Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“Yes,” Leila nodded, her brow furrowed in confusion. “He didn’t seem to be lying, and it appears he truly didn’t recognize me.” Yet, Leila harbored some doubts. If Landon had truly lost his memories, why was he at the Morgan family’s estate? Moreover, he seemed quite settled there, or he wouldn’t have managed to rescue her.
For years, Leila had been tirelessly searching for Landon and Chloe. Clayton had been assisting her in this. Now that Landon had been located and was living at the Morgan family’s estate, why had Clayton kept this from her?
Linsey grasped the depth of Leila’s perplexity. Though their encounters had been sparse through the years, their communication hadn’t waned.
Rising abruptly, filled with resolve, Linsey declared, “It’s clear that either Landon or Clayton is not being truthful. I will confront them right away.”
“Linsey,” Leila intervened swiftly. “We must tread carefully. Alerting them could spoil everything. Plus, if anyone should confront them, it should be me.”
Acknowledging the wisdom in Leila’s words, Linsey tempered her fury. Her anger had momentarily clouded her judgment. “Clayton is certainly hiding something. Even if Landon refuses to acknowledge you for some reason, perhaps memory loss, why would Clayton keep Landon’s whereabouts from you? He knows you’ve been searching for Landon for years. And what about Chloe? Surely, Clayton could at least let you see Chloe.”
Leila, her head throbbing, responded wearily, “There’s more to it than meets the eye. Clayton is likely concealing something. I fear the Morgan family might not be truthful even if questioned. Linsey, I need your support. I dread giving Calvin and Sophie hope with the news of Landon’s whereabouts, only to find we couldn’t reunite with him.”
In the past, Leila had longed to reunite with Landon and Chloe, and thus, she spared no effort in her search.
Now, possessing a crucial lead yet understanding the complexity of the situation, Leila didn’t dare make a hasty move.
Linsey comforted Leila, tucking her into bed. “Don’t worry. I’ll be here for you. Rest and get well first.”
Leila nodded, her eyelids heavy, and soon drifted off to sleep. In her dreams, she found herself surrounded by a stark, blinding white void, disoriented and alone. Suddenly, she spotted Landon in the distance.
Driven by instinct, Leila quickened her pace to reach him, but the closer she seemed to get, the further he seemed to drift away..
Panic set in as Leila attempted to shout his name, but no sound escaped her lips. Then, beside Landon, a small figure emerged. Could it be Chloe?
In her dream, Leila was consumed with the need to uncover the truth. Up until that moment, she hadn’t been able to utter a sound, but suddenly, her voice returned. She called out into the encroaching white mist, “Chloe!”
At her shout, Landon and the little girl beside him stopped in their tracks.
Just as the little girl began to turn around, Leila was jolted awake, her body slick with sweat. Despite the sweat, she oddly felt better.
Taking slow, deep breaths, Leila pieced together the fragments of her dream. Strangely, the little girl beside Landon resembled Elma. Yet, Elma wasn’t the child Cara had adopted. Plus, Elma’s age simply didn’t match Chloe’s.
Leila dismissed these fleeting ideas with a shake of her head. Maybe her dreams were just reflections of her daytime thoughts. Once Leila felt better, she visited the Morgan family estate. Surprisingly, she wasn’t stopped at the gate.
Inside, Leila was met with a serene scene. Most of the servants had disappeared.
A considerate servant informed Leila, “Mr. Morgan has taken his family overseas for a holiday, with some servants tagging along. They won’t be coming back here directly after their vacation. We’re uncertain when they’ll return.”
Leila pulled out her phone to call Clayton. Clayton neither answered nor disconnected the call-he simply ignored it.
Leila, sharp as ever, quickly surmised that Clayton was ridden with guilt. Clearly, he was dodging her. Indeed, he was keeping something from her. If he feared her knowing the truth, why hadn’t he eliminated her when she was overseas? Why hadn’t he simply blocked her?
Leila was puzzled by his motives, yet she sensed an urgent need to return home. The sooner she made it home, the better it would be.
Resolved, Leila made arrangements for her return.
Regrettably, Linsey was not ready to return. The Brooks family had endured much, and she felt unprepared to confront everything just yet.
Leila sensed Linsey’s concern and embraced her warmly. “Don’t fret over me. Once I’m back home, no wise man will dare mess with me there.” Her voice was laced with assurance.
Linsey let out a soft laugh. Leila was right. Even though she mostly spent her days abroad these years, she had heard tales of Leila’s transformation.
As Linsey gazed at Leila, admiration shone in her eyes. “I remember how worried my brother and I were when you couldn’t speak up, concerned you’d be an easy target. When you later married Landon, we feared he might treat you poorly. But look at you now. You’ve really come into your own. If my brother saw you today, he’d be happy for you.”
Leila’s mind wandered to the past, touching both joyous and painful memories. Despite the years, those memories felt as fresh as if they had happened the day before. She smiled, but it was a smile of relief, not of pain.
Upon returning to her homeland, Leila didn’t pause for a break but headed straight for her company. Determined, she had the Kensington Group and her company target the Morgan Group-not out of spite, but to draw out Clayton.
Over the years, Leila had made a name for herself in Burmoos, never aggressively targeting anyone without cause. Those who had crossed her in the past faced consequences, sure, but she was more about influence than fear. Her ambition was to expand, not to monopolize..
