Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
The fire lit up half the sky.
Leila’s shocked gaze shifted from the burning car to Mr. Lando’s mask. “Why? Why did you save me?” she asked in astonishment.
The only response was a sudden collapse.
The abrupt sense of weightlessness made Leila instinctively cling to Mr. Lando’s neck.
Mr. Lando knelt on the ground, clearly exhausted, but his grip didn’t loosen. He let out a grunt, the veins in his arms bulging.
Leila tried to pull away from his arms, but Mr. Lando fell to the ground, completely losing consciousness.
Leila was taken aback, her hands trembling as she shook Mr. Lando urgently. “Mr. Lando? Mr. Lando?” she called out, her voice tinged with panic.
The wail of the ambulance sirens grew louder, nearing their location. Despite the approaching medical team, Leila’s anxiety did not wane. Her fear escalated when she noticed the gruesome wound in his chest-a vivid and bloody display of torn flesh. She deduced that this was the source of the blood that covered him.
Tears welled in her eyes, her vision blurred by the distress of seeing him so grievously injured. Why did he have to sacrifice himself for her?
The violent shaking had dislodged Mr. Lando’s mask, skewing it to reveal his sharply defined, pale chin. If the mask moved a bit more, Leila could see his entire face. A part of her longed to remove his mask completely to confirm her growing suspicions.
Yet, as the thought crossed her mind, her fingertips quivered uncontrollably, as if shocked by electricity. She lacked the courage to unveil his face.
Just then, the paramedics arrived, rushing to load both Leila and Mr. Lando onto stretchers.
As they wheeled Leila away, her strength gave out, and she fainted, overwhelmed by the chaos and her emotions.
Upon waking again, Leila was met with the sound of sobbing. It was her assistant, Liza Gomez, crying uncontrollably. As soon as she noticed Leila stirring, she abruptly stopped her tears and spoke with a shaky voice. “Leila, you’re finally awake! I was so terrified.”
Leila, still feeling a bit weak, managed a reassuring wave of her hand and felt considerably better than before. She joked lightly, “Even if I hadn’t woken up, your crying surely would’ve woken me.”
Liza, still sniffing, stammered, “Sorry. I just can’t calm down. I’m really scared.”
Leila offered comfort, saying, “Hey, it’s okay. I guess I’m just lucky.”
Liza’s backstory was a poignant one. Leila had met her abroad. Liza was a bright student whose life had been marred by tragedy. Her parents had passed away due to an accident at a construction site, leaving behind a significant sum of compensation, which her uncle’s family swiftly claimed for themselves.
Liza had spent her life under the roof and rule of others. She had excelled in her college entrance exams and had been accepted into a reputable university, but her uncle’s family had other plans. They intended to marry her off, not wanting to pay for her tuition fees.
In a bold move, Liza stole the bank card, fled, and used all her savings to move abroad, where she balanced work and studies. She was not only intelligent but also resourceful.
Initially, Liza worked part-time at Leila’s auction house during the holidays. Recognizing Liza’s potential, Leila soon made Liza a permanent fixture at her side.
To Liza, Leila was more than a superior. Leila was a sister in spirit, though Liza was often prone to tears, much like a child.
Liza continued to berate herself, “It’s all my fault. I knew Stan was no good, yet I let my guard down and didn’t keep an eye on the car. That gave him the perfect chance to tamper with the brakes. Please scold me as you should have; I am to blame! If it weren’t for that kind-hearted stranger, you might not have survived. Don’t worry, I’ve already called the cops. Stan won’t get away with this.”
Leila shook her head dismissively. “Calling the police won’t help.”
During the period of her coma, Leila’s mind still functioned, replaying the car incident repeatedly. She had reached a troubling conclusion. Stan must have had something to do with the incident, but he wasn’t the perpetrator. After all, the police would surely determine who had tampered with the car’s brakes. It would be foolish of Stan to leave such an obvious trail.
Suddenly, Leila grasped Liza’s hand firmly. “Liza, you need to go to the police station right now and withdraw the complaint. Tell them to drop the investigation and declare it an accident.”
Liza looked at Leila in disbelief. “What are you thinking? He tried to kill you!”
Leila let out a wry laugh. “Believe it or not, even with the police involved, Stan won’t face any consequences.”
Bribing someone to take the blame with a significant amount of money wasn’t difficult.
