Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Her tears spurred a flutter in Landon’s chest. He clenched his lips tight, masking his turmoil, and then hastened away with Leila in his arms.
Landon found a place for Leila to rest, but as he turned to leave, he sensed that something was amiss with her. Her skin was hot to the touch, her face red, and her movements restless, as if she were struggling with an unseen adversary.
The image of the guards surrounding Leila flashed through Landon’s mind. He suspected they might have drugged her.
Initially, Landon had planned to use this time to search for Elma, but now Leila demanded his attention. Since Cara had attempted to drug him, she likely gave the drug to those guards. The potential side effects were unknown to him, and leaving Leila in such a state would feel too cruel..
Caught between dreams and waking, Leila’s eyes fluttered open and focused on Landon.
“Landon!” Leila gasped, her voice thin and distant, as though she believed she was still dreaming.
“Stay still,” Landon instructed with a frown, trying to maintain some distance to think clearly.
Yet, as he watched her teeter on the edge of the bed, his resolve wavered. With a sigh, he moved closer to steady her, his actions softer than his words.
Enfolded in his comforting embrace, Leila felt the warmth spread through her, calming her considerably.
However, she couldn’t suppress her body’s reflex. Her hands shot up, grasping at Landon’s collar as she attempted to pull herself up for a kiss.
Landon’s complexion flushed a deep crimson, his ears not spared, his reaction uncharacteristically shy. His voice, rough and laced with a barely concealed warning, broke the silence. “Don’t move. If you keep this up, I’ll have to throw you out.” Yet, his warning fell on deaf ears.
Leila, undeterred, began to pull at his clothes.
“Stop moving,” Landon implored, his voice tinged with helplessness.
Leila paused to look up at him, her eyes blinking rapidly. Suddenly, tears brimmed and spilled over. Feeling utterly wronged, she balled her fists and thumped them weakly against Landon’s chest. Her hits were repetitive but lacked strength, her energy seemingly drained by the drug.
“Landon, what do you mean? You don’t recognize me?” Leila sobbed, her voice cracking with emotion. “Did you forget how eagerly you pursued me, asking to remarry? Have you forgotten how you pleaded for me and our child to accept you?” At that moment, the weight of her feelings of injustice overwhelmed her, and she wept uncontrollably, grasping at Landon’s shirt.
Landon was baffled by her words. Yet, just like that night at the bar, the sight of her tears shattered his heart. It felt as though he had truly wronged her.
Without realizing it, Leila ended up seated in Landon’s lap, cradled in his embrace, whispering, “Even if this is just a dream, I’ll embrace it. Because in my dreams, I can see you.”
Landon gazed down at her, and moved by an impulse he couldn’t explain, he reached out to brush away her tears.
Leila caught his hand, lifting her gaze to his.
Gradually, their lips met.
At the touch, something snapped within Landon’s mind. His resistance crumbled. He pulled her closer with every passing second.
Under the influence of the drugs, Leila reciprocated with equal fervor.
Landon’s sense of reason faded, and he gently pushed her down onto the room’s lone sofa. He traced his fingers along her slim waist, kissing her with burning passion.
Leila struggled, her palms pressing weakly against Landon’s chest in an attempt to push him away.
Landon’s fingers had already started to undo Leila’s clothes. He was consumed by a surging desire that left no room for thought. His eyes burned with intense lust.
Just as Landon was poised to go further, a loud knock at the door sounded.
The knock shattered the moment, reverberating in Landon’s ears. Abruptly, he was pulled from his haze, startled to see Leila tousled and red-faced in his embrace.
Landon jumped up, stumbling back several steps, his breathing ragged. Why did this happen? Could she have drugged him? Yet, this wasn’t the moment for such questions.
After knocking and receiving no answer, the person kicked the door open.
The newcomer was none other than Clayton. His eyes, dark and piercing, took in the scene, his emotions a mixture of shock and fury.
Landon’s fists clenched as his mind raced, struggling to come up with an explanation.
Leila, still under the influence of the drug, was visibly distressed, tears streaming down her face, yet her gaze remained fixed on Landon. Clayton swiftly moved to cover her with his coat, his eyes never leaving Landon, who appeared bewildered and overwhelmed. With a sigh of relief, Clayton realized Landon had yet to recall Leila. Seizing the moment, Clayton began to scold Landon.
“Landon, I know you don’t love my sister, but you two are married. Behave yourself for the sake of Elma. Would you want her to learn her father is unfaithful?”
A mix of rage and frustration washed over Landon. He found himself at a loss for words, grappling with the regret that things had escalated to this.
