Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Brysen held it tightly, continued texting, but offered Leila a brief nod of affirmation.
‘Understood, Miss Nixon.’
Leila looked at Brysen, letting out a soft sigh, but decided to remain silent.
Young people often dreamed of love, only understanding its true nature through experience.
Leila hoped she could spare Brysen the pain of a broken heart.
However, the decision was Brysen’s to make, and there was nothing Leila could do about it.
When she arrived, the town chief and county manager were already at the door, ready to greet Leila warmly.
Their gratitude to her was evident.
Leila had funded the largest school in the area, designed to enrol as many students as possible.
The local landscape was attractive, although the area was underdeveloped, mainly due to the lack of roads..
Its isolation was only mitigated by internet access, without which it would be completely disconnected from the world.
This county had only one school.
Under the leadership of the county head, the school had managed to accommodate as many students as possible.
However, funds were limited, and the school’s income was insufficient.
Despite the community’s efforts, many children were still unable to attend school.
Leila’s contributions were crucial.
Without them, the school’s operations could have ceased.
Regardless of the assistance, Leila remained committed to the cause.
She intended for her foundation to establish a vocational school in the area.
Although college was a primary avenue, it was not the only option.
Leila believed that children should not be limited by their circumstances.
They required survival skills to one day be able to leave this isolated area.
Both the village chief and the county director were known for their honesty and openness, which made it easy to work with them.
Leila felt comfortable interacting with them.
The children, upon hearing of Leila’s arrival, were excited.
They dressed in their best clothes, usually reserved for festivals, although many clothes were patched and did not fit.
Curious and excited, they gathered at the hotel entrance to catch a glimpse of Leila.
When Leila noticed them, the children shyly backed away.
Their adorable actions caused Leila’s expression to soften.
The county manager told Leila, ‘The children really like you and have grown very fond of you. Privately, they call you Father Christmas because you bring them presents.
Leila replied with a laugh, ‘I consider it an honour. I love these children.
The county manager was touched, commenting, ‘Thank you for your tremendous help and your appreciation for our children.
Brysen proudly interjected: ‘Ms. Nixon has built her business empire from the ground up.
This revelation further impressed the county manager, who looked at Leila with even greater admiration.
‘You are committed to helping these children. You really are their benefactor. Thank you,’ he said.
The county manager started to lean in, but Leila quickly stopped him.
‘Please don’t do this. I haven’t done much. Despite the challenges, you continue to strive to educate the children here, which is really admirable.’
Leila then discussed operational strategies for the foundation with the county director.
Having witnessed the situation first-hand, Leila felt a deeper connection and recognised that her previous efforts had not been enough.
‘My intention is to use live broadcasts,’ Leila declared, her voice full of determination.
‘Through social media, I want to expand our reach and show the wider community the difficulties we face here, in the hope of generating more support.’
Brysen immediately expressed concern: ‘Ms Nixon, while your intentions are good, this approach has its risks. Some might see it as just for show.
Leila looked at Brysen with mild reprimand.
‘If some think it’s just for show, so be it. My intention is not about fame. It’s about making a difference. The more attention we get is worth any criticism that may come.’
Having made her decision, Leila received support from Brysen, who nodded and assured her, ‘Don’t worry, Miss Nixon. I’ll take care of the arrangements.
Leila instructed: ‘Make sure you maximise our social media exposure. The focus during the live broadcast must be meaningful. Don’t worry about possible criticism. All money raised will be donated in full’.
With the strategy in place, they continued with the necessary preparations.
In the meantime, Landon had arrived in the region, but had not yet met Leila.
Although he knew of Clayton’s absence, he remained vigilant.
As Landon travelled to the area, he learned of Leila’s accomplishments, which stirred mixed feelings within him.
Before, Leila had been too shy to assert herself, always following him around.
Now, she had become a confident person.
Landon doubted he was worthy of Leila, feeling an urgent need to be by her side again.
Opting for discretion, Landon decided to stay with a local family instead of in a hotel.
Clayton arrived in the county late at night, planning a surprise visit for Leila.
Upon entering the hotel, Clayton asked at the front desk if Landon had checked in.
Immune to the possible lack of information, Clayton was confident in his ability to get the details he needed.
This was the only hotel in the county where Landon would presumably stay if he were in the area.
But to Clayton’s surprise, there was no record of Landon.
Doubting the initial information, Clayton considered the possibility that Landon had an alternative plan, given his cunning.
He instructed his men to keep an eye on Leila and report to him any suspicious persons who approached her.
He warned that any attempt to approach Leila without his approval would result in immediate dismissal.
The intimidated bodyguards confirmed his orders.