Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Cody’s lips curled into a faint, ominous smile as he fixed a chilly gaze on Rola. “Clearly, she’s not ready to accept your apology. You must not be sincere enough,” he remarked, his tone cold.
Rola’s complexion turned deathly pale. She cast a desperate look at Leila, her eyes pleading for help.
Understanding Rola’s silent plea, Leila was about to defend her when Rola kowtowed heavily again, this time with such force that her forehead struck the floor, immediately drawing blood.
Leila gasped at the harsh sound, her stomach turning at the sight. Without hesitation, she moved to assist Rola, pulling her gently from the floor.
“You’re forgiven, both by me and Sophie. Please, there’s no need for this,” Leila said gently, her voice full of reassurance.
Rola stayed put, refusing to move until Cody finally said, “Since they’ve forgiven you, get up.”
With those words, Rola finally let Leila assist her to her feet.
Rola appeared completely unaware of the injury on her head and had stopped her tears.
Cody made no move to summon medical help for her. Seeing his young daughter, barely ten and bleeding, he sneered, “Are you doing this for attention? Get out of my sight.”
Rola gave a nod, slipped from Leila’s hold, and dashed away.
Such a parenting style left Leila astounded. It was as if Rola wasn’t even his daughter.
Leila found it hard to believe that any parent could show such cruelty to their own child.
When Cody noticed Leila’s shock, he offered her a gentle smile and explained patiently, “I regret you had to witness that. My kids are a handful and have upset many. Despite my discipline, their missteps continue. Sometimes, harsh methods are necessary.”
Leila managed a forced, weak smile, unable to respond. Cody then turned his attention to Freya, who was lingering nearby, and scowled with impatience. “Who told you to come here? Leave!”
Freya, older and more defiant than Rola, protested, “Father, I wish to attend today’s banquet. See, I’ve dressed for it.”
Cody just scoffed. “Then I’ll have the servants ruin your dress.”
To others, it sounded like Cody was merely threatening Freya.
But Freya knew better. Cody could actually follow through, even though she was his daughter.
Stung by the humiliation, Freya bit her lip and walked out, throwing a furious glare at Leila as she left.
Leila, however, remained unbothered by Freya’s anger. She turned to Cody and asked, “Are you trying to make an example out of them?” It was clear he wanted her to understand that his ruthlessness extended even to his own family. If he could treat his daughters this way, then outsiders would get no mercy.
Cody raised an eyebrow, surprised by her insight. When not consumed by anger, he seemed like a straightforward and honest man. “Miss Nixon, you’ve got it wrong. I genuinely feel bad for what my daughter did to your girl, and I truly hope we can be friends.
If I’ve given you the wrong impression, I don ‘t know how else to make it right.
His expression was filled with what appeared to be sincerity. His words seemed to come straight from the heart. Yet, Leila felt a cold shudder creep over her.
Barely managing to sustain her strained smile, Leila was about to come up with an excuse to slip away when suddenly, Cody exhibited alarming symptoms.
He weakened, collapsed into his wheelchair, and began shaking violently, foam forming at the corners of his mouth.
The banquet’s host was in peril, making it seem inappropriate for anyone to leave under such circumstances. Consequently, the guests remained, their attention riveted on the scene.
Medical personnel hurried around the venue, heightening the already tense atmosphere.
Nearby, hushed conversations floated through the air.
“Maybe he was poisoned?”
“Hold off on such claims. We’re in a lawful society. Who would dare?”
“Cody’s not exactly beloved, considering the ruthless deeds committed by his Snow Gang. It’s conceivable that someone took advantage of his presence in Avalon.”
“It’s obvious that Leila’s quite close with Cody. No wonder her career’s climbing so quickly. She’s likely taken advantage of this connection.”
“Be quiet. It’s not wise to let others hear.”
“Why worry? It’s no secret that Leila’s riches are dubious. After Landon’s mysterious death, she held no funeral for him. And let’s not forget she’s taken over the Kensington Group. It’s rather unsettling.”
Hearing this, Leila’s face hardened, and she resolved not to let these whispers go unchecked. She stood up and positioned herself beside the gossipers.
