Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“I wasn’t being honest with you.
You were under my surveillance yesterday.
I heard and watched everything.
Not only that, I spoke with your former landlord before coming here.
You’ve been lying to me from the start.”
“Tell me, Neal.
Why did you lie to me?”
Her gaze was icy as she glowered at Neal.
“If you tell me the truth, I’ll just hand you over to the police.
But if you lie to me, I could send you abroad.
And who knows what might happen to you there?”
Neal shivered, beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
He had no choice but to confess.
“Fine.
Since you already know, there’s no point pretending.
The truth is, I was nice to Brysen just to get you to trust me.
I needed you to hand her over to me so I could keep getting money from you by just being with her.
I treated her like crap because she disgusted me, and I couldn’t stand pretending with her in private.
You have no idea how difficult it is to take care of someone with mental illness.”
Leila’s hands balled into fists, her body trembling with rage, but she managed to keep her tone steady.
“No, Neal.
You’re lying.
I don’t believe a word from you.
There must be other reasons.
Is someone behind you? What’s the purpose of the person who ordered you to do so?
Neal, don’t underestimate my ruthlessness.
You should know the lengths I’ve gone to, the morally reprehensible acts I’ve committed, to get to where I am today.”
Neal was genuinely terrified afraid, but knowing that revealing Clayton’s involvement would mean his death, Neal was faced with a choice between Leila and Clayton.
Seeing Neal’s hesitation, Leila became more convinced of her suspicions.
Someone was indeed pulling strings from behind.
As for who that might be, Leila wasn’t certain, but she could guess.
It was likely the same group that had targeted her in the past.
Was it Ernesto and Griffin? But that wasn’t their style.
If they didn’t want her to speak, they would’ve simply killed her, rather than going through the trouble of sending someone to monitor her.
Who was pulling Neal’s strings?
Seeing Neal remain silent, Leila rose to her feet, her presence looming over him, exuding an air of intimidation.
“I promise, if you tell me who’s behind you, I’ll protect you.
I will send you away safely and make sure that person will never find you again.
But if you don’t, you’re doomed.
It’s your choice.”
Neal trembled, his eyes wide with terror.
He didn’t want to die, not like this.
He leaned forward, his voice barely a whisper.
“Please don’t kill me.
I’ll tell you everything.
But…”
Neal looked suspiciously at the bodyguards surrounding them and lowered his voice.
“You have to get everyone out of here.
If you’re worried I’ll do something, tie me up if you must.
I just don’t trust anyone else.”
Neal had his reasons for making this request.
He feared there might be men working for Clayton among the bodyguards.
If there were Clayton’s men among them, they would find a way to silence him before he’d speak.
Leila gestured dismissively, and the others silently exited the hall, leaving her alone with Neal.
Just as Neal opened his mouth to speak, Leila’s phone rang, cutting through the tense silence with an abrupt shrill.
Leila was about to ignore the call, but when she saw Sophie’s name on the caller ID, a chill ran down her spine.
Instinctively, Leila sensed something was wrong with her children.
Without hesitation, she stepped aside and answered the call, her heart racing.
“Hello, Sophie, what’s wrong?” Leila asked, her voice low with concern as she held the phone tightly to her ear.
On the other end of the line, Sophie’s voice trembled with tears.
“Mom, Elma is missing!”
Leila’s mind turned to static, a sharp ringing echoing in her ears.
She steadied herself, her body tense as she fought to quell the emotions swirling within her.