Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Once they exited, the once-bustling living room fell silent.
Leila retreated to her room, shutting the door behind her. She reflected on Landon’s recent behavior before her thoughts became too muddled.
Leila was baffled. What on earth was going on with Landon? The Landon before the coma seemed like a completely different person compared to now.
Leila had never seen Landon so gravely sick. A persistent doubt gnawed at her. Something about Landon’s condition just didn’t seem right.
With her eyes closed, Landon’s questioning voice haunted Leila. He had asked about the father of the child she was carrying. He admitted his previous misunderstandings and expressed a desire to clarify things.
The more Leila attempted to piece things together, the more puzzled she became. Exhaling softly, she decided to attribute her turmoil to the lack of some proper rest over recent days, dismissing it as a mere figment of her imagination.
Meanwhile, Landon was back at the hospital for a comprehensive check-up. Once everything checked out okay, Edgar assisted with his discharge.
Landon gazed at his wristwatch, deep in thought. Although Edgar had given him a rundown of the events and everything seemed to be in order, doubts lingered.
Landon couldn’t shake off the nagging suspicion that there was more to it than met the eye. Why had he ended up at Leila’s place out of the blue? It was possible he had forgotten some events.
This thought sent a chill down Landon’s spine. For him, the events during the time he couldn’t remember seemed insignificant now. The real issue was the medication he had been given, which was causing more than just severe headaches. The possibility that it might impair his memory and disrupt his need for constant clarity terrified him.
“Edgar!” Landon called out loudly.
Edgar hurried into the room, concerned. “Mr. Kensington, what’s wrong?”
Landon’s face was stern. “How many days of memories have I lost?”
Edgar responded cautiously, “At least three days, sir.”
Landon’s hand clamped down on the railing, his grip tightening so much that the veins in his forearm stood out. Taking a deep breath, Landon realized he needed to alter his plans.
“Bring Leila back. Make sure our people keep a close eye on her, ensuring her safety. If it becomes necessary, send her away at the crucial moment, to a place even I can’t track,” Landon ordered. “Reach out to top specialists in brain injuries from abroad. We can’t let this illness linger any longer.”
Edgar let out a weary sigh. Landon had initially planned to endure the situation. Lately, they had been amassing more and more evidence. Yet, despite all their efforts, the mastermind remained elusive.
Realizing that the situation had spiraled out of his control, Landon made a decisive move.
As Leila exited the Hayes Group building after her workday, she spotted a familiar car in the parking lot, surrounded by recognizable faces-all of them Landon’s people.
The car sat silently beside Leila, almost as if it feared she might miss it and walk away. Leila inhaled deeply, approached the car, and tapped on the window.
The glass slid down to reveal Edgar’s face. He offered her an apologetic smile. “Madam, please, get in the car.”
Taking another deep breath, Leila pulled out her phone and began typing. “Didn’t Landon and I agree that I’d have some freedom for a while? I’ve just started at Hayes Group, and with Jerome’s health on the mend, it feels right for me to start getting out more.”
Edgar cleared his throat, beginning his explanation with a hint of formality. “Here’s the situation. Mr. Kensington still believes the best option is for you to stay at his residence. You don’t need to worry about a thing. Mr. Kensington won’t be there during your stay, nor will Miss Miller, so you’ll have complete privacy. As for your freedom, that shouldn’t concern you either. We have dedicated staff there to ensure your safety. Just inform Mr. Kensington of your plans beforehand.”
Leila let out a chuckle laced with sarcasm. “How is this any different from being watched all the time?”
Unable to come up with a rebuttal, Edgar simply exited the car and opened the door for Leila. “Madam, I have no choice. I hope you can see where I’m coming from.”
Leila inhaled deeply, pondering her limited options. She had made a promise to Landon previously. It seemed Landon still believed that keeping her close could serve as a bargaining chip against Brent.
With the immediate crisis concerning the Hayes family resolved, Leila reasoned if her compliance could spare the Hayes any further difficulties, she could endure Landon’s demands for a while longer. Without Sarah around, the complications would certainly be fewer.
Resigned, Leila climbed into the car.
At the Kensington Group, Landon had just wrapped up a meeting when he spotted Sarah waiting by the door.
Sarah seemed weary from the wait, yet her face brightened into a smile upon seeing Landon.
“Landon, I finally caught you! I’m so tired. Can we go home now?” Sarah asked with a hopeful look.
Landon pulled his hand away from Sarah’s grip, his face void of expression. “Not today. There’s too much to handle at work. I can’t leave yet.”
Sarah’s smile vanished, her lips freezing in a forced grin. This indifferent demeanor from Landon was new and unsettling.
