Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
While Lacey was preparing lunch, Jeanette burst into the kitchen, her face alight with excitement.
Approaching Lacey with a wide grin, Jeanette exclaimed, “A really fancy car just pulled into the village, and it was full of attractive people. They look like they’re searching for someone.”
Upon hearing this, Lacey’s face took on a complicated expression.
Landon, still secluded in his room, remained unaware of their conversation.
Lacey quickly motioned for Jeanette to lower her voice. “Shh. Let’s keep this from Landon for now.”
Jeanette, puzzled, tilted her head. “Why? I thought it might be fun to check it out together. Plus, they seem willing to reward anyone who can help them find this person.”
Curious, Lacey asked, “Are they searching for a man or a woman?”
Jeanette paused, thinking it over. “They’re looking for a man, but it was too crowded to see any photo.”
Lacey’s hands trembled as she clutched Jeanette’s shoulders, her voice low and urgent. “Please, don’t mention this to Landon, not until we confirm it.”
Lacey paused, her gaze intense. “There could be people after him, and we have no clue whether their intentions are good or bad. Remember how Landon was badly hurt before? If these people mean harm, it could spell disaster for him.” Lacey still recalled Landon’s severe injuries during their first meeting. Clearly, whoever was after him wielded considerable power.
Jeanette nodded, somewhat understanding. “I get it.”
Despite agreeing, anxiety still gnawed at Lacey. “Why don’t you keep Landon company for a bit? I need to go check something out.”
Lacey exhaled a heavy sigh. “If they turn out to be good people, great. Maybe they’re even his family.” Though Lacey hoped for the best, a strange, uneasy feeling lingered in her heart.
Jeanette hurried off, and Lacey, losing any interest in making lunch, slipped on a mask and stepped outside.
Leila and Clayton were hard to miss in the crowd.
Lacey didn’t know them, but something told her they were here for Landon.
Despite all of Leila’s searching, there was still no sign of Landon.
Leila, looking exhausted, nearly slipped on the muddy terrain, but Clayton was quick to support her, his tone cautious. “Careful!”
Their brief moment of closeness was interrupted. Leila immediately pushed Clayton away, though she didn’t push hard.
This movement allowed Lacey to clearly see Leila’s face. She thought Leila wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful, but something was captivating about her, something that could steal one’s breath away, particularly her bright, expressive eyes.
At that moment, concern clouded Leila’s eyes, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly. She had applied just a touch of makeup and dressed in simple attire, her hair loosely pulled back, yet she radiated beauty. Her delicate figure stirred a sense of compassion.
The sight of Leila could evoke pity from another woman, and even more so from a man.
When Lacey snapped back to reality, she realized her nails had dug deep into her palms, causing pain.
Lacey’s eyes sharpened, her expression laced with subtle contempt. Leila was openly affectionate with another man. Could it be that Leila wasn’t Landon’s wife?
Instead of storming off, Lacey took a moment to examine the photos they’d posted. Whatever small sliver of hope she had left evaporated on the spot. It was unmistakably Landon.
Whispers from the people around Lacey filled the air.
“Isn’t she looking for her husband? She’s so beautiful, and she’s driving a luxury car. What would her husband be doing here?”
“You haven’t heard? Word is, he was framed and barely escaped with his life.”
Lacey had always steered clear of such issues. Yet, the mention of Landon made her hesitate and lean in to catch more of the conversation.
“Those folks have been scouring the area for ages. The endless rain muddied the roads and blocked their path. They haven’t made it to this spot yet.”
“I picked up on some whispers too. They’re saying that woman plotted with her lover to off her husband. How else do you explain a fit man just ending up in this remote village?”
“Goodness! She’s so captivating. Could someone that gorgeous really be so cruel?”
“What do you really know? Sometimes, the most beautiful are the most deadly.”
“I eavesdropped on the lady mentioning she now runs the man’s business. Sounds a little shady, don’t you agree?”
“What comes around, goes around, right?”
The more Lacey eavesdropped, the deeper her astonishment grew. Pondering the rumors, she began to think there might be some truth to them. Landon bore no bruises indicative of a scuffle. However, a stab wound marked his chest. She had seen it before. The cut was shallow, likely inflicted by someone not particularly strong, perhaps a woman. Most telling was that Landon had had no prior quarrels with his assailant. He obviously trusted someone close enough to let his guard down completely.
“Lacey.” Out of nowhere, a gentle tap came on Lacey’s shoulder.
Taken aback, Lacey pivoted. A local from the village stood behind her.
“I heard you rescued someone recently. Could he be the person they’re all searching for?”
“They mentioned a reward of $500,000 for finding him.”
“$500,000! Imagine what one could do with that kind of money. I’d be over the moon.”
With a gentle shake of her head, Lacey gave her answer. “No, the man I rescued isn’t the one they’re searching for.”
The villager clicked his tongue in disappointment. “What a shame!”
Curiosity getting the better of her, Lacey furrowed her brows and inquired, “Do you know who they’re looking for? They must be desperate to offer such a huge sum.”
Leaning closer, the villager whispered, “You’re out of the loop. This guy was once the wealthiest man in Burmoos, quite a powerful figure. If you knew the Kensington family’s situation, you’d understand. Being his savior could set one up for life.”
Nodding, Lacey walked away, lost in thought.
At that moment, Landon and Jeanette emerged from a room. Noticing Lacey’s preoccupied expression, Landon’s concern was evident. “Have those loan sharks been troubling you?”
Lacey quickly dismissed his concern. “No. I just needed some fresh air. I’m feeling a bit down. That’s all.”
Landon decided not to push her further. Instead, he shifted the conversation. “Since the rain’s stopped, I’m thinking of heading back to Burmoos. I’ll head out later to scout the route.”
Lacey stared at Landon for a moment before her lips curled into a smile. “Alright. I’m off to cook.”
Once Lacey was in the kitchen, she let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, those loan sharks hadn’t been around during the recent upheavals. Otherwise, they would have surely exposed Landon. It was a good thing Landon had stayed indoors while recovering, preventing anyone from meeting him. Meanwhile, Leila continued her relentless search for Landon without any leads.
Unwilling to give up, she decided to visit each house in person.
She refused to believe that they could have found Cara’s body here, yet she was still clueless about Landon’s whereabouts.
Clayton didn’t try to stop Leila, but he warned her not to overexert herself, reminding her that falling ill again wasn’t worth it.
Suddenly, someone rushed over with alarming news. “Mr. Morgan, Miss Nixon, we’ve found a dead body. It’s male.”
A loud ringing filled Leila’s ears, and her mind went blank.
“No, it can’t be Landon.” Leila’s hands clenched into fists as she fought to steady her nerves. “Are you sure? Did you get a good look? Are you certain it’s not Landon?”
The messenger shook his head firmly. “The face is unrecognizable. It’s been completely disfigured. We could only identify him by his clothes.”
Clayton held Leila upright as she struggled to stay balanced, his voice filled with concern. “It might not be Landon. We can stay back if you’d prefer.”
“I must go.” Leila pulled away from Clayton’s supportive grip, gathering what little strength she had left amidst the turmoil in her chest.
Her voice trembled as she spoke, “I need to see for myself. It can’t be Landon.”
At the scene where the body was discovered, police tape marked the perimeter.
Leila’s heart sank as she looked at the clothing on the corpse. It was identical to what Landon had been wearing when he disappeared. Could this really be happening? Perhaps it was just a horrific coincidence.