Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Gracelyn nodded, and her face lit up.
But just then, a heavy rain started outside. It fell even harder than before. The road was shrouded in darkness, making it barely visible. Leila grew anxious, pondering how she would navigate her way home in such harsh weather.
Gracelyn suddenly suggested, “Why not stay here tonight? I’ll arrange a room for you. It’s late, and it’s not safe for you to be on the road now. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone drive you back. I wouldn’t be at ease knowing you’re out there on your own.”
After a moment’s thought, Leila agreed.
“Alright. Thanks.”
Gracelyn warmly tapped Leila’s forehead, reminding her, “Don’t be so polite with me. Remember how you used to love spending time at my house? You often stayed the night if it got too late.”
Leila smiled, a little embarrassed about the old memories.
Gracelyn asked a servant to escort Leila with an umbrella.
Once Leila was on her way, a servant promptly helped Gracelyn into a wheelchair.
Gracelyn’s expression turned cold and indifferent, as usual.
“Prepare the finest room for her. Make sure she has all she needs and make her feel comfortable. Also, what about the man recuperating at home?”
The servant responded respectfully, “He’s in the guest room.”
Gracelyn nodded and said, “Ensure he doesn’t bother our visitor.”
The servant nodded in acknowledgment.
Gracelyn waved her hand, and the servant pushed her wheelchair toward the entrance.
Gracelyn flicked on the switch, brightening the previously dim room.
At the center of the table was a memorial photo of a man with a gaunt face. His eyes were cold, filled with spite and bitterness. Anyone who saw the picture would feel unsettled. He was clearly a vicious man.
Feel the thrill at g aln ov el s . com
But Gracelyn saw it differently. She extended her hand to touch the photo, whispering, “My beloved grandson, you won’t believe who I met today. I met Leila, your childhood friend. She always admired you and saw you as her elder brother. Now, she’s all grown up with a family of her own. You used to think of her often, wondering about her wellbeing. Once she’s settled in, I’ll bring her over to see you. I’ve been so lonely, and I’ve always longed for someone to talk with. If you were still alive, you’d be her age, perhaps with children of your own.”
Gracelyn was unable to contain her tears as she shared her grief, sobbing and trembling.
The servant outside the door rushed in upon hearing the cries. She softly rubbed Gracelyn’s back in an attempt to comfort her.
The servant saw the memorial photo and understood the situation.
“Mrs. White, it’s been so many years. Taking care of your health matters most.”
Gracelyn wiped away her tears, her demeanor turning cold as she said, “Why bother with my health? I’m merely living on borrowed time. If I pass away one day, so be it. It’s certainly better than this loneliness.”
The servant, unable to watch Gracelyn wallow in despair, replied, “But your husband is still with you. He needs you.”
At this, Gracelyn’s sadness deepened.
“He’s bedridden. His existence is just suffering for both himself and me.”
The servant’s expression turned sad, but she remained silent.
With a deep sigh, Gracelyn touched the servant’s hand and said, “Alright. Let’s not linger on such matters. You’ve served me faithfully for many years. Even though these thoughts haunt me daily, haven’t I always persevered?”
The servant wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and a thought suddenly came to her mind. She looked at Gracelyn with bright eyes.
“Mrs. White, since Miss Nixon is that same little girl from years ago, perhaps…”
The servant trailed off, not voicing her thoughts aloud.
Gracelyn quickly caught the meaning behind the servant’s words. The servant paused before saying, “That way, she could stay here with you, and you wouldn’t be so lonely anymore.”
Instantly, Gracelyn’s expression turned stern. She rebuked the servant, “Enough. She is a distinguished guest here. I won’t tolerate such comments again.”
Seeing Gracelyn’s firm look and sensing her growing anger, the servant hesitantly dropped the idea.
“Please don’t be upset. I won’t mention it again.”
Gracelyn glanced at the memorial photo of her grandson resting on the table and let out a soft sigh.
“Alright. Take me back to rest now.”
