Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Even if Landon was somehow involved with the White family, Leila doubted he would treat her so cruelly. With a plan in mind, she began to make muffled sounds. Since she was unable to move, her muffled voice was the only tool she had.
As Leila expected, Landon and Byron heard her.
Byron accused Florrie, pointing out her hypocrisy.
“Look at you, claiming to discipline a disobedient servant when you’re actually torturing a disabled woman. I want to see who she is.”
Florrie turned around to stare at Leila, her face contorted with rage. She hissed, “This is none of your concern! I’d keep out of it if I were you.”
Landon hesitated. Though the woman in the wheelchair couldn’t speak, he sensed her desperation for help.
Typically, Landon wasn’t known for his warmth. He had a rather detached nature. But at that moment, he found himself thinking of Leila and their three children. If they were in danger and couldn’t resolve it, would they also feel as desperate as that woman seeking help?
Moved by this thought, Landon stepped forward. He fixed a steely gaze on Florrie and said firmly, “Move aside.”
Florrie’s eyes widened with increasing panic. Struggling to maintain her composure, she retorted, “Mr. Collins, Mrs. White has been gracious enough to take you in and help you recover. And yet, you choose to interfere in the affairs of the White family. I wonder if the Collins family in Burmoos could afford to offend Mrs. White.” In her desperation, Florrie dragged Gracelyn into their conversation, hoping to dissuade Landon.
However, what truly troubled Landon wasn’t Gracelyn but Florrie’s mention of the Collins family in Burmoos.
Landon had made up the entire backstory of the Collins family. If an investigation into the Collins family were carried out, it would quickly reveal that he was not, in fact, a member of that family. Gracelyn had a deep-seated dislike for him, complicating his position even further. Landon could only sigh inwardly and offer a silent apology to the woman in the wheelchair.
“Let’s go,” he said, turning to Byron.
Unaware of the complexities, Byron assumed Landon had done his best. Given that Landon was recuperating here for free, he had no say in matters.
As Landon and Byron walked away, Leila’s eyes remained wide with dismay. She longed to cry out, to make her presence and plight known, but found herself unable to speak.
After Landon and Byron left, Florrie finally breathed a sigh of relief. Turning back to Leila, her expression wasn’t just cold but hinted at something more sinister.
Florrie suddenly asked, “Do you know that man?”
Earlier, when Leila first heard Landon’s voice, she was momentarily stunned before she began to make muffled sounds. Florrie had noticed Leila’s reaction clearly.
Puzzled by Florrie’s question, Leila looked at her with a blank expression.
Rolling her eyes, Florrie lowered her voice to a threatening whisper.
“You know him, right? Is he your husband? The truth is, Gracelyn treats you this way not just because she feels lonely.”
Florrie pressed on, pushing Leila’s wheelchair into another room.
“There’s a more important reason. She despises Landon Kensington, your husband, to the core. You might not know this, but Gracelyn’s grandson’s death was caused by Landon.”
Leila was taken aback by Florrie’s words. However, she didn’t buy it.
Landon wasn’t the type to harm someone without reason. Those who had met unfortunate ends after provoking him often did so by overstepping boundaries or engaging in actions he found intolerable. Florrie went on, painting Landon as a ruthless figure who had driven Gracelyn’s grandson to his death. Her story was filled with details, seemingly convincing.
Leila began to question the truth of it but still found it hard to accept that Landon could be so merciless. She was confused about Florrie’s reasons for sharing this story.
“So…” Florrie’s tone shifted. She abruptly stopped walking, causing Leila to almost tumble from the sudden halt.
Leila’s discomfited state made Florrie burst into laughter.
Florrie managed to steady Leila before she could tumble to the floor. Her menacing tone didn’t let up.
“You know, I could just march right up to Mrs. White and tell her that the man recovering here is actually your husband, Landon Kensington, not some Mr. Collins. Guess what? White hates his guts, especially since he was largely responsible for her grandson’s demise over the intense online bullying.
Following her grandson’s death, Mrs. White couldn’t even look at any electronic device without freaking out. Therefore, she’s never seen a picture of Landon and failed to recognize him. But she knows you, Leila, including your history with the Kensington family. Mrs. White only took Landon in because she thought it would be some kind of good karma thing. Just imagine her face when she finds out she actually saved Landon!”
