Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“Step aside!” Leila raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing through Lacey as if Lacey were nothing more than a lifeless shell.
“If you don’t step aside, a slap will be the least of your worries.”
Just then, Landon’s voice pierced the silence.
“Point your anger at me if you’re this displeased. Why pick on Lacey?”
Leila was taken aback for a moment before quickly regaining her composure. She turned to confront Landon, who was heading her way, accompanied by a handful of people. She stood defensively, poised like a cat ready to strike, her eyes fixed on Landon.
“I came here just to see you, and yet you surrounded yourself with so many people. What, are you scared I might try something?”
Leila teased, her tone laced with mockery as she sank onto the sofa with defiance.
“And another thing, you and Miss Payne aren’t even legally married. Playing the hero now, are we? Just so we’re clear, this house belongs to me as much as it does to you. Roderick made sure of that. If you’re dreaming of a wedding here, forget about it.”
Landon looked at Leila, noticing a bite in her tone that he hadn’t seen before. Although they’d had their disputes, she had never lashed out like this. It wasn’t concern for Elma that showed on her face; it was something sharper, tinged with jealousy.
Yet, Landon dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. Why would Leila feel jealous? It made no sense. She had probably rejoiced the day she was rid of him. Perhaps she truly loathed him.
A fleeting glimmer of emotion passed through Landon’s eyes as he regarded Leila with a cold stare, yet he offered no reply to her accusations.
“I’m aware of your purpose here, but just to set things straight, I won’t let Elma go with you. She is my daughter as well. She’s safe here, with me.”
At his declaration, Leila’s laugh was tinged with scorn.
“Really, Landon? Are you so boldly claiming her as your own now? Remember, Elma has been with me all this time. How many moments have you actually spent with her? Even if you think to take her away, don’t you think you ought to consider her wishes? Is she happy with your arrangements?”
Landon found himself at a loss for words. He had devoted the past several days to ensuring Elma’s happiness. Although Elma seemed joyful in his presence, he could tell she yearned for Leila.
The servant caring for Elma had confided in Landon that Elma had been restless, often crying at night and longing to return home. Yet, considering Elma’s well-being, Landon was convinced he needed to approach the situation this way.
Landon took a seat across from Leila. Their confrontations were rare, and the tension in the air was palpable. His tone was cold as he spoke.
“That’s not the issue here. If you genuinely cared about Elma, why on earth did you not rush her to the hospital sooner? What held you back from addressing her health concerns immediately?”
Leila’s anger flared even more at his insinuation. She smirked, her words forced out between tightly clenched teeth.
“And what makes you think I neglected her medical needs? Just because you’re out of the loop doesn’t mean I’ve been idle. Landon, you really ought to stop painting me as the villain here.”
Leila’s voice trembled as she spoke, her emotions suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of frustration. She was perplexed and heartbroken over how their lives had spiraled into this painful moment. She had no desire to dissect the painful memories or reflect on what could have been.
For years, Leila had been silently vigilant about Elma’s health, sneaking Elma off to countless medical appointments without making a show of it.
Leila was not only vigilant about Elma’s physical health but also deeply concerned about her emotional well-being. She had managed to keep the growth-inhibiting drugs inside Elma’s system a closely guarded secret. The reality of Elma being eight but appearing as a five-year-old was something she feared would disrupt her daughter’s understanding of herself.
Leila never believed children should follow orders blindly without their own spark of individuality. She believed every child deserved a voice, and maintaining their own boundaries while upholding their inherent dignity was crucial. As a mother, her duty was to shield her children’s self-esteem, not to let anyone diminish it, least of all herself.
Noticing the tears that now sparkled in Leila’s eyes, Landon’s face softened, marred by a sudden surge of unease. He inwardly chastised himself, wondering if his earlier words had been unnecessarily cruel.
Lacey caught Landon’s moment of hesitation and quickly moved to his side.
With a deliberate turn of her head, Lacey exposed the reddened half of her face, a stark mark from a recent slap, courtesy of Leila. Her voice, while firm, carried a hint of mock conciliation as she addressed Leila.
“Miss Nixon, please know that Mr. Kensington never meant any harm by his words. He believes you might be struggling to provide the care Elma needs, so he feels it’s in her best interest to stay here. If we’re forced to go through the courts, I assure you Mr. Kensington is likely to win. You know how strong his case is. Should it come to that, Elma and her siblings would all be under his care, which means the kids would leave you.”
