Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
A wave of fear washed over Leila as she looked at Joanna in disbelief. “She’s your mother! How could you do this to her? Joanna, do you even have a conscience?”
Joanna’s expression twisted with anger as she clenched her fists and shouted, “Don’t be ridiculous! You’re the one who hurt my mother, not anyone else. You refused her apology and demanded she kick me out. She didn’t want to, and you shoved her down the stairs in a rage!”
Leila took Joanna’s flea-pied demeanor, realizing she was being set up. Steeling herself, Leila forced herself to remain calm. “Joanna, this is pointless,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. “You might want to see me in jail, but the police aren’t fools. They’ll uncover the truth, and your plan is too flimsy. Is it really worth destroying your life over a moment of anger?”
Joanna’s eyes narrowed as she stepped closer to Leila. Without a word, she signaled the bodyguards, who immediately forced Leila to the floor. Joanna then pressed her heel down hard on the back of Leila’s hand, using all her strength.
The pain shot through Leila like a lightning bolt, causing her whole body to tremble. Her face drained of color, and the searing pain soon turned to numbness as she felt her hand go limp under Joanna’s relentless pressure.
After what felt like an eternity, Joanna finally lifted her foot, a look of twisted satisfaction on her face. She stared down at Leila and sneered, “Who said anything about calling the police?”
Joanna released Leila’s hand, crouched down, and pinched her chin firmly. Joanna gazed into Leila’s tear-filled, beautiful eyes, deriving satisfaction from Leila’s pain.
With an icy voice, Joanna declared, “You murdered my mother. I can’t just let you walk away. You’ll never leave the Martel estate alive. Don’t worry. Your murder of my mother is safe with me, but this place will be your prison for life. Let’s see how you manage to charm anyone now.”
With a dismissive wave of her hand, Joanna signaled the bodyguards, who promptly dragged Leila away. Leila was confined in the basement, a place shrouded in darkness where she couldn’t even see her own hands. Among the shadows lurked other sinister tools.
The confinement was so severe that Leila struggled to move her fingers properly. She stifled her tears and attempted to steady her breathing. Joanna was unhinged, a complete madwoman. Leila feared what Joanna might do next.
For what felt like hours, she considered who might notice her absence and rescue her. Only Landon came to mind-her last glimmer of hope.
Eventually, the basement door creaked open. Joanna entered, clutching something in her hand, and flicked on a blindingly bright light. The sudden intensity forced a sharp pain through Leila’s eyes, jolting her toward a semblance of alertness. Instinctively, she recoiled.
Even amidst the clutter of the basement, Leila’s beauty shone through, undiminished. This sparked a deep-seated jealousy in Joanna. Approaching Leila with a sinister grin, Joanna remarked, “It seems beautiful women are treated differently, aren’t they? Men are ready to do whatever it takes for you. Such a shame, really.”
“What are you getting at?” Leila responded, her voice rough and hoarse from not having spoken or drunk any water for an extended period.
Joanna’s smug smile widened as she toyed with a water bottle in her hand. “What do you think? Care for a drink?” Her tone turned taunting. “If you want some water, kneel and apologize first. You owe me and my mother an apology. You killed my mother.”
Leila shut her eyes, resisting the allure of the water Joanna flaunted. While confined, Joanna had occasionally sent her food, but the dry cakes provided were accompanied by no water, making them nearly impossible to swallow without hydration. Deprived of water for days, Leila found the thirst unbearable, yet she knew she must endure.
Anyone with faltering resolve would kneel on the floor and plead for the water bottle in Joanna’s grip. Leila bit the tip of her tongue, the taste of blood filling her mouth immediately. The pain kept her alert.
“You approached me expecting me to bow in submission. If I take the blame willingly, you’ve prepared to record this and have me imprisoned. Joanna, it’s a dead end for you. Let me guess: someone came to you about me, didn’t they?”
The smile vanished from Joanna’s face. She unscrewed the cap of the bottle and poured all the water out in front of Leila. The water hit the floor, not a drop reaching Leila. “Come on. Kneel and lick it up,” Joanna taunted, her voice laced with spite.
Leila remained still, silent, giving Joanna a steady, icy stare. Despite looking worn and pale, her eyes remained piercing and cold. Joanna gave a reluctant smile.
“Why? Why did someone still come to you when you were in such a situation? It’s tragic, really. He can’t take you with him. I’ve laid out terms for him. I told him that if he wants to take you, he must reveal his true self.
Perhaps others are in the dark, but I’m not blind. I leveraged some of my mother’s contacts to uncover his secrets. Mr. Lando? The underworld kingpin? The feared mogul? He’s the one who offed his mother and got cast out from the Kensington family. Yes, that’s Landon Kensington.”
Leila’s heart sank. Joanna had uncovered Landon’s true identity. Yet, it wasn’t shocking that Joanna had managed to do so. Joanna pressed on, “Now, do you think he’ll choose you or himself?”
Leila shut her eyes, her voice steady. “It doesn’t matter whom he chooses. My fate is irrelevant. You claim it was Landon who killed his mother. That’s a fabrication. Yet what you’ve done is real. If you kill me, you’re signing your own prison sentence. I won’t be alone on this journey to the end.”
Joanna was rattled. She still cared about it. She regretted her actions the instant she pushed Charlee down the stairs. But her anger and bitterness prevailed.
If only Charlee hadn’t decided to cast her out, she wouldn’t have lashed out in rage. It was all because Charlee failed to cherish and care about her enough.
