Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
At this moment, Leila discreetly winked at Ewing, her glance laden with unease about the banquet, indicating her desire to avoid the event she deemed troublesome.
Noticing her discomfort, Ewing subtly cleared his throat. “Grandpa, we really need to take Leila’s preferences into account on this,” he interjected thoughtfully. “If she’s not comfortable with the idea, perhaps we should reconsider.”
Tyrone paused, his brow furrowing as he pondered Ewing’s point, finding merit in the consideration of Leila’s feelings.
Klein, however, chimed in, “That’s true, but Leila is a sensible girl. She’s not the type seeking extravagance and is always overly considerate of others. If we leave the decision to her, she’ll likely decline just to avoid imposing on anyone.”
Leila stared at Klein, taken aback by his interpretation. While there was truth in his observation that she disliked causing trouble, she realized that Klein was framing the narrative to suit his agenda, making it appear as if any objection she might have would be unreasonable.
Klein, seeing an opportunity, continued to press his case to Tyrone.
“This might be our only chance. If we don’t celebrate her integration into the family now, people might misconstrue it as the Nixons not recognizing her as one of their own.
It could look like she isn’t truly welcomed. Besides, we always celebrate personal milestones with parties, be it birthdays or academic achievements. This event could also help Leila expand her social network, ensuring she’s supported and not subject to bullying.”
Klein’s argument was polished and persuasive, crafted to appeal to the family’s image and Leila’s supposed benefit.
If Leila hadn’t been already cautious of Klein’s motivations, she might have mistaken his insistence for genuine concern.
Eventually, Tyrone seemed swayed by Klein’s argument. He gestured for Leila to come closer.
Reluctantly, Leila rose and took a seat next to Tyrone.
Tyrone addressed Leila with a warmth that resonated deeply, his voice earnest, “Good girl, don’t think of this as a hassle. It’s the right thing to do. I want to publicly acknowledge you as my granddaughter. I desire to confirm your place in this family and support you. As long as I’m here, no one will dare to bully you.”
Caught in the genuine gaze of Tyrone, Leila found it difficult to outright deny his request.
Ewing, sensing her hesitation, leaned in and whispered encouragingly, “Tyrone has put a lot of thought into this. Perhaps you should consider accepting the idea of a welcome banquet. Plus, if you say no, Klein might persist in persuasion. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything at the banquet. I promised to protect you, and I intend to keep that promise.”
Leila looked back at Ewing, her expression mixed with gratitude and concern. She knew well the burdens he carried.
Tyrone often spoke of how Ewing shouldered the responsibilities of the entire Nixon family. He was now even managing Tyrone’s medical care, often sacrificing his own rest. Yet here he was, ready to organize the welcome banquet for her sake.
Leila was acutely aware of how overwhelmed Ewing already was with responsibilities. She was hesitant to add more to his plate, but observing his firm resolve, she couldn’t help but feel reassured, albeit with a slight sigh of resignation deep within her.
Their conversation soon shifted to lighter matters as they spent some time with Tyrone, discussing the arrangements for the upcoming banquet for Leila.
Throughout their talk, Tyrone repeatedly emphasized the importance of looking after Leila, ensuring she felt supported and valued.
The visit lingered until the doctor arrived, gently reminding Tyrone that it was time for his medication and rest.
Subsequently, Ewing and Leila left the room together, walking in comfortable companionship, while Klein followed behind.
In a hushed tone meant only for Leila, Ewing said, “If you can, try to keep your distance from Klein. He’s more complicated than he appears. He can be difficult to handle.”
Leila nodded in understanding and responded with sign language, her gestures fluid and expressive. “I know. You’re the only one I can trust around here.”
Ewing, who had taken the time to learn sign language, found it increasingly useful for their private conversations.
A rare smile broke across Ewing’s usually stern features. It was a genuine smile, a stark contrast to the restrained smiles that typically accompanied his more serious demeanor.
Just then, Klein caught up with them, his observation cutting through the moment. “It’s rare to see Ewing so light-hearted. Leila, you should know he’s usually very strict with me and my sister. It’s clear he cares for you.”
The warmth in Leila’s eyes vanished at Klein’s words.
When Ewing turned to face Klein, his expression was marked by unmistakable impatience.
Without addressing Klein’s comment, Ewing turned back to Leila. “I need to take care of something here. Head back and rest up. We’ll go over the details tomorrow.” Leila acknowledged with a nod.
As Ewing left, Leila offered a polite smile to Klein and moved to leave.
