Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Actually, Leila had changed her phone several times, but each time, Landon was the first to grab it from her and ensure his number was saved.
Before their marriage, Landon would boastfully declare, “If you need anything, come to me. You shouldn’t have other men’s numbers. Those schoolboys are clueless and no good. You’re a little naive and I don’t want them to trick you.”
Once married, Landon’s tone shifted slightly. “Call me if there’s trouble. I don’t want to have to track you down if something happens. It’s too much of an inconvenience.”
As Stan began dialing Landon’s number, a wave of panic washed over Leila. The thought of confronting those painful words filled her with trepidation. She preferred Landon to ignore her messages altogether, as indifferent as he always was.
Desperate, Leila reached out to snatch her phone back from Stan.
Dodging her hand, Stan sneered, “Why so nervous? Scared I’ll uncover something?”
Before Leila’s fingers could even brush her phone, she heard Landon’s dispassionate voice from the other end. “What’s up?” His query was brief.
A lump formed in Leila’s throat. So, he had been near his phone. It had rung for merely two seconds before he picked up.
At Leila’s silence, Landon seemingly grew impatient. “If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. I need to go backstage to meet Sarah.”
Stan glanced at Leila, whose eyes were brimming with tears, and then signaled to Courtney.
Courtney got the cue and brought over a burly man whose expression was fierce.
Just as Landon was about to end the call, the burly man interjected sharply, “Landon Kensington, right? I have your wife now. If you don’t come to the address I’m sending within half an hour, you know the consequences.”
Landon went silent.
Although Leila didn’t harbor any hope, her heart raced during these silent moments.
Suddenly, Landon chuckled icily. “What? Do you want to kill her? Be my guest. Leila, I never expected you to resort to such a kidnapping ruse just to catch my eye. You know today’s award ceremony means everything to Sarah, yet you chose to disrupt it. You’ve truly let me down.”
Leila closed her eyes. Landon’s response was within her expectations. Yet, why did her heart still ache?
Stan instantly grinned, signaling the burly man to end the call.
This time, as Stan looked at Leila, his gaze softened with a trace of sympathy. “I thought you and Landon were staging a charade to fool me. Now, it seems I’ve underestimated how cold Landon can be. After years of marriage, he harbors no affection for you.”
Leila’s face remained stoic, choosing not to reply.
Stan stood up, gesturing for the others to escort Leila away. “Leila, you’ve lost the bet. If you must blame someone, blame Landon, not me. Remember, Landon is the one who abandoned you.”
Meanwhile, Landon, staring at his phone, fought the urge to call back. He tossed his phone aside, clenched his fists, and struck the wall forcefully.
Edgar, alarmed by Landon’s aggressive demeanor, quickly pressed the technical team. “How’s it going? Have you located them yet?”
“The call was brief, but it was enough.”
Landon regained his composure and stated icily, “If you can’t find her location, you’re fired.”
Five minutes later, an uplifting piece of news came. Leila’s location was pinpointed. It was in an old residential building on the neighboring hill.
Landon immediately prepared to head there with his team.
Edgar intervened, “Mr. Kensington, please, don’t act rashly.”
Landon’s expression remained stern. “No matter what, I must confront the person behind all this today.”
Elsewhere, after Leila was bound and placed in the car, Courtney returned to Stan, clearly upset. “Mr. Kensington, I don’t understand why you treat her with such courtesy. She’s merely a schemer. She deceived that naive old man into letting her stay with the Kensington family. That old man preferred Leila over you coming home. Doesn’t that infuriate you?”
“What’s the point of bothering with that?” Stan, reclining with his eyes closed, responded with a sardonic smile. “Turning the tables on Landon is what truly matters. Courtney, I’ve mentioned before that she is carrying Landon’s child. Calm yourself.”
Courtney was not reconciled. “But aren’t you confirmed that Landon doesn’t care about Leila at all? You heard his tone. Sarah is the only one he loves. Why waste our energy on Leila? Besides, Sarah and Landon are still young. Having children is just a matter of time for them.”
