Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila seemed to be watching the ceremony, but her attention was discreetly focused on Florrie, who was nearby.
Florrie looked calm, but her tightly gripped hands revealed her anxiety.
Most notably, Calvert had also shown up at the scene, standing close to Florrie.
Though it seemed unusual for a doctor to be there, everyone was aware of Florrie and Calvert’s relationship, so his presence raised no suspicions.
The spiritual advisor kept up her mystical performance and then turned to Gracelyn with a face full of pleasant surprise.
“Mrs. White, I sense your grandson’s spirit. I’ve called him forth.”
Upon hearing this, Gracelyn’s eyes sparkled with a mix of joy and disbelief.
“Is he truly here? Can he hear me?”
The spiritual advisor affirmed with a nod, her eyes shut in an exaggerated display of focus.
“The living and the dead tread separate paths. I can relay your words to him and his to you, but direct communication is not possible. I hope you understand.”
Gracelyn nodded eagerly.
“I understand, I do.”
For Gracelyn, finding comfort in her heart was all that mattered. She didn’t want to fantasize about anything else.
The spiritual advisor continued her performance, speaking muddled words to Gracelyn.
But Leila understood the spiritual advisor was mimicking the voice of Gracelyn’s grandson.
The spiritual advisor even brought up childhood memories between Leila and Gracelyn’s grandson, almost fooling Leila herself.
However, Leila was aware that Florrie had bribed the spiritual advisor, and that the advisor would later suggest to Gracelyn that her grandson had been reborn into Florrie and Calvert’s child.
Having worked for Gracelyn for years, Florrie could have easily gathered such personal information. It was enough to convince Gracelyn.
Indeed, Gracelyn was moved, shedding tears of deep emotion. After a period of weeping, Gracelyn said, “Please tell him to look after himself and that I will avenge him.”
When Gracelyn mentioned revenge, her face hardened, and her eyes turned cold with anger and bitterness. It was a stark contrast to her earlier loving demeanor.
Leila thought Gracelyn had definitely lost her mind.
Leila knew what actually happened that year. It had nothing to do with Landon. What happened was merely a result of Gracelyn’s grandson’s extreme actions. Landon hadn’t been ruthless. In this world, wasn’t it expected to face consequences for one’s misdeeds?
Although these thoughts crossed her mind, Leila remained silent and watched with a detached gaze..
The spiritual advisor and Gracelyn continued their conversation for a while.
Gracelyn seemed to place even greater trust in the spiritual advisor. Taking her chance, the spiritual advisor said, “Mrs. White, your yearning for your grandson touches my heart. I have children and grandchildren myself, so I can deeply empathize with your pain. If I lost my children, especially if they were pushed to death, I would be devastated. You might not be aware, but those who take their own lives are not welcomed by the ruler of the heavens and are condemned to roam as wandering spirits. However, due to your virtuous efforts over the years, your grandson has not endured much suffering.”
Hearing this, Gracelyn became anxious and asked with disbelief, “If he is not accepted by the ruler of heaven, can he still reincarnate?” As Gracelyn spoke, a profound sadness overtook her, and she started to weep.
“What will become of my poor grandson? He was unjustly taken from us, and now he might not be reincarnated. Please, tell me there is a solution. Don’t worry about the cost. I can pay whatever is necessary.”
The spiritual advisor, feigning sympathy, wiped away her own tears and sighed.
“The rules of heaven cannot be bypassed. It’s not about money.”
Leila inwardly scoffed. It was a familiar tactic. Under normal circumstances, Gracelyn might have seen through the trick, but her emotions were deeply involved now. All she could focus on was what to do if her grandson, who had died by suicide, could not be reincarnated. She clung to every word the spiritual advisor said as absolute truth.
Gracelyn was on the verge of kneeling. Her voice was thick with desperation as she said, “Please find a way! If needed, I’ll sacrifice years of my own life. I can give anything. I just want my grandson to have a peaceful afterlife.”
Watching Gracelyn’s humble plea, Leila momentarily felt a wave of sympathy for her. But the feeling was fleeting.
