Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila’s jaw clenched.
‘What’s there to explain? I’m not a fool.’
Clayton took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.
‘Yes, I made a mistake.
But I had nothing to do with what happened today.
I would never do something like that with you.
Remember, you were drugged.
I was just trying to loosen your clothes so you could breathe. You were struggling for air.
If I really had bad intentions, why would I have stayed there? Why wouldn’t I have taken you with me? I was lured into that house, just as you were.’
Clayton’s voice was laden with concern, but his eyes reflected seriousness.
Suddenly, his face paled and he stumbled, holding his hand to his chest with a wince.
Leila’s eyes widened, the memory of the doctor’s words about possible complications echoing in her mind.
‘Clayton, calm down.
Let’s talk about this calmly.
Don’t get upset,’ he said, his voice firm but soft.
Leila’s brow furrowed, her resolve wavering as concern washed over her.
‘No matter what happens, you need to take care of yourself.’
Clayton shook his head, taking a step closer and looking intently at Leila.
‘Leila, if it means proving my sincerity to you, I’d give up everything,’ he pleaded, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Leila’s gaze softened as she saw Clayton’s pale face and the desperation in his eyes.
With a sigh, she finally relented.
‘Okay, let’s go home and talk about this. You shouldn’t be standing out here in the cold.’
Clayton nodded weakly, a sigh of relief crossing his features.
Meanwhile, Landon was storming towards the back door, his face contorted in anger, the veins in his forehead visibly pulsing.
Lacey ran after him, her heels echoing on the pavement.
She stumbled, nearly twisting her ankle in her haste.
She let out a small scream, barely managing to regain her balance.
Landon, consumed by his fury, didn’t even notice her near fall.
Lacey pulled herself together, a slight expression of discomfort crossing her face at Landon’s indifference.
Despite her growing discomfort, she hurried after him, forcing a smile.
‘Mr. Kensington,’ she said, her voice trembling.
‘Perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding. You shouldn’t let this bother you so much.’
Frustration washed over Landon, who slammed his fist against the wall.
His knuckles cracked open, blood spurting from the wound.
Lacey winced.
She reached out to examine her wound, but Landon pulled away abruptly.
Landon took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
‘I’m fine. You can go. Don’t worry about me,’ he muttered.
Lacey frowned, unconvinced.
‘You don’t seem fine,’ she said, her voice heavy with concern.
‘Look, we’re friends, right? You don’t have to keep it all to yourself.’
Landon showed no reaction and looked away.
Lacey noticed his reaction and knew what he was thinking.
‘Is it that you don’t trust me at all?’ she asked, a hint of hurt in her voice.
Landon sighed.
‘It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just want to handle this on my own.’
Lacey was tired of holding back. She leaned closer to Landon and said, ‘I know this may sound harsh, but you need to see the truth. Maybe you and her had good times before, but now it’s clear that she’s not the same person anymore. Honestly, I saw Leila and Clayton today, and they were acting like a couple. They were even holding hands everywhere they went. If you don’t believe me, ask someone else, do you really think I’d make everyone lie to you?’
Landon, who was furious before, turned pale and his face reflected sadness at those words.
He shook his head.
‘I can’t believe it.’
Lacey simply said, ‘I know. It’s hard to believe. But you should move on. Maybe she doesn’t feel the same way about you anymore. Sometimes people grow apart. That’s life.’
Landon’s eyes turned red, and his gaze filled with determination.
‘She wouldn’t love someone else.
Anyone in the world could betray me, but not her.
Never her.’
Lacey was shocked.
She wanted to ask Landon if he was blinded by love.
Despite all this, she still trusted Leila.
‘Do you really love her that much?’ she asked him, trying to understand.
‘Yes,’ Landon replied, nodding.
‘I love her, and that’s why I trust her.
I won’t believe it until she tells me herself that she doesn’t love me anymore.’
Lacey’s face went white.