Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Biting her lip in defiance, Bria retorted, “Don’t try to sow discord between me and my brother. He’s my brother and he acts solely in my interest. Why should I trust you over him?”
Leila met Bria’s eyes calmly. Her phone articulated her message with the text-to-speech function, “Deep down, you already know the answer. I simply came here to make my stance clear. I never wanted to fight with you, nor am I interested in holding you accountable for what you’ve done to me. I don’t understand why you had it out for me, but I think we can find a way to get along.”
Bria laughed, as if Leila had just cracked the worst joke. “You want us to get along? Why would I want that with you?”
A chill entered Leila’s eyes. She didn’t try to persuade Bria anymore; Bria had made her own choice. If Bria was set on being hostile, there wasn’t much Leila could do to change that.
As Leila turned to leave, Bria taunted, “Going already? Why not persuade me more? Ever consider offering me something to change my mind? Maybe then I’ll think about it.”
Leila turned back, typing out a response on her phone. “I’m only doing this for your benefit. I came here because we’re family. If you’re not interested, why should I waste my time? Just so you know, I am no doormat. If you keep messing with me, you’ll regret it.”
Bria let out a mocking laugh. “We’ll see about that.”
Leila didn’t bother responding, simply turning and leaving the room.
As Leila walked away, a knot of unease tightened in Bria’s stomach. How the heck had Leila transformed so much in such a short time? It was like she’d suddenly unlocked a cheat code. “Whatever!” Bria fumed. “She simply fools my grandpa and cousin into believing she’s part of the family. She couldn’t possibly be my long-missed cousin.”
Resentment simmered in Bria’s eyes. She was Tyrone’s granddaughter, and she felt Leila was nothing more than a scheming woman pretending to be one.
She doubted Leila could do anything to her, even if Leila acted after being provoked by her. Even though Klein had schemed against her this time, she still had her parents on her side. Leila, that orphan nobody, was no match for her.
This line of thinking made Bria feel a lot better. But she was in for a rude awakening.
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Nobody came to pick Bria up on the day of her discharge. Not a single soul. While she could understand the absence of Ewing and Tyrone, who were probably still upset with her, she found it hard to believe her parents didn’t bother to come for her.
Noemi sensed Bria’s rage and said cautiously, “It’s all Leila’s fault. She convinced your grandfather to go back to Ferelden for treatment. Mr. Ewing Nixon has left with them, saying you must reflect on your wrongdoings. Your brother and parents swiftly set off to Ferelden since they had to monitor Mr. Ewing’s every single move.”
Bria was torn between fury and utter betrayal. Fighting back tears, she choked out, “So they’ve all just abandoned me, haven’t they?”
Noemi hastily said, “Please don’t blame your brother and parents. Leila is at fault here! Don’t be fooled by her words the other day. Mr. Klein Nixon is your brother. He won’t just ignore you.”
Bria remained silent, her eyes dull. Even though Ewing wasn’t fond of her or Klein, he’d checked on her the most during her hospital stay. He still cared for her.
Klein, on the other hand, had only shown up once to threaten Bria, dropped off some gifts, and then vanished. Her parents barely visited either.
Truth be told, Bria knew her family had been pulling away since she got sicker. They’d given her everything when she was young, but they weren’t interested in cultivating her anymore, given her frailty. Ironically, Ewing, just her cousin, cared about Bria more than anyone in the Nixon family. Despite everything, Bria felt she still had to trust her parents and brother. They were related by blood, after all. Surely, they would side with her, wouldn’t they?
Bria straightened her back, determined. “Get things ready. I’m returning to Ferelden. Ewing’s parents will soon return. Ewing’s mother has always adored me. I doubt she will take Leila’s side.”
Three years had passed in the blink of an eye.
In the bustling heart of a renowned art exhibition, a striking woman, holding a little girl’s hand, glided toward the VIP room, a phalanx of bodyguards in tow.
Her raven hair cascaded down her shoulders, accentuating her porcelain skin and the fierce determination in her almond eyes.
Anyone who had crossed paths with Leila in the past wouldn’t have recognized the woman she had become.
By Leila’s side, a cherubic little girl with wide, curious eyes took in the vibrant artwork. Every captivating piece elicited squeals of delight and enthusiastic waves from the little girl.
Leila, her heart melting at her daughter’s antics, scooped her up into her arms. Her voice, once broken and frail, now flowed like honey as she spoke. “Sophie, sweetheart, we still need to pick out a present for your grandfather. After that, we’ll get something special for you, okay?”
Sophie blinked her enormous eyes, her voice filled with childish glee. “Yay! Presents!”
“That’s right, my clever girl.” Leila planted a kiss on Sophie’s rosy cheek, heart swelling with joy.
Their path to the VIP room was abruptly blocked by a guard.
Leila instantly recognized the Nixon family crest on the bodyguard’s uniform.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed the guard’s face as he addressed Leila. “Miss, I’m afraid you can’t enter now since Mrs. Jennifer Nixon and Miss Bria Nixon are inside, having booked the whole place.”
