Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Watching Landon’s car disappear into the distance, Sarah stormed back to her room. A shower revived her spirits significantly. Suddenly, an urgent knock interrupted her solitude.
Leila assumed it was Linsey or Irene. The hotel’s robust security meant she had little to fear, and an alarm system was installed in her for added safety.
Comforted by these thoughts, Leila opened the door, only to find Landon standing there, his expression darkened.
Startled, Leila began to shut the door, but Landon quickly stepped forward, preventing it from closing.
Just as the door nearly closed, a muffled grunt echoed from outside.
Overcome with concern, Leila swung the door back open. Yet, there he was in the doorway, a look of displeasure etched on his face.
Landon, despite the throbbing in his wrist, couldn’t suppress a chuckle at Leila’s icy manner. “So, you think you are the one being wronged, huh?”
Leila signed her need to rest and urged him to leave since her schedule tomorrow demanded her full attention and energy.
After a pause, she made it a point to stress that she preferred not to see either him or Sarah at Eastonville University tomorrow.
Leila figured it was best they didn’t cross paths for a while to sidestep any further awkwardness.
Landon’s expression grew somber, his usually charming face now imposing, devoid of any smile. He caught Leila’s wrist in mid-gesture. His hold was firm.
Leila’s brow creased. She wanted to say he was hurting her but was unable to make a sound.
Landon said accusingly, “You’re telling me to stay away because you don’t want me seeing you with Ethan, right? I can’t believe you’d avoid me just to be with him on a date.”
Leila felt a mix of being wronged and anger. What did he mean by her going on a date with Ethan? To her, Ethan was merely a friend. Considering Landon’s own relationship with Sarah, she wondered how he could possibly feel entitled to make demands of her.
Observing Leila’s expression, Landon’s eyes grew cold. Without a word, he scooped her up and carried her into the hotel room, shutting the door firmly behind them.
Leila struggled against his hold, but her resistance ceased when Landon pinned her down on the bed. She lay silent, her eyes pleading for understanding.
In a moment that felt both punitive and intimate, Landon nibbled on her earlobe. As he felt Leila’s body tremble slightly, he increased his strength.
As confusion and desire mingled within Leila, Landon’s hand slid under her clothing. His touch was fiery, as if trying to set her aflame from within.
But then, clarity struck Leila. In a sudden move, she bit down hard on Landon’s tongue.
Frowning, Landon recoiled in pain, his expression one of surprised anger as he sat up and stared at her.
Leila clutched her stomach, her face etched with pain and fear.
Seeing her distress, Landon’s anger dissolved into nervousness.
“Did I hurt you?” Landon asked.
Leila curled up tightly, assuming a defensive posture to keep Landon at bay.
Landon’s concern deepened. “Why are you being like this? Are you hurt?”
After feeling her abdomen and realizing she was fine, Leila began to relax. She avoided Landon’s gaze and gestured that it was just her period.
Landon’s laugh was sharp and dismissive as he grabbed her chin. “If you don’t want me to touch you, just say it. I probably know your cycle better than you. Do you think you can fool me with that?”
A mix of anger and shame colored Leila’s cheeks. How had Landon become so knowledgeable about her? It seemed impossible.
Leila pondered over this briefly, which Landon interpreted as her deceit being uncovered. His glare was menacing, causing Leila to recoil further into the bed.
Landon pulled her close, their closeness evident while his words remained icy. “You’ve become a liar. I won’t allow you to be on your own. I’ll speak to Eastonville University. You’re coming back with me today.”
Go back with him? Leila’s eyes widened in shock. Pushing past her discomfort, she swiftly signed that she wouldn’t go back with him since she had made a commitment to someone else. She stressed that he didn’t get to dictate her life like that.
Landon sneered, “Consider this a consequence of your deceit. If you’re not keen on going back, then confess why you lied. Do you despise me so much that my touch repels you, or is there someone else in the picture? Was it Ethan who instilled the divorce in your mind?”
As Landon’s accusations intensified, Leila transitioned from anger to deep hurt. She fixed him with a defiant stare. Why? She was carrying his child, yet here he was, hurling baseless accusations, completely oblivious to her condition.
Witnessing the sorrow in Leila’s eyes, Landon’s stream of accusations began to falter, his own heart sinking with displeasure.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Out of the corner of her eye, Leila noticed Landon on his phone, booking first-class tickets for their return.
Unable to contain her frustration any longer, she leaped out of bed, swung her hotel room door wide open, and gestured vehemently toward the hallway, urging him to leave.
Landon stood motionless, his face etched with frost. “Is that truly what you desire?”
Leila signed sharply, reminding him that they were getting divorced and her actions were no longer his concern.
As Landon’s eyes narrowed dangerously, he reached out and clasped her wrist tightly.
He opened his mouth to respond but halted abruptly at the sight of Ethan emerging from the elevator, gift box in hand, making his way toward Leila’s hotel room.
Ethan had not anticipated that the door would be open. He paused upon spotting Landon and Leila in the doorway.
The warmth drained from Ethan’s eyes the moment he saw Landon.
Leila, detecting Landon’s burning fury, glanced over to find Ethan standing there. She instinctively tried to pull away from Landon’s grip.
But Landon, instead of releasing her, tightened his hold and drew her in closer.
Mute, Leila struggled, her actions screaming resistance, yet she was no match for Landon’s strength.
Landon clung to Leila firmly, smirking provocatively at Ethan.
Ethan, unable to contain himself, stepped forward with a steely look. “Let her go. Don’t you see Leila doesn’t want this?”
Landon’s reply was unnervingly calm. “Her willingness is irrelevant. I’m her husband. Who else would know her better than I do?”
Ethan balled his fists, his stance defensive for Leila.
“If you genuinely cared about Leila, I’d have nothing but good wishes for you. But seeing how you treat her, parading with a mistress… I thought Sarah was the one without shame, but today, it’s clear you outmatch her completely in shamelessness.”
Panic fluttered in Leila’s chest. She tried to intervene to prevent Ethan from worsening things. Everyone knew that Sarah held a special place in Landon’s heart.
Landon’s face hardened, his voice slicing through the air. “It appears you’ve got too much idle time, meddling in affairs that don’t concern you. Whatever issues Leila and I have, they are ours to settle. We don’t need input from an outsider.”
Ethan inhaled deeply, his frustration palpable. He glanced over at Leila, who was still in Landon’s embrace. “Come, Leila. Let’s go to Linsey,” he suggested.
Leila instinctively squirmed, attempting to escape Landon’s hold.
Landon’s grip tightened.
A sharp hiss escaped Leila’s lips. The pain was evident. She couldn’t shout, but tears welled up in her eyes.
Landon’s tone grew colder. “Tonight, I’ll be at the hotel with my wife. I trust you won’t be a bother, will you?”
His words struck harshly.
Ethan clenched his fists in frustration.
Seizing the moment Landon was distracted, Leila wiggled free at last. She turned to Ethan, her gestures saying, “Don’t worry about me. You should get some rest.”
But Ethan was resolute. “Leila, you don’t want to be alone with him, do you? Don’t be afraid. I’m here to protect you. He lost any right to keep you after what he’s done.”
Leila kept shaking her head.