Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Landon nodded. “Yes, I have indeed made many preparations.”
Spotting Landon’s slight gesture, Edgar promptly pulled out several items. It was some urns and things used in funerals.
Dean’s initial shock quickly turned into outrage. “Landon! What is this supposed to mean? Have you been anticipating our mom’s death? She’s still alive, despite her critical condition. How can you be so heartless?” Dean’s voice trembled with anger.
Landon’s expression hardened, his eyes glinting with an icy resolve. “What do you want to do? Just start. No need to waste time talking. I’ve been aware of your schemes ever since our mom’s so-called accident. Why put on an act?”
Being exposed, Dean’s frustration boiled over into a defensive fury. “Don’t spout nonsense! Our mom’s accident happened just a few miles from your house. Who would believe you’re not involved? And now, not only are you wishing for her to be gone, but you’re trying to pin her accident on me? You’re the one who should be answering for this, Landon!”
Landon responded with a dismissive sneer, “Only a few miles from my home, you say? Interesting detail there. Didn’t you mention the surveillance cameras were down that day? How then, did you know the exact location?”
Dean was left flustered by Landon’s counter, unable to formulate a response.
Stan sighed, silently scolding Dean as a moron.
Dean hesitated, struggling to find a response. His face flushed with embarrassment as he remained silent.
Observing Dean’s reaction, Stan realized that their schemes were bound to be exposed if things continued this way. Immediately, he winked at Sarah, indicating her to carry out the plan as scheduled.
To Stan’s astonishment, at his signal, Sarah responded by turning her face away, as if she didn’t notice it.
Stan’s expression darkened immediately.
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense, thickening with an unspoken charge.
Melinda broke the silence with a calm voice. “That’s not fair, Landon. Dean has been looking after Shirley at the hospital for the past few days. We all know how much she means to him. Your accusations seem unjust.”
At this, Landon smirked, his gaze locking on Melinda. “I almost forgot you were here, Melinda. But now that you’ve spoken, I have a question for you.”
Landon’s eyes carried a meaningful message.
Melinda’s heart skipped a beat. Her mind raced through her past misdeeds, trying to pinpoint which one Landon had unveiled. Could it be the one concerning Leila? But how could it be? Landon should hardly be this composed if he found out she had deliberately misled him about the father of Leila’s unborn child. So, what could it be?
Melinda’s nerves were on edge as she awaited Landon’s next words.
Just then, the doctor hurried over, his face etched with concern. “Is Shirley Kensington’ family present?”
Immediately, everyone turned their anxious eyes toward the doctor.
Dean’s distress, in particular, was palpable as he looked on the verge of tears.
“Doctor, how is my mother? Is she getting better now?” Dean asked urgently.
Landon, however, remained unfazed, his demeanor untouched by the unfolding drama. Dean had never before shown such deep concern for Shirley.
The doctor placed a comforting hand on Dean’s shoulder. “Your mother’s condition is stable for now, but we’re not sure whether she could make it. If there’s anything you need to tell her, now is the time to do so. Her body sustained severe injuries in the car accident, and I’m afraid she could pass away at any moment.”
Immediately after the doctor finished talking, someone broke into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
It was none other than Melinda.
Dean’s face mirrored Melinda’s seeming sorrow, his distress evident in every line of his expression.
The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on everyone, except Landon.
Noticing the suspicious gazes from those around Landon, Edgar leaned toward Landon and whispered, “Perhaps you should show some sorrow, Mr. Kensington?”
Landon’s lips curled into a dismissive sneer as he whispered back, “Why should I feign grief? These guys have decided to seal my mom’s end precisely on this day, no matter her condition. Do you doubt this?”
Edgar bowed his head, knowing Landon was right.
Landon glanced at the gathered individuals coldly before issuing his command in a low voice. “Proceed with our plan. Ensure everything is handled neatly.”
“Yes, sir.” Edgar slipped away unnoticed as others busied themselves with their performances.