However, Klein stepped forward, blocking her path, his expression suddenly melancholic. “Leila, we seldom meet. Why the chilly reception? It feels as if you might have something against me.”
Leila, seeking to smooth over any discomfort without exacerbating the situation, responded quickly by typing on her device. “I apologize if I come across as distant. It’s really just my nature. I’m generally reserved and prefer keeping to myself.”
“But you…” Klein began.
Preempting his thoughts, Leila stopped him from finishing his words. Her fingers swiftly danced on her phone screen as she typed down her reply.
“Ewing and I have built a rapport over time, which is why I might seem more at ease with him. Everyone, including Tyrone, knows I tend to keep to myself.
Please don’t feel the need to interact more than you’re comfortable with on my account. I’ll make sure Tyrone understands there’s no friction from my side.”
Klein’s gaze flickered briefly with an unreadable expression before he persisted, not yet satisfied.
“Yet, you haven’t explained why you seem to not only keep your distance but actually harbor some dislike toward me. I believe that since we are family, we should be unified. If there are grievances, we ought to address them directly. Otherwise, it could strain our family dynamics. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Seeing that Klein was determined to have a clear answer, Leila sighed, massaging her temples before conjuring a convincingly cheerful smile.
Her response was filled with well-chosen words. “Previously, I had disagreements with Bria, which may have unintentionally influenced how I reacted to you. That was unfair, and I’m sorry. You are not Bria. You are your own person. I apologize for any past coldness that might have seemed directed at you.”
Klein visibly relaxed, reassured by her words, yet a touch of sorrow remained. “I was concerned that you really had it in for me.”
To handle Klein, Leila decided to play along with his charade. Otherwise, he was bound to shadow her relentlessly. Leila grasped Klein’s arm, acting like a spoiled kid. She showed him the text she had typed on her phone. “Klein, have you forgiven me now?”
“Absolutely,” Klein responded, his gaze tender. “From this moment, I’ll treat you like my own sister.”
Leila typed, her question tinged with mischief. “Treat me better than you do Bria?”
Klein affirmed with a nod, “Without a doubt.”
Their smiles were exchanged. However, each harbored separate agendas. Leila’s smile, notably, did not touch her eyes.
To onlookers, the scene painted a different picture.
Bria, witnessing the intimacy between Leila and Klein from nearby, seethed with anger. “What’s gotten into Klein? Is he serious about treating that imposter as his sister?”
Noemi, observing Bria teeter on the brink of another tantrum, intervened swiftly.
“Miss, please, you must remain calm for your health’s sake. Mr. Klein Nixon has promised to handle Leila. You ought to trust him. I don’t think he is being sincere.
It looks like he’s just pretending. Besides, you are his biological sister. How could he genuinely care about that dreadful woman who had schemed against you?”
Bria, somewhat placated, tilted her head up with an air of superiority. “Of course, I am his real sister. How can Leila even compare to me?”
A mocking thought struck Bria, and she laughed derisively. “Just look at Leila, looking so content. Does she actually believe my brother’s lies? She’s so gullible.”
Noemi nodded and echoed Bria’s disdain. “Exactly. She’s suffered out there and now returns as a fake family member, thinking she can manipulate the Nixon family. But your grace is something Leila could never emulate, not in a hundred years.”
Flattered, Bria chuckled. A moment later, something amusing crossed her mind. “By the way, I remember Landon dropped by a few days ago. Ewing wouldn’t tell me why he came, but I figured it out myself. Landon came to divorce Leila.”
Bria clicked her tongue in disdain. “I heard Leila was adopted by the Kensington, depending on them. Then, she shamelessly enticed Landon and married him, and now they’re divorced. She’s just a pregnant, discarded woman.”
Noemi chimed in, “Truly. It’s intriguing what she plans to do after being ousted. I heard she was quite resolved about the divorce, without any hesitation.”
Bria scoffed. “How could she not be resolved? The Nixon family is leagues above the Kensington. She thought she was stepping up in the world, so she scorned the Kensington. Besides, Landon isn’t doing well now.”
Noemi spoke softly. “Miss, if Mr. Kensington struggles in the future, would you…”
With a dismissive flip of her hair, Bria cut her off, “What are you implying? Only the finest men deserve me. I respected Landon for his competence. If he falls into ruin, he’s worthless. Even if he’s handsome and my type, why would I settle for a loser?”
Bria added with a cunning grin, “But I’m not without compassion. If he really struggles and comes begging, maybe I’ll amuse myself with him for a while.”
Noemi commented, “Miss, you’re too generous.”