Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Now that someone else could handle the gift for Tyrone, Bria happily agreed. She smiled faintly. “Alright, you handle this. Do a good job, and you’ll be rewarded. Be good, and I’ll treat you well. Understand?”
Leila forced a smile, pretending to be grateful for Bria’s presumed kindness. Bria liked seeing Leila try to please her.
“Remember our deal. I’m warning you, do a bad job, and there will be trouble. I don’t have much patience.” Bria made sure Leila understood.
Leila nodded in agreement.
Tools and supplies arrived for Leila that night. She wanted to take some time to carefully plan the design. But Bria demanded to see it immediately.
Leila sighed, knowing she wouldn’t get much sleep tonight. She worked on the design all night and sent it to Bria by midnight.
Bria actually got up to take a look. She just gave it a quick glance before sending it back. “Not impressive enough. Make it more luxurious,” Bria demanded.
Bria pointed out that the gift had to be classy, not something flashy and fancy. Out of all the things Bria had brought over, only the jade seemed to fit the criteria she needed. Wood wouldn’t be fancy enough, and jewels would be too extravagant. But jade was tough as nails and could easily leave a nasty bruise when crafting it.
Leila sighed, the sound heavy with frustration. If she’d had this kind of nightmare client before, she’d have told them to find someone else for the job. But things were different now.
Leila glanced down at her stomach, a tiny bump already rounding out beneath her thin clothes. Four months in, and even though she was still slim, the baby bump was starting to peek through. With each passing day, the little one inside her grew stronger. When Leila placed her hand on her stomach, it felt warm, a silent connection with the tiny being inside her.
Taking a deep breath, Leila decided to gamble. Even if she screwed up, things couldn’t get much worse, could they?
Leila poured her heart and soul into the design, revising those sketches until her fingers cramped. By the last revision, Bria chucked the sketch right at Leila’s face. “What the hell is this crap? If you don’t know how to draw, then don’t take on this job.”
There were dark circles under Leila’s eyes, as if she hadn’t slept in a week. Bria’s insults stung, but Leila held her ground, her resolve steady. Without a word, Leila pulled out another sketch.
Bria took a quick peek at the sketch. “Alright, this one ain’t bad. You clearly can draw. You were just messing with me before. This is the final design. Now get to work! If it’s not done by my grandpa’s birthday bash, you know what happens.”
Bria crossed her legs, a cruel smile twisting her lips. The irony wasn’t lost on Leila. Bria actually liked the second design Leila made, even though she’d yelled at Leila about it earlier. It seemed Bria’s approval depended entirely on her mood. Obviously, Bria was in a foul mood today, and for good reason.
Hearing Landon was visiting Ewing again, Bria rushed to Ewing’s study, all dolled up. But they wouldn’t let her in. Apparently, Ewing and Landon were discussing business, and Bria shouldn’t disturb them unless it was urgent.
Bria ended up faking being sick just to get in. But the whole charade was pointless. As soon as Landon saw Bria, he announced he was leaving. Bria claimed she was feeling better and wanted to walk Landon out. Ewing, however, suggested Bria call a doctor since she had claimed not feeling well. After all the fuss, Bria and Landon didn’t even exchange a single word.
Bria had never felt so frustrated. No other man had treated her this way, not even after knowing who she was. Bria had secretly investigated Sarah. In her eyes, Sarah wasn’t particularly beautiful, even a little shallow. Bria couldn’t understand why Sarah, of all people, could outshine her in Landon’s eyes.
The more Bria dwelled on it, the more exasperated she became. When she looked up and saw Leila still standing there, her anger flared up.
Bria stormed over to Leila. Leila kept her head down, pretending to be submissive. All her frustration and annoyance were hidden deep inside.
Bria finally realized the cause of the strange feelings she had whenever she saw Leila. There was something about Leila that reminded Bria of Landon. Leila was calm and aloof, treating everyone with a gentle kindness that seemed distant and unreadable. It was hard to find anything wrong with her. Landon’s demeanor only ignited Bria’s desire to garner his attention, but seeing the similar demeanor on Leila rubbed Bria the wrong way.
