Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“I’ll like it,” Leila cut in, taking the box and gently touching its surface.
“This is a thoughtful gift. I’m sure I’ll love it. You know, I don’t have any cousins, but having you around feels quite special.”
Although Leila had a cousin on her mother’s side, that relationship was strained due to the cousin’s problematic behavior.
Despite her generally aloof nature, Leila secretly yearned for close family ties. Her three children had begun to fill this void in her heart, but she couldn’t help but wish for a relative her age, knowing it would be a distinctly different relationship.
Caitlin was taken aback by Leila’s unexpected reaction. Her cheeks flushed as she was surprised and shy.
“Really? I’m glad you like it.”
Leila approached Caitlin and opened her arms.
After a brief hesitation, Caitlin moved forward and hugged Leila..
As they hugged, Leila softly patted Caitlin’s back.
“I know you’re a good person. Don’t be scared. If you ever face challenges or feel treated unfairly, remember, you can always come back here. This will always be your home.”
“This place is my home?” Caitlin whispered the phrase to herself. The words resonated deeply within her, bringing tears to her eyes.
They continued chatting, and Caitlin began to feel more at ease. Despite feeling a bond with this place, she was determined to leave. She was unwilling to depend on Leila for an extended period. If she did, she feared her thinking might become warped.
Still worried, Leila had Trent organize a few guards to accompany Caitlin. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Leila watched the car carrying Caitlin pull away. She sighed softly and then turned her gaze back inside.
Landon wrapped his arms around Leila from behind. She didn’t pull away but instead rested comfortably against him, feeling his warmth. Wrapped in his embrace, breathing in his comforting scent, a slight smile appeared on her face.
“You’ve had a long day. How about I give you a massage?” Landon suggested, his voice softer than usual. Around Leila, he became gentle and yielding, much like a puppy.
Leila turned around and gazed at Landon’s handsome face and affectionate eyes. Impulsively, she began to stroke his hair.
Landon even lowered his head to enable her touch. His compliance brought a smile to her face.
Pleased, Leila teased, “Alright. Your hands are usually busy signing million-dollar deals. Let’s see how well they can manage a massage.” Leila then stretched out on the bed, her body completely relaxed.
Landon extended his hand, gently placing it on Leila’s delicate, soft waist. The smoothness of her skin and the hints of her figure made his gaze darken with controlled desire. But he focused on giving her a serious massage.
Leila exhaled a surprised sigh.
“I thought you were just joking, but you actually know how to massage.”
Landon hummed softly, his breath brushing against her ear.
“I learned this just for you.”
Leila knew Landon wasn’t the type to sweet-talk. He was a man of his word.
When Leila remained silent, Landon added, “It’s nothing. I should be doing these things for you. Besides, picking this up was easy for me. You know that.”
Landon’s last sentence was tinged with pride and confidence, which Leila clearly noticed. She was unsure how to respond, but she couldn’t deny Landon’s aptitude for learning. Regardless of the skill, whether it came naturally to him or not, he could master it in no more than three days. Leila felt deeply moved.
“So, don’t I deserve a little reward for all of this?” Landon murmured, his voice a low rumble as he leaned in, practically invading Leila’s personal space. The icy detachment that usually clung to his eyes like a frost had melted away, replaced by longing.
Leila, feeling mischievous, tilted her head, propping her chin on her hand.
“And what form would this ‘reward’ take, hmm? You want me to buy you a mansion? A sprawling estate? Or maybe I should just hand you a multi-million-dollar deal, all wrapped up with a bow?”
A shadow of something akin to hurt flickered across Landon’s features.
“You know that’s not what I’m after. Is that really all you think I am? Some gold-digging guy who’s only in it for the cash?”
Leila was taken aback. It was rare to see Landon so openly wounded. The playful teasing evaporated instantly. She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
The effect was immediate. Like the sun breaking through storm clouds, Landon’s entire demeanor shifted. His smile transformed him. He became even more handsome, radiating a charm that momentarily stole Leila’s breath.
Leila was baffled by the sheer magnetism Landon possessed. After all these years, his face still held that same dangerous allure, a fatal attraction that could ensnare any woman.
A satisfied expression settled on Landon’s face. He nodded.
