Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Meanwhile, Jeanette watched as Clayton and Leila slowly faded into the crowd, her lips trembling as tears threatened to fall.
Suddenly, a hand came to rest on Jeanette’s shoulder.
‘Did you see that, Jeanette? She’s nothing but a liar, a deceitful woman.’ Lacey’s voice was laden with coldness.
‘People can be two-faced.
Beware of those who are too friendly too soon.’
Jeanette felt a mixture of sadness and injustice welling up inside her.
‘Why would Miss Pretty treat Landon like this, and why would she treat me this way?’
Lacey made no effort to hide the malice and resentment that burned in her eyes.
‘Because some people are just born bad.
They lie from the moment they take their first breath.
So, Jeanette, since she cheated on Landon, we should teach her a little lesson, don’t you think?’
Jeanette wiped away her tears, glancing nervously at Lacey.
‘Lacey, are we really going to do something wrong?’
Lacey smiled, pinching Jeanette’s cheek, but her eyes flashed with an unsettling glint.
‘Of course we’re not.
It’s just a little lesson for a bad person.
Nothing too serious.’
Jeanette looked Lacey in the eye, feeling conflicted.
But at the thought of Landon, she nodded resolutely.
‘Landon has been so good to me.
It’s unfair of Miss Pretty to treat him like this.’
Lacey leaned forward, speaking as if trying to gently coax her.
‘Then go find her and bring her to the place we’ve set up.’
Letting go of Lacey’s hand, Jeanette began to follow Leila.
As Lacey watched Jeanette’s figure walk away, she was suddenly overcome with a pang of panic and confusion.
When had she become like this? She had come so far that she would resort to any means necessary to achieve her goals, even using her own sister in the process.
For a moment, Lacey felt a strong urge to run after Jeanette and stop her.
But every time the thought crossed her mind, she remembered how Landon spoke of Leila with such genuine affection.
It left a bitter taste in her mouth.
The success of everything hinged on that day.
Lacey’s gaze sharpened, hardening with determination as she turned and walked away with purpose.
Lacey’s main responsibility that day was to be vigilant in case Cody suffered any sudden health problems.
However, she was well aware of Cody’s condition.
Although he appeared frail, it was largely due to his age.
The prescriptions she had given him were best suited to his needs.
The traditional medicine of Avalon was deeply rooted.
While it did not offer immediate results like modern medicine, it focused on gradual healing and nourishing the body.
Recovery was simply a matter of time and patience.
With plenty of free time on her hands that day and Cody’s unwavering trust in her, Lacey felt that executing her plan would not be difficult at all.
Lacey arrived at the back door, where Landon was waiting for her.
He was disguised as a staff member, wearing a mask that hid his identity.
Even in that simple attire Landon couldn’t hide his innate and distinguished charisma.
When Lacey arrived at the appointed time, Landon’s eyes lit up, curving into a smile that hinted at his joy.
As Lacey approached, Landon could contain himself no longer and asked, ‘Is Leila here?’
Lacey’s hands tightened under her sleeve, her knuckles paling from the pressure.
‘She’s here.
Once you follow me inside, don’t stray too far.
I’ll make sure you see her.
If you prefer, I can even arrange a private space for you.’
Landon shook his head.
‘No need to risk it.
I know Clayton’s around today.
Nothing escapes his watchful eye.
I just need to see her from afar.
I’m leaving the country tomorrow.
Everything is already arranged.
After that, I won’t see her for several months.’
A shadow of sadness flashed in Landon’s eyes at the thought.
Lacey felt her chest tighten.
‘You really can’t bear to leave her.’
In a surprisingly good mood, Landon simply smiled.
‘You’ll understand this feeling when you find someone you love.’
Lacey, inwardly, replied that she already understood all too well.