Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“Mommy, make her go away! I don’t want her here,” Elma piped up, her face scrunched in disgust.
Elma’s aversion to Lacey was clear as day.
Lacey felt a surge of resentment, directing all her anger at Leila.
“Look at how your daughter behaves. You’re a terrible mother.”
Before Leila could retort, Elma jumped to her defense.
“My mommy is the best! Whether she’s a good mother or not is none of your business! You’re the one with bad intentions, Lacey, always sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. You’re just an outsider!”
“You little brat!” Lacey fumed, her hand itching to slap Elma. But she knew better than to lay a hand on the child. She gritted her teeth, forcing down her anger.
At that moment, Landon walked into the room.
Lacey’s arrogant facade crumbled. She stepped aside, her gaze fixed on the floor.
Landon, oblivious to the earlier confrontation, looked around the room, his brow furrowed in question.
Elma opened her mouth to complain, but Leila quickly intervened.
“Elma, if you don’t take your medicine soon, it’ll get cold and taste even worse,” Leila said gently.
Elma pouted, her face a picture of misery. Knowing that her mother wouldn’t be swayed by her antics, she turned her attention to Landon, her eyes wide and pleading.
To her surprise, Landon picked up the medicine bowl.
“Here, let me help,” he said softly.
“If you drink it quickly, you won’t taste the bitterness.”
Leila held Elma close as Landon patiently spoon-fed her the medicine. They were the picture of a loving family.
Lacey seethed with jealousy, her eyes burning with resentment, but her fury went unnoticed.
Once Elma had swallowed her medicine, Landon gently took her from Leila’s arms, soothing her with soft words and sweet treats. He even offered a piece of candy to Leila.
Leila feigned indifference, playfully glaring at him.
A warm smile spread across Landon’s face.
Glancing up, Landon finally noticed Lacey’s simmering resentment. His smile vanished, replaced by a frosty expression.
“Lacey, is there something else you require?” he asked curtly.
His dismissal was unmistakable.
Lacey clenched her jaw, forcing a response through gritted teeth.
“No, I was just lost in thought.”
With that, Lacey turned and stalked off, her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Leila watched Lacey go, an air of nonchalance about her. She understood Lacey’s obsession with Landon was deeply ingrained, beyond the reach of reason or logic. That was precisely why she hadn’t rebuffed Landon’s earlier displays of affection. Sometimes, actions spoke louder than words.
Lacey’s constant provocations had worn Leila’s patience thin. The most effective way to deal with someone like Lacey was to strike at their deepest insecurities.
Elma, lulled back to sleep by the medicine, snored softly.
Leila and Landon quietly exited the room. As they walked down the hallway, Landon gently pulled Leila into his arms.
“Once Elma’s health stabilizes, I’ll send Lacey abroad. She won’t be a problem for you anymore,” he murmured.
Leila’s eyes widened in surprise.
Leila didn’t like Lacey. She never had. But for Elma’s sake, she kept her feelings hidden, especially in front of Landon.
Landon, however, still noticed. Not only did he notice, but he was also planning to handle the situation.
Leila felt a surprising warmth in her chest. Yet, she couldn’t help but shake her head.
“I’ve heard from the other staff that for the last few years, Lacey has stayed by your side, helping you with so much, and now, she’s fully devoted to caring for Elma. If you forcibly send her away and exile her abroad, wouldn’t that be going too far?”
Landon pulled Leila into his arms.
“This isn’t about being cruel. I’ve made it clear from the start. I can’t give her the love she wants. She should never have expected it in the first place. Sending her abroad is giving her the chance to start over. I’ll make sure she has enough money to live comfortably, and if she no longer has feelings for me, she’s welcome to return whenever she wants.
“Besides, this is as much her decision as mine. She said she’d leave once Elma was better. If people think I’m heartless because of this, then so be it. I don’t care about their opinions. I only care about you. I don’t want you to feel upset or disappointed. And I certainly won’t let anyone who upsets you stay in our lives.”
Landon wasn’t one for flowery words. His sincerity always spoke louder than any romantic gesture, and to Leila, it was priceless because it was his honest promise. He wanted to offer her both unwavering security and the entirety of his affection.
Overcome with emotion, Leila rose onto her tiptoes and gently kissed Landon, her lips brushing his softly. When she pulled away, a faint blush colored her cheeks, and her eyes shimmered with a hint of shyness.
Landon’s heart skipped at the sight. Without hesitation, he bent down and kissed her again, ignoring the passing servants and the curious glances they cast.
Leila squirmed in his grasp, trying to push him away, but Landon’s strength left her attempts futile.
From a distance, Lacey watched it all unfold. She had overheard their conversation too. Her lips trembled as she bit down on them, anger and humiliation swelling in her chest.
Lacey had indeed brought up the idea of leaving to Landon, but it was merely a ploy to lower his guard and hasten his arrangements for taking Elma to meet her so-called mentor.
She never intended to leave his side. But now, Landon was planning to cast her aside after she healed Elma. He didn’t have to go this far, yet he chose to do it all to make Leila happy. Lacey was consumed by fury, not understanding why Landon was so smitten with Leila.
Upon reflection, Lacey realized Leila was the cause of every failed plot.
And now, Lacey stood there, watching Landon pour all his love and passion into Leila. She had never seen Landon so fervent before.
Suddenly, Lacey felt pathetic as a wave of self-pity washed over her. All her efforts had been in vain, mere illusions. Landon’s love was never meant for her. It was Leila who he truly loved. She should have realized this earlier. She just couldn’t bring herself to accept the truth. She couldn’t grasp where she had gone wrong. She had spent years by Landon’s side, doing everything for him, yet it seemed never enough.
A storm of resentment and fury brewed within Lacey, and tears cascaded down her face. Her hands reached for her eyes to brush away the tears, only to find them cold. She didn’t know how long she had been crying. Suddenly, she felt a profound sense of surrender, as though she was ready to release it all.
Lacey retreated to her room, lost in her thoughts. She had barely stepped inside when her phone buzzed.
It was Clayton calling. His voice was brisk, cutting straight to the point.
“Did Landon agree to take Elma to meet your mentor? And is Leila going with them?”
Lacey hesitated. The image of Landon and Leila together flashed in her mind, a perfect picture of love and unity that deepened her despair. She exhaled shakily.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m not forcing anything.”
Clayton was stunned before quickly piecing together that Lacey must have suffered a huge blow and felt like giving up.
Clayton could understand her feelings all too well. He had considered giving up his feelings for Leila many times, but each time, his reluctance to let go drove him to keep holding on. Furthermore, if Lacey gave up, he would lose a crucial piece of his plan.
Clayton’s original goal was to win Leila’s heart, but now his intentions had shifted. He wanted Landon to vanish from this world, and it had turned into an obsession. He couldn’t stop now, halfway through. Listening to Lacey’s defeated words, Clayton felt a sharp surge of anger but suppressed it. Instead, he tried to persuade her.
“We’ve come so far, put in so much effort. Are you going to let it all slip away now, especially when we’re this close to succeeding?”
Lacey’s frustration boiled over as she snapped, “What’s the point? Landon doesn’t love me. And getting rid of Leila won’t change that. Even if Leila disappeared, he’d grieve for her forever. It’s better to stop before I make a fool of myself.”
Clayton silently cursed Lacey for her foolishness. He gritted his teeth, his anger barely contained.
“Have you already forgotten? If you don’t follow through with the plan and Landon finds out, do you have any idea what will happen to you?”