Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Lacey rose, her heart lighter as she exited the study, relieved she could remain. Behind her, Leo followed, his voice tinged with disdain. “Miss Payne, you got what you wanted. Feeling victorious, are you?”
Stopping in her tracks, Lacey turned to face him with a piercing look.
“Leo, have I ever wronged you? I’ve always shown you nothing but tolerance. Why do you persist in opposing me?”
Leo shook his head, his voice steady and clear. “You’re mistaken. I have no desire to confront you. My aim is merely to shatter these illusions you harbor. Mr. Kensington will never choose you. You may linger by his side, yet your subtle maneuvers don’t escape notice. Though Mr. Kensington and I haven’t delved into your actions, the evidence speaks for itself. Why else would Mrs. Kensington abruptly send you away?”
Lacey’s fingers tightened into fists, but she maintained a facade of ignorance. “I’m not sure what you’re implying,” she responded, her voice a blend of feigned naivety and confusion.
Leo’s smile was tinged with scorn. Lacey’s frustration grew, and her words came out sharp and strained. “Despite everything, my feelings are genuine. I’ve sacrificed so much for him over the years. He deserves someone who truly loves him. Are you suggesting I’m unworthy because of my background?”
Leo shook his head, his tone unwavering. “It’s not about your background. You simply aren’t the right one for him. Your desire to possess him overshadows your ability to genuinely care for him. Mr. Kensington trusted me enough to promote me, and I cannot stand by while someone with ill intentions like you remains by his side.”
Lacey snapped, her voice rising, “My intentions are pure.”
“I truly love him.”
Leo’s sneer was swift. “Sophie’s birthday party was a few days ago. Yet, you only disclosed that Elma had collapsed and fell ill during the celebration now.”
Caught off-guard, Lacey fell silent, her complexion draining of color.
Leo persisted, his tone edged with accusation. “You’re holding onto it as your trump card, using it in situations like today. Perhaps you truly don’t care about Elma. It might even be a relief for you if she passed away. You long to be with Mr. Kensington, don’t you? Naturally, you’d prefer all his children out of the picture.”
“It’s not true,” Lacey shot back, her voice rising sharply, yet a twinge of unease seeped through, betraying her.
With a mocking sneer and icy gaze, Leo countered, “Whether you admit it or not doesn’t change anything. Just know this: I’ll be keeping a very close eye on you. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can keep any secrets from me.”
As Leo turned on his heel and left, a wave of weakness swept over Lacey’s legs. She watched him stride away, her jaw clenching in impotent fury. But there was nothing she could do. Leo was Landon’s right-hand man, deeply trusted and beyond her reach to challenge.
Lacey considered conspiring with Cody, a fleeting thought that quickly dissolved. Too many complications could arise from entangling with Cody, and deep down, she wasn’t ready to dive into such turbulent waters.
Leila made her way to the residence where Neal had claimed to be living with Brysen. Leila seldom visited. Typically, she preferred to deliver any items directly to them. However, given Leila’s concerns for Brysen’s safety, she had taken the time to learn the layout of the neighborhood intricately. In other words, she could navigate her way there blindfolded.
As Leila knocked on the door, she braced herself to see Neal or Brysen greet her. Instead, a cluster of unfamiliar faces welcomed her. The house was in Neal’s hometown, supposedly his current sanctuary, so the presence of strangers immediately set off alarm bells in her mind.
Leila’s brow furrowed with concern. “Who are you?” she demanded, her voice tight. “Why are you in someone else’s home?”
A middle-aged woman at the forefront of the group eyed Leila with a mixture of confusion and defiance. “What do you mean, someone else’s home? This place is mine. I’ve reclaimed it, and it’s no longer up for rent. Who are you, and why are you knocking on my door?”
A shade of paleness washed over Leila’s face. “Your home? You own this property?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
The middle-aged woman nodded, her impatience evident in her brisk tone. “If you don’t believe me, feel free to call the police. I own several properties in this area, and everyone around here knows me as the landlord. Haven’t you been caught in some kind of scam, my dear?” she remarked with a tinge of concern.
Promptly, the middle-aged woman motioned for someone to fetch the property deed and showed it to Leila. As Leila inspected the document, the truth was undeniable.
It was indeed the middle-aged woman’s name on the deed. The middle-aged woman wasn’t lying. Yet, Neal had explicitly told Leila that the apartment was his. Was he the one who had lied to her?
