Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila continued with her gestures, which were translated with precision. “Make time to visit Bria in the hospital. I’m not a fool, and neither is she. She likely has things to discuss with you.”
Klein clenched his teeth, responding tersely, “She’s my sister. Naturally, I’ll see her. My concerns for her have been overwhelming since her accident today. Thanks for the reminder, though.” With that, Klein stormed off.
Leila’s eyes then drifted to Landon, who was bidding farewell to Ewing.
Landon avoided her gaze, maintaining a cool and detached demeanor, as if he had not just defended her moments ago.
As the crowd began to thin, whispers of gossip still reached Leila’s ears.
“If I were Landon, I’d be mortified to even step foot here. It’s downright embarrassing.”
“Why did he bother coming? Was it really just to stand up for Leila? But weren’t they on bad terms?”
“You’re not seeing the bigger picture. With Leila’s rising influence, he’s obviously trying to mend fences, hoping she might throw some opportunities his way.”
“It’s ironic, isn’t it? He always carried himself with such arrogance, and now here he is, humbled. I’d love to see how he’s handling this twist.”
Amidst these conversations, a wave of bewilderment washed over Leila. Landon, too, must have overheard these whispers. Yet, throughout it all, his expression remained stoic and unflinching, as if the sharp words were merely background noise, irrelevant to his presence. This unwavering demeanor was so characteristic of him.
Leila knew Landon better than most could claim. His pride was not one to bend easily, certainly not for currying favor with her as the gossip suggested. Leila wasn’t sure why Landon had come to her defense, but she sensed that beneath his indifferent exterior, a torrent of emotions must be churning.
Leila maintained her distance, observing Landon from afar. The past they shared was now a vast chasm. The courage to bridge it had eluded her. Through her trials, Leila had learned the crucial lesson of prioritizing her own life above all else.
As Landon concluded his conversation with Ewing, he turned and locked eyes with Leila. At that brief moment, Leila thought she glimpsed a whirlwind of emotions in Landon’s gaze, but they disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.
Landon turned away, casting one last look into the air before exiting, leaving Leila with a sudden, sharp pang of sorrow. Leila couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be the last time they met.
Back in the solitude of her room, driven by an impulse, Leila opened the box sent by Landon. Inside, to her astonishment, lay a black card, the kind associated with considerable wealth.
Additionally, a staggering ten million dollars represented in bankbooks and checks lay beside a collection of personal letters from Roderick, her grandfather, and, unexpectedly, Landon.
The letters from Roderick and her grandfather were familiar relics of her past, treasured emotional anchors she had left behind at the Kensington estate.
The upheaval within the Kensington family had deterred her from retrieving them, but she remembered their contents intimately, lines that had comforted her through solitary and trying times. She knew all the lines by heart.
Landon’s letter, however, was a surprise. Leila hadn’t anticipated any further communication from him, given their strained history. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unfolded the paper, revealing a message that started with formal distance but gradually revealed deep personal insights.
The letter explained the presence of the items in the box, “Roderick always said you were too soft-hearted, too easily swayed and bullied by others. He wanted to arm you when you were ready to stand up for yourself.
He considered giving these to you earlier, thinking you might need something to fall back on, but I knew you weren’t there yet. I thought you’d stay with the Kensington, sheltered by familiarity and familial bonds.
Now, I see it’s time for you to reclaim what’s always been yours. I have kept these for you for years. It’s time to give these back to you.”
Included with the letter was a list of companies, names, and entities Leila had never encountered. These companies, surprisingly, were left to her by her parents.
After Roderick’s death and before Landon could assert any control, Shirley had swiftly claimed these assets. Over the years, Landon had managed to snatch some back, though they now came tangled with complications and legal entanglements.
After his own ousting from the Kensington family, Landon had lost his grip on these enterprises once again.
In his letter, Landon conveyed profound regret for these twisted circumstances and generously added several million dollars to the inheritance as a form of compensation. Landon also offered his assistance should Leila decide to actively pursue reclaiming her assets.
Absorbing this letter, Leila was hit by a wave of melancholy. The whispers of Landon’s financial ruin had reached her ears. Yet here he was, against all odds, choosing to return her what was rightfully hers and even more.
Moved by his gesture, Leila accepted the legacy without reservation, acknowledging its rightful place with her. Leila planned to return the checks Landon had sent her through Ewing as a gesture of her new resolve. She didn’t need money. Her focus would be on the broader inheritance, the companies her parents left her.
Filled with a newfound determination, Leila sought out Ewing. It was time to set things right, to reclaim what had been lost, and to confront those who had wronged her. Leila shared her intentions with Ewing, her resolve clear and her path set.
Ewing’s response came with a reluctant sigh. “I want to help, Leila, but Landon told me he’s leaving today. He has likely boarded the plane.”
The news caught Leila off guard. Landon had left? The thought puzzled her. Landon’s departure seemed out of character, a stark contrast to the tenacity she associated with him. It felt like a concession she never expected from him, leaving just when she thought he would dig in and fight for his rightful claims in Burmoos.
