking? She and Landon were still legally married, even if their relationship was in name only. Why did she feel as though she was about to be caught in an affair?
Setting her jaw, Leila quickly typed a message on her phone and held the device close to Landon’s ear after activating the text-to-speech function. The phone’s mechanical, female voice cut sharply through the quiet of the room, grating on his senses. “Sarah’s at the door. I want to avoid any drama. I’m going to let her in shortly, and you’ll need to clear things up with her. If you don’t manage, I’ll take care of it myself. Remember, the cameras by my door captured everything, proving you came here voluntarily last night.”
Landon finally opened his eyes, clearly annoyed by the disruption. He managed a half-smile and lazily commented, “She’s here? So? What’s got you so worked up?”
Leila’s expression darkened even more. “Are you joking? Whatever problems you have with her have nothing to do with me. I don’t want to get caught in the middle.”
Landon made no move to get up. Instead, he casually took out his phone and sent a quick message. Frustrated, Leila gritted her teeth, determined to resolve the situation herself.
Just as her hand reached the doorknob, Sarah’s demeanor shifted dramatically. “Forget this. Let’s go. I have better things to do than waste my time here,” Sarah declared, leading her entourage away.
Stunned, Leila paused for a moment. When she turned around, Landon was already standing, fully dressed, his expression as cold and detached as ever. Landon gave Leila a brief, indifferent glance before coolly brushing past her out of the room. His demeanor was utterly dispassionate, as if the intimacy of the previous night had never occurred.
Once Landon had departed and the atmosphere in the room seemed to breathe again without his imposing presence, Leila took a moment to piece together the events. Leila speculated that Landon and Sarah must have quarreled, prompting Landon, in his frustration, to seek refuge at her place just to vent. With this in mind, Leila made a mental note to keep her door locked in the future.
Under the terms of her current arrangement with Landon, Leila knew she was bound to stay here for quite some time. Her top priorities were the health of her unborn child and her own well-being. She couldn’t afford to let the chaos of others disrupt her peace.
As reality snapped back into focus, Leila suddenly recalled that today was the day of Sarah’s birthday party, and she had planned to meet Irene. Remembering this commitment, Leila quickly gathered herself and hurried out to attend to her plans.
When Leila arrived at the meeting spot, she found Irene waiting, her anxiety palpable. As soon as Irene caught sight of Leila from a distance, she hurried over, her eyes scanning Leila meticulously from head to toe. Once Irene was satisfied that Leila appeared unharmed, her tense expression softened.
“I got so worried when you didn’t show up or answer my texts. I was just about to call the police and get in touch with Mr. Hayes,” Irene explained, her voice laden with concern.
Leila shook her head and offered a reassuring smile. She gestured to communicate that she had been held up by a minor complication earlier in the day, which had caused her delay. Leila reassured Irene that everything was alright, which helped calm her nerves.
Together, they finished preparing and made their way to the hotel where Sarah’s birthday party was being held.
“Leila!” Just as they approached the entrance, a female voice called out.
Leila turned around to find Linsey rushing toward her, a friend she hadn’t seen in quite some time. Linsey reached Leila in seconds, excitement bubbling over as she grasped Leila’s arm.
“I went abroad for a bit, and I’ve been meaning to see you as soon as I returned, but I forgot. I’ve missed you so much!” Linsey exclaimed, her enthusiasm unmistakable.
Leila was equally thrilled to reunite with her friend. She had been somewhat aware of Linsey’s travels abroad. Despite the gap since their last meeting, Leila and Linsey had stayed in close contact through messages. Yet, Leila had chosen not to share the recent troubling events in her life with Linsey.
Out of politeness, Leila gestured to ask Linsey about her brother.
Linsey’s face immediately took on a complex expression, and after a brief pause, she replied, “He just tied the knot, actually. He’s been quite wrapped up with his wife, leaving little room for much else.”
Leila was slightly taken aback by the news but quickly recovered, her surprise turning into a genuine smile. She warmly offered her sincerest congratulations, happy for Linsey’s brother despite the unexpected update. Leila gestured, a touch of surprise in her movements, indicating she hadn’t heard about the wedding and it might be too late now to send a gift, but she extended her best wishes for a happy marriage all the same.
