Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Landon, clearly rattled, couldn’t hold back his disbelief. “Are you sure you want to keep the baby?”.
Leila’s eyes were tightly shut. Unaware of her conversation with Landon, she instinctively clutched at the fabric over her lower abdomen. “This is my baby, and I have to save it.”
Landon’s eyes brimmed with tears. At that moment, the doctor entered. Landon quickly masked his emotions, though his voice betrayed his deep concern and worry. “She’s pregnant. We need to do everything to save her. If we can’t save the baby, so be it. I’ll handle the consequences.”
The doctor nodded in understanding. Luckily, Leila hadn’t ingested much of the poisonous substance and had received a timely gastric lavage. Both she and the baby were safe.
The doctor maintained his serious tone. “The baby is currently stable, but it has been exposed to the toxin. Despite its young age, this exposure could have consequences. It’s crucial that the expectant mother is made aware of the situation beforehand, so she’s prepared for any potential issues.”
Landon responded with a resigned smile, “Perhaps you should be the one to tell her when she regains consciousness. I’m not in a position to break such news.”
The doctor looked puzzled. “I assumed you were her…”
Landon interrupted, shaking his head. “No, I’m not. And please, don’t mention me to her. She might not like it.”
After Landon had departed, the nurses exchanged empathetic glances.
“Despite his mask, I could tell he’s quite handsome. It’s clear he cares deeply for her.”
“Did you notice how anxious he was? When he arrived at the hospital, he was drenched in sweat. His distress was palpable, especially when the doctor mentioned the baby might be at risk.”
Unbeknownst to them, Leila overheard their conversation through a haze of grogginess. She yearned to inquire about the man they were discussing, but exhaustion silenced her.
Time seemed to blur as Leila drifted in and out of consciousness. When she next awoke, night still enveloped the room. Doctors and nurses bustled about, and Edgar was there by her side.
Overwhelmed with concern, Leila’s first coherent thought led her to ask, “Where is Sophie?” Her anxiety was so intense that she attempted to throw off her covers and leave the bed in search of Sophie. Edgar rushed to reassure her. “There’s no need to worry, Miss Nixon. Your daughter is just fine, actually better than fine. She’s awake now, full of energy, and the doctor even suggested she have some porridge.”
At his words, Leila let out a sigh of relief. Her hand instinctively went to her belly as her heart fluttered with unease, worrying whether or not the baby was still there. Landon must have been aware of her concerns.
Noticing her distress, Edgar cleared his throat. “Mr. Kensington believes it’s entirely your choice as a mother to decide whether to keep the baby. He’s genuinely delighted, yet he can’t forget Mr. Nixon’s warning about your perilous delivery of Sophie. He doesn’t want you to go through such pain again.”
Leila blinked in surprise. She had assumed Landon would insist on keeping the baby under any circumstances. With a flicker in her eyes, Leila changed the topic. “Where is Landon now? Have you learned who was responsible?”
Edgar nodded, his voice dropping as he stepped closer. “It was Jenny. Do you still have the strength? She targeted both you and Sophie. Mr. Kensington insisted we deal with her harshly, but I think he’s been too severe.”
Edgar’s words had barely faded when Leila, struggling, pushed herself to sit up. “Take me there,” she stated hurriedly.
Outside, in the limousine parked near the hospital, Jenny was sprawled on the floor, her body smeared with blood. She appeared lifeless, except for the slight rise and fall of her chest. Beside her, Landon sat staring down with a look of lethal intent. Despite having already tormented Jenny, his rage hadn’t subsided. Memories flooded back as Leila and Sophie were rushed to the hospital, gasping for breath, their faces ashen. The sight had torn at his heart.
Jenny was like a cornered viper, dangerous and unpredictable. As long as she was alive, she posed a constant threat, always ready to strike back or flee, endangering others even while restrained. Aware of her precarious condition, Jenny taunted Landon, her voice a harsh whisper, “Kill me if you dare. Murder is a crime, you know. If you kill me, you’ll never be with Leila openly. It’ll haunt Sophie too. My death ensures that your future with them is doomed. Wouldn’t that be worth it?”
