Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
From a child’s perspective, the boundaries of right and wrong were often blurred.
The boy likely didn’t even know his actions were illegal. He only sensed that he had done something wrong.
Suddenly, the boy covered his eyes with his hands and began to sob. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean any harm. I just wanted some of the leftover food from today’s feast. But that intimidating lady said I had to help her, or she’d call me a thief. I had no choice.”
Leila exhaled deeply, a mix of frustration and pity settling in. She turned to Irene and asked her to help find the boy’s real parents.
Irene looked back at Leila, her expression filled with confusion. “This boy can confirm that Sarah was behind all of this. Leila, are you really going to let this go?”
Leila shook her head decisively. Naturally, she had no intention of letting it slide, nor did she feel any inclination to forgive Sarah.
However, the boy was innocent. Dragging him into a public dispute to testify against Sarah would likely expose him and his family to serious backlash.
Leila’s expression grew stern as she considered further.
During the earlier argument between that couple, when the wife had implored Leila to take the child away, Landon had been present. If Landon were to see this child now, he would understand the full scope of what had occurred.
However, Leila had little faith that Landon would support her. It was more likely that he might do something drastic for the sake of Sarah’s reputation.
Despite having concrete evidence, Leila felt powerless to act against Sarah. With Landon’s support behind Sarah, her hands were effectively tied.
Leila realized she had to let this incident pass for now, but she silently vowed not to forget it and to find a way to even the score with Sarah eventually.
As Irene led the boy away, Leila turned and noticed the senior man had been watching her intently the entire time. His gaze seemed to carry a hint of recognition.
Curious, Leila used gestures to inquire if he had located the person he was searching for.
The senior man shook his head sadly. “I can’t recall her face or name anymore, but I know I need to find her.”
Leila nodded, empathy filling her as she realized there was little she could do to assist him.
She extended an offer of help if he could recall any details about the person he was searching for. With her wide network of contacts, she felt confident in her ability to locate almost anyone.
The senior man, however, politely declined her offer. He insisted that it was a personal matter and did not wish to impose on anyone else.
After their conversation, the senior man chose not to rejoin the festivities. Instead, he slipped out through the back door, seeking a quiet exit.
Unbeknownst to the senior man, a group of Sarah’s associates was waiting outside.
As he emerged, they quickly closed in around him, their faces twisting into malicious grins.
“Hey, you messed up Miss Miller’s plans. Got a death wish?” one of them sneered.
“He’s just an old bag of bones trying to play the hero. Pathetic! Should we break his hands or his feet to teach him a lesson?”
The senior man met their threats with a cold, authoritative stare. “Back off!” he commanded sharply.
Their patience frayed, the group lost their composure and, brandishing clubs, advanced toward the senior man with menacing intent.
However, before they could reach the senior man, several burly men intervened, swiftly restraining the aggressors.
At that moment, a convoy of black cars pulled up, with a stretched Lincoln prominently in the center.
A figure quickly stepped out, opened the car door with deference, and assisted the senior man into the vehicle. The assailants watched in stunned silence, their hostile demeanor replaced by sheer astonishment. Who was this old-timer? Some kind of big shot?
Before the group could further process their surprise, they found themselves forcefully subdued by the burly men.
One burly man pressed his boot firmly against the backs of their hands, his voice icy as he issued a stern warning. “You shouldn’t disrespect your elders. Such mistakes could cost you dearly. Cross our master again, and you won’t live to regret it.”
Meanwhile, in the background, the window of a sleek Maybach lowered. A distinguished man with glasses surveyed the scene with detached interest. After a brief pause, he issued a dismissive command. “Let’s go. This isn’t worth our time.”
With that, he signaled to the driver. The window rolled up silently, and the luxurious car pulled away smoothly.
The driver exhaled a heavy, resigned sigh, hinting at a deeper concern. “Sir, your grandfather’s condition is deteriorating. This time, he traveled all the way from Ferelden to Avalon. Pursuing him has wasted you three months.”
“Wasted?” The man in the back seat scoffed sharply. “You think searching for my grandfather is a waste?”
The driver, realizing his misstep, hurriedly backpedaled. “No, sir, that’s not what I meant. I was just considering… if he truly wished to find…”
“Let him search,” the man interrupted, his tone firm yet reflective. “After all, she is my aunt’s daughter. It’s high time she reconnected with her family. My father and uncles have all been waiting for this day. Increase the surveillance on my grandfather. If anyone bullies him again, consider yourselves unemployed.”
“Yes, sir,” the driver responded promptly, nodding in earnest agreement as he focused on the road ahead.
The man absently twisted the ring on his finger, his gaze icy and sharp. “By the way, I heard someone exploited my grandpa’s condition to bring him here. Who was it?”
“If my memory serves me well, the surname is Miller,” the driver replied cautiously.
“Look into it,” the man commanded succinctly.
The convoy slowed to a halt outside the most opulent villa in the city.
As the man stepped out of the car, he muttered with a trace of scorn, “Despite the family living abroad, we still need to keep this place pristine. My grandpa insists on moving back here, clinging to his ‘returning to one’s roots’ sentiment.”
A line of aides trailed behind him, each nodding and murmuring their agreement with palpable enthusiasm.
Approaching the Lincoln, the man opened the door with due respect, helping the senior man out. His voice softened as he said, “Grandpa, we’re home.”
The senior man’s mental state oscillated between clarity and confusion. In a particularly muddled moment, he stared at everything around him with a mix of blankness and irritation, making an attempt to remove his hearing aids.
The young man intervened swiftly, soothing the senior man with gentle persuasion until the senior found his peace.
With the young man’s assistance, the senior man exited the vehicle. As he steadied himself, a sudden spark of recognition lit his features. “I found your cousin. I found her,” he declared with certainty.
Surprised and tinged with excitement, the young man queried, “Really? Where did you see her?”
The senior man’s brow creased as he struggled to dredge up the memory. “She was at the spot where you picked me up. Remind me, who was she exactly? What was her name?”
Concerned that the strain of remembering might cause discomfort to his grandfather, the young man suggested a rest and turned his thoughts inward.
Despite his grandfather’s intermittent confusion, he seldom spoke without some underlying truth. The assertion he had made probably held some weight. Who could this woman be?
The young man’s thoughts raced to Sarah, the one responsible for his grandfather’s journey to Avalon. Given his grandfather’s resolute nature, few could influence him otherwise. It seemed plausible.
Resolved, the young man instructed urgently, “Go find out everything about Sarah. Arrange for her to meet me in three days.”
“Yes, sir.”
Despite Sarah’s failed attempt to ruin Leila earlier, Sarah’s birthday celebration continued uninterrupted.
At the party, Sarah performed an elaborate apology to Leila, her face awash with feigned remorse.
Leila wasn’t fooled. She sensed that Sarah’s apology was merely a tactic to make her stay.
Then, Sarah presented a gift that Landon had given her. It was a blue crystal necklace.
Although not of the finest quality, it bore significance because it came from Landon.
“Leila, I’m really happy you could make it to my birthday,” Sarah began, her voice dripping with regret. “I honestly didn’t expect things to turn out like this. I pride myself on my strong moral compass, and I initially thought you had acted rashly. I realize now that I was mistaken. Please, take this gift as a token of peace, and let’s move beyond this.”
As Sarah spoke, her eyes shimmered with feigned sincerity.
Those around them, aware of the strained dynamics between Leila and Sarah, commended Sarah for her composure and her magnanimous gesture toward Leila.
But Leila saw through it all. The sincerity of Sarah’s apology was irrelevant. The real intent behind offering a gift from Landon was to provoke her.