Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Five tense minutes passed before the little girl finally coughed up seawater and regained consciousness. Relief washed over the crowd as paramedics rushed to place the girl on a stretcher.
But just as everyone thought the worst was over, the girl’s small voice cut through the air. “Why did you push me into the sea like that?” Her tone was young but unmistakably clear, sending a ripple of shock through the onlookers.
Sophie’s expression faltered for a moment, but she stayed composed and responded gently, “I know you’re scared, but it’s not right to slander others. If my brother hadn’t noticed you were in trouble, we wouldn’t have saved you in time.”
The girl’s face twisted, and her eyes filled with tears, her small frame trembling as she seemed on the verge of crying. She was an adorable child with delicate, pretty features, her vulnerability tugging at the hearts of those around her.
As Leila looked closer, an unsettling feeling crept over her. There was something strangely familiar about the girl. Her face held an uncanny resemblance to the Chloe Leila had always imagined.
It was more than just a passing resemblance. The girl’s features seemed to be a blend of both Leila and Landon, and she could be their child. Still, Leila restrained herself from rushing forward with questions.
The girl was much younger than Chloe would have been, appearing to be no more than three years old. Chloe and Calvin were twins, both much older. Even though Chloe and Calvin had been born prematurely, there shouldn’t have been such a large age difference.
Leila’s thoughts raced, trying to make sense of the situation.
Suddenly, the girl jumped off the stretcher, evading the paramedics as they tried to hold her back.
To everyone’s shock, the girl ran straight toward Sophie, hitting and kicking Sophie while spouting curses. It was hard to believe such anger could come from someone so young.
The sight of it was jarring, and Leila couldn’t bear it any longer. She quickly stepped in front of Sophie, shielding her from the girl’s blows, and grabbed the girl by the collar, her expression icy.
Leila put on a long face, her voice firm but steady. “Hey, it’s not okay to hit people. Where are your parents? If something’s wrong, we can talk it through, but hurting people isn’t the way to solve it.”
The girl’s boldness faded, and she recoiled slightly, her arrogance slipping under Leila’s piercing gaze. Still, she let out a stubborn huff and clung to her claim. “Why shouldn’t I hit her? She pushed me into the water. I almost drowned… I thought I was going to die!”
At that instant, Calvin took a step forward. Despite only being five years old, he exuded a maturity that made him seem like an adult when he became serious.
Calvin’s voice turned icy. “You’re lying. Sophie didn’t push you. I recorded her playing in the water and have got the video to prove it. If you persist in falsely accusing her, I’ll call the police immediately and let them decide who’s telling the truth.”
Upon hearing Calvin’s threat of calling the police, the girl wilted, her eyes immediately turning red as tears welled up. Her pitiful and cute appearance made it impossible for anyone to blame her.
But Leila wouldn’t let the girl off the hook. After all, her precious daughter had been offended and bullied.
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Onlookers began to murmur, some urging Leila to let it go, reminding her that the girl was young and perhaps didn’t know any better.
But Leila remained resolute, her voice firm as she addressed the girl, “Where are your parents? You need to get them here immediately.”
“I won’t,” the girl said, though her voice wavered, betraying her uncertainty. Her enchanting eyes flickered with a hint of guilt, betraying her facade of defiance. Leila’s suspicion deepened. The girl must have snuck out unnoticed.
Leila’s resolve to uncover the truth intensified. The girl, likely from a wealthy family, was alone without any guardians or bodyguards.
Right now, the girl had gotten into a dispute with her children, and everyone present had witnessed it. If anything happened to the girl on the way home, it could spell trouble for her children. After some insistence, the girl reluctantly provided a phone number.
Leila dialed the number, and soon, a young woman in her early twenties walked over.
The woman was remarkably polite. As soon as she arrived, she apologized to Leila without even inquiring about the incident.
Leila asked, “Are you her mother? I’m not causing trouble. I just noticed she seemed to have run off, so I wanted to inform you.”
The woman waved her hands frantically. “No, I’m not her mother. I’m her nanny, Betty Gonzalez.”
Leila raised an eyebrow in shock and switched to Avalonese. “You’re from Avalon?”
Betty’s eyes lit up. “Yes! And so are you! That’s wonderful.”