Abruptly, Stan opened his eyes and fixed Courtney with a steady gaze. “Sarah will not have children.”
His offhand comment caused Courtney to shudder.
Observing Stan’s resolute expression, Courtney realized he was not misleading her. She was left at a loss for words.
Stan continued, “Thus, the child Leila is carrying becomes my biggest bargaining chip. I must ensure her safety and the baby’s delivery.”
Courtney pursed her lips together, her reluctance to accept Stan’s words evident. Deep down, she acknowledged the logic in Stan’s argument.
Previously, when Stan had approached Melinda for his schemes, Courtney merely felt displeased.
This time, however, Stan’s attitude toward Leila triggered a sense of unease in Courtney.
Stan was known for his rigid demeanor. Yet, his unexpected gentleness toward Leila was striking. This clearly indicated his interest in her.
Oblivious to the shadow of disquiet in Courtney’s gaze, Stan merely waved her off. “Take her back first,” he instructed.
Courtney raised her eyebrows, slightly taken aback. “Aren’t you coming with us?”
Stan’s sneer was sharp. “When Landon regains his wits, he’ll realize the truth in Leila’s messages. Landon, groomed to command obedience as the heir of the Kensington dynasty, might disregard Leila’s well-being, yet they remain married. Someone is now challenging him by attempting to whisk away his wife. This will undoubtedly provoke him. I suspect he will soon be after me. Let’s divide our men into two groups. You’ll escort Leila discreetly. This should throw him off.”
Understanding the plan, Courtney nodded, her anxiety palpable. “Landon is not someone easy to deal with,” she remarked.
Stan smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry about me. Just ensure Leila’s safety and don’t let anything happen to her.”
“You care too much about her,” Courtney responded, her tone tinged with displeasure.
Stan closed his eyes and said nothing.
It didn’t take long to prove Stan had guessed it right.
Although Stan had blocked one route intentionally, there were several other winding paths available.
Stan’s men opted for the broadest trail to descend the mountain. However, they were swiftly intercepted.
Edgar and his team quickly subdued Stan’s men, but a thorough search of each vehicle revealed no sign of Leila.
Meanwhile, Courtney was leading Leila through the woods.
Actually, there was a drivable road downhill on this side, but Courtney was deliberately complicating Leila’s journey.
Leila, already weakened by the day’s earlier shocks, turned even paler under this torment.
Seeing Leila’s fragile state only increased Courtney’s displeasure.
Courtney scoffed. “Who are you trying to gain sympathy from? You only know how to play the victim. Disgusting!”
Leila chose not to engage with Courtney’s hostility. She extricated herself from Courtney’s grasp and found a spot to sit and rest alone.
Leila was aware that Stan had no intention of killing her. As one of Stan’s subordinates, Courtney wouldn’t dare contravene his commands.
Courtney, sensing Leila’s understanding, felt a surge of irritation mixed with embarrassment. She glared at Leila. “Don’t forget, I’m a doctor. While I won’t harm you or your unborn child, I know how to make you miserable.”
Leila looked up at Courtney with a hint of confusion and then took out her phone to type a message. “You like that man, right? Why? He clearly seems to be using you.”
The smile on Courtney’s face suddenly froze, and anger flashed in her eyes. “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s not your place to meddle in my affairs.”
Leila, however, smiled knowingly. She swiftly typed her response on her phone. “No need to get angry or feel embarrassed. It’s almost as clear as day that he’s been using you. I just want to advise you not to place a man’s love above all else. Whether he loves you or not, I can tell at a glance. You’re a talented doctor. Why compromise yourself this way?”
“Shut up!” Courtney snapped, her anger boiling over.
Courtney then raised her hand and violently smashed Leila’s phone to the ground. “Who are you to judge me? You’re a pathetic mute! Just because you failed to keep a man’s heart, do you assume all women are like you?”