Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
With practiced efficiency, Leila swiftly completed the dishes, packing them up with precision before instructing the driver to whisk her back to the hospital.
However, upon nearing the door of the hospital room, Leila’s path intersected with Sarah’s.
An unexpected encounter ensued, their presence colliding at the room’s entrance. In a moment of hesitation, Sarah brazenly surged ahead, entering Landon’s ward before Leila could react.
“Landon, I’ve brought you dinner.” Sarah’s voice dripped with false sweetness, a smug undertone betraying her demeanor. Ignoring Leila as if she were invisible, Sarah deposited the bag she carried onto the bedside table before assisting Landon with the table setup.
“It’s from your favorite restaurant. I managed to persuade them to open early just for you. Chef Damon personally prepared it, ensuring it’s far superior to any home-cooked meal!” Sarah boasted, her gaze pointedly drifting toward Leila, her words laced with condescension.
“And as an extra treat, I’ve brought some freshly flown-in fruit,” Sarah added, casting a dismissive glance at Leila, who stood by, feeling a pang of inadequacy at the comparison.
Standing at the threshold, clutching the container of food, Leila couldn’t shake the sense of being an outsider despite being Landon’s lawful spouse.
Mere moments ago, Leila had labored over preparing a meal for Landon, striving to convey her care and concern through culinary efforts. Now, in the presence of Sarah’s effortless elegance, she felt as though her efforts had been in vain. All Sarah had to do was make a phone call for the arrangement.
“What’s that smell?” Steven’s voice pierced the air, drawing attention to his presence as he stepped into the room.
In his hand, he held equipment for the IV drip, his features contorting in distaste upon encountering the aroma emanating from the container Sarah had just opened.
Despite Sarah’s intentions to please Landon with a gourmet meal, Steven’s reaction was far from positive. “How much artificial flavoring did this chef add?”
Steven’s tone was accusatory, his concern for Landon’s well-being evident in his inquiry. “You intend to feed this to the patient? Do you seek to nourish him or poison him?”
Sarah faltered under Steven’s scathing criticism, her attempt to rally Landon’s support falling flat as she faced his silent demeanor. “Landon, this is from your favorite restaurant…”
But before Sarah could finish, Steven’s reproachful gaze turned toward her, his words cutting through her attempt at explanation. “What’s that smell on you? Are you trying to suffocate others with your perfume? They might as well post a sign outside the hospital: ‘Perfume-free zone! Say no to pollution!'”
Steven wrinkled his nose disdainfully and said, “Please take this stuff and leave. I beg you!”
Sarah began, her voice tinged with hurt as she glanced at Landon, seeking some form of validation.
Yet, Landon remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead, his response curt and final. “Just listen to the doctor.”
Underscoring Landon’s directive, Steven added, “Yeah, that’s right. This is a hospital, and patients have to listen to the doctors!”
As Sarah stormed out, her eyes bore into Leila like hot daggers, laying blame without a word. She seemed convinced Leila had orchestrated Steven’s rebuke.
“Done and dusted,” Steven announced, his movements brisk as he attended to Landon’s IV.
Then, with a theatrical flourish, he remarked, “Oops, slipped up there! A needle’s in your right hand. Guess you’ll need someone to help you eat today.”
Landon’s stare turned frosty. “Slipped?”
“Yeah, it’s been a hectic day, feeling a bit dizzy,” Steven admitted, his tone lacking remorse. “But no harm done.”
Then, Steven shifted his attention to Leila. “Mrs. Kensington, since you are still around, why don’t you take over feeding your husband? I can’t exactly redo the needle now, can I? Thanks!”
Feed Landon? The suggestion caught Leila off guard, causing her cheeks to flush with heat as she froze in place.
“What’s the deal with you just standing there? The patient is starving! I’m going to grab some food too. If you need anything, just press the call button for a nurse.” With those words, Steven turned and departed, quietly shutting the door behind him.
Leila began unloading the food containers from the carrier, arranging them meticulously on the table in front of Landon. Her movements were slightly awkward, a sign of her unfamiliarity with caring for Landon so attentively.
Leila lifted the lids off each container while standing beside Landon. “Take a seat,” Landon said firmly, pulling her gently to sit beside him on the bed. “Why are you standing around like you’re a servant?”
Avoiding Landon’s eyes, Leila felt that maybe in his eyes, she wasn’t much different from a servant. She gingerly took a spoonful of food, carefully cooled it by blowing gently, and attempted to feed Landon.
