Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
The woman leaned in, her breath warm against the man’s ear, her whispers slow and intoxicating, weaving a spell around him. His hesitation evaporated gradually, his concerns unraveling with each passing second.
With newfound resolve, the man straightened, his confidence swelling as he turned to Leila.
“Fine. I’ll call the car owner right now. But if he comes, you’re settling the debt.”
Leila’s lips curled into a smirk.
“If you actually bring the car owner, you can have me-do whatever you want.”
A slow chuckle escaped the man, dark amusement flickering in his gaze. He didn’t bother hiding the lust in his eyes as they raked over Leila.
The woman beside him, instead of confronting his brazen disloyalty, directed her venom toward Leila, her glare full of resentment.
The seconds dragged on, each one heavier than the last. Then, finally, someone arrived. But it wasn’t the man they were expecting-it was Landon.
Landon quickly assessed the scene and hurried over, his hands brushing over Leila’s arms, her shoulders-checking, searching. Only when he was sure she was unharmed did he let out a slow, measured breath.
“Did they bully you?” Landon’s gaze darkened, his expression turning lethal as he sized up the man and woman before him. His voice was low, edged with danger.
Leila let out a short, amused laugh, her lips curling in disdain.
“They aren’t capable of bullying me.”
She had them cornered, and they knew it. If they so much as touched her, she’d play the victim, and their feeble justifications would crumble. Not that she thought they were worth the trouble-these two were nothing more than spineless opportunists. Besides, those well-placed slaps had done wonders for her mood.
She hadn’t left immediately-not because she felt threatened, but because there was unfinished business. They needed a lesson, one they wouldn’t forget.
Landon took a step forward, his knuckles tightening, but Leila stopped him with a light touch to his arm.
“Relax. I’ve got this,” she said, her voice smooth, brimming with confidence.
“Just sit back and enjoy the show.”
“Alright.” The ice in Landon’s eyes melted, replaced by a rare, gentle smile. The effortless warmth in his expression caught the attention of several onlooking girls, their gazes lingering a little too long.
The woman clenched her fists, seething with jealousy.
Then, the murmurs began.
“Didn’t the couple claim that woman was a kept woman? Her ‘lover’ turned out to be quite handsome.”
“Can’t you tell? The couple got jealous because the woman is stunning.”
“I knew something was off! That couple was the one who cut the woman off first-I saw it with my own eyes!”
The whispers quickly turned against the couple, and the woman’s face paled as she realized the narrative was slipping out of her control. Desperate, she resorted to the oldest trick in the book-slander.
“Wait a minute… This guy looks familiar. I think I’ve seen him at a club before. Or maybe I’m mistaken?” The deliberate hesitation in her voice did its job. The speculation spread like wildfire.
“A club? You think he’s…?”
“Could be. If he wasn’t, why wouldn’t he go into modeling or become an influencer?”
“Nah, look at his aura. He’s too refined for that.”
“You don’t get it. Some high-end escorts are trained to carry themselves like that-to attract wealthy women.”
“Ugh. Figures. They both get laid with others for money. A perfect match.”
Landon’s face darkened, his jaw tightening. He was no stranger to baseless accusations, but hearing them directed at Leila ignited something deeper. Even so, his upbringing held him back. He wouldn’t lower himself to their level. He didn’t engage in meaningless arguments-words wouldn’t change anything. Instead, his gaze turned cold, assessing the man and woman in front of him like a predator studying its prey.
Leila let out a short, incredulous laugh, her anger barely restrained.
“Do you even know who he is?”
The woman crossed her arms, her arrogance unwavering.
“Why should I? Does it even matter?”
Before Leila could respond, the sound of an approaching car cut through the tension. She raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised that the man seemed to be bringing the real car owner over.
But instead of the car owner, a middle-aged gentleman stepped out of the car.
The man immediately rushed toward the middle-aged gentleman, grinning like he’d just won the lottery.
“Dad, finally! You have to put that woman in her place-she has no idea who she’s messing with.” His voice dripped with self-importance as he threw a casual sneer in Landon’s direction.
The middle-aged gentleman sneered casually in Landon’s direction.
“And that guy with her? Just some lowly escort. Tell your employer to blacklist him.”
Leila frowned, studying the middle-aged gentleman. She searched her memory, but no high-profile family heads matched his face. Then it clicked. Judging from his over-the-top smugness and the way he leaned on someone else’s status, it was obvious he wasn’t the head of any empire. He was just a butler. And the arrogant fool? The butler’s son. The nerve of the man driving the car of his father’s employer. He was merely riding on borrowed status.
Leila met the middle-aged gentleman’s smug gaze head-on.
“You don’t own this car. You have no authority to handle this matter.”
The middle-aged gentleman scoffed, slipping into an exaggerated air of arrogance. His sneer was almost theatrical.
“And who do you think you are? You’re not even worth my employer’s time. He ordered me to take care of this, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.” He folded his arms, relishing the moment.
“Pay up. Now that I’m here, don’t tell me you’re trying to back out of your promise.”
The man and woman, who had seemed nervous moments ago, straightened and found newfound courage, emboldened by the middle-aged gentleman’s presence.
“That’s right! You’re not planning to run, are you? You spoke so confidently earlier. It’s time to put your money where your mouth is.”
Leila took a measured breath, her voice unwavering.
“I’m willing to pay. But first, let’s address why he deliberately cut off my car. Clear that up, and then I’ll settle the bill immediately.”
The middle-aged gentleman’s expression twisted into a mocking smile. He waved a dismissive hand.
“Cutting off your car? Ridiculous. My son would never do such a thing.” Then, his voice dropped, filled with quiet menace.
“If you won’t pay, I’ll have no choice but to teach you a lesson.”
With a sharp motion, he signaled his intent. The car doors swung open, and several bodyguards stepped out-swift, disciplined, and clearly prepared for this moment.
Leila’s eyes narrowed. So, this was the game they wanted to play. She gritted her teeth, her gaze turning cold. If they didn’t want to settle this peacefully, then she had no reason to hold back.
The moment the bodyguards lunged, the man scrambled behind his father, his cowardice on full display.
“Don’t let her escape! Take her back with us!” he barked. His implication was clear.
Yet, neither Leila nor Landon so much as flinched. These fools wouldn’t even get close to them.
Just then, a sharp, angry female voice rang out from the crowd.
“Stop!”
A girl pushed through the crowd, rushing to stand in front of Leila.
Leila barely had time to process the interruption-she hadn’t even seen the girl’s face clearly.