Leila’s smile remained unfazed. “I’ve made prior arrangements with the exhibition owner. Perhaps he is occupied and hasn’t seen my message. Would you mind if I wait inside?”
Leila’s polite demeanor and prior arrangements left the guard with little choice. With a reluctant nod, he gestured for her to enter.
Leila approached the VIP room, a wave of laughter reaching her. Yet, the laughter died down as she walked in.
Bria was seated next to a dignified, well-dressed middle-aged woman, who gave Leila a cold, scrutinizing look.
Leila said politely, “Hi, Jennifer. Hi, Bria.”
Leila then strode aside and settled Sophie down next to her, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere. Bria laughed mockingly. “Seriously? You have to compete with me over everything, and now it’s even the present for Ewing? Really?”
Jennifer snorted. “Bria and I have reserved this place. Did you have to follow us?” she asked rudely.
Leila blinked, still smiling. “Follow you? No. I’m just here to get some gifts too. I thought anything agreed upon with the exhibition owner was available for purchase.”
Bria erupted into laughter, her amusement ringing through the air. “The only reason I’m here picking out gifts is because Jennifer knows the owner of this exhibition. Leila, you make it sound like befriending the owner was straightforward.”
Artists and their circles often carried an air of arrogance. Plus, their families tended to be wealthy. Even being rich and powerful might not necessarily attract them.
It was sheer chance that Jennifer met the owner of this exhibition, which was why she and Bria got to be here today, selecting a gift for Ewing.
Leila didn’t bother to argue on this. Instead, she replied with a calm, assured smile, “If I weren’t supposed to be here, I’m sure someone would have escorted me out by now.”
With that, Leila turned her full attention to Sophie, effectively dismissing Bria’s snobbery.
Caught off guard by Leila’s composed response, Bria faltered for a moment, her facade slipping into a pout. Bria looked at Jennifer with a hint of urgency. “Jennifer, look at her! It’s hard enough to choose a proper gift for Ewing, and I’m worried Leila might pick out what I want later.”
Jennifer, visibly upset, approached Leila with a stern look. “You’re not satisfied just taking Bria’s things, and now you want to take the gift she intends for Ewing as well? Ever since you came back, the relationship between Bria and Ewing has deteriorated. It seems it’s all because of you!”
Jennifer didn’t stop there, her tone growing colder with her accusation. “What’s your stake here, Leila? You’re an outsider, yet you linger around the Nixon family, brewing nothing but discord.”
Leila’s calm was unruffled as she looked up at Jennifer. “I’m curious, Jennifer, in what ways am I the troublemaker you describe?”
Jennifer replied immediately, her demeanor stern, “The Nixon family was whole and content before you entered the picture. Bria’s always been in delicate health and was always treasured by Tyrone and Ewing. My husband and Abram managed well together. But once you stuck around my family, we’re fragments. Your influence is undeniable.”
Ignoring Jennifer’s accusations, Leila smiled slightly, stepping past her to address Bria directly. “Interesting. So, this is the narrative you’ve spun for Jennifer.”
Both Ewing’s and Tyrone’s disdain for Bria stemmed from her unexplained hostility against Leila. Beyond that, their disappointment deepened when Bria chose to get involved with Klein and others’ schemes.
Despite everything, Ewing was far from mean to Bria. After all, they were cousins.
Yet, Bria, having known Abram’s ambition to usurp Ewing’s position, did not object to being a pawn in Abram’s grand schemes.
Leila wrestled with doubts. Jennifer was Ewing’s mother. Was Jennifer really oblivious to the discreet fights within the Nixon family, or did she side with Abram out of spite against her?
Silence enveloped the room.
Jennifer’s frustration brewed into a tempest. She was acutely aware of the rifts within the Nixon clan, especially the strained relationship between her family and Abram’s. She found the family’s discord senseless and blamed Leila for this. Upon Leila’s return, Jennifer felt Leila became the focal point of her husband’s and son’s attention, overshadowing Bria. In Jennifer’s eyes, Bria had been doted on by the whole family due to her delicate condition since she was a child. Oblivious to the truth, Jennifer felt the mistreatment Bria had endured unfairly, courtesy of Leila, was overlooked by everyone else.
Overwhelmed by these thoughts, Jennifer’s patience snapped. She waved her hand dismissively as she turned to the guards around. “Enough waiting. Get this woman out now. This VIP room was reserved for Bria and me. What is this woman even doing here?”
The guards exchanged unsure glances before approaching Leila, signaling for her to exit.
Amidst the unfolding drama, Sophie’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Leila, however, stood her ground. Setting Sophie aside, she declared icily, “This VIP room was meant for me. It’s only open today because I arrived late, and you took over.”
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Bria sneered, “Are you joking? Do you even know the owner of the exhibition? Then why didn’t you say it at the beginning? I think you’re just bluffing.”
Bria’s skepticism was palpable as she confronted Leila.