Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
She steadied herself, inhaling sharply as if summoning a new resolve. Trying to win Landon’s heart? That was a fool’s errand. What she needed was a different approach, one that didn’t rely on fragile, foolish hopes. Her hands trembling, Lacey forced back her tears and lowered her head in submission.
“I understand,” she said quietly.
“I’ll sign the contract and hand it over as soon as possible.”
Landon offered a curt nod, clearly satisfied.
“Good. You can leave now.” Without hesitation, Lacey turned and left the study.
The butler, ever watchful, soon arranged a room for her. Out of a sense of decorum-or perhaps fear of overstepping Landon’s influence-he assigned Lacey a guest room near the master bedroom.
Yet, the butler’s disdain for Lacey was palpable. Left to his own devices, he might have relegated her to a servant’s quarters, but he did not go that far.
Once inside her new room, Lacey’s thin veneer of control shattered. Anger surged like a tide, and she swept everything off the table in one furious motion.
The crash of objects echoed through the halls, drawing the attention of passing servants.
Their disdainful glances cut through Lacey like knives. To them, Lacey was nothing but a poor imitation of the women who had once graced Landon’s life. Sarah, his ex-girlfriend, had been haughty but refined-a lady of status and impeccable composure. Leila exuded more grace and poise than Lacey ever could. Why Landon had chosen Lacey was a mystery no one dared voice aloud, but the unspoken judgment lingered in every interaction.
Lacey’s fury burned hotter with every imagined slight. She could feel their silent scorn, their whispers trailing behind her like shadows. But when her rage subsided, she sank to the floor, her body wracked with frustration and hopelessness. She stared blankly at the opulent room around her, its luxury a stark contrast to the turmoil in her heart.
For a fleeting moment, Lacey wondered how long she could endure this life, this constant humiliation. But the thought of leaving filled her with an even greater dread. She had glimpsed a world of wealth and privilege-one she now believed she belonged to. The idea of returning to her old life was unbearable. No. She hadn’t done anything wrong. She deserved to stay, no matter what it took.
Lacey sat frozen, her thoughts a storm she refused to let spill onto her face. Since she had poisoned Landon, enduring this humiliation should be easy. She clung to the belief that her current circumstances were temporary, a passing phase she could bend to her will.
With a slow, deliberate breath, Lacey straightened her posture, letting an icy calm wash over her. She stepped to the door and summoned two servants.
“Clean this up,” she commanded, her voice smooth but unyielding, her chin tilted high as though she were above reproach. The servants glanced at each other, their irritation barely masked as they moved to obey.
Their muttered complaints didn’t escape Lacey’s ears, but she remained impervious. She stood like a statue, observing their movements with an unsettling stillness, her expression devoid of warmth or apology.
The servants, initially disdainful, began to feel an inexplicable unease. There was something unnerving about Lacey’s detached gaze, something chilling in the fleeting glint of malice they caught in her eyes. It prickled their skin, and though they said nothing, they worked faster, eager to leave her presence.
By the time the engagement party loomed on the horizon, Lacey had donned a new face-one that smiled despite the smoldering bitterness beneath.
Landon, ever mindful of appearances, had spared no expense in hiring a professional team to ensure Lacey looked flawless. And flawless she was.
Whatever charm Lacey had once possessed was now honed to perfection. Under expert hands, she transformed into an embodiment of elegance, her features polished into a mirror of grace.
But Lacey’s transformation went deeper than her makeup or gown. Beneath the surface, she was a study in control, every gesture and glance meticulously rehearsed. The mimicry wasn’t glaring, but she had to keep pretending to be someone else, crafting herself into an illusion. If she let her guard down for even a second, the entire facade would collapse.
Determined not to be seen as a poor imitation, Lacey slipped on high heels she rarely wore, straightened her back, and practiced a walk that exuded elegance. But with every step, her energy drained.
By the time Lacey reached the top of the staircase, her legs felt as though they might buckle beneath her. Confusion flickered in her mind. How did Leila do this so effortlessly? Lacey had seen Leila glide through rooms with poise on countless occasions, even in moments of rest. Surely, it couldn’t be that hard. Yet, it was far more challenging than she’d anticipated.
Downstairs, the grand hall brimmed with the city’s elites. Beneath a canopy of shimmering chandeliers, women in opulent gowns mingled with men in tailored suits, their laughter floating alongside the strains of a live piano performance.
Crystal glasses sparkled in their hands, brimming with expensive wine. When Lacey appeared at the top of the staircase, supported by a pair of servants, a hush fell over the room. All eyes turned toward her.
Step by measured step, Lacey descended. Her chin lifted, her white gown a masterpiece of sophistication, her smile calculated to perfection. Every detail of her appearance was designed to exude the presence of a proper hostess.
The crowd’s reactions varied. Some stared with open disdain, others with thinly veiled surprise. A few were curious, their expressions bordering on approval, while some couldn’t mask their envy.
But none of it mattered to Lacey. At that moment, under the glittering lights and rapt attention of the room, she was the center of everything. The most dazzling woman in the hall. And she basked in it. The surge of power, the intoxicating sense of being on top of the world-it was unlike anything she’d ever felt.
