Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
After Leila made it back to her room safely with Landon, Charli showed up a while later, her timing too precise to be a coincidence.
Charli seemed uneasy, her eyes darting to Leila’s face as if gauging her reaction.
Leila remained silent, fixating on Charli with a cold, unreadable stare.
Charli cracked under the weight of that silence. With a choked sob, she dropped to her knees, tears spilling down her face.
“Miss Nixon, I know you’re angry and disappointed with me, but I didn’t have a choice! If you want to scold me or even hit me, I won’t resist.”
Leila sighed, the warmth long gone from her expression.
“We’re all in a tough spot, Charli. I won’t waste my energy making things harder for you. I just… I once believed I had someone here who truly understood me, but now I see how naive that was. Isn’t that right?”
Charli didn’t answer but wept harder, probably out of guilt or regret.
Leila knew this was just Charli’s outward display.
Though Leila felt sympathy for Charli, she didn’t trust her.
“Enough already. Stop crying.” Leila’s voice remained impassive as she held out a tissue stiffly, like an afterthought.
“If anyone sees this, they’ll think I bullied you.”
Charli hastily wiped her face, shaking her head.
“I’d never let anyone misunderstand you, I’d speak up for you.”
Leila only gave a bitter smile, shaking her head.
Charli hesitated and then asked, “Did you see Mr. Collins today? Did he do anything to you?”
Leila’s expression shifted in an instant. Her gaze turned razor-sharp. She shot Charli a cold stare.
“Why are you asking? Are you that eager to see if your plan worked?”
Charli’s eyes widened, shaking her head frantically.
“No! That’s not it. I was just worried about you.”
Leila sneered.
“If you truly cared, you wouldn’t have betrayed me in the first place.”
Charli was so flustered that her eyes brimmed with tears.
Finally, Leila sighed, exhausted.
“If you truly care, stop asking useless questions. I didn’t see Mr. Collins, but…”
Leila trailed off, her words fading as her eyes darkened with mock fear, as if recalling something terrifying.
Charli was intrigued by Leila’s reaction but didn’t dare push for answers, fearing it might provoke her. Still, her mind buzzed with endless speculation.
Elsewhere, unaware of what had transpired, Florrie saw Calvert return, looking utterly pale and dejected. A satisfied glint flashed in her eyes as she realized her plan had likely worked.
Feigning concern, Florrie hurried over, steadying him with a gentle hand.
“What happened? You’re so pale. Did something happen?”
Calvert’s lips were ashen, and a cold sweat clung to his back, proof that he was still rattled. It was only when he heard Florrie’s voice that he snapped back to reality.
Before he could think, whether it was fear or the need for comfort, he suddenly pulled Florrie into a tight embrace.
Florrie blinked in surprise before a slow, satisfied smile curved her lips. It seemed her plan hadn’t just worked. It had surpassed all expectations.
Florrie soothed Calvert gently while subtly seizing the opportunity to speak ill of Leila.
“I’ve always felt there was something off about Leila. Why would she insist on staying with you? I don’t mean to say you’re not good enough, but she seems scheming. She planned it all along, unexpectedly sneaking around with someone else behind your back. It’s clear she was just using you.”
Calvert, who had briefly found solace in Florrie’s embrace, was already beginning to regret abandoning Leila out of fear.
As Florrie kept criticizing Leila, whatever little affection Calvert had for Florrie faded completely. Fury flared in his eyes as he shoved Florrie aside.
“You’re talking nonsense! You don’t know anything about Leila!”
Caught off guard, Florrie was pushed aside by Calvert.
The incident was so sudden that Florrie didn’t even react as she tumbled to the floor and hit the edge of the table. She only began to feel the pain as it gradually spread through her.
In shock, Florrie stared at Calvert as if he were someone she didn’t recognize. Annoyed by her look, Calvert raised his voice.
“What’s wrong with what I said? Your suspicions are unwarranted. Why do you always have such a negative view of Leila? She isn’t like that.”
Florrie felt her anger rise at Calvert’s defense of Leila, and she was even more bewildered by how things were going. Since her plan had succeeded, shouldn’t Calvert now feel revulsion toward Leila? Why was he still defending Leila right in front of her?
Struggling to stand, Florrie looked at Calvert suspiciously.
“What exactly did you see today?”
Calvert’s face hardened, and his voice grew cold.
“How is it your business?” He unleashed his anger on Florrie.
“I’ve realized that you just bring misery to those around you. I tried to be good to you, but you only brought me unhappiness. I don’t want to see you anymore. Just get lost!”
Florrie’s heart sank with anger at Calvert’s words. Her resolve to figure out what was really happening only grew stronger.
So, Florrie sought out Landon immediately, and what he said took her by surprise.
“Are you telling me you didn’t go today?” Florrie asked, her voice rising in disbelief.
Landon responded with a casual shrug.
“Yeah, I didn’t see the point in going. Knowing how much Leila dislikes me, she’d probably have walked out as soon as she saw me.”
Florrie felt a surge of frustration and fury. If Landon hadn’t gone, then all her efforts were in vain. What had happened between Leila and Calvert?
Determined to get to the bottom of it, Florrie pressed him.
“Why didn’t you go? Are you messing with me?”
Landon flashed a smirk.
“What’s so great about this opportunity? Not only will I not win her heart, but she’ll likely grow to dislike me for being overly attentive. I know you wanted me to force her and had arranged everything. But the more I think about it, the more I question why I should go along with your plans. Sure, Leila is wealthy, but aren’t there other wealthy women out there? Moreover, I’d prefer her genuine affection. Even if I forced her, she wouldn’t truly love me or financially support me.”
Florrie was left utterly speechless by Landon’s confident argument. All she could do was point at him, finding it hard to form words.
Landon dismissed her.
“I want no part in your schemes. Keep me out of your mess. I’m here merely to avoid my creditors. As for Leila, I’ll leave it to fate. If I upset her, surviving in Burmoos will be impossible.”
As Landon moved to close the door, Florrie, unable to restrain herself, shouted, “Do you really think Mrs. White will let you leave? Dream on! Once you’re in this place, it’s like stepping into hell. It’s easy to enter, but leaving is nearly impossible!”
At her words, Landon stopped and looked at her with suspicious, cold eyes.