Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Rola glanced nervously around as she shrugged off Freya’s grip. “There’s no threat or mistreatment. I’m simply stating the facts. I never liked Sophie, so I devised this scheme. Stop questioning me.”
Freya felt her legs weaken. She had always known Rola to be a troublemaker. Her aid this time wasn’t for Rola’s benefit but to oppose Leila. Yet, she hadn’t foreseen Rola’s last-minute betrayal.
Freya felt compelled to remind Rola of their father’s looming threat. “If our dad learns of your shameful actions, he won’t spare you when you get home.”
At the mention of their father, fear flashed across Rola’s face. Nevertheless, she stood firm and said, “I stole the piece. It’s the truth.”
Freya was almost shaking with rage. Yet, the next second, her eyes gleamed with a cunning light.
Tears suddenly cascaded down Freya’s cheeks as she lifted her gaze. “Miss Nixon, it’s true that Sophie is a musical prodigy and her piano skills are exceptional. But does that mean no one else deserves a chance to shine in this field? I’m not sure what you told Rola to make her jeopardize her future, but one thing is clear. We cannot afford to cross the Nixon family. We are genuinely scared.”
Freya’s words hinted that Rola had confessed to stealing Sophie’s piece under pressure from Leila, who undoubtedly had the backing of the powerful Nixon family. Fearing a ban from the competition, Rola had felt compelled to confess.
With a calm smile, Leila responded, “Well, let me make an announcement. Effective immediately, I’m pulling the Nixon family’s financial backing from this concert. They will no longer be the main sponsors here. Does this move demonstrate that the Nixon family hasn’t been manipulating events to our advantage?”
Leila acted decisively, requesting the competition host to sign the contract that would end the investment.
As this involved a termination, Leila provided a substantial sum of money. Yet, she showed no hesitation whatsoever.
The host quickly clarified that no deceitful actions had been involved, emphasizing that no individual investor could dictate whether any participant could continue to perform. The focus of the competition was on the talent of the contestants, and their financial status was irrelevant. Leila’s assertion highlighted the lack of merit in Freya’s previous allegations.
When the competition concluded, the time came for the awards ceremony. Sophie was honored with an award, which subtly debunked the rumors and confirmed them as nothing more than unfounded gossip.
At home, Freya, blushing with embarrassment, hastily ushered Rola away. On their way back, Sophie’s curiosity kept tugging at her. “Mom, how did you manage to get Rola to confess?”
With a sly smile, Leila tapped Sophie’s nose and teased, “Ever heard the phrase, ‘strike where it stings’?” Despite Rola’s rebellious and unruly demeanor, her true passion lay in playing the piano. Her drive to win at all costs had pushed her to steal Sophie’s sheet music.
When confronting Rola, Leila laid it out plainly: if Rola didn’t come clean, all of her wrongdoings would soon be known throughout the piano circles. Rola had done more than just this one shameful thing. It was fortunate that Tyrone, a once-celebrated pianist with widespread influence, and his globally recognized students could sway public opinion.
As Rola wavered, Leila pointed out that her scheming had done nothing but humiliate Sophie and sabotage her chances of victory. Despite the baseless accusations of plagiarism, it wouldn’t diminish Sophie’s innate skill. Rola had stolen Sophie’s composition, but Sophie’s talent was something no one could capture or contain. Before long, the plagiarism talk would fade, and Sophie would still stand out as a gifted pianist. In contrast, Rola would be doomed to remain in Sophie’s shadow, with Sophie present at every competition Rola entered.
After Leila explained these two points, Rola was visibly shaken. Still green and a bit na?ve, Rola felt real fear-enough to quickly concede to Leila’s terms. Leila wasn’t asking for much; she just required Rola to own up to her mistake publicly.
Hearing this, Sophie’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “Mom, you’re really something else!”
With a warm hug, Leila replied, “My dear, I’ve kept these tactics from you, not wanting you to engage in manipulation. But I see now it’s better you learn how to defend yourself than be left vulnerable.”
Leila confided that her warnings to Rola were somewhat overstated. “Sometimes, you have to adopt some tactics to stay ahead,” she explained.
