Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Linsey yanked out her gold membership card and flung it at the manager. “I brought my friend here for a spa day. Where’s your best natural hot spring massage pool? Book it for us, now!”
“I’d like that one too,” Sarah interjected suddenly.
“Um, miss…” The manager, not recognizing Sarah and seeing her conflict with the valued guest Linsey, began to apologize, “You haven’t booked ahead…”
“And neither has she, right?” Sarah retorted, pulling a gold membership card from her purse.
Caught off guard, the club manager was flustered, not having seen Sarah before. “I apologize. I don’t recognize this card. May I know who it belongs to?”
“Landon’s,” Sarah said with a smile, “Landon Kensington.”
At the mention of Landon, who held far more influence than the Brooks family, the manager’s demeanor shifted noticeably. “Ah, you’re a friend of Mr. Kensington! Please, come right in!”
“Hold on!” Linsey interjected, stepping forward.
“I’m sorry, Miss Brooks,” the manager said, his face clouded with worry. He knew that neither he nor the Brooks could afford to cross Landon.
“But is it really Landon’s card she’s using?” Linsey challenged, eyeing Sarah skeptically. “What if she stole it from him? Aren’t you going to verify that?”
The manager hesitated, influenced by Linsey’s questioning.
“You’re accusing me of theft?” Sarah retorted with a sneer, not waiting for the manager’s response. She pulled out her phone. “Fine, I’ll call Landon right now and have him come here. Then we’ll see how bold you remain!”
With that, Sarah settled onto a sofa in the lobby and made the call. Meanwhile, Linsey, unbothered, guided Leila to sit beside her. It was Leila who seemed anxious, tugging at Linsey’s arm and preferring not to have any conflicts.
“What’s there to fear?” Linsey responded confidently. “When Landon arrives, he’ll surely side with you!”
Linsey’s optimism was not unfounded. Over the recent days Leila spent in the hospital, Landon had visited daily, sometimes bringing lunch, sometimes dinner, and his demeanor toward Leila had softened significantly.
So Linsey’s opinion of Landon improved. She continued to hold out hope that Leila and Landon would eventually get along well.
However, Leila remained skeptical about Landon’s acts of kindness, unconvinced that they signified any real desire to reconcile. She shook her head dismissively, typing down her thoughts on her phone. “He won’t hold Sarah accountable. Remember the slander incident? Sarah came out of that just fine, didn’t she?”
Indeed, Sarah had likely played a role in that incident, though no concrete evidence ever surfaced. Despite everything, Landon’s relationship with Sarah appeared unaltered by the incident. He didn’t suspect Sarah.
Therefore, Leila had little faith that Landon would defend her once he showed up. Reading Leila’s phone screen, Linsey’s face fell. She rose, pulling Leila to leave with her, but Sarah’s friend was quick to notice.
“What’s going on here? You two look scared. Trying to make a quick exit? Think Mr. Kensington will come and handle you?”
“It’s not certain who he’ll handle!” Linsey retorted, her irritation peaking as she sat back down with a defiant huff. “Just wait and see!”
As the minutes passed, Landon indeed arrived. Despite being in the middle of his workday, he had left everything behind at Sarah’s summons and hurried to the club.
Upon seeing Landon at the entrance, a sharp pang struck Leila’s heart. The man she yearned for was seemingly at the beck and call of another woman…
“Landon!” Sarah dashed toward him, her excitement palpable.
“Mr. Kensington!” Sarah’s friend chimed in, grinning widely as he greeted Landon.
Yet, Landon’s expression darkened the moment his eyes fell on Leila across the room. “Why are you here?” he asked, his tone laced with confusion and annoyance.
Leila was visibly shocked, her eyes wide as she stared at Landon.
“Leila just got out of the hospital today, and we thought a spa day would be nice. Is there a problem with that? Didn’t expect to get bullied by a home-wrecker here!” Linsey rose to her feet, her eyes blazing with anger.
“Mr. Kensington, that’s not accurate! She was the one who came at us first, criticizing us the moment she walked through the door!” Sarah’s friend snapped back.
However, Landon walked directly toward Leila, seemingly oblivious to others. “Why were you discharged today?”
Leila gestured quickly, saying she healed faster than expected and Dr. Hudson had granted her discharge from the hospital.
“If you’re well enough to leave the hospital, why come here instead of going home?” Landon took Leila by the hand. “Come with me.”
The room fell silent. No one anticipated Landon’s reaction, least of all Leila, who after a moment of stunned silence, instinctively glanced at Linsey.