Being so close, the memory of how Landon’s lips had once kissed her lingered in Leila’s mind. Her hand trembled, and the spoonful of food tumbled onto the bed.
Leila hastily gestured her apology, leaping up to clean the mess. Aware of Landon’s strict standards for cleanliness, she anticipated his annoyance.
However, Landon stopped her. He nonchalantly grabbed a napkin, scooped up the food that had fallen, and tossed it into the trash. “Clean up after I’m done eating.”
Nodding, Leila sat back down.
“These two dishes are great, and this one’s nice. Pack up the rest of the dishes. I won’t try anymore,” Landon commented as he gestured toward the dishes, a smile spreading across Leila’s face. The dishes he praised were the ones she had prepared, not those made by the household chef.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Landon inquired midway through the meal.
It truly was dinnertime, and after all her bustling about, Leila felt her stomach rumble. Yet, she shook her head.
“Let’s eat together,” Landon suggested.
But Leila had only brought one set of utensils, having thought only of Landon and neglecting to consider herself. Now, if she wanted to eat, she’d have to share Landon’s fork. Concerned that Landon would find that unsanitary, she shook her head once more and gestured she would eat after he finished.
Landon looked at her but dropped the subject.
After dinner, Leila cleaned up and stored away the dishes.
Shortly after, Steven came back. He had swapped his white coat for casual attire. “I’m done for the day!”
“You came all this way just to say that?” Landon’s gaze was questioning.
“Sure did. Pretty considerate of me, right?” Steven quipped, a grin tugging at his lips. “But wait, there’s more. There’s a major inspection underway, so they’ve cleared out all the spare beds for patients’ families. Looks like, Mrs. Kensington, you’ll have to cozy up in the same bed as your husband tonight.”
Leila, taken aback, stared at Steven, her eyes wide with astonishment. A hospital under the Kensington Group banner, and they were out of spare beds?
Landon chuckled. “Really? Who do you think you’re fooling?”
Steven’s face took on a serious expression. “Why on earth would I lie about something like that? Need me to drag the dean here to show you the inspection memo? Come on. Do I look like a liar? What’s in it for me to make this up?”
Landon gave a derisive snort and waved Steven away dismissively.
Steven, having delivered his message, left the room without further ado.
After he departed, Leila lingered by the bed, feeling uneasy. The room was bare, furnished with only a hospital bed and a sofa. She motioned toward the sofa and explained she would just sit over there and keep watch over him.
Landon, attached to a heart monitor but clearly stable, raised an eyebrow. “I’m not gravely ill. Why the need for you to keep watch over me?”
He frowned, a mix of annoyance and amusement on his face. “Just come sleep next to me.”
The hospital bed was wider than usual but still designed for just one person.
Landon wasn’t injured in any way that made sharing the bed difficult, so there was technically nothing stopping them from sleeping together.
However, the idea made Leila extremely uncomfortable. Even though she and Landon were occasionally intimate, they never actually slept in each other’s arms. She hesitated and then tentatively suggested she should go home.
“Now you’re not worried about me? Didn’t you say you wanted to keep watch over me?” Landon questioned, his tone laced with a hint of frustration.
With no other choices available, Leila fidgeted with the hem of her clothes and suggested she summon Sarah over for his company.
In Leila’s mind, it seemed more appropriate for Sarah to share the bed with Landon. After all, Sarah had been visibly upset when Steven had dismissed her earlier, and Leila thought perhaps Landon would want to offer Sarah some comfort.
But at Leila’s proposal, Landon’s expression turned sour. “You’re not staying? Are you that anxious to leave?” he questioned.
Leila lowered her gaze, too apprehensive to respond. She wanted to remain by Landon’s side, yet she was scared that he would not want her there.
Watching her expression, Landon tapped the edge of the bed twice and urged Leila, “Come sleep here with me. I won’t repeat myself.”
Lying next to Landon on the hospital bed felt utterly odd for Leila. The bed was too narrow for both of them, so Leila tucked herself into a ball on one side, trying to occupy as little space as possible.
Leila turned away from Landon, yet despite her efforts to put distance between them, she could still sense the warmth emanating from his body. His firm muscles faintly brushed against her, and the heart monitor cables pressed coldly against her back.
She closed her eyes, attempting to clear her mind. Slowly, drowsiness crept over her-the day’s hectic activities had left her completely drained.