Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila shook her head, expressing that work brought her joy.
“Then work from home! Jerome has been thoughtful! He’s fitted your spacious apartment with all the tools and a workbench you might need. There’s no need to head to the office!” Linsey advised. “But remember, don’t lose yourself in your work. Rest when you need to!”
Leila smiled and nodded, indicating she understood.
Truth be told, Leila found solace in burying herself in restoration work to escape life’s woes, a form of self-healing that Linsey likely couldn’t grasp, prompting Leila to hold back on the details.
“Fortunately, the doctor mentioned there are no dietary restrictions for you, so-” Mid-sentence, Linsey halted.
Leila and Linsey had just left the obstetrics and gynecology wing. Approaching from the opposite direction were Sarah and Landon.
The sight of Sarah and Landon sent a jolt through Leila. Her mind raced with worry about Landon having suspicions about her pregnancy. What if he discovered it? How would she handle it?
“What are you doing here?” Before Landon could utter a word, Sarah interjected, scrutinizing Leila with a sneer.
“Little mute, have you been fooling around and caught something nasty? Is that why you’re visiting the gynecologist?” Sarah’s tone was biting.
Linsey shot back with equal hostility. “Shut up! Gynecologists don’t deal with infections like that! But you two came out of the dermatology and STD department, didn’t you? Treating an STD, perhaps? You must be projecting your filth onto others! Did you pass your infection to Landon? Are you both here for treatment? Landon, keep your distance from Leila. Don’t drag her down with you!”
Linsey’s shout made Sarah flush with anger. “Don’t slander me!” Sarah yelled.
“Slander? What did I slander you for? I didn’t say you were slandering Leila earlier, so why is it slander when it’s about you?” Linsey retorted, not backing down.
Sarah was so overwhelmed with anger that she felt the burning urge to slap Linsey.
At that point, Landon couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped in. “Enough!”
Then, to Leila’s surprise, Landon explained to her, “We’re here to visit a mutual friend who suffered skin burns in an accident.”
Surprised by Landon’s sudden explanation, Leila nodded slowly.
“And you? Why are you here?” Landon inquired, noticing the medical report peeking from Leila’s bag. He moved closer, his hand extended, “What’s that you’ve been checked for? Let me see.”
Feeling her pulse quicken, Leila stepped backward, clutching the bag behind her. The reports revealed her pregnancy, a secret she couldn’t let Landon discover.
Her evasive action only deepened Landon’s suspicions. His eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on Leila, his annoyance palpable. “What are you hiding? What can’t I know?”
“Mr. Kensington, don’t you think you’re prying a little too much?” Linsey positioned herself in front of Leila and addressed Landon.
Leila’s heart raced, pounding against her chest.
“What are you doing?” Landon’s glare was intense as he barked at Linsey. “Get lost!”
As he spoke, he reached for Leila’s bag, attempting to snatch her medical documents.
The moment Landon’s fingers brushed the papers, Linsey shouted with feigned anger, “Why are you so eager to dig into my medical files about menstrual issues? Have you lost your mind, Landon?”
Landon froze. Linsey advanced, increasing the gap between Landon and Leila.
This time, Landon held back, not stepping closer.
“What did you say?” Landon asked, his frown deepening as he fixed his eyes on Linsey.
“I said those are my medical records in Leila’s bag. I have irregular periods, so I asked her to accompany me to the gynecologist!” Linsey’s voice was loud and clear, capturing the attention of several bystanders.
“Why are you interested in my medical records?” Linsey challenged Landon. “Mr. Kensington, is it just curiosity, or do you have a hidden crush on me? Do you need me to explain the content of my medical reports to you?”
Linsey’s bold statement left Landon unable to pursue his inquiry further.
Behind Linsey, Leila exhaled a deep sigh of relief.
“I thought Leila was sick.” Landon’s face was a mask of cool detachment, his voice sharp with concern.
“Can’t I invite her to accompany me if I’m unwell?” Linsey shot back, her tone tinged with irritation.
“She’s lost her voice. What good is her company?” Sarah’s voice carried across the room, a sneer barely concealed in her tone.
Leila’s head dropped instinctively. Sarah’s taunts always made her want to disappear. Yet, moments later, she lifted her chin defiantly. She had to stand up for herself, for her child’s sake.
Facing Sarah directly, Leila gestured her response.
While Sarah looked baffled, Landon’s expression turned into a frown of comprehension as he caught on to Leila’s message.
Linsey translated Leila’s gestures. “Leila may be mute, but she was Landon’s wife first.”
Linsey couldn’t resist adding a jab of her own. “If you’re so invaluable, why are you stuck in the role of a mistress while seeming so content?”
“You!” Sarah’s face reddened with rage, her chest heaving as she fought to control her anger, glancing at Landon for support.
Landon, however, only had eyes for Leila, his look dark and intense, ignoring Linsey’s challenge completely.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here,” Linsey muttered, tugging Leila away quickly, fearing Landon might detect something amiss, potentially leading to his suspicion of Leila’s pregnancy.
Fortunately for them, Landon stayed put, watching them leave.
Leila still felt Landon’s piercing stare even as she walked away. Only back in the car did she notice her shirt was soaked in cold sweat.
Lying to Landon and defying him were things Leila had never envisioned herself doing. Yet now, she was doing so repeatedly. Despite the fear that gripped her physically, it didn’t seem like such a big deal anymore.
Why did she have to listen to Landon at all?
“You okay?” Linsey’s voice brought Leila back.
Leila merely nodded, a silent affirmation that she was fine.
“Didn’t you mention wanting a divorce?” Linsey pressed, concern etching her features. “How’s that going? Do you need help finding a lawyer? Is he still after that money from you?”
Leila nodded, explaining she had amassed the twenty million and broached the topic of divorce again, though he was still stalling on the divorce.
“That jerk!” Linsey’s anger flared. “Why’s he dragging you through the mud? He’s all sweet on Sarah, but he can’t let you move on?”
A bitter smile twisted Leila’s lips as she sighed, expressing that he had always been like that.
“True.” Linsey nodded, her sigh mirroring Leila’s. “He’s been unfaithful since the day you married. What’s going to change?”
“How about this?” Struck by a sudden thought, Linsey grabbed Leila’s arm, getting an idea.
Leila gazed at Linsey with a perplexed expression.
“You could really shake him up with something drastic. I came across a story once about a woman whose husband was always abusive and wouldn’t grant her a divorce,” Linsey spoke with conviction.
Leila listened intently, thinking Linsey had a brilliant idea.
“That woman? She doused her husband with boiling water while he was asleep. It scared him so much that he immediately agreed to the divorce, fearing she might actually kill him next time!”
Leila was at a loss for words.
Yet Linsey seemed thrilled. “Isn’t that a fantastic idea? You could do something similar. Imagine standing over Landon’s bed with a knife or a pot of boiling water! If you frighten him enough, he’ll surely sign the divorce papers! He cherishes his life too much to gamble with it. Men are inherently self-centered. He’ll put his safety first!”
Leila just shook her head.
“Why not? Don’t tell me you still have feelings for him and can’t go through with it?”
Leila knew that approach was beyond her. It just wasn’t her. But there was another reason. She laid out that if she actually did so, Landon might send her to the hospital for treatment.
