Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Landon sensed that something was wrong and turned to Cara, concern etched on his face. “Are you feeling okay?”
Cara raised her head, her gaze meeting Landon’s, full of unspoken thoughts. “Landon, can you honestly promise never to lie to me? If you do, I’ll leave you forever.”
Internally, Landon scoffed at the absurdity of the question, but he casually swore a promise.
Being so close to him, Cara could see the absence of love in his eyes. She realized she would never win his love. Yet, it didn’t seem to matter anymore. If he couldn’t love her, at least his presence could offer some kind of comfort. Cara let out a hollow laugh and stepped away from Landon’s arms. “Go and rest. I’ll spend the day with Elma.”
As Cara spoke, she took Elma’s hand, mimicking the act of wiping away nonexistent tears. “I realized I haven’t treated Elma well enough before. Now, I want to make things right. I hope Elma can forgive me.”
Cara had never said such things to Elma before.
Though still frightened of Cara, Elma gently dabbed at Cara’s tears, reassuring her softly, “Mom, don’t cry. I hold no grudge against you.” Despite her young age, Elma’s heart overflowed with empathy and forgiveness.
Cara’s regret seemed genuine. Landon observed her closely with a meaningful gaze before exiting the room.
The following day, Leila was absorbed in her work at the company when her phone unexpectedly rang. In the middle of a meeting, she excused herself to take the call. Trent rarely contacted her during office hours, which meant something urgent had happened at home.
“Is everything alright with the kids?” Leila asked, her voice laced with concern. It was the weekend, and both Sophie and Calvin were home, which only heightened her anxiety.
Trent’s voice came through, low and hesitant. “They’re fine. But…”
“What’s happened?” Leila pressed, her worry causing her to nervously flutter her eyelids.
With a helpless sigh, Trent explained, “Elma’s here. Some people from the Morgan family brought her over.”
Leila’s response was automatic, a reflex of reassurance. “That’s actually good news. Calvin invited her previously, so there’s no…”
Leila stopped herself, feeling a wave of uncertainty. Elma coming to her home was a good thing, and not entirely unexpected. However, what made it strange was the involvement of someone from the Morgan family in her transportation. Why would Cara allow Elma to visit her place? It seemed like a setup.
Leila’s nerves spiked at the thought.
As she stopped herself, Trent cautiously suggested, “What if I send her back? I could say your kids are feeling unwell and can’t entertain guests right now.”
Leila exhaled a weary sigh. “That won’t work. Even if we send her away now, they’ll just pull another stunt. Let it be. Just make sure more people keep an eye on Elma. If she seems off, inform me right away.”
“Understood,” Trent acknowledged.
After ending the call, Leila lightly tapped her phone, lost in thought. What was Cara really after?
Mulling it over, Leila arrived at a grim conclusion. Cara had likely done something to Elma. If any harm came to Elma, Cara would surely pin the blame on her. And to think, Elma was Cara’s own daughter.
Leila’s heart sank at the thought. How could Cara be so merciless?
Sophie and Calvin immediately sensed something was wrong with Elma.
When Elma arrived, her unhappiness was clear, her eyes still tinged with red.
Under the intimidating gazes of the Morgan family, Elma forced a smile and greeted Sophie and Calvin. “Hi, Sophie. Hi, Calvin. I came to hang out. Is that okay?” Sophie and Calvin exchanged a glance.
Quickly, Sophie took Elma by the arm, shielding her from view, and shot a sharp glare at the group that had come with Elma. “Okay, you’ve brought her here. That’s all you need to do. We don’t need you hovering. Please leave now.”
The leader of the group flashed a menacing smile. “Don’t worry. We won’t cause any trouble or spy on you. We’ll just wait by the door for Elma.”
Without further argument, Sophie ushered Calvin and Elma into the house.
Once inside, Sophie fetched Elma a warm cup of milk. “Why are you dressed so lightly? You might catch a cold!”
As Sophie handed over the milk, she gently touched Elma’s forehead to check for a fever.
Elma gave Sophie a look of gratitude. Sophie had always looked out for her, keeping her safe. She had only ever experienced this sense of protection from Betty. However, Betty had disappeared suddenly.
Calvin brought a blanket for Elma, carefully draping it over her shoulders as he comforted her softly. “Don’t worry. We’re all here with you. Did someone hurt you? You can tell us.”
Tears immediately sprang to Elma’s eyes. She longed to reveal the truth, but Cara’s last words haunted her. Silently, Elma bit her lip and shook her head.
Sophie and Calvin exchanged a glance, their faces showing sympathy for Elma. Seeing her distress, they knew better than to press her for more.
Sophie tried to divert the conversation to cheer Elma up. “We’ve got plenty of fun activities here. There’s a theater room for movies and games, and if you’re bored of that, there’s a small petting zoo out back with loads of adorable animals. If that doesn’t appeal to you, we could head up to the mountain, although it’s not fishing season.”
