Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Clayton’s men continued the search for another week, but there was still no sign of Landon or Chloe. At least they hadn’t found any bodies. That meant Landon and Chloe were probably still alive. Leila’s hope was dwindling. This tiny town was a far cry from Clayton’s luxurious manor, with all its comforts.
After a while, the unfavorable conditions got to Calvin. He was just a kid.
Clayton offered Leila a place at his manor, but she turned him down. She was going back home and intended to ask Edgar to use his connections to find Landon and Chloe.
She had more faith in her own people.
Leila refused to give up on Landon. He’d made it through so much. He’d survive this.
Clayton didn’t push it, but he made sure she had plenty of protection for the journey back.
The trip itself was uneventful.
Still, Leila dreamt of Landon every night. She’d wake up with tear-stained cheeks, her heart aching.
Finally, Leila was home. The familiar sights made the horrors of the island seem like a distant nightmare.
Trent went out with Sophie.
The moment Sophie saw Leila, she burst into tears and ran into Leila’s arms.
Sophie had grown so much in a year, shooting up like a weed. Her once delicate features had matured, etched with a newfound strength.
Once Leila escaped that hellhole of an island, she reached out to her family. She knew Sophie had been holding down the fort while she was away.
Tyrone was a shell of his former self, only responding to Jenny. Despite her young age, Sophie had stepped up. She’d taken on Leila’s spirit and resourcefulness.
Leila had never intentionally groomed Sophie for this. Leila was proud of Sophie’s resilience, yet heartbroken by the circumstances that forced it.
Sophie should have been safe, growing up under her wing. She never imagined Sophie would have to deal with so much, so young.
Leila held Sophie close, whispering soothing words, gazing at her daughter intently.
As Sophie’s tears subsided, she asked, “Mom, where’s my dad? Where are my little brother and sister? Are they okay?”
Leila’s heart twisted with pain. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to tell Sophie the truth, no matter how hard it was.
Leila spoke with unwavering conviction. “Sophie, your dad and your little sister are going to be okay. They’ll come home safe.”
Even though Sophie’s eyes were brimming with tears, she nodded. She understood her mother’s heart must be aching even more. “Daddy’s strong,” she said, her voice small but determined. “He’ll come back to us.” A servant gently led Calvin over to Sophie.
Sophie’s face lit up with a smile when she saw Calvin. “He’s adorable!” she exclaimed. “My little brother and sister are twins, so my sister must be just as cute!” Calvin, captivated by Sophie’s bright smile, let out a giggle.
Once Calvin was comfortably settled, Leila made her way to the garden to find Tyrone.
Tyrone sat alone in the garden, his gaze drifting between the clouds and the surrounding landscape. He had the air of someone waiting expectantly. A short distance away, Jenny sat quietly.
Landon had used some special tricks. Now, Jenny seemed lost in her own world, her mind clouded and her thoughts scattered. It was a wise solution. At least, it kept Jenny from manipulating Tyrone and causing further chaos.
Leila joined Tyrone in the garden, sitting beside him in comfortable silence.
Two hours ticked by in quiet companionship until the sky opened up, unleashing a torrential downpour.
Tyrone abruptly rose to his feet, his movements unsteady as he made for the door. Leila hurried after him, curiosity piqued. “Where are you off to in this weather?” she asked.
Tyrone’s face softened into a tender smile. “My baby’s getting out of school. Gotta go pick her up.”
Leila’s heart ached. He was talking about her mother. She took a step closer, her eyes pleading. “Grandpa, when will you remember? My mom must be so worried about you in heaven.”
Tyrone didn’t respond, his attention consumed by the search for an umbrella. “Where’s that damn umbrella?” he mumbled, anxiety creeping into his voice. “Gotta hurry. If this rain gets any worse, it’ll be tough getting home. I hope my baby’s bundled up warm. Wouldn’t want her catching a cold. Gotta find her quick.”