Linsey chuckled dryly and muttered under her breath, “If he knew you said that, he might not take it too well.” Ethan had been rushed into marriage more by familial pressure than desire-a detail Leila missed in Linsey’s quiet utterance.
Glancing at her watch, Leila linked arms with Linsey, suggesting they head inside to the event.
As the trio were about to enter, a familiar voice stopped them in their tracks. Ethan appeared, his arm linked with a woman whose poise and elegance were apparent. Despite her refined appearance, her eyes held a sharp, calculating glint, and her outfit was chosen with meticulous care.
“Hi, Leila!” Ethan greeted her, his tone marked by a mix of emotions. “It’s been a while.”
Leila nodded, pausing to type a response on her phone. She looked up at him with a neutral expression and showed him the screen. “It’s good to see you! Congratulations on your marriage!”
Ethan was taken aback for a moment, but the woman beside him just smiled. “I didn’t think you’d be so kind-hearted. It looks like the rumors about you aren’t true, are they?”
Although she seemed to be praising Leila, there was always an undercurrent of something unsettling in her tone. Leila wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she sensed a chill in the woman’s gaze, brimming with animosity.
Until today, Leila hadn’t even known Ethan was married, and she had intentionally stayed away from him. Linsey stepped up with a warm smile, placing herself between Leila and the couple. “Ethan, why don’t you show your wife around? We’re going to head inside.”
Ethan’s eyes lingered on Leila with a touch of sadness. “Alright, see you inside.”
As the group dispersed, Joanna Martel dropped her pretense and frowned at Ethan, her stunning features turning icy. “Is she the one you can’t stop thinking about? What does she have that’s so special, aside from her looks? How am I not enough compared to her?” With every word, Joanna’s frustration grew.
Ethan’s patience wore thin. “It’s history now. And you saw-there was nothing untoward.”
But Joanna was relentless. “It’s only because I was there, and your sister had already mentioned you were married before I arrived. That woman is not as innocent as she looks. Without me, she’d have made a move on you.”
“Shut up!” Ethan’s voice rose sharply, his fury evident. “Leila has done nothing wrong. Why must you malign her so?”
Joanna’s expression shifted to one of hurt and disbelief. “Look at you, defending her at the drop of a hat. I’m your wife. You should be on my side, not hers.” Joanna’s voice cracked as tears started to form, signaling her distress.
Ethan exhaled deeply, confronting a harsh truth. He didn’t love Joanna, no matter what. He felt trapped. Marriage had never been in Ethan’s plans, but after being tricked into returning, and under the influence of drugs, he made an unintended commitment. By the following morning, it was irreversible.
Resolved to own his choices, Ethan was prepared to offer Joanna everything but his heart. But now, he questioned his own naivety. Joanna’s tears continued to fall in silence. Eventually, she snapped, “Oh, giving me the cold shoulder? Fine! I’ll just stir up trouble for Leila and see if you can keep your silence then.”
With those words, Joanna turned and stormed away, her high heels echoing angrily. Ethan made an attempt to stop Joanna but was unsuccessful.
Ethan promptly called Linsey. Linsey grasped the gravity of the situation, her annoyance palpable. “Ethan, I get that you’re not thrilled about this marriage, but you’re married now. You need to steer clear of Leila. Just keep your distance and avoid seeing her.”
Ethan’s response was a bitter laugh. “You think that’s even possible?”
Linsey was momentarily at a loss for words. It did seem unlikely, yet there seemed to be no alternative.
Linsey said, “The hall is massive. I’ll lead Leila away and try to steer clear of you during the event, but you’ve got to work something out. You can’t continue this way.”
Ethan exhaled heavily. “I know. I’ve given it a lot of thought. I’m going to let those feelings go. If Joanna can find peace, then I’ll strive to be a good husband. Don’t worry, I’m not foolish.”
Linsey felt a wave of relief wash over her upon hearing that.
Linsey had been conversing with Ethan in a secluded corner, but Leila had caught most of the conversation. With a frown, Leila realized she had unwittingly become a problem for the newlyweds. Simply avoiding the issue wasn’t going to fix anything. Perhaps she needed to have a conversation with Ethan’s wife.