Upon further reflection, Leila began to grasp the potential reasons behind his decision. The sting of betrayal, especially from those closest, could be overwhelming.
While part of Leila felt inclined to view his departure with disdain, the reality of his decision instead prompted a twinge of regret, a softening in her sentiments toward him.
Sighing, Leila stood up, intending to leave the room.
“Hold on.” Ewing’s voice halted her retreat, his face etched with solemnity. “There’s something we need to discuss. It’s a conversation long overdue.”
Leila’s heart skipped a beat, a mix of unease and curiosity stirring within her as she turned to face Ewing.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, the atmosphere was tense. Klein made his way into Bria’s ward, his entourage of servants laden with ornately wrapped gift boxes in tow.
Bria lay conscious, her eyes fixed on the world outside her window, a fragile line tethering her to life via an oxygen mask. The doctors had made it clear that her condition was critical, and any complications she had could be fatal to her.
As Klein approached her bedside, he spoke with a tenderness that belied the gravity of their situation. “Bria, don’t worry. I’ve taken care of everything. I found someone else to take the blame. You won’t have to worry about this incident anymore.”
Bria turned slowly to face Klein, her eyes not warming with relief, but icing over with a steely resolve. She was far from naive and knew it was Klein who had endangered her life.
She had only wished for Leila’s demise, not a brush with death herself. The realization that her own brother had orchestrated such a ruthless plot filled her with a deep sense of betrayal.
Klein, seemingly oblivious to her inner turmoil, continued to smooth her hair soothingly. “Don’t cry, Bria. It was all for the greater good,” he murmured.
Bria closed her eyes to avoid Klein’s gaze. Noticing her reaction, Klein’s face fell, showing his disappointment.
He advanced toward her, his voice taking on a menacing tone, “I helped you solve a huge problem. My approach was a bit extreme, but it was for your benefit. If our grandpa ever asks about it, you know what to say, right?”
With that, Klein turned and strode toward the door. Bria slowly opened her eyes and watched him leave, her silence thick with anger and resentment.
Yet, she felt powerless. No one would believe her side of the story. After all, Klein was far more popular within the Nixon family than she was.
Elsewhere, Leila frowned at Ewing’s words. She expressed her doubts through sign language, indicating that she still questioned whether she was truly his long-lost cousin. Once again, she politely thanked Ewing for his kindness toward her over the past few days, though she remained resolved to leave at the right moment.
Ewing replied earnestly, “Leila, I get that you’re reluctant to accept us due to what happened to your mother and that you stay solely because of my promise for your safety. Still, I hope you’ll find the courage to face the truth.
I don’t think we should get tangled up in the grudges of the previous generation, which Tyrone had little to do with. Regardless of the past, you should at least honor your role as a granddaughter, don’t you think?”
Leila was left momentarily speechless.
Ewing continued, “You know I only speak when I’m certain. If you’re still skeptical, I can reveal something that might put your doubts to rest. Back then, your mother left with you without telling you what precisely had happened in the Nixon family.
She didn’t want you to blame anyone in the family. Our grandpa was once known for his sharpness but transformed completely after your mother left. He battled insomnia, sought refuge in alcohol, and eventually fell ill.
He’s old now. Even if his health seems stable, his body will break down if he continues to torment himself like this. If your mother was alive, I’m sure she’d miss him.”
Leila’s mind drifted to her childhood. Back then, her parents were still alive. She remembered her mother, often alone in a corner, clutching a photo and crying.
At that time, Leila didn’t understand why her mother cried. She would hurriedly run over to wipe away her mother’s tears.
At that time, Leila’s father had been absent for some unknown reason. Her mother would hold Leila and ask softly, “Leila, do you miss your daddy?”
Leila would nod, looking at her mother with concern. Her mother, touched by her response, would be overcome with emotion and cry even harder.
Fixing her gaze on the picture in her hand, her mother murmured, “I miss my father too, but I can’t go back.” The young Leila failed to grasp her mother’s sadness. But now, she finally understood. The realization made her emotional.
Ewing stood up suddenly, breaking her reverie. “Leila, as your cousin, all I’m asking is for you to stay with us. I recall how kind your mother was to me when I was a child. Even after she left, she would occasionally send me thoughtful gifts. She was more like a mother figure to me.”
Ewing turned and retrieved a box from his bookshelf. The box appeared slightly old, the worn-out pattern around it showed that it had been caressed for a long time. It was clear that Ewing really cherished it.
A collection of photos and letters greeted Leila upon Ewing opening it. One particular photo of Siena holding a little girl caught Leila’s eye.
The little girl was undeniably the spitting image of Siena, and the two of them were beaming. Leila immediately recognized the two individuals in the photo were her mother and her. No wonder Tyrone and Ewing felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing Leila.
Ewing’s eyes filled with nostalgia as he caressed the photo.