Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
The door opened immediately, and there was Landon.
Leila couldn’t help but laugh when she saw Landon’s outfit. They were clearly on the same wavelength.
Landon leaned down and lifted Leila out of her wheelchair.
“What are you doing?” Leila gasped, giving him a playful glare.
“What if someone sees us?”
“No one will see us,” Landon reassured her, kissing her gently.
“I checked when I came in. No one was around. The show’s just starting. We, as the protagonists, have only just arrived. The audience hasn’t arrived yet.”
Reassured, Leila nodded, but her gaze was drawn to a glass of water on the side. Her eyes flickered as she looked at it.
“Is the water drugged?”
Landon nodded, picking up the glass but not drinking from it, his expression cold.
“I dread to think about what would have happened if Florrie had planned for you to be with someone else today,” he said.
“I don’t think I could have stayed calm.”
Leila took his hand reassuringly.
“I’m fine. See? I’m perfectly okay.”
If today’s meeting had been with someone other than Landon, Leila wouldn’t have come, even at the risk of exposure. She trusted Landon. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her.
This was a tacit understanding between them, and also their trust in each other. Though they had had their fair share of misunderstandings, after clearing things up, they trusted each other more than ever. That trust wouldn’t be easily broken again.
Moved, Landon pulled Leila into his arms and kissed her.
Leila kissed him back for a moment, but then she thought of something and quickly pushed Landon away.
Feeling her struggle, Landon didn’t force her but looked at her with his beautiful eyes, as if to ask, “Are you rejecting me?”
Leila, unsure what to say, playfully tapped his forehead.
“Enough,” she whispered.
“We still have a show to perform. If we get caught cuddling and kissing, everything will be ruined.”
Landon reluctantly released Leila, still desiring to stay near.
Just then, they heard familiar footsteps approaching. Judging by the sound, it seemed only one person was coming.
Leila guessed correctly. Florrie would only send Calvert alone.
Leila wondered what excuse Florrie had used to get Calvert to come. If Florrie had come with him, he would have been suspicious.
Leila exchanged a knowing glance with Landon.
Calvert seemed to be in high spirits. Ever since he was frightened by the strange occurrences that day, he’d been hesitant to get close to Leila. Still, he was itching to be near her. Every time he went back and faced Florrie, he couldn’t stop thinking about Leila’s beauty. If he remembered correctly, Leila’s legs should have some feeling now. He thought about the possibility of them getting intimate, and the thought excited him. Right now, Leila’s invitation thrilled him. He took it as a sign that she longed for him.
Calvert gazed at the small cabin before him, his mind racing with lustful thoughts, picturing himself making out with Leila.
He didn’t rush in but first tidied himself up. He felt that he was dressed handsomely today, and Leila would definitely be fascinated by him.
Just as he reached for the door, he heard a terrified scream from inside. It was Leila.
“Please! Leave me alone. We’re from different worlds now, and we were only close when we were kids.”
Hearing this, Calvert didn’t dare to push the door open. That strange feeling of fear crept over him again, sending shivers down his spine. But it was broad daylight. Surely, no ghost would dare to show itself in the middle of the day. Despite his attempts to reassure himself, he still couldn’t bring himself to open the door.
More sounds came from inside-things crashing, followed by Leila’s terrified, trembling cries, laced with desperation.
“Why are you doing this to me? I have someone I like now! Ever since I came to the White family estate, you’ve been haunting me! What do you want from me? Leave me alone! Go away! Or I’ll find someone to exorcise you!”
Calvert’s fear intensified with each passing second. He never imagined Leila had been putting on an act. After all, why would Leila bother with such an elaborate charade, especially one so disturbing?
Calvert’s first instinct was to flee, but the escalating commotion inside gave him pause. He crept to the window, peering cautiously inside.
The first thing that caught his eye was Leila, seemingly on the verge of collapse. In her agitated state, she had fallen from her wheelchair.
The floor was littered with shards of glass, likely a result of her struggle. Her legs, still not fully healed, left her stranded on the floor, helpless. Her legs had even been cut by the glass and were now bleeding.
Yet, Leila seemed oblivious to the pain, her terrified gaze fixated on a corner of the room.
Following her line of sight, Calvert spotted a tall man standing in the corner, facing the wall, his back to the room.
The man’s attire sent a shiver down Calvert’s spine. He recognized the clothes. Gracelyn’s grandson had worn them in his posthumous photo.
Calvert cursed inwardly. So, it really was Gracelyn’s grandson’s ghost, still fixated on Leila, even in death, now seemingly intent on dragging her down to hell with him.
Leila was clearly in shock, screaming for help.
Calvert, paralyzed by terror, couldn’t manage a single word. His body shook uncontrollably.
Just then, the “ghost” seemed to sense a presence and began to turn.
At that moment, a fleeting thought crossed Calvert’s mind. He wondered what a ghost might look like.
But just as the “ghost” began to turn its head, fear gripped Calvert. He dropped beneath the window, holding his breath, not daring to make a sound.
Calvert wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination. The sun was shining, yet a deep chill seeped into his bones, as if he had been cast into an icy abyss. His limbs felt heavy, his fingers numbing until he could barely feel them.
At that moment, Calvert swore he could feel a cold, unyielding gaze locked onto him. It fixed him with a cold and lifeless, terrifying stare, like staring into the eyes of a corpse.
Panic surged through Calvert. He didn’t dare lift his head. With clumsy, scrambling movements, he stumbled to his feet, half crawling, half running-an embarrassing sight as he fled without dignity.
Once Calvert had put enough distance between them, Landon finally averted his gaze. A quiet, mocking chuckle escaped his lips, but his eyes remained dark, filled with an unmistakable intent to kill. How could a cowardly, despicable man like Calvert even dream of possessing someone like Leila? The sheer audacity.
Landon chose to hold back, knowing it wasn’t the right time to make a move. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
Landon shifted his focus back to Leila, his attention drawn to the wounds on her legs. Blood still oozed from the cuts, and a sharp heartache pierced his chest.
His eyes reddened with emotion as he spoke gently, “Why do you have to go so far just for a convincing performance? Hurting yourself just to put on a show for them isn’t worth it.”
With Landon’s steady grip, Leila rose to her feet, leaning into his strength. She smiled at him.
“It’s nothing. Just a little scratch, that’s all. And at least now, Calvert won’t bother me again for a while.”
Landon wasn’t convinced. Had it been just harassment, Leila would have found a way to handle it. Something else must have forced Leila into this situation. Landon wanted to press her, to demand the truth, but when Leila winced, his resolve faltered. His heart softened, and he chose to let it go.
Leila knew exactly what was on Landon’s mind. But she had no intention of telling him about the conspiracy involving the spiritual advisor, Florrie, and Calvert-at least not yet.
Yet, Landon would undoubtedly be furious, and in a fit of anger, there was no telling what he might do. She had to tread carefully, especially this time.
Usually, servants and patrolling security would guard the area, but Florrie had deliberately sent them away to ensure Landon could meet with Leila undisturbed. Florrie had gone to great lengths to pair them together just to turn Calvert against Leila.
Leila wondered why Florrie had wasted so much effort on someone like Calvert. If Florrie directed her efforts elsewhere, she might achieve something worthwhile.
Despite these thoughts, Leila had no desire to interfere in anyone else’s business.