Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Spotting Landon on the first floor clutching food containers, Leila froze in her tracks.
The memory of Landon forcibly kissing her in front of Gregory flashed through her mind, making her hesitant to move closer-especially today, with everyone gathered downstairs for the meal. The prospect of Landon pulling another stunt filled her with dread. It would be utterly mortifying in such a public setting.
“Why are you just standing there? Come and eat,” Landon called out, noticing her reluctance.
To her surprise, his tone was inviting rather than demanding.
Trying to appear composed, Leila approached him cautiously. Landon guided her to a seat on the sofa and began unveiling the contents of the containers one by one.
Although the meal was brought in, the chefs and nutritionists Landon had employed were top-notch, elevating the food well above ordinary takeout.
If Landon weren’t there, Leila might have been inclined to share the feast with everyone else. However, Landon’s presence was overwhelming, his imposing aura deterring anyone from coming too close.
Leila lowered her gaze and began to eat hurriedly.
Landon observed her for a moment before leaning closer, his voice low. “What’s bothering you?”
Startled, Leila nearly choked, managing to swallow her bite before turning to look at him, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
“You’re bold now,” Landon remarked.
Blinking, Leila felt a surge of injustice. She was merely trying to enjoy a meal outside her usual confines. Why did Landon feel the need to comment on her behavior? Why couldn’t she just have her moment of freedom?
Shielding herself behind Landon’s body, Leila cautiously raised her hand, her gestures hidden from others. She covertly signed to Landon that she had the entire fifty thousand from Hayden after handling the restoration for Stella.
Landon’s expression darkened as he turned to face her.
Leila hesitated before suggesting they handle the divorce now, proposing to hand over the fifty thousand to him immediately while paying the rest bit by bit.
Leila’s words visibly altered the air around Landon. She sensed the shift and instinctively stepped back, instantly regretting her decision to mention the divorce in such a setting.
“This rush for the divorce?” Landon sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Found your next husband already? That eager to be rid of me?”
Color rose in Leila’s cheeks. It was absurd. Landon was the one who had moved on to someone else. How dare he make such accusations?
Words failed her. Though she had laid out all her reasons for the divorce, Landon stubbornly clung to their failing marriage, ignoring her financial independence.
Landon’s mood darkened further as he stared into Leila’s earnest eyes. Memories of the azure glazed porcelain set Jerome had gifted her surfaced in his mind. Valued in the hundreds of millions, its sale could easily fetch a billion. Leila had the means to pay off the twenty million he had demanded and still pursue the divorce. His leverage over her was slipping away.
“Why are you in such a rush?” Landon pressed, his tone reflecting a mix of curiosity and fury when Leila didn’t respond.
Locking eyes with Landon, Leila gestured that she thought he was supposed to be the one rushing for a divorce. The reason behind his dragging his feet baffled her. She had assumed he would love the idea of expediting the divorce since he could marry Sarah afterward.
Leila tensed, expecting Landon to lose his temper publicly. However, while his anger was palpable, he simply stood up and walked away without uttering a word.
Leila pondered what his silence signified, a rueful smile playing on her lips as she continued her meal. Despite the years they had shared, she realized she had never truly understood him.
After finishing her meal, Leila went back upstairs to resume her work.
Later, as evening fell and the sky grew dark, Jerome’s loud voice echoed from below, announcing his arrival. “I’m here to explain the situation and apologize to Hayden on my granddaughter’s behalf.”
True to his word at the banquet, Jerome had made the trip to make amends with Hayden personally.
Choosing to stay out of the fray, Leila turned on her desk lamp and focused on her tasks.
Soon, footsteps neared, halting at her desk.
“Leila, have you already started on the restoration of the azure glazed porcelain? Impressive!” Jerome exclaimed as he appeared with Hayden.
Leila stood up quickly in response, but Jerome gestured for her to remain seated. “Please, continue your work and don’t mind us.”
Leila smiled at Jerome, gesturing that she had just finished the task.
The azure glazed porcelain set consisted of eight pieces, five of which had various defects. The piece Leila had been working on was the least damaged, enabling her to complete it swiftly within a day.
Leila illuminated the translucent, shallow dish with a beam of light, signaling Jerome to take a closer look.
“Wow! I can’t spot a single flaw! How did you manage this? Some sort of magic?” Jerome quipped, utterly bewildered by the impeccable restoration.