“Okay.” The servant nodded.
Meanwhile, Leila looked around the room and sighed. It boasted a quaint, traditional charm. She recalled how much she enjoyed visiting the White family estate as a child. The d?cor remained much as it had been. It was undeniably beautiful.
However, the abundance of ebony wood furniture lent a somewhat somber tone to the room at night. Moreover, the Whites appeared to have little interest in contemporary furnishings. Many candles were displayed throughout.
Leila sometimes felt as if she had stepped back into an old era. She pulled out her phone, intending to text her assistant that she was safe. She typed, wanting to task her assistant with checking on her three children during the day, but her messages wouldn’t go through.
“That’s strange,” Leila muttered. She didn’t dwell on it and put her phone away, suspecting the mountainous location and the ongoing downpour might be disrupting the internet service.
Feeling sleepy, Leila lay down on the bed and soon fell asleep to the sound of rain tapping against the windows.
In her sleep, Leila had a horrifying nightmare. She dreamt that Landon was also at the White family’s house, but he was being controlled by some sinister-looking people. Gracelyn was the head of that group, wielding a sharp dagger. Without a moment’s hesitation, she drove the dagger into Landon.
Blood spurted out dramatically. The sight terrified Leila in her dream. She fought frantically, attempting to reach Landon and stop the dreadful scene. But she found herself bound by an unseen force and was unable to break free. Helplessly, she watched as Landon slowly lost his breath and lay motionless.
“Ah!” Leila’s scream echoed as she jerked awake from the nightmare. Her back was soaked with sweat, and her body quaked from the tension and terror of the dream.
She hugged her knees to her chest, trying to soothe herself. She repeated in her mind that it was just a dream, and that the events in the dream were the opposite of reality. Landon must be fine now. But the nightmare had shaken her deeply, making it hard to fall back asleep.
She looked out the window. By then, the rain had tapered off, and the early morning sky had begun to brighten. It was around five or six o’clock in the morning.
Despite having only slept for a few hours, Leila was too restless to fall back asleep. Her thoughts were consumed by Landon. She felt she wouldn’t find peace until she located Landon.
With a soft sigh, Leila rose and freshened up. When she was done, she opened the door, only to find herself unexpectedly facing several bodyguards.
As Leila stepped forward, they promptly blocked her way.
Leila’s brow furrowed, and she asked cautiously, “What do you want to do?”
One of the bodyguards stepped forward to explain, “Miss Nixon, Mrs. White instructed us to guard here. The White estate is secluded in the mountains, and despite some nearby residents, the area can be risky. Wild animals are known to roam around. We are here solely for your protection, with no other intention.”
Since Gracelyn had given the order, Leila’s demeanor softened slightly. She cleared her throat and declared, “Don’t bother. I just need some air. I’ll stay close. Please stay away. I prefer to be alone. I’ll discuss this with Gracelyn. Whatever happens, it’s not on you.”
“But…” The guards looked uneasy, sharing concerned looks.
Leila’s brow furrowed and her mood soured as she said, “I already said I don’t want to be followed.”
Seeing Leila’s resolute stance, the guards eventually moved aside.
Leila then made her way out of the villa. Her aim was to cross the front yard and leave the premises of the White family’s house. She hoped to use the early morning to search for Landon. If she couldn’t find him, she planned to return by midday to say goodbye to Gracelyn. She might leave her contact information and promise to visit with the children whenever she found the time.
However, as Leila proceeded, she picked up on something odd about the White family. Not only were there guards stationed outside her room, but there were also many in the yard. Even the main gate was heavily guarded.
She recalled that upon her arrival at the White’s house the day before, there hadn’t been nearly as many guards. The sight of these guards now made her feel anxious. It was as if eyes were on her wherever she moved, which left her feeling unsettled.
But none of these guards stopped Leila. In fact, the guards at the gate even opened it for her as she approached.
Just as Leila was nearing the gate, the servant who had been with Gracelyn the previous day rushed over.