Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Landon didn’t care who heard. “Cara, how long are you going to keep this up? I checked. We were never married. Yeah, I lost my memory, and I’m grateful for what you and Clayton have done, but I need you to be honest with me.”
Cara wouldn’t back down. “If we weren’t married, then how do we have a child? Landon, you’ve been different since that accident. You’ve forgotten how much you loved me. Remember that trip? I fell into the ocean, and you jumped in to save me. That’s when you lost your memory. All I want now is for you to reclaim the memories and be happy with me.”
Landon’s hands tightened into fists. His gut told him things weren’t as Cara said. But everyone kept telling him she was telling the truth. Despite everything, he felt nothing for Cara. He couldn’t quite fathom the idea that he and Cara were Elma’s parents.
Ever since Landon had woken up, he’d avoided touching Cara. He always felt there should be no connection between them.
Just then, the elevator dinged, breaking the tension.
Clayton was standing there, and he took one look at Cara’s and Landon’s faces and knew something was wrong. He figured out another fight had happened between them and let out a sigh.
“Now’s not the time for an argument,” Clayton said. “You need to go see Elma.”
Landon dodged Cara’s reaching hand and hurried toward Elma’s room.
Elma’s face lit up when she saw Landon, tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. “Daddy!” she cried out. Her tiny hand reached out weakly, her face pale and fragile.
Landon carefully took Elma in his arms.
It was only with Elma that Landon’s true emotions surfaced. “Don’t be scared, sweetheart,” he said, trying to soothe her. “Daddy’s here now.”
Elma held on tight to Landon’s neck, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. “Daddy, please don’t go. I miss you so much all the time.”
Cara and Clayton stood in the doorway, watching Landon and Elma.
Cara’s face twisted with anger and resentment. “This little brat,” Cara muttered under her breath. “She never cries like this at home. She’s just putting on an act for Landon.”
“That’s enough, Cara!” Clayton snapped. His voice was sharp, filled with disapproval. “Remember, you’re her mother now. Mothers aren’t supposed to talk about their daughters like that.”
Cara bit her lip, stubbornness flashing in her eyes. “I don’t want to be like this, but you saw it. Landon treats Elma way better than me. Both Landon and Elma don’t bond with me. How am I supposed to feel about that?”
For a moment, Clayton couldn’t find the words to refute her, and he felt a headache coming on. After a moment’s thought, he chose his words carefully. “Cara, maybe you need to let this go. Some things just can’t be forced. The harder you try, the more you’ll push them away.”
Cara’s tears stopped abruptly, replaced by a look of resentment. “What are you saying? Even you don’t want me to be happy? All I want is a happy family. What did I do to deserve this?”
Cara was getting more and more worked up. Clayton had no choice but to pull her away, gently but firmly.
Landon and Elma chatted for a while. After sweating out her fever and getting some fluids, Elma was feeling much better. She hadn’t seen her dad in ages, and she was happy to have him around.
Landon noticed Elma’s fresh hospital gown. “Looks like she does care about you,” he remarked. “Seems like she’s finally learning how to be a mom.”
Elma wanted to correct him. It wasn’t her mom who’d changed her clothes. But she bit her tongue.
Even though Elma was just a kid, she could tell things weren’t right between her parents.
One of the maids had told Elma not to let her parents split up. If they did, she would have to choose one parent to live with, and chances were, it would be Cara.
Elma dreaded that. She didn’t want to live with Cara, so she was desperate for her parents to stay together. But it seemed like her dad wasn’t happy with her mom. Was it wrong of her to want them to stay together, even if they weren’t happy?
Elma’s heart ached with the weight of this dilemma. Lost in her worries, she didn’t notice Landon studying her until he spoke up.
“What happened to your ear?” Landon asked, his voice gentle. The sight of the injury made his heart clench.
Elma shook her head, trying to dismiss it. “It’s nothing.”
But Landon wasn’t buying it. His face hardened. “Who hurt you?” he asked.