As Clayton held Leila, jealousy gnawed at Landon, his voice laden with bitterness. “Why don’t you ask your dear sister about her actions? Yes, I nearly slipped, but she had this woman kidnapped and drugged. Had I been just a few minutes later, your sister’s men would have taken advantage of this innocent woman.”
Clayton was shocked beyond belief. “Cara did this to her?” Landon, his calm now restored, responded icily, “What, you think I’m lying about your sister? You know what she’s capable of. I’m not making this up.”
Clayton wanted to protest, but the sight of Leila’s condition urged him to instruct his bodyguards to rush her to the hospital. After arranging everything, Clayton turned back to Landon, his face a mask of conflicting emotions. Hidden in the shadows, his troubled expression went unnoticed by Landon.
“Landon, I can overlook what happened today. I won’t breathe a word of it, not even to Cara. As for her targeting that woman, I’ll talk to her. Just remember, I’m doing this for Elma, and I’ll only cover for you this one time.”
Landon was quick to challenge him. “Whether it’s for Elma or Cara, you and I both know the truth.”
Clayton scowled. “I’ve said my piece. The next move is yours.”
Landon stopped Clayton, uncertainty in his voice as he inquired, “You seem to know that woman well. What’s her name?”
Clayton’s heart pounded. Why was Landon asking about Leila? Yet, after a moment’s reflection, he figured that even if Landon’s memories were cloudy, the feelings buried deep in his heart remained undeniable.
Clayton paused briefly before saying, “She is Sarah Miller. You both grew up together, and she always stood in the way of you and Cara. She’s done a lot to hurt Cara, all because of you. You even vowed to cut ties with her forever. If you doubt my words, feel free to check it yourself.”
Landon furrowed his brows in confusion. “If that’s true, then why did you…”
Clayton bit his lip, cutting Landon off. “Those things are in the past. I know her well, and I’d rather not rake up those old grievances. Besides, if something happened to her because of Cara, it wouldn’t bode well for Cara.” With that, Clayton walked away.
To stop Landon from following, Clayton had someone fetch Elma. Half-awake, Elma was brought to Landon, her large eyes clouded with bewilderment.
Landon lifted Elma into his arms, where she snuggled close, murmuring, “Daddy, are we running away?”
Landon managed a wry smile. “We may not be able to run away for now, but don’t worry, Elma. Daddy’s here to keep you safe.” Elma wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice sweet and innocent. “I trust you.”
The next day, the gardener discovered Cara, her voice nearly gone from shouting.
Once freed, Cara’s face twisted with scorn and anger. She spun around and delivered a harsh slap to the gardener. “Are you guys morons? I’ve been trapped here for a long time, and none of you noticed? You’re all imbeciles!”
The gardener, though stunned and angry, held his tongue. Just yesterday, Cara had declared that no one was allowed to come close. Who would dare go against her commands?
After her outburst, Cara gradually regained her composure and hurried toward the villa. Landon certainly had a reason for what he did. Most likely, he was planning to leave with Elma.
Disregarding her appearance, Cara raced back, on the verge of another meltdown, only to discover Landon and Elma calmly having breakfast. They behaved as if the morning was just like any other.
Before Cara’s arrival, Landon and Elma had seemed so at ease together. Cara felt like a discordant note in their otherwise harmonious tune.
Her sudden appearance made Landon instinctively scowl upon hearing her footsteps.
Elma, noticing Cara, stood up and offered a cautious yet polite greeting. “Good morning, Mom.”
Cara, seething with anger yet unable to voice it, took a seat next to Landon. Her eyes were icy as she confronted him. “What happened last night, Landon? Why did you knock me out? Don’t you care about Elma?”
Landon slammed his knife and fork down in response.
The plate crashed to the floor, breaking with a sharp sound.
Landon remained with a poker face, yet the icy glare in his eyes took Cara by surprise. She was the one who was supposed to be furious, yet now, she felt a twinge of nervousness.
Landon’s voice was harsh as he addressed her. “Cara, don’t go too far. Are you trying to push me to the edge? I’m still here, aren’t I? Why must you make everything so hard?” His tone sharpened. “Or perhaps you’d prefer I tell everyone what you did last night?”
“You!” Cara’s voice was a mix of anger and hurt. She desperately hoped he wouldn’t divulge anything. She wouldn’t mind him telling others if her plots succeeded, but her scheme had failed.
Cara couldn’t ignore the chatter in the villa, labeling her as nothing more than Landon’s hopeless pursuer. The thought of their scorn upon learning she had intended to force Landon to her side by drugging him, but had failed, was unbearable.