“I like this reward.”
A playful question escaped Leila’s lips.
“Are you that easily pleased? Is that all it takes?”
A spark ignited in Landon’s eyes, a predatory gleam. He leaned in and reached out, his fingers gently but firmly encircling Leila’s wrist, a subtle but undeniable assertion of control. She was effectively trapped, unable to pull away without a struggle.
Leila shot him a look, a theatrical glare meant to convey annoyance.
“You’re a real piece of work, you know that? Pushing your luck like this.”
His breath hitched, a slight panting sound escaping him as he gazed at Leila, his voice a low, husky challenge.
“Maybe I am, but you let me, don’t you? You like it.”
Leila found herself momentarily speechless. Damn it, he was right. If she’d truly wanted him to back off, she would have had him kicked out the door a long time ago.
As Landon’s hand started to wander up to her thigh, Leila’s eyes opened wide in surprise. She wanted to stop him, but Landon was too strong for her to get away. Leila softened her tone, pleading, “Can we make out another day? I’m so tired from Elma’s birthday party today. I need to rest.”
Landon saw right through the flimsy facade. He knew damn well it was just a convenient excuse, a polite way of saying “not tonight.” He wasn’t fooled. She’d often give him those puppy-dog eyes, trying to play on his sympathy.
But this time, Landon decided she wasn’t getting off that easy. He said, his voice hard, “It’s doable. I’m off on a business trip for a few days. You rest up and wait for me to get back.”
Landon’s last words were practically growled through clenched teeth, and Leila felt her legs turn to jelly.
Not really caring at this point, she kissed Landon, her face flushed, and coughed softly.
“Then you better promise to be gentler.”
Landon smirked, a sly, predatory grin spreading across his face.
Even with his promise to be gentle, Leila woke up the next morning feeling like she’d been run over by a truck. Every single movement screamed of exhaustion. Truth be told, she’d been like this every time. She couldn’t understand why, even after all this time, she still couldn’t handle the raw intensity of their sex.
Leila had plans to visit Caitlin, who’d just moved into her new home. But in her current state, she couldn’t even muster the strength to get out of bed. Drained from the night’s intense encounter, she could barely keep her eyes from closing. Leila decided sleep was her priority and told the staff not to bother her unless there was an emergency.
Leila drifted off to sleep, oblivious to the insistent buzzing of her silenced phone on the nightstand.
The phone vibrated persistently for several minutes before finally falling silent. By then, Leila was sound asleep, lost in the world of dreams. She had no idea that Caitlin was facing a dangerous situation.
The sight of the menacing figures violently pounding on her door sent shivers down Caitlin’s spine. Tears streamed down her face as she braced herself against the door, too terrified to even consider opening it. Frantically, she called everyone she could think of, praying the flimsy door would hold a little longer.
Her parents’ deaths had left her with a crushing inheritance-a mountain of debt. She had been diligently chipping away at it over the years, but with loan sharks involved, the principal seemed to grow exponentially, and the end was nowhere in sight. As the debt spiraled out of control, Caitlin found herself trapped, with no way out.
In desperation, she had turned to Leila for help. Perhaps Leila’s influence had provided a temporary shield, keeping those thugs at bay. But Caitlin’s relief was short-lived. The moment she left the safety of Leila’s home, they were back.
Panic clawed at Caitlin’s throat as she yelled at the door, “My cousin is Leila Nixon! She’s loaded and influential! Are you sure you want to mess with me?”
A sneer punctuated the voice from the other side of the door.
“Rich, huh? If she’s rolling in dough, why haven’t your debts been settled? Don’t play dumb with us. It’s obvious you two aren’t exactly best buddies. If she actually cared about you, she’d have cleared your debts and wouldn’t let you live in this shithole.”
A wave of regret washed over Caitlin. Leaving Leila’s protection suddenly seemed like a grave mistake. But the thought of remaining at Leila’s, dependent and indebted, was equally unappealing.
The doorframe groaned ominously under the relentless assault, and Caitlin’s sobs intensified. With trembling fingers, she dialed Leila’s number for the sixth time, but it went straight to voicemail again. Was Leila simply busy, or was she deliberately ignoring her calls?