Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Elma flinched, squeezing her eyes shut, expecting a slap.
Lacey’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
But to Lacey’s surprise, Landon’s hand didn’t strike Elma.
Instead, he gently patted her head.
Landon tenderly stroked Elma’s hair.
“Okay, okay,” he soothed.
“Don’t be mad anymore.
I know you’ve missed me all these years.
I’ve missed you too, you know.”
With that, Landon pulled Elma into a hug.
Elma tried to pull away at first, but then she started to cry.
“Daddy, please don’t be mean to my mommy, okay? And please don’t be with other women,” she sobbed.
Hearing his daughter’s cries, Landon felt his heart break.
He quickly wiped away Elma’s tears.
“Alright.
I won’t.
I promise.”
Just like that, Landon and Elma made up.
Having expected a fight between Landon and Elma, Lacey was completely caught off guard by this scene.
Just then, Leo walked over.
He sighed as he watched the touching scene unfold between Landon and Elma.
“She’s your daughter, Mr. Kensington,” Leo said softly.
“She’s just a little stubborn.
Deep down, she could never truly hate you.”
Landon scooped Elma up into his arms, worried she might start hiccuping from crying so hard.
He gently patted her back to comfort her.
“There, there, Elma.
Don’t cry anymore.
You’ll hurt your eyes if you keep crying,” he cooed.
Lacey had never seen Landon look so caring and loving before.
Why? What she had fought so hard for seemed to come so easily to Leila and her children.
Why do they get to have everything?
Leo noticed Lacey’s unhappy expression and cleared his throat to get her attention.
“Lacey, thank you for bringing Elma.”
“It’s best to let Mr. Kensington and Elma spend some time together alone now.
You’ve done your part.
You can go home now,” he said pointedly.
Lacey glared at Leo.
“I was the one who suggested bringing Elma here,” she said icily.
“And now that I have, you want me to just leave?”
Leo sneered, his tone sarcastic.
“Oh, I almost forgot we need to pay you for your services.
How much do you want?”
Landon nodded in agreement.
“You did bring Elma here safely.
As long as your request is reasonable, I’ll agree to it.
Money is no object.”
Lacey’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Mr. Kensington, do you really think I did all this for money?”
Landon glanced at her, feeling a headache coming on.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” he said.
“You helped me, so of course I’ll pay you.”
Lacey bit her lip, hesitant.
“I don’t need anything.
If I do, I’ll let you know.”
Landon gave a slight nod and didn’t push it.
Elma lay in Landon’s arms, giving Lacey a strange look.
Something about Lacey just seemed off.
Although Elma was young and didn’t fully understand how grown-up relationships worked, it wasn’t like she’d never seen a soap opera.
Anyone in their circle who remained clueless about the rules governing social interactions would soon find themselves bullied.
Leila’s three kids didn’t want her to always worry about them and feel the need to protect them, so they made sure to absorb the ceremonies and traditions.
Whether it was a fancy dinner or a big event, they never put a foot wrong, making themselves the most popular kids in their little world.
It was pretty obvious to Elma that Lacey had a thing for Landon.