Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
As Elma approached slowly, Leila’s heart raced uncontrollably. As Elma neared the shore, Cara was already poised to push her into the water unseen.
But suddenly, Landon’s voice halted everything. “Cara, stop.”
Cara turned to find Landon with a knife at Keely’s throat. That explained his unexpected appearance.
Keely’s eyes, wide with terror and pleading, met Cara’s as she implored, “Please save me.”
“Such a loser!” Cara snorted coldly, casting a glance at Landon as she said, “Kill her as you wish. I wouldn’t be bothered by that.” Keely looked at Cara in stunned disbelief, her loyalty apparently misplaced.
To everyone’s surprise, Landon released Keely, his expression cold but his eyes betraying deep disgust toward Cara. “I never intended to harm her. I just needed to see you,” he declared. His statement could have seemed ambiguous, but his tone was emotionless and firm.
Cara, feeling a sharp sting in her heart, trembled as she confronted him. “Landon, don’t pretend. I’m aware of your dealings with Clayton. I’ve been so good to you. Why this betrayal?”
Landon stepped closer, resolute. “Since my plan with Clayton falters, I accept full responsibility. Why must you harm the innocent? Release them, and I’ll do as you ask from now on.”.
Cara gave a bitter, resigned smile. “It’s futile. You don’t truly love me. The moment you find a chance to leave me, you won’t hesitate to walk away.”
Determined not to be the only one suffering, Cara declared, “I want us all to feel this pain together.”
As Cara laughed, her laughter twisted into sobs. She couldn’t fathom why she was the only one left devastated. Why was happiness granted to everyone but her?
Landon continued his approach toward Cara, subtly signaling to Leila.
Leila caught Landon’s hint and shifted her gaze, noticing Clayton approaching with his men discreetly.
As Cara was about to turn, Landon grasped her shoulder, handing her a knife. “This is my escape tool. Now, it’s yours. I can’t escape anymore.”
Cara clutched the knife, her eyes darting between hope and desperation. She implored, “Landon, tell me, is there really no place for me in your heart? Not even a trace of affection?”
Landon stated resolutely, “I never felt a thing for you.” At this point, there was no point in deceiving Cara any further.
At that moment, Clayton and his men had approached and had already picked up Elma.
Clayton tried to lead Leila away, but she resisted, her attention fixed on Sophie, still in peril.
Clayton caught her glance and silently assured her that he would handle Sophie’s rescue.
As Leila wavered, a chilling sound snapped her attention back. It was the sound of a knife slicing through flesh.
Leila turned to see Cara wildly stabbing Landon, blood spilling profusely.
Leila watched in horror, but dared not cry out as Landon staggered and collapsed.
Cara stared at her bloodied hands, first in shock, then with manic laughter. “See, Landon, if you had loved me, none of this would have happened. It’s all your fault, all of you!”
Finally, Clayton’s team had managed to free Sophie, but the commotion drew Cara’s attention.
Cara spun around to find her brother not locked away, but actively rescuing Leila and her children.
Furious, Cara screamed, “Bitch!” and charged at Leila with the knife.
Clayton immediately shielded Leila behind him.
But before Cara could get close, Landon mustered his remaining strength, stood up, and embraced Cara to stop her from harming Leila. As they struggled, both teetered toward the edge. They lost their balance and fell into the turbulent underground river below.
“Landon!” Leila cried out as the world around her seemed to fall silent.
Leila’s mind buzzed as Landon tumbled into the underground river, too shocked to process anything else.
Without thinking, Leila shoved Clayton aside and dashed forward in an attempt to reach Landon. However, she was too late. By the time Leila got there, all she could do was watch helplessly as the river slowly consumed Landon.
A deep, soul-tearing pain surged through Leila. Landon could have come up, but Cara was clutching one of his hands too tightly.
“Landon!” Leila cried out in despair, desperate to dive in after him. Clayton caught her hand, his face lined with worry.
“Leila, you can’t jump in. It’s too dangerous.”
Ignoring his plea, Leila shouted, “Please, I need to save him! Call for help, now!”
Clayton resolved himself and pointed to the two frightened children. “Leila, think for a moment. Your children are right here. What will happen to them if something happens to you?”
Leila turned to see Sophie holding Elma. Elma’s eyes were dull and swollen from crying, and she seemed oblivious to the surrounding chaos. Sophie had just seen Landon disappear into the river’s depths, her tears flowing freely.
Clayton pulled Leila to her feet firmly. “I’ll find someone to look for him, but you can’t rush into danger. You need to come back with me. I have something crucial to tell you.”
