Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Every day, the woman lived in fear with her daughter, aware that any day could be their last. She had never imagined that Leila would rescue the girl.
Leila had quickly realized that there were no human rights in this dreadful place. Only Ernesto and Griffin wielded any power.
The woman was particularly concerned for Leila, sensing Leila had been brought here against her will.
Limited in what she could communicate, the woman’s gestures were frantic and filled with desperation. “Miss, have faith in yourself. They’re not trustworthy people. Don’t believe a word they say. Putting your life on the line for us isn’t worth it. We’re not worth that.”
Leila shook her head. “There’s no such thing as lesser or greater people. In Avalon, it’s just about the boss hiring employees. Everyone’s born equal. You’re here to work. They don’t have any right to hurt you or dictate your destiny.”
The woman gazed at Leila, confusion clouding her face, not quite grasping the concept of equality. She likely hailed from a place where the social divisions were deeply entrenched and women had virtually no rights. Leila laid it out simply, and a flicker of hope sparked in the woman’s eyes.
The woman caressed her frail daughter’s head and gestured helplessly, as if to say, “If she wasn’t born to me, maybe she would’ve come into this world in that country you mentioned, which seems much nicer.”
Leila held back any words that could fuel false hope, aware that an escape from here could be a distant dream.
Elsewhere, after a month-long coma, Landon finally opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Edgar, who had tears in his eyes.
Landon’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t grasp why Edgar was so worked up.
“Daddy!” Just then, Sophie burst into the room. Seeing Landon awake, she started sobbing.
Landon felt a wave of shock wash over him. He vividly remembered that before his coma, Sophie had steadfastly refused to call him dad, always addressing him as Landon.
Landon yearned to respond, but his throat felt painfully dry and sore. He paused for a bit before asking, “Sophie, where is your mom? And why are you suddenly calling me daddy?”
Sophie remained quiet, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Edgar had cautioned her to hold off on discussing her mom’s fate.
Sophie’s heart ached for Leila. She missed Leila terribly. A wave of unease gripped Landon as he saw Sophie’s reaction. He knew he had to keep his emotions in check, aware that any stress could impede his recovery.
Landon requested Edgar to escort Sophie out.
As the doctors and nurses bustled in, Landon seized the opportunity to find out how long he had been unconscious.
The doctor, with a grave face, revealed the harsh truth. Landon had been comatose for a month, and at one point, doctors had declared him to be in a vegetative state.
This revelation sent a jolt of anxiety through Landon, because he seemed unable to manage what was happening. He had a strong feeling that a lot had transpired over the past month.
Edgar walked in just as the doctors and nurses departed. Seeing Landon’s troubled expression, Edgar realized he could no longer keep the secrets from Landon anymore.
Edgar positioned himself beside Landon’s bed, kneeling down. “Mr. Kensington, I failed to safeguard Miss Nixon, and I regret that deeply.”
“However, she’s safe for now. There’s no immediate threat to her well-being. Please, focus on your recovery. I will fill you in on all the details later.”
Landon let out a weary sigh, his face contorted with pain and remorse. “Edgar, please stand. The blame isn’t yours. It’s mine for not being more vigilant. Had I not sustained these injuries, perhaps none of these unfortunate events would have unfolded. I realize you’ve been through so much already. I’ve only just taken over as head of the Kensington family, and here I am, incapacitated, leaving you to juggle both Sophie’s safety and the family’s affairs. It’s been a heavy burden on you.”
Tears began to form in Edgar’s eyes as he quickly dabbed them away. “Mr. Kensington, don’t talk like that. I’ve been by your side for years, through so many challenges, and you’ve rewarded me well.”
When Landon assumed leadership of the Kensington family, he had awarded Edgar ten percent of the company’s shares, a gesture acknowledging Edgar’s long-standing loyalty and hard work. Even if Edgar chose to step down now, those shares were more than enough to ensure his prosperity.
Though Edgar had ventured into peril following Landon’s lead, it was Landon who had shielded Edgar countless times during their travels abroad. Edgar deeply appreciated Landon’s camaraderie and wholeheartedly hoped that Landon and Leila would find happiness together.
“Let’s drop the subject.” Removing his wedding ring, Landon squeezed it tightly in his fist, his eyes burning with resolute fire. “I have to get better. That’s my top priority right now. Once I regain my strength, I’ll be capable of taking Leila back. I want to see who dared to take my woman away.”