Her words stung, provoking Landon further. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, reminiscent of a predatory eagle. His voice was icy as he commanded his subordinates, “Didn’t you catch what she requested? Eliminate her and toss her into the sea!”
“Landon!” Before Landon’s men could act, Leila appeared, leaning on Edgar for support. Clad in a hospital gown, her face was ashen, and she looked frail. Upon seeing her, Landon’s demeanor shifted. The harshness in his eyes softened, and he quickly moved to support her.
Landon glared at Edgar, his voice thick with menace. “Edgar, are you looking to join her?”
Edgar averted his gaze, remaining silent. Leila grasped Landon’s hand firmly. It was rare for her to act this weakly around him, but her current fragility left her no choice but to lean into his embrace.
“Landon, can we talk this through, please?” Leila’s voice was gentle, betraying her vulnerability rather than any attempt to command.
Landon felt the chill emanating from her hand, his worry mounting swiftly. Without hesitation, he shrugged off his coat and draped it snugly around her, his unique scent enveloping her in a protective cocoon. This immediate closeness seemed to soothe Leila’s nerves. Her cough, forced and out of place, broke the brief silence. “I’m tougher than you think. I’m being serious with you right now. You can’t just kill Jenny or cause her harm. We need to let this go. It was my oversight that gave her the chance to harm me and my daughter. Please consider Sophie’s perspective.”
Landon, visibly seething like a tempestuous lion, found his rage quelled only by Leila’s calming words. His gaze then fell on Jenny, whose defiance was palpable. “But Leila, my fear is she might hurt you again. I’ve considered how to handle Tyrone. I can send him back to the Nixon family or have my men take care of him. Either way, we cannot let Jenny stay.”
Leila gently shook her head, dismissing his plans. “There’s no need for drastic measures. Just ensure she can’t do any harm in the future. Keep her alive.” With those words, Leila was overcome by a violent coughing fit.
Concerned, Landon swept Leila into his arms and swiftly headed toward the hospital. As he passed Jenny, who lay on the floor, he gave her a fleeting glance.
Landon hurried Leila back to her ward and immediately summoned the doctor. Thankfully, she was alright. Landon promised he wouldn’t leave her side for the next few days, opting to stay right there with her. Throughout the night, he didn’t catch a wink of sleep, sitting motionless beside her bed, resembling a statue. Leila felt weary, yet restlessness pervaded her; her mind was too busy with thoughts to allow sleep.
Landon noticed her restlessness as she shifted in bed, prompting him to rise and gently tuck her in. Concern laced his voice as he asked, “Are you uncomfortable? Should I call the doctor?”
Leila shook her head with a smile and suggested, “Why don’t you sit down? We need to talk.”
Understanding the gravity of the conversation they were about to have, Landon returned to his seat, his fists clenched nervously on his knees. He appeared as anxious as a young boy awaiting a reprimand from his teacher.
A gleam of amusement flickered in Leila’s eyes as she gestured for him to extend his hand. After a moment’s hesitation, Landon timidly extended his hand. She guided his hand to rest on her belly, signaling a shared moment of new beginnings.
Leila said gently, “It’s still too early, and you probably can’t feel anything yet. Back when I felt so alone, all I could do was touch my stomach to fall asleep. It feels like there’s already a bond with the baby inside me. When Sophie was born, I nearly didn’t make it. Giving birth to her was a moment of sheer desperation. But it felt like she was the one giving me a reason to live, rather than the other way around. This familiar feeling… it takes me back to when I was pregnant with Sophie. How could I possibly let go of that?”
Landon seemed to want to speak but hesitated. Finally, he spoke with a worried tone. “I don’t want to see you in pain again. Another baby isn’t worth your suffering. Having you and Sophie is more than enough for me. Just having you two in my life is all I need. I don’t want anything more.”
Leila shook her head, her face set with resolve. “No, I’m going to have this baby. It’s my child. I want to give birth to it.”
Landon looked taken aback, at a loss for words. He took a moment to collect himself, clearly struggling to grasp her perspective. “But didn’t you resent me deeply?”