Leila watched him, tears stinging her eyes. The sight of her grandfather, lost in his fractured memories, filled her with a profound sadness.
To Leila’s relief, Ewing’s problems were finally sorted out.
Not long after Saniya had taken Leila away, Edgar used Saniya’s address to locate Evita swiftly.
The Perry family chose to team up with Abram’s family against Ewing because of his plan to expose the Perry family’s cruel experiments to the media.
Evita’s presence in Ewing’s life was nothing more than a plot to ruin him, disrupting his plan to expose the Perry family’s experiments.
It was just that no one had seen Leila’s intervention or Ernesto setting his eyes on Leila’s baby coming. Fortunately, Leila managed to escape from the island unscathed.
The chaos surrounding the Nixon family had been quelled, and Ewing journeyed to Avalon to bring Tyrone back to the Nixon family.
Ewing noticed the sorrow in Leila’s eyes and had been informed of Landon’s mysterious vanishing.
Ewing finally spoke up. “Leila, take the kids and come back to the Nixon family with me. Don’t worry. I’ll deploy search teams nationwide to track down Landon and Chloe. We’ll find them.”
Leila, shaking her head, firmly declined. “I want to stay here. This place feels safe. I’m afraid if we leave, Landon won’t know where to find us when he returns.”
“Ewing!” Sophie shouted with joy as she dashed toward him.
Ewing grinned and tousled her hair affectionately. “Sophie, look how tall you’ve gotten.”
Just then, the nanny stepped outside, holding Calvin in her arms.
Despite the outward normalcy, the subtle signs were there. Calvin appeared notably frail.
Leila had shared only the details of her abduction, leaving out the horrors of what occurred on the island, but Ewing could piece together the grim picture. Ewing tenderly stroked Calvin’s cheek. “You’ve all endured so much,” he said to Leila.
Leila shook her head slowly. “It’s Landon who has really suffered. The sacrifices he made for me were immense. Without him, I wouldn’t have survived. Sometimes, I wish I could turn back time and be the one who was missing instead.”
Ewing sighed under his breath. He had heard Landon and Leila were considering remarriage. Initially, he had his reservations. Despite Landon’s change of heart, his past actions that hurt Leila were undeniable. Ewing worried that a reunion might lead to more heartache for her.
Ewing had planned to wrap up his affairs and then take Leila back with him to the Nixon family, ensuring she never returned to Avalon. But now, it seemed that might no longer be an option.
“Don’t worry,” Ewing assured her, wrapping his arms around Leila. “He’ll return unharmed.”
Worn down by days of maintaining a brave face, Leila was utterly depleted. At that moment, she gripped Ewing’s shirt, sobbing without restraint.
As time flew by, five years quickly elapsed.
Leila had made a name for herself in Avalon.
Landon had already put an end to the dissent within the Kensington family.
Though Landon remained missing, Leila had stepped in to lead the Kensington family in his stead.
Thankfully, the Kensington Group operated on a robust system, which meant the responsibilities didn’t weigh too heavily on Leila.
On multiple occasions, Edgar had proposed that Leila assume official control by taking the Kensington Group’s seal, but Leila consistently declined, suggesting Edgar retain it instead.
She held onto the belief that Landon would return. Landon’s concerns for the Kensington Group would surely bring him back. If she were to claim the official seal, wouldn’t it imply ownership of the Kensington Group, signaling that Landon’s return might no longer be possible?
Leila clung to a flicker of hope, finding a strange solace in its embrace.
Though in her thirties, Leila’s grace and beauty belied her role as a mother to three children.
Leila’s commercial ventures continued to expand. With unwavering commitment, she dedicated a third of her annual profits to charitable causes.
When human efforts fell short, Leila resigned herself to the whims of destiny, trusting that her philanthropy would ultimately return as good luck, probably bringing Landon into her life..
Over the last five years, Burmoos had witnessed a significant shift in its power dynamics.