Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Lacey stood resolute, her unwavering gaze prompting Minna to clamp her lips shut, ceasing to press the issue further.
Taking a few deep breaths, Lacey managed to quell the rising tide of irritation swelling within her. She resolved to bide her time, planning to settle scores only after the engagement party concluded.
With a facade of calm, Lacey mingled and conversed with the other guests, feigning interest. Despite her distaste for the pretentiousness that permeated the air, she knew the importance of blending in with this crowd. The atmosphere, superficially serene, belied the undercurrents of tension.
Suddenly, the ambiance shifted as the central screen flickered and changed.
A piano melody filled the room, its beautiful strains capturing the attention of all present. The tune was hauntingly beautiful, yet unfamiliar to most.
Landon, caught off guard, felt a chill dart through him as his eyes darkened with a mixture of surprise and wistful recognition. The melody stirred memories long dormant. It had been years since those notes last echoed in his ears. His mind raced, puzzled by its unexpected resurgence.
Soon, the melody’s allure was marred by a series of jarring, discordant notes, as if the pianist had lost their way amidst the keys.
The music ceased abruptly, replaced by the crisp, youthful timbre of a male voice.
“That’s not correct. You’re not playing it right. Here, let me show you how it’s done. It’s all right. You’ve only just begun to learn. You can’t master it immediately. Take your time.”
As the listeners tuned in more closely, they could discern that it was Landon speaking.
The screen, previously shrouded in darkness, flickered to life, revealing a scene bathed in the golden hues of a warm afternoon. The setting was a pristine, well-lit music room.
Seated within were two figures, a young man and woman, both unmistakably in their teenage years.
The young man was definitely Landon.
Unlike his current demeanor, which often came across as distant and reserved, the young Landon appeared calm and approachable. A soft, tender smile graced his handsome features as he glanced at the girl beside him.
The girl leaned in slightly, her curiosity piqued by the camera. Her gaze shifted toward it with a hint of wonder. It was none other than Leila.
At that time, Leila was unable to speak, communicating only through sign language. Despite this, her youthful charm was undeniable, reminiscent of a porcelain doll. Her large, clear eyes sparkled, evoking the image of a pure, unblemished fairy stepping through the veil of the mundane world.
As soon as they caught sight of the camera, the footage began to tremble, erupting into a burst of hearty laughter.
It was Roderick who was laughing, his mirth captured in a video he had taken while he was still among the living.
Next to Leila’s shy, blushing countenance, the young Landon stood unaffected, evidently used to Roderick’s playful antics.
The young Landon turned to Leila with a reassuring nod.
“Come on, let’s hear it again,” he urged, referring to the piano piece he had just been teaching her.
The young Leila furrowed her brow in concentration, attempting to summon the melody from memory as her fingers stumbled across the keys.
The result was halting, far from fluid. She offered Landon a timid smile, her cheeks tinged with pink.
The young Landon exhaled a gentle sigh, a mixture of frustration and fondness coloring his tone.
“Forget it, you’re not cut out for the piano. Just enjoy listening to me play from now on.”
With that, he took her place at the piano. As his hands glided over the keys, a melodious cascade of notes filled the room, weaving a spell of harmony and grace.
Though it was merely a video, the scene unfolded with the poignancy and depth of a cinematic masterpiece, painting a poignant tableau of friendship and lost moments.
Despite its unexpected timing and setting, the video played on undisturbed, a beautiful interlude in the midst of reality.
Lacey’s nails dug sharply into her palm, the sharp pain snapping her back to the present. In a burst of fury, she yelled, “What is that nonsense you’re watching? Shut it off this instant!”
Her voice cut through the air, sharp and sudden, drawing all eyes back to her. A few onlookers savored her discomfort with smirks and whispers.
Landon’s gaze lingered on the now blank screen, a flicker of emotion passing through his dark eyes. He turned away, his eyes dropping slightly as he sought to conceal the wave of nostalgia that threatened to overwhelm him. That golden era was irrevocably gone. He had lost both Roderick and Leila. Now, he found himself alone again. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to accept this harsh reality. All he desired was to hold onto some semblance of warmth. What had he done to deserve this?
As these thoughts tormented him, Landon’s frustration grew. Without a word, he grabbed his drink and gulped it down in one swift motion.
