Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Confusion swirled through Leila’s thoughts. Despite her amnesia, she remembered Clayton as her husband. Before this trip, she had resolved with Landon to fully disclose their situation to Clayton upon meeting him. Looking into Clayton’s eyes, Leila’s initial doubts slowly began to dissipate. Yet, she couldn’t shake off a residual skepticism about his intentions. What exactly did he mean by having risked everything to meet her?
Leila, fighting back her confusion, spoke with a distant tone.
“I don’t recall the past or anything about you. I hear a voice inside saying you’re my husband, but I’m not sure if that’s true.”
A spark of hope lit up in Clayton’s eyes upon hearing her words. Before he could reply, Leila continued, “Let’s discuss this since we’re here. I sense my memories might be incorrect-you might not be my husband-because when I look at you, I…”
“Don’t feel any connection. I doubt I would marry without love. Were we truly married?”
Leila’s gaze on Clayton carried a mix of skepticism and hope for clarity.
Clayton caught her implication and chastised himself for his failure in whisking away the semi-hypnotized Leila months earlier. Still, he held onto the belief that she, having been partly influenced by hypnosis, should have a soft spot for him. While the hypnosis had muddled her mind, deceiving her into believing he was her husband, she had once again fallen for Landon-a fact he refused to accept.
Landon and Leila seemed irresistibly drawn to each other, destined to be together.
Not reconciled with the fruitless efforts he had put in to make Leila fall for him and still resenting Landon for causing his downfall, Clayton resolved not to stand idly by and watch Landon and Leila reconcile.
Clayton inhaled deeply, choosing not to confront Leila with harsh words. Patting on a resigned smile, he said, “The past is complex and can’t be unraveled quickly. Could we find a quiet spot to talk? You can have the bodyguards follow if it makes you feel safer. Just keep them out of sight. If Landon discovers this, I might not make it out alive.” His tone appeared sincere.
Leila aimed to resolve their issues, yet she couldn’t shake off her concerns about Clayton and Landon’s tumultuous relationship. Lacey had once hinted that Landon might harbor ill intentions toward Clayton, which Leila had initially dismissed but now felt plausible. She was unclear about the origin of their feud but had chosen Landon and didn’t want to waver. While her curiosity about their past conflicts persisted, her primary desire was to uncover her own history.
Leila and Clayton moved to an unoccupied hospital room and shut themselves in.
As Clayton gazed at Leila, his eyes brimmed with tears. Catching himself, he covered his eyes with his hand, murmuring, “Leila, I… Seeing you safe and sound means everything to me.”
Leila was confused yet concealed her emotions, saying, “Mr. Morgan, if you have something to say, please say it quickly. Landon will start looking for me if he doesn’t see me when he returns.”
Clayton, with a disappointed look and a hint of bitterness, responded, “I don’t wish to bother you. I respect your decision. Even though you knew we were once married, you still choose Landon, didn’t you?” His reddened eyes and pale demeanor underscored his vulnerability.
Leila felt a wave of conflicting emotions and struggled to find words. She felt no affection for Clayton but was overwhelmed by a sense of guilt she could not dismiss. She speculated it was tied to their past. With caution, Leila inquired, “Did we share an unusual relationship previously?”
Clayton nodded, the disappointment in Leila’s eyes deepening his pain.
“Not in the way you might think. We were never married,” he clarified.
Relieved by his confirmation, Leila felt a burden lift. Realizing they had never been married confirmed her continuous love for Landon and that she had not betrayed anyone.
Feeling more at ease, Leila relaxed significantly.
Clayton hid the fleeting mockery in his eyes and spoke in a somber tone.
“We were close to marriage. But Landon came along. He doesn’t truly love you. You were merely one of many flings for him, just like others, such as Lacey.”
Leila’s composure briefly faltered, but she quickly regained her cool, replying sharply, “I refuse to believe your claims.”
Clayton gave a faint smile.
“If you doubt my words, do you trust what you’ve witnessed yourself?”
Leila suddenly had a bad feeling. Once this feeling took hold, she found it impossible to shake off. It intensified, occupying her thoughts. Clayton quickly picked up on Leila’s discomfort and was complacent. He pulled out his smartphone and forcibly showed her several pictures. The pictures showed intimate moments on a bed. Lacey’s eyes were out of focus and her cheeks were flushed. Next to her was a man. The man’s face was partly visible, showing just his side profile and back, but it appeared to be Landon.
At that instant, Leila felt as if she was suffocating. Her heart pounded loudly, echoing in her head. She felt herself losing control, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.
Clayton reached out to hold her, but Leila pulled away. Her hands balled into fists and she said with a strained voice, “I don’t trust these pictures. They could be fake.”
She had spent some days with Landon. His deep affection for her was clear. She was sure he had no feelings for Lacey. He didn’t love Lacey. How could he possibly make out with Lacey?
Despite her attempts to convince herself, those pictures of Landon and Lacey together on the bed haunted Leila every time she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She decided she would confront Landon directly.
Clayton noticed her resolve yet remained calm. After all, his aim wasn’t to completely sever the bond between Leila and Landon with these pictures. He merely intended to disturb her peace. When she felt anxious and troubled, she would be at her most vulnerable.
