Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
However, everything shifted with Ewing’s birth.
For reasons unknown, Jennifer became suspicious.
At that time, Hamlin was overwhelmed with work and hadn’t spent much time with Jennifer.
Convinced he was unfaithful, Jennifer grew distraught. Left with no other option, Hamlin asked his sister to keep Jennifer company and soothe her worries. Siena was willing to comply.
With Siena’s presence, Jennifer’s spirits lifted.
However, one day, due to circumstances unknown, Jennifer rushed to a business dinner and witnessed a woman embracing Hamlin.
This, in reality, was a simple misunderstanding.
Yet, at that moment, Jennifer lost her composure, convinced that Siena had been placed by Hamlin to keep an eye on her.
Jennifer’s resentment toward Siena grew. She envied Siena’s carefree, peaceful life and her luck in being cherished by her family.
Then a significant crisis unfolded. Ewing got lost and was subsequently kidnapped.
The catalyst for his disappearance was linked to Siena.
On that day, Ewing pleaded with Siena to take him out for some fun.
Siena had brought a crowd and made extensive preparations. However, when she looked away for a moment, he vanished.
This event worsened Siena’s relationship with Hamlin, while Abram’s family only intensified the discord. No one stood by Siena.
During a heated argument, Tyrone struck Siena sharply across the face.
Heartbroken, Siena left the Nixon household with Leila, vowing never to return.
The public narrative was that Siena had defied the family’s plans and eloped with a man from the countryside, infuriating Tyrone. But that was far from the truth.
It didn’t take long before regret seized Tyrone. He spent over a decade searching for his daughter and granddaughter, finally reconnecting with them only recently.
Upon hearing this, Leila instantly voiced her suspicion, “That’s not possible. My mother is meticulous. She wouldn’t let such a thing happen. There must be a mole.”
“That’s correct,” Ewing replied with a bitter smile. “We just discovered the mole. It turns out to be my own mother.”
Leila was dumbfounded at this revelation, her eyes wide as she stared at Ewing in sheer disbelief.
Ewing’s eyes filled with bitterness, and his voice quivered as he spoke.
“Though it pains me to acknowledge it, the truth stands undeniable. The truth only came to light recently. Before the truth was uncovered, I was still under the impression that Siena was to blame. Yet, I’ve never held it against her.
Despite the struggles of the five years before I was found, I was certain of her innocence. I suspected a betrayer among my family, but never imagined it would be my own mother.”
“How could that be possible…” Leila’s voice trailed off in shock. Though she had never warmed to Jennifer, the idea of Jennifer being the mastermind seemed far-fetched. Ewing, her son, faced betrayals too raw to ignore.
Tyrone, during his lucid moments, had shared grim tales of the past. When Ewing’s whereabouts had been uncovered, his captors had even planned to maim him to shirk their responsibility, ensuring Ewing could never reveal the full extent of their wrongdoings.
Leila’s emotions were a tangled mess. She doubted her mother would ever orchestrate such heinous acts. But as the truth unfolded, it became apparent: Jennifer, Ewing’s own mother, was behind his years of torment.
Ewing hesitated before continuing, “I know it’s hard to believe. I found it hard to accept myself at first. But soon, we’ll understand my mom’s motives.”
Just then, a disturbance erupted at the door. Then, Hamlin’s voice called out, “Ewing, is Leila awake?”
“Yes,” Ewing responded as he opened the door.
Hamlin entered first, looking as worn as Ewing had described. His eyes were shadowed, his gait awkward as though each step pained him. Having spent the entire night on his knees, Hamlin was undoubtedly in discomfort.
Despite this, the moment Hamlin’s eyes fell on Leila lying in the bed, they filled with tears. He knelt before her.
Startled, Leila exclaimed, “Hamlin, what are you doing? Please, stand up.”
But Hamlin shook his head, striking his own cheek hard.
