Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“Why, did you come looking for me last night? Lately, I’ve had trouble sleeping, so I used the pills you gave me.”
They worked pretty well.
Leila wasn’t lying because Calvert had indeed given her those pills. Calvert knew the effects of those pills well, which was why he had dared sneak into Leila’s room last night.
Seeing no signs of deception in Leila’s expression, and recalling the previous night’s events, Calvert couldn’t suppress a shiver. His voice trembled with unease.
“Then the person last night wasn’t you.”
Leila frowned.
“What do you mean by that? You were in my room last night?”
Calvert nodded, his face pale as he admitted it.
Leila’s fingers curled slightly over the armrest of her wheelchair, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. She silently cursed Calvert but outwardly wore a shy demeanor.
“Why did you come to my room so late at night? And why weren’t you there when I woke up?” Though Leila’s tone was teasing, her gaze was ice-cold.
But Calvert was too shaken to notice. His mind was stuck on the events of last night. Flirting with Leila was the last thing on his mind now. His hands trembled slightly.
“I visited your room last night and saw something strange and terrifying. Haven’t you noticed anything strange?”
Leila instantly deduced the situation. Landon had likely taught Calvert a lesson. No wonder Calvert hadn’t gotten to her last night.
Suppressing a laugh, Leila thought momentarily before putting on a fearful expression.
“Why are you bringing this up? I don’t want to talk about it. If you’re not feeling well, go rest. Just don’t ask me about it.”
That only made Calvert more desperate. He lunged forward, gripping the armrest of Leila’s wheelchair to stop her from leaving.
“You know something, don’t you? Tell me the truth.”
Leila shook her head quickly.
“I know nothing. Please don’t ask me because I can’t say.”
Calvert’s face darkened. His fear was evident now, his hands almost trembling.
“Just tell me what you saw. I couldn’t sleep all night. It feels like I’ve been cursed.”
Despite being a doctor, Calvert was shaken to the core after being terrified by Landon.
Leila almost laughed. She studied Calvert’s face for a long moment and then sighed as if making a reluctant decision. She took a deep breath and said, “Fine, I’ll tell you. But you can’t tell anyone else, or that man will be unhappy.”
Though Leila didn’t specify the identity of “that man,” Calvert immediately put the pieces together and linked the odd sensation from last night with the spirit of Gracelyn’s grandson.
Calvert suddenly began to tremble even more violently, but he managed to maintain his grip, giving Leila a look that urged her to continue.
Leila, sensing his unease, began to craft a story.
“Truth be told, ever since I moved in here, I’ve felt something was amiss. That’s why I wanted to delve deeper into it. Otherwise, why would I be restless at night? Every night, as I try to sleep, I sense something watching me, desiring my company. It hasn’t harmed me, but it’s still frightening.”
Under normal circumstances, Calvert would have dismissed Leila’s words as a figment of her imagination. However, considering the events of the previous night, he was convinced she was telling the truth.
Suddenly, Leila grabbed Calvert’s hand, startling him. With a mix of fake fear and sadness in her eyes, Leila pleaded, “It looks like we both sense it. Could you help me? Maybe call that spiritual advisor to take a look, or perhaps you could stay with me every night. That might keep whatever it is at bay.”
Calvert quickly shook his head and withdrew his hand from Leila’s hold.
However, the look of apparent disappointment in Leila’s eyes prompted him to offer some words of comfort.
“Leila, it’s not that I don’t want to help. It’s just that I really can’t. What will you do if I fall apart because of this? Who will you turn to in the future? But don’t worry, I’ll figure something out. I’ll find a solution right now.” With that, he left in haste, not once glancing back.
Leila watched Calvert’s panicked steps with a mocking smile on her face.
Then, an eerie sensation washed over her, as if someone was watching her. She scanned the area where she felt the gaze, but nothing was there. Though she thought it might just be her imagination, the sensation was too intense to dismiss.
Meanwhile, Clayton averted his eyes, too cautious to keep looking, fearing he might be spotted.
His assistant, bubbling with excitement, exclaimed, “Miss Nixon is indeed here! But it looks like she’s in a bad state. Why is she in a wheelchair? Could her legs be injured? Mr. Morgan, if we manage to save her, she’ll surely be grateful, and who knows, she might even develop feelings for you.”
Clayton chuckled at the idea.
“She’s not going to fall for me just because of this.”
Confused, his assistant asked, “If she won’t fall for you, then why bother saving her?”
Clayton shot the assistant an annoyed glance.
“You don’t get it. Even if she doesn’t fall in love with me, she’ll remember what I did. If there comes a time when I’m opposed to her and Landon, she won’t be completely against me. I just need her to soften a bit.”
The assistant felt a mix of indignation and sympathy for Clayton.
“You’ve been nothing but good to Miss Nixon. Yet, she is so ungrateful. She isn’t worth your efforts.”
Clayton stopped in his tracks. His gaze hardened as he turned to his assistant and said coldly, “Haven’t I made it clear? You’re not to judge her in my presence.”
His assistant fell silent, taken aback by Clayton’s stern reprimand.
Though Clayton said nothing more, his thoughts lingered on Leila’s situation. Her body was paralyzed, but her demeanor showed no signs of psychological distress. It appeared that her confinement to the wheelchair was the result of deliberate human actions. The White family was more cruel than he had initially thought.
This made Clayton boil with anger. He had always wanted to imprison Leila, but someone had beaten him to it. He felt like a child who had unfairly had their favorite toy taken away.
Clayton was already devising a plan. Should he manage to rescue Leila, he would show no mercy toward the White family.
As Clayton was deep in these thoughts, a servant approached to inform him, “Mrs. White is in the next room.”
Regaining his composure, Clayton knocked on the door.
An elderly voice called from inside, “Come in.”
As Clayton opened the door, his eyes were immediately drawn to a portrait of the deceased adorning the wall. His eyes narrowed slightly. It looked like the information he had gathered over the past few days was true.
Gracelyn had a grandson who had been against Landon and committed numerous heinous acts.
Unexpectedly, after being retaliated against by Landon, Gracelyn’s grandson, overwhelmed, had taken his own life before even being incarcerated.
From that moment, the White family had openly declared an unending vendetta against Landon and the Kensington family. But realistically, how could the Whites ever hope to rival the Kensington? After their bold proclamation, the White family had sought a place to hide.
Clayton figured the Whites were using Leila as leverage to force Landon to make a move.
After a period of mourning her grandson, Gracelyn faced Clayton with a detached expression.
“What brings you here, Mr. Morgan?” Clayton had come openly this time, using his real identity.
Clearly, Gracelyn bore resentment toward wealthy families since she viewed them as no different from Landon in the past.
Clayton offered a gentle, fake smile.
“Don’t fret, Mrs. White. I’m not here with bad intentions. I’d like to discuss a potential partnership.”
“Partnership?” Gracelyn’s voice tinged with anger at the word.
“Now, when I am old and the last of my family, with my wealth dwindled, you speak of partnership? Are you here to mock me?”