Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Landon looked at her sharply. “You’re saying you don’t want to have a baby with me. But unless I’m mistaken, we were quite careless last night, and you haven’t taken any medicine since then.”
Leila gestured, indicating that last night wasn’t during her fertile days. A glint of disappointment flickered in Landon’s eyes as he responded, “Good to know you’ve thought it through.”
Leila didn’t note his feelings, assuming he wasn’t interested in having children. She turned to gaze out the window, her eyes skimming over the cityscape.
“Would you like to go shopping? Or perhaps a spa day? I can arrange for someone to go with you,” Landon offered, his voice trailing from behind her.
Leila shook her head, her sign language indicating she had work to attend to.
Landon said gently, “You’re not in a crucial position. You don’t have to push yourself so hard. You can just stay home and enjoy life as my wife.”
To Leila, though devoid of love, Landon was nearly the ideal husband in every other respect. Apart from making breakfast for him, she had no other household worries, and he provided her with a generous monthly allowance. He even furnished her with a supplementary credit card for unrestricted spending.
However, Leila yearned for love, not material comforts.
When Leila first moved in with him, Landon was only seventeen. He had vowed to cherish her and love her forever. While he had kept his first promise, the second had long since been forgotten.
Lost in her thoughts, Leila barely noticed the car come to a stop. A gentle tapping on the window pulled her from her reverie.
As the window slid down, it revealed a pale face marred by swollen, red eyes. It was a pitiful, heart-wrenching sight-Landon’s lover, Sarah Miller.
Tears had already started streaming down Sarah’s face before she managed to utter a word. Clinging to the car window pitifully, she spoke in a soft, pleading voice. “I waited and waited for you but never heard anything. I went to your house, and they told me you were at your brother’s baby’s hundred-day celebration. I had to follow you here, just hoping for a chance to see you. Are you really angry with me? Did you come to her side to find some peace and escape my incessant talking?”
There was an unmistakable tinge of sarcasm in Sarah’s words. Leila could sense the indirect mockery, almost as if calling her mute.
Watching Sarah’s distraught expression, Landon’s aloof demeanor softened slightly. “Do you realize what you did wrong?”
Sarah responded with a playful pout, “If you want an apology, you’ll have to let me do it face-to-face. How can I apologize properly while standing out in the cold?”
Sarah’s gaze then shifted intently toward Leila’s seat.
Landon turned to Leila and broke the silence after a moment. “Your workplace is right there. Aren’t you getting out?”
Actually, there was still some distance to Leila’s workplace, though it wasn’t far. In the past, Landon would always drop her right at the door. Leila, obedient as ever, nodded and stepped out of the car, her heart heavy.
Sarah took her time, carefully pulling out disinfectant wipes from her purse and thoroughly cleaning the seat before sitting down. It was as though she thought Leila had tainted it.
Landon frowned, puzzled. “What’s all this about?”
Sarah looked up, her voice tinged with hurt. “Why are you upset with me? Have you forgotten that I’m a germaphobe? You promised that the passenger seat would be exclusively mine when you’re driving, and when others drive, we’d be the only two occupying the backseat. I just want to clean the seat. What’s so wrong about that? Why are you angry?”
Pretending to be injured, Sarah threw a defiant glance at Leila.
Leila didn’t have the courage to confront Sarah. She silently watched Sarah wipe down the seat and then snuggle close to Landon. Turning away, Leila walked off toward her workplace.
Landon watched Leila’s retreating figure, a wave of guilt washing over him. He tried to push Sarah away, but she clung to him like a vine, her hug desperate. “Please, don’t push me away. I’ll behave better. I won’t pressure you about the divorce anymore. Just forgive me. I know I made a mistake.”
Sarah’s eyes were brimming with sorrow as she looked up at Landon.
Landon tenderly squeezed the back of Sarah’s neck, his gaze soft yet indulgent. “This is your last chance. As long as you’re obedient, I’ll give you anything you want, except the role of my wife.”
Sarah’s eyes shimmered with discontent. Why had Leila been Landon’s wife for so long when she never deserved that title? Why? It was unacceptable to her.
Yet, Sarah’s tone dripped with saccharine falsity. “Of course, she’s the esteemed Mrs. Kensington, and I am merely the scorned mistress, deserving of all the hatred and condemnation.”
Landon tousled her hair lightly. “That’s absurd.”
“Is it, though? I was with you first, your true girlfriend. Now, rumors swirl that you betrayed her for me, painting me as some disgusting mistress.” Sarah’s tone grew gentler, tinged with vulnerability. “With all the heartache I’ve endured, shouldn’t I be compensated?”
Landon chuckled, reclining in the backseat, leisurely unfastening his shirt. “Alright, what is it that you want? Just tell me.”
