Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Before Landon could respond, the sound of Sophie’s footsteps faded into the distance.
Opening the door, Landon saw that Sophie had already vanished down the hall. If he hadn’t realized what was going on by now, he truly would have been blind to it. It was clear. The children had orchestrated this moment with purpose.
Landon sighed, feeling both amused and resigned. It was late, after all, and he couldn’t deny the pull of sleep that was so rare for him.
Landon was about to step out when a deafening clap of thunder shook the house, splitting the quiet as though tearing the sky in half.
The storm was unusual for this time of year, nearing winter. But in a coastal city, such erratic weather wasn’t entirely out of the ordinary.
Landon told himself he had no obligation to stay with Leila. He believed she was more than capable of handling her fear of thunderstorms on her own.
And yet, he paused. Turning back, his eyes settled on Leila, curled up tightly under the covers. She was wrapped so completely that it was as if she were shielding herself from the world.
But the occasional tremble betrayed her. Every time the thunder rolled, her body quaked beneath the blanket. If the storm raged on through the night, he doubted she would find any rest. Landon exhaled quietly, the sound barely audible over the storm outside.
Leila couldn’t help but chastise herself for her fear. It seemed irrational to her. She was over thirty, after all. Such a strong reaction felt unjustified.
Yet, the sight of lightning streaking across the sky like silver serpents still sent shivers through Leila. And each clap of thunder made her tremble, the fear creeping steadily to its peak. Perhaps she’d always been afraid of thunderstorms.
As Leila tried to calm herself, her breathing shallow, she heard the faint creak of the door, assuming Landon was leaving. She doubted he would linger to keep her company. Still, disappointment settled over her like a heavy weight.
Then, to her surprise, the bed dipped slightly beside her. The familiar scent of his cologne reached her, followed by a soft sigh. Taking advantage of a lull in the lightning, Leila turned her head, her expression confused as she glanced at Landon.
“Mr. Kensington, aren’t you going to sleep?”
Landon had stretched out beside her, though he kept some space between them. Closing his eyes, he spoke quietly.
“I’m exhausted. I plan to rest here. If this makes you uncomfortable, I’ll leave.”
In the dim light, his profile was faintly visible. His sharp features appeared calm but resolute.
Leila hesitated only for a moment before shaking her head quickly.
“I don’t mind,” she said, her words spilling out in haste. She feared that if she hesitated a little longer, he might change his mind and leave. Having him here eased her fear, even if only slightly.
Still, Leila covered her ears in an attempt to block out the thunder, her sleep restless and uneasy. As she shifted under the covers, she became aware of a comforting warmth.
Landon reached over and gently placed his hand over her ears.
“This is easier. If you keep covering your ears yourself, won’t your arms get tired by morning?”
Leila’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Even so, she couldn’t deny that it felt much better this way. As she leaned slightly against him, the fear that had gripped her began to ease. Her heart, which had been racing moments before, started to calm.
But her thoughts were still restless, and sleep remained elusive.
“Why did you stay with me?” she asked softly.
Before he could respond, she added quickly, “I don’t mean anything by it. It’s just-if it were anyone else, they’d think it’s ridiculous for someone my age to be this scared of thunder. Do you think I’m pretending?”
Landon opened his eyes, his gaze steady as he stared at her. After a moment of silence, he said quietly, “I know why you’re afraid of thunder. So, no, I don’t think you’re pretending.”
Leila blinked, startled by his words.
“You know why?” she asked, turning to look at him.
“What is it?”
Instead of answering, Landon simply adjusted his hand over her ears again.
“Let’s sleep first. We can talk about it later,” he murmured.
Landon kept the truth to himself. He knew it all too well-the reason for her fear. Her parents had died during a storm like this one. Roderick was the one who shared this secret with him, explaining why Leila had always been so afraid of thunderstorms. The fear was etched deeply into her, untouched by time or age. It clung to her like a shadow, following her wherever she went.
In the past, Landon had once believed there might be a way to help Leila. Perhaps if the memories of that night faded, her fear would, too. But now he knew better. Even after Leila’s memory loss, the fear had remained. It was more than just a memory-it was part of her.
The realization filled Landon with a familiar pang of unease. He thought back to all the times she had faced storms alone, trapped in fear and sorrow. Once again, he blamed himself. If only he had been there for her more often, perhaps things wouldn’t have turned out this way.
Landon lowered his gaze, his eyes betraying an inner conflict he didn’t want to show.
