Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
What Lacey saw next made her chest tighten. Landon wasn’t alone. Someone, precisely speaking, a woman, was beside him, and their posture, locked in an embrace, left no room for doubt.
Lacey’s fists curled so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but even the pain didn’t snatch her attention away from the woman in Landon’s arms.
Lacey’s gaze burned with anger, fixed on the woman cradled in Landon’s arms.
Yet, the steam blurred the woman’s features, leaving her identity a maddening mystery.
Lacey saw red. Who could this audacious woman be? The thought of this woman slipping into Landon’s life during her absence fanned the flames of her jealousy. The bitterness and rage swelling inside her felt almost unbearable.
For a moment, Lacey struggled to compose herself. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Mr. Kensington, who is that with you?”
Landon turned, his tone sharper than Lacey expected.
“How does that concern you? Go back to where you came from and stop prying.”
Each word carried a sting. His irritation was as plain as day, and Lacey felt the blow of his dismissal.
Realization dawned on Lacey in that moment-the woman in his arms wasn’t just anyone. After all, Landon wasn’t the type to fall for a fleeting interest. It could only be Leila.
The conclusion gnawed at Lacey. In her mind, she cursed Leila over and over.
Though Lacey had hesitated before to align herself with Clayton and Cody, she now felt her options had run out. She had tried everything she could think of, but nothing could sever the bond between Landon and Leila. At times, she wondered if Leila had cast some kind of spell over Landon. It was the only explanation she could fathom for his unwavering devotion to someone who had supposedly caused him so much pain.
Landon’s expression hardened at Lacey’s lingering presence, his annoyance mounting with every passing second. The awkward tension between him and Leila was obvious, but Lacey chose not to leave.
Landon shot Lacey a glare, a hint of defiance coloring his face as he decided to let Lacey stand there and watch for as long as she wished.
Lost in her thoughts, Lacey was startled by the sound of water splashing nearby. She looked up to see Landon rising from the pool, Leila cradled securely in his arms.
Leila nestled closer to Landon, her face flushed with both embarrassment and warmth.
Leila didn’t recognize Lacey, assuming the latter was just another servant from the villa.
Leila glanced at Lacey, puzzled as to why this unfamiliar woman was still standing there.
Embarrassment flickered through Leila’s mind as she replayed her impulsive moments from a while ago. She had once believed her composure was unbroken. Yet, Landon’s earlier kiss had left her shaken and flustered, her composure nowhere to be found. The situation had spiraled beyond her control. There were witnesses to their earlier kiss, including even her children. The thought turned Leila’s ears a deeper hue of crimson, and she instinctively burrowed further into Landon’s chest, silently pleading for Lacey to leave.
Landon glanced down, noticing how Leila’s cheeks, and even her ears, were burning red. She was rarely this shy. The sight amused him, softening the irritation caused by Lacey’s presence.
Landon strode forward with Leila in his arms, deliberately brushing past Lacey without so much as a glance or a word. Lacey stood rooted in place, her heart sinking as she watched Landon leave with Leila in his arms. Her face betrayed her pain, her cool demeanor lost.
Lacey had noted Landon wasn’t dressed for the hot springs. He still wore his usual suit, a clear sign that he hadn’t planned to visit the hot spring pool. He must have spotted Leila there, and for reasons Lacey couldn’t fathom, he had jumped into the pool and ended up in it with Leila.
Lacey’s thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of the scene. Only one plausible explanation came to her mind. Leila must have set her sights on Landon, using her charm to draw him closer. Lacey snorted. That must be the case. On the surface, Leila appeared distant, almost indifferent, as though her feelings for Landon were restrained. But when no one was watching, her true nature emerged.
Lacey clenched her fists, anger building as the realization dawned-Leila had fooled her before. She wasn’t about to let that happen again. Her determination hardened. If she wanted Landon for herself, she would have to act, to outmaneuver Leila before it was too late.
Earlier, as Landon carried Leila past her, the silence between them felt deliberate, like a subtle challenge. Leila nestled quietly in Landon’s arms, and to Lacey, it felt like a slap in the face.
Every moment Lacey spent thinking about it only fueled her rage. She stayed rooted to the spot for nearly thirty minutes before gradually composing herself. Her breathing slowed, but the fire in her chest didn’t fade.
Lacey’s eyes, once filled with pain, now carried a sharp, icy resolve. A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she whispered to herself, “Leila, the nerve of you pulling off such a…”
“Stunt in the Kensington household and even attempting to cling to Landon. You force my hand into resorting to underhanded tactics.”
