Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Truth be told, Bria and Jennifer had been informed upon their arrival that the room was reserved, but Bria had dismissed the warning with the arrogance befitting her status as a member of the influential Nixon family.
In this circle, few dared cross the Nixons, and while they might not be treated warmly, outright hostility was rare. Triumphant, Bria eyed Leila, convinced she had exposed a lie.
“Leila, if you admire the items here, cease fabricating stories. I’ll put in a good word for you when the owner of the exhibition arrives,” Bria sneered, her voice dripping with condescension.
Jennifer said impatiently, “I doubt she’ll value your generosity. Better have her leave now. She’s spoiling my mood by being here.”
The smile vanished from Leila’s face, her eyes chilling with resolve. She had maintained her composure despite their provocations, willing to overlook their initial antagonism.
However, their unabated arrogance was pushing her to her limits. She was done with pleasantries. Bria, noticing the shift in Leila’s demeanor, felt a twinge of fear.
Leila, once a docile member of the Nixon household, had transformed after the birth of her child. Her regained confidence endowed her with an intimidating aura, a stark departure from the Leila they once knew. Despite her bravado, Bria always sensed an uncanny familiarity when facing Leila, though she could never pinpoint its origin.
Amid the tension, Leila reached for her phone and dialed the reception. “Send security up,” she instructed coldly. “There are two troublemakers here causing a disturbance. Please escort them out immediately. They’re upsetting me.”
Once the call ended, Leila didn’t bother to give Jennifer and Bria another glance, turning her gaze away in disdain.
Jennifer’s body shook with rage. “What right do you have to kick us out? Who do you think you are, Leila? Just because you pushed people around in the Nixon family doesn’t mean you can command everyone here!” she shouted, her voice rising with every word.
Jennifer settled into the sofa, arms crossed defiantly, her posture exuding arrogance. “I’d like to see how you try to make me leave!”
Jennifer’s eyes then shifted to Sophie, who sat quietly by Leila’s side. With a scornful look, she aimed her next barb directly at Leila’s vulnerabilities. “Your daughter must be as arrogant and shameless as you are.”
Jennifer’s words struck deep, hitting a nerve that resonated painfully within Leila.
Leila’s gaze hardened into an icy glare, tinged with a hint of cruelty that hadn’t been there before.
The transformation in Leila’s demeanor was startling. Jennifer gave a dismissive snort after composing herself. The guards’ arrival broke the tense standoff. They approached without preamble, grabbing Jennifer and Bria by the wrists and preparing to escort them out.
This sudden action jolted Bria out of her defiant pose into panicked resistance.
“What are you doing? Do you think you are? Are you blind?” she screamed, her voice echoing with indignation. “We are members of the Nixon family! Why are you listening to that woman? Let go of me now, or you’ll find yourself at odds with my family!”
Bria’s words hit their mark. Some of the guards began to waver, unsure of their next move.
At that moment, footsteps echoed in the hall.
A confident male voice cut through the tension. “So what if you are from the Nixon family? I’m not afraid. What can you do about it?”
A handsome man strode into the room, flanked by several bodyguards.
Leila’s smile widened when she saw him. “I thought you wouldn’t make it today.”
Gregory walked toward her quickly. It was evident he was in a good mood. “Are you kidding? As long as you are here, you can bet I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Gregory was the owner of this exhibition. He had left Hayden’s studio two years ago.
Without the need to inherit the family business, Gregory decided to pursue his own interests and organized an exhibition here.
Thanks to its distinctive Avalon style, the exhibition had gained quite a reputation.
Leila happened to visit the exhibition by chance. She found the style familiar upon laying eyes on the items. Leila was now a person of action, driven by an insatiable curiosity to unravel the mysteries that intrigued her. Though it took some time and effort, she was eventually able to confirm her suspicions. The exhibition’s owner was none other than an old acquaintance.
Seeing Gregory here caught Leila by surprise, but more than that, she was intrigued.
Three years had passed, and to Leila, life in Burmoos felt like a dream. In her memories, many faces had faded into a blur, but Landon’s face remained clear.
Recently, Leila had been dreaming of Landon frequently. She tried to convince herself that perhaps this was a sign she was finally ready to forget him. Meanwhile, it never crossed Bria’s mind that Leila actually knew the owner.
With a tone laced with sarcasm, Bria snapped, “Since you know him, why didn’t you say so from the start? Were you trying to embarrass Jennifer and me on purpose?”
