Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“Our relationship isn’t at a stage where I feel I can speak so openly. Lacey is someone you introduced, and I worry that stepping over the line might make you feel I doubt your judgment. Even though I don’t recall the past, the children are ours, and I’ve noticed you’re more involved with them than I was.”
Landon looked surprised.
“What makes you say that?”
Leila thought for a moment and then explained, “The children live here with you, and Sophie has mentioned that I didn’t spend much time with them before.”
Landon saw Leila’s saddened expression and felt a sharp tug at his heart. Looking into her eyes, he spoke softly, “No, you’re completely wrong. You are attentive and responsible. The children adore you because you’ve given them so much. If anything, I am the one who is indebted to you.”
Leila shook her head, smiled gently, and said, “I’ve left the past behind. It’s never too late to begin anew.”
Landon smiled slightly.
“I’ve been feeling the same way. I trust no one else with Elma’s care. Yet, I must admit, her condition is graver than we feared. She must continue her treatment without pause.”
Worry flickered in Landon’s eyes as he continued, “I’ll do my best to find a suitable doctor quickly. We’ll give it three days. If we see no improvement, we’ll have to consider Lacey’s mentor.”
Hearing this made Leila’s heart sink. She clasped her hands tightly and nodded in agreement.
“You’ve thought of everything. I trust your judgment.”
After speaking, Leila grasped Landon’s hand, seeking to reassure him.
“Don’t worry. Elma will get better.”
Landon nodded and then impulsively kissed her, moved by the moment. Had they not been so famished, he might have kissed her again.
At her resistance, Landon reluctantly stopped, though his deep eyes seemed to hold a hint of grievance.
Leila, donning a shawl, headed downstairs without him.
Landon quickly followed, supporting her by encircling her waist with his arm. He knew she was exhausted and wanted her to rely on him for support as they walked.
Leila, feeling a bit awkward, shot Landon a playful look but allowed him to help her.
On their way back, they ran into Lacey.
Lacey had been trying to meet with Landon since the previous day. She had attempted to visit his workplace, but the guards at the building entrance had denied her entry, even when she mentioned Elma as her reason for the visit.
The bodyguards had made it clear that if Lacey wanted to see Landon, she needed to submit a request approved by Leo. With no alternatives, Lacey had contacted Leo, only to be rebuffed as he cited his vacation to deny her request.
Pissed off, Lacey had pleaded, “It’s about Elma. Can’t you just approve it? I merely want to talk to Mr. Kensington. What harm could it do?”
Leo had responded, “I can’t approve of that. Mr. Kensington gave me the afternoon off. I’m not working right now. You’ll have to wait until I return to work. If it truly concerns Elma, suggest she call Mr. Kensington directly-he wouldn’t refuse.”
Clearly, that was not an option for Lacey, as she had fabricated the urgency about Elma to meet Landon. Despite this, she had persisted, resorting even to threats and bribes.
“I just want to discuss something with Mr. Kensington concerning my mentor. That’s all. Please, just approve it. If Mr. Kensington doesn’t want to listen, he can dismiss me.”
Still, Leo remained firm.
“This is not my working hour. I don’t engage in work-related matters now unless directly instructed by Mr. Kensington. You might ask him to command me to approve your request. That way, I couldn’t refuse.”
Enraged, Lacey challenged him.
“Ever pause to think why I turn to you? I couldn’t get in touch with Landon and came to find him in person, only to be rejected from getting into his workplace.” Lacey had tried calling and texting Landon but got no response. Landon had been unreachable since he immersed himself in work. Her only choice seemed to be approaching him directly. Lacey had earnestly implored Leo, resorting to every tactic. However, Leo had ended the conversation abruptly.
“I’m off work. If there’s nothing else, I need to go.” With that, Leo had hung up.
Lacey, almost overwhelmed by frustration, had managed to restrain herself. She had looked at the closed gate and the stern bodyguards before leaving reluctantly.
Yet, Lacey found herself back at the gate early the next morning, determined to see Landon.
Lacey had bet that Landon had been working in his workplace all night, and she was confident she’d find him there that morning. She planned to seize the opportunity to show concern, subtly reminding him of her presence.
But Lacey’s plans crumbled the moment she saw Leila emerging beside Landon-wearing a nightgown.