Leila’s confrontational stance immediately alerted other companies, noticing that something was amiss. Hadn’t there been rumors of a warm rapport between the Morgan family and Leila? Evidently, those rumors were unfounded.
Some, wanting to get on Leila’s good side, didn’t hesitate to show their loyalty.
Meanwhile, adversaries of the Morgan family capitalized on the turmoil to launch their attacks.
The Morgan family’s primary ventures were domestic, and the ripple effects of these tensions threatened substantial repercussions overseas. Outsiders were oblivious, but insiders were acutely aware. The company’s executives continually sought to soothe Leila, emphasizing the lack of business conflicts with the Morgan family. There were no known grievances involving the Morgan family hindering Leila’s international operations, suggesting the roots of the issue were personal. The path to resolution was through communication, not by allowing ties to break down further.
Several high-ranking members of the Morgan family discreetly reached out to Leila, probing her intentions and reminding her of their mutually beneficial past dealings. The Morgan family’s fall would hardly benefit Leila, who appeared disinterested in seizing their holdings.
After hearing the executives voice their concerns, Leila responded calmly, “I’m not aiming to target anyone. I simply need Clayton to meet with me immediately. Only then will I cease my actions.”
The executives exchanged uneasy looks. They had relayed Leila’s demand to the Morgan family, but it had proved pointless as they had not been able to reach Clayton for some time. Clayton was the most influential member of the Morgan family. If he was avoiding them, there was nothing they could do.
Leila arched an eyebrow, her voice chilling. “If that’s the case, there’s nothing more to discuss. You’d better sort out your own problems first.”
Leila was intent on advancing her own prospects, yet no career achievement or wealth could eclipse the significance of her child. Regardless of the situation with Landon, she was resolute in her mission to find Chloe.
Three days later, the Morgan family teetered on the edge of ruin. Leila finally achieved her desired outcome.
That day, her secretary brought news that someone with the last name Morgan wished to meet her.
Leila’s somber face finally softened a bit, and she let out a chuckle. “Looks like he just can’t wait any longer.”
Yet, she hadn’t even played her best hand. Her plan was to have Edgar mobilize the Kensington family’s resources if Clayton failed to show up.
In the conference room, waiting for Leila was not only Clayton, but another man as well.
Catching sight of the man, Leila’s heart skipped a beat, sending her thoughts into disarray. It was Landon, sitting by Clayton’s side. When Leila entered, Landon and Clayton were sharing a laugh, evidently enjoying each other’s company.
Leila composed herself and took a seat opposite them. She had braced herself for Clayton’s wrath, but to her astonishment, he greeted her with a smile.
Clayton said, “Apologies, Leila. Elma has been severely ill. We had to consult a specialist. Plus, I’ve been swamped and only heard you were looking for me about two weeks ago.”
Leila’s smile carried a sharp edge of sarcasm. “Perhaps you should consider changing your staff. They seem rather ineffective at keeping you informed.”
Clayton’s smile didn’t waver. “You have a point. It might be time for some changes.”
Not wanting to beat around the bush, Leila’s tone turned icy. “Tell me, Clayton, why choose to visit the doctor just when I get out of the hospital and decide to come see you? You ignored all my messages. What are you trying to say?”
Leila was strikingly beautiful, but her usual warmth and gentleness were gone, replaced by a chilling, steely gaze.
Clayton’s tone was playful. “It seems like you were in a rush to see me. So, what is it? Do you miss me, or is something else on your mind?”
It wasn’t the time for jokes. Clayton’s playful demeanor only fueled Leila’s anger.
Even Landon cast Clayton a few disapproving glances.
Leila’s fingers tapped lightly against the table, her eyes red with barely contained anger. “Where is my daughter, Chloe?” she questioned, her voice tight with emotion.
Clayton’s smile quickly vanished, replaced by a heavy sigh. Regret clouded his gaze as he met her eyes. “I came to tell you the truth about that. I have no clue where Chloe is. You should ask Landon why he’s here with me.”
A tremor ran through Leila’s heart. She wasn’t sure how to face Landon, especially since he had been silent from the moment she arrived. He hadn’t even glanced her way. It seemed like he didn’t remember her. Or, even worse, perhaps he just didn’t want to acknowledge her.
Steeling herself, Leila turned her attention to Landon. “Mr. Kensington, can you explain why you’re here?”
Landon met her tearful gaze, a heavy weight pressing down on his chest. However, he remembered the conversation he had with Clayton before they arrived. He forced himself to say, “I’m sorry. I have no idea about the Chloe you’re talking about. I accompanied Mr. Morgan here because his sister, Cara, is my wife.”
“Wife?” The word hit Leila like a thunderclap, rattling through her mind. She shot to her feet, her voice rising uncontrollably. Her eyes, already brimming with tears, now blazed with disbelief. “You’re married to her? But don’t you remember…?”
Landon cut her off before she could finish, his tone steady but cold. “Calm down. I remember our past. But that’s all it is, the past. We didn’t end up together, and we never got married. It’s been five years, and life goes on. It’s only natural for me to marry someone else.”
Leila’s mind buzzed with disbelief, but Landon’s words rang crystal clear in her ears. Each syllable felt like a hammer, relentlessly pounding on her.