A chilling dread crept into Leila’s heart, her anxiety mounting, yet she managed to maintain her composure. With a courteous nod, she apologized. “I’m terribly sorry for this mix-up. I was under the impression that the apartment belonged to a young man in his twenties. Actually, he’s supposed to be living here with a woman, my sister, to be precise. They’re married, or so I thought. I believed he had purchased this home to start their life together, but it seems I’ve been misled.”
The middle-aged woman’s expression shifted as she pondered Leila’s words, and then a flicker of recognition crossed her face. “Now that you mention it, I do recall a young man renting this place with a woman a while back. Something was peculiar about the woman. She never seemed to engage much with others, barely responding when spoken to. But there’s a discrepancy in your story. The man introduced the woman as his girlfriend, not his wife.”
Leila’s fists tightened in frustration. Neal had truly deceived her. “Where could they be?” she muttered, her voice tinged with urgent frustration. Panic surged through Leila as she feared for Brysen’s safety, her thoughts spiraling into anxiety.
The middle-aged woman shook her head, her expression solemn. “I don’t know. They left at least two years ago.”
There was something off about the woman. Neighbors often complained about the noise at night-things being thrown and someone crying. “It’s hard to forget such disturbances.”
Leila felt a growing sense of horror, her sense of balance slipping away. Things were being thrown and someone was crying? Could Brysen have suffered harm? Leila struggled to believe Brysen might have been mistreated by Neal. Neal had always shown Brysen nothing but kindness, at least in her presence. Moreover, Neal had even resigned from his job to relocate to the small town for Brysen’s sake. Plus, just last week, Neal and Brysen had joined her in a cheerful video call. Brysen had been smiling.
Over the years, Leila had sent countless packages to this very address, all in the hope of speeding Brysen’s recovery. Had she been misled all this while? If Neal harbored sinister intentions for volunteering to take care of Brysen, why then did he meticulously orchestrate everything? Two explanations sprang to mind. Either he was a psychopath or someone else was controlling his every move from the shadows. Regardless, Brysen was undoubtedly in peril.
Observing Leila’s complexion grow increasingly ashen, the middle-aged woman voiced her concern. “Miss, could my suspicions be right? Has your sister been mistreated? Don’t worry. I’ll get the police involved.”
Leila hastened to dissuade the middle-aged woman, managing a strained smile. “No need. Thank you for your concern. I’ll handle it myself. I apologize for the interruption.”
Leila knew that calling the police now could tip Neal off, a move that would put Brysen’s safety in jeopardy since she remained trapped in his grasp. The thought alone sent a shiver down Leila’s spine.
After excusing herself from the middle-aged woman’s company, Leila set her jaw, her resolve hardening. She hastily dialed her subordinates, instructing them to track down Neal’s location immediately. Leila was seething with anger as she realized Neal’s kindness toward Brysen had been nothing but a show for her sake.
She made a stern vow to herself: if Brysen suffered any harm, she would relentlessly pursue Neal.
Just then, her phone lit up with a notification from the tech team. They had pinpointed Neal’s whereabouts. Without a moment’s hesitation, Leila sped to the provided address.
She arrived at a dimly lit bar, where the muted lighting cast an intimate glow over the crowd. Men and women swayed together in a dance of passion.
Scanning the crowd, Leila spotted Neal almost immediately among the revelers. He wasn’t the man she had pictured. Neal was the life of the party, dressed head-to-toe in designer threads, looking every bit the part of a man who had climbed the social ladder. Flanked by a woman on each arm, he seemed utterly content, noticeably heavier, and evidently thriving.
For the past two years, Leila had transferred nearly a million dollars to Neal, believing it would ensure a comfortable life for Brysen. Now, the harsh reality dawned on her. The money had never been for Brysen.
Her fury transformed into determination. Neal had taken that money under false pretenses, and she was adamant that he would pay back every single cent.
Leila dipped her head, seeking solace in the anonymity of the crowd, and settled herself a short distance from Neal. As she nestled in, Neal’s voice, laced with arrogance, soon reached her ears.
