Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Sophie pulled back slightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“But it feels wrong. This whole thing. Landon isn’t asking to talk. He’s setting a trap, I know it.”
Though Leila never detailed the full extent of the company’s troubles to her children, Sophie and Calvin had picked up on the strain, piecing together the weight their mother carried.
Under relentless attacks from the Kensington Group and other rivals, the Nixon Group’s quarterly profits had plummeted. Confidence in the company wavered as whispers of its downfall spread. Key employees had resigned, and betrayals within the ranks only deepened the wounds.
To outsiders, the Nixon Group looked like a crumbling fortress, teetering on the brink of collapse, waiting for one final strike to bring it down. The strain was visible on Leila. The weight of the battles she fought alone had etched itself into her features. Even her children noticed the weariness she tried to hide behind soft smiles.
After a heartfelt goodbye to her three kids, Leila set out for the meeting. She anticipated Landon would be waiting for her-alone. But when she pushed open the heavy doors to the meeting room, her breath hitched for a fleeting second.
The room was filled with faces she hadn’t expected: former allies of the Nixon Group, now aligned with the Kensington Group. Betrayal hung in the air like a thick fog. Landon sat in the center, his presence commanding as always, while beside him was Lacey.
It had been some time since Leila had last seen Lacey, and the transformation was striking. Gone was the gaudy, attention-seeking wardrobe Lacey had once favored. Her new look was understated yet sophisticated, exuding a fresh elegance that demanded respect. The change was deliberate.
It didn’t take long for Leila to recognize the intent behind it-Lacey was imitating her. Yet, even with the effort, Lacey couldn’t quite pull it off. There was something intangible missing, something that set Leila apart.
In Leila’s presence, Lacey’s aura as Landon’s fianc?e seemed hollow, as if she were a shadow cast by the real thing.
The room was a battlefield, filled with those who had turned against Leila and now stood as adversaries.
Still, Leila didn’t falter. Her surprise at the scene flickered for only an instant before she smoothed her expression into one of calm control. A faint, composed smile graced her lips as she stepped inside.
Leila greeted everyone present except Landon and Lacey. In fact, she acted as if they weren’t even there.
Even though most of the business partners supported Landon, it was necessary to make Leila feel unwelcome at such an event. After all, business partners could be friends, but their interests always came first.
Everyone picked up on Leila’s behavior but responded with knowing smiles.
Lacey couldn’t let go of the humiliation. She pointedly asked, “Miss Nixon, you’re a bit late. Were you trying to make a statement?”
Leila calmly settled into a chair, and her smile faded upon hearing Lacey’s comment. She replied politely yet distantly, “Since Mr. Kensington is hosting, should the guests arrive before the host?”
While Leila had shown up late, it wasn’t her plan to arrive excessively late. If Landon chose to make an issue of it, that was on him.
Lacey, feeling insulted, closed her mouth in shame.
Landon, not typically one to defend Lacey in such situations, surprisingly interjected, “Miss Nixon, regardless, addressing my fianc?e in that manner seems a bit rude, don’t you think?”
Leila’s hand froze midair as she was tucking her hair behind her ear. She met Landon’s eyes with a frosty stare.
“I was simply stating a fact, not trying to be rude to anyone.”.
Leila then looked away, clearly not planning to offer an apology.
Lacey was shocked by Landon’s public defense of her for the first time, particularly against Leila. This made her wonder if Landon was really choosing her over Leila.
With this thought, Lacey gave Leila a provocative look. She believed Leila must be seething beneath the composed facade.
However, Leila was truly unbothered. She considered Landon’s actions to be somewhat childish, as if he were attempting to get her attention.
Just as Leila thought, Landon’s eyes often drifted toward her. Noticing her unbothered response to his earlier remarks made him feel uneasy. Landon then intentionally served Lacey some food and said softly, “Eat more. You’re too thin.”
Lacey’s cheeks turned pink, and her heart fluttered with excitement. Taking advantage of the situation, she played the damsel in distress.
“Landon, I feel a bit dizzy. But it’s alright. I’ll just lean on you for a bit.”
Lacey then unabashedly leaned against Landon.
Landon’s body stiffened for a moment, but he didn’t move away from Lacey, especially as he noticed Leila’s indifferent expression. Leila put her fork down and started chatting casually with others around her, avoiding any interaction with Landon.