Bria could swallow Landon’s smugness, but why was Leila giving her the same cold shoulder? Besides, Leila was a woman she’d paid good money for from the human trafficker.
Under Bria’s piercing gaze, a shiver ran down Leila’s spine. A bad feeling, heavy and unwelcome, settled in her gut. Leila fumbled for her phone, her fingers flying across the screen. “Miss Nixon, if you have no problem with the raw materials I will be using, I will head out now.”
Before Bria could reply, Leila made a move to bolt. Bria shot out a hand, effectively blocking Leila’s escape.
“Hold on a sec,” Bria said, a sugary-sweet smile plastered on her face. It was the same smile she’d used when they first met. Bria looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, the appearance of a charming girl who did no harm. Her long hair cascaded down her back, and those bangs framed her face like an innocent cherub. With such a face, she could fool anyone. Easy on the eyes, that was what Bria was.
But Leila knew better. Every time that smile appeared, trouble followed like a bad smell. This time was no different. Terror coiled in Leila’s stomach, icy and tight.
“You know, after getting a good look at you today, I have to say, you’re actually quite pretty,” Bria cooed, her hand reaching out to stroke Leila’s cheek.
Leila couldn’t help but shudder as Bria’s cool fingertips brushed against her cheek. It felt like a poisonous snake slithering across her skin, sending chills down her spine.
Leila hadn’t bothered with makeup lately. Sure, her features weren’t movie-star perfect, but her facial structure was striking, especially her big, watery eyes. Leila’s eyes could hold a softness that tugged at anyone’s heartstrings, but beneath the surface, coldness took hold, especially around figures like Bria.
Bria clicked her tongue, a look of annoyance flitting across her face. There it was again, that flicker of Ewing in Leila’s eyes. It was freaking her out.
Bria swallowed her annoyance. Putting on a fake look of concern, Bria remarked, “Well, pregnancy really takes a toll on a woman, doesn’t it? Look at you, your eyes have lost their spark. But hey, lucky you! My special tonics just arrived today, and seeing as I’m feeling generous, I’ll share some with you. Come on, take some.”
Someone next to Bria immediately chimed in, “That’s right! Miss Nixon’s tonics are made with the rarest herbs, practically impossible to find! You better be grateful and thank Miss Nixon right now!”
Leila’s stomach lurched. This couldn’t be good. Her fingers trembled as she typed a message on the phone. “Thank you for offering, Miss Nixon, but I’ve already taken my meds today. Combining medications can be dangerous. It wouldn’t be good if your kindness backfired, would it?”
Bria’s smile was sharp, her laugh laced with venom. “You know, for a mute who keeps to herself, I thought you didn’t understand how to butter someone up. Guess I was wrong. Listen up, I’m giving you some of this medicine. Take it, or I’ll assume you hate me.”
Bria flicked her wrist. A maid scurried in, a jar of medicine clutched in her hand. The moment the medicine was brought in, the room was hit with a powerful stench of medication.
Pregnancy had already messed with Leila’s stomach, thanks to morning sickness. Now, with that smell suffocating the room, her insides churned like a washing machine on a spin cycle.
Leila knew Bria wouldn’t poison her outright, but who knew what was in that jar? If she took one sip of that, things could get ugly.
Swallowing her pride, Leila dropped to her knees in front of Bria. Her fingers swiftly danced on the screen as she typed. “Miss Nixon, I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, but I apologize. Please consider this. I have to finish your grandpa’s birthday present as soon as possible. Kindly do not force me to drink this.”
Bria observed Leila in silence. After a moment, she let out a snort. “Well, forget it then,” she declared. Relief washed over Leila instantly. Yet, to her astonishment, Bria wasn’t finished.
Bria announced, “But since you seem to prefer kneeling, go ahead and kneel.”
The color drained from Leila’s face. The spot where she knelt featured neither a soft carpet nor any gentleness, just a cold, hard floor. Supporting her belly had become a necessity. Pregnancy had brought not only joy but also constant back pain, and now her lower body started to ache with a dull, persistent soreness.
