Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila blinked, taken aback by the revelation. But strangely, she didn’t feel much-no sorrow, no delight. Just a quiet detachment. After all, there had never been any real emotional ties between them.
With a soft sigh, Leila glanced at Caitlin before nodding.
“I’ll arrange a place for you to stay. But don’t expect me to handle everything for you.”
Caitlin’s face lit up with joy, her relief palpable as she nodded enthusiastically.
“That is more than enough. Thank you, Leila! Thank you so much!”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Caitlin nearly bowed, but Leila waved her off with a casual motion.
Understanding the cue, Caitlin quickly got into the car without hesitation. Landon, noticing the unexpected addition to their group, frowned slightly.
“Leila, are you sure about this?”
Leila’s response was steady and unwavering.
“I don’t have many family members left in this world. And even though there were conflicts between my family and my uncle’s when we were younger, those issues had nothing to do with us-the children. She was only a child back then. None of it had anything to do with her.”
Landon studied Leila for a moment before giving a small nod. Then, without hesitation, he reached for her hand, squeezing gently.
“No matter what you decide, I’ll always stand by you.” A soft smile touched Leila’s lips.
From the backseat, Caitlin, now buckled in, watched them with admiration before letting out a wistful sigh.
“You and Landon have such a beautiful relationship, Leila. I can’t help but be envious! But then again, it makes perfect sense. You’re extraordinary-you deserve nothing less than an amazing man by your side.”
Leila couldn’t help but chuckle. She wasn’t entirely sure of Caitlin’s true intentions, but it was hard to be unkind to someone who spoke with such sincerity. And Caitlin’s words, sweet as honey, were undeniably flattering.
Before long, they pulled up to Leila’s home.
Caitlin’s eyes widened in awe at the sheer magnificence of the estate. It was a level of luxury she had never even dreamed of. Yet, she remained composed, trailing quietly behind Leila without asking a single unnecessary question. Without missing a beat, Leila called for the children to come out and meet Caitlin.
Caitlin was warm and engaging with the children, her friendliness making the introductions effortless.
Later, when Leila finally had a quiet moment to herself, Caitlin approached her, her expression cautious yet hopeful.
“Leila, which room are you planning to put me in? It doesn’t have to be anything special. Just something simple-I don’t want to take up too much space. Besides, I’ll be paying rent, so I need to make sure it’s within my budget.”
Leila studied Caitlin for a moment before responding, her voice calm but firm.
“You don’t need to pay anything. Just stay here and make yourself comfortable-we’re family. If you want to start looking for a job in a few days, I can help with that too.”
Caitlin’s eyes welled with emotion, and she quickly shook her head.
“No, Leila, I can’t let you do that. Letting me stay here is already more than enough. I can’t ask you to go out of your way to find me a job too. It wouldn’t be right. I’ll handle it myself.”
The more Leila observed Caitlin, the more she found herself liking her. She felt slightly uneasy for having doubted Caitlin’s sincerity earlier. But then again, caution was only natural. It had been years since they last saw each other, and Caitlin’s sudden reappearance and need for shelter was bound to raise some questions.
Leila had worked tirelessly to create the peace she now enjoyed. She wasn’t about to let anything disturb it.
And so, Caitlin temporarily stayed at Leila’s home. True to her word, Caitlin remained considerate, spending most of her time outside searching for work rather than relying on Leila’s status. Caitlin even formed an unexpectedly strong bond with the three children. Elma, being the youngest and most energetic, grew particularly close to Caitlin, drawn to her warmth and easygoing nature.
When Elma remembered that her birthday was only two days away, she immediately ran to Caitlin, her eyes bright with excitement.
“Caitlin, you have to come to my birthday party!”
Caitlin smiled but hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face.
“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea… It might not be my place to attend.”
Elma tilted her head, her expression both innocent and firm.
“Why would it be a problem? Mom says you’re family, and family should celebrate together! Besides, it’s just a small gathering. My friends and my mom’s friends-they’re all great people. You’ll fit right in.”
Caitlin barely heard the rest. Her lips parted slightly as she echoed the word under her breath.
“Family?”
But Elma, too excited to notice, took Caitlin’s reaction as a yes and raced off to tell Leila.
When Leila heard, she not only agreed but also instructed Trent to arrange a makeup team, ensuring Caitlin had everything she needed to look her best. Caitlin had been nothing but well-behaved since arriving, and as time passed, Leila found herself looking at Caitlin differently. The subtle resemblance between their features made Leila gradually warm up to her.
With most of her maternal family now living abroad, Leila had never given much thought to reconnecting with extended relatives. But perhaps, for her children, maintaining those connections was something worth preserving.
Not everyone shared that view, though. Trent, ever cautious, finally spoke up.
“Miss Nixon, I don’t mean to sound paranoid, but you should be careful with Caitlin. You remember Clayton’s betrayal, right?”
At the mention of that name, Leila’s expression hardened. Clayton had once been someone she considered unshakable in her life-a person who had risked everything for her. And yet, despite everything, she had learned the hard way that trust could be misplaced. Because of his obsession, Clayton had done many things in secret-things that ultimately betrayed her trust.
Leila replied slowly, “You’re right, Trent. But don’t worry. I won’t let my guard down.”
Unbeknownst to them, Caitlin, having come to see Leila, had overheard their conversation from the doorway. Her hand, which had been raised to knock, lowered to her side. Her fingers curled slightly, and her head bowed, thoughts swirling in a confused haze. Why? Why was Leila still wary of her? Caitlin had been nothing but obedient, showing her sincerity. Yet, Leila remained cautious.
But Caitlin forced herself to suppress the storm of emotions rising within her. She steadied her breathing and smoothed out her expression until there was no trace of what she had just overheard. Then, with her usual liveliness, she knocked.
“Leila! Leila!” Her voice rang out, as cheerful as ever.
Inside, Leila and Trent exchanged a glance. Even if Caitlin had overheard, it didn’t matter.
Leila had been through too much to fully trust anyone outside of her children and Landon. That was simply the way things were now.
Trent moved first, opening the door to let Caitlin in.
Leila greeted Caitlin with the same warm smile she always wore.
“What’s the rush? Do you need something?”
Caitlin wasted no time getting to the point.
“I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be staying here much longer. I found a job, and I’m going to start looking for a place of my own. I don’t want to be a burden to you any longer.”
Leila blinked, caught off guard by the sudden announcement. Her eyebrows lifted slightly before she responded, her tone as composed as ever.
“There’s no need to feel that way. Stay as long as you like-we’re family, after all.”
Caitlin stared at Leila, momentarily thrown. That gentle smile, that warmth-it was nothing like the Leila she had just overheard. A strange pang struck deep in her chest, twisting into something unspoken. The emotions she had been suppressing only grew stronger.
Sadness and anger churned inside Caitlin, a storm she struggled to contain. The warmth Leila showed her now felt hollow, like a well-rehearsed performance rather than genuine kindness.
Still, Caitlin forced a smile.
“Thank you, Leila, but I think it’s best if I find a place of my own. It’ll be more convenient that way.”
Seeing Caitlin’s determination, Leila didn’t press the matter.
“Just remember where this house is. If you ever need anything, you’re always welcome here.” Caitlin gave a small nod and turned toward the door. But just as she reached it, she hesitated. A moment later, she looked back.
“Leila, thank you.”
Leila blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
“For what?”