Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Sophie chimed in with childlike innocence, “Mammy, I call Ethan ‘uncle,’ so does that make this lovely lady my ‘auntie’?”
Before Leila could respond, Joanna withdrew her hand sharply from Leila’s gentle hold, a sneer forming on her lips.
Joanna glanced at Sophie dismissively, “Making connections so young, are you? Looks like you’re taking after your mother.”
Ethan, visibly upset, confronted Joanna, “Why would you say that? Isn’t it out of line to talk to a child that way?”
The confrontation made Joanna’s eyes blaze with fury, her tone turning frosty. “Ethan! You claimed you no longer had any feelings for Leila. Then why this rush to refute me and defend her daughter? I saw how you’ve been watching her since she arrived today!”
Ethan’s anger matched Joanna’s. “She’s like a sister to me, nothing more. The past is the past. You’re the one making a big deal out of it!”
Leila, caught in the middle, felt compelled to talk, despite wishing to stay out of it. She addressed Ethan with a mix of frustration and concern, “Mr. Brooks, though your wife’s comments are out of line, she does love you. Maybe if you reassured her more, she wouldn’t feel this way.”
Joanna’s fury simmered, but Leila’s words made her pause and turn. “You seem to grasp some truths, certainly more than Ethan does.”
Joanna’s compliment hung in the air, ringed with something less warm in her gaze, something sharp and chilling, like a serpent lurking in the shadows. Ethan absorbed Leila’s advice but remained silent, his features set in a grim expression.
As Leila moved toward her car, she announced, “Sophie’s getting sleepy. I’ll take her home to rest. We can all catch up over dinner another time.”
Yet, Leila couldn’t get in the car since someone seized her wrist. It was Joanna.
Joanna clutched Leila’s hand tightly, as though she feared Leila could slip away. “Why delay dinner? Let’s go tonight. I shouldn’t have said those words earlier. If you decline, I’ll assume you’re still upset about me.”
Leila had a feeling. “Maybe some other time. Sophie’s really sleepy.”
Yet, Joanna was relentless, “You just don’t want to dine with me, do you? If Sophie needs to sleep, let the housekeeper take her home. You have plenty of bodyguards. What could possibly go wrong?”
Ethan couldn’t contain himself, “Joanna, that’s enough. Why are you pressing her like this?”
Joanna’s temper flared. “I’m only inviting her for a meal. Why are you getting so worked up? Do you think I intend to harm her? Ethan, how can you stand there and say you don’t care about her? How can you say you feel nothing for her? If there’s really nothing between you two, why object to a simple dinner?”
Joanna’s last remark came off as a thinly veiled accusation.
Leila felt trapped. She was well aware that today’s meal with them was inevitable. Certain things needed to be clarified.
Although Leila believed Charlee was sensible, she had no desire to curry favor or cause offense to the Martel family. It simply wasn’t beneficial for her.
Leila gently patted Sophie’s head and inquired, “Will you be alright going back by yourself?”
Sophie nodded confidently. “Mommy, don’t worry. I’ll have the bodyguards and the butler with me.”
Leila squeezed Sophie’s cheek affectionately and remarked, “You’re the sweetest girl.”
Ethan was displeased with Leila’s giving in, but upon noticing Joanna’s long face, he held his tongue.
Joanna chose a quiet restaurant. “Leila, I hope this place is to your liking. I heard you’ve rejoined the Nixon family and are living lavishly. It’s been a while since you’ve had a normal life, hasn’t it?”
Leila feigned ignorance to Joanna’s veiled insult and responded with a grin, “Not at all. Despite my current life, I haven’t forgotten my previous hardships. I’m no match for you, though. You’ve been coddled from birth by your parents.”
Glancing at Ethan, Leila continued, “You should be more accommodating to your wife. She was once a joyful girl, utterly spoiled by her parents.”
Ethan nodded. “I know. I will be good to her and hope she comes to trust me.”
Joanna pressed her lips together and then let out a scoff, her eyes clouding with complexity.
As Leila entered the restaurant, the room fell silent after a few steps. She turned around to see Joanna looking panicked. Ethan was whispering to Joanna. “What’s going on?” Leila hurried over to them.
Trying to regain her composure, Joanna shook her head. “I’m okay. The doctor just called and said my mother passed out. I need to go to her.”
“You better get going then,” Leila said with concern. “Such things shouldn’t be delayed.”
“It’s nothing serious. She gets dizzy spells often. I’ll just check on her.” Joanna halted Leila from leaving, “You were invited for dinner, so I can’t just leave you hanging. Wait here for me. I’ll be back in an hour, tops. It’s not time for dinner anyway.”