Leila, now somewhat calmer but still shaking, shook her head stubbornly. “I won’t be reckless, but I need to stay here. I must wait for Landon to return.”
Pain flashed in Clayton’s eyes. “Is he truly that significant to you? Leila, try to think clearly. Even if Landon seems indifferent toward my sister now, think about it. Why would they have given birth to Elma if there were no feelings? How can you be sure that Landon didn’t choose to go into the water with Cara, like some suicide attempt for love?”
Leila shut her eyes, overwhelmed by pain, and whispered, “Stop it. I don’t want to hear it.”
Holding Leila’s hand tenderly, Clayton said, “Just accept it, Leila. Landon has moved on. Chasing after a man who doesn’t love you anymore means you’re not the Leila I once knew. Let’s go.”
Leila hesitated as she processed his words.
Just then, Sophie’s voice pierced the air with clarity. “No, it’s not like that! Mom, my dad did nothing wrong. Elma isn’t his child with that wicked woman.”
Upon hearing this, Clayton and Leila both turned their gaze toward Sophie.
Sophie looked disheveled, one side of her face still swollen, clearly having endured much. She held back her tears and pulled Elma along. She gently nudged Elma toward Leila. “Mom, Elma’s actually Chloe. I heard Cara say it. Cara mentioned having given Elma a potion to stunt her growth, and that’s why Elma and Calvin appear different in age. Cara said that solely because she had no desire to let me survive today. She forced you to choose between Elma and me and figured you would definitely choose me over Elma. She had planned to tell you Elma is actually your daughter after Elma’s demise, ensuring you broke down because of her revelation. Even if you chose to save me, Cara never intended to keep me alive.”
Sophie inherited Landon’s intelligence and his calm. In such a trying moment, her thoughts remained clear.
A wave of disbelief and fear crashed over Leila. It became clear why Cara had been in no hurry to let Sophie fall into the river when she chose Elma. Cara’s plan was for Leila to experience the agony of losing two children in a single day.
“My child, my Chloe?” Leila gasped, reaching out to Elma, her hands trembling.
Elma looked on, bewildered, not fully grasping the situation.
Leila embraced Elma tightly, overwhelmed with emotion. “Sweetheart, it’s me, your mom. I’m so sorry. How did I fail to see what was amiss sooner?”
Leila had always felt a connection to Elma and never imagined Cara could be so cruel as to use growth-inhibiting drugs on her. The mere thought of such drugs made Leila realize the extent of potential harm to Elma.
Leila now grasped that Cara had crafted a tale. Landon hadn’t stopped loving her due to a change of heart but because of his memory loss, caused by Cara’s manipulation. He had never been romantically involved with Cara. He, too, was a victim of Cara’s merciless deceit. Cara’s cruelty knew no bounds.
Elma nestled into Leila’s arms, feeling the warmth she had missed, her voice tinged with confusion. “Are you really my mom? But my mom has fallen, and so has my dad. I no longer have parents in this world.”
Tears streamed down Leila’s face as she held Elma close. “I am your mom. I’m so sorry that I didn’t recognize you sooner to spare you all these sufferings.”
A slight frown donned Elma’s face as she felt Leila’s tight embrace, a hint of pain underlying it.
Concerned for her children’s safety, Leila asked Clayton to take them to the hospital immediately.
Clayton, with a complex look on his face, stood by Leila. “Do you still plan to stay here?”
Leila, wiping away her tears, looked up sharply, her gaze icy as she confronted Clayton. “We’ve had our misunderstandings, but I’ve always seen you as a friend. Clayton, how deeply were you involved in Cara’s schemes?”
Panic flickered in Clayton’s eyes. He tried to defend himself, but Leila’s incisive stare seemed to penetrate his defenses.
Clayton clenched his jaw and said, “I’m sorry. I was aware of parts of it, but I had no idea Elma was your daughter. Cara, though under my watch, grew her own network of influence, which I became ensnared in without realizing the full extent. This wouldn’t have happened if not for that.”
Leila found no words to counter his. Observing Clayton’s ragged state, she realized the extent of his ordeal.
Clayton managed a rueful smile. “Yes, I had feelings for you. That year, Cara found Landon and told me she fell for him. He wouldn’t let him go, even threatening me to keep the truth from you. I was unaware Chloe was also under Cara’s control. I believed she had died. Later, when Landon was unconscious, Cara had him given drugs that affected his memory and arranged for some hypnosis sessions at his most vulnerable.