Drawing closer, Clayton said softly, “You think these pictures are fake? They’re all real. If you’re skeptical, why not have them verified by experts? You were once my everything. I loved you, and you had affection for me too. If only you hadn’t been fooled by Landon. But even with your lost memories, you’re ensnared by him once again. Leila, I don’t ask for much, only that you stay cautious and prevent him from deceiving you further.”
In truth, Clayton was not worried about Leila seeking verification for the pictures. He actually wanted her to do so because the pictures were, technically, real. However, the man in those pictures was not Landon. He was someone who shared a resemblance in both looks and manner with Landon. The pictures were carefully staged with specific angles and lighting to mirror Landon precisely. Those misleading pictures were part of a scheme he and Lacey had come up with long ago. If Leila…
Fell for it, all the better. But his main goal was to keep Leila in a state of constant uncertainty.
Feeling more agitated, Leila raised her voice and declared, “I don’t need your guidance on this. I will find out the truth from Landon directly.”
Clayton laughed softly.
“Do you really think he’ll be honest with you? Here’s something else you should know. There is no Lacey’s mentor here. He considers Elma’s illness to be hopeless and sees her presence as a burden. Don’t let his current attention to you mislead you. He’s still susceptible to the charms of other women. Your other two children don’t even bond with him. Elma is the only one who clings to him, which he finds bothersome. He’s planning to gradually deal with all your children without your knowledge. This way, you’ll remain oblivious and keep loving him, while he freely pursues other women. His visit this time was for Lacey. If you doubt me, go ahead and ask if anyone knows Lacey’s supposed mentor.”
Leila struggled to shut out Clayton’s words. At that moment, she found it impossible to think clearly. She pushed Clayton back and said urgently, “I need to hear it from Landon, whatever the truth may be.”
Clayton didn’t stop her and pulled out an object resembling a clock. He switched it on. Then, there was a soothing, hypnotic chime.
To anyone else, the sound would have been harmless. But as soon as Leila heard it, her legs became weak. It was as if her legs were burdened with a thousand pounds of lead. Try as she might, she found herself unable to move forward. Her sight started to blur. She felt overwhelmed by dizziness, fatigue, and an intense desire to sleep. All other noises ceased suddenly, as though the entire world had been silenced.
But Leila could still hear something. Her own rapid heartbeat and then the sound of Clayton’s footsteps. Each step echoed loudly. Leila wanted to tell him to keep his distance. However, before she could utter a word, she fell to the floor.
Clayton walked up to her and watched her with a smile as she lay confused and disoriented. In a lowered voice, he said, “Leila, remember, nobody loves you more than I do. You love me more than anyone else. You believe what I told you, right?”
Leila heard his deliberately lowered voice perfectly. It seemed to be the only sound remaining in her world. Confused, she nodded, her eyes lacking focus.
“You are right. I’ll remember it. I will only trust you.”
Clayton’s face lit up with satisfaction. He didn’t intend to hypnotize Leila into loving him. He just wanted to make her believe what she previously refused to accept. And he needed her to believe it fully. While this might cause Leila to recall previous events, it didn’t matter. With his intervention, she and Landon would never return to the love they once shared.
As for the task of misleading Landon, Clayton relied on Lacey, confident she would execute her part flawlessly.
Meanwhile, Landon quickly made his way to where Lacey was. He didn’t come for her because he was concerned for her well-being. Instead, Lacey had dropped a bombshell, saying she thought she saw Clayton at the hospital.
This made Landon instantly vigilant. Clayton had recently disappeared from his radar. Not long after that, Elma fell into the water suddenly. Landon was sure that someone close to him had been bought off. He hadn’t yet identified the traitor, so he had to act as though he was unaware of any betrayal.
Landon hadn’t expected Clayton’s appearance there. Could there be something suspicious going on in the hospital?
With that concern in mind, Landon hastened his steps. He needed to resolve matters quickly and return to Leila and Elma. He had left them in the care of others. As long as they stayed put, they should be safe.
But Landon was also suspicious. Was it merely a coincidence that Lacey had spotted Clayton? Clayton was usually very careful. If he wanted to be seen, he could have shown himself openly.
However, Landon soon realized the reason. Upon arriving at Lacey’s ward, he found her at the mercy of a masked man holding a knife.
Tears filled Lacey’s eyes, and fear was evident on her face as she shook violently.
When Landon appeared, a flicker of hope ignited in Lacey’s eyes, and she almost spoke.
The masked man instantly tightened his hold, and a sharp blade lightly touched Lacey’s neck, drawing blood. His actions made it clear he was serious.
Lacey, overwhelmed by pain and fear, seemed close to passing out. Initially, Landon had suspected it was a pretense. However, the reality of the threat became apparent. The masked man might really kill Lacey.
Landon decided to intervene since Lacey hadn’t yet shown him the way to her mentor, who supposedly would treat Elma. Regaining his composure, he demanded coldly, “Who are you, and what do you want?”
The masked man chuckled.
“Don’t ask about me. Better to ask whom I serve. Landon, you possess much. Have you ever acknowledged the harm you’ve caused?”
Landon scowled.
“Why drag an innocent into this if you’re targeting me?”
The masked man burst out laughing.
“She is hardly irrelevant. If she dies, your daughter’s fate is sealed. I prefer you alive, tormented by loss, rather than simply dead.”