Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Sarah had cursed throughout the drive. By the time she was shoved into an empty room, she was completely exhausted. “Bitch! Damn you!” she muttered as she weakly lifted her feet and kicked the door a few times to vent out her lingering frustration.
When Sarah turned around, she was startled to see someone squatting in the corner. She realized the person looked familiar upon closer inspection.
“Aren’t you Courtney?” Astonishment spread across Sarah’s face. Then, something dawned on her, and she smiled.
“It seems I’m not the only one imprisoned here by Leila. That’s a good thing. When we get out, we can work together to make sure she rots in prison for a lifetime. The Miller family might not be as powerful as the Nixon family, but I doubt Leila would dare commit any crime in Avalon.”
Courtney had no intention of engaging in conversation with Sarah, yet Sarah’s arrogant and ignorant statement prompted her to speak with a mocking smile. “Why wouldn’t she dare? Haven’t you done plenty of things to her before? She won’t kill us. But she certainly won’t make it easy for us either. She’ll never go easy on anyone who hurt her before.”
The major reason was Leila had transformed, and Leila’s newfound confidence and decisiveness startled Sarah, deepening her disbelief. Elsewhere, as soon as Leila arrived home, a servant came to report that a guest had come.
Liza’s face registered surprise as she turned to Leila. “How could you predict it this precisely?”
Leila simply smiled and ordered the servant to prepare some snacks.
In the hall, Melinda had been waiting for Leila for more than an hour with her daughter, Zuri Kensington, in her arms. Leila only appeared when Melinda’s patience snapped.
This time, Leila deliberately opted against the assistance of a wheelchair. With Liza’s help, she walked slowly into the living room.
Leila smiled at Melinda, her smile icy and distant. “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. I got caught up in my rehabilitation training and completely forgot you were here.”
Melinda forced a smile, her expression as insincere as a politician’s promise. She walked over to Leila and replaced Liza’s role, holding Leila’s arm.
“Leila, I came to check on your leg injuries. I was over the moon to hear you were back from abroad. Ever since I found out about your leg, I’ve been eager to pay you a visit.
Yet, I didn’t summon enough courage until today. After all, we once had some misunderstandings back when we were a family, and I was afraid you would look down on me given your current status as a Nixon.”
Leila nodded with a knowing smile. “I’m glad you harbor such thoughts. Ever since I returned to the Nixon family, my grandfather has urged me to leave the past behind, pointing out those evildoers weren’t worth me dwelling on.”
The smile on Melinda’s face faltered, her facade draining away like water through a sieve. Rage simmered beneath the surface, but she dared not let it show. She hadn’t anticipated Leila being so direct, cutting through the pleasantries with a blade of truth.
But then again, Melinda bitterly grasped Leila had every reason to be straightforward. It didn’t matter whether the Nixon family held Leila in high regard or not. What mattered was that she now wielded substantial assets, the kind that made people sit up and take notice.
Who would have believed that the once timid Leila, who had lived under the Kensington family’s roof as an adopted daughter, would rise to own a chain of auction houses with a global reach? In particular, her auction houses in Avalon and Ferelden had become the most influential, drawing the world’s wealthiest collectors like moths to a flame.
In other words, Leila had tapped into a network of connections that most could only dream of. At this point, anyone choosing to cross her would either be utterly stupid or hopelessly ignorant.
Melinda knew this all too well, and so she swallowed her pride, careful not to provoke Leila.
After helping Leila onto the sofa, Melinda knelt before Leila. She didn’t forget to pull Zuri down to kneel beside her. The mother and daughter wept in unison, their cries merging into a pitiful chorus.
Melinda, especially, looked utterly wretched. Amid her charade, she said, “Leila, your child has been born now, right? I know there were many times in the past when I wronged you, but I’m just like you, planning for my child’s future. Please let me have the painting, or Zuri and I will be thrown out. I’ll do anything for you just to appease your anger and let me take the painting. Please kindly consider my predicament.”
Leila looked down at Melinda, smirking. She saw through Melinda’s intention of moral coercion. Sadly for Melinda, this scheme wouldn’t work.
After Melinda had cried for what felt like an eternity, Leila finally spoke, her voice slow and deliberate. “Guess what? I still remember that because of you, I almost lost my child. What do you plan to do to make up for that?”
Melinda turned off the waterworks abruptly. The atmosphere grew thick with tension, an awkward silence hanging in the air.
Reluctantly, Melinda gritted her teeth and slapped herself hard.
Grimacing from the slap she had delivered to herself, Melinda signaled Zuri to put on an act, striving to appear miserable. Zuri bowed to Leila without hesitation, her lips twitching downward.
To be honest, this gesture softened Leila’s heart. She guessed Zuri to be only about four years old. Yet, Zuri seemed smaller than most, timid with large eyes that scanned the room cautiously.
Ever since Sophie’s arrival, Leila found it hard to be stern with little girls. After pursing her lips for a moment, Leila finally sighed softly. “I’ll give you what you want, but you need to pay me for it.”