Sophie pondered this new lesson, and then her thoughts shifted. “Mom, should we head back to Avalon? I miss my dad.”
The mention of Landon caused Leila’s smile to briefly disappear, though she didn’t react much.
The sorrow that had once clouded their discussions about Landon had lifted somewhat. While Leila had never organized a formal funeral, she had created a memorial space for Landon at home. She didn’t view having a grave at home as inappropriate, especially since she had consulted a master in this matter.
Keeping Landon’s memorial at home wasn’t meant to alleviate Leila’s longing. It was a heartfelt gesture from the entire family, expressing their hope that Landon’s next journey would be one of happiness and freedom. The memorial served to keep his spirit alive in their hearts.
At times, the children would gather around Landon’s grave and talk to him as if he hadn’t really left them. For Leila, accepting Landon’s death was still a struggle. It seemed more plausible to her that Landon was just away on an extended journey, perhaps soon to return.
When Sophie shared her feelings, they resonated with the other two kids, who also longed for the familiarity of home. Leila gave a small laugh and reassured them, “We’ll need to stay here a bit longer, but our return isn’t far off.” Leila had committed to attending a banquet with Clayton, scheduled for two days later, though the venue remained undecided.
The thought of running into Rola and Freya at the banquet was enough to give Leila a headache. To avoid potential complications, she decided to leave the children behind at the hotel. It seemed safer that way. Clayton soon updated Leila with news. “Leila, turns out the gang leader is from Avalon. He’s planning to celebrate his birthday back home the day after tomorrow.”
This news brought Leila some relief. Being in Avalon, a place she knew well, would ease her anxieties. With that in mind, Leila began preparing for their journey back.
During this time, Edgar reached out, mentioning that he had spotted someone lurking suspiciously near the Kensington Group building. This individual was skilled at evading detection, disappearing every time Edgar deployed someone to track him. His ability to avoid surveillance was impressive. Edgar’s unease grew as he anxiously awaited Leila’s return, knowing it would calm everyone’s nerves.
Meanwhile, when Landon finally returned to Burmoos, his expression was clouded with concern. Despite his amnesia and being under the Morgan family’s control in recent years, he had managed to accumulate a respectable amount of money in personal accounts. These accounts were a secret to everyone except him, part of his emergency exit strategy.
Landon had recently leased a modest courtyard in Burmoos, bringing Jeanette and Lacey with him. The courtyard offered enough space for the three of them to move around freely.
As Lacey prepared dinner, she noticed Landon’s discontent and voiced her concern, “Mr. Kensington, is something the matter?”
Landon shook his head as he surveyed the table laden with dishes, his frown deepening. “Haven’t I asked you to cook for me? You don’t need to serve me like this.”
ake had made up his mind to include Jeanette and Lacey on his journey, not just because they had once saved his life, but also due to a quiet warning from Jeanette.
Jeanette had mentioned that if Landon were to leave, the village bully would likely harass her and Lacey again. This ongoing threat had been one reason why Lacey’s clinic business had been steadily declining. Landon’s compassion prompted him to bring them along.
Despite his considerable wealth, Landon typically kept it under wraps, choosing a modest lifestyle to avoid drawing attention. Under different circumstances, he could have easily surrounded himself with a full staff of servants and guards.
Lacey froze, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, an uncharacteristic display for her usually composed demeanor. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but I’ve noticed you’ve been overworking yourself and skipping meals,” she said gently. “When I last checked, your stomach wasn’t doing well. It might be wise to watch your diet more closely.”
Landon showed no interest in sitting down for a meal. “You two enjoy your meal and head to bed early. I’ve got tasks to attend to,” he said briskly before retreating to his room.
Jeanette leaned on her hand thoughtfully. “Lacey, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong with him lately. Is he in a mood, or did we do something to upset him?”
Lacey sighed as she surveyed the carefully prepared dishes, each infused with healing herbs. “Neither,” she replied, understanding the underlying issue. Landon, with his unwavering principles, kept a respectful distance from other women, not wanting to lead them on or create any misunderstandings.
Lacey was frustrated. When would Landon finally realize she had done everything willingly? She cast a wistful glance at Landon’s closed door, a soft ache settling in her chest. She couldn’t deny it any longer-she had feelings for Landon..