If the material had been entirely opaque, perhaps it would have hidden any signs of repair when glued. But with a semi-transparent material, any fix should leave noticeable marks. Yet, the dish Leila had mended showed no signs whatsoever-a feat that seemed nothing short of miraculous.
Beside Leila, Hayden beamed with pride, praising her efforts. “You’re really something when you put your mind to it.”
“You’re destined for great things! Us older folks can’t help but feel a bit jealous,” Jerome commented jokingly, complimenting Leila.
Then, Jerome asked, “Leila, how about I take you out for a meal as a way to make amends for my granddaughter’s behavior?”
Leila blinked, taken aback, not quite catching his drift. Could Jerome possibly know about the bookstore fire from yesterday? Was it something he heard from Landon?
Piecing it together, Leila guessed that Landon might have expected Jerome to visit her today. So, she agreed to the meal, deciding not to inform Landon that she wouldn’t be home for dinner tonight.
Jerome had chosen a restaurant that wasn’t exactly accessible to just anyone. Located close to Hayden’s studio, it boasted an ambiance of elegance and sophistication.
As the group disembarked from the car, a young man greeted them at the entrance of the restaurant. “Grandpa,” he called out as Jerome approached.
Stepping forward, Jerome introduced him. “This is my eldest grandson, Brent Hayes.”
Brent, who was Stella’s cousin and the oldest grandchild in the Hayes family, courteously shook hands and exchanged greetings with everyone, including Leila.
Once everyone was comfortably seated and had exchanged a few pleasantries, Jerome, with a thoughtful expression, took a sip from his teacup and turned his attention to Leila. “At the banquet the other day, my granddaughter might have slighted you. I want to apologize for that,” he said sincerely.
Leila, caught off guard by the direction of Jerome’s apology, quickly stood up and gestured that she was fine and willing to let bygones be bygones. Plus, with the set of azure glazed porcelain as compensation, she felt she should have expressed her gratitude more deeply.
“Your grandfather was a great help to me back in the day, and I regret not being able to support you as I should have,” Jerome continued, his tone laden with a touch of regret as he looked at Leila, hinting at more on his mind.
Leila sensed what might be coming next. Despite being married to Landon and the external perceptions of her life’s quality, she preferred to keep her marital issues private. She smiled warmly at Jerome, acknowledging his concern while maintaining her stance of not regretting her own choices.
Jerome’s mood lightened as he shifted the conversation. “It’s great to hear you’re thinking about starting your own business.” With a chuckle, he leaned in slightly, offering a tantalizing possibility. “I might even have a job opportunity for you. Interested?”
Leila hesitated momentarily. Landon was against her working elsewhere. His displeasure was palpable when she started apprenticing at Hayden’s studio. Taking another job could make him even more upset. But did his approval of her decision really matter? She pondered this sadly.
Leila had come to realize that his approval wouldn’t and shouldn’t alter her resolve. After years of marriage, she knew what to expect.
“Just hear me out before you say no,” Jerome hastily said, noticing the shift in Leila’s demeanor and guessing she might be reluctant.
Leila quickly met his gaze, gesturing for him to continue, showing that she was not reluctant.
“You know I’ve always had a passion for collecting antiques. While it’s a hobby, it’s also a significant business venture. Do you see where I’m going with this?” Jerome inquired.
Leila nodded in understanding.
“I’m planning to establish a company focused on antiques. I’ll leave the main business strategy to Brent, but we need a professional consultant. Leila, would you be interested in joining us?” Jerome proposed.
Leila’s eyes widened, surprised that Jerome considered her for the role of advisor.
“Grandpa, I didn’t realize you held Mrs. Kensington in such high regard,” Brent commented before Leila could reply.
Brent appeared slightly taken aback by Jerome’s suggestion. He then turned his attention to Leila. Although subtle, Leila detected a flicker of skepticism in his expression.
“I assumed you would choose Hayden as our consultant, but…” Brent left his sentence unfinished, yet the meaning was evident. He felt Leila was not up to the task.
Leila’s face betrayed no emotion. It was reasonable for others to question her abilities, particularly since she had only recently left her life as an obedient wife confined to the home.
However, Hayden quickly came to her defense. “Leila is actually quite skilled,” he asserted.