“This is all my fault. I’ve failed to notice the signs of my wife’s misdeeds and stop her in time. I never saw the darkness in her thoughts. Hadn’t I brought her into our lives, none of this would have happened.
I’m terribly sorry, Leila. I’ve seen what they did to Sophie. It was horrific. I’m not asking you to forgive us all, but at least know that Ewing cares deeply for you. Try not to hold this against him.”
Tears brimmed in Leila’s eyes.
Ewing stepped forward, lending Hamlin a hand to rise. “Leila has just regained her consciousness. The doctor has advised her to take some good rest. Let’s wrap up the handling of this situation quickly so that she can rest.”
With Ewing’s assistance, Hamlin got to his feet and nodded.
Yet, Hamlin turned around, his face set into a cold, stern mask. “Bring her in!”
A cadre of bodyguards ushered in a woman with unkempt hair. She was swearing loudly. With a bit of focus, one could discern she was directing her curses at Leila.
Leila gazed at the woman’s face. Despite the woman’s disarray, Leila recognized her. It was none other than Jennifer.
“Jennifer.” A flicker of loathing passed through Leila’s eyes. “I never thought we’d meet again under these circumstances.”
Jennifer lifted her head, glaring at Leila with burning hatred. “You’re just like your mother, a witch! She lured them to her side, and now you’re doing the same!”
Leila took a deep breath and spoke calmly, “Jennifer, if you reveal your reasons, I might find leniency in my heart.” In truth, Leila was bluffing. Her motive was to uncover the truth and vindicate her late mother.
Defeated, Jennifer slumped to the floor, her eyes void of any spark. She whispered, “Alright. I’ll tell.”
Jennifer had always loathed Siena ever since she married into the Nixon family, her envy blinding her mind. She had a less-than-merry life with her own family.
When Jennifer wed Hamlin, she harbored feelings for another, yet her family dismissed her affections and stood against her. They traded her to the Nixon family as if she were mere merchandise.
Upon entering the Nixon household, Jennifer discovered that Siena, the sole daughter, was cherished deeply. Her parents adored her, and while there was rivalry among her two brothers, they treated her kindly.
Hamlin, in particular, held a profound affection for Siena. Siena lived a life akin to that of a princess.
The union of Hamlin and Jennifer was arranged by their families, devoid of mutual affection.
Ironically, Jennifer had cheated on Hamlin. After learning of this, Hamlin enlisted Siena’s help to intervene.
Later on, Jennifer’s affair became public knowledge for reasons unknown.
Jennifer suspected Siena was behind this, intensifying her existing discontent and resentment toward Siena. Therefore, she orchestrated everything to ensure Siena’s misery.
Eventually, as Jennifer had envisioned, Siena, heartbroken, left the Nixon family. Jennifer was smug, relishing her success in removing Siena from the picture.
What Jennifer failed to see coming was that while Siena did not return to the Nixon family, Leila unexpectedly did, thanks to Bria’s schemes.
Leila and Siena bore a striking resemblance. Just like Siena, Leila was cherished by the Nixon family upon her return, particularly by Ewing and Tyrone.
Due to her own and her family’s demerits, Bria did not earn the rest of the Nixon family’s affection, which sort of garnered sympathy from Jennifer.
While sympathy was involved, it was more about Jennifer’s attempts to exploit Bria for her own gain.
At this point, Bria’s fate, alive or dead, was a mystery to everyone.
With Jennifer’s scheme in motion, Bria’s family knew they had no choice but to align with Jennifer.
Their sinister plot was to render Sophie mute, and their desired outcome was to force Leila to leave the Nixon family in outright disappointment, mirroring Siena’s past. If successful, the 30 percent of the estate earmarked for Leila would be distributed among them. Their scheme was unfolding smoothly. However, the involvement of the masked man, known as Mr. Lando, was an unexpected twist.
Catching wind of the chaos, Ewing and Hamlin hurried back.