Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
The raft sank with everyone aboard.
Thankfully, the bodyguards acted swiftly, pulling the children from the water before anyone inhaled or swallowed water.
But something was gravely wrong with Elma. When they brought her ashore, she wasn’t breathing-her small body showed no signs of life. The bodyguards wasted no time, rushing Elma to the hospital in a desperate bid to save her.
In the chaos, their attempts to reach Landon failed, leaving Sophie terrified and alone with her fear..
Without even changing out of her wet clothes, Sophie ran to find Leila and Landon, her tears reflecting her mounting dread. No one could have predicted the day would take such a turn.
The moment Leila heard that Elma had fallen into the water, terror gripped her like a vice. Her legs gave out beneath her, the ground tilting in a dizzying blur.
Landon’s arms were around Leila in an instant, steadying her before she could collapse completely.
“I’ll take care of it,” Landon murmured, his voice low and strained with guilt.
“This is my fault. I should’ve been paying closer attention.”
Leila clutched his arm tightly, her fingers trembling. Her voice quivered, but there was an edge of determination in it.
“No, Landon. It’s not your fault. Elma will be fine. She has to be.”
Tears welled in Leila’s eyes as she whispered, “If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I should’ve been awake. If anything happens to her…” Her words faltered, dissolving into silence, but the anguish in her expression spoke louder than words.
Landon pulled Leila close, his embrace firm and grounding.
“Don’t fret,” he said softly.
“We’ll get to her. She’ll be okay. We’ll make sure of it.”
They had to descend the mountain, a trek that felt agonizingly slow despite their urgency.
Calvin had already rushed ahead, his determination to ensure Elma’s safety evident.
By the time Leila and Landon reached the base, they were met with unexpected news. Elma had regained consciousness but hadn’t been sent to the hospital. Relief washed over them, but the lingering tension in Leila’s chest refused to ease entirely.
“She needs to be seen by a doctor,” Leila said firmly.
“Even if she’s awake, I won’t feel at ease until she’s checked out properly.”
Before Landon could echo her concern, a clipped, condescending voice sliced through the air.
“That won’t be necessary,” Lacey said, emerging from the shadows with a practiced air of authority.
“Elma’s condition is stable. Moving her now would be reckless and could worsen things.”
Leila hesitated to say anything outright-after all, Lacey had saved Elma. Softening her tone, she said, “Lacey, I really appreciate what you’ve done, but I still think Elma should have a full check-up at the hospital. If it’s inconvenient, I can arrange for a doctor to come here. Otherwise, I won’t be able to rest easy.”
Leila’s words were careful, conciliatory, and an attempt to avoid further conflict.
But Lacey’s expression darkened instantly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped.
“You don’t trust my medical expertise? Fine, if that’s how you feel, I’ll leave right now. You can deal with this yourself.”
Calvin, who had been standing nearby, stepped in with a sharp tone.
“Go ahead, then. No one’s stopping you.”
“Wait,” Landon interjected, approaching the group.
He had just checked on Elma, and his calm demeanor belied the storm brewing in his eyes.
“Elma’s doing much better now,” Landon said to Leila as he placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry.”
Leila nodded, her anxiety easing slightly at Landon’s reassurance.
But Lacey, watching their interaction, felt a stab of jealousy. She folded her arms and sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Mr. Kensington, you heard that, right? Miss Nixon wanted me gone. Don’t you have anything to say about that?”
“Forget-if it weren’t for my timely intervention, Elma wouldn’t have regained consciousness. I’m her savior.”
Everyone present could sense Lacey’s ulterior motives, but none could deny the truth in her words. Elma’s life had been in her hands. Landon’s expression hardened, his voice quiet but firm.
“What exactly do you want, Lacey? You won’t be short on money.”
Lacey shook her head, her gaze unwavering.
“Money? You know that’s not what I’m after. I just don’t want to be insulted for doing my job.” She turned her sharp gaze toward Leila.
“All I ask is for her to apologize to me in person. That’s not unreasonable, is it?”
Landon’s jaw tightened. He didn’t want Leila to bow her head-not to Lacey, of all people. But Elma’s frail frame leaned heavily on Lacey’s care, and they couldn’t afford the consequences if Lacey truly walked away without getting an apology.
Just then, Calvin stepped forward, cutting through the tension like a blade. His gaze locked onto Lacey’s, his expression steeled with resolve.
“If anyone’s to blame, it’s me,” he said firmly.
“I spoke out of turn earlier-not my mom. So here I am, apologizing. Let’s not drag this out.”
Lacey tilted her head, her lips curving into a syrupy smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“You misunderstand, Calvin. I’m not making this difficult for you. I just value respect. When someone slights me, I expect an apology-one that feels sincere.”
Calvin’s jaw set, but he held his ground. Straightening his shoulders, he met her gaze without flinching.
“So, I apologize. After all, I’m the one who said those words.”
Lacey glanced at Landon, gauging his expression. After a beat, she exhaled, masking her frustration with a thin smile.
“Fine. Since you insist, I won’t press the matter further. But next time, Calvin, I’d hope for an apology that feels heartfelt.”
Her words dripped with an unspoken message that Calvin’s apology clearly fell short of her lofty expectations.
Lacey’s sharp gaze lingered on Calvin, the silence heavy with her disapproval.
Calvin’s jaw tightened, his dislike for Lacey bubbling beneath the surface. Apologizing had already stripped him of his pride, but now he was expected to bow to her demands? His expression darkened, lips pressing into a thin line.
“Enough,” Landon said abruptly, his voice cutting through the air like a whip. He rubbed his temples and looked directly at Lacey, his tone firm but weary.
“Let’s end this. Calvin is young and reckless-I hope you can find it in yourself to be more understanding.”
Lacey’s nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists. Landon was defending them, again. Did he truly not care about his daughter’s life? But Landon had spoken, and she couldn’t openly defy him.
Taking a breath to steady herself, Lacey prepared to leave. Before she could take a step, Calvin strode toward her, his movements quick and deliberate. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he bowed deeply.
“It’s my fault,” he said, his voice steady but edged with defiance.
“I spoke carelessly today. If you’re angry, take it out on me-leave my mom and sisters out of it.”
Though his posture appeared sincere, his words carried a hard edge, more warning than apology.