Lacey’s face stiffened, her expression teetering between disbelief and forced composure..
“Mr. Kensington, what is she doing here?”
Leila, caught off guard by Lacey’s sudden appearance, felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She quickly withdrew her hand from Landon’s, taking a step back.
Landon’s eyes flicked toward Leila, his displeasure evident at her reaction. Before he could say anything to address it, Lacey’s accusatory tone cut through the air. His annoyance only deepened. His frown hardened as he turned to Lacey, his voice sharp and cold.
“What’s it got to do with you?”
Lacey bit her lip, caught off guard by the bluntness of his reply. She struggled to keep her bitterness in check, quickly masking her jealousy with a feigned air of concern.
“Of course, it’s of no concern to me, Mr. Kensington. I didn’t mean it that way. I just thought… You hate being disturbed while working. If someone is being annoyingly persistent and you find it hard to refuse, I could help.”
The words spilled out before Lacey could stop them, driven by her overwhelming jealousy and frustration.
In Lacey’s mind, the sight of Leila standing there in a nightgown could only mean one thing. Leila’s intentions were crystal clear. Lacey concocted a whirlwind of drama in her mind, unaware of what had actually transpired between Leila and Landon the previous night.
To Landon and Leila, Lacey’s misplaced outrage made her look like a fool.
Leila frowned slightly, her displeasure clear. She could see through Lacey’s thinly veiled intentions toward Landon, but that didn’t bother her as much. What truly grated on her nerves was Lacey’s malicious assumptions. Leila couldn’t understand the animosity-she had never knowingly wronged Lacey, yet Lacey’s attitude was incessantly hostile.
Before Leila could voice her irritation, Landon stepped in. He took her hand, a simple yet deliberate gesture that silenced any further need for explanation.
“Let’s not waste our time here,” Landon said gently to Leila, his tone calm yet firm.
“Come on. Let’s go.”
Leila blinked in surprise, the cold edge in her eyes softening into a shy smile. She tightened her grip on Landon’s hand, allowing him to guide her away.
Lacey, mid-rant, suddenly stopped at the sight of their intertwined fingers. She watched in disbelief, her face a mixture of shock and frustration, as the two walked away hand in hand. Landon didn’t spare Lacey a second glance, his disdain and irritation evident in the purposeful way he brushed past her.
The sound of their retreating footsteps echoed in the silence, each step hammering home the reality Lacey refused to accept. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled to the floor, her face twisted in pain. She had suspected that Leila and Landon might reconcile one day, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.
Lacey’s face contorted with pain. Leila must have been using her amnesia as an excuse to manipulate Landon. What else could explain this? Her thoughts spiraled further into anger and bitterness. What if Leila’s memories somehow came back? What then?
Meanwhile, being led away by Landon, Leila couldn’t shake the image of Lacey’s unpleasant expression. A small knot of worry formed in her chest.
“Is this really fine?” she asked hesitantly.
Landon raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.
“Are you worried about her feelings?”
Leila shook her head firmly. While she and Lacey had no deep-seated hatred, Lacey’s animosity toward her had been blatantly clear. Leila wasn’t someone to be overly compassionate. Her concern wasn’t about Lacey-it was about Elma.
“Elma’s health is in her hands,” Leila said, her voice calm yet shadowed with concern.
“What if she lets her resentment fester? She could pretend to treat Elma while plotting something harmful. Jealousy doesn’t follow reason-it can make people reckless.”
Though Leila’s memory remained a foggy puzzle, she recognized the dangers of envy with an almost instinctual clarity. It wasn’t Lacey’s outward actions that worried her-it was the subtle, hidden moves that could slip under the radar and endanger Elma.
Landon took a breath, initially wanting to dismiss Leila’s concerns, as he doubted Lacey had the nerve to act out against Elma.
Yet, understanding Leila’s concerns, Landon softened his tone as he replied, his voice measured and firm, “You’re right to be cautious, but don’t worry. I’ve already begun searching for alternatives. This situation won’t last more than a month. Elma’s health is too important to be left in the hands of someone I can’t count on.”
During his years abroad, Landon had relied on Lacey to some extent, trusting her capabilities and presence when needed. But that trust dissolved the moment he understood her feelings for him. He couldn’t keep someone with ulterior motives so close, not when her desires complicated every interaction.