Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Fear swelled within Calvin as he was pulled toward the villa. It felt as though he were a prisoner being shoved into his cell.
Though the bright sunshine shone outside, entering the villa felt strangely cold and dim.
Calvin glanced at the phone watch he had cleverly tinkered with earlier.
While Cara was distracted, Calvin swiftly tapped a sequence of buttons on his watch, hoping that Leila would realize something was wrong.
Meanwhile, Elma sat inside her room, cradling her sore, bruised arm. The dark bruises stood out starkly against her pale skin.
A wave of worry and guilt washed over Elma. She had never imagined Calvin would be brave enough to seek her out like this. Just yesterday, Landon and Cara had another heated argument.
In her anger, Cara had threatened to keep Elma locked away at home forever, never allowing her to return to school.
Even though Elma disliked being alone at school, right now, she longed to return. Being stuck at home without her father felt far worse than any lonely day at school.
Suddenly, a flurry of noise erupted outside Elma’s room.
The distinct click-clack of high heels echoed down the hallway. Elma felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively ducked out of sight. She strained her ears and could hear another voice mingling with Cara’s, though she couldn’t quite make out the words.
A flicker of hope ignited within Elma. Could that be her father’s voice? She longed to open the door but fear held her back. She knew better than to leave the room if it was her dad. Her mom would fly into another rage if she caught her outside.
Feeling trapped and defeated, Elma curled up in a corner of her room, letting out a quiet sigh.
Downstairs in the living room, Calvin kept a cautious eye on Cara.
With a smile, Cara offered Calvin a dessert. “Here, try some,” she said. “Most kids love sweet treats. Elma isn’t allowed to have these, even if she wants them.”
Calvin politely declined. “But I don’t care for sweets.”
Cara’s smile vanished, replaced by a flash of anger. She abruptly smashed the plate on the floor.
The sudden, sharp noise startled everyone in the room. Fearful of Cara’s wrath, the servants quickly averted their eyes and pretended nothing had happened, busying themselves with their chores.
Calvin looked around the room, a sense of unease washing over him. He wondered if this suffocating atmosphere was Elma’s daily reality. No wonder Elma was so sensitive and upset. Calvin decided to be direct with Cara. “When will you allow me to leave? If I don’t go home soon, my mom will realize I’m gone and contact the police.”
A smirk spread across Cara’s face. “What are you implying?” she asked. “Are you threatening to call the police on me?”
Calvin shook his head, maintaining his composure. “Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not threatening you. I just want my mom to know where I am and that I’m safe. I don’t want her to worry.”
Cara snorted, seeing through Calvin’s motives. Leila would have scooped Calvin up in an instant if she had known he was here. She wasn’t finished with her game just yet. She was determined to keep Calvin right where he was for a while.
Ignoring Calvin’s words, Cara motioned with her hand.
The servants knew exactly what she meant and brought out a table laden with dishes. Every single dish looked mouthwatering. Cara smiled at Calvin. “This is all for you,” she declared. “You can leave once you’ve eaten every bite. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of tricking you. What would be the point of fooling a child?”
Calvin stared at the overflowing table, his heart sinking. It was an impossible amount of food, even for a grown-up. And he was just a little boy. Cara was clearly making this as difficult as possible for him.
Seeing through her game, Calvin abandoned all pleasantries. “Let me go,” he commanded.
Cara’s eyes narrowed at Calvin’s serious expression. The angered Calvin was the spitting image of Landon. Why? Why did even a child treat her this way? Leila must have put him up to this, teaching him how to get under her skin.
Enraged by this thought, Cara stormed toward Calvin and slapped him across the face.
The impact sent Calvin stumbling, a bright red welt blooming on his skin. He bit his lip, determined not to cry.
Cara’s breath came in ragged gasps. She realized she had lost her composure.
A sly look flashed across Cara’s face as a plot swiftly took place in her mind. “You little thief!” she shrieked. “How dare you try to steal my belongings!”
