Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
It’s about empathy.’
Jeanette nodded, though her understanding was partial.
Then, with a slight tone of envy, she commented, ‘It must be wonderful to be their children.
They really are very lucky.’
Leila, somewhat surprised but patient, explained, ‘You shouldn’t think like that.
Every parent strives to do their best.
If your parents love and protect you, they are great parents.
Other parents may not be the best for you.’
Jeanette shook her head, a shadow of sadness crossing her face.
‘I don’t have parents anymore.
They died a long time ago.
I live with my sister now.’
Jeanette spoke with a calmness that belied her age, as if she were discussing something as everyday as the weather.
Leila felt a deeper sympathy awaken within her.
Jeanette’s maturity, probably shaped by countless challenges, was evident.
Jeanette was surprisingly level-headed, which could make one feel very sorry for her.
However, Leila knew she could not be there for Jeanette indefinitely.
‘There are many unfortunate souls in the world.
The best I can advise you is to study hard and try not to put yourself down when you’re out there,’ Leila said.
Listening intently, Jeanette’s eyes sparkled.
‘They say the same thing as my sister.
But…’ Jeanette hesitated, fiddling nervously with her clothes.
‘I don’t want to be a burden to my sister.
She already works so hard to take care of me, and now there’s an injured man she’s taking care of.
That man is quite handsome.’
Leila let out a giggle, curious.
‘What man, your sister’s boyfriend?’
Earnestly, Jeanette replied:
‘No, he’s married and has children.
My sister insists it’s not her place to pry into his personal life.’
Leila’s confusion increased.
‘If he has his own family, why is he staying at your house and why does your sister have to take care of him?’
Jeanette’s affection for Leila grew as they conversed more openly.
‘My sister found him hurt and brought him home.’
A sudden feeling of worry came over Leila.
Could this man be Landon? Still uncertain, she asked cautiously:
‘Did your sister bring him home? Where do they live, and why hasn’t he returned to his own home yet?’
Jeanette gave only a vague idea of where they currently lived.
It was a neighbourhood in the centre of Burmoos, far from the suburban areas.
Hearing this, Leila thought that perhaps she was overthinking the situation.
Besides, the man Jeanette was talking about seemed to be quite lucid.
If it had been Landon, he probably would have gone straight to her, not stayed somewhere else.
Changing the subject, Leila began to talk to Jeanette about other matters.
With three children of her own at home, Leila was adept at communicating with young minds full of wild ideas and scattered thoughts.
Jeanette grew even fonder of Leila, amazed at her knowledge.
‘You know so much! I didn’t know any of this.’
As they talked, Jeanette found a pen and paper in the room.
‘Can I have your contact information? I want to be able to meet you when I miss you.’
Leila, delighted by Jeanette’s request, happily shared her phone number and address.
‘I have three children, two of them are about your age, and one is in high school.
They are all very nice.
Feel free to visit anytime.’
Jeanette accepted the paper with a smile, replying, ‘Okay.’
At that moment, the door burst open.
After treating Cody, Lacey had received a considerable sum of money.
Cody even suggested that she could work for him long-term, as long as she knew what to say to the outside world.
In addition, he promised to fulfil any of her wishes.
Had it been in the past, Lacey would not have been interested in such a proposal.
However, her ambitions had changed.
She wanted more and wanted to get closer to Landon’s world, hoping that he would one day accept her.
Excited by Cody’s promises, Lacey felt a rush of optimism. Her joy was short-lived, however, when she realized Jeanette was missing.
Frantic questioning revealed that Jeanette might have upset Cody’s daughter, which increased Lacey’s concern.
Lacey’s anxiety only subsided when someone mentioned that they saw Jeanette enter a room accompanied by a woman.