Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Deep in thought, Lacey decided to share the news with Landon.
‘Mr. Kensington, is this your wife?’ With a startled gesture, Lacey added:
‘Surely there’s some arrangement between you.
You and your wife have not separated, not to mention the three children you have together.
However, your closeness with another man in the media paints a different story…’
Lacey’s words deliberately trailed off.
To her astonishment, however, Landon remained calm.
He looked at the news and said:
‘I know.
I saw it earlier today.’
Lacey’s surprise increased.
Had she had prior knowledge of all this? That was odd.
Despite his deep affection for Leila, he seemed completely unmoved.
After a brief pause, Lacey made a mock attempt to comfort him.
‘There’s no need to be heartbroken.
People change over time.’
Landon fixed her with a piercing gaze, his eyes reflecting a whirlwind of emotions.
‘Heartbroken? There’s no reason for that.
It’s not her fault.
From the day she and I met, I knew I’d be one of many competing for her attention.
And remember, stories told online are not always based on truth.
I’m skeptical of them.’
Lacey was stunned.
Regardless of the credibility of the online rumors, the fact remained that Clayton had nearly sacrificed his life for Leila, who, in turn, had nursed him back to health for several days.
Was Landon’s love for Leila really that boundless?
A wave of jealousy swept through Lacey.
She clenched her jaw, her voice cutting through the air.
‘Mr. Kensington, let’s say you really are together.
Are you prepared to continue living in self-delusion?’
Landon raised his head slowly, a shadow crossing his gaze.
‘That’s not like you, Lacey.
I don’t remember you ever indulging in this stuff,’ he said, his voice cold and distant.
Lacey was abruptly torn from her thoughts.
Her hands clenched into fists as she struggled to explain herself.
‘Not that I meant anything by it.
I just don’t want to see you hurt or cheated on.’
Landon stood up suddenly, irritation flashing in his eyes.
‘Don’t talk about her like that, not in front of me.
You once saved my life, so I’ll let this go for now.
But I won’t tolerate you repeating those words.
The whole world can fool me, but not Leila.’
Lacey’s heart sank.
A bitter pang rose in her throat.
Did he really have no faith in her? After days of endless waiting, was that all she’d finally received in return?
Lacey understood that Leila held a special place in Landon’s heart, a barrier he might never be able to break through.
But she hadn’t realized how formidable that barrier was until now.
If Leila had been virtuous, Lacey would have stepped back gracefully.
But Leila’s record seemed far from clean, and despite that, Landon’s faith in her was unshaken.
Lacey gradually calmed down.
When people are in love, nothing else matters except their relationship.
There wasn’t much she could do about it.
However, she was sure Landon would eventually see Leila for who she really was.
It would just take a little time.
With that in mind, Lacey apologized:
‘I’m sorry.
I shouldn’t have said those things about your wife.
I hope you don’t mind.’
Landon had already calmed down.
‘I’m to blame, too.
They tend to lose their composure when she’s involved.’
Landon suddenly remembered something and added seriously:
‘By the way, Lacey, I’m moving out soon.
I paid a year’s rent for this place.