Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Yet, despite the turmoil, Neal’s insinuations couldn’t sway Brysen’s clear thinking. She understood that Leila was not to blame. The real culprits were the villains who had already caused her harm and now plotted against Leila.
Brysen’s worry for Leila consumed her. She could tell Clayton’s interest in Leila was driven by control, not genuine affection. Clayton had no business being with someone as remarkable as Leila.
Still, Brysen concealed her thoughts, hunched over the sink, her gaze fixed downward to avoid her frightening reflection in the mirror.
Neal misread Brysen’s demeanor as acceptance of his words, his smile tinged with smug satisfaction. The truth was that Clayton had never asked Neal to drive a wedge between Leila and Brysen. Neal had brewed the schemes himself.
As soon as the check landed in his hand, courtesy of Leila, a wild ambition sparked within Neal. Why would he rely on another’s fortune? He held the crucial piece of the puzzle now. With a bit of maneuvering, he could even dominate Clayton down the line. By then, the Morgan Group, the Kensington Group, and the Nixon Group could all be his.
The very thought sent a thrill through Neal, visibly altering his demeanor. Today, his spirits were too high to hit Brysen.
He dismissed her with a wave of his hand and sneered, “Go on and get back to your room. I’ve had enough of your pathetic face.”
Brysen, cowed and downtrodden, nodded and retreated. Neal’s chuckle echoed in the corridor as he pocketed the check with a smirk.
Leila was alerted to a hefty withdrawal. She stared at the notification, her brow furrowing in concern. Neal’s actions strayed from his initial promises. Could he be facing some difficulty?
Mulling it over, Leila decided it was prudent to monitor him closely. After all, Neal was no kin of Brysen’s. Leaning on a romantic partnership felt decidedly fragile.
Leila’s return home was met with a whirlwind of excitement as her three kids dashed toward her, their faces lit up with joy. It had been days since their last embrace, and they clung to her with fervent affection. Even Calvin, usually so composed, grasped Leila’s hand firmly, his small fingers intertwined with hers, showing no intention of releasing his grip.
Elma came close to grabbing onto Leila as if seeking comfort. Overwhelmed but touched, Leila comforted her kids with warm hugs and then slipped away to indulge in a soothing bath.
Just as Leila wrapped herself in a soft towel and her head hit the pillow in anticipation of a deep slumber, her phone jolted her awake with its insistent vibration. An unknown number flashed across the screen.
“Hello, may I help you?” Leila spoke into the phone, her voice a blend of warmth and guarded caution. She had only shared this number with a tight circle, so a call like this was both intriguing and alarming.
Silence hung on the other end. No reply, yet clearly not a dropped call. The background was alive with the sounds of a bustling airport, announcements echoing about last calls for boarding.
“Hello?” Leila tried again, her voice tinged with a mix of hesitation and concern.
“Can you hear me?”
The silence stretched on, unanswered. Leila began to suspect a misdial and was about to end the call when an inexplicable sensation gripped her heart. It felt as though an inner whisper urged her not to disconnect.
With a vacant gaze fixed on the handset, Leila awaited any hint of sound. The silence deepened, amplifying the peculiar sensation. Her voice quivered as she said, “Hello? Why the silence? Have you no words for me?”
At that moment, the door to Leila’s bedroom swung open, revealing Clayton. He caught sight of Leila, phone in hand, her expression distant, and his concern deepened.
“Leila, what’s amiss?”
The sound of Clayton’s voice seemed to startle the caller into hanging up. Jolted back to the present, Leila glared at Clayton, her annoyance evident.
“Mr. Morgan, ever heard of knocking?”
Clad in her pajamas, her damp hair cascading down her shoulders, Leila exuded an effortless charm. A blush tinged her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled with irritation.
Clayton’s hand tightened around the doorknob as he rushed to justify his intrusion.
“I knew you had returned and heard about your plans to visit a psychologist. I was concerned… Please, forgive my abruptness.”
Leila’s response was cold.
“Leave, please.”
A pained expression crossed Clayton’s handsome features as he bit his lip.
Once Clayton departed, Leila exhaled a long, deep breath of relief. Each time they interacted, she felt an increasing sense of suffocation, as if Clayton sought control over every facet of her existence.
Despite conversations where Leila voiced her displeasure, Clayton dismissed his behavior as merely a residual habit from his days caring for Cara.
His overbearing kindness meant taking charge of everything, supposedly for Leila’s sake, always with a promise to ease off, though change never came. The doctor had advised Clayton to recuperate and steer clear of stress, which made Leila reluctant to confront him harshly, especially since he had nearly died protecting her.
