Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Landon grew increasingly distressed as he pondered over the situation. He knew that these matters needed to be resolved face-to-face with Leila.
Edgar managed to intercept Landon, who was breathing heavily.
Meeting Landon’s intense gaze, Edgar felt a headache creeping in. “Mr. Kensington, the investigation into the doctor’s family has already stirred up some attention. If you act impulsively now, all the pain and suffering you’ve endured these past days will be in vain.”
Landon’s breath came in short pants, his emotions swirling, eyes tinged with red as if he were teetering on the edge of a breakdown, ready to erupt.
At that moment, Landon wasn’t interested in weighing his options or tallying potential gains and losses. All he wanted was to find Leila immediately, figure out her thoughts, and demand why she hesitated to speak the truth.
Landon wrested himself free from Edgar’s hold and prepared to drive off in his hospital gown.
Realizing he couldn’t dissuade Landon, Edgar swiftly pulled out his phone and dialed Leila’s number. “Mrs. Kensington, please listen carefully. There is an urgent matter at hand that requires your immediate assistance. Mr. Kensington is currently not in the right state of mind and might attempt to come look for you. I urge you not to meet with him under any circumstances.”
Landon wanted to look for her? Leila was stunned at Edgar’s words.
Unable to lay out the real reason, Edgar fumbled for an excuse. “Um, well, here is the thing. Mr. Kensington is planning to propose to Miss Miller this month. He wants to come look for you because he has some questions about past issues. It’s nothing you really need to worry about. But if any of this gets out, it could seriously impact their relationship. I hope you can understand.”
Leila couldn’t resist sending a message to Edgar, “Propose to Sarah? So when will Landon agree to sign the divorce papers?”
Edgar was at a loss for words. At this point, Landon was clearly reluctant to sign the divorce papers.
Edgar didn’t want to meddle in their relationship but felt backed into a corner. For the bigger picture, he needed to calm the emotions of both parties.
Edgar inhaled deeply. “Don’t worry. I will urge Mr. Kensington to sign the divorce papers promptly. Just remember our agreement today.”
Leila acknowledged her understanding and ended the call.
Right after the call ended, Landon called, just as Edgar had said.
Seeing Landon’s name on the screen, Leila frowned and declined the call. But Landon persisted with a barrage of messages.
Landon implored Leila to meet him urgently, insisting there was something important he needed to ask her face-to-face.
Growing increasingly irritated, Leila powered off her phone..
Outside, a heavy downpour suddenly began.
Lost in thought, Leila stood by the window, watching the rain cascade down.
There was a piano beside the window, which caught Leila’s attention.
Suddenly, memories flooded back of her time learning to play it. The one who had taught her was none other than Landon.
Landon was a prodigy from an early age. He had a knack for mastering any skill he set his mind to.
Landon excelled in pursuits that others pursued professionally, even in hobbies he pursued for pleasure.
Back then, Landon developed a fondness for playing the piano.
Unfortunately, Shirley disapproved, dismissing it as a waste of time. She recklessly destroyed many of the expensive pianos Landon had bought.
Therefore, Landon sought refuge at his grandfather’s house whenever he wanted to practice the piano.
Whenever Leila saw Landon playing the piano, she was filled with admiration. In his absence, she attempted to learn herself.
Her efforts produced only a few discordant notes before she heard Landon’s mocking voice behind her.
Despite his teasing, he settled beside Leila and began to play the piano alone.
Later, Landon offered to teach Leila, but with the condition that she had to cover for him.
Honestly, Leila had never been interested in the piano.
Her only motivation had been Landon.
Reflecting on these memories, Leila suddenly felt her past teenage infatuations, which she thought were well-hidden, seemed a bit foolish.
Her fingers instinctively began to play as memories of the past tugged at her heartstrings.
Though she was a bit rusty, the melody remained unchanged.
It was Landon’s favorite tune to play on rainy days.
Accompanied by the rhythmic pitter-patter of rain outside, her sadness blended with the raindrops, spreading like a melancholic symphony.
Fortunately, Leila couldn’t recall the rest of the melody, ending the haunting piano notes. This allowed her to snap out of her memories.
Glancing out the window, Leila spotted a man in a hospital gown seated beneath a tree in the flower bed. The man sat there alone in the rain, lifting his head as if searching for something.
Leila’s heart raced. She couldn’t help but recall Edgar’s earlier words. Could it be Landon? How had he arrived so quickly?
Leila had assumed Landon would start his search with the Hayes family, and she counted on Jerome and Brent to intervene. But she never imagined he’d show up directly at the house where she was staying.
Anxious that she might be mistaken, Leila cautiously opened the window, despite the pouring rain.
Now, she had a clear view. She could easily recognize that strikingly handsome and pallid countenance. It was none other than Landon.
At the sight of Landon, Leila’s heart skipped a beat.
Landon was stubborn. Since Leila wouldn’t come out, he simply sat there, waiting.
Landon spotted Leila and gestured energetically for her to come down and meet him.
Leila clung to the window frame, her heart pounding like a drum. She couldn’t tell if it was from agitation or some other emotion.
Taking a deep breath, she hastily shut the window and fumbled for her phone to text Edgar, only to realize her phone was off.
After pondering the situation further, Leila realized that calling Edgar would be pointless, given Landon’s stubbornness. If Edgar could have stopped Landon, he wouldn’t have urgently warned her against meeting Landon in the first place.
Leila analyzed the situation. Landon’s unmistakable face made anonymity impossible, and it was only a matter of time before someone recognized him. The ever-opportunistic Sarah would undoubtedly seize this opportunity to stir up trouble again. Whether she chose to meet Landon or not, trouble seemed inevitable.
Leila hesitated and glanced at Landon again, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty.
Landon swayed in the wind and rain, his body teetering on the brink. It was the first time Leila had seen him this vulnerable.
With determination, Leila spun around and went out with an umbrella.
Leila struggled to whisk Landon into her place, the heavy rain drenching her to the bone. Being completely soaked was a discomfort she couldn’t ignore.
Yet, Landon seemed utterly devoid of strength, his weight bearing down on Leila.
He was well over 6 feet tall. While Leila was confident she could bear the burden, she worried for the child growing inside her.
Leila pushed Landon roughly onto the sofa as soon as they entered the house. She pointed sternly at her belly, her expression serious, and gestured firmly.
Her gestures practically said, “Landon, can you please stop this madness of looking for me? I’m not interested in knowing what happened between you and Sarah. And remember, I’m pregnant. Treating me like this is bullying a pregnant woman.”
At the sight of her sign language, Landon suddenly snapped out of his daze. He remembered why he had come to find Leila.
With a sudden surge of determination, Landon rose from the sofa, taking strides toward her.
Leila recoiled from Landon’s imposing presence, instinctively retreating until she felt the cold wall against her back. There was nowhere left to escape.
Leila had intended to question his intentions in sign language, but before she could, he seized her wrist, preventing her from communicating.