“Alright! Thank you!” Overjoyed, Melinda nodded vigorously and blurted out shamelessly, “Since you’re making concessions, you must be ready to bury the hatchet. Even though you and Landon are divorced, I still see you as part of the Kensington family. I really valued that painting you’re willing to part with. Remember, if you ever run into trouble in Burmoos, just let me know. The Kensington family has got your back!”
Leila nearly let slip a cold smirk, gesturing instead for a bodyguard to bring over the box containing the painting. Melinda took the box gleefully and departed without spending a single penny.
Liza frowned slightly. “Leila, why did you just hand it over like that? Do you actually believe that woman’s words?”
Rubbing her temples, Leila responded, “I don’t believe a single word from her, and the Kensington family isn’t strong enough to support anyone.”
“But…” Liza hesitated momentarily.
Leila smiled reassuringly and said, “Don’t stress. I didn’t charge her a single penny for the painting because I needed her to pay in other ways.
Now that she’s agreed and taken the painting away, she has to face whatever I have in store for her. Do you remember the plan I laid out for you?”
“Yes. I’ll get on it immediately,” Liza replied with a nod. Leila waved her hand dismissively.
As Liza walked out of the villa, the butler rushed in. Noticing the butler’s anxious look, Leila’s brows knitted together, sensing a sinking feeling.
“What’s wrong? Is something up with Sophie at kindergarten today?” Leila, planning to settle in Avalon for a while, had decided Sophie should start schooling in Burmoos. Leila had enrolled Sophie in a local kindergarten, and today was supposed to be Sophie’s first day.
Initially, Leila had planned to take Sophie there personally, but unexpected events disrupted her plan. Tyrone had offered to take Sophie instead. Leila, still concerned, had instructed the butler to ensure a group accompanied them.
The butler, wiping sweat from his brow, was on the verge of responding when Sophie burst into the room, crying.
“Mammy, it’s my fault. I didn’t take good care of Great-grandpa,” Sophie said as she sobbed.
Leila’s breath caught in her throat, her voice anxious. “What happened?”
Sophie pouted and cried louder. “Great-grandpa is missing. I couldn’t find him when I came out of kindergarten. It’s all my fault!”
Leila almost lost her footing, her head spinning and her limbs weakening.
The butler apologized anxiously, “Miss, it’s all my fault. I should have kept a closer eye on Mr. Nixon. Despite the surrounding bodyguards, somehow, he just disappeared.
In just a blink of an eye, he was gone. We’ve been searching everywhere but haven’t found him yet. I rushed back to inform you. Our team is still on the lookout. Please hold your horses. Mr. Nixon couldn’t have gone far, and we will surely find him.”
Leila felt numb from the news, her inner turmoil evident. She shouldn’t have believed she could keep Tyrone safe by herself. She just couldn’t protect anyone now. She would be at a loss for words to form an explanation if Ewing caught wind of this and asked her.
The sound of crying snapped Leila out of her turbulent thoughts. She knelt down and embraced Sophie. “Sophie, this isn’t your fault. It’s mine. If I had sent you to kindergarten today, none of this would have happened. Go rest now. I promise we’ll find your Great-grandpa.”
Turning to the butler, Leila continued, “Brett, you’ve served the Nixon family for years. While you could have retired, given your age, you chose to stick around due to your concern for Tyrone. I really appreciate this. Please don’t hold yourself accountable for this incident. It’s my fault.”
Tears filled Brett’s eyes. “Mr. Nixon has always shown kindness to me. Yet, I messed up this simple task.”
As Brett raised his hand, intending to slap himself in frustration, Leila quickly stopped him, her tone tinged with disapproval.
“Brett, we need you to stay rational and clear-headed right now. Remember when Tyrone suffered from an episode and somehow ended up in Avalon? It had taken Ewing quite some time to find him. I’m sure we’ll find Tyrone again. Now, please think clearly-where do you think he’s most likely to have gone? You know him well.”
Brett wiped away his tears and quickly listed several possible places. Leila and her team searched throughout the night but found no trace.
Twenty-four hours had passed since the disappearance. Leila immediately reported Tyrone’s disappearance to the police, providing details about his appearance, clothing, and last known location.
Leila also allocated funds to hire a specialized missing persons agency, declaring firmly, “Cost is not a concern. Just do whatever it takes to find him.”
Despite the efforts, they still had no leads.
The search team was highly professional. Though unsuccessful, they provided Leila with some analysis. “Within a day, an elderly person couldn’t have gone far away on foot.
Even if he used various types of transport to leave Burmoos, it’s unlikely that no traces were left. Chances are that he was taken by someone. Identifying who took him will require further police investigation. Ms. Nixon, thank you for your trust, but we have done everything possible.”
Leila nearly lost her balance. She bit her tongue, using the pain to steady herself. She was heartbroken, yet she knew this was not the time for emotions to take over. She had to stay composed.
Leila handed the leader some money, not out of generosity but with a different intent. “Please continue the search. Money is no object. However, I have one condition. My grandfather’s disappearance must remain confidential. I have already briefed my team about this. If any rumors start circulating, I will have to cast suspicion on all of you.”
Leila’s gaze became threatening. “I have money to pay for your services, and I also have resources to secure my interests. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” the person replied, his face paling. He nodded rapidly before leaving in a hurry with the money.