Feeling a mix of gratitude and restraint, Leila deemed it too harsh to rebuke him outright. Yet, she conceived a potential remedy. Perhaps introducing him to other women would shift his focus. Armed with this plan, Leila set to work making introductions.
Meanwhile, at Burmoos airport, Landon was fixated on his phone, his thoughts in disarray. At that moment, his emotions were tangled and hard to pinpoint. Due to his memory loss over the past three years, Landon no longer had Leila’s personal number.
Just as he was preparing to leave town, the urge to hear Leila’s voice one final time overwhelmed him. He had Lacey give him Leila’s business card. He dialed the number, and the call connected almost instantly.
Leila’s voice, warm and familiar, poured through the receiver. Overcome with emotion, Landon found himself speechless, gripped by a wave of cowardice.
Landon was aware that even if Clayton discovered he was still alive, there was nothing Clayton could do since he was leaving now. He thought he owed it to himself to at least seek an explanation. However, hearing the slight tremble in Leila’s voice made his resolve falter.
Just as Landon mustered the courage to speak, Clayton’s voice intercepted the call, crushing Landon’s last sliver of hope and illusion. Like a thief caught red-handed, Landon swiftly ended the call, fearful of revealing his emotional fragility.
At that moment, Landon gripped his phone with white-knuckled intensity, struggling to catch his breath as though it were his only lifeline.
Upon her return, Lacey found Landon ashen-faced and teary-eyed, a sight that stirred deep sympathy within her.
Lacey felt a shiver of fear ripple through her as she noticed Landon’s tense expression. Her voice quivered as she asked, “Has Clayton discovered where we are?”
Landon was abruptly pulled from his reverie, shaking slightly.
“It’s nothing. We should get moving.”
His attempt to sound dismissive didn’t fool anyone. His discomfort was palpable. Lacey’s heart tightened with concern, yet she decided not to probe, respecting his silent plea for space.
Then, the airport speakers crackled to life, announcing their flight. Just before they boarded, Landon paused to cast a lingering glance over his shoulder, his gaze heavy with nostalgia. In the years ahead, there was a chance he wouldn’t come back. He knew he needed to establish himself overseas swiftly if he was ever to reclaim the Kensington Group.
As they settled into their seats on the plane, Landon turned inward, shutting his eyes and shutting out Lacey’s attempts at conversation.
Lacey’s unease grew. She sensed this had something to do with Leila. Could Landon really not let Leila go? What was it about Leila that haunted him so?
Yet, Lacey took solace in the fact that Landon had brought her along. She consoled herself with the thought that this was a sign she somewhat mattered to him.
Beside them, Jeanette sat wide-eyed, marveling at the novelty of her first flight, though a shadow of disappointment soon crossed her face. She regarded Lacey with a questioning look.
“Lacey, how long will we be gone? When do we return?”
Lacey smoothed Jeanette’s hair gently.
“We won’t return anytime soon. This isn’t just a trip. We’re relocating to somewhere better. Jeanette, things are only going to improve for us. Isn’t that something to be happy about?”
Jeanette bowed her head, silent and hesitant. Despite the improved circumstances, she missed the quaint village and the uncomplicated, joyful days spent with Lacey, a stark contrast to the complexity of their new life.
A sudden memory sparked in Jeanette’s eyes. She hushed Lacey with a finger to her lips and covertly passed something to her.
“Lacey, this fell from Landon’s pocket. It’s ripped, but you can make it out. It’s a bit of a mystery. What do you think it is?”
Lacey looked taken aback, her brow furrowing.
“We really shouldn’t meddle. Landon will be furious if he discovers this.”
Jeanette shook her head confidently.
“He won’t find out. He’s sound asleep right now.”
Lacey’s pulse quickened as she felt the ripped paper in her hand. She cast a glance at Landon to make sure he was still asleep and then cautiously opened her hand.
Instant recognition washed over her.
It turned out to be Leila’s business card. Landon had asked for it back then and insisted on discarding it to avoid any further ties with Leila, claiming it was best forgotten. However, he clearly hadn’t discarded it-not just yet.
It finally dawned on Lacey why Landon had been behaving so oddly. He had probably contacted Leila. A surge of discomfort overwhelmed Lacey. She struggled to grasp why Landon continued to harbor feelings for Leila, especially after her profound betrayal. How could she fully take Leila’s place in his heart?