Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“What’s up?”
Clayton’s casual tone drifted through the line, igniting a fire of anger in Lacey. She barely managed to keep her fury in check.
“How could you treat me like this? Clayton, after all I’ve done for you, this is how you repaid me? What was it that you had that masked man force down my throat? I’m just trying to survive here. If you’re determined to get rid of me, don’t expect to come out of it unhurt!”
As Lacey hurled her resolute threats, Clayton couldn’t help but find a trace of humor in them. His response was marked by an eerie calm, a stark contrast to her turmoil.
“It seems you’ve got it all wrong. Firstly, I’m doing this for your benefit. Should we get caught, you’ll be able to clear your name since you are portrayed as the victim. Secondly, you weren’t always acting under my orders. You have done many things willingly. You’ve willingly sacrificed so much for your ambitions, and now you’re pointing fingers at me? That seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it? Everything you’re dealing with now was your choice. And thirdly, go ahead and tell Landon whatever you want to reveal. He and I haven’t seen eye to eye in ages. Why would I worry about your tales? But just remember, if the truth surfaces, he’ll lose all sympathy for you.”
Lacey seethed with rage yet had to acknowledge the harsh truth in Clayton’s words. She took a deep breath, digging her nails into her palm to maintain composure.
“Then what are you aiming for? My death serves you no benefit.”
Clayton’s laughter was low and chilling.
“The substance you were given was indeed poison,” he admitted nonchalantly.
These few words were enough to shake Lacey to her core, leaving her struggling to catch her breath.
Clayton reassured her with a sinister smile, “But don’t fret. I can’t afford to lose you just yet. You’re still of value to me. And that poison? It was merely to convince Landon of your innocence.”
Lacey’s tension eased slightly, but she clenched her jaw tightly.
“You had better be speaking the truth, or I swear, I’ll haunt you beyond the grave.”
Her threat, meant to be menacing, now sounded hollow and impotent. Clayton gave a chuckle and disconnected the call.
Meanwhile, after leaving Lacey behind, Landon set out in search of Leila. He returned to their last known meeting place, but Leila was nowhere to be seen.
A wave of panic washed over Landon, prompting him to question a nearby bodyguard, who informed him that Leila had felt ill and had gone to her room to lie down.
Landon hurried to Leila’s room, and as he pushed the door open, his heart pounding with a mix of dread and hope. He feared the worst-that Clayton had spirited Leila away. Though he doubted Clayton’s audacity to commit such an act, he recalled Clayton’s cunning in poisoning Lacey, which meant Leila could be in danger too..
The sight of Leila, peacefully asleep on the bed, washed relief over Landon. He approached the bed quietly and reached out to gently caress her cheek. His fingers brushed against her soft skin, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself to just watch her, grateful that she was safe, at least for now. Her calm breathing brought him a sense of peace amidst the chaos that surrounded them.
Just as Landon was about to caress Leila’s cheek, her eyes snapped open. A spark of happiness flickered in Landon’s gaze, yet before he could utter her name, he noticed the stark change in her expression-she looked at him as if he were a stranger, her worst adversary. Her features were a mix of disgust and frost, tinged with a hint of suspicion. It seemed she held nothing but disdain for him.
Landon’s words got stuck in his throat, his shock rendering his voice faint and shaky.
“Leila… Leila, why are you staring at me like this? Are you alright?” he stammered, reaching out to steady her.
Leila shrank from his touch, inhaling sharply as a whirlwind of confusion clouded her thoughts.
“I’m fine. I just need some time alone,” she said, her tone strained yet controlled as she fought back her annoyance.
Landon sensed something was amiss with Leila. His curiosity burned as he yearned to uncover what had taken place. Nonetheless, realizing she seemed overwhelmed, possibly from a distressing dream, he masked his own distress. Rising from her side, he offered soft reassurance.
“Get some rest first. When you’re feeling better, we’ll talk about something important.”
With a faint nod, Leila turned her face away, her acknowledgment barely audible.
Landon lingered a moment, watching her with a troubled look, his mind filled with uneasy thoughts. He was plagued by an unsettling sense that something was amiss with Leila, yet he was at a loss to identify exactly what had shifted in her demeanor.
Landon dismissed the nagging thoughts for the time being, comforting himself with the belief that as long as Leila was by his side, all would be well. He could broach the subject with her later when the time felt right.
With this reassurance, Landon swiftly left the room, completely unaware of the venomous glare Leila fixed on his retreating figure. The seeds of discord sown by Clayton had germinated, and the hypnosis was taking effect.
Leila was ensnared by Clayton’s manipulation, fully indoctrinated into believing his poisonous lies. She was now utterly convinced that Landon’s relationship with Lacey was not only real but longstanding, and his intentions toward Elma were far from genuine. He was eager to cast Elma aside, treating her as nothing more than a burdensome chore he longed to be rid of.
In spite of Leila’s desire to trust Landon, shadows of doubt crept into her mind every time her eyes closed. Sinister whispers haunted her, painting vivid pictures of Landon’s intentions.
Leila was engulfed in emotional turmoil, battling a storm of contempt toward Landon and confusion. Her recollections were fragmented, the past a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces.
One memory, however, burned bright and clear: the day she, Landon, and Lacey visited a bridal shop. At that time, tears had blurred Leila’s vision as she watched Landon walk past her as if she were invisible, his strides purposeful as he moved toward Lacey, radiant in her wedding gown.
Lacey had gracefully gathered her gown, her smile radiating sweetness as she turned to Landon and asked, “Landon, do I look alright in this?” Landon had returned her smile with a gentle warmth, saying, “You look stunning.”