Liza understood, but her frustration was palpable. “I just can’t stand the thought of him getting away with it.”
Leila’s gaze was icy and resolute. “We have plenty of time, Liza. There’s no need to rush. Could you please take me to meet my savior?”
Leila didn’t suffer much from the car crash, and after advising her on a few precautions, the nurse allowed her to leave the bed.
However, as Leila approached the door, she was halted. “What are you doing here?” Lenny demanded, blocking the doorway, his gaze piercing through Leila as though she were a foe. “My master needs his rest. If you truly care about him, you’ll stay away. Do you realize that ever since my master met you, he’s been either hurt or indebted because of you? You should keep your distance.”
Liza bristled at his words, her displeasure evident. With a sneer, she seized Lenny by the collar of his shirt. “Out of my way, boy!”
Lenny struggled but soon realized the formidable strength Liza possessed, his face flushing a deep red. “You! Get out of my way. Don’t cry when I hit you!”
Leila watched the confrontation silently, her gaze fixed on the closed door. After a moment, she spoke. “Liza, let’s go.”
Reluctantly, Liza released Lenny. As she and Leila turned to leave, she huffed, “Mr. Lando is decent and competent. He keeps his emotions in check, something you might benefit from learning. I fail to see why he keeps you around.”
Lenny retorted through clenched teeth, anger simmering, “Don’t force me to strike you away. Just go. I can’t stand the sight of you.”
“Lenny!” Suddenly, a voice called out from within the room.
Lenny’s arrogance deflated instantly. “Sir, I’m here.” He approached the ward door and nudged it open, but only just a sliver.
Liza, unable to hold back her frustration, snickered and whispered to Leila, “Look at him. Ass in the lion’s skin.”
Leila sighed in resignation. “Then why let him get to you?”
Liza bowed her head, murmuring, “It won’t happen again.”
What transpired inside the ward remained a mystery. When Lenny reemerged, his demeanor had softened considerably, and he gave Leila a respectful bow. “Please don’t take what I said earlier to heart. My master invites you in for a talk.”
Leila nodded without saying anything.
Liza wheeled Leila toward the room, only for Lenny to block their path at the doorway.
Clearing his throat, Lenny said to Liza, “My master only asked for Leila, not you.”
Taking a deep breath, Liza stepped aside, muttering, “Never mind. I won’t waste my breath on someone like you.”
While Liza and Lenny bickered, Leila maneuvered her wheelchair past them and into the ward.
Gazing at the figure on the bed, Leila couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Despite his injuries, he steadfastly refused to remove his mask.
Mr. Lando’s eyes, visible through the openings, were serene yet profound.
“Leila,” Mr. Lando began, his voice steady. “I know your mind is teeming with questions. Today, I have the time to lay everything out for you.”
Leila’s heart raced as she clenched her fists, striving for composure. “Please, go ahead,” she managed to say.
“Firstly, I’m aware you think I might be Landon.”
His straightforward admission caught Leila off guard, her eyes widening in shock. She hadn’t expected him to address her suspicions so directly. More perplexing was how he seemed to read her thoughts.
“You…” Her voice wavered slightly, “Are you, then?”
“No,” Mr. Lando stated firmly. A complex emotion flickered across his eyes as he held her gaze, each word deliberate. “Because Landon has been dead for a long time.”
Leila’s head throbbed, and a wave of dizziness washed over her. Her grip tightened on the wheelchair’s armrests as panic surged through her, making her feel as though she might topple over at any moment.
Her limbs felt cold and numb, but she managed to blurt out, her voice trembling, “That’s absurd! How could Landon possibly be dead?”
Mr. Lando sighed, “Believe it or not, I’m telling the truth. With your auction houses spread across the globe, you must have access to more information than I do. Send someone to investigate the underground black market in Yaeloth. There, you will get all the answers you need.”
“Nonsense!” Leila’s emotions were spiraling out of control. She was on the brink of losing it, her heart pounding in her chest and her breath coming in rapid, shallow gasps. “He was perfectly fine before, how could he be gone?”
Mr. Lando shut his eyes tightly as he struggled to prop himself upright against the plush pillow that cushioned his back. “I understand this is hard to accept. Let’s talk about something else once you have processed this.”
Leila took a deep breath, gathering her composure as she struggled to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. Despite the years that had passed, memories of her time with Landon still lingered in her mind.