Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila found herself momentarily speechless, unsure of how to proceed. Lacey, meanwhile, simply sipped her coffee and stared out at the rainy scene beyond the window, her gaze laden with contemplation.
As Leila mulled over how to dissolve the mounting tension, Lacey broke the silence.
“You know, I sometimes find myself envious of you. You were born into a privileged family, wealthy beyond what most can hope for in a lifetime.”
Leila’s eyes widened in surprise, a retort forming on her lips. Her life had not been the easy ride Lacey pictured. Yet, seeing that Lacey was troubled, Leila held her peace, allowing Lacey to continue.
“Life wasn’t kind to my sister and me. Our mother had been trafficked and sold to my father, who was always resentful that I was a girl. He hoped my mother would finally give him a son, but then came my sister. I gave my sister the name Jeanette Payne, though, honestly, Payne isn’t even our real last name.”
Through Lacey’s revelations, Leila gained a deeper insight into the hardships Lacey and Jeanette had endured.
With their mother gone, taken by domestic violence, Lacey escaped with Jeanette, the two holding each other up through the hardest times. Driven by resilience, Lacey pursued a path in medicine, eventually finding her own modest success. Their circumstances seemed to brighten until…
Lacey hesitated for a moment, her gaze distant.
“Until I met Mr. Hopkins, treated him, and was invited to your banquet, it opened my eyes. There’s a whole world of amazing, unique experiences out there that people like me never even glimpse. And you were born into affluence. Your family secured a wealthy, desirable match for you, ensuring that wealth remains within your lineage.”
Lacey fixed Leila with a cold, unblinking stare, her eyes glinting with a subtle but unmistakable frost.
“We’re left with nothing at all. Isn’t it infuriating how unfair this world can be?”
Leila remained silent, absorbing the stark reality. The injustice of the world weighed heavily on her. Her early years were filled with hardship, living under the roofs of her adoptive family, her muteness making every struggle even harder to bear. Though Leila had climbed to her current status with unwavering determination, the support from the Nixon family was undeniable. Without their influence, her journey could have been far more grueling.
“Yet, hold firm to the belief that diligence is never squandered. Although lineage holds its weight here, chances do too. Now, I find myself in a position to extend a hand. Take these kids, for example. I’m here to support them as best I can.”
Leila’s words carried a heartfelt fervor, her eyes shimmering with unfeigned sincerity, showing not a trace of duplicity.
Had Lacey not been privy to Leila’s hidden facets, at least that was what she assumed, she could have been fooled. A sly chuckle rippled from Lacey, her eyes twinkling with enigmatic significance.
Lacey placed her coffee down deliberately, a serious look crossing her face.
“Let’s cut through the small talk. I approached you today with a specific intent. I’ve tasted the delights this world has to offer, and I’m eager for more. It’s unnecessary to dismiss me as superficial. I understand that the lure of affluence and prestige is too tantalizing to ignore. My proposition is simple. From this moment, embrace me as a sister figure to you in this game of thrones. Should I step out of line, you’re free to sever our bond. I’m no puppeteer, but I desperately need your influential web to etch my name into the annals of Burmoos.”
Leila’s reaction was a mix of shock and intrigue, momentarily lost for words.
Lacey, noticing the surprise etched on Leila’s features, felt a surge of defensiveness, her face coloring slightly.
“If my proposal is unpalatable, just say so. Spare me the skeptical glares and silent mockery.”
Leila offered a warm, reassuring smile.
“Mock you? That was never my intention. It’s just that I hadn’t envisioned you as someone with such fierce ambition. Rest assured, you have my promise.”
Lacey was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Leila to agree so readily. She was unsure of how to respond, suspecting something was amiss.
Noticing Lacey’s hesitation, Leila offered a reassuring smile.
“If you’re concerned, we can draw up a contract. Like I said, you helped me out, so I’m happy to return the favor, as long as it’s within reason. I can see you’re ambitious and capable. Taking you under my wing won’t be a problem at all.”
