Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Edgar glanced at Leila, noticing her deathly pale face, and stepped in to soothe Landon. “She looks terrible. We need to get her to a doctor.”
Landon reluctantly stepped aside.
Ethan hastily made for the doctors with Leila in his arms. As he brushed past Landon, he caught Landon’s icy statement: “Leila is my wife. Whatever our issues, you stand no chance with her.”
Ethan’s gaze hardened. He clenched his jaw. “We’ll see about that.”
With that, Ethan walked away briskly.
Edgar watched Landon’s expression darken considerably, then sighed and asked in a low voice, “Mr. Kensington, should we follow them to check on your wife? It might comfort her to see you when she wakes up. After all, you’ve invested so much in her well-being. She ought to be aware of your efforts and concerns for her.”
Landon scoffed, his expression laced with disbelief. “Why bother? The first person she called for help was Ethan, not me. Showing up now would only make me look like I’m trying to be the hero after everything’s already happened. She made her choice. Her problems are hers to handle.”
Despite his harsh words, Landon made his way to Sarah’s hospital room, for Leila’s case.
Sarah’s condition had improved steadily with the hospital care these days. Landon’s daily visits lifted her spirits immensely.
When Sarah heard the door open, she quickly suppressed her smile and adopted a frail, pitiful expression. “Landon, maybe you should get the doctor for me. I’m feeling dizzy again. It’s like the concussion is still affecting me. It hurts a lot.”
“Enough with the act,” Landon said as he took a seat, his gaze icy. “The doctor mentioned that your primary injury is to your right hand. Yes, your forehead might look severe, but it’s merely superficial.”
Sarah blinked, attempting to sway him with her charm. “But I truly feel dizzy. I keep having these nightmares where Leila pushes me. I can’t fathom why she would do that. Why?”
Landon’s patience was on edge. He extended his hand. “Hand over your phone.”
Feeling guilty, Sarah attempted to conceal her phone behind her back. “Why do you need to see my phone? We aren’t even officially together.”
Landon didn’t entertain her questions. His voice became icier as he asked, “Or would you prefer to see me angry?”
With reluctance, Sarah handed him her phone, still clinging to a faint hope.
Yet, Landon unlocked it immediately.
Sarah had set her password to Landon’s birthday, a token of her love for him.
Watching him effortlessly unlock her phone, Sarah’s heart sank with a mix of heartbreak and frustration. He had always known about her feelings for him.
Just then, a video from Amara popped up, arriving at the perfect moment.
The moment Landon clicked open the video, Amara’s shrill voice reverberated throughout the room.
Sarah’s complexion turned ashen upon hearing the words. She cast a fleeting glance at Landon’s face and then began weeping piteously. “Landon, I had no idea my parents did this. They just lost their heads because Leila crossed the line this time. They just needed to blow off some steam. If you have to blame someone, blame me.”
Landon watched the video intently, not missing a beat. He could see the humiliation and resolve in Leila’s eyes, which felt like a thorn stabbing at his heart. He was right there, just a phone call away in the hospital. Why hadn’t she reached out to him for help? Did she despise him that much?
Sarah continued to explain, but her voice became an annoying buzz to Landon.
Sarah kept on until Landon finally lost his patience and barked, “Shut the fuck up!”
It was the first time Sarah had ever seen Landon so enraged. Terrified by his outburst, she fell silent immediately, her eyes wide and wounded as she stared at him.
Landon inhaled deeply, attempting to restrain his rising temper. He gazed at Sarah, his eyes cold and unyielding, and asked in a measured tone, “Why isn’t it enough that my mother and I have been looking after you? What else do you expect?”
Sarah’s gaze wavered slightly, but she quickly assumed a guise of innocence. “Landon, what are you implying? I’m at a loss here.”
Landon’s hands balled into fists and then relaxed. “What does your family seek for compensation? Or how do you propose we settle this? Leila is still legally my wife. Causing a commotion would only embarrass me.”
Sarah’s demeanor lightened at his words as she reached out, clasping Landon’s hand gently, and whispered, “It’s simple. Leila should apologize to me and make it clear that I am not the other woman, but rather, she intruded on our relationship. My request is hardly excessive, especially with this scar on my forehead as a testament. Landon, I had you in mind when I persuaded my parents to go easy on Leila. Who knows what she might have signed to rile my parents up? Perhaps she’s trying to garner your sympathy deliberately.”
