Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila tried not to resist too much, aware of their surroundings. What was Landon thinking, doing this in the studio?
Thankfully, the kiss was brief. Landon pulled back after a few moments, his hands lingering on her waist before he handed her a box and left without a word.
Heart racing, Leila turned to see Gregory standing awkwardly in the doorway.
“The food’s getting cold,” Gregory said, clearing his throat.
Leila stored the box and returned to the dining area.
After lunch, curiosity overwhelmed her. She opened the box Landon had given her and found an antique bracelet, strikingly similar to the one she was currently restoring.
Leila’s eyes widened in shock. She carefully lifted the bracelet, examining it closely. It bore the Rowan logo, but the engraving indicated it was not from the year Rowan was established-it was from the second or third year.
Despite that, its design and structure closely mirrored the bracelet Stella had tasked her with repairing.
As Leila scrutinized the bracelet Landon had given her, she noticed an unusual feature. Hidden on the inner side was a small metal mechanism. She hesitated for a moment before cautiously flipping it. The metal clicked open, revealing a tiny compartment-a secret space designed to conceal small items.
Now, Leila understood the bracelet’s design and realized how to fix Stella’s. But one question lingered: Why had Landon given this to her? He had never supported her work, and she had thought he wouldn’t help her with it. Yet, here he was, quietly providing a reference piece for her task.
She remembered the furious look on Landon’s face when she had mentioned earning money for the divorce. She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking at the time.
Pushing her thoughts aside, Leila picked up her tools and began the restoration. Now that she understood the process, it went smoothly. The bracelet, made of enamel and metal, required only a bit of work with a hot-melt gun and some invisible glue to mend the pieces securely.
Under the watchful eye of a recording camera, Leila finished restoring the bracelet.
Gregory quickly called Hayden over. Hayden examined the bracelet through a magnifying glass and tested the clasp before giving Leila a thumbs-up. He signed his praise for Leila’s work, noting that she was a natural restorer, her talents never diminishing over time. He once again mentioned how he had recognized her potential when they first met, despite her young age.
Leila responded with a shy smile, modestly crediting her success to his excellent mentorship.
Beaming with pride, Hayden stamped the bracelet’s box with his personal seal-a tamperproof mark that signified the restoration had been completed and approved by his studio.
After taking a few final photographs of the restored piece, Leila carefully placed it in a cabinet.
“Tell the client to pick it up tomorrow, and make sure you’re the one to hand it over,” Gregory instructed.
The next day, when Stella arrived to collect the bracelet, she accepted it casually, her face adorned with an enigmatic smile, as if she had a secret plan.
Later that evening, Leila quietly placed the bracelet Landon had given her in his study. She didn’t expect him to return that night. But as she was preparing for bed, he walked into the bedroom and tossed the bracelet onto the bed. Fresh from the shower, his loosely tied pajamas revealed his sculpted chest.
“This is for you. Why did you give it back?” Landon asked, his voice carrying a hint of annoyance.
Leila signed her thanks, explaining she didn’t need the bracelet now that the restoration was done.
Landon shot her a quick glance, his expression unreadable. “It’s just a bracelet,” he said casually.
Leila considered arguing but instead tucked the bracelet neatly into her bedside drawer. She resolved to return it once the divorce was finalized.
“Next week, there’s a banquet at the Hayes’ place,” Landon announced abruptly, tossing an invitation onto the bed. “You’re coming with me.”
Leila picked up the invitation and saw it was for Jerome Hayes’ birthday banquet. It was addressed to Landon and his family. She wondered why Landon insisted on her attending. Hadn’t she embarrassed him enough at the last dinner party?
For the upcoming banquet, Leila chose a simple black dress and minimal makeup. She followed behind Landon, her head down, but even so, her presence drew curious glances as they entered the venue. The onlookers seemed particularly interested in Landon’s habit of bringing his mute wife to social events.
However, this time, their curiosity was more subdued. They simply exchanged polite handshakes with Leila while greeting Landon, refraining from unnecessary comments.
Shortly afterward, the banquet began.
One by one, the Hayes family members stepped forward to offer toasts and gifts to their grandfather. Leila noticed Stella stepping into the spotlight, clearly a favorite in the family.
