Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Gregory shared Leila’s confused look.
The Kensington family had fallen on hard times, yet they continued to indulge in a lavish lifestyle. As Leila pondered this contradiction, a realization dawned on her.
Landon had once confided in her that her parents and Roderick had left her considerable assets, which were usurped by Shirley over time. These assets were likely now under Dean’s and Stan’s control. Essentially, the Kensington family was flourishing on wealth that rightfully belonged to her.
Leila’s expression turned scornful. Her disregard for these matters due to her swamped schedule didn’t mean she wouldn’t act. It was high time they reimbursed her, with interest, for everything they had taken.
With this thought, Leila turned to Gregory with a look of appreciation. “Thank you. I know you’ve been keeping an eye on these issues for me.”
Gregory feigned indifference. “Who said that? I just enjoy a bit of gossip.”
Unable to hold back, Leila erupted into laughter.
Gregory cleared his throat and added, “Honestly, I don’t like what the Kensington family has become. Under Landon’s leadership, they were the premier wealthy family in Burmoos, governed by strict principles. Now, they’re nothing more than tasteless nouveau riches.”
Leila sighed silently, troubled by the truth of his words. If Roderick knew this, he might feel dejected.
Leila had grown tired of discussing the Kensington family, so she deftly shifted the conversation, purchasing several thoughtful items from Gregory’s exhibition as gifts. Afterward, she returned home.
Leila had intended to give the present to Ewing upon her return, but he was nowhere to be found.
Ewing, one for bustling celebrations, had opted out of having a birthday party.
Leadership came naturally to Ewing. His time was split between the office and business travels..
Leila had observed a similar dedication to work in Landon, and for some reason, she found herself thinking of Landon more often these days.
“Dad… Dad.” Out of the blue, Sophie, who was beside Leila, began to speak.
Sophie’s words were somewhat jumbled, yet endearing as she navigated her new skill, and Leila understood her perfectly.
Leila looked at Sophie, astonished. “Sophie, who taught you to say that?”
After pondering for a moment, Sophie replied simply, “Mommy.”
Leila couldn’t help but find Sophie adorable, gently pinching Sophie’s cheek as she commented, “You’re so clever.”
With Ewing absent, Leila placed the present in his study before departing.
Leila had commitments that evening, and bringing Sophie along could complicate matters.
Lately, Tyrone was not sober often. In this family, except for Ewing and Tyrone, there really was no one else Leila could depend on. Sophie was her priority, her most cherished connection.
Left with no other option, Leila decided to bring Sophie. Luckily, Sophie was both well-behaved and mature for her age, full of life and unlikely to stir any trouble.
Their car pulled up in front of an imposing building.
Leila, holding Sophie, entered through the rear entrance. Unbeknownst to most, Leila owned the entire building. It was a well-known local auction house.
In recent years, Leila’s interest in restoring antiques had grown, leading her to a deeper exploration based on her initial understanding. Now, she possessed an expert eye for the trade.
She had uncovered numerous treasures in markets worldwide, all destined for the auction block at her own venue.
At first, Leila was unknown, but as time passed, the antiques she sold gained fame, attracting more visitors through their growing reputation.
Subsequently, Leila trained numerous people to scout and recover treasures for her.
During this venture, she faced numerous challenges. She lost money, teetered on the brink of giving up, and was even betrayed.
Yet, Leila persevered, financing her business with a black card Landon had once given her, stored away in a box. Despite this, she never cashed the checks she received from him.
Leila knew there was a chance she might never see Landon again, and if that were the case, she resolved never to spend his money.
By now, her auction house had become renowned.
Prospective attendees had to reserve their spots well in advance and undergo a financial vetting process. Leila had even expanded her auction business internationally.
She allocated thirty percent of her profits to charitable causes.
Once a mute who faced bullying, she had transformed into a successful businesswoman.
Fully aware of the hardships faced by the disabled, Leila tasked Ewing with donating a portion of the proceeds to a charity in Avalon, aimed at aiding disabled children from impoverished backgrounds in remote regions..
Most members of the Nixon family were unaware of Leila’s achievements.
In their eyes, Leila was just someone who squandered money and frequently stayed away from home.
Some servants even whispered that Leila’s newfound lifestyle had made her conceited. They supposed Leila habitually left her child with Ewing or Tyrone before heading out for her own amusement.
Leila never felt the need to justify her actions. She came to understand that it didn’t matter what others thought. What truly mattered was the way she chose to live her life. Her priority was to ensure Sophie’s safety and happiness under her watchful eye.
Donning a mask, Leila walked through the hall flanked by bodyguards. Guests milled around the hall, eagerly awaiting the start of the auction.
Curious and expectant eyes followed Leila as she navigated through the crowd, her bodyguards in tow. The crowd exchanged remarks in various languages. “I heard she’s in charge here. She looks so young. Hard to believe she has a child.”
“I’ve never seen her up close, but she must be stunning.”
“How does a woman manage all this? She can’t possibly be the boss.”
“That was uncalled for. Why can’t a woman handle it? She’s clearly more competent than you.”
Back in the office, Leila asked Sophie to play for a bit. Davis Ortega, the steward, greeted Leila with a respectful bow. “Miss, your presence is needed today because Room No.1 has been reserved.”
“No.1? Was it the Nixon family?” Leila’s brows knitted together. “Or perhaps a member of the royal family?”
Davis shook his head. “No, he arrived alone. And that’s beside the point.” His expression grew more serious. “The main issue is that he claimed to have purchased something from us, but it turned out to be defective. He labeled it a counterfeit. He’s already deposited fifty million with us and showed proof of his assets. It wasn’t until he was in private room number one that he revealed his true intentions. He’s here to stir up trouble, Miss. What do you think…?”
This was an unprecedented situation. Even if the item was defective, that didn’t necessarily mean it was a fake. Davis had handled many such incidents before. Yet, this individual was no ordinary client. He concealed his true intentions, securing room number one before causing any disruptions.
Those who accessed room number one were among their most esteemed VIPs. This implied that if this guest was here to cause a problem, they needed to address it effectively. They had to handle it so adeptly that the guest would have no grounds for complaint.
Left with no other option, Davis had summoned Leila.
Leila furrowed her brow, pondering the situation deeply.
Leila couldn’t quite figure out who she had offended. “Let’s go and find out what’s going on,” Leila said decisively.
Davis furrowed his brow, his voice laced with concern, “Miss, are you sure about this?”
Stepping out from the shadows wasn’t Leila’s usual play. Leila’s preference for secrecy was well-known among her staff, and this sudden change of tactic puzzled Davis. With a smile that was more strategy than warmth, Leila responded, “This very client’s intentions are clear as daylight. Leaving this to be handled by proxy might only spiral into deeper chaos. Facing this head-on is unavoidable.”
Nodding, Davis conceded, turning to lead the way. As they prepared to step forward, a small, gentle force tugged at Leila’s leg. Looking down, Leila found Sophie, her eyes pools of worry and confusion.
“Stay,” Sophie’s simple plea echoed, her words few but heavy with emotion.
Leila knelt down, her eyes meeting Sophie’s. “Sweetheart, mommy has to go and take care of something important, okay?”
Sophie shook her head and was determined to go with Leila.
Davis tried to divert Sophie’s attention, his voice gentle. “Sophie, how about we head to the children’s playground instead?”
Yet, Sophie remained unshaken, shaking her head firmly before uttering, “Bad man! Bad man!”
Leila couldn’t help but chuckle at her daughter’s earnestness. “Who taught you that, huh? We shouldn’t call someone a ‘bad man’ without knowing the whole story. But alright, you can come with me as long as you stay close and behave.”