Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila noticed the dramatic change in Lacey’s demeanor around Landon. An uncomfortable feeling settled in her chest. Still, she chose not to confront Lacey about it.
Landon nodded slightly in acknowledgment, his focus quickly shifting to the room behind Lacey.
“How is Elma?”
Lacey made a theatrical show of wiping her forehead, though there was no real sweat there.
“It’s still a bit concerning, but the situation has stabilized.”
Lacey made sure to emphasize her role in the improvement.
“Thankfully, she’s been taking the medicine I prescribed, and her constitution has improved. Otherwise, things could be far worse.”
Landon scowled instantly, his displeasure evident.
“The weather might be chilly, but how did she get sick? Is that how everyone is taking care of her?”
His icy tone thickened the tension in the room. With his already intimidating aura, his intense gaze made the servants lose the courage to lock eyes with him.
The servants in the room visibly trembled, their breaths shallow and hesitant, as if worrying that exhaling too loudly might draw his attention.
Just then, Leila walked up to Landon, her tone calm and composed.
“Can I go in and see Elma?” She didn’t intend to complain about Lacey’s arrogant demeanor to him.
Before Lacey could interject, Landon gave a quick nod.
“Sure. Just go in.”
Without another word, Landon stepped forward, walking toward Elma’s room.
Since Landon had said so, Lacey wouldn’t stop him. She stepped aside to let Landon in.
But when Leila tried to follow, Lacey stepped in Leila’s way once more.
This time, Leila could no longer contain her frustration. Her expression turned cold, and her voice carried a sharper edge.
“Miss Payne, what exactly do you mean by this? I don’t recall doing anything to offend you to deserve this.”
Landon, detecting the tension in Leila’s voice, turned back. Noting her eyes were blazing with anger, he frowned at Lacey.
“Lacey,” he said, his voice low and threatening.
The way Landon addressed Lacey struck a nerve. Lacey’s expression tightened, and bitterness flashed across her face. She couldn’t believe his reaction. All she had done was stop Leila, yet Landon’s disapproval was unmistakable. He seemed to have forgotten everything Leila had done in the past-things that had nearly cost him his life.
Lacey clenched her teeth, refusing to back down. Instead, she raised her voice.
“Miss Nixon, there are reasons I don’t want you to go in. You should think about it.”
Leila frowned, her brows knitting together. She could barely understand Lacey’s words. In the past few hours, Lacey had deterred her from entering, claiming her presence in the room might disturb the ongoing treatment. For the sake of Elma’s well-being, she had endured it and waited patiently. Yet now, with the treatment concluded, what more excuses could Lacey wield just to bar her from entering and checking on Elma? Lacey had pushed too far.
Leila spoke up, her words direct and firm.
“Kindly enlighten me as to why you repeatedly blocked me from entering and checking on my daughter. You’ve made me wait nearly four hours. Yet now, you still won’t let me in.”
Her voice grew colder.
“What now? Feeling my presence might pose a threat to my daughter’s health? Your initial excuse was my presence would interfere with Elma’s treatment. However, Landon is allowed inside while I am not. Why is that?”
Leila’s eyes shifted to Landon, anger flashing in them as she added, “Or is it because he holds a special place in your heart?”
Lacey froze, stunned by Leila’s bluntness.
Landon was slightly stunned at Leila’s mentioning of him and took a moment to gather his thoughts. Watching her furious expression, he couldn’t ignore the faint stirring in his chest, as her earlier words carried a tone that almost sounded jealous. Landon pushed aside this thought, reminding himself that Elma’s health took precedence over everything else. Clearing his throat, he fixed Lacey with a sharp, disapproving look.
“Is Leila telling the truth?”
Lacey’s face twisted into an aggrieved expression, though she remained rooted in place, refusing to let Leila into the room.
“Yes, it’s true. I made excuses to bar her from entering.”
Landon’s brows furrowed deeper, his anger simmering just below the surface.
“Why did you do that? Do you no longer wish to work here? Leila is Elma’s mother. Elma is unwell and needs Leila. Why did you prevent Leila from checking on her own child?”
Lacey met Landon’s gaze with a defiant glare, her voice unwavering.
“Precisely because she is Elma’s mother, she has even less right to go in.”
Landon smirked, the tension in his expression hinting at his mounting fury, as if he were about to lose his temper.
Lacey hesitated, visibly uneasy under his scrutiny, but she pressed on.
“Elma is suffering because of Miss Nixon. Every bit of it.”
Turning her attention to Leila, Lacey’s eyes hardened with contempt.
“This lousy mother.”
The people nearby immediately erupted in whispers.
Leila, managing to keep her anger at bay, asked in a calm voice, “Why did you say that?”
Lacey’s response came with a frosty smile.
“Elma’s health has always been fragile. The medicine I prescribed for her requires strict care. Yet, you ignored her well-being completely and pulled her to a hot spring, focusing solely on your own comfort.” Lacey raised her chin slightly, her tone growing sharper.
“She was not in the condition to handle a hot spring experience, and her condition turned more fragile. If she had stayed in the hot spring any longer, things could have taken a much darker turn. Even I might not have been able to save her.”
Leila didn’t expect this. Her complexion turned ashen, guilt clawing at her chest. What had seemed like an innocent trip to the hot spring had turned into something harmful to Elma’s condition. What exactly was wrong with Elma’s health? Why had no one told her the full truth? Despite the mention of Elma’s rare illness, none had warned her.
of such risks, instead offering assurance that there was no immediate risk to Elma’s life, only that she needed meticulous care.
Leila’s legs wavered beneath her, not because of guilt, but because of the overwhelming weight of distress.
Lacey, observing Leila’s pale face, felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. Yet, she didn’t stop there and continued her charade of mock righteous indignation.
“Therefore, in my opinion, Miss Nixon shouldn’t be allowed to see Elma until her condition improves.”
Leila wanted to argue, to plead her case, but her gaze drifted to the ajar door. Through the narrow gap, she saw Elma lying still on the bed, her face pale and almost unrecognizable. It was clear the child had suffered immensely.
Unease consumed Leila. She had failed to recognize the severity of Elma’s illness, not even bothering to delve into it for any precautions, unwittingly adding to Elma’s discomfort. If she’d only gathered more information about Elma’s condition, today’s events might have been avoided.
Though Lacey’s harsh demeanor stung, Leila had to admit there was some truth in Lacey’s words.
Leila’s hand slipped from the doorframe, her fingers trembling slightly. She cast her eyes downward, taking a hesitant step back. The decision was clear-she wouldn’t push her way inside. Lacey noticed Leila’s retreat and felt a swell of victory. Despite her efforts to mask her smug face, her satisfaction seeped into her voice.
“Miss Nixon, you should leave now. Don’t linger and disturb us further. Once Elma’s condition improves and if you show you’re serious about making things right, I’ll let you see her.”
The surrounding servants shot Lacey disapproving looks. Leila was Elma’s mother. The nerve of Lacey commanding Leila to secure her permission first before getting to check on Elma. Despite their discontent, no one voiced an objection. After all, Elma’s health remained the priority, leaving little room for disagreement.
Even so, a few of the servants regarded Leila with faint sympathy.
Leila stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. With a deep, steadying breath, she stepped back, silently allowing Lacey to shut the door.