Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
A flicker of confusion crossed Irene’s face, revealing a storm of mixed feelings. “It’s their matter. I can’t say for sure, but Leila has always thought of Mr. Hayes as nothing more than a brother.”
Linsey nodded in understanding. “That makes sense. Given her current state, she’s likely not interested in any romantic prospects for the time being. It’s fortunate she has us as friends. Relying on a man for her and her child’s future is a gamble.”
Just then, the chopping sound of helicopter blades cut through their conversation.
All heads turned skyward as a helicopter swooped in, scattering a deluge of flower petals in its wake. It was a spectacular petal rain.
Plop! A gift bag, adorned with festive wrapping, descended from the helicopter, tethered to a small parachute. It landed precisely at Sarah’s feet.
Overwhelmed with excitement, Sarah’s cheeks turned a rosy tint as she cast loving glances at Landon beside her.
Sarah cherished such dramatic presentations, barely interested in the contents of the box itself. The grand gesture was what truly mattered. And, most importantly, it came from Landon.
Sarah could already visualize tomorrow’s headlines, heralding her grand birthday celebration that would be the talk of the town. Everyone would see just how much Landon adored her.
Linsey, a bit surprised yet amused, couldn’t help but comment. “When did Landon develop such questionable taste? Look at these flower petals. They’re so tacky and obviously fake, just cheap cloth.”
Irene, stifling a laugh, leaned closer to Linsey. “A few years back, I went to a golden wedding anniversary. They had hired a firm to deck out the venue. It looked just like this-opulent and flashy but frankly, in poor taste.”
Linsey caught on instantly. “Oh, you mean…”
Irene gave Linsey a knowing smile but chose not to elaborate.
They both glanced at Sarah and Landon.
Sarah beamed, radiating happiness, while Landon’s expression was one of disinterest.
Amidst the cascade of tacky petals, the irony of the scene was unmistakable.
Linsey snickered, “Sarah thinks she’s struck gold, not realizing it’s something nobody else wanted.”
Irene looked around, her thoughts turning to Leila. Leila had been absent earlier, possibly intentionally, but even amidst all the spectacle, Leila was still nowhere to be seen.
Despite the frosty relationship between Leila and Landon, Irene noticed moments when Leila seemed unable to completely detach herself.
Given the circumstances, Irene was puzzled by Leila’s continued absence.
A feeling of discomfort settled over Irene.
Suddenly, the backyard erupted with noise from a nearby room, accompanied by a woman’s loud curses. The language was harsh, cutting through the air and demanding attention.
Sarah perked up immediately, her interest piqued as she raised her voice deliberately. “What’s going on there? Let’s check it out!”
At that moment, Irene acted quickly, leaning in to discreetly hand Linsey a business card. “Leila might be in trouble. Sarah’s people could be watching. This is Mr. Hayes’ card. Call him when you get the chance.”
Linsey caught on to Irene’s subtle cue instantly, accepting the card and maneuvering her way out through the crowd.
Landon’s expression darkened as he trailed behind Sarah toward the commotion.
Inside, the volume of swearing intensified. It seemed a woman had caught her husband cheating, caught him in bed with another woman.
The man was desperately trying to defend himself, claiming his drunken state was to blame and that the woman had taken advantage of that to join him in bed, insisting it was all a misunderstanding.
Sarah offered a barely noticeable smile before stepping forward to handle the situation. “I’m really sorry for this disruption at my gathering. Please assist the couple in resolving their issues. Let’s keep it private and not spread rumors.”
To the onlookers, Sarah’s words seemed utterly absurd. She might as well have been encouraging them to spread the rumors, since some already had their phones out, poised to record.
Sarah was about to push the door open when Landon caught her hand. “Forget it. There’s nothing pleasant to see here. It is indecent. Better not to spread it. Take the guests to the front hall. I’ll take care of this.”