Landon and Lacey appeared the perfect image of a devoted couple while Leila felt like an intruder in their relationship.
Other fragments of memories surfaced, each capturing moments shared between Landon and Lacey, deepening Leila’s sense of sorrow.
Tons of questions popped into Leila’s mind. How had she managed to let such vital memories slip away? What motives did Landon now harbor? Had his feelings for her truly faded? Why then did he keep her close?
Turmoil churned within Leila’s thoughts. She hastily retrieved her phone to contact Calvin, opting against calling Sophie, recalling her frequent stays at the Kensington family.
Concerned that Landon might monitor her communication with Sophie, Leila deemed it safer to reach out to Calvin.
Calvin picked up promptly, his voice laden with hope, mistakenly assuming Leila’s call pertained to Elma’s health. He quickly inquired, “Mom, is there any progress with Elma’s treatment?” Leila’s heart twinged with bitter sadness upon hearing his worry for Elma. In a hushed tone, she admitted, “No, and it seems increasingly likely that our journey here seeking medical help was futile. I’m so sorry, Calvin. I’ve failed in my duties, exposing you to danger.”
Her words caught Calvin off guard, rendering him nearly speechless.
Leila’s gloom was palpable, coloring her silence with shades of deep sadness and clear disappointment. Calvin picked up on it immediately, his concern sharpening his voice into a fierce, protective tone.
“Mom, has that man been harassing you? Tell me what he’s done. There’s no need to fear. Just let me know, and I’ll bring the help you need.”
Leila, however, had not intended for Calvin to become entangled.
In her troubles, she replied hastily, her words quick and urgent.
“No, please don’t come. Right now, it’s critical we alert Sophie and urge her to make her way back to the safety of the Nixon family villa alongside you. It’s far too risky to remain at the Kensington family residence.”
Your next adventure is at g al n ovels . con
Calvin’s loyalty to Leila was unwavering, yet her sudden evasive maneuvers sparked a flicker of suspicion within him. He reluctantly agreed to her wishes but couldn’t suppress his growing unease. His voice softened, laced with worry.
“Mom, if you want to ease my concerns, you owe me an explanation. What’s been happening with you and Landon? Or have you uncovered some troubling secrets? I might be young, but I am your son, the one who shares your blood. If not me, then who do you trust?”
His words, earnest and filled with a child’s plea for openness, caused Leila’s resolve to falter. It wasn’t a lack of trust that silenced her. Rather, it was her desire to keep him safe from the storm.
However, recognizing Calvin’s insight and maturity, Leila knew keeping secrets was pointless-he would uncover the truth himself. With a resigned sigh, she decided transparency was the only path forward. Gathering her courage, she breathed deeply and laid bare the troubling thoughts that had haunted her.
Calvin’s initial response was fury upon learning that Landon’s intentions toward Elma were nothing more than a fa?ade designed to get rid of her. Though it seemed outlandish, Calvin couldn’t dismiss the suspicions as completely unfounded.
Yet, when Leila brought up the possibility of Landon and Lacey colluding and having been involved ages ago, something didn’t sit right with Calvin. Previously, Calvin had entertained similar thoughts, but his perspective had shifted recently.
Just a few days earlier, Calvin had made a breakthrough in his investigation. While he hadn’t fully deciphered the code, he noticed that the confidentiality protocols mirrored those used by the Morgan Group. Having once tried to hack into the Morgan Group’s system, the familiarity of these protocols struck him immediately. This discovery led him to deduce that Lacey’s mysterious contact was likely Clayton. Even if Clayton wasn’t directly involved, Lacey’s access to the Morgan Group’s confidential protocols implied some level of connection. It was Clayton, not Landon, who was scheming with Lacey.
Furthermore, Calvin observed that Landon showed no interest in Lacey whatsoever. Given Landon’s cautious nature, it was improbable he would entangle himself with Lacey.
Calvin realized Leila might have been misled. With a moment of hesitation, he said, “Mom, who filled you in on all this? I mean, since Sophie and I aren’t there, it’s wise to keep your guard up around Landon, but be wary of others too.”
Leila’s expression tightened briefly, but she recognized the sincerity in his voice. Softening, she replied, “Calvin, I understand your concerns. Don’t fret. I’m not just taking anyone’s word blindly. These aren’t second-hand suspicions.”
Leila stopped mid-sentence, the revelation she held at the tip of her tongue retreating into silence. She found herself unable to disclose to Calvin the disturbing truth-that she had caught a glimpse of Landon’s affair with Lacey. The weight of Landon’s betrayal lay heavy on her, yet she chose to shield Calvin from these harsh realities. Opting for a subtler warning, Leila softly advised Calvin to relay the urgent news to Sophie and implored them both to make haste in distancing themselves from the Kensington family residence.
With a nod of solemn agreement from Calvin, promising swift action, Leila felt a burden lift slightly from her shoulders. Now, she had to confront the chaos within her. The notion of confronting Landon seemed increasingly futile. Decisively, she resolved that the wisest decision was to depart immediately with Elma.
Meanwhile, Landon engaged in a tense conversation with Clayton. Clayton, ever direct, wasted no time in staking his claim, his voice cold and calculated.
“If you want to save Lacey, give Leila back to me.”
Landon’s face contorted with indignation, his eyes sparking with defiance as he spat, “She is my wife! How dare you speak of ‘giving her back’ as if she were an object? She has never been yours, not for a fleeting second!”
Clayton’s chuckle was laced with scorn and arrogance as he provocatively retorted, “What makes you think she wasn’t? Before her memory faded, we shared a meaningful connection. If you don’t trust my words, ask anyone at the Nixon Group-they all know how much I meant to Leila.”