Leila shook her head and replied, “Let’s leave that behind. The baby shouldn’t carry the weight of our past grudges. So…”
Leila pondered her next words, gripping Landon’s hand tighter. With a nervous bite of her lip, she said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have said it, but it’s for our children. I want to offer both Sophie and the baby I’m carrying a stable family. So, I’m willing to consider remarrying you. However, this marriage would be in name only. If you find someone else and I do too, we’ll part ways amicably.”
Landon’s face remained impassive, his response muted as he simply observed her in silence. Yet, the excitement betrayed itself through his trembling hand. Leaning in, Landon kissed her forehead, his actions restrained but his eyes intensely focused. “Leila, you’re not just joking or trying to persuade me, are you?” he asked earnestly.
Leila’s laughter broke the tension, finding his concern somewhat amusing. “You know I don’t joke about such serious matters.”
Landon’s smile emerged at last as he caressed her belly and sighed. “Thank you, my dear. Your mother is finally ready to recognize me officially.”
Leila’s response was tinged with exasperation. “You shouldn’t put it like that. You make yourself sound like a lonely husband.”
“Well, I’m nearly that,” Landon replied, a wistful tone in his voice.
Once Leila was discharged from the hospital, she went home with Sophie. There, Leila caught sight of Jenny. Jenny, now a shell of her former self, was delirious, laughing aimlessly at the faces around her.
Edgar stepped beside Leila, his voice low. “Jenny’s not a threat anymore.”
Leila glanced at Jenny, feeling a strange mix of pity and indifference. Jenny had walked straight into the arms of her own destruction. If only Jenny hadn’t threatened them with Tyrone, if only she hadn’t forced herself into their lives, drugging Leila and Sophie in a desperate bid for control, she could’ve had a decent life in Halstead.
But now? Even though Jenny’s darkest secrets were exposed, the world would forget soon enough. People always did. From then on, if she behaved, she could still carve out a life on her own. Her greed had led her here. Leila turned to Trent. “Where’s my grandpa? Does he know how much Jenny has changed?”
“Don’t worry, Miss,” Trent reassured her. “Your grandpa may still follow Jenny, but as long as she’s kept here, everything will be alright.”
Trent paused and then added, “I’ve arranged a small room for Jenny by the garden. Every day, when I take your grandpa on his walks, he’ll see her. That’s all he needs.”
Leila nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. “Okay. Thank you.”
With Jenny settled, Leila turned her thoughts to Landon. She had decided to remarry him, but there was no rush. She wasn’t ready to ask Sophie to call Landon “Dad” yet. Sophie was clever, but she was also sensitive. One wrong step could hurt her deeply.
As fate would have it, the show was about to begin filming, and Leila took it as an opportunity. She invited Landon to join them at the shoot, hoping he and Sophie could spend some time together, allowing them to grow closer naturally.
But during the trip, Leila realized her worries had been unnecessary. Landon and Sophie bonded effortlessly, their laughter filling the air as if they had known each other for years.
Landon adored Sophie with all his heart. His eyes never left her, as if he feared she might get hurt the moment he blinked. He practically hovered over her for hours on end. Leila sighed, feeling a slight headache coming on. “Landon, Sophie’s not made of glass. You’re spoiling her like this.”
Landon glanced at Leila, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I know. But I missed out on her first four years. I just want to make up for lost time.”
Leila decided to let Landon be. With him watching over Sophie so closely, she could actually relax a little.
Leila chose not to stay in the accommodations arranged by the crew. With her family along, she preferred more privacy. No one on the crew questioned Leila’s decision. After all, she had invested heavily in the show, and they considered her a sponsor in many ways. As long as she stayed within the rules, she was free to do as she pleased..
The three of them moved into a cozy apartment. It wasn’t as grand as a villa, but it was perfect for their little family. The decor was warm and inviting, making the space feel like home.
For Sophie, it was all a new adventure. She’d never spent time in the countryside before, and her excitement bubbled over as she explored everything with wide-eyed curiosity. No matter where they went, she was always smiling, eager to discover something new.
Landon, ever the doting father, followed Sophie closely, gently reminding her to be careful every few steps. He couldn’t help it; he just wanted to make sure she was safe.