Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
All eyes suddenly turned to Leila.
Leila remained composed, shaking her head. The servant standing nearby interpreted her gestures. “I didn’t go in that direction. Many can confirm that I returned to my room to fetch some items.”
Ewing promptly stepped forward to corroborate her statement. “I can vouch for Leila. I handed her something myself, and she stayed with me before returning to her room. She had no motive, nor did she witness anything. I think we’re chasing shadows here. It’s unlikely that Bria was pushed.”
“Why are we even suspecting Leila?” Klein seemingly came to Leila’s defense, his tone growing stern. “She and Bria may have their differences, but they are cousins. If anyone continues to spread baseless accusations, I’ll have them removed!”
Klein’s firm declaration resonated through the room, and an uneasy silence fell over the gathering.
Leila was taken aback by Klein’s sudden defense of her, a gesture she hadn’t anticipated.
Just then, a visibly shaken servant stepped forward and stopped before Tyrone, tears streaming down her face. “Mr. Nixon, I believe I saw who did it, but I’m scared to say.”
Tyrone’s expression hardened as he said, “There’s no need for fear. Speak up, and I will protect you from any retaliation. Bria is my granddaughter, and I demand to know who dared to harm her.”
Tyrone’s eyes narrowed as he added a stern warning. “But be warned, if you lie, I will not let you go unpunished.”
The servant, now sobbing more intensely, bowed deeply before Tyrone, showing a mix of respect and determination.
After a moment, the servant raised her head and scanned the crowd nervously before pointing directly at someone.
“It was her!” the servant exclaimed, her finger trembling as it directed everyone’s attention to Leila.
The room turned in unison toward Leila, who stood in shock, her mouth open as she began to formulate a response.
But before Leila could defend herself, Tyrone intervened loudly. “Don’t talk nonsense! Leila would never commit such an act!”
Klein’s face darkened as he added his voice to the defense. “I warned you about making false accusations. You’ll pay for this,” he said icily. “Take this person to the police station!”
The servant struggled against the grasp of the bodyguards, crying out in protest, “I’m not lying! I saw it clearly. Her dress! It’s very distinctive. I couldn’t possibly mistake it.”
Indeed, Leila’s dress was unique and memorable, a standout at the event.
Despite the servant’s accusations, the crowd remained skeptical. To commit a crime in such a unique dress which surely caught others’ eyes? That seemed unlikely.
Klein, his patience seemingly wearing thin, commanded through clenched teeth. “Enough of this. Take her away.”
The servant’s fear escalated as she continued to insist on her account. “I’m telling the truth! I know what I saw,” she said. “Miss Bria Nixon was by the lake, and someone suddenly ran up and pushed her in. I couldn’t see who it was because I was standing behind, but the dress was the same as this lady’s.”
The servant added desperately, “If it wasn’t her, then someone else must have worn her dress.”
Leila responded calmly, using sign language to communicate her innocence. Her message was soon interpreted with precision. “I never took off this dress nor lent it to anyone. I don’t know if anyone else has a similar one. I didn’t push Bria, and I wasn’t even aware she was by the lake.”
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps signaled the arrival of the police, called to the scene to investigate the incident.
Leila felt a wave of relief wash over her, hoping that this problem would soon be sorted by the authorities.
The servant was taken away by the police for further questioning.
However, Leila’s relief was tinged with unease as the servant persisted in her claims, adamant that she had seen Leila push Bria into the lake.
Leila’s heart sank as the unsettling possibility that the servant had genuinely seen something, or someone looking like her was at the scene. Was it conceivable that someone had replicated her distinctive dress to frame her? But who within the Nixon family, aside from Bria, would target her? And given Bria’s known health issues, it seemed unlikely that she would stage such a perilous act against herself. Was it a case of mistaken identity by the servant, or something more sinister?
As Leila wrestled with these thoughts, Tyrone noticed her growing distress and leaned in to reassure her quietly. “You should rest. Your cousins and I will handle this. Don’t worry.”
Before Leila could respond and make her way out, a security guard hurried over to Klein, interrupting the tense atmosphere. “Mr. Klein Nixon, we’ve managed to restore the surveillance footage. I haven’t watched it yet but came to find you.”
Klein responded urgently, “Get it to the police immediately. Let’s see what it reveals.”
A laptop was swiftly brought in, and the gathered group turned their attention to the screen.
The footage showed Bria beside the lake, deep in conversation with Noemi.
Abruptly, a figure burst into the frame and pushed Bria into the water, mirroring the servant’s testimony.
Noemi’s response was one of instant panic as she called out for help.
The video verified the servant’s narrative, capturing a figure in a dress unmistakably similar to Leila’s.
Klein, feigning intent on scrutinizing the details, zoomed in.
The Nixon family’s high-definition surveillance system revealed the texture and embellishments of the dress, identical to Leila’s.
Watching the scene unfold, Leila felt a chill run through her as she saw someone who looked like her had committed the act.
The police swiftly located Leila amid the crowd of people. “Miss, could you come with us for a moment?”
With no other options, Leila reluctantly followed.
Klein shook his head in feigned disbelief. “It can’t be Leila. Sure, she and Bria have had their issues, but Leila isn’t heartless. This must be a mistake.”
An officer nearby overheard and interjected, “There was a conflict between them?”
“Yes.” Noemi stepped forward, catching everyone’s attention.
Tyrone was aware of the strife between Bria and Leila and had initially decided against questioning Noemi to avoid unfairly implicating Leila.
Unexpectedly, Noemi appeared, her eyes fixed on Leila with evident scorn.
“I held my tongue earlier, fearful of causing offense. Now, with the police here, I feel compelled to speak the truth. It was Leila. I saw it with my own eyes.
Even if you deny it, how do you explain the clothes in the video? Everyone knows those clothes were a gift from Mr. Klein Nixon. It’s possible he had another set made, but why would he do such a thing to his sister?”
This logic seemed plausible to many onlookers.
“Yeah, Klein is Bria’s brother. Why would he want to hurt his sister?”
“And Klein appears to care for Leila deeply, having gifted her such costly attire and defended her earlier.”
“How could Leila commit such an act? Even with their disputes, this goes too far.”
“You’re all missing the point. She’s envious of Bria, who has had a better life while she was treated poorly by the Kensington family.”
“That’s their problem. Her mother chose to leave with her and never returned. If I were Tyrone, I wouldn’t want her back.”
Tyrone, overcome with frustration, began to cough furiously. “Enough of this foolish talk! Leila would never commit such an act! Expel anyone who spreads rumors! Ewing, escort them out immediately!”
Tyrone was so overwhelmed by the tumult that he almost collapsed.
Chaos ensued throughout the room.
Leila, consumed with concern, was struck by the depth of Tyrone’s affection for her.
Amid the disorder, Leila’s eyes met Klein’s, detecting his self-satisfied smirk.
At that moment, Leila realized the truth. A shiver coursed through her.
Leila was stunned. Bria was Klein’s biological sister, for crying out loud! Moreover, Bria had suffered from a heart condition, which meant the fall into the water was dangerous and possibly fatal.
It dawned on Leila that Klein likely tampered with the outfit she was meant to wear. She had always known Klein to be cunning and strategic. Yet, her quarrel was solely with Bria. She had no direct dealings with Klein. Why then would he endanger his biological sister just to get to her?
The police approached Leila. “Miss, we need your cooperation. Miss Nixon is still hospitalized, and you appear in the surveillance footage. We need to ask you a few questions.”
Tyrone, his eyes watering and coughing persistently, was supported as he moved forward to protect Leila. “Who are these people? Why are they taking my beloved daughter? Back off!”