Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Seeing Courtney getting emotional, Leila felt a sudden wave of sorrow. Why must Courtney resign herself to a life filled with illusory and fleeting love?
Leila sympathized with Courtney. In her eyes, Courtney was undeniably pretty, her competent charm irresistible. Moreover, Courtney was such a skilled doctor. If she hadn’t entangled herself in Stan’s schemes, she might have had a bright future.
Yet, for those too stubborn to reconsider their paths, no amount of persuasion would suffice.
Setting aside her turbulent thoughts, Leila was slightly relieved since she had reached her objective by provoking Courtney with those words.
Leila covertly glanced at her phone lying in the grass. She reasoned that despite Landon’s seeming indifference toward her and lack of any intention of rescuing her, he wouldn’t tolerate anyone provoking him by abducting her.
Leila was pretty sure that Landon would soon sense something was amiss, leading to his speculation of her being taken away. She hoped her phone in the grass would provide him with further clues.
Perhaps because Leila’s words had struck a nerve, Courtney grew visibly agitated and abruptly yanked Leila to her feet.
Courtney roughly pushed Leila forward, barking, “Hurry up and move! What are you waiting for?”
Leila clenched her teeth, wary of what Courtney might do in a fit of rage, and compliantly advanced.
After receiving Edgar’s report, Landon’s expression turned even icier. The orchestrator behind the scenes was cleverer than he had anticipated.
Edgar queried over the phone, “Should our men comb the mountain thoroughly?”
“No need.” Landon inhaled deeply and remarked, “Since I’ve shown that I don’t care about Leila, there’s no reason to act in a way that might arouse their suspicions. Besides, if their sole intent was to end Leila’s life, they would have simply killed her and departed. There’s no need for these mind games. It’s possible they have other motives. For now, Leila isn’t in immediate danger.”
Edgar found the rationale compelling but couldn’t help asking, “Mr. Kensington, why are you still ascending the mountain?”
Landon had reached the location pinpointed by the tech team where Leila was amid the phone call. Staring at the ordinary small house before him, his gaze hardened with malice. “The mastermind behind this insists on a face-to-face meeting. How could I refuse such an invitation?”
Landon swung open the door and spotted a man murmuring words about wishing Roderick rest in peace, his head lowered. The man’s actions seemed to display deep respect.
Landon gazed at the man’s back icily and said, “No need for theatrics. Who exactly are you?”
Feigning surprise, Stan turned his head. He didn’t wear his mask. Flashing a smile at Landon, he said, “I didn’t expect you to hold me in such high regard as to meet me in person. Does this mean you consider me a genuine threat?”
Landon eyed Stan, finding the latter unfamiliar. Logically speaking, Stan’s terrifying scar should have left an impression on him, should they have met before. Yet, Landon racked his brain but could not place any memory of Stan.
“Who are you?” Landon inquired.
The smile on Stan’s face instantly vanished. He straightened up his clothes slowly, his eyes glinting with a chilling intensity.
Stan advanced toward Landon, step by deliberate step. “Mr. Kensington, does my appearance look like a demon crawled up from hell? Have you ever thought that a casual remark you made years ago might have led to the deaths of two innocents?”
As he listened, Landon’s confusion deepened. “I really don’t recognize you. Have you mistaken me for someone else?”
Stan got emotional at Landon’s words. He charged forward and gripped Landon’s collar. “I am not mistaken. I remembered it clearly! It was definitely you!”
Witnessing Stan’s frenzied state, Landon instantly became alert. He swiftly raised his hand and delivered a forceful punch.
Stan reeled back from the impact, panting heavily, his eyes on Landon filled with the ferocity of a wild animal confronting its prey.
Blood trickled from the corner of Stan’s mouth.
Unfazed by pain, Stan raised his hand with deliberate slowness to clean the blood.
Landon’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. His patience had worn thin. Stan seemed unhinged to him.
Landon stated, “I’m not interested in what had happened between you and the person you had mistaken me for. I have just one question for you. Are you certain you want to play against me? And to ally yourself with the likes of Dean? I must say that’s such a lousy idea.”