“That woman was an absolute pest,” Neal declared, his tone harsh, slicing through the jovial atmosphere. “I had her committed to a psychiatric facility ages ago. Life’s been bliss with you, gorgeous, truly. You wouldn’t believe how stubborn she was. I’d have to go over things time and again. Conversing with her felt like it was shaving years off my life. Now that she’s out of the picture, I can breathe easier. Just the sight of her would irritate me.”
Neal’s words sharply contrasted the loving promises he once made to Leila about caring for Brysen, illuminating his deceit. A pang of regret struck Leila. How had she been so blind to his true nature? Were all men this cruel? Both Neal and Landon had cast aside their vows as if they meant nothing at all.
Had she not maintained her composure, she would have confronted Neal and given him a piece of her mind. Yet, impulsivity was not an option. Revealing herself now could jeopardize her entire plan to locate Brysen. If Neal caught even a glimpse of her now, her mission would be doomed, possibly putting her in grave danger.
Tightening her grip on her glass, Leila forced herself to focus on Neal’s ongoing speech. Amidst the crowd, Neal radiated satisfaction, clearly enjoying the evening. He had indulged in quite a few drinks and was lavishing attention on the two women at his side.
Over the course of the evening, Neal unwittingly disclosed that he indeed held possession of all the money and items Leila had sent Brysen over the years. He even let slip the name of the mental institution where Brysen was currently confined.
Neal stumbled out of the bar, his breath reeking of alcohol, with a woman draped over each arm. Leila watched his carefree departure, her lips curling into a cold, disdainful smile.
As Neal neared his car, fumbling for his keys, Leila pulled out her phone and dialed his number. Predictably, Neal froze, startled by the unexpected call. Gathering himself hastily, Neal answered, masking his unease with a cheerful tone.
“Miss Nixon! It’s late, what’s wrong? Is this about Brysen? I’m sorry, but she’s already asleep. I’ll check on her tomorrow and update you.”
Leila asked lightly, “Oh? Asleep? Then why don’t you show me? I’ve been dreaming about Brysen a lot lately. I miss her.”
Neal faltered, grasping for an excuse. “Uh, maybe another day? Brysen wasn’t feeling great today and settling her down took forever. If she wakes up now, she might not sleep again.”
Leila stifled a cold laugh. “Alright, if you insist.”
Neal didn’t realize Leila was watching him from barely a hundred meters away, her sharp gaze catching every flicker of his panic and the lies he struggled to spin. Leila once believed Neal to be a trustworthy man and had entrusted Brysen to his care. But now, the truth hit her like a storm. It had all been an elaborate facade, a masterfully woven charade of deceit crafted by him.
Neal exhaled in relief at Leila’s silence and then cautiously asked, “So, uh, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now?”
Leila suddenly burst into a sharp laugh, laced with fierceness. “Who said I was done? I haven’t finished just yet.”
“I’ve got some free time, so I figured I’d travel and visit Brysen. I’ll drop by your place tomorrow. I’m sure you and Brysen wouldn’t mind, would you?” Neal’s face drained of color, the shock sobering him up almost instantly.
“I… Miss Nixon,” he stammered, his voice frantic. “How about we reschedule? I’ve got plans… I need to visit my hometown. Moreover, Brysen might not even want to see you. She’s doing well now, but if she sees you and recalls those painful memories, it could make things even worse.”
Leila’s laugh turned even colder, her voice cutting through the phone like a blade. “You’ve been hiding behind this excuse for years, and it’s starting to make me wonder what you’re really keeping from me. Furthermore, I’ve brought a top-notch psychologist with me this time. I’m seeing Brysen tomorrow, no matter what.”
Neal’s heart raced as sweat beaded on his forehead, his mind a chaotic mess of panic. But there was a small part of him that felt some relief. Fortunately, Leila had given him a heads-up the night before. At least he had time to react and prepare. Otherwise, if Leila had shown up unannounced, he would have been in serious trouble.
Sensing Leila’s unwavering stance, Neal had no choice but to relent. If he refused again, it would only raise suspicion. So, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly agreed.
Once the call ended, frustration surged within Neal, and he nearly smashed his phone against the ground.
He had no idea when Clayton would finally take control of the Nixon Group, and he was already exhausted from dealing with Leila, living in constant fear that gripped him every day. Neal understood that if he had treated Brysen with the care she deserved, none of this would have been hanging over him now. But how could he? If Brysen recovered and remembered the ordeal he had put her through, he’d be doomed.