Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Observing Elma’s tranquil face, a wave of resolve washed over Leila.
Leila promptly sent a message to Edgar, asking him to hold off for half an hour. Then, with a deep breath, she approached the bodyguards stationed by the door. With a composed voice, she ordered, “Could you please get Landon for me? I need to discuss something important with him.”
Landon rushed over soon after, his expression etched with concern.
“What’s the matter, Leila? Is everything alright?” he probed, his voice laced with urgency.
Leila shook her head gently, a calculated smile playing on her lips. She took a deliberate step closer, her hand resting lightly on his chest, her voice a seductive murmur.
“Let’s find somewhere private to talk,” she suggested softly.
“I need it to be just the two of us.”
Landon, taken aback by her boldness, hesitated. His eyes briefly flashed with suspicion, sensing an underlying tension in Leila’s demeanor. Despite his confusion about her, he clung to the unwavering belief that she would eventually trust him enough to open up to him.
As Landon’s intense gaze met hers, Leila’s heart thudded against her ribs, the fear gnawing at her that her carefully laid plans were unraveling. Surprisingly, his lips curved into a reassuring smile, and he gently lifted her hand from his chest with a soft, “Alright.”
Together, they made their way to the hotel’s luxury suite, which boasted a small dining area.
In a town this small, Leila hadn’t imagined a hotel offering a luxury suite, but the facilities were quite satisfactory. It wasn’t exactly lavish, but the suite was impeccably clean and well-maintained.
Opting for a seat across from Landon rather than beside him, Leila nonchalantly instructed the waiter to fetch several bottles of the finest red wine, sparing no expense.
Observing her, Landon’s expression deepened with complexity at her desire to indulge, yet he held his tongue.
The waiter arrived with their drinks, placing them gently on the table.
Leila stayed silent, her earlier enthusiasm now a distant memory. She took a sip of her drink, her eyes fixed on Landon’s expression across the table. He lowered his head, lost in thought. Leila understood she needed to break the silence. After a few determined sips, the alcohol bolstered her courage, and she approached Landon with her glass.
“Why aren’t you drinking?” she asked, striving for calm, though her voice carried the faint slur of alcohol.
Landon looked up, his eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.
“Why should I?” he countered.
The question caught her off guard. The alcohol dulled her quick wit, leaving her fumbling for a response. Frowning, she tried to think of something persuasive to make him drink.
But Landon beat her to it.
“Come here. If you feed me, I’ll drink.”
Leila instinctively stepped closer, gently raising her glass to Landon’s lips.
Landon didn’t lift a hand but spoke volumes with a subtle glance.
Her brow arched in disbelief.
“Are you serious?”
Landon blinked and said, “What else? Do you not want to feed me, or can’t you stand to look at me?”
With a sigh, Leila gently tilted his chin, guiding the glass.
Landon leaned into her touch, his compliance both unexpected and disarming. He drank from her glass, his head reclined and his eyes fixated on hers.
His eyes glimmered with an enigmatic light, sending a flutter through Leila’s heart. An inexplicable emotion began to stir within her.
Leila cleared her throat, her face burning, but a sudden thought of Lacey intruded, souring the moment. Did Landon look at Lacey the same way?
The idea stung, and Leila’s irritation got the better of her. In her distraction, she tilted the glass too far, making Landon choke. He coughed violently, his eyes watering.
Still, Landon didn’t let his frustration turn into anger with Leila. Seeing Landon like this, a wave of unease washed over Leila.
“Sorry,” she said hurriedly, patting his back.
“It slipped out of my hands. I didn’t mean to.”
Landon had drunk it anyway.
Leila remembered how Landon had always been light on his feet when it came to alcohol.
Landon waved her off, his breath hitching between coughs.
“It’s fine.”
Leila tried to pull away, but Landon caught her wrist. With a gentle tug, she stumbled into his arms.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, her voice sharp as her hands braced against his chest.
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Landon’s arms tightened around her, holding her in place.
“Leila, did I upset you somehow? Yell at me or hit me if you have to. Just don’t shut me out like this. It’s all my fault, no matter what. Please, don’t be mad at me, alright?” His voice carried a hint of grievance.
A tangle of emotions churned within Leila. She was relieved, though, seeing Landon like this, thinking he might actually be a bit drunk.
Still, Leila stayed wary, not fully trusting his reaction. She poured him another drink, her gaze tinged with a subtle coldness. Her heart did waver as Landon pleaded, his eyes glittering with tenderness, but she couldn’t afford to believe his words.
Leila placed the glass in his hand, her tone deliberate, a little teasing.
“If you drink this, I’ll forgive you and won’t be angry anymore. Don’t you want to see me happy?”
Landon took the glass from Leila and chugged it down in one gulp without hesitation.
Landon’s unwavering decisiveness surprised Leila, leaving her momentarily stunned as her emotions tangled even more. She kept reminding herself that Landon was just putting on a show for her. It was all fake. He wasn’t being genuine. If he were, how could he be involved with Lacey? Leila repeated these thoughts in her mind until she steeled herself once again.
Landon reached out, his hand gently caressing her face, as though she were something precious.
“Leila, are you still upset?”
Leila forced a smile, shaking her head.
“Not anymore.”
Landon didn’t look convinced.
“No, I don’t believe you. You wouldn’t act like this if you weren’t upset.”
Leila quickly offered an excuse, her voice softening.
“I’ve been worried about Elma’s health lately. I’m not really in the mood for romance. If you love me, you should understand.”
Her words seemed to ease Landon’s concern, just enough for him to smile and pull her closer.
“Leila, I knew you couldn’t stop loving me. So, tell me, what’s making you unhappy? Did I do something wrong?”
Leila couldn’t figure out why Landon was so insistent. Was he afraid she had found out something? If that was the case, she…
Leila was determined to keep the truth hidden. She shook her head.
“I told you, it’s nothing. Just my own issue.”
As she spoke, Leila poured another drink for Landon, her voice soft but persuasive.