Leila attempted to withstand the discomfort, but a cold sweat began to bead along her spine. Looking up at Bria with eyes brimming with tears, Leila silently pleaded for some compassion. However, Bria merely yawned, unaffected. “The medicine’s making me sleepy. I need to rest for a bit. Keep an eye on her for me, will you? Since she refused to take my medicine, she must be feeling strong. A few hours of kneeling shouldn’t hurt her.”
In utter despair, Leila shut her eyes, harboring a faint hope that her unborn child could stay strong. However, just an hour later, Leila could no longer endure the pain. She was soaked in cold sweat, appearing as though she had just emerged from a lake.
At her breaking point, Leila looked desperately at the people beside her. Unfortunately, Leila’s phone, her only means of communication, had been confiscated. Some servants, noticing Leila’s dire condition, began to comment with thinly veiled glee.
“Feeling unwell, are you? Speak up, then. What’s the use of having a mouth?” one of them taunted.
“She’s still silent, so she must be coping,” another chimed in.
“Look at her. She seems to revel in her suffering,” a third sneered.
“If she’s enjoying it, let her be. It’s not our place to stop her.” With those words, they erupted into laughter and snickers.
Taking a deep breath, Leila could only hunch over, bracing herself with her hands on the cold floor. In the past, such cruelty from her peers would have only brought tears of injustice. She could hardly believe that these were her fellow women. But now, her mindset had shifted.
Leila’s tears mingled with sweat, falling to the floor one by one. She saw her pitiful reflection in the polished surface below, resentment and a fierce resolve burning in her eyes. Leila had never before seen herself in such a state. The pent-up anger inside her had finally reached its peak.
She lost her ability to speak due to an accident, something she never wanted. Yet, the people around her continued to mock and insult her cruelly. Even mute, she harbored thoughts of revenge. Leila gritted her teeth so hard that she tasted blood but steadfastly refused to raise her head and beg for mercy from her tormentors.
Yet, she hadn’t anticipated the relentless cruelty of those unwilling to let her off the hook. They had mocked her for their amusement, but their enjoyment waned as she remained unresponsive. Her lack of reaction diminished their fun, prompting them to exchange knowing looks.
Long-time followers of Bria, they had absorbed her traits. Though Bria seemed gentle and harmless on the surface, she was profoundly twisted. Suddenly, Leila felt a significant weight crash onto her back, igniting a wave of sharp pain.
Curses filled the air.
“Enjoying this, are you? Then just stay down on the floor,” one sneered.
“Can’t even kneel properly? Need us to show you how?” another jeered..
Pushed to her limit and physically overwhelmed, Leila’s body began to sway. Just as she teetered on the brink of collapsing, the door swung open. A stern male voice cut through the chaos, “What are you all doing?”
The oppressive weight on Leila’s back vanished, and she exhaled a deep sigh of relief, collapsing to the floor in utter exhaustion. The servants, caught off guard by Ewing’s unexpected arrival with others, exchanged surprised looks.
Meanwhile, Bria was still resting in her room. Known for her poor health and need for uninterrupted sleep, she despised disturbances. Bria’s temper was notoriously worse when she was roused unexpectedly.
Once, in Ferelden, a maid had inadvertently broken a vase while Bria was asleep, waking her. The consequences were severe. The next day, the maid was dismissed, her limbs brutally broken, her fate unknown. The servants exchanged wary glances, none daring to wake Bria up.
Reacting swiftly, one of them helped Leila up from the floor with a forced smile, addressing Ewing, “Mr. Nixon, Miss Nixon is resting. We were merely engaging in some playful antics.”
However, Leila’s legs, numbed from prolonged kneeling, gave way, and she collapsed again, pulling the servant down with her. This time, Leila acted with cunning. She strategically used the servant below as a cushion, falling onto the servant.
Despite her slender appearance, Leila was pregnant, which added weight to her impact. Leila landed on the servant’s waist, eliciting a sharp cry of pain from the latter, a form of retribution for the earlier abuse. The servant under Leila seemed poised to scold her but paused, deterred by Ewing’s stern look.