Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Gracelyn’s next words, however, took Leila completely by surprise.
“The spiritual advisor just informed me of a plan for my grandson’s reincarnation. I find it quite appealing and wanted to discuss it with you. I’m thinking Calvert and Leila should have a child. The spiritual advisor assures me that because my grandson was born into wealth in this life, he’ll instinctively choose a wealthy family in his next life. Furthermore, he and Leila were childhood playmates, so he already has a fondness for her.”
Gracelyn’s proposition hung in the air, met with stunned silence.
Not only Leila, but even Florrie was visibly shaken.
Florrie’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Calvert and Miss Nixon?” she gasped.
Gracelyn nodded, feigning consideration for Florrie’s feelings.
“I know you care for Calvert, and you two get along well. But over the years, I’ve been generous to both of you. Look at your family. I’ve given you almost everything. Besides, you’ve said you wanted to repay me. Well, now’s your chance.”
Florrie visibly trembled. She didn’t immediately answer Gracelyn, instead turning to look at Calvert.
Calvert’s face betrayed his unease. He averted his gaze, unable to meet Florrie’s eyes.
Leila, utterly stunned, gripped the wheelchair’s armrest tightly, her face growing dark. She finally understood why Gracelyn hadn’t questioned the plan. Had the spiritual advisor suggested Florrie as the vessel for Gracelyn’s grandson’s reincarnation, Gracelyn would have been immediately suspicious, skeptical, and likely would have resisted the idea. After all, though Gracelyn treated Calvert and Florrie well, it was clear she held them in low regard. She always maintained a sense of superiority over them. With this new suggestion, everything fell into place.
Leila was puzzled. How had things taken this unexpected turn? Florrie’s reaction made it clear this wasn’t part of her plan. But hadn’t Florrie already bribed the spiritual advisor?
Leila swiftly deduced the truth. Calvert must have secretly approached the spiritual advisor, offering her a bribe to change the plan at the last minute. His scheme was met with Gracelyn’s unexpected agreement.
Leila felt a wave of nausea. Calvert’s desperation was appalling. He even wanted a child with her.
Leila fought to maintain her composure, barely resisting the urge to unleash her fury on Calvert. She knew she didn’t need to say a word. Given Florrie’s deep love for Calvert, it would be nothing short of a miracle if she agreed to this arrangement.
Leila observed Florrie’s desperate plea. Florrie was on her knees before Gracelyn, tears streaming down her face, a picture of utter misery.
“Mrs. White,” she sobbed.
“If it were anything else, I’d give you anything, even my own life. But not this. Calvert and I are childless. To dedicate myself to your care all these years, I even had an abortion. Please, at least let Calvert’s firstborn child be mine. I can’t agree to this.”
Florrie’s entreaty intensified, her voice thick with despair.
“Mrs. White, I implore you, please don’t force me to agree. I’d rather die than agree to this,” she begged.
Gracelyn, clearly taken aback by Florrie’s resolute refusal, her face contorted in anger, her teeth clenched. She hissed, “Florrie, you know how desperately I’ve yearned for my grandchild’s return all these years. Now, when I finally have a chance to see my grandson, you dare refuse me? All that talk of understanding and devotion these past years-was it all a sham?”
Pausing, Gracelyn sneered, “And as for your life, what value does it even have? You should know your place. If it weren’t for my generosity, you and Calvert would never have enjoyed such a comfortable life.” Gracelyn’s words were laced with venom, fueled by her fury.
Florrie’s hands were clenched so tightly that her palms were bleeding, yet she seemed completely unaware of the pain. Her defiance stemmed from a deeper, unspoken reason. The reincarnation was a complete and utter fabrication. It was a lie.
Florrie really didn’t want Calvert and Leila to have a child. Her relationship with Calvert was getting worse by the day. That cunning Leila was definitely trying to seduce Calvert. If they ended up having a child, they would use that as a reason to kick her out. By then, even Gracelyn might not support her. After all, to Gracelyn, Leila was clearly more important than her.
Florrie cursed Gracelyn inwardly, but on the outside, she kept a humble facade. Her sorrowful look could touch anyone’s heart. Leila noted that Florrie’s knees were bleeding against the rough ground. Yet, Gracelyn remained unmoved.