To Leila, though, his expression suggested something entirely different. It was as if he didn’t want to talk.
Noticing this, Leila didn’t press further, even though her thoughts swirled with questions. If their past had been filled with unpleasant memories, why would she have confided the cause of her fear toward thunder in Landon at all? Yet, somehow, she had. His expansive knowledge of her past left her feeling uneasy. Had their relationship been less strained than she thought? Could Lacey have misled her?
Her mind in chaos, Leila decided to investigate further. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. Landon needed rest, and so did she. With a quiet sigh, Leila closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep.
Landon had expected Leila to pry further. Her unexpected silence caught him off guard. Watching her even breathing as she drifted off, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. The next morning, Landon woke first. For the first time in ages, he had felt well-rested. He had slept soundly, undisturbed by dreams or thoughts. It was a sleep that left him feeling grounded.
As Landon stirred, he realized Leila was nestled in his arms. Sometime during the night, they had shifted closer, falling into an embrace that felt natural, almost instinctive.
Landon didn’t mind. He felt the warmth of her presence, the soft weight of her resting against him. For a moment, he hesitated, reluctant to let go.
But then, regaining his composure, he began to pull his hand away, careful not to wake her.
Leila, cradled in Landon’s embrace, stirred, emitting a gentle, drowsy murmur. Her eyelashes fluttered lightly, signaling she was on the verge of awakening any second.
This terrified Landon to such an extent that he froze, not daring to make the slightest move.
Landon was baffled by his own reaction. Why was he so reluctant for Leila to wake up? He admitted to himself, selfishly, that he relished the tranquility of the moment. No schemes, no second-guessing-how he wished he could freeze time right there. Yet, reality begged to differ. His excessive wishes led only to inevitable disappointment when they crumbled.
Leila’s eyes fluttered open. Upon awakening, she found herself wrapped in Landon’s arms. Her response was much more visceral than Landon’s. She immediately wriggled free from his hold and burrowed under the blanket.
Hidden beneath the blanket, Leila’s wide eyes shimmered with shock, her mind reeling in disbelief. What had transpired? Had she really slept so vulnerably? How had she ended up in his embrace? It was no surprise that when she opened her eyes, his expression was tangled with emotions.
Mixed feelings of annoyance and bashfulness swept over Leila, uncertain of Landon’s emotions.
Landon’s gaze lingered on Leila, who had been cocooned in the blanket for quite some time now. His eyes dimmed, shadowed by concern. He pondered whether Leila was deliberately avoiding him, a thought that wouldn’t surprise him. His earlier actions, though impulsive, were undeniably out of line. He had long since recognized that he ought to have avoided indulging in that fleeting moment of closeness.
Rising from his seat, Landon couldn’t help but address Leila, still shrouded beneath the blanket.
“Come on, it’s time to get up.” Her response came as a muffled whisper.
“Okay.”
Her tone suggested a lack of anger. Relief flickered across Landon’s face. The absence of anger in her voice was enough for him, for now.
As Landon turned toward the door to leave, a sharp knock echoed through the room. When he opened the door, there stood Lacey, waiting with an unreadable expression.
Lacey, who had arrived with medicine for Elma, paused, her surprise quickly melting into a radiant smile.
“Mr. Kensington,” she said, her delight barely contained.
Deep in thought about how to impress Landon, Lacey didn’t see the unexpected opportunity sneaking up on her until it was right there. Handing off the medicine to a nearby servant with a graceful flourish, her smile softened into something more tender.
“I didn’t expect to find you here. Were you keeping Elma company during last night’s thunderstorm, Mr. Kensington?” Her voice carried a hopeful lilt, weaving interest and curiosity into her words.
Landon squirmed uncomfortably. He longed to inform Lacey that Elma wasn’t around, and instead, it was Leila who was inside. Yet, revealing that would expose the fact that he and Leila had spent the night together in solitude.
Lacey, oblivious to the undercurrents of Landon’s hesitation, focused solely on maneuvering closer to him. She had meticulously crafted her plan. Later on, while administering medicine to Elma, she planned to feign clumsiness, allowing the bottle to slip and spill over her hand. It would sting, but that was a trivial sacrifice. The pain was a small price to pay if it meant earning Landon’s sympathy.
Her plan was elaborate, yet Landon remained unfazed, not budging an inch.
Confusion marred Lacey’s features.
“Mr. Kensington, isn’t it time for Elma’s medication? It’ll lose its warmth if we delay any further,” she said, offering a strategic smile.