Leila snorted, her eyebrows arching slightly in surprise. “Is it that I failed to explain myself clearly, or do you simply refuse to believe me? After all, who was it that tried to throw me out without any reason?”
Gregory eyed Jennifer and Bria with a look of disapproval.
“My assistant just informed me that the room I had specifically reserved for Leila was occupied by someone else. Naturally, I was curious about who could be so impolite.
They knew it was reserved, yet they insisted on occupying it. I never imagined it would be you two. You claim to be from the Nixon family, but to be honest, I think you are imposters. How could anyone from the Nixon family behave so rudely?”
Bria’s face drained of color. She and Jennifer exchanged a look before quietly leaving. They knew that causing a scene, especially in front of the crowd at the exhibition, could lead to unwanted media attention and public humiliation.
After all, the media in Ferelden wasn’t as laid-back as it was in Avalon. They had a reputation for fabricating stories.
Once Jennifer and Bria left, Leila felt the room’s air grow fresher.
Gregory greeted Sophie with a warm smile. “Hello there.” Sophie glanced at Gregory with curiosity and then turned to Leila.
Leila gently patted Sophie’s head. “This is Gregory.”
Sophie was still learning how to speak, and while her words weren’t clear, the sweetness of her voice was unmistakable.
Gregory let out a wistful sigh. “I never imagined our reunion would be like this. You have regained your voice and become a mother and part of the Nixon family. Not only that, but I feel like you have changed a lot.”
Leila sighed, deep in thought. “People can’t always stay the same.”
Gregory nodded in agreement. “True. But it’s good that you have changed. I still remember the first time I met you in Hayden’s studio. Back then, I thought you were putting on an act, pretending to be meek even when bullied. As time went on, I realized it wasn’t an act. You were really easy to bully. You never said a word when Sarah and her friends picked on you.”
Leila offered a faint smile. “I was naive back then.”
But the truth was, Leila’s endurance had a lot to do with Landon. She had always felt indebted to the Kensington family for adopting her. That made her more tolerant of their behavior, especially when it came to Landon.
Moreover, Sarah had often claimed that if Leila hadn’t intervened, she and Landon would have been together long ago.
Sarah always blamed Leila for the supposed interference in their relationship.
Leila took it to heart back then and felt guilty over her marriage to Landon. But now, reflecting on it, she realized she had been unfairly targeted for her kindness.
Gregory sighed and then cleared his throat. “By the way, your skills are superior to mine. Why don’t you create something for your cousin yourself?”
Leila smiled and replied, “It’s been a while since I last crafted something, and I’m feeling a bit uninspired. Moreover, your work might appeal to him more. They are all so refined and beautiful.”
Gregory blushed slightly, flattered by the praise. “Before I left the studio, Hayden expressed pity when he spoke about you. He said you have real talent and that you might become a master at restoring cultural relics just like him one day. But no one can have a smooth journey. He mentioned he isn’t sure when he will see you again.”
After contemplating for a moment, Leila responded, “We still have a chance to meet. I might need to return to Avalon. I have some matters and people to deal with.”
When Leila said this, her eyes darkened slightly.
Gregory chose not to press further.
The two of them chatted for a while, and then Gregory suddenly spoke as if the thought had just occurred to him.
“By the way, did you know the Kensington family is on a downward spiral? Ever since they expelled Landon, the Kensington Group has been deteriorating rapidly under the management of people handpicked by Dean.
Rumors are swirling that the company might go bankrupt soon. To make matters worse, a new company has appeared out of nowhere. I have heard that its owner is a foreigner who has been systematically undercutting the Kensington Group by seizing their major projects.
“Looking back, the whole situation with Landon seems odd. The Kensington family had acknowledged him as the heir, and he was undoubtedly capable of running the company. So why would he turn against his own mother? It just doesn’t add up.”
As Gregory spoke, he cast a sidelong glance at Leila. Seeing her composed demeanor, he continued, “There is one more strange thing. The Kensington family seems to be on a downward trajectory, yet they continue to lead a life of luxury.
“You might not know this, but Dean has handed over the company’s management to the Kensington family’s illegitimate son.
I heard that this son found his way into their lives on his own, and Dean has strictly forbidden anyone from discussing it. Also, the Kensington and Miller families recently held an engagement party. It was extravagant beyond belief.”
Leila raised an eyebrow. She was momentarily stunned by the flood of new information. An illegitimate son? That had to be Stan.
An engagement between the Kensington family and the Miller family? How was that possible? Hadn’t Landon left the Kensington family? This meant Stan was engaged to Sarah. How did these two end up together?