“Uh, it’s alright. We can always come back another day for the spa. You should head home and rest for now,” Linsey suggested quickly. Her words seemed like the perfect counter to Sarah’s earlier actions.
With a smug look directed at Sarah, Linsey added, “Enjoy your spa day! Really indulge in that luxurious hot spring pool. Maybe it can help wash off that unpleasant odor you’re carrying!”
Sarah’s frustration was palpable, her nails dug into her palms. However, she managed to maintain a facade of composure in front of Landon, offering him only a look of subdued appeal. “Landon…”
“You go and enjoy yourself with your friend,” Landon replied as he led Leila away, though not without offering a comforting word to Sarah. “We’ll talk tonight.”
Being ushered to the car parked outside by Landon, Leila felt her nerves tingle. It was the first time in days that she had found herself alone with Landon.
Silence enveloped them as neither spoke. Leila’s gaze was fixed on the scenery whizzing by the window, which gradually turned unfamiliar. Eventually, the car came to a halt outside an elegant building.
Confused, Leila turned to Landon.
“Let’s go.” Landon swung open the car door, his voice chilly. “If you’re feeling well enough for the spa, you can certainly join me at a dinner party.”
As Landon ushered Leila into the building, she noticed it resembled more of a stylish salon. Dresses dangled from every possible perch, and the room buzzed with activity around makeup mirrors, the air thick with the mingling aromas of cosmetics and perfumes.
Though having known such places, it was Leila’s first visit here with Landon. The pervasive scents nearly provoked a sneeze from her, but she stifled it just in time.
“Ensure her look plays to her strengths, and cover up any bruises,” Landon directed as a stylist approached.
“Absolutely, she’s stunning. Any style will flatter her immensely. It all comes down to her preference,” the stylist replied, genuinely impressed.
It was no mere flattery. Rarely did the stylist encounter such natural beauty as Leila. Most celebrities depended heavily on makeup to present their best selves to the cameras, but Leila was different.
Her skin was porcelain-smooth, barely in need of any cosmetics, and her features so impeccably defined that she could easily be a reference model for celebrity makeup artists. Casually standing there, Leila exuded the grace of a premier ballet dancer.
“Please, right this way.” The stylist beckoned to Leila.
Leila moved to follow but threw a lingering look back at Landon. Landon’s gaze held a sort of satisfaction, one that reminded Leila more of someone appraising a prized possession rather than showing any genuine affection.
The last time Leila donned a stunning dress for a public event, apart from her own wedding, was when she attended Roderick’s birthday celebration with Landon during her teens. Back then, Leila wasn’t just Landon’s cherished sister figure.
She was also the most favored adopted daughter within the Kensington family. At the party, numerous guests approached her, with some even commenting she was blessed. Nobody would have dared call her mute.
Regrettably, that event was Leila’s final public appearance. After her marriage, Landon kept her under tight control.
“Miss, which one do you prefer?”
As Leila followed the stylist upstairs, her gaze landed on several rows of luxurious couture dresses. Each seemed more enchanting than the last, yet Leila hesitated to linger over her choice, worried that Landon might grow impatient. Thus, she quickly selected a light blue dress, the same color she had worn at the last banquet with Landon.
“Alright, this dress features a backless design. Would you like me to style your hair up?” the stylist suggested.
Only then did Leila notice the intricate cutout at the back of the dress. She hastily shook her head, preferring to keep her hair down.
“That’s perfectly fine. If you wish to maintain a low-key appearance, that works,” the stylist commented, guiding Leila into the dressing room.
Once dressed, Leila positioned herself before the makeup mirror. The stylist expertly applied her makeup, enhancing her features until the reflection showcased a woman of breathtaking beauty and elegance. For a moment, Leila lost herself in her transformed reflection, scarcely believing she could look this magnificent.
“You look stunning.” Landon’s voice suddenly echoed, breaking the spell.
Only then did Leila realize that Landon had stealthily appeared behind her. Their gazes locked through the reflection in the mirror, and Leila looked at Landon, a flicker of hope igniting in her heart.
Landon surveyed Leila, his gaze analytical, like one appraising a fragile piece of porcelain. There was admiration in his eyes, yet devoid of any real emotion.
Feeling a pang of disappointment, Leila averted her eyes. Yet, compelled by a mix of hope and uncertainty, she raised her hand slightly and ventured a question by gestures. “Are you considering me merely as eye candy?”
Landon let out a chuckle, his voice tinged with a mocking undertone. “What else do you suppose you should be?”