Meanwhile, Landon carried Leila back to her room. Without a word, he placed her down and turned to leave.
Leila shifted uncomfortably, wanting to rise and halt him. Yet, she hesitated, aware of her swimsuit and the vulnerability it exposed. She could only call out in a low voice, “Mr. Kensington, can we talk?”
Landon stopped in his tracks at her words, yet he made no move to turn back to her. Instead, he resumed walking and even quickened his pace.
Leila frowned, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Why did it seem like he was avoiding her?
Leila noticed how detached Landon now seemed and was slightly baffled. It made her question if everything that happened by the pool had been some vivid dream.
After taking a long shower and changing into fresh clothes, Leila felt more at ease. The softness of the large bed invited her to rest, but sleep felt like a distant thought. Her mind became a whirlwind of questions she couldn’t escape. An inner voice nagged at her, reminding her that she had a husband, and his name was Clayton. Yet, the memory of her tender moment with Landon earlier filled her chest with a strange warmth. There was no guilt. No shame. It was as if Clayton had vanished from her heart, if not her life.
The fact that she often forgot about Clayton left her uneasy. Was Clayton truly her husband? If he was, what had their relationship been like before? And where did Landon fit into all of this?
Leila had considered finding answers by asking others, but almost instantly, she dismissed the idea. Her amnesia made her distrustful. She had no one she could rely on. The children were too young, and everyone else felt like strangers with motives she couldn’t decipher.
Despite the gaps in her memory, her instincts urged her to remain cautious. Trusting various versions of her past life from others seemed too risky. She decided she’d rather piece it all together herself, even if it meant struggling through this fog of uncertainty. At least then, she could trust the clarity she uncovered. Still, the lack of direction gnawed at her. If Clayton was her husband, had her kiss with Landon crossed a line? She had no idea how their past relationship had been.
Just then, a soft knock at the door broke Leila’s train of thought.
Leila straightened, her curiosity overtaking her unease, and went to open it. Standing there was a familiar face-a kind middle-aged woman who carried an air of quiet authority.
“Amoura,” Leila murmured, recognizing her immediately.
Amoura’s name had come up before. She was a trusted employee, having served the Kensington household for years. Reaching fifty, she could have retired, but she continued to work here.
Landon was known for being lenient with his staff, rewarding their loyalty generously. Amoura had built a comfortable nest egg through her years of serving the Kensington family.
She could have walked away to live a life of ease. Yet, for reasons Leila couldn’t yet grasp, she remained.
When Leila first moved in, she found herself struggling to adapt to the unfamiliar environment.
Amoura had been the one to patiently guide Leila through the rules of the household.
Whenever Leila needed something, Amoura would ensure other staff took care of it without delay.
Amoura kept her words concise, but there was an undeniable kindness and respect in her eyes whenever she gazed at Leila. Therefore, Leila was at ease around Amoura.
Leila smiled as she accepted the bowl Amoura offered her.
“Amoura, what brings you here?”
Amoura glanced at the bowl in Leila’s hand, her lips curling into a soft smile.
“Mr. Kensington was worried you might catch a cold, so he asked me to make some soup for you.”
At the mention of Landon, memories of the earlier moment by the hot spring pool rushed back to Leila. Her cheeks warmed, and she coughed softly.
“Please thank him for me.”
Amoura noticed the faint blush coloring Leila’s face and smiled knowingly, choosing to remain silent.
Amoura’s expression held a subtle sadness, though. It had been years since she last saw vitality in Leila.
Ever since Landon disappeared a few years back, Leila barely visited the Kensington family anymore. Whenever she did, it was only for brief check-ins, never to stay.
In those days, Leila carried an air of quiet despair with her. She seemed emotionally drained, a genuine smile rarely touching her lips. It felt as if Landon’s absence had stripped her of her soul. Now, watching the faint sparkle flashing in Leila’s eyes, Amoura was consumed by mixed feelings. Leila’s memory loss actually was a blessing in disguise, though it had posed troubles in her own life.
Not wanting Leila to notice her emotions, Amoura lowered her head as she approached the window to close it. She glanced back with a gentle reminder.
“Miss Nixon, your room has a beautiful view at night, but be sure to close the window so you don’t catch a cold.”
Leila brought the bowl of soup to her lips. The soup wasn’t…
The soup wasn’t particularly flavorful, but its warmth spread through her like a soothing balm. A faint sense of comfort settled over her. As Leila watched Amoura move about the room, she felt more at ease in Amoura’s presence.
“Amoura,” Leila called out softly.
Amoura stopped her task and walked over to Leila, standing by attentively.