Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila sighed softly, a hint of concern in her voice.
“What are you so busy with? You’ve skipped dinner and been in the office all this time.” Leila got all the details from the company’s assistant. Though she had lost her memories, she didn’t want the entire burden to rest solely on her son. She had spent the past few days reacquainting herself with the company, with Landon’s guidance.
Perhaps due to her muscle memory, even without her full memories, she handled things with ease and skill over the past few days. She started communicating with the company’s assistants, claiming she had been unwell recently.
The company staff were unaware of Leila’s memory loss. Landon had deliberately kept her condition a secret to prevent any exploitation. Even the assistants who worked closely with Leila hadn’t noticed anything unusual. They believed Leila was recovering from a serious illness and was unable to handle all of her previous responsibilities.
Leila had set one strict rule upon resuming her responsibilities-the assistant was to inform her immediately if Calvin pushed himself too hard. For instance, he couldn’t work late past midnight.
After the competition, Calvin had spent too much time in his office.
Leila had no intention of keeping a close watch on Calvin, but after learning about his skipping meals, she couldn’t help but feel worried and angry about his neglecting his health.
With this in mind, Leila spoke in a firmer tone.
“Even if you’re passionate about something, you need to rest. If this continues, I won’t let you stay at the Nixon Group anymore.”
Calvin chuckled and replied, “Alright. I won’t do it again. I’ll grab dinner and head to bed right after. Don’t be upset.”
As Calvin repeated his assurances, a softness crept into Leila’s previously guarded expression.
Driven by a surge of curiosity, Leila asked, her voice tinged with intrigue, “What’s been capturing your attention? I’m curious about what has you so captivated.”
Calvin glanced at the data on his computer screen and replied with a bashful shrug, “Ah, just messing around with some gadgets. How was your trip here? Everything smooth?”
Leila could feel there was something Calvin wasn’t sharing, his evasiveness almost palpable in the air. Yet, she chose to let it be. Children had their own little secrets, and she respected that sacred boundary. Though her curiosity remained, she believed firmly in giving him his space. Unless it ventured into worrisome territory, there was no harm in him keeping some things to himself.
Deciding to redirect their conversation, Leila shifted her focus. By this point, Leila and Landon had just arrived at a secluded mountain retreat, the scenery around them breathtakingly serene and vibrant. Elma, not often a visitor to such tranquil settings, seemed uplifted, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in her surroundings from Landon’s secure embrace.
Leila switched on the camera, aiming it toward Elma so Calvin could see her.
Calvin couldn’t help but mirror Elma’s glowing smile, his stern demeanor giving way to gentle warmth.
However, as Leila panned the camera, it accidentally caught Lacey in the frame. Positioned a little ways off, Lacey was unaware she was captured on the screen. Her gaze, sharp and unwavering, was locked on Leila and Landon, a stark contrast to the warmth of the scene before her.
Landon and Leila, their backs to Lacey, remained oblivious to the chill of Lacey’s intense scrutiny.
Calvin’s heart missed a beat.
As the camera swung back, Lacey’s face had resumed its usual composure, as though Calvin’s glimpse into her true feelings had been mere illusion.
However, Calvin understood all too well that the more ordinary things seemed, the stranger they truly were. Unable to voice his concerns outright, he opted for a more discreet approach, remarking, “It seems like you were high up in the mountains.
“Mom, you ought to tread carefully. Even if the locals seem friendly, a little caution goes a long way.”
Leila chuckled, her amusement evident.
“What’s getting you so worried all of a sudden? Relax, we’ll be back before you know it. Don’t stress yourself out over it.”
Calvin’s lips tightened into a thin line, his expression solemn, signaling his ongoing urge to convince Leila of the potential dangers.
Surprisingly, Landon glanced at Calvin on the screen and, with an uncommon nod of approval, supported his caution.
“Calvin’s right. It’s smart to stay alert while traveling. Even with companions, it’s best not to let our guard down.”
Leila, taken aback by Landon’s unexpected agreement, nodded in acknowledgment.
It was rare for Calvin to earn Landon’s endorsement, and this rare moment gave Calvin a mixed feeling of validation and unease, prompting a subdued snort from him.
Just as Calvin was about to end the call, Lacey’s voice emerged from behind them.