Lacey trembled, consumed by rage. How could she not be seething? At her engagement celebration, a video of Landon and Leila suddenly played. The impact was immediate, a visceral blow to Lacey. She felt utterly humiliated and embarrassed.
Minna reached out, her hand gently patting Lacey’s back, her voice soft but firm.
“Mrs. Kensington, with all these eyes on you, you simply can’t afford to lose your poise.”
Through clenched teeth, Lacey responded, her frustration palpable.
“How is one supposed to bear such blatant taunting?”
Minna’s voice remained soothing as she urged a calmer approach.
“Instead of getting all worked up, let’s figure out who caused this mess.”
As Lacey’s expression darkened, shifting from outrage to a calculating coldness, she mused aloud, “This is a cherished moment from Leila and Landon’s shared past. Clearly, it’s the work of someone intimately familiar with their history. Do we really need to speculate? It’s undoubtedly that despicable Leila, stirring trouble deliberately.” Lacey snorted. Leila had always claimed she was disinterested in winning Landon’s heart. Leila had not even returned to the country, feigning indifference. Yet, here Leila was, orchestrating mischief from the shadows.
A scornful sneer curled within Lacey.
Meanwhile, Minna, confused, chimed in, “But she’s not even here today.”
Lacey gave Minna a cold look, her voice filled with dissatisfaction.
“Do you think I’m unaware of that? Leila didn’t show up, but her children did. She must have urged them on. Otherwise, how do you explain their actions? I’ve made no enemies here. Even if someone hates me, the engagement party is Landon’s event. Who would dare create chaos at his event?”
Minna pondered for a moment and then saw the possibility of it being truly Leila’s doing. She couldn’t resist saying, “Leila is crossing the line. Mrs. Kensington, should I inform Mr. Kensington for you?”
Lacey glanced at Landon. He appeared totally undisturbed by the video. It looked like he was completely detached from the situation. She laughed sarcastically.
“Why bother telling him? You’ve seen how attentively he watched the video.”
Lacey had long understood Landon’s feelings for Leila. She was no longer particularly upset. She took a deep breath and declared, “I’ll keep this in mind. I’ll get my revenge, just not immediately.”
In the crowd, Calvin and Sophie also watched the video. They were both stunned. Though they had never seen it before, they instantly recognized the people in it as Leila and Landon.
Sophie quietly turned to Calvin and whispered, “Calvin, did you put the video on?” Calvin had some skills in hacking, so it wasn’t out of the question.
However, Calvin quickly shook his head.
“Sophie, I wouldn’t do anything you’re against. Besides, we’ve never seen this video before.” Sophie considered his response logical. But, no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t deduce who else might be responsible. She averted her eyes and said calmly, “Let it go. Whoever did it, it’s none of our business. But now, it seems others are suspecting us. If we leave now, it’ll only make us look guiltier.”
Originally, Sophie had intended to leave the event with Calvin. The unexpected airing of the video caught her off guard.
Calvin paused to think but kept his thoughts to himself. He was usually indifferent to what others thought. However, with the suspicion now falling on them, it seemed likely that Leila was suspected too.
Calvin was resolute about protecting Leila from any blame or rumors. Calvin and Sophie discussed in low voices for a moment. They maintained their calmness and grace as they sat without bringing up the idea of leaving again.
True to their expectations, the doubtful looks from others only rested on Sophie and Calvin for a short while before they moved on. If Calvin and Sophie had really been responsible, how could they sit so calmly? It wasn’t a small issue. Even grown-ups would struggle to mask their feelings so effectively, much less two young ones. Plus, Landon was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Indeed, Landon summoned several bodyguards and the butler, murmuring instructions to them.
From afar, Landon’s words were inaudible. However, some continued to firmly believe that Sophie and Calvin were the culprits, anticipating a dramatic show.
But as time passed, nothing happened. The video event started to seem like a mere illusion.
Later, as the party moved to the garden, guests who were interested could stroll around and chat with friends over drinks. Those uninterested could leave early.
Only a few guests chose to leave. The majority stayed, eager to see what would happen.
Lacey found herself in a bind as the crowd exceeded her prior arrangement. She grew concerned when Minna informed her of the situation. If not managed properly, the event could give rise to widespread rumors.
Lacey had to rush off with the servants to sort out the situation.