Sarah was displeased. “I don’t see what the issue is. After all, I put this party together. If I let some brazen woman wreak havoc on another family, it’s on me. Landon, I appreciate your concern and that you don’t want me to get hurt. I’m fine. I can handle it.”
Yet Landon’s grip remained firm.
Sarah eyed him with suspicion. “Landon, what’s going on? Didn’t you tell me today’s my birthday and I call the shots? Or do you know who this shameless woman is?”
Landon gave a soft laugh. “Why would I know?”
He finally released her hand, cautioning her once more. “Just be careful.”
His eyes, however, betrayed a turbulent undercurrent.
Sarah’s tension eased, and she grinned mischievously, fluttering her eyelashes. “I knew it. You just can’t help but worry about me.”
As Sarah swung the door open, a few audacious individuals slipped in behind her.
Seizing the moment, Landon swiftly sent a message to Edgar.
The crowd surged into the room, causing quite a commotion.
Leila’s cheeks burned, still feeling the effects of the drug. Her limbs felt weak and devoid of energy.
The sound of heated arguments buzzed in Leila’s ears, with one woman’s shrill voice cutting through, occasionally pinching her harshly while spewing insults.
The pain sharply awakened Leila. She blinked open her eyes, struggling to make sense of her surroundings.
“My God!” Sarah’s voice escalated as she drew a few people closer. “Can you believe this? We actually know this woman!”
Leila, looking disheveled, lay on the bed next to a man who was shirtless and equally disoriented.
The room was in utter chaos.
A bystander whipped out a phone, nearly thrusting it in Leila’s face to take pictures.
Slowly, Leila propped herself up, her mind piecing together the situation.
The man, noticing Leila’s awareness, seemed to see her as his last hope. He fell to his knees with a heavy thud. “Miss, please, clear things up with my wife. You mentioned you felt sick from the drinks, and I was merely helping you back here,” he pleaded.
The man said, “As soon as we entered the room, you began to undress and try to seduce me. I’d had a bit to drink too, which clouded my judgment, and that’s how I ended up with you. But I’m not at fault here! You need to explain this to my wife!”
The woman shot back with a string of curses. “You might look attractive, but your actions are utterly shameless. Are you so desperate that any man would suffice? Ugh, you’re disgusting!”
A mocking laugh came from the crowd. “You might not be aware, but this woman is going through a divorce. Seems like she’s desperate for any company.”
Leila, however, ignored the comments and inspected her appearance. Her clothes were a bit messy, but her undergarments were intact.
She remembered checking the time before she blacked out. It seemed she had only been unconscious for seven or eight minutes. It was unlikely that the man had time to do anything.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Leila’s thoughts began to clear. Looking at the hostile faces around her, it dawned on her that she had been framed.
Leila remained composed and began typing on her phone: “Who are you? I don’t know you. I was drugged, and when I came to, I found myself in this mess. I think someone drugged me. We should call the police and have them sort this out.”
Before Leila could involve the police, Sarah’s voice rang out sharply. “Leila, what are you implying? You think I drugged you? I haven’t even brought up your antics at my birthday party, and now you’re creating a spectacle and planning to call the cops just to humiliate me?”
Tears began to stream down Sarah’s cheeks as she continued, “I invited you to my birthday party out of kindness, and this is how you repay me? By trying to ruin my birthday?”
In a swift motion, the woman grabbed Leila’s phone and hurled it to the ground, shattering it. Her fury didn’t subside as she shouted, “You think I don’t see through your plan? You’re just a little tramp trying to drum up some support, aren’t you? Well, guess what? You’re not leaving until you pay for this. No one’s going to help you now.”
With her phone destroyed, contacting the police became impossible for Leila.
To make matters worse, no one present could understand sign language, leaving Leila even more isolated.
Capitalizing on the silence, Sarah declared, “If she doesn’t speak up in her defense, she’s essentially confessing. Look at her closely, everyone, and remember to steer clear of her. She’s nothing but trouble!”
Murmurs spread among the bystanders.