Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila chuckled and brushed off Elma’s words, treating them as innocent ramblings, not worth taking too seriously.
After ending the call, Leila finally noticed Brysen sitting quietly beside her.
Leila hadn’t even noticed Brysen come in.
Leila had taken Brysen to see the family doctor after bringing her back from Halsland. The doctor diagnosed Brysen with severe depression, which was causing symptoms that resembled autism.
Years of mistreatment by Neal had taken a toll on Brysen’s mental health. Medication and therapy could only do so much to help her. For Brysen to truly recover, she needed to overcome her emotional trauma.
Leila’s heart ached for Brysen.
Some of Leila’s subordinates suggested using hypnosis to lure Brysen into revealing who had hurt her and what had happened on that fateful day. By doing so, Leila would know who was the trigger of Brysen’s trauma. But Leila refused. Forcing Brysen to relive those painful memories could make things even worse. If steering clear of dredging up the past meant Brysen could find some peace, it was acceptable.
“It’s getting cold out here,” Leila said, gently touching Brysen’s hand.
“Let’s go inside.”
Brysen looked up at Leila blankly but didn’t pull her hand away. As Leila led Brysen toward the house, Brysen suddenly stopped, pulled her hand away, and refused to budge.
Leila was confused.
“Did I hurt you?” she asked, worried that she had gripped Brysen’s hand too hard.
Brysen didn’t respond. She just stared straight ahead, mumbling to herself.
Leila followed Brysen’s gaze and saw a statue of a couple embracing by the fountain. She didn’t understand what had caught Brysen’s attention, but as she moved closer, she heard Brysen whispering the name “Halsland.”
“Brysen, do you want to go to Halsland?” Leila asked cautiously. This time, Brysen seemed to understand her and nodded eagerly.
Leila’s heart leaped with excitement. Brysen rarely reacted to anything, so this was a big deal.
“Then we’ll go to Halsland!” Leila declared.
“We’ll all go on a trip, and if there’s anyone or any place you want to find there, we’ll find them. How does that sound?”
It was the first time Brysen had expressed a desire for anything, and Leila was determined to make it happen. Maybe going to Halsland would help Brysen heal.
But then Leila remembered a problem. Elma was staying with Landon. If she went to Halsland, Landon would never let Elma go with her. Elma would be stuck in Burmoos all alone. But waiting another month might be too long for Brysen.
Unsure of what to do, Leila talked to her other two children about it.
To her surprise, Calvin had a solution.
“Mom, I have an idea. You, Brysen, and Sophie go to Halsland. I’ll stay here with Elma.”
Leila and Sophie were both taken aback by Calvin’s suggestion.
“That’s not what I meant,” Leila replied.
“Maybe I can talk to Landon and convince him to let Elma come with us.”
Calvin chuckled.
“Mom, he’s not going to let Elma go. I don’t know what his game is, but getting Elma back won’t be easy. I’d rather go and keep an eye on things. I’m worried Elma might be getting bullied there.”
Leila frowned.
“Calvin, I know you don’t like your father, but I hope you can believe he’ll be a good father to Elma.”
“A good father wouldn’t have brought that woman to our family dinner and embarrassed you like that,” Calvin shot back, his voice laced with indignation.
“It was humiliating for all of us.” This time, Sophie remained silent, a clear indication that she agreed with Calvin.
It was obvious Lacey’s presence at the dinner had upset Sophie as well.
Seeing Calvin’s determination, Leila reluctantly agreed, although she couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease.
Leila had initially intended to talk to Landon about it first. But Calvin, taking matters into his own hands, packed a bag and headed straight for the Kensington family residence.
The Kensington family didn’t know who Calvin was, but his resemblance to Landon made them step aside without a word. Calvin strode through the house unchallenged and found Elma about to take her medication.
This was the third dose, and Lacey was eager to see Elma swallow it.
To Lacey’s surprise, Elma put the medicine aside and rushed to embrace Calvin with a joyful cry.
“Calvin!” Elma exclaimed, her eyes shining with delight.
“What a surprise! What brings you here?”
Calvin patted Elma’s head affectionately.
“I was worried about you, so I came to see how you were doing. Has anyone been giving you a hard time here?”
As he spoke, Calvin shot a pointed look at Lacey.
Lacey, already feeling a pang of unease, squirmed under Calvin’s intense gaze. Despite his young age, Calvin’s eyes held a piercing intensity that seemed to see right through her. Lacey coughed nervously, avoiding Calvin’s eyes.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” she demanded, her voice sharp with annoyance.
“You can’t just barge in here like you own the place! Did you even make an appointment?”
Turning to the guards, she yelled, “What are you guys waiting for? Get him out of here!”
Calvin remained unfazed by Lacey’s outburst, calmly observing her.
The servants and bodyguards at the door made no move to touch Calvin, making Lacey look foolish.
Calvin didn’t hold back, mocking Lacey without mercy.
“Lacey, haven’t you figured it out yet? Everyone can see I’m my dad’s son, a part of this family, while you’re just an outsider. Don’t you think it’s a bit out of line for an outsider to be yelling in my house?”
Lacey’s face contorted in anger.
Elma, feeling smug, turned to Lacey and stuck out her tongue.
“Serves you right!” she jeered.
Lacey was practically fuming. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down and remember why she was there.
Lacey said through gritted teeth, “Elma, I hate to interrupt your little reunion with your brother, but you need to take your medicine. It’ll taste even worse if it gets cold. And your dad won’t be happy if you don’t take it on time.”
Elma’s smile vanished as she looked at the dark, bitter medicine. She wasn’t a picky kid, but for some reason, the medicine Lacey made was always incredibly bitter, more bitter than anything a child could imagine.
Even though Elma didn’t want to, she still picked up the bowl. She wanted to get better quickly and go back to Leila.
Just as Elma was about to drink it, Calvin suddenly shouted, “Wait!”
Elma stopped, the bowl halfway to her lips.
Lacey watched as Elma brought the bowl of medicine to her lips, only to be stopped by Calvin. Lacey’s frustration built, and she felt the urge to scream.
Overcome by her emotions, Lacey addressed Calvin in a frosty tone.
“Calvin, do you really intend to interrupt your sister while she’s taking her medication? I’m not coercing her. It’s what your father wanted. Are you trying to delay her recovery?”