Ethan opened his mouth to speak on Leila’s behalf, but Leila beat him to it. “Okay, I’ll wait here. Just make it quick.”
Joanna nodded, took a few steps away, and then glanced back at Ethan.
Catching Joanna’s threat from her eyes, Ethan said, his voice tinged with regret, “I’m sorry, Leila. I need to leave too.”
Leila nodded in understanding.
Approaching the car with Ethan, Joanna abruptly decided not to go to the hospital. She seemed off and took a step backward. “Ethan, could you visit my mom at the hospital for me? I’m not comfortable leaving Leila here by herself.”
Ethan considered her words, found them reasonable, and departed without further discussion.
Watching Ethan’s car fade into the distance, Joanna’s expression turned cold.
The restaurant boasted elegant decorations.
Leila had intended to wait for them in the yard, but before long, a waiter approached her, “I’m sorry, but the yard is reserved for a private event. You’ll need to move. Luckily, you had booked a private room.”
Leila followed the waiter upstairs. As the door to the room swung open, two men lunged forward, seizing Leila with swift precision.
Before Leila understood what was happening, a hand clamped tightly over her mouth. The harder Leila struggled, the tighter the grip became. She felt a wave of suffocation surge through her, leaving her no choice but to cease her efforts.
As Leila anticipated, the grip relaxed significantly once she stopped struggling.
The man behind her sneered, “You should’ve behaved from the start. Relax, I won’t harm you. Ms. Martel is kind-hearted. She’s found a suitable match for you. Marrying him soon will keep you from tempting other men.”
Tempting other men? Leila realized Joanna must have orchestrated everything. Fury welled up inside her. Despite her concessions, Joanna was relentless. She and Ethan, once close friends, had not been in touch for years. They now acted like strangers just to prevent Joanna from entertaining any wrong ideas.
Leila had been mindful of Joanna’s feelings, yet Joanna remained merciless. Why did Joanna do this? Anguish and rage consumed Leila as tears streamed down her face.
The man sighed, let go of her mouth, and pinched her chin. Before she could call for help, the man’s cold voice cut through the air.
“Let me tell you, the entire restaurant is under Ms. Martel’s thumb. You can scream all you want, but no one will come to your aid. I have to say, you look even more stunning in tears, surpassing those celebrities. Why would Ms. Martel waste her efforts finding a wealthy suitor for you? I’m fit enough to take exceptional care of you.”
After saying that, the man giggled.
Leila, trying to maintain her composure, turned her gaze toward the window. It was rather small, yet her slender figure could just fit through. Leila had surveyed the surroundings right after Joanna took her here.
Nestled in the suburbs, the restaurant sat quite a distance from the nearest town, with a busy road running behind it. Positioned on the second floor, Leila realized her only choice was a risky escape.
With a strategic blink and a disarmingly charming smile, Leila responded, “I think you are right, I would indeed prefer you over anyone else.”
Raising an eyebrow, the man’s smirk grew wider and sleazier. “Really? You… Wait. Setting a trap for me, are you? Planning to make a break for it the moment I let down my guard?”
“Not at all,” Leila shook her head and placed her hand on the man’s solid arm, suppressing her revulsion as she continued to praise him.
“You’re strong and in good health. Who knows who Ms. Martel might pair me with? Do you really think a wealthy young man would be short on suitors? If he agrees to marry me, he’s likely either of poor character or suffering from some health issue.”
The man still appeared skeptical.
Leila feigned resignation and sighed deeply. “I’m not naive. I know there’s no escaping this situation. Ms. Martel is determined to settle me for someone. She doesn’t want me around her husband indefinitely, I could tell. She doesn’t care who I end up with. Besides, my having a daughter complicates things further. No wealthy man would willingly marry me.”
The man nodded in agreement. “Right, you do seem quite appealing. You’re beautiful. Even though you have a child and aren’t untouched, that doesn’t bother me. Just promise to look after me once we’re married, and I’ll let you stay with me. I’ve heard about your wealth. You’d better give everything to me in the future.”
Leila’s smile nearly cracked. It was almost too much to bear.
Having already reveled in his imaginary life with wealth snatched from Leila, the man wore a smug smile, his gaze now filled with more disdain. He started to feel Leila was beneath him.
Catching the shift in his expression, Leila realized her ruse had almost succeeded. Blushing, she feigned shyness. “I need to freshen up. Wait for me, I’ll be back shortly.”
With that, Leila turned and headed toward the bathroom. Before she could reach her destination, the man intercepted her. His grin was grotesque. “Why the rush for a shower?” he taunted, his voice dripping with suspicion. “You’re not fooling anyone. You just want a chance to slip away, right? Take off your clothes.”