Instead of pitying Gracelyn, Leila realized it might be better to reserve that sympathy for herself. She might never leave this place, potentially trapped here forever. Besides, there were countless others far less fortunate than Gracelyn and her grandson. Gracelyn’s grandson had only lost in a business endeavor. He still had wealth and opportunities for recovery. Yet, he had chosen death rather than face a setback, inflicting profound grief on his family and destroying their lives. She felt there was little to pity in his choice.
Gracelyn implored the spiritual advisor persistently. As the spiritual advisor remained unmoved, Gracelyn’s frustration boiled over into anger. She gestured for the bodyguards to grab the spiritual advisor, making her intentions clear.
“You know how much my grandson means to me. I can’t just watch him suffer. If you won’t help, I’ll make sure you regret it! I didn’t mean to harm you. As you said, you have children and grandchildren. Surely, you can empathize with my situation.”
As the spiritual advisor continued to appear unfazed, Leila sensed the situation escalating toward a dramatic peak.
Just as the bodyguards moved to whisk the spiritual advisor away, she let out a deep sigh.
“Very well, I can help you, but the choice is yours. I won’t force you, nor will I accept your money. If it’s within my power, I wish for your grandson not to endure any suffering.”
Upon hearing the spiritual advisor’s words, hope flickered in Gracelyn’s eyes.
Gracelyn swiftly gestured for the bodyguard to back off.
The spiritual advisor, finally released from the bodyguard’s grasp, regained her composure. She glanced at Gracelyn, a strange mix of emotions playing on her face.
“I’ve come up with a plan that’s more likely to work. But you might not be willing to go along with it.”
Gracelyn was on her feet in an instant.
“How could I be unwilling?” she exclaimed.
“I’d do anything to ensure my grandson’s happiness and rebirth.”
The spiritual advisor leaned in and whispered something in Gracelyn’s ear.
Too far away to hear the whispered words, everyone was left guessing. Leila’s curiosity was piqued, but not enough to risk getting caught eavesdropping. Some secrets, she knew, were best left buried.
Leila, however, was already plotting how to expose the link between Florrie and the spiritual advisor without drawing attention to herself. The safest course of action would be to stay out of it. But this was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Leila fully expected Gracelyn to fly into a rage when she heard the spiritual advisor’s plan.
To Leila’s surprise, however, Gracelyn remained remarkably calm, though a flicker of suspicion crossed her face as she looked at the spiritual advisor.
“Are you certain this will work?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” the spiritual advisor replied with unwavering confidence.
“I’m not in this for the money. This doesn’t benefit me at all. Like I said, it all depends on you. If you’re not comfortable with it, you can always say no.”
Gracelyn let out a small sigh, her thoughts hidden behind a mask of contemplation. She seemed to be weighing the pros and cons, considering whether or not to give her consent.
Leila was stunned. Could Gracelyn really be so open-minded, so easily swayed? To raise a child who wasn’t even related to the White family and believe the child was her grandson reincarnated? It was absurd. Florrie and Calvert’s scheme was so obvious. Leila doubted Gracelyn hadn’t seen through their charade.
Yet, Gracelyn showed no anger, only a strange, complicated look in Calvert’s direction.
This only fueled Leila’s curiosity about the spiritual advisor’s whispered words. What kind of magic had she used to convince Gracelyn?
Just then, Gracelyn cleared her throat and called out, “Florrie, come over here. We need to talk.”
Leila noticed a flicker of triumph flash across Florrie’s face as Gracelyn summoned her over.
But Florrie quickly masked her excitement and hurried over to Gracelyn.
“Mrs. White, what can I do for you?” Florrie asked.
“Just tell me what you need, and I’ll take care of it. No need for any discussion.”
Observing Florrie’s compliant behavior, Gracelyn nodded approvingly. Leila, meanwhile, was formulating a plan in her mind. She intended to subtly suggest that Florrie was in cahoots with the spiritual advisor after Gracelyn spoke with Florrie.