Betty added, her voice thick with regret, “I’m truly sorry. She has a fiery temper and loves to run around. I lost track of her for just a moment, and she bolted. If you hadn’t called, I would’ve been beside myself with worry.” The girl shot Betty a glare, her voice sharp and demanding. “Don’t tell my parents what happened today. If you do, I’ll make sure you’re fired.”
Betty put on a troubled expression, torn between siding with the girl and facing the reality of the situation. The explanation for the girl’s running off should be offered, yet the girl just warned her against revealing today’s incident, exhibiting an astonishingly domineering personality despite her young age.
Betty always felt a throbbing ache in her head whenever she dealt with the girl.
Leila crouched, locking eyes with the girl, her gaze sharpened with a hint of warning. “You’ve been quite the troublemaker. Your nanny is genuinely worried about you, and what you did was wrong. If you continue to behave like this, I’ll go to your home myself and tell your parents how you falsely accused my daughter who saved your life.”
The girl recoiled, hiding behind Betty, her tears brimming but her defiance muted.
Betty looked on in awe. “You’re the first person to discipline her. She’s always had such a temper, and even her parents can’t help it.”
Leila noticed this and felt the girl was spoiled, likely because of her upbringing.
Leila had no intention of visiting the girl’s home, yet curiosity tugged at her. “How old is she, by the way?” Betty offered a smile. “She’ll be four soon.”
Leila pursed her lips together. The age difference was too large to make her earlier suspicion feasible. But still, how could two children look so alike?
Betty’s gaze fell on Calvin standing next to Leila, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Wait. Is this your son?” she exclaimed. “He resembles her so much. It’s as if they’re twins!”
Leila gave a small smile, brushing off the comment. “Perhaps there’s a relationship between our families, explaining why they resemble each other so much.”
Betty shook her head in amazement. “It’s astonishing how alike they look. Anyway, we should get going. It’s getting late.”
As Betty led the girl away, Calvin watched on, his eyes clouding with sadness.
Leila noticed his turmoil and ruffled his hair gently, her voice soft with reassurance. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll find your sister, I promise.”
Sophie said with frustration, “It’s not just Calvin who thought she was our little sister. I shared the same thought. However, I rescued her, and all I got in return was her terrible attitude and false accusations.”
Leila pulled Sophie into a hug, soothing her. “You did the right thing by saving her, but please avoid such risks again. Your safety is what matters the most. Let’s put this behind us and have some fun. I’ll swim with you today.”
“Really? Yay!” Sophie’s eyes lit up, her frustration forgotten in an instant.
Calvin managed a small, brighter smile.
Meanwhile, Betty and the girl returned to a sprawling, luxurious manor.
As they stepped inside, a teacup flew across the room, shattering against Betty’s forehead and leaving a bloody gash.
Betty winced at the sharp pain but remained silent, standing rigidly.
The girl jumped back, her eyes widening as she noticed Betty’s wound.
Anger flared within her as she turned to the woman on the sofa, her expression a mix of shock and defiance. “I ran off on my own! It’s not Betty’s fault, so why are you hurting her?”
Had Leila been present, she would have instantly recognized the woman lounging on the sofa. It was none other than Cara, Clayton’s younger sister.
However, Cara appeared remarkably composed now, in contrast to her previously erratic demeanor.
Cara’s face darkened as she stood and grabbed the girl’s ear, her voice a low snarl. “Elma Kensington, do you think I won’t punish you?”
Elma winced but remained defiant, tears spilling over her lashes as she bit her lip, refusing to cry out.
Cara’s eyes narrowed at Elma’s defiant expression, a storm of anger brewing within her. “I’m your mother! Why can’t you ever show me some respect? Apologize.”
“No!” Elma’s voice shook with pain, but she held firm, her defiance unwavering.
Betty’s instincts screamed for her to intervene, but she dared not. Instead, she found herself nearly bowing in front of Cara.
Her voice trembling, she said, “Ma’am, it’s my fault. I lost sight of her. She’s been worried about disappointing you and wanted to apologize. She respects you deep down.”
Cara sneered, “Do you think I’m that gullible? I’ve poured everything into raising Elma, but all she does is defy me. I’m trying to teach her right, but she doesn’t even care!” Cara’s grip was unyielding, and blood began to seep from Elma’s ear.
Elma’s face was streaked with tears, but she stubbornly held back any sound.
The other servants in the room exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared to intervene.