Landon pulled his hand back, his expression growing sterner. “Your second request is not feasible. The first, however, we can discuss.”
Sarah’s expression tightened, her frustration evident. “Then, at the very least, have her apologize and look after me.”
As Landon left Sarah’s hospital room, Edgar hurried to catch up.
“Mr. Kensington, there’s still so much uncertainty here. It’s possible your wife didn’t push Miss Miller down. Why would you agree to those demands? That’s so…”
Edgar trailed off before finishing.
Leila, seemingly fragile, possessed a stubborn streak that defied her appearance. The knowledge of Landon’s agreement would likely spark yet another intense dispute between them.
Landon shot Edgar a chilling look. “Do you have a better solution?”
At a loss for words, Edgar fell silent.
The situation was deteriorating daily. Although the Millers weren’t powerful enough to pose a real threat to Landon, their relentless agitation was becoming problematic.
Without solid proof of Leila’s innocence, allowing the Miller family’s resentment to simmer could lead to unpredictable outcomes.
Reaching the end of the hallway, Landon stopped to light a cigarette. The tip glowed as he took a drag, his expression growing even more distant and frosty.
“If there were other ways to solve it, Leila shot them down. She’s hell-bent on defending Ethan. She’s chosen her path,” Landon muttered, more to himself than to Edgar.
Edgar opened his mouth to respond but reconsidered, casting a final glance at Landon’s retreating figure before falling silent.
In her ward, Leila woke up suddenly in the dead of night.
Ethan remained at her bedside, vigilant even in sleep. At the slightest movement from Leila, he was wide awake.
“How are you feeling?” Ethan asked, his voice laced with concern. He noticed Leila’s discomfort and reached out to help her sit up.
Leila gave a slight shake of her head, gently avoiding Ethan’s hand.
Leila gestured that she was much better, despite feeling a bit exhausted. She added that she was grateful for his timely help and intervention but was reluctant to drag him into the mess. Then, she urged him to go home since it was too late, reassuring him that she could manage on her own.
Ethan responded with a firm shake of his head, his voice serious. “Leaving you here alone isn’t an option. The Miller family is still around. What if they come back to harass you after I’m gone?”
Leila shook her head in response, signing that she would manage to protect herself.
Leila’s anxiety grew as she saw Ethan’s hesitation. She almost wanted to get out of bed to usher him out.
Ethan noticed her resistance and felt a twinge of sadness but didn’t push further. “I know you hate to cause trouble for others, but you need to understand, you’re never a burden to me. I’m here for you, no matter what,” he said earnestly.
Leila’s gaze flickered momentarily before she averted her eyes, avoiding Ethan’s.
She heard the scrape of a chair and then the fading footsteps of Ethan.
When the door finally shut, Leila breathed a deep sigh of relief. She felt sorry for Ethan, yet she had no other option. She was aware of Ethan’s feelings toward her and valued his kindness.
However, she just couldn’t reciprocate his feelings. His affection turned into pressure for her. She knew she couldn’t give him what he desired. The least she could do was to spare him further pain.
Leila drifted back to sleep, only to be roused by the sensation of a nurse entering to adjust her medication.
She quickly became alert and attempted to sit up, hindered by the IV in her arm. Struggling to type with one hand on her phone, she made several errors. Nonetheless, she managed to ask about the state of her unborn child.
The nurse, ever patient and empathetic, waited while Leila fumbled to express herself. Realizing Leila’s concerns, she comforted her, “Don’t worry. Your baby is alright. You simply need to rest because you are quite weak right now. Your doctor would like to speak with you once you feel better. Head over to his office whenever you’re up to it.”
Relieved to hear that her baby was unharmed, Leila experienced a rush of relief wash over her. Yet, the nurse’s last remark reignited her anxiety. She nodded meekly and cradled her belly, caught in a whirlwind of emotions.
After her final IV drip was administered, Leila managed to eat a little to gather some strength.
Once she felt somewhat stronger, she followed the nurse’s instructions to find the doctor.
The doctor motioned toward a chair across from him. “Miss Sinclair, right? Take a seat.”