“Mr. Kensington, there’s no need for concern. Though I’ve only lived at my mentor’s place briefly, I’ve grown quite acquainted with the villagers. They are warm-hearted, straightforward farmers, sincere and humble, harboring no bad intentions. Furthermore, my mentor is greatly respected here. Relying on both my and my mentor’s reputations, I assure you, the villagers will welcome all of us warmly.”
Lacey’s words rang with apparent sincerity, as if she truly meant them.
Landon simply offered a nonchalant “okay,” obviously not taking Lacey’s explanations to heart.
Lacey, her lip caught between her teeth in mild frustration, still mustered a smile at Leila.
“Miss Nixon, do you still harbor doubts or fears?”
Leila was puzzled by Lacey’s sudden focus on her but responded with courteous confusion.
“Not at all. I just hope they are as welcoming as you describe. If Elma’s condition can be healed here, we’ll not only compensate your mentor handsomely but also extend our support to the villagers.” This gesture was primarily for Elma’s benefit.
Yet, Lacey’s face clouded over at these words. She tilted her head up, her posture rigid with visible distaste, and declared, “While your support is appreciated, it’s unnecessary. My mentor places little value on wealth. You needn’t attempt to win him over with money. He isn’t driven by material gains. Why else had he stuck around in a place like this? In the past, my mentor had more lucrative offers, and over the years, numerous affluent families have tried to entice him away. Yet, he chose to stay in the mountains, dedicated to aiding the ordinary people.”
Lacey’s portrayal clearly depicted her mentor as a model of selflessness. In contrast, it cast Leila in a somewhat shallow light. Her use of “material gain” subtly criticized Leila’s approach.
Leila’s face fell at the implication. Yet, recalling that Elma’s well-being hinged on Lacey’s mentor, she clenched her jaw to remain silent.
However, Elma, feeling rejuvenated, was not about to hold back. She snapped back with cutting precision, “If your mentor is truly such a paragon of virtue, why haven’t you followed in his footsteps? You’ve acquired the skills but none of the morals. You linger by my father’s side solely for financial gain, don’t you? You’re just as materialistic as those you disdain. Without embodying your mentor’s values, you lack any ground to criticize others.”
With renewed clarity and vigor, Elma unleashed her words like a volley of arrows, turning Lacey’s cheeks a fiery red-not from embarrassment, but from sheer rage.
Lacey’s hands itched to retaliate with a slap, but with Landon nearby, she restrained herself.
Observing Lacey’s struggle to contain her fury, Leila couldn’t help but feel a twinge of triumph. However, she approached Elma, gently lifting her and murmuring, “There was no need to provoke her. Remember, we’ll be meeting her mentor shortly.”
Elma wrapped her arms around Leila’s neck, muttering reluctantly, “I didn’t intend to, but she kept taunting you. She’s unbearably cruel.” At that moment, Landon strolled up, his curiosity piqued, and he inquired in a tone that hovered between casual and concerned, “Who? Who’s been taunting you?”
His voice carried a balanced tone, neither booming nor whispering, yet it made Lacey tense up instantly.
Leila shot Lacey a loaded glance but opted to keep the truth under wraps, dismissing it with a nonchalant wave.
“Nothing serious. Just a little banter. Is the convoy on its way?”
Landon glanced at his watch and nodded affirmatively. He cast a look back at the sprawling mountains, his brow furrowing with the onset of a nagging headache.
“This route might be a challenge. It’s going to be tough on you.”
Indeed, even though a plane could manage to fly over, there was no suitable place for it to land. Driving a car remained the only viable option.
Clearly, Leila had underestimated the strenuous journey. Initially, she coped well, but as time wore on, she succumbed to waves of carsickness.
They eventually pulled over for a much-needed respite.
Leila, her face pale and her strength fading, leaned into Landon, tears shimmering in her eyes, embodying delicate vulnerability.
Landon wrapped an arm around Leila, gently patting her back in a soothing rhythm.
Elma seemed unaffected by the journey. Accustomed to various adventures and games with Calvin since childhood, she was immune to both fatigue and motion sickness.
Elma wasn’t bothered by carsickness.
Seated next to Leila, Elma eyed her with concern.
“Mommy, you look terrible. Are you ill?”
Leila fought back nausea. After inhaling deeply, she felt much better.
“I’m fine,” Leila reassured Elma, shaking her head slightly.
“I am not.”