Lacey didn’t think there was anything wrong with how she felt. Landon was strikingly handsome, with a cool, powerful aura and an air of mystery that checked every box on her list. Although Landon was married with children, it seemed his wife had long turned her back on him.
With a steadying breath, Lacey murmured to herself, “I have to be patient.” She still had time on her side. She could wait. Lacey figured that when Landon finally saw Leila’s true colors, he would carve out a place for her in his heart.
Meanwhile, Landon sat alone in his room, deep in thought, unaware of the turmoil brewing in Lacey’s heart. He was meticulously planning his next move.
Landon hadn’t been able to approach the Kensington Group, despite his consistent attempts over the past few days. He acknowledged Edgar’s vigilance and initiative, recognizing the wisdom of his decision years ago to promote him.
Landon had also noticed an influx of new faces at the Kensington Group. Through his past dealings with the Morgan family, he immediately recognized a few of Clayton’s former close allies among them. These men appeared to be backing Edgar, occupying positions that, at first glance, seemed insignificant.
But Landon wasn’t fooled by this and recognized it as a clever maneuver designed to throw Edgar off guard, making him believe Clayton’s men were only there to help and not to stake any claim on the Kensington Group’s assets. What made this move even more convincing was the fact that Clayton had indeed been helping Leila with several matters lately.
Few could have imagined that Clayton’s true motive for sending his men to Leila’s company and the Kensington Group was to keep a close watch on Landon. At this point, Landon knew he had to tread carefully, despite his growing unease.
What lifted Landon’s spirits was Leila’s upcoming return to the country. He planned to devise a way to evade Clayton’s men and get closer to Leila.
Landon pulled out his phone and clicked into a video- a recording of Sophie’s competition, which had been uploaded online. He watched it with a mix of emotions. Sophie had grown taller. Yet, he had missed out on her and the other kids growing up. He wondered if they would hold it against him. A shadow of regret flickered in Landon’s eyes.
After dinner, Lacey stared at Landon’s still-closed door, feeling down.
Jeanette approached, tilting her head. “Lacey, should I call Landon out for dinner?”
Lacey shook her head gently. “No, don’t disturb him. I’m going out for a walk.”
Jeanette nodded, understanding. After a moment’s pause, Jeanette rushed to catch up with Lacey. “Lacey, can I join you?”
Lacey nodded with a smile and affectionately patted Jeanette’s head. Together, they crossed the bustling street and entered a vibrant commercial area.
For Jeanette, who had grown up in a secluded village, everything around her was a dazzling wonder. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took it all in.
“Everything is so fascinating! Lacey, look at that! It’s beautiful! And that smells amazing!” Jeanette exclaimed. “Lacey, can we buy that?” Jeanette raised her hand, pointing at a clothing store adorned with beautiful dresses displayed in the window.
Jeanette lowered her head with a hint of embarrassment. “Lacey, I just think those dresses are stunning. You would look amazing in them.”
Suddenly, Lacey’s mind drifted to Leila. That day in the village, she had spotted Leila wearing a dress from this very brand. Leila was elegant, beautiful, graceful, and exuded an air of natural nobility.
Sometimes, Lacey found herself secretly comparing her own image to Leila’s, only to feel as though she was always a step behind. Yet, beneath it all, Lacey believed she was more noble than Leila. While Leila had relied on a man, Lacey drew strength from her relentless hard work. She often mused that if she had been born into a wealthy family like Leila, she might have become just like her- and perhaps she might have even met Landon first.
Lost in thought, Lacey and Jeanette found themselves standing at the entrance of the store. Just as Lacey was about to step inside, she hesitated, a sudden realization hitting her. She frowned slightly and said, “Actually, I’m not a fan of these clothes. Let’s go. They look uncomfortable to wear.”
Jeanette pouted and said, “Lacey, you’re lying. I think you want those things. Landon gave us a lot of money. He said it’s what we deserve, and we should treat ourselves better. He’ll give us more in the future, so don’t hold back.”
Lacey laughed, shaking her head, but her resolve not to go into the store remained firm. “No, I really don’t like them.”