Sarah gauged his expression carefully before timidly voicing her desire, “I’ve had my eye on the latest Mercedes coupe. It’s not even available here yet, but I’m really keen on it.”
Landon’s expression remained unchanged. “Then go ahead and buy it.”
Sarah’s excitement was palpable as she added, “And maybe a Hermes Birkin bag. It’s not exactly a fortune, but the prerequisite spending to acquire one seems excessive. I’ve hesitated because…”
“If it’s what you want, go for them. Not just one, get the whole new line if you wish,” Landon replied, his voice carrying a note of nonchalance.
Sarah was so ecstatic that she nearly twirled right there in the car. She wrapped her arms around Landon, planting a big kiss on his cheek. “Honey, I always know you adore me the most! I promise I’ll stop fussing. Our happiness is what truly matters!” She beamed at him.
Landon’s face, however, revealed nothing. His voice remained even. “Next week’s your birthday. Think of these as early birthday gifts.”
Sarah’s face scrunched up in a playful pout. “Oh, you remembered my birthday? Then why have you been dodging me? As your punishment, you’re banned from going home next week or seeing your wife. You have to spend the entire week with me!” she declared.
Recalling Leila’s earlier response about having kids in the car, Landon felt a vague discomfort in his chest. So, in a huff, he agreed to Sarah’s request without missing a beat. “Alright, I promise.”
Overjoyed, Sarah lunged for another hug.
Landon, quick to react, steadied her to prevent any accidental bumps against the car roof. In the midst of this, he missed Sarah’s subtle shift in her seat.
Meanwhile, Leila silently observed Landon’s car from a bookstore not far away, standing by a towering window. Whether by chance or intent, the car hadn’t moved, and the window remained open. From her spot, she could see into the vehicle. Sarah was now practically in Landon’s lap, their figures swaying slightly together.
Although Sarah’s position obscured Landon’s face from Leila’s view, Leila believed Landon was probably quite happy. After all, he was in the company of the person he loved.
Tears rapidly filled Leila’s eyes and quietly traced their way down her cheeks, blurring her subtle makeup.
Just then, a cup of coffee was handed to her.
Leila’s colleague, Linsey Brooks, followed her sorrowful gaze and immediately grew incensed.
“How can you live like this after marriage? He’s openly flirting with his mistress right in front of you? Everyone thinks you’re the one taking advantage. It’s ridiculous. You may not be able to speak, but when it comes to looks and talent, you’re second to none. To me, anyone who cheats and risks catching God knows what illness is worthless. I wouldn’t want your husband, even if he were the last man on earth!”
After working at the bookstore for years, Leila regarded Linsey as more than just a colleague. She was also a defender and a friend.
Leila shifted her gaze away and offered Linsey a thankful look, signaling with her hands that she was fine and expressing her gratitude for Linsey’s words of encouragement.
“This marriage isn’t worth your tears. If you get a chance to get out, you should grab it,” Linsey said as she embraced Leila.
Concern was etched on Linsey’s face as she added, “I got you a little cake. Have something sweet. It might make you feel a bit better. Don’t worry about the hotel delivery today. I’ll take care of the advertising magazines. You should rest.”
Though Linsey meant well, the delivery involved a hefty number of magazines to the hotel, demanding several trips to transport them all.
Feeling guilty for letting Linsey shoulder this burden, Leila quickly signed, saying she could manage her responsibilities and preferred not to burden Linsey with her workload.
Linsey, reluctant to let an already weary Leila handle it alone, persisted.
After a brief impasse, they agreed to make the trip to the hotel together.
The hotel was vast, a sprawling complex where Leila and Linsey were simply involved in distributing magazines. Leila made her way to Building A, while Linsey ventured off to Building B.
As Leila, laden with a cart brimming with magazines, sought out the freight elevator, a biting, sarcastic voice reached her from behind.
“You’re really going to great lengths just to catch a glimpse of Landon, huh? I can’t believe you’d resort to this kind of menial labor just to sneak around. If you’re that desperate to see him, I could just swipe a room card for you.”
Leila stopped dead in her tracks and then slowly turned to face Sarah, who stood there with a smug, confrontational air, quite the contrast from the demure facade she presented around Landon.
A subtle shift crossed Leila’s face as she motioned for Sarah to step aside.
However, Sarah was far from done. Her tone sharpened even more. “Are you so jealous that I’m with him that you followed him all the way here? You tried to sneak into the hotel. Are you planning on catching us entering the same room?” Her voice was not just challenging but laced with mockery.
Leila could only signal her denial, but before she could offer her defense, Sarah cut her off with even more biting remarks. “Or what? Are you here to catch us having sex? Please, get a grip on reality. You should know your place.”
Leila swiftly responded with a gesture, saying it was Sarah who should know her place since Landon would never fall for this side of her.