Cradling her milk cup, Elma couldn’t resist asking, “Are you two always this happy every day? That’s really nice. You can enjoy anything, but I’m not allowed to touch anything.”
Elma knew Cara’s disdain for her laughter. Laughing openly in Cara’s presence meant punishment. So, Elma had adapted. She confined herself to her room, her days marked by solitude and silence, with a shadow of sadness always present.
Sophie empathized deeply with Elma. Pulling her into a hug, she reassured her, “Don’t worry. It’s wonderful here. You can find happiness here, at least for the time being. Remember, whether you’re happy or not, the days will still go by.”
Elma nodded eagerly, her eyes bright with excitement. Turning to Sophie and Calvin, she asked with hope in her voice, “May I go and see the animals?”
The three of them enjoyed a splendid afternoon, their joyful laughter echoing through the air.
Meanwhile, Trent watched Elma closely, noting her boundless energy and apparent immunity to illness. He wasted no time in reporting his observations to Leila.
Relieved, Leila let out a weary sigh, massaging her forehead as she muttered, “Perhaps I’m just worrying too much.”
But a nagging doubt remained in Leila’s mind. What were Cara’s true intentions in sending Elma here? Or was it Clayton’s doing? It seemed impossible that Cara was unaware of Elma being sent here.
After a moment’s hesitation, Leila resolved to call Clayton. Mysteriously, her calls went unanswered.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the Morgan family’s basement, Clayton regained consciousness to find his wrists and ankles tightly bound.
Panic surged as Clayton struggled against his restraints, his voice echoing off the cold walls. “Is anybody around? Where did everyone go?”
The door creaked open.
Cara glided in with effortless grace, settling into a chair across from Clayton, offering him a faint smile. “Do you appreciate the surprise I’ve arranged for you?”
Clayton stared back at her, his body quaking. A sudden memory flashed through his mind. Before blacking out, Cara had handed him a cup of coffee, boasting that she had ground the beans herself. Having no reason to distrust her, he had gulped it down.
Clayton was puzzled. What was Cara’s motive? Could she have uncovered something? No, that seemed impossible. Landon wouldn’t have disclosed anything.
Trying to mask his panic, Clayton feigned irritation and said, “Cara, this isn’t funny. Release me. I know you might feel wronged again, but remember, I’m your brother. Just talk to me, and I’ll help you sort things out. Are you sure you want to vent your anger on me?”
Cara burst into laughter as if she’d heard the funniest joke ever. Her laughter was so intense that she almost bent in half.
Yet, as she laughed, her eyes shifted, becoming chillingly cold and predatory. She stormed up to him, seizing him by the collar, her eyes blazing with fury. “You still know you’re my brother, huh? I was beginning to think you’d forgotten!” she growled. “Why are you conspiring with Landon against me? Do you not see me as your sister anymore? Your actions have deeply wounded me!”
At that moment, it was as if a thunderbolt exploded in Clayton’s mind. Cara’s words hit him like a revelation. He stammered, “How… How did you figure this out?”
With a mocking laugh, Cara played the recording for him.
After Clayton listened, Cara completely lost her composure. She began to destroy everything around her, her voice rising in furious shouts. “Why? I trusted you the most. Why trick me like this? Why did you do this to me for that despicable woman, Leila? I thought Landon and I could be happy together, with you being my most trusted family. I was ready to spend my life with you, but you plotted to lock me away. How absurd!”
Cara had been suppressing her feelings since the day before. She was never one to hold back. Now, overwhelmed with rage, she let it all out. Just as she was on the brink of happiness, a harsh truth shattered everything. It had all been a charade, and she, the unsuspecting fool, was ensnared in the deception.
Clayton’s hands balled into fists, his heart torn between fear and sorrow. He watched as Cara spiraled into madness, yet he remained silent.
Cara spun around and delivered a resounding slap to Clayton’s face.
Tears mingled with laughter as she confronted him. “Clayton, I was grateful to you. After my rescue, when everyone taunted and condemned me, you stood by my side. But why? Am I truly inferior to that despicable woman, Leila? I am your sister.” Struggling for words, Clayton finally said, “It’s precisely because you’re my sister that I can’t bear to watch you continue down this path. Cara, can’t you see? Landon doesn’t love you. It’s not too late to move on. The drug I gave Landon will ensure he won’t remember Leila for the rest of his life. Just let him leave with Elma. I’ve promised to hide them where they’ll never be found, away from you and Leila. I’ll find someone better for you.”
Cara’s gaze hardened with scorn. “Landon might have forgotten her, but haven’t you noticed? He falls for her over and over again. Why is that?”
Clayton had no answer. Memories flooded his mind suddenly. Landon’s gaze toward Leila had always been complex. Clayton hadn’t grasped it until now. Landon’s gaze on Leila held unmistakable love. Landon himself probably failed to understand why he had fallen so deeply for Leila once again.
Despite their previous efforts, Clayton and Cara had failed to stop Landon and Leila from falling in love.