Elma wanted to lie, but Landon’s piercing gaze made it impossible.
Elma’s hesitation spoke volumes.
Landon’s blood boiled. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but wonder if Elma was really Cara’s daughter. Who could be so heartless to their own child?
Landon felt Elma’s sudden cold seemed fishy. Elma had a nanny who checked on her every two hours at night, making sure she was tucked in.
But the night before Elma got sick, she’d been left uncovered all night.
The nanny wouldn’t have been so careless unless someone told her not to check on Elma.
Landon’s anger was written all over his face. Elma reached out a tiny hand to touch his cheek, trying to smooth away his frown. “Daddy, don’t be sad,” she said softly. “Don’t worry. You should always be happy.”
A lot of people said Elma was naughty, didn’t listen, and was spoiled.
But only Landon understood Elma was just craving a bit more love and attention.
Landon’s heart ached as he pulled Elma into a tight hug.
Elsewhere, Leila and Sophie approached Calvin. Luckily, his foot wasn’t badly hurt. He just had some bruises and scratches.
Leila asked him what happened, but Calvin didn’t tell her the whole story. He just said he got bumped into by accident.
Leila felt awful and guilty. “I’m so sorry, Calvin. I should have been here sooner,” she said.
Calvin shook his head and tried to change the topic. “Mom, is that little girl doing okay now?”
“She’s getting better,” Leila nodded. “With the right care, she’ll be back to normal in no time. You two need to be careful and make sure you don’t catch a cold.”
Calvin suddenly felt a little sad. “We are here for fun. But now I’m hurt, and in a week, we have to go back, and you’ll be busy again. It’s all my fault.”
Leila gently pinched Calvin’s cheek. “We can stay a little longer if you’d like,” she said.
Sophie’s eyes widened with excitement. “Really?” she asked, her voice full of hope. “Don’t you want to rush back to work?”
Leila laughed softly. “I’m not addicted to work, you know. And being here with you two is actually quite relaxing.” For the past few years, Leila had buried herself in work just to keep her worries at bay.
Every spare moment, Leila’s mind replayed the day Landon and Chloe vanished. She’d dream of going back, of changing things, but no matter how many times she rewrote the scene in her head, she couldn’t stop the nightmare. The choice between Landon and Chloe haunted her, a constant ache in her heart.
For three long years, sleep had been a stranger. But now, surrounded by her children, Leila felt a peace she hadn’t known in years.
Leila paused to think. “Hey, there’s a local festival coming up in a couple of weeks. I hear it’s a blast. Maybe we could stick around and check it out. Calvin’s foot should be better by then.”
Sophie’s eyes widened with excitement.
Even Calvin, usually so reserved, cracked a grin.
But life had a way of throwing curveballs.
One sunny afternoon, Leila and Sophie were out shopping when someone suddenly rushed up and hugged Leila tight.
Leila was about to shove them off when a familiar voice stopped her cold. “Leila, I’ve missed you so much!”
“Linsey?” Leila asked, her voice full of disbelief.
Linsey pulled back, a beaming smile on her face. “Surprise! Didn’t expect to see me here, did you?” After everything that went down with the Brooks family, Ethan had left the country and never returned.
Linsey, heartbroken, had started traveling the world. Leila and Linsey stayed in touch online, but Leila never thought she’d bump into Linsey here.
Leila’s brow furrowed. “Hold on. You never said you were coming here. Did you…” Her voice trailed off, a question hanging in the air.
Linsey squeezed Leila’s shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. “Saw your post and thought, why not? Surprise!” Leila was momentarily speechless, her heart swelling with warmth. Reuniting with a friend was the perfect pick-me-up moment.
Linsey’s eyes widened as she spotted Sophie. “Sophie! Look at you! The last time I saw you, you were just a little munchkin. Oh my! You and Landon have some good genes. She’s gorgeous!”
Linsey rushed over, enveloping Sophie in a hug, peppering her with kisses and playful pinches. “Sophie, ditch your mom. Come live with me!”