Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila stopped speaking, her voice catching as raw emotion surged through her. She wasn’t faking it. Her heartbreak and fear were all too real. Losing Brysen had already drained her of every last shred of emotional strength. The mere thought of Sophie’s close call sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn’t imagine how she would have pulled herself together if something really had happened to Sophie.
Leila’s gaze gradually hardened, her eyes blazing with hatred.
“That’s why we should stand together in this fight. Like you, I am a victim. We all deserve justice!”
Her gaze shifted, locking with one of the cameras as she spoke directly to it.
“I know you, the culprit, might be watching this livestream right now. And I want to make one thing clear. Even if the Nixon Group falls apart, even if I have to chase justice until my last breath, I will not rest until I make you pay. You tried to destroy what was closest to me. They are my Achilles’ heel. And for that, you will regret it.”
After delivering her statement, Leila turned and left, leaving behind a crowd that had once been loud and unruly but was now plunged into confusion.
Many of those who had gathered, fueled by incitement and anger, began to settle down as they registered the sorrow etched on Leila’s face. She, too, had lost someone dear to her. She couldn’t possibly be behind this. Leila was right. The priority wasn’t assigning blame prematurely but finding the real culprit behind the tragedy.
The media, meticulously planted in hopes of catching a sensational scoop, left disappointed, with nothing of substance to report. Leila’s words had been raw and heartfelt, striking a chord with everyone present. She was a victim too. Moreover, her approach to the apology and the idea of compensation was sincere, and she was working tirelessly to resolve the issue.
Quietly, the controversy aimed at the Nixon Group began to dissipate. Leila’s words spread quickly online, sparking intense speculation about who could be so cold-hearted.
“If Leila is not lying, then the person who should have visited that day was her daughter. That’s terrifying. Was her daughter the target?”
“I work for the Nixon Group, and I can vouch for Miss Nixon’s character. She has always treated employees with kindness and respect. Brysen, her earliest assistant, resigned after the accident, but Miss Nixon didn’t turn her back on Brysen. Instead, Miss Nixon ensured Brysen received treatment and even built a care facility specifically for Brysen. That place was never about making money-it was an act of compassion. Miss Nixon is just as much a victim here.”
“I remember Leila was once married to the president of the Kensington Group, right? And now, that president is with someone else. At their recent engagement party, Leila’s eldest daughter somehow fell into the water.”
Lacey stumbled upon this comment while scrolling on her phone. The words sent a jolt through her, and she dropped the device in shock.
Her unusual reaction caught Landon’s attention.
Landon had invited Lacey over today to ask if she had any involvement in this matter.
Lacey had mentally prepared herself before coming, determined to stay composed. At first, she answered Landon’s questions with relative calm.
However, upon seeing the video capturing Leila’s words, especially the last part, Lacey couldn’t suppress her anxiety. As some netizens started to suspect her, she became even more panicked.
Landon’s gaze narrowed, his expression shadowed with suspicion. He asked, “What’s wrong? You look unsettled. Is there something bothering you?”
Lacey pressed her palm into her side, trying to steady her nerves, and then feigned a pitiful expression.
“Why are they suspicious of me? I have no reason to cause such a scene. What could I possibly gain from stirring up all this trouble?”
“Mr. Kensington…” Her eyes darted nervously toward Landon.
“I won’t be implicated in this, will I? If someone is trying to frame me, how could I ever clear my name?”
Landon didn’t immediately answer. He remained silent, his eyes narrowing as he observed her closely. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, each soft thud echoing in the quiet room, reverberating deep into Lacey’s chest.
The driver didn’t dare say a word and only watched Landon nervously.
After what felt like an eternity, Landon finally spoke.
“If you didn’t do this and someone is framing you, I will make sure your name is cleared. But if you are lying…”
Landon’s words dragged out, his gaze turning cold and calculating.
“You know what the consequences would be, right?”
Lacey’s legs nearly gave way beneath her. She nodded quickly, her face paling.
“I understand, Mr. Kensington. I don’t have the guts or the means to achieve something like that.”
Landon didn’t respond. He simply waved his hand dismissively, signaling for Lacey to leave.
As Lacey hurried out of the room, Leo stepped in.
Leo glanced at Lacey, whose face was etched with unease, and couldn’t help but speak up.
“Mr. Kensington, do you honestly believe Lacey? Even if she’s not the prime suspect, her behavior does raise questions. The butler mentioned that on the day of the explosion, she seemed unusually anxious and distracted.”
Landon tilted his head, a contemplative expression crossing his features.
“She does seem suspicious, but I can’t see why she would want something like that. Do you honestly think she has the means to orchestrate such a devastating explosion?”
For a moment, Leo hesitated, words failing him. It was true-Lacey didn’t seem capable of pulling off an explosion. Still, her reactions were undeniably strange.
Landon continued, sliding the laptop across the desk to Leo.
“Moreover, take a look at this surveillance footage.”
The video, provided by the butler, captured the front entrance of the estate on the day of the explosion. It clearly showed Lacey leaving the house, her timing strikingly coincidental. Yet, in the footage, her demeanor was calm, almost cheerful.
Leo’s brows furrowed as he glanced back at Landon.
“What does this mean, Mr. Kensington?”
Landon met his gaze steadily.
“Think about it. Does Lacey strike you as someone who can stay so composed while carrying out something so sinister?”
Leo shook his head. Lacey often wore her emotions on her sleeve, an open book in most situations. This made her ill-suited for the position of Landon’s wife, in his eyes.
Landon leaned back, his voice thoughtful.
“Exactly. If she were guilty, why would she appear so unaffected when heading out? We might be overthinking this. Still, there are other possibilities we can’t ignore.”
A shadow passed over Landon’s expression.
“I don’t trust Lacey completely, but right now, our focus should be on others-especially Clayton and Sarah.”
Leo nodded, accepting the direction of Landon’s suspicions.
Meanwhile, Leila worked meticulously with the evidence at her disposal, piecing together the truth. All signs pointed to Sarah as the culprit.
The police soon reached the same conclusion. The evidence was irrefutable, and Sarah’s possession of incriminating items sealed her fate.
To everyone’s shock, Sarah confessed outright.
When Leila received word of this, anger surged through her. But once the initial storm passed, she grew suspicious. Something about the case felt far too simple.
Determined to uncover the truth, Leila arranged to meet Sarah in prison.
When they met, Sarah was a shadow of her former self, her proud demeanor reduced to a fragile shell. No one would have guessed that the once-glorious daughter of the Miller family would end up like this. Seeing Leila, Sarah gave a faint smile, her lips twisting into something unsettling.
“Are you here to mock me? Don’t bother. I don’t want to live anyway. At least, I managed to hurt you before my ultimate demise. That’s enough for me.”
Leila observed Sarah quietly, her expression unreadable.
Sarah’s eyes blazed as Leila remained silent. Her voice grew louder, frenzied, as she launched into a tirade. All of her resentment, her failures, and her pain were poured out onto Leila, whom she blamed for it all.
Finally, Leila spoke, her tone steady and calm.
“Sarah, you didn’t do this, did you?”
Sarah’s rant came to an abrupt halt, her gaze snapping to Leila.
“What nonsense are you talking about? Of course, I did it! Are you dumb, Leila? The evidence is overwhelming, and you’re still doubting it? I hate your guts! I wish you and your children were dead!”