Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
But Leila, seemingly frail, was quick on her feet and dodged with ease.
After swiftly dodging, Leila delivered a sharp kick to the man’s shin. She might not have been trained in martial arts, but her knowledge of basic self-defense was clear, particularly in targeting painful spots effectively.
The man yelped, releasing his grip on Leila as he bent over, clutching his injured shin.
The unexpected counterattack stunned not only the woman but also the boy who had been crying, both silenced by the sudden turn of events.
Humiliated and enraged, the man pointed at Leila and snarled, “You’ll regret this.”
Fumbling for his phone, he immediately dialed a number. Within three minutes, security personnel had converged on the scene, surrounding Leila and Elma.
Unperturbed by the growing tension, Elma’s lips curved into a smile.
Leila turned to glance at Elma, whose calm demeanor belied her years.
The man, unable to contain his fury, barked an order to the security guards, “Tie them up!”
The security guards were closing in, forming a tight circle around Leila and Elma.
Leila grabbed Elma’s hand, ready to make a run for it. “Can you run?” she asked, her voice urgent. “If not, I’ll carry you.”
Elma didn’t answer. She stared at her hand, enveloped in Leila’s warm grasp. A wave of warmth washed over her. It felt like a dream. She felt a pang of envy toward Sophie and Calvin, the kids she’d met earlier. Why did they get to have such a kind and caring mother?
Elma’s silence fueled Leila’s anxiety, and she was about to scoop Elma up into her arms when a sharp voice cut through the tension. “Stop right there!” The voice sounded incredibly familiar to Leila. The guards froze, instantly stepping aside to create a path.
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The man recognized the newcomer as Clayton and rushed over, his face plastered with a sycophantic grin.
“Mr. Morgan!” he exclaimed. “My son was being bullied. I was just taking care of it. I didn’t realize you were here. I hope I didn’t cause any disturbance.”
Clayton completely ignored the man, his gaze fixed elsewhere.
Just then, Elma darted out from behind Leila and rushed toward Clayton. “Uncle Clayton!” she cried out.
Clayton scooped Elma up into his arms.
The moment Elma was safe in Clayton’s embrace, she burst into tears, pointing at the man as she sobbed. The man’s face drained of all color.
“They were bullying me!” Elma wailed.
“Uncle Clayton?” The man echoed, his voice filled with disbelief. His voice was barely a whisper, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at Elma and Clayton.
Clayton soothed Elma with a gentle hand on her back, but his eyes were ice as he looked at the man. “Well? You don’t believe it?”
The man fumbled for words. “Of course not. I thought she looked familiar…” He let out a dry chuckle, beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
The pieces clicked into place for Leila. This hospital must be funded by the Morgan family.
That explained why Elma could wander around without anyone batting an eye. But something still didn’t add up. Even with their investment, they would’ve had servants or bodyguards tailing Elma.
Elma crossed her arms, scowling. “It was him! His kid slammed into me, and it really hurt. He didn’t even say sorry and tried to hit me! So I fought back. Then, his parents tried to hit me too!”
The woman obviously didn’t understand the situation.
Her eyes widened in alarm when she heard Elma’s words. “Don’t lie! Look what you did to my son’s hand!”
She shoved the boy forward, displaying his hand where Elma had bitten him. The hand was red, alright. But there wasn’t a single tooth mark.
Elma was just a little kid. Even if she bit with all her might, she couldn’t do much damage.
Clayton’s eyes narrowed as he glared at the boy. Then, he turned to Elma, his voice laced with disapproval. “Why did you bite him? That’s not okay.”
Before the woman could smirk, Clayton added, “He’s filthy. Aren’t you worried about catching something from him?”
Elma nodded. Clayton had a point.
The man exploded and slapped the woman hard. “Are you blind? This is Mr. Morgan, my boss’s freaking boss! You trying to get me fired?”
The woman’s face went white. She trembled. “He’s from the Morgan family? The richest family around here?” The man was exasperated. “Duh!”
The woman was indignant. “How was I supposed to know that little girl was his niece?
And if she’s a Morgan, why was she alone? It’s not my fault I didn’t recognize her!” Clayton scoffed. But he was also confused. “Why are you alone, Elma?” he asked. “Where’s your mom?”
Elma looked down, her voice barely a whisper. “Mommy said she didn’t feel good and told me to come to the hospital alone. She said not to bother my daddy, or she’d take him and leave. I just wanted to see my daddy…”
Clayton’s arms tightened around Elma. He felt a wave of guilt and anger. But Cara wouldn’t listen to reason. He wondered if he’d screwed up by always taking Cara’s side. Leila’s voice broke through his thoughts.
She marched up to the boy’s parents, fuming. “So, it’s all about status for you, huh? If some regular kid got bullied like that, would you think it was okay? I can’t believe the Morgan Group employs people like you!”
Leila wasn’t just blowing things out of proportion. She was genuinely furious on Elma’s behalf. As a mother herself, she could empathize with how the parents must feel. If her own kids were bullied because of their background, it would crush her.
Seeing Leila about to blow a gasket, Clayton stepped in. “It’s alright,” he said calmly. “I’ll take care of this.”
Clayton turned to his bodyguards. “Get them out of here. And I don’t want to see them again. Make sure they never set foot in another Morgan Group business.”
The man and woman started wailing.
People in this country weren’t exactly rolling in money, especially in this area. Sure, it was pretty, but there wasn’t much development going on.
The Morgan family had managed to strike deals with the local government, investing in tourism and other businesses.
Now, the Morgan family practically owned the place. About sixty percent of the businesses in the area were theirs. Even the businesses they didn’t own outright were tied to the Morgan Group in some way.
This couple had landed pretty good jobs at the Morgan Group, thanks to some connections. They’d finally clawed their way into management roles. But now, they were fired for being mean to Elma.
Moreover, Clayton made sure they wouldn’t be able to find employment in this area. They had no choice but to leave, feeling ashamed and defeated.
After dealing with these troublemakers, Clayton turned to Leila, his face showing a mix of emotions. Leila knew what he was thinking and said, “I’m glad Elma is safe. I have other things to do, so I’ll be going now.”
“Leila, wait,” Clayton called out. He hesitated for a bit. “Could I have dinner with you tonight?”
Leila looked a little surprised, so Clayton quickly added, “Don’t get me wrong. I just want to talk to you about a few things.”
Leila thought about it for a second and then nodded. “Okay.”
Suddenly, Elma started squirming in Clayton’s arms. He carefully put her down on the floor.
Elma scampered over to Leila, planting her hands on her hips and puffing out her chest. “I wanna come to dinner with you guys!”
“Why’s that?” Leila asked, a smile tugging at her lips. Elma was just too cute.
Elma’s cheeks flushed pink. “Because I have to thank you,” she declared. “Even though I don’t wanna, I gotta admit you helped me today.”
Clayton had been late getting to the hospital today. If Leila hadn’t stepped in, Elma knew she would’ve been in for a world of hurt. Her mom wouldn’t have cared. But her dad would have been devastated. And then he and her mom would have had a huge fight.
Leila found Elma irresistibly adorable and gently pinched her cheek.
Elma quickly dodged, her face showing a blend of arrogance and defiance.
Leila chuckled and responded, “I appreciate your gratitude. Just remember, you’re still young. Always have an adult with you when you go out, okay?”
Behind Clayton, Elma peeked out and asserted, “I can look after myself. Thank you.”