Stan’s smile was chilling. “Dean might be a fool, but you deserve to die. No matter who I collaborate with, my goal is to never rest until you are dead.”
Landon’s anger flared, and his voice turned icy. “You might get the wrong idea about my temper. Make it past this doorway today, and I’ll make sure your end is particularly gruesome.”
Unshaken, Stan provoked Landon, saying, “Prove your strength then. Show me how you intend to end my life.”
With a swift move, Landon grabbed Stan by the collar, his taller frame intensifying the intimidation.
Stan locked eyes with Landon, a flicker of envy visible in his gaze. Landon had grown up enjoying the best educational conditions in the Kensington family.
Landon never harbored the deep-seated inferiority that plagued Stan, who always felt inadequate compared to others.
Stan remembered the first time he saw Landon on TV. Landon was dazzling, as if destined to be God’s favorite.
Now, face to face with Landon, Stan realized the media’s praises of Landon were not exaggerations.
Landon exuded the natural aura of a born leader, something Dean sorely lacked.
Stan was overwhelmed with envy. Why? Why did he have to live like a rat in the gutter while Landon had everything? Why?
Landon tightened his grip on Stan’s collar with minimal effort. His indifferent dark eyes reflected Stan’s pitiful state.
Landon remarked, “I’ll say this one last time. No matter your intentions, don’t try to provoke me, especially on my turf. Hand over Leila, or today will mark your miserable end.”
Unexpectedly, Stan laughed, looking rather pleased with the confrontation. “Mr. Kensington, don’t underestimate the threats you’re facing. I have already drugged you. Want to know what else I will pull off? Try me.”
As Landon heard these words, a sharp sting punctured his finger. He glanced down to discover a needle hidden in Stan’s collar.
Releasing his grip, Landon staggered back a few steps. Drowsiness overwhelmed him swiftly.
Before blacking out, the last thing Landon saw was Stan’s smug grin.
When Landon regained consciousness, darkness had fallen. Edgar had been by Landon’s side, relieved to see him awaken.
Edgar said worriedly, “Mr. Kensington, it was too risky to go in alone. I didn’t dare move you to a hospital without your orders since you had passed out. I think you should get a full check-up. Who knows what he might have done to you?”
Still grappling with a throbbing headache, Landon massaged his temples and inquired, “Where is he?”
A hint of guilt colored Edgar’s response. “I’m sorry. I failed to catch him.”
Landon was not surprised by the outcome. “That man is very smart. I didn’t expect to catch him this time. The way he looks at me, it’s pure hatred. It makes things complicated.”
Edgar quickly said, “Don’t worry, Mr. Kensington. I will thoroughly investigate his background.”
But Landon shook his head. “Things are never simple. If he’s willing to go to such lengths to bring me down, even risking his own life, that indicates a level of danger we can’t ignore. I suspect there might be a connection to the Kensington family. Start by looking into Dean’s social connections.”
“Understood.”
Just then, someone knocked on the car window.
Landon’s bodyguards approached with a few dogs. One of the bodyguards handed over a mobile phone sealed in a plastic bag. “Mr. Kensington, we found this on the back mountain.”
Landon recognized it as Leila’s phone immediately. He glanced at it and instructed, “Take this for fingerprint analysis.”
“Understood.”
Elsewhere, Leila, having been dragged down the mountain by Courtney, reached the foot of the mountain with legs so weak that she could barely stand.
At this time, a black car pulled up in front of them.
The window rolled down to reveal Stan’s face. He first observed the exhausted Leila and then cast a cold glance at Courtney.
Initially, Courtney felt guilty, but Stan’s reproachful gaze quickly ignited her anger. She suppressed her emotions and rudely pushed Leila forward. “Get in the car.”
Too exhausted to argue, Leila simply opened the car door and sat inside.
As Courtney attempted to follow Leila into the car, Stan ordered, “You go to the car behind.”