Dean brushed away the tears from his eyes and said, “I’ll handle it. As her eldest son, if she has any last wishes, she would want to share them with me.”
But before Dean could enter Shirley’s ward, Landon intervened.
“Don’t be absurd, Dean. We’re brothers. Why would our mom want to speak with you alone? It’s only fair that we go in together,” Landon said with a faint smile.
Dean clenched his teeth, his frustration boiling over. “Our mom’s been in the hospital for a while, and you’ve hardly visited her. Now that she’s in such a critical condition, you’re the last person she’d want to see. How dare you show up now? What are you really after?”
Landon retorted evenly, “I rarely come to the hospital because I’m tied up running the Kensington Group. If I had stayed at the hospital, who would have run the company? What about I let you handle the Kensington Group while I take over caring for our mom?”
Dean’s face instantly lit up at Landon’s last sentence, itching to say yes.
But before Dean could respond, a voice spoke up. “Dean, I think you should go in there with Landon.”
Dean’s smile stiffened instantly. A flicker of fury flashed in his eyes. But he had to restrain himself since the speaker was an elder, though being a distant relative of the Kensington family. For his schemes, he couldn’t afford to openly challenge this elder.
Dean had deliberately gathered a crowd, aiming to tarnish Landon’s reputation.
Yet, ironically, the crowd gathered by Dean urged him to reconsider his previous decision to enter Shirley’s ward alone.
The reason was quite simple. Though they disapproved of Landon’s apparent indifference, they knew too well that Landon’s capabilities were the very reason they could lead such a luxurious lifestyle.
Thanks to Landon, the Kensington Group had flourished even beyond its former glory days.
In the same regard, Dean was widely regarded as a failure.
Thus, no one was eager to see Landon resign and hand over the reins of the Kensington Group to Dean.
Standing aside, Stan took note of this. He thought for a moment and realized he had overlooked something crucial. It was the lack of Dean’s capabilities.
Stan stroked his chin, contemplating adjusting his strategy.
Stuck in a deadlock outside Shirley’s ward with Dean for quite a while, Landon finally broke the stalemate with decisive action.
Casting a glance at Dean, Landon strode purposefully into Shirley’s ward.
Dean attempted to follow but was blocked by Landon’s bodyguards.
Fuming, Dean struggled to control his rage.
The lead bodyguard smiled and said, “Mr. Kensington would like to speak with his mother privately. If you could kindly wait a moment, we’d appreciate it.”
Dean’s face clouded with anger. “What does Landon think he’s doing, huh? Is he trying to hide something from me?”
While Dean created a commotion in the corridor, Landon paid him no mind.
Seated by Shirley’s bedside, Landon gazed at her with deep concern. “Mom?” he called out softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hearing his voice, Shirley turned her head slowly, her voice seemingly weak as she whispered, “Why are you here? Looking forward to my end?”
Landon was unfazed by her response, showing no hint of anger. Instead, he replied softly, “You still have some fight in you and strength to scold me, which means you’re not as feeble as the doctor suggested. Let me guess. You were able to move around recently, but Dean lied, claiming you had been in a coma after the so-called accident.”
A flicker of guilt crossed Shirley’s face as she listened to Landon’s words. But it vanished almost immediately. With a stern expression, she said, “Dean’s lie was motivated by his concern. He wanted you to come to the hospital and visit me, but you were so cold-hearted that you refused to come until today. How could you forsake your own mother for the sake of a woman, Landon? Remember, it’s me who gave you everything.”
Getting carried away by Landon’s provocation, Shirley questioned Landon with a fiery edge, a sharp contrast to her earlier weak performance.
Landon did not doubt if Shirley had the energy, she would sit upright in bed, pointing an accusing finger at him while letting loose a torrent of reprimands.
Landon gazed intently into Shirley’s eyes, finding his mom unfamiliar, almost like a stranger to him.