Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“I guess I won’t be able to wear skirts anymore.”
Without a word, Landon knelt before her. His fingers traced the scar gently, as if memorizing the pain she had endured. Then, slowly, reverently, he pressed a soft kiss against it.
Leila’s breath hitched. A wave of emotion-raw, unguarded, overwhelming-rushed through her.
“Don’t…” Leila whispered, heat creeping up her neck as she glanced around nervously.
“Someone might see.”
But Landon remained still, his gaze locked onto hers-calm, unwavering.
“Let them,” he murmured, his voice steady.
“That doesn’t matter to me. What matters is you.” His thumb brushed lightly over her wrist, grounding her in the moment.
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“I just don’t want you to feel sad anymore,” he continued, the depth in his voice wrapping around her like a quiet promise.
“Leila, you are, and always will be, the most beautiful.”
She opened her mouth, but no words came. Instead, her fingers reached out instinctively, tracing the contours of his face.
“I know,” she finally murmured, her touch lingering.
“But don’t worry about me. This won’t break me.”
Landon closed his eyes for a brief moment, pressing his face against her palm like a weary traveler finding solace. It was rare-this side of him. Stripped of his usual control, he seemed almost devoted.
The realization sent something fluttering deep inside Leila, an emotion she couldn’t quite name. Then, the spell broke.
“Mom, are you okay?” Elma’s voice rang through the room, full of urgency. Leila jerked away, flustered, her heart hammering as she tried to push Landon aside.
But Landon? Unbothered. Effortlessly composed.
Sophie and Calvin exchanged a glance but said nothing, deliberately turning their attention elsewhere. Their once rigid stance against Landon had softened after everything that had happened.
Elma, on the other hand, had no such restraint. Her wide, curious eyes flickered between Leila and Landon.
“What were you doing just now? Why the crouching in front of Mom?” She tilted her head and then gasped.
“Oh! Was it a special moment? I want to crouch too!”
Before anyone could react, Elma bent her knees, ready to drop down beside them.
Leila barely stifled a laugh as she reached for Elma, pulling her upright before she could mimic the scene.
“It’s nothing like that,” Leila said, amusement twinkling in her eyes.
“It’s just something between adults.”
Elma pouted, her small arms crossing over her chest.
“But Mom, you always say there shouldn’t be secrets in our family. Now you and Dad have one, and you won’t tell us?”
At the word “Dad,” Landon’s expression shifted. His face brightened, eyes crinkling with a rare, radiant smile.
Meanwhile, Leila felt heat rush to her cheeks.
Landon, ever the opportunist, swept Elma into his arms, smoothly pulling focus away from Leila’s flustered state.
“It’s not that we don’t want to tell you,” he said, his voice full of playful warmth.
“It’s just that some things can’t be explained right now.”
Elma finally gave a pleased nod. However, she frowned as she absorbed Landon’s words.
“I wish I could become an adult in just one night.” Her cute demeanor made everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Just then, Leila waved at Sophie and Calvin.
They approached promptly, both displaying polite and affectionate natures. Leila truly adored them, and as they matured, she found it crucial to include them in certain decisions.
Leila looked at the two children nervously and cleared her throat.
“Sophie, Calvin, how would you feel if I decided to get back together with Landon?”
Landon, who had just set Elma down, paused in shock at her words. Though he kept his face composed, his eyes betrayed his surprise and a flicker of anticipation.
Landon understood that broaching the topic of his reconciliation with Leila to the children was inevitable, but he had planned to take things slowly, especially since he needed to gradually rebuild his relationship with them. He was taken aback by Leila’s forthright approach and the apparently premature timing. Landon looked at Sophie and Calvin nervously, but the children said nothing. His eyes dimmed slightly, but he showed no anger. He simply smiled and said, “It’s okay. We can discuss this another time. The most important thing right now is your well-being. I’ll go check with the doctor about what we need to focus on for your recovery.”
Leila, however, held Landon’s hand firmly, preventing him from leaving.
“Don’t leave.” Her gaze locked on him resolutely.
“We need to address this someday anyway. It’s a situation we must confront, right?”
Surprisingly, Elma held onto Landon, looking up at him.
“Dad, even though you’ve made some mistakes before, Calvin and Sophie won’t always hate you.” Landon recognized these as comforting words. He responded with a wry smile and remained motionless.
After some time, Calvin broke the silence. He faced Leila with resolve.
“Mom, even though I still don’t like him, I believe that your happiness is what truly matters.”
Sophie nodded in agreement and added with a hint of threat, “If he ever hurts you again, we won’t forgive him.”
To Landon, these warnings sounded like the harmless growls of young cubs, but he took them seriously and assured them, “Don’t worry. I won’t disappoint you.”
Leila beamed and embraced Sophie and Calvin warmly.
“Now, our family can indeed be together.”
Leila’s injuries were minor, and after receiving treatment at the hospital, she was discharged.
Once everything was resolved, Leila visited Gracelyn, who was now incarcerated.
Gracelyn looked as though she had aged years overnight. Her eyes were lifeless. As the police escorted her out, she kept muttering, “I only wanted to see my grandson again. What’s so wrong about that? They’re the ones at fault, not me. Why must I suffer all the consequences?”
Leila looked at Gracelyn with a mix of emotions and couldn’t help but ask, “Was it really worth it? Ruining your family just because of your obsession?” Those who had done wrong must bear the repercussions. Gracelyn’s grandson was far from decent and had suffered the consequences of his own actions. Still, Gracelyn couldn’t move on from his demise, even after all these years.
Hearing Leila’s voice, Gracelyn raised her head and fixed Leila with a fierce glare.
“You ungrateful child, what do you know? My grandson treated you well when you were little, and now you betray him by marrying the man responsible for his death and even help your husband conspire against me!”
Leila was mildly amused.
“Conspire against you? Did I conspire against you, or did I just try to get away and survive? You used to be gentle and kind, but see what you’ve turned into. Gracelyn, I had wanted to care for you, but you turned against me, even wanting to push me to death.”
Gracelyn shook her head in denial.
“No, you’re spouting nonsense. I might have disapproved of your marriage to Landon, but I never wished to kill you. I just wanted you close to me. Seeing you brought back the days you spent with my grandson as children. It felt as though he was still here.”
Seeing the strange smile on Gracelyn’s lips, Leila realized Gracelyn was beyond saving.