Leila’s heart hammered in her chest, and her thoughts swirled like a tornado. Fear gripped her. While she might manage being trapped in this place, it was a different case for Landon. Florrie’s words made it clear-Gracelyn truly despised Landon, regardless of the truth behind her grandson’s death.
While Leila knew Florrie was playing a dangerous game, she had to admit Florrie’s hunch was right. That man was undoubtedly Landon. A thorough investigation would surely follow once Florrie told Gracelyn Landon’s real identity. By then, Landon would face dire consequences, especially since he was stuck here, severely injured.
Leila’s stomach churned with regret. If she had seen this coming, she would never have asked Landon for help. Florrie’s suspicion caught her off guard. But there was no point in dwelling on the past. Leila forced herself to appear calm, though her mind was racing, desperately trying to find a way out of this mess.
Florrie leaned in, her voice sinister against Leila’s ear.
“If you want to protect him, you know what you shouldn’t say in front of Mrs. White.” With that, Florrie hummed a cheerful tune as she shoved Leila’s wheelchair forward to see Gracelyn.
Gracelyn, her face unnervingly calm, stood up from her wheelchair with surprising ease and walked toward Leila with a determined stride.
Leila’s breath caught in her throat. It turned out Gracelyn’s so-called wheelchair-bound state had been a charade, meant to gain her trust and sympathy.
Gracelyn’s fingers traced the cuts and bruises on Leila’s face.
A cruel smile played on Gracelyn’s lips.
“Calvert did a fantastic job. Leila looks like she actually fell off that cliff. Florrie, you and your husband have done well over the years. I’ll remember your contribution.”
Florrie’s face lit up with a bright smile at Gracelyn’s praise.
“It’s been a privilege to serve you, Mrs. White. You can trust us with anything,” she gushed.
Gracelyn, a contented smile playing on her lips, turned her gaze to Leila. Leila’s eyes, filled with defiance and vigilance, met hers. With a sigh and a manufactured expression of love, Gracelyn continued her performance.
Gracelyn reached out to touch Leila’s face, her eyes brimming with feigned pity.
“So many wounds,” she crooned.
“It must be agonizing to recover. You poor thing, you’ve truly endured so much.”
Leila merely stared back coldly, a wave of nausea washing over her.
Unfazed, Gracelyn continued, her voice a chilling reminder, “I don’t appreciate that look, Leila. Should you persist in your defiance, I can easily ensure your recovery never happens.”
The threat hung heavy in the air. Gracelyn was confident Leila wouldn’t risk it.
Leila could end it all right there or fight to the death against Gracelyn and her goons. But these options held no appeal. She had three beautiful children and the promise of a happy family with Landon still awaited her. Everything she had yearned for was finally within reach. How could she possibly give up now?
Sometimes, retreat was the wisest strategy for securing future happiness.
With an internal sigh, Leila lowered her head and extinguished the defiant glare she had fixed on Gracelyn.
Gracelyn, pleased by Leila’s submission, beamed.
The following day, Leila awoke to a dull ache throughout her body, the numbness caused by the drug fading. Moreover, she discovered she had regained her voice.
The reason behind Florrie’s desperate threats the previous day suddenly dawned on Leila.
Florrie had anticipated Leila regaining her speech and feared she would report Florrie’s cruelty to Gracelyn.
This realization brought a glimmer of hope to Leila. For now, at least, she was safe from further physical harm. But things couldn’t go on like this. There was no telling when Gracelyn, that unhinged woman, might snap. And then there was Calvert… The memory of his predatory gaze and determined expression sent a fresh wave of disgust through her.
A servant soon arrived to assist Leila with dressing.
“Water, please,” Leila rasped, her throat parched. A cup of water was promptly delivered.
The water provided blessed relief, soothing her throat and easing her discomfort.
As the maid assisted Leila with her attire, Florrie lingered in the doorway, her expression clouded. A flicker of anxiety danced in her eyes.
Leila was well aware of the source of Florrie’s disquiet.
While Leila was itching to use Gracelyn as leverage against Florrie, she knew it wasn’t the opportune moment. Voicing her complaint against Florrie could potentially entangle Landon in the mess. Besides, it wouldn’t improve her own situation.