By now, Leila had been on the island for a month. Truthfully, she hadn’t encountered any real hardships. It appeared she was truly taking the time to relax and prepare for the upcoming birth of the baby. The days passed pleasantly enough for her.
However, each night brought with it a chilling fear. Despite sleeping soundly, she invariably awoke enveloped in anxiety. It felt as if she were grappling with a nightmare, though she could never recall the specifics upon waking.
One evening, Leila intentionally refrained from drinking the milk offered to her by the servant.
Leila’s action was noticed by the servant.
The servant gave Leila a brief, indifferent glance, saying nothing.
Leila had a hunch that the milk they offered her was laced with something to induce sleep. The people here seemed unfazed by the possibility of her discovering their secrets. Their only concern was that she might not handle them.
Leila’s curiosity intensified, but she couldn’t shake a growing sense of unease.
As Leila predicted, sleep eluded her that night. In the hazy twilight, she was jolted awake by a blood-curdling scream.
The scream was sharp and piercing. It sounded like it echoed from the depths of hell.
Leila sat up slowly, her heart pounding.
After a few minutes, the scream vanished.
Just when she thought it was a hallucination, she heard it again, even more urgent this time, louder, more desperate, accompanied by a hurried shuffle of footsteps. The scream seemed to be coming from downstairs.
Leila had been living peacefully here for a month. Their vigilance toward her had noticeably decreased, allowing her more freedom of movement within the building.
Her room was located on the third floor, and if she lifted the curtain, she could see everything happening outside. Leila’s actions were impulsive.
Before she could think, she was already standing barefoot at the window. To calm herself, she gently touched her belly. Then, slowly, she lifted the curtain.
The night air was crisp and clean, devoid of pollution. The moon shone brightly, illuminating the streets without the need for artificial light.
In the darkness, Leila’s pupils dilated, and she began to tremble slightly.
Below, she saw several elderly people in white gowns stumbling downstairs. They resembled test and experimental subjects, their heads shaved regardless of gender.
These elderly individuals appeared to have lost control of their bodies, their postures a disturbing blend of unnatural angles and lurches. They were driven by sheer desperation, trying to escape at any cost.
One of them glanced up and locked eyes with Leila through the window.
At that moment, Leila saw the helplessness in his clear, innocent eyes. It resembled the gaze of a frightened child. Instead of calling for help, he began to sob desperately. His companion pulled him along, trying to force him to keep running.
But they hadn’t run far. With a series of sharp sounds, all the escapees fell to the ground.
Then, a low, eerie humming filled the air. The off-key melody floated through the stillness of the night, its discordant strains weaving an unsettling chill into the quiet.
As the eerie melody edged nearer, Leila’s gaze followed the sound, slowly unraveling the identity of its source. It was Griffin! He was strolling, holding a firearm in his hand. The cold dead bodies at his feet seemed to hold no significance for him.
Leila’s legs felt weak, nearly giving way as she struggled to remain upright. She had never seen a dead body so closely before.
Griffin noticed Leila and looked up, offering a slight smile. “Miss Nixon, did I startle you? I apologize. Considering that this building is the nearest to the sea, it’s the preferred route for those attempting to escape.”
Leila, who had always maintained her composure, was momentarily speechless. She mumbled a few times before finally finding her voice. “Why did you have to kill them?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how foolish the question was.
Griffin seemed amused and chuckled. His handsome face, adorned with a smile, sent a shiver down Leila’s spine.
“Because they were disobedient. This is how we deal with those who defy our rules. While I’m not concerned about you witnessing these things, it’s not good for your baby.”
If you got scared, that’s my fault. So, please, be obedient and remember to drink your milk every night.” Griffin spoke as though coaxing a child, despite being nearly a decade younger than Leila.
Leila hadn’t forget the ease with which Griffin had just rnurdered those people. She couldn’t hold back any longer. She quickly closed the curtain and rushed to the bathroom to throw up.
The sight had been too much for her to bear. Private physicians were required.
The manor was now on high alert, with over a dozen doctors present.
Leila was anxious and on the verge of panic. Every soun& seemed amplified, and she was easily agitated.
Later, Ernesto went to check on Leila. After seeing her condition, he turned and struck Griffin with his cane. “Why did you frighten her like that? Scaring her does you no good.”