From the shadows, a slender woman observed Lacey with sharp, calculating eyes. The smugness in Lacey’s demeanor was almost unbearable to her.
On the surface, Sarah’s composure was impeccable, her lips tinged with the faintest trace of a smile. Yet, her hand, delicate and trembling slightly, gripped the glass tightly, as though she might shatter it at any moment.
To Sarah, Lacey was nothing more than a gullible but mildly effective asset. The mere idea that Lacey could cunningly drive a wedge between Landon and Leila, severing their bond, had seemed far-fetched.
The notion that Lacey was actually engaged to Landon was even more preposterous to Sarah. What qualities could someone as insignificant as Lacey possibly have to deserve standing next to Landon? Lacey was devoid of beauty, her lineage was unremarkable, and her character left much to be desired. She was not even remotely a match for Sarah’s caliber.
While Sarah could begrudgingly accept being bested by someone of Leila’s stature, conceding defeat to Lacey was utterly unacceptable.
A storm brewed behind Sarah’s calm eyes. Dark, vengeful plots simmered in her thoughts, each more malicious than the last. But she knew all too well that if she dared to act, Landon would likely retaliate and might even utterly ruin her.
Despite knowing her days were numbered, Sarah refused to meet her end in such a disgraceful manner.
As Sarah contemplated her next move, the sound of voices drifted over from near the entrance. The chatter was loud, suggesting the arrival of someone important. Curiosity piqued, Sarah raised an eyebrow and made her way toward the commotion.
Sarah’s figure had become so frail that even the smallest dresses hung off her like loose curtains. Her health had severely declined. Yet, she continued to make appearances at various social events.
The once-powerful Miller family was now a shadow of its former self. During Sarah’s messy divorce, her ex-husband’s family had been desperate to protect their tarnished reputation. In a bid to settle matters quickly, they had handed Sarah a substantial sum of money. This amount was more than enough for Sarah to lead a comfortable life, despite the bitter split.
Despite her deteriorating health, Sarah had the means to seek treatment. Yet, her pride prevented her from embracing a life of isolation. She observed others reveling in the company of friends and family, their joy glaringly annoying to her.
This spurred Sarah to purchase a series of energy-boosting supplements. Upon consuming them, her vitality seemed to surge, and she radiated a newfound vibrancy.
However, these supplements were secretly undermining her health. Nonetheless, Sarah was indifferent to the toll they took on her body. Her sole focus was to dazzle and appear formidable in the eyes of everyone around her.
Frail as she was, Sarah could have been toppled by a mere gust of wind. Passersby gave her curious looks and kept their distance, wary of making contact with her fragile form.
Sarah immediately spotted the source behind the commotion and let a sly, knowing smile creep onto her lips. It seemed she had concocted the perfect scheme in her mind.
Lacey’s jaw tightened slightly as she observed Sophie and Calvin making their grand entrance into the hall. She had extended the invitation partly out of politeness and partly to flaunt her status. She had confidently assumed their pride would keep them from attending. Yet here they were, striding in confidently. Were they here to cause a scene?
A flicker of anxiety passed through Lacey’s gaze, but she swiftly masked it with a veneer of poise. If Sophie and Calvin were intent on disrupting things, it might just play into her hands. She was scrambling to find ways to garner Landon’s sympathy.
With this in mind, Lacey signaled to someone.
A robust woman with a shrewd look about her promptly made her way over.
This was Minna Dominguez, a servant whom Lacey had specifically recruited to aid her maneuvers within the Kensington family household.
Although Minna was driven by her own interests, she possessed a sharp mind and diligently executed Lacey’s commands within the Kensington family household. Furthermore, she had mastered the art of conversation, always managing to charm Lacey with her words. To stay in Lacey’s good graces, Minna had a knack for weaving enchanting compliments.
Lacey, who had a weakness for flattery, reveled in such praise.
Upon noticing Lacey’s signal, Minna quickly approached, bowing slightly and nodding with exaggerated respect.
“Mrs. Kensington, how may I assist you today? Whatever you need, I’m here for it. Just let me know, and I’ll make it happen.”
Hearing her title spoken aloud brought a smile of satisfaction to Lacey’s lips. She covered her mouth, giggling, and leaned in closer to Minna, lowering her voice to a whisper.
“Do you see those two children over there? The older one is fifteen, and the younger is eight. They’re siblings.”
Minna turned to look where Lacey was pointing and gasped slightly, her eyes widening in astonishment.
“Oh my, they are the spitting image of Mr. Kensington!”
Realizing her blunder, Minna quickly fell silent.
Lacey’s expression darkened briefly but was quickly replaced by a knowing smirk.
“You’re absolutely right. They do look like him because they are his children. He is their father, after all.”
Minna narrowed her eyes, catching Lacey’s implication right away. She spoke with confidence.
“Mrs. Kensington, leave it to me. Don’t worry. With my approach, I’ll ensure those two naive brats recognize who truly runs the Kensington family. It’s been a long time since this family was theirs or their mother’s.”
Lacey, however, gently shook her head.
“Minna, that’s not why I brought you here. On the contrary, I want you to treat them kindly. Provide them with the finest care possible.”