Leila was stunned by Gracelyn’s ruthlessness, even after Florrie’s years of dedication. But Leila felt no pity for Florrie. After all, Florrie and Gracelyn were plotting against each other. Florrie had brought this upon herself. What Leila needed to focus on was finding a solution to this mess. She could only hope that Florrie would figure a way out on her own.
As expected, without getting a word from Gracelyn, Florrie started threatening to take her own life.
This truly made Gracelyn panic. After all, sending someone away was one thing, but a death could cause serious trouble. If the police got involved, all her previous misdeeds would come to light.
Gracelyn was furious, but there was nothing she could do about it. She could only say, “Fine, we’ll talk about this later. Stop crying. It’s driving me insane.”
Florrie was thrilled and quickly replied, “Thank you, Mrs. White, for understanding.”
Florrie was elated, but Calvert was not pleased. He had spent a huge sum of money to get the spiritual advisor to change her words. Calvert gave Florrie a resentful look, careful not to make it too obvious to avoid drawing attention.
At that moment, Leila chimed in cheerfully, “Dr. Watson, Florrie seems really upset. You should console her well. Oh, what’s the matter? Dr. Watson, you don’t seem happy. Florrie is putting up such a fight for your marriage. Aren’t you grateful? Could it be that you want to…” Leila trailed off, leaving her sentence hanging.
Calvert quickly defended himself.
“No, no, that’s not what I meant.” Leila was unsure if her words had roused Gracelyn’s suspicions. But she was sure that Florrie and Calvert were headed toward estrangement.
Florrie wheeled Leila back.
Though Florrie remained silent throughout, Leila could feel the murderous intent in her eyes.
Leila felt trapped in this situation. Shouldn’t the scheming Calvert be Florrie’s focus? Why did Florrie hold her responsible for Calvert’s change of heart?
Suddenly, Florrie halted.
Caught off guard, Leila nearly stumbled forward.
Florrie’s cold voice cut through the air.
“Feeling smug, are you? Think you can keep Calvert all to yourself?”
The servants nearby stayed quiet, aware that Florrie wouldn’t actually risk attacking Leila.
It was common knowledge that Florrie and Calvert had been married for years. So, it was understandable for Florrie to find the situation hard to accept.
Leila gave a slight smile, her already attractive face lighting up, sparking more jealousy in Florrie’s eyes.
Leila responded casually, “Why don’t you take a guess?”
Florrie, seething with rage, snapped, “I’m warning you, don’t even think about tearing my family apart!”
Leila blinked innocently.
“Florrie, you seem to be mistaken. I don’t intend to destroy anything. Gracelyn and Calvert made these decisions. No one considered my feelings from the beginning to the end.” Leila’s words were true, leaving Florrie momentarily at a loss for words.
After a pause, Florrie said through gritted teeth, “Even then, if you hadn’t seduced Calvert, he wouldn’t have…”
Realizing she was about to say something she shouldn’t, Florrie abruptly stopped talking.
Leila pressed.
“Wouldn’t have what? Why are you silent now? Did Dr. Watson orchestrate all this?”
Florrie nearly lost her cool.
“Stop spouting nonsense! How could Calvert and I have predicted what the spiritual advisor would say?”
“Why not?” Leila said softly.
“You could have easily deduced that Florrie bribed the spiritual advisor to tell Mrs. White about the plan. It was clear that Calvert preferred…
“You!” Florrie seethed. Her anger nearly made her dizzy as she clenched her teeth and raised her hand. But ultimately, she didn’t hit Leila. Too many eyes were watching.
Florrie could only grit her teeth and say, “Leila, you’ll face despair someday!”
Leila smiled tauntingly.
“For now, I’m pleased, and that’s enough.” Feeling that another word with Leila would push her over the edge, Florrie took a deep breath, let go of the wheelchair, and stormed away.
The servants shared looks of astonishment after the outburst they had just witnessed. Leila’s words aroused their suspicions. If securing a newborn as the vessel for Gracelyn’s grandchild’s spirit was the goal, why choose Calvert as the father? Gracelyn had the option to select a more suitable man for the task.
But no one dared to question the real reason. Gossiping in Gracelyn’s presence was out of the question. Especially since, despite Gracelyn’s current displeasure with Florrie, they shared a notably closer relationship. Speaking out would not only be fruitless but would also provoke Florrie’s wrath, which meant losing everything.
With a lazy flick of her hand, Leila said, “Enough of this drama. Take me back. I’m exhausted.”