The two, deep in their chatter, froze and exchanged mortified looks as Leila approached. They immediately fell silent, trying to mask their earlier conversation.
With a mischievous smirk, Leila said, “I just caught my name fluttering from your conversation. What’s the chat? Go on. I’m not one to fuss.”
The discomfort was evident on their faces as they scrambled for a way out.
But before they could escape, a stinging reproach sliced through the air. “Reflect on your actions. Secrets are for things best left undone. There’s no cloak thick enough to cover misdeeds. If words sting, Leila, maybe it’s guilt nibbling at you.”
When Leila turned, she was surprised to see Sarah, whom she hadn’t laid eyes on in quite some time.
At first, Sarah was unrecognizable to Leila. She was now alarmingly thin, a shadow of the robust and domineering lady of the Miller family she once knew.
Sarah’s voice, still unmistakable, and her expressive eyes were all that tied her to the image Leila remembered.
Leila met Sarah’s eyes with a calm, focused look, saying, “It’s been quite some time, Mrs. Payne. Or rather, I shouldn’t call you that, should I? It seems my memory isn’t what it used to be. I forgot about your divorce.” Errol’s divorce from Sarah was now common knowledge in the circle.
The truth dawned on Errol: Sarah had spun a web of control over every moment on the cruise, orchestrating everything from the shadows.
Back then, without Landon by her side, Sarah struggled to find another man who caught her interest. The Payne family was the best she could aim for.
Having researched Errol’s schedule, Sarah intentionally showed up at every event he was likely to attend, hoping to encounter him. She went to great lengths to be near him. Yet, Errol failed to even remember her name. All her efforts were in vain.
When the news broke of an impending engagement arranged by the Payne family for Errol, Sarah was thrown into turmoil and resorted to desperate actions, misleading Errol into believing they had a one-night stand. Upon discovering the extent of her manipulations, Errol demanded a divorce.
At first, Sarah resisted, even threatening to take their child as leverage. Later, for reasons unknown, she reluctantly signed the divorce papers. From the look of Sarah now, it was obvious she hadn’t agreed to the divorce willingly.
The divorce gnawed at Sarah, a constant pain in her heart.
Now, Leila had brought it up in front of everyone, causing Sarah to shake with suppressed rage. “You!” she exclaimed, her hand shooting up, poised to strike Leila. But Leila was quick, seizing Sarah’s wrist.
“Oh, can’t handle a bit of mockery?” Leila taunted, her smile icy.
Clenching her teeth, Sarah confronted her. “Leila, when did you turn so sharp-tongued?”
Sarah thought back to the days when Leila was timid and meek, always bullied yet never retaliating. Despite Leila’s later return to the formidable Nixon family, known for its forthrightness, her words had never cut this deep or left such lasting marks.
Leila couldn’t help but find humor in Sarah’s complaint, retorting, “So, it’s fine for you to mock me, but not the other way around?”
Sarah’s rage dissolved into a flush of frustration. “It turns out you’re not the saint you claim to be!”
Sarah didn’t withdraw her hand, instead leaning in to murmur into Leila’s ear, “Maybe we’re mirror images. I walked away from Landon, and you sent him to his grave. Before you mock me, perhaps you should examine your own credentials?”
Sarah looked at Leila expectantly, bracing for an outburst.
But Leila remained serene, her smile unfazed as she inquired, “You walked away from Landon?”
Sarah raised her head, her pride in her actions unshaken. She always saw herself as the one who bravely left Landon behind, while Leila had merely taken over what she discarded. Admittedly, both the timing and style of her departure from Landon’s life lacked any hint of glory.
Leila sighed. “Sarah, do you really not see the man Landon was? He always had a trick up his sleeve. You really think the obvious blunders of the Kensington family slipped by him unnoticed? You assumed he was out of cards, yet he was already two steps ahead. Did you really walk away, or did he make you let go of him?”
With each word from Leila, Sarah’s face turned ghostly pale.
“This is absurd!”
Sarah exploded, her composure shattered.