Leila’s complexion drained of color, and her hands tightened into fists in her lap, her eyes flickering between defiance and despair as she faced Landon.
“So, is that what you want? To take the kids away from me? To hurt me however you can?”
Landon felt the urge to refute Leila’s words, to say that wasn’t his intention at all. But Lacey, standing beside him and bearing the physical evidence of their conflict, was speaking on his behalf. To contradict Lacey now would only add to the discomfort of the moment. With a blank expression, he said, “I really hope it doesn’t come to that. And remember, I wasn’t the one who started this mess.”
His words hinted at layers of unspoken tension. Leila’s response was a forced, bitter smile, her eyes brimming with tears. She couldn’t fathom why Landon harbored such resentment toward her. Was he simply searching for a convenient excuse to justify his behavior?
Regardless of his motives, Leila found herself too drained to contemplate them any further. Landon had changed. He was no longer the man she once knew. His decisiveness had been legendary, always achieving whatever he set his mind to. This trait had always defined him. He had treated her so well in the past that she couldn’t help but lose sight of everything else, her judgment clouded by his now-gone affection.
Now, exhaustion crept over Leila, compelling her to seek a middle ground.
“Either way, I need to see Elma now. Let’s agree that if you can’t find a way to treat her within a month, you’ll let her leave with me. If I fail to find a better solution, I’ll return her to you. We’ll keep this up until we see an improvement in Elma’s health. After she recovers, she and the other two children can choose who they’d like to live with.”
Leila then fixed Landon with a significant look.
“Landon, you’ll be a great father and look after Elma, won’t you?”
Landon responded with a firm nod, his voice unwavering.
“Absolutely. She’s my little girl. Nothing in this world means more to me.”
Relief washed over Leila as she observed Landon’s sincere demeanor. Although she couldn’t fathom why he seemed to resent her now, she took comfort in the fact that his feelings hadn’t soured toward the kids.
Having settled their agreement, Landon made arrangements for Leila to visit Elma.
Lacey observed the developments with a mix of astonishment and dismay. She had secretly hoped that the strife over the kids would drive Leila and Landon apart, leading to bitter conflicts or even a complete rupture.
However, the ease with which Leila and Landon negotiated their agreement was not the outcome Lacey had envisioned. Disappointment clouded her face. This was not the discord she had hoped to witness.
In the playroom, Leila found Elma surrounded by her favorite toys.
Yet, despite the playful environment, Elma appeared somber, sitting quietly on the plush carpet and staring out the window, her mind seemingly miles away.
Leila stepped into the room, her heart pounding with apprehension.
The moment Elma heard Leila’s footsteps, her eyes lit up with recognition.
“Mommy!” she squealed.
Elma turned around, her face beaming with joy, and rushed into Leila’s arms.
Landon, watching from the doorway, felt a pang of surprise and sadness. Their bond was so strong that Elma could recognize Leila just by the sound of her footsteps.
Leila hugged Elma tightly, all her worries and fears melting away. She knelt down and anxiously examined Elma, searching for any signs of injury.
Relieved to find none, Leila let out a sigh.
“Elma, sweetheart,” Leila said, her voice filled with guilt.
“I’m so sorry. I should have come sooner. You must have been so worried these past few days. You probably haven’t been eating properly either. You feel so much thinner.”
Elma shook her head, but a flicker of unease betrayed her words.
“I’ve been eating fine. I just missed you so much. Are you here to take me home? I really want to see my brother and sister. These days, I haven’t been able to go to school, and I haven’t seen you or my siblings. I feel so lonely here.”
Sensing Leila’s sadness, Elma tried her best to sound cheerful. But her efforts only made Leila feel worse.
“Elma, sweetheart, I’m not here to take you home today. You need to stay here a little longer. Your dad hasn’t seen you in years and missed you very much. Can you stay with him for a bit longer?” Leila said, her voice thick with emotion.
Elma’s eyes welled up with tears, and she wailed in frustration, “Why? Is it because I’m annoying? Do you not love me anymore? I want to go home! I miss you and my brother and sister. I don’t want to stay here!”
“No, honey, it’s not like that at all,” Leila said, pulling Elma into a comforting hug.
Smart as ever, Elma quickly figured it out. She glared at Landon, who was standing in the doorway.
“Did my dad threaten you? He’s a bad guy! He brought me here and locked me up, and now he won’t let me go home with you! I hate him!”
“No, sweetheart, that’s not it,” Leila said gently, wiping away Elma’s tears.