Initially, Leila paid little attention to the proceedings. But that changed when Stella presented a box that sparked recognition in Leila’s mind. It was the pair of bracelets she had painstakingly restored.
“Grandpa, this is the ancient bracelet from our ancestors that once saved our family,” Stella declared, holding out the box with both hands. “I had it restored so I could present it to you today.”
As Stella handed over the box, Leila noticed the broken seal, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. Her fears were confirmed when Jerome opened the box to reveal the bracelet, not in pristine condition, but marred by several noticeable scratches.
“It’s quite a challenge to repair it to this point,” Jerome remarked, a hint of disappointment in his voice as he examined the notches on the bracelet.
“I remember seeing this bracelet in pieces. Even restoring it partially was no small feat.”
Leila’s heart raced. She wanted to explain what had really happened.
“Grandpa, the restorer assured me it was flawlessly repaired and fit for wear. How could it have broken again? She must have deceived me!” Stella’s voice cut through the air, laced with feigned frustration.
“Is that so?” Jerome asked, his curiosity piqued. “Which restorer did you use?”
“I’ll call her right now,” Stella declared, pulling out her phone with determination.
Leila’s stomach churned with unease, sensing what was about to unfold. Sure enough, her phone suddenly rang. She rarely received calls, especially from unknown numbers, and she had forgotten to silence her phone. The ringing instantly drew the attention of everyone present.
“So, you’re here!” Stella exclaimed, pointing directly at Leila.
As Leila’s phone rang, the guests, who had initially thought it was a coincidence, now looked at her with growing interest. Earlier, she had already piqued curiosity by arriving with Landon. Now, her sudden involvement with the Hayes family’s antique restoration added another layer of intrigue.
“I remember the Kensington family’s adopted daughter used to dabble in these things as a child. I never imagined she’d pursue it as a profession,” one guest whispered, setting off murmurs of agreement.
“Is this just a hobby for her, or has she fallen on hard times?”
The whispers continued, speculation swirling around Leila’s intentions.
Jerome, ever composed, stood up politely but with a hint of curiosity. “Mrs. Kensington, did you handle the restoration?” he inquired.
Landon stepped forward, trying to diffuse the situation. “My wife is passionate about restoration. However, since there seems to be an issue with the repair, how much compensation is required? I’m willing to cover the costs.”
“I’ve already paid five hundred thousand for the repairs!” Stella interjected firmly.
Stella’s statement sent a ripple through the guests.
“Five hundred thousand for a bracelet? That’s absurd!”
“Mrs. Kensington might be exploiting her reputation for personal gain!”
“I always thought her restoration work was just a hobby. Who knew it was all about money?”
“Is it possible Mrs. Kensington deceived her for half a million?”
Each comment cut deep, reminding Leila of the doubts and suspicions swirling around her.
But what stung the most was Landon’s reaction. Without hesitation, he assumed her guilt and offered to pay on her behalf. It wasn’t her fault, though. Stella had set her up, just as she had done before in the hospital. And yet again, Landon chose to believe someone else over her.
“What are you talking about?” Jerome suddenly interrupted. “It’s just a broken bracelet. It’s already impressive that it was restored at all. What do you mean by compensation? Consider this half a million my gift to Mrs. Kensington,” he said, waving his hand dismissively, signaling Stella to put the bracelet away.
Sensing this was her only chance, Leila gathered her courage and stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Jerome.
The guests watched with curiosity, and Jerome regarded her with a mixture of puzzlement and intrigue. Landon leaned in, whispering sharply, “The matter is settled. What else do you want to do?”
Leila responded firmly through sign language, stating that it wasn’t settled because she was not at fault. She added that she was more than willing to explain the situation herself if Landon wasn’t going to help her express her thoughts.
Determined to clear her name, Leila felt a surge of resolve.
Landon’s expression darkened, his patience waning. But after a brief pause, he relented. “Fine, go ahead.”
Taking a deep breath, Leila signed, explaining that she had indeed restored the bracelet, and it was flawless after her work. She had recorded the entire process as proof. The bracelet was in perfect condition when she handed it over to Miss Hayes.
Landon’s expression grew tense.