Lacey’s hands, which had been resting loosely in her lap, slowly clenched into fists. She had expected Leila to refuse her request and mock her for even daring to ask. She surmised Leila was adept at putting on a facade, explaining Landon’s unwavering devotion to her.
“Well then,” Lacey said, nodding slowly.
“We should make it official.” She pulled out the contract she had prepared and handed it to Leila.
Leila scanned the document and found no issues. It simply required her to promise not to harm Lacey and offer protection. Leila figured protecting Lacey wouldn’t be a challenge and signed the contract without hesitation before handing it back to Lacey.
Lacey leaned to Leila’s side to take it. As Lacey got closer, a familiar scent wafted into Leila’s nostrils. It was the cologne Landon always wore, a scent Leila knew intimately.
Leila froze, her mind reeling. As Lacey pulled back, the scent faded. Leila wondered if she had imagined it.
Leila’s heart pounded in her chest.
She looked at Lacey, her expression unreadable.
“Miss Payne, what perfume do you usually wear? What brand is it?”
Lacey looked at Leila, confused.
“Perfume? I don’t wear perfume.” A flicker of suspicion crossed her face.
“Why do you ask?”
Leila cleared her throat and replied, “Oh, no reason. Just curious.”
Leila pondered the familiar scent she had just smelled. Perhaps it was just an illusion. She had been struggling to get a good night’s sleep lately, likely the reason she’d been experiencing some unsettling thoughts. Exhaustion was starting to creep back in.
With the conversation winding down, Leila noticed the intensifying rain.
“It’s really pouring out there. Where do you live, Miss Payne? I can give you a lift if you’d like.”
Lacey shook her head and rose from her seat.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll manage.”
And with that, she turned and walked away.
Leila watched in surprise as Lacey stepped out into the downpour without an umbrella. Leila sensed something didn’t seem right and hurried after Lacey.
“Miss Payne!” Leila shouted, trying to get her attention.
But the relentless rain muffled her voice. Lacey didn’t seem to hear Leila and quickened her pace, disappearing into the rain-soaked street.
Leila, her concern growing, was about to run after Lacey when she noticed a man holding an umbrella walking toward Lacey. He was tall and stood with an air of confidence and nobility.
Even from behind, it was evident that he was a strikingly handsome man. Leila stopped dead in her tracks. She recognized that silhouette. It was Landon! There was no mistaking his distinctive form. But what was Landon doing with Lacey? Maybe she was wrong.
As Leila watched the man and Lacey, it became clear they were well-acquainted. They chatted familiarly, their laughter mingling with the sound of the rain. He held the umbrella protectively over Lacey, shielding her from the downpour. He even offered her a clean handkerchief to wipe the rain from her face.
They strolled along, side by side, gradually disappearing into the distance. A sudden gust of wind snatched Leila’s umbrella from her grasp, sending it tumbling down the street. The icy rain brought her back to her senses with a jolt. Leila shook her head, retrieving her runaway umbrella.
“I must be losing it,” she muttered, her brow furrowed in confusion. How could that man be Landon? She must have seen it wrong.
After returning to the cafe, Leila couldn’t shake the image of the man from her mind. Even though she’d only seen his back, he’d seemed so familiar. But it appeared unlikely that man was Landon. Landon couldn’t be with Lacey. Nor could he watch Lacey come to her without doing anything.
Leila was starting to think she was going crazy.
“I need to see a therapist.” She pulled out her phone to book the first flight back home.
Just before Leila was due to leave, she received a message from Neal, saying he planned to stay behind with Brysen for a while. They weren’t coming back with her.
Leila wasn’t happy about this and immediately went to find Neal.
“Brysen’s been through a lot here. Staying in this place won’t do her any good.”
“She needs to come back to Burmoos with me. I’ll find her the best therapist and make sure she gets the help she needs,” Leila stated.
Neal just smiled.
“Miss Nixon, I know you care about Brysen. You’ve always treated her like a sister. But you’re not her. How can you be sure she doesn’t want to stay here?”
Leila frowned.
“I’m thinking about what’s best for her mental health,” she explained. “After what she’s been through, she needs to get away from this place. It’s full of bad memories.”