Feeling a wave of unease, Sarah cautiously asked, “Landon, are you still upset with me for what happened to Leila?”
For the first time since the conversation began, Landon turned to face Sarah directly, his eyes piercing and cold. “Isn’t it obvious why I’m upset?”
Sarah’s voice wavered with emotion. “But Landon, you have to see things from my perspective. I love you. My actions were driven by that love. If I didn’t care about you, I wouldn’t get worked up about another woman having your child.”
As if understanding suddenly dawned on her, Sarah stepped closer to Landon, her voice tense. “You’re still in love with Leila, aren’t you? That’s why you’re so angry.”
Sarah fixed her gaze on Landon, searching his face for any hint of his thoughts. Yet, she found nothing on his poker face.
As Sarah voiced her suspicions, Landon merely sneered in response. “If you see things that way, then there’s nothing left for me to say. Since you and I can’t communicate properly for the time being, maybe it’s best we separate for a while. Go back to the Miller family, avoid looking for me, and steer clear of the Kensington’ place as well. I’ll be at the company all this while.”
Brushing off Sarah’s hand, Landon turned and left.
“Landon!” Sarah called out, her voice tinged with desperation. She moved to follow him, but Edgar stepped in her way.
Overcome with frustration and unable to contain her feelings, Sarah slapped Edgar without a second thought. “Get the hell out of my way!”
The slap took Edgar by surprise, igniting his anger. Yet, remembering his plan with Landon, he managed to suppress his fury.
“Miss Miller, I get why you’re upset, but please hear me out. Things aren’t as they seem,” Edgar remarked.
Resentment swelled in Sarah’s eyes as she clenched her teeth. “If it’s not what I’m thinking, then what is it? That bitch, Leila! Why can’t she just leave Landon alone? He doesn’t love her anymore. Can’t she see that? That shameless bitch uses the child she’s carrying to bind herself to Landon, thinking I’m powerless against her?”
The malice in Sarah’s gaze deepened.
Edgar felt a pang of annoyance and his head began to throb. He pulled her aside and said, “Miss Miller, you need to know that the child she is carrying isn’t Mr. Kensington’.”
“What did you say?” Sarah’s reaction was sluggish, caught off guard by the revelation.
Edgar explained, “Actually, the child’s father is Mr. Brent Hayes. Mr. Kensington has been keeping her close as leverage against the Hayes family. He’s been dealing with a lot of problems at the Kensington Group lately, and his health is failing. With threats both inside and outside the company, he felt he had no other option.
The hospital staff and Melinda are aware of this, though I’m not sure why Melinda told you it was Mr. Kensington’ child. Mr. Kensington is upset with you because your distrust has hurt him. I’m only sharing these confidential details because Mr. Kensington allowed me to. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare disclose such sensitive information.”
?Listo! El texto est? corregido, y el t?tulo ajustado como solicitaste.
Sarah’s mood brightened immediately at Edgar’s words. The anger vanished from her eyes, replaced by a spontaneous smile. “I knew Landon still cared about me,” she declared, her voice filled with satisfaction.
However, a touch of frustration soon colored Sarah’s tone. “But Edgar, be honest with me, is Landon so upset that he refuses to even see me?”
Edgar sighed heavily. “Miss Miller, you’re reading too much into it. If Mr. Kensington were truly that upset, would I be here discussing this with you? Everything I’ve told you comes straight from Mr. Kensington’ confidences. Should Melinda or Shirley decide to visit one day, you’ll need to be very careful not to disclose anything.”
“Of course,” Sarah agreed, nodding earnestly.
“But…” Sarah’s expression clouded with concern. “Landon is still angry with me. How can I appease him? You’ve been his confidant for years. Any suggestions?”
Edgar appeared to ponder deeply before responding, “It might be wise to heed Mr. Kensington’ suggestions. Visit his family less and refrain from seeing him at the company. Some distance might just do the trick, allowing Mr. Kensington to recognize your considerateness.”
That idea seemed to resonate with Sarah, who smiled, relieved. “Don’t worry. I get it. It’s surprising, though, how that bitch Leila managed to seduce Brent after realizing she had no chance with Landon. Given that Landon intends to use the child as leverage against Brent, I’ll hold off on any actions against her.”
After saying that, Sarah casually flipped her hair back and added, “I’ll wait a bit before going to see Landon.”
With a confident stride, Sarah then walked away in her high heels.
Edgar, feeling a wave of relief, patted his chest, thankful that he had managed to soothe Sarah. It seemed there would be a few peaceful days ahead.
Meanwhile, Leila was completely out of the loop about the tension between Landon and Sarah. Not seeing them at the Kensington’ residence, she relished the calm of the past few days.
However, Leila soon realized that this tranquility was fleeting.