Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
‘Let me guess. You’ve been following me all this time. And now that you’ve found me, you plan to kill me for Leila, right?’
Clayton nodded slowly and then shook his head. He took a step forward, a playful smile on his lips.
‘Partly because of her. But mostly because you know too much. If you go back to her, could you really resist telling her I cheated on her?’
Landon lifted his chin, his voice steady.
‘Of course I’d tell her. You’re manipulative and backstabbing. You shouldn’t be anywhere near her.’
Clayton’s eyes darkened for a moment, but then his smile twisted into something more sinister.
‘Exactly. That’s why I can’t let anyone come between me and Leila.’
Landon clenched his fists.
‘Not even if you kill me, she’ll see right through you sooner or later. Don’t think she’s na?ve.’
Clayton clicked his tongue, almost amused.
‘So, tell me, Mr. Kensington, can you guess why I showed up here so suddenly, or how my men found you so quickly?’
Landon’s gaze narrowed as Clayton continued.
‘The moment she saw you, she gave the signal to my men. Your attendance at that foundation event? It was all a ruse to lure you in. She doesn’t love you anymore. She loves me.’
Landon’s clenched fists shook slightly, but he kept his composure.
‘You’re lying. After all these years, even if she doesn’t love me anymore, she wouldn’t betray me.’
Landon remembered when Leila had been so cruelly bullied. Through it all, she never blamed him. After so many years together, Landon and Leila understood each other without words. He could believe she no longer loved him. But if someone told him she wanted him dead, he wouldn’t believe it.
Clayton watched him, impassive.
‘Have you ever wondered how I knew you’d be here? How I captured you so quickly?’
That was the part Landon couldn’t figure out. Only a few people knew about his schedule. If Clayton had discovered his schedule and tracked him here, why had he waited until now to act?
Landon struggled with his doubts, but in the end, he decided to trust Leila.
‘I’m defeated, trapped by you today. I know I won’t make it out alive. So, if you’re going to kill me or torture me, do it now.’
Landon narrowed his dark eyes. Even cornered, he maintained an air of defiance, his cool gaze radiating authority. He looked at Clayton with a hint of mockery.
‘You better make sure I die today. Because if I come back, it’ll be your turn.’
Neal, who had accompanied Clayton, clenched his fists in anger, eager to prove his worth.
‘How arrogant you are! Mr. Clayton, let me teach you a lesson.’
Clayton simply sneered, making no move to stop Neal. Neal lunged forward, throwing a punch towards Landon. But before his fist could land, Landon punched him hard in the stomach. The impact left Neal shaking in pain, and he collapsed, staring at Landon as if he had seen a ghost.
Landon relentlessly pressed his foot against Neal’s back. Neal gasped in pain, feeling his bones creak. Desperately, he looked to Clayton for help.
Clayton’s expression darkened with disappointment.
‘Pathetic,’ he muttered.
Clayton took a few steps forward, showing no fear before Landon. He crossed his arms, feigning calm, though Landon’s presence enveloped him in shadow. Clayton’s gaze turned icy, his sharp features twisting with a hint of malice.
‘I’m not going to kill you myself. Where’s the satisfaction in that?’ he said scornfully.
‘I’d rather break your spirit and bring you to the point where, even if survival were possible, you’d choose death.’ Landon pursed his lips, looking at Clayton with cold disdain, as if he were witnessing a pitiful spectacle.
Clayton moved closer, adjusting Landon’s collar with a soft chuckle.
‘You thought Leila had no reason to hurt you. Let me set you straight about something. The Kensington Group.’
Those three words coursed through Landon’s body like a bolt of lightning, though his resolve remained steadfast. Still, he chose to trust Leila.
‘I know the Kensington Group’s wealth is tempting. But we’re together. If Leila wants it, I’ll give it to her. What’s mine is hers.’
Clayton shook his head in disagreement.
‘No. It’s not the same thing. Even if you give it to her, it won’t really belong to her.’ He leaned in a little, lowering his voice.
‘Landon, you know human nature better than anyone. You’ve seen the worst of her. Why should Leila stay decent just because of you? Besides, I don’t see her actions as wrong. Everyone looks out for themselves.’
Clayton paused, letting his words sink in.
‘Think about it. In the three years you were gone, she seemed to be looking for you. But she got used to living without you. And now, you show up out of nowhere, wanting to take over the Kensington Group. Do you really think that makes her happy?’
Landon couldn’t hold back any longer. His fist flew forward, impacting hard into Clayton’s face. Clayton took the blow, his head jerked back, but he didn’t look angry. Instead, he gave a faint smile, holding his black eye as he looked at Landon.
Clayton’s smirk only fueled Landon’s anger. He grabbed Clayton’s collar, shoving him against the bookshelf. His dark eyes burned, full of fury, like a beast on the verge of breaking free. Landon’s voice came out as a growl.
‘I’m not going to let you slander her like that.’
Clayton held Landon’s gaze, calm and unperturbed. Wordlessly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, unfolding it in front of Landon.
Landon’s eyes roamed over the words, and his face turned pale. The strength faded from his body, and his grip loosened, releasing Clayton. He staggered back, feeling despair take hold of him, his body wavering.
‘It’s impossible…’ he muttered, barely audible. ‘It can’t be.’
On the paper, in thick black letters, was Landon’s death certificate, issued by the police, with Leila’s signature at the bottom.
Although forgeries existed, the handwriting on the document was undoubtedly Leila’s, and Landon knew it the moment he saw it. Panic and despair swept over him, leaving him overwhelmed and heartbroken. Hadn’t Leila always been looking for him? Why then had she gone to the police to declare him dead? It didn’t make any sense.
Clayton, unable to hide his satisfaction at Landon’s pain, continued to plunge the dagger.
‘To be honest, this was Leila’s idea. We had a hard time finding a corpse that looked like you.’
Clayton paused, then added dismissively:
‘But, fortunately, money talks. You know what I mean, Landon? You’re officially dead now, gone from this world. So back off and don’t interfere with us. Otherwise…’
Clayton’s voice turned icy as he snapped a picture of Elma, who was smiling at the camera.
‘This girl is not as sweet as her brothers and sisters, and she and Leila don’t get along. If Leila kicks her out after you leave, I’ll deal with her.’
Landon’s eyes burned with fury and he punched the tree trunk again and again. Finally, he looked up at Clayton, his face full of pain and defeat.
‘You won,’ he said, his voice hollow.
Then Landon ran to the edge of the cliff and jumped without a second thought. The river below roared violently.
Even if, by some miracle, Landon survived the fall, he wouldn’t want to live after this.
Clayton watched Landon disappear, his face an empty mask as he tore up the death certificate and threw him into the abyss.
But Brysen, who had just arrived with a group of people, saw the whole thing. She watched in horror as Landon jumped. Although she hadn’t heard what they said, it was obvious that Clayton had forced Landon into this desperate act. Brysen turned pale. So, Leila had been right all along. His heart sank as he remembered his recent actions. Was Neal part of this, too? Brysen’s mind was racing, trying to process everything. She felt dizzy and out of breath.
As Brysen backed away, Clayton’s men noticed her. Fortunately, they were still quite far away. Brysen quickly turned and ran back to the car. But to his surprise, almost half of the men he had brought with him actually worked for Clayton. In the blink of an eye, Clayton’s men had captured Brysen, wrestling her to the ground and holding her tight.
As she watched Clayton approach, Brysen felt tears threaten to well up in her eyes. She was furious and heartbroken for Leila.