After Leila returned, Joanna frequently aired her grievances about Leila’s past with Ethan, doing so openly in Charlee’s presence. However, she always spoke with a dispassionate tone. “You and Ethan are married.
You should focus on your own life. I highly doubt Ethan would cheat. Besides, it’s all in the past. Dwelling on it seems a bit excessive, don’t you think? If there was something between Ethan and Leila, they would’ve acted on it long ago.
Moreover, Ethan hardly seems the type to socialize excessively these days. What’s really on your mind? Have you forgotten how to be forgiving? Why this lack of trust in Ethan? It seems all my teachings were in vain. You’ve truly disappointed me.”
Those words haunted Joanna when she saw Charlee lying bloodied yet still breathing. At that moment, Joanna’s mind seemed to freeze, overwhelmed by a chilling detachment. She didn’t call for help or try to assist Charlee. She merely watched Charlee die.
Later, Joanna’s regret was immense-not for the act of killing her own mother, but because it had shattered her own life. Convinced she had acted before her end, Joanna cunningly lured Leila to the scene. How naive Leila was!
Did she actually expect the Martel family to seek her? Didn’t Leila know herself at all? Yet just as Joanna pondered these thoughts, Landon declared his intention to call the police, right in front of her.
Overwhelmed, Joanna felt fear grip her. She didn’t want to meet her end or face any consequences for her wrongdoings. Leila maintained an even calmer demeanor than Joanna did.
Losing her patience, Joanna crouched down and harshly grasped Leila’s chin. “I’ve changed my mind now. It’s you who should die. Why didn’t you just stay abroad? Why did you have to come back? You’ve destroyed my life and my marriage! So go ahead and die for me!” she growled.
Joanna then forced some medicine into Leila’s mouth. Distraught, Leila attempted to spit it out, but her fingers trembled too weakly to induce vomiting. When Joanna saw that Leila had swallowed the medicine, a satisfied smile crept across her face.
Five minutes later, Leila’s vision blurred. The light faded from her eyes.
“Leila, bark like a dog,” Joanna commanded with a smug tone.
Leila complied weakly.
Joanna sighed deeply, a mix of relief and justification coloring her voice. “I’ve spent so much money on this… it was worth it.”
Joanna regretted using the medicine on Leila. If she had known how effective the medicine was, she would have used it on Ethan. Perhaps then, he wouldn’t have considered divorce.
Just then, the butler of the Martel family hurried down the stairs. “Miss, that man said he would agree to your request, but only if you release Leila immediately. Otherwise, he is prepared to involve the police.”
“Is he really prepared to risk exposing his identity for Leila?” Joanna was taken aback, her jealousy flaring. How could Leila inspire such devotion from Landon? Leila simply didn’t deserve it.
After pondering for a moment, Joanna’s lips curled into a smile. “I’ll record a video. Then, you can release Leila. Make sure he waits for five minutes.”
In the Martel family’s grand hall, Landon sat on the sofa, radiating hostility and cold detachment. His eyes were icy, threatening violence at any moment.
While Edgar was also furious, he maintained his composure. “Mr. Kensington, we must tread carefully within the Martel estate!”
“Don’t worry. I know what to do,” Landon responded, his voice chillingly calm.
Edgar doubted Landon’s assurances, unsure of his restraint. When it came to matters involving Leila, Landon was known to lose his composure, regardless of the circumstances.
Edgar sighed inwardly. The Martel family had indeed provoked Landon. From this point forward, it was clear the Martel family could no longer stay safely in Burmoos.
At that moment, Joanna approached with some bodyguards. The guards were forcibly holding Leila. Leila bowed her head in silence, her disheveled hair obscuring her face and hiding her expression.
Landon felt a pang of distress seeing Leila in tattered clothing. How much suffering had she endured? Leila, usually so articulate after her throat was healed, didn’t say a word.
Landon quickly stood and moved toward Leila. However, the bodyguards promptly blocked his path. Landon fixed Joanna with a cold, fierce glare. “What is this supposed to mean?”
Joanna responded with a mocking smile, her arms crossed. “I brought her here. Now, you must fulfill your promise. You need to give me your word. How else can I trust you?”
Landon clenched his teeth and his fists, veins bulging visibly on his forehead. “What exactly do you want?”
“Send me away. Have your people take me to the airport immediately. I’ve booked a flight. As soon as I’m gone, I will release Leila. Don’t try to coerce my subordinates to free her; after my departure, I hold leverage over them. They would die with Leila rather than let her go.”
As Joanna finished her demands, she pressed a knife against Leila’s neck. Yet, Leila remained expressionless. The man applied slight pressure, and a bloodstain blossomed on Leila’s pale neck.
The sight of the bright red blood sharply affected Landon. His pupils dilated in shock. Hastily, he said, “Okay, I agree to your terms. Edgar, arrange it. Take her to the airport immediately.”
“Understood.”
Joanna lingered, observing the scene for a moment longer, and then hurried out following Edgar.
Landon’s gaze remained fixed on Leila, who was still bleeding but silent, resembling a numb doll. It quickly dawned on him that something was wrong.
“Leila?” Landon called out.
Before Leila could respond, the bodyguard with the knife to Leila’s neck snapped to attention and increased the pressure.
Fear silenced Landon, his eyes reddening with frustration and self-reproach. Why was he so powerless to protect her?
Time crawled by. Twenty minutes felt like an eternity to Landon. Then Edgar sent Landon a message: “Joanna has been sent away. I personally watched her board the plane. Mr. Kensington, should we intercept her?”