Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Elsewhere, the Kensington family shared Sarah’s mixed emotions.
Dean and Stan were preoccupied with expelling Landon from the family, leaving Melinda to represent them at the welcoming banquet the Nixon family had held for Leila.
Truth be told, Melinda had no desire to attend the banquet.
The news of Leila’s acceptance into the esteemed Nixon family had already swept through Burmoos.
Disbelief washed over Melinda when she first heard this. She even questioned whether she was experiencing auditory hallucinations.
In Melinda’s eyes, Leila was supposed to be as miserable as Landon. Moreover, hadn’t Stan captured her? How had she returned unharmed? Not only had she come back, but she had also emerged as the progeny of a wealthy family.
Recalling her previous actions against Leila, Melinda’s anxiety began to spike. Unsure whether Leila would seek retribution, she felt powerless in the situation. She clenched her hand tightly, her nerves frayed.
The highlight of today’s event made a spectacular entrance before long.
As Leila stepped in, draped in her opulent gown, she immediately captured everyone’s gaze.
The previous sneers and skepticism stopped abruptly.
Indeed, it was clear to any observant onlooker that Leila’s ensemble was extraordinarily valuable, likely valued at no less than fifty million dollars.
Even Sarah and Melinda found themselves battling pangs of envy.
Sarah, in particular, felt her jealousy surge. She clenched the fabric of her own dress so fiercely that it nearly ripped.
“That fucking bitch! Why must she parade around like she owns the place?” Sarah fumed silently.
Although it was well-known that the Nixon family possessed immense wealth, Leila’s lavish attire for a mere banquet was truly breathtaking.
Her following was even more impressive, comprising an array of staff including servants, physicians, and cooks, every conceivable type of attendant.
This, as some pointed out, was due to Tyrone’s profound affection for Leila. Now that she was expecting, his vigilance had only intensified. Each attendant had a specific role in ensuring her well-being throughout her pregnancy.
Leila’s eyes swept across the gathering. A few faces stood out, stirring a whirlwind of emotions within her. Those who had once belittled and scorned her now regarded her with awe and respect.
It was clear to Leila that in this world, wealth and power reigned supreme.
Today, Tyrone was unusually upbeat. His illness hadn’t flared up for several days since Leila’s return.
Tyrone stood by Leila’s side, leaning on an attendant for support, his gaze brimming with pride and joy. “You truly are my granddaughter. You bear such a resemblance to your mother. Your demeanor carries the unmistakable mark of the Nixon lineage.”
Other relatives from the Nixon family trailed behind them.
Although Bria had braced herself, the sight of the glowing Leila still made her clench her jaw in bitterness. She shot Klein a look full of complaint.
Klein dipped his head slightly and murmured a warning that only the two of them could hear, “Think about our schemes. Don’t let your envy sabotage our efforts.”
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Bria felt aggrieved. “Klein, do you ever consider my feelings? At such gatherings, I used to be the center of attention. Even if this is part of our scheme, you’re showing too much favor to Leila. Do you actually see her as your cousin? Why are you silent? I’m beginning to doubt whether you really want to support me.”
Klein furrowed his brow, his tone laced with impatience as he scolded in a low voice, “This is precisely why you won’t achieve anything remarkable. You can’t even handle this minor setback. What greatness can I expect you to achieve? You’re generally so sharp. Why do you lose all your sense when jealousy takes hold?”
Klein seldom used such a harsh tone with Bria. This made Bria feel even more aggrieved, causing tears to gather in her eyes.
Bria clenched her teeth, huffed, and stepped aside.
Watching Bria’s reaction, Klein could only sigh inwardly, feeling helpless.
Meanwhile, Tyrone took Leila around and mingled with the guests, aiming for her to establish herself within the elite circles of Burmoos as his granddaughter.
Although Leila had never shared details of her past life with Tyrone, Ewing had conducted the investigation.
Leila had been orphaned at a young age. While Roderick was alive, she had led a relatively comfortable life. However, after his death, she endured much hardship. Being mute, she had borne many injustices in silence over the years.
Tyrone was well aware of the wrongs Landon and Sarah had inflicted upon Leila. He hadn’t acted against them because he thought little of them. However, he resolved that if they continued to provoke Leila, he would no longer hold back.
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As these thoughts crossed Tyrone’s mind, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
At that moment, Sarah approached, linked arm in arm with a mixed-race man, her smile wide yet somewhat exaggerated.
Although the man wasn’t strikingly handsome, his well-defined features lent him a certain appeal.
Carrying her wine glass, Sarah walked up to Leila and Tyrone, accompanied by the man.
“Ms. Sinclair, it’s been a while,” Sarah said with a smile.
Leila gave Sarah a brief, indifferent glance before quickly looking away.
Sarah’s smile faltered slightly under the weight of Leila’s icy reception.
Tyrone, frowning slightly, addressed Sarah, “Miss, how can I assist you? It seems my granddaughter isn’t keen on chatting, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t block our way.”
His words drew a chuckle from someone nearby, which only added to the tension.
Sarah’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, yet she made no move to walk away.
Sarah glanced at the man beside her, lifted her chin with pride, and straightened her posture. “Mr. Tyrone Nixon,” she began, her voice laced with a hint of grievance. “Don’t you remember me? Weren’t you the one who told Mr. Ewing Nixon that I left a lasting impression on you? At your birthday party, I was right there beside you.”
Sarah’s words stirred the memories of the onlookers.
Indeed, Sarah had been at Tyrone’s side during the celebration, a fact that cast her in a new light among the crowd.
Tyrone’s prominent status meant that anyone he chose to keep close was considered noteworthy.
A short distance away, Bria overheard Sarah’s bold claim and felt a surge of irritation. She was about to step forward and confront Sarah when Noemi quickly held her back.
“Miss Nixon, hold on,” Noemi said calmly. “It seems she’s targeting Leila. Let’s just see how this unfolds.”
Bria huffed, “I’m no fan of Leila, but Sarah’s no better. Well, I might as well enjoy the drama.”
Back at his birthday celebration, Tyrone was lost in his own troubled thoughts. Though he vaguely remembered Sarah, his recollections were clouded by loathing.
Tyrone furrowed his brow, struggling to unearth the reason behind his dislike for Sarah.
To Sarah, however, Tyrone’s perturbed expression was an affirmation of her words, further fueling her confidence. Her smirk widened.
Clutching the hand of the man next to her, Sarah raised her voice a notch. “Allow me to introduce someone. This is my new boyfriend, Paul Morales, a noble from Ferelden. I believe the Nixon family has connections there too, right, Mr. Nixon? I think you might like to meet him.”
With these words, Sarah shot Leila a look of sheer triumph.
Leila stifled a laugh and stepped back to enjoy the show.
Tyrone looked at Sarah, his confusion deepening.
Oblivious to his reaction, Sarah pressed on with her boasting. “Forging ties with Ferelden’s nobility could certainly advance the Nixon family’s interests. Mr. Nixon, there’s no need for embarrassment. Despite my grievances with Leila over past interferences, I hold her in high regard and wanted to present this opportunity. Relax. I’m just here to lend a hand.”
With a gentle pull on Paul’s hand, Sarah cued him to straighten up.
To everyone’s surprise, Paul stepped forward and executed a respectful bow to Tyrone, uttering a greeting in the native tongue, “Hello, Mr. Nixon.”
At Paul’s greeting, Tyrone finally nodded, his face relaxing.