Calvin stared at her in disbelief. “Are you seriously making this up?”
Cara shot a quick look at Keely.
Keely caught Cara’s hint instantly. She hurried upstairs, retrieved a necklace, and placed it around Calvin’s neck.
This was a blatant setup.
Cara narrowed her eyes with a self-satisfied smirk, looking down at Calvin. “With both witnesses and evidence, the necklace you stole, valued at over a hundred million, is undeniable. Even if your mother comes, without a clear explanation, she won’t be able to take you away.”
Calvin, still inexperienced in dealing with such a situation, exclaimed, “But this is a trap! I didn’t even lay a finger on that necklace!”
Cara’s laughter was filled with victory. “Oh, is that so? Can you prove I’ve laid a trap for you?”
Stumped, Calvin was at a loss for words. The tension in the room made it clear that everyone was leaning toward Cara’s perspective.
With a fearful glance, Calvin looked at Cara and asked, “What do you want from me?”
With a slight lift of her chin and a disdainful tone, Cara commanded, “Kneel.”
Calvin clenched his jaw, resisting.
Cara, calm and composed, motioned for someone to bring over a whip.
The whip was heavy and emitted a chilling sound as it cut through the air.
Calvin’s complexion went ashen.
Seeing his defiance, Cara’s patience snapped. With a sharp crack, the whip came down hard on Calvin.
Calvin was wracked with so much pain that cold sweat coated his skin, yet he clenched his teeth, refusing to let any cries escape.
Observing his defiance, Cara was overcome with fury. “Why do you act just like him? Is it really so difficult to yield to me? Kneel down!”
Before long, Calvin was bruised and beaten, his body marred.
Keely, her heart racing with dread, leaned toward Cara and murmured, “Your brother and husband will return shortly. Should they witness this, they won’t take kindly to it. He’s merely a boy. If anything were to occur…”
But Cara dismissed Keely’s concerns with cold fury, lashing out with the whip in a burst of anger. “You pathetic fool! Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?”
The others present had felt a surge to intervene, but the sight of Keely’s punishment silenced them.
Meanwhile, Elma, secluded in her room, tuned in to the tumult unfolding downstairs. The more she heard, the clearer it became that something was amiss. The crack of the whip sent a shiver of fear down her spine. Why would her mother resort to a whip? Was she disciplining someone? Who could be the target?
Images of Calvin flickered through Elma’s thoughts. He had visited her earlier. Could her mother have seen him? But Calvin hadn’t done anything wrong. Why would her mother lash out at him?
Despite her attempts to calm herself, Elma’s anxiety refused to subside. With dread, she tiptoed out of her bedroom and peered down the stairs. A small figure was being whipped in the living room below.
Elma’s eyes shot open in shock, and on impulse, she bolted downstairs. “Mom!” Elma’s cry halted Cara.
Though smaller than Calvin, Elma positioned herself protectively in front of him. “If you need to vent your anger, take it out on me. But Calvin? He’s done nothing wrong. Why hit him?”
Upon seeing Elma, Cara’s fury intensified. She sneered mockingly, “What? Wasn’t this morning’s scolding enough to teach you obedience?”
Facing her mother’s piercing stare, Elma felt a wave of fear but remained resolute. “Mom, I’m your daughter. You can punish me if you must. But Calvin belongs to someone else. To punish him is to risk offending others.”
Cara’s voice chilled the air. “Can’t I teach Leila’s brat a lesson? Elma, step aside or you’ll get the same treatment.”
Elma stood firm, her legs shaking, yet she voiced a determined “No!”
In pain, Calvin clutched Elma’s hand. “Just leave. I’ll be okay.” Tears streamed down Elma’s cheeks as she shook her head. “I told you not to come here. Why didn’t you listen? You brought this on yourself.”
Smiling softly, Calvin raised his hand to pat her head. “I couldn’t help but worry about you. You see me as a brother, so I have to watch over you.”
Hearing their conversation, Cara was taken aback. She stared at Elma, her voice wavering. “What? Brother?”