Just then, someone said, “Mr. Kensington and his fianc?e seem so in love. But Miss Nixon, didn’t you have a history with Mr. Kensington? Why weren’t you at their engagement party?”
The question was aimed at Leila. The person who had asked didn’t seem intent on causing trouble for Leila. He was just stirring the pot for entertainment. After all, everyone had their share of personal issues.
Leila responded with a smile, “I was overseas on business and couldn’t attend.”
The asker gave a knowing “Oh,” seemingly doubtful of Leila’s explanation.
However, Leila was unaffected whether the asker believed her or not. As the conversation seemed about to move on, the asker pressed on.
“Even though you missed it then, you’re here now. As old acquaintances, maybe you should share a few drinks and say a few words.”
Bang! A glass was placed on the table with a sharp clink, instantly quieting the asker.
Some people exchanged glances but chose to remain silent.
Lacey was basking in her moment and seized the opportunity to make Leila uncomfortable. In a falsely sweet voice, she said, “Leila, you once viewed me as a sister figure. Now that Landon and I are together, you seem to be pulling away. Are you being resentful?”
This sparked curiosity among the others, who exchanged looks. A sister figure betrayed Leila by taking her man. Leila’s composed expression must be a facade. She might be hiding her inner turmoil.
Leila chuckled coldly and retorted, “Oh, you can remember that? I assumed you had erased it from your memory, considering your knack for disrupting family dynamics. But then, snatching my partner isn’t exactly a badge of honor.”
Lacey frowned and snapped, “Disrupting? I’ve been by Landon’s side all these years. It was you who meddled in our relationship. You’ve obviously been scheming behind the scenes. It’s clear now Landon never had feelings for you. He told me that being with me stirred feelings he’d never experienced before.”
Lacey’s words were calculated to incite Leila, hoping Leila would lose her composure and create a scene.
Leila lost her cool, her face turning dark. Lacey, unfazed and even eager, welcomed the brewing storm, completely unaware of Landon’s darkened face.
Leila then flashed a chilling smile at Lacey.
“Who’s really the jealous one here? If he loves you as much as you say, why are you so insecure that you’d harm an innocent girl? My daughter, Sophie, has nothing to do with this. Why did you push her into the lake?”
Lacey’s smile froze. Disbelief was clearly visible on her face as she processed the accusation, wondering if she had heard incorrectly.
“That’s ridiculous. I never pushed your daughter into the lake. That’s just absurd.”
Leila feigned deep sorrow.
“Landon and I ended things on good terms. We handled discussions about the kids civilly. I understand you find them bothersome. But I never thought you’d go to such lengths. Lacey, why act out against my daughter now that you’ve gotten what you wanted? Isn’t it as wonderful as you hoped?”
Lacey, flustered, blurted out, “I never acted against your daughter. I didn’t push her into the lake. I have no reason to do so. Doing that would only make Landon despise me more.”
In her rush to defend herself, Lacey overlooked the revealing slip she had just made.
Some onlookers exchanged knowing looks and looked at Lacey with renewed interest. It appeared that Landon’s feelings for Lacey weren’t as genuine as they appeared. He had been feigning his affection.
Lacey soon caught onto her mistake. She turned to Landon with a desperate look.
“Landon, she’s cornering me. Won’t you stand up for me?” Landon had planned to use Lacey to agitate Leila, but he didn’t expect Lacey to be as foolish as before.
Landon rubbed his temples, the faint throb of a headache making his irritation more pronounced. He could feel Leila’s piercing gaze on him, her expression practically mocking him for bringing such a scene into the room. Embarrassment tightened Landon’s jaw as he snapped at Lacey, “Now!”
His tone carried no room for argument, nor did it hold even a shred of defense for her.
Lacey’s lips trembled, her confusion evident.
“Landon, at least hear me out. I didn’t push Sophie. I would never do something like that. She’s your daughter. Do you think I’d be that cruel?”
Landon’s sneer was colder than the room’s silence.
“Does it matter whether you did it or not? I couldn’t care less.” The harsh indifference in his voice struck like a blow.
Any affection Lacey thought they shared evaporated instantly, leaving her feeling like a figment of her imagination. Feeling utterly dejected, she released Landon’s coat and walked away, her face drained of all color. At the door, Lacey paused, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. How foolish she had been. She had warned herself countless times not to fall for Landon, or let her guard down. However, every time he showed her the smallest kindness, she threw caution to the wind. And now, it was clear that maybe he had only been tender to her earlier to put on a show in front of Leila.
