Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Sarah was in the middle of speaking when Rachel cut her off, her frown betraying a hint of irritation.
“Enough,” Rachel said firmly. “This issue is mine alone. Even if that woman crossed a line, I can’t put all the blame on her.”
Sarah gave an awkward laugh in response. “Right, you’ve got a point there.”
The banquet hall was buzzing with guests, many of whom were not shy about casting judgment on Leila. Hearing the whispers, Leila reminded herself of her reason for attending this party and steeled herself to endure the scrutiny. But she didn’t expect to encounter Donovan here.
Donovan approached swiftly, his voice laden with urgency and remorse. “I’m so sorry, Leila. I invited you to the exhibition with the best intentions, but it turned out to be such an ordeal for you. We’ll have the full surveillance footage from the school soon, and it will clear your name. Do you want me to post it online immediately?”
Leila shook her head, her expression softening with gratitude. Her response was swiftly typed down on her phone. “Thank you for standing by me. Aren’t you worried, though? What if I actually was the troublemaker at the school?”
Donovan smiled reassuringly. “If I believed you were capable of causing trouble, I wouldn’t have invited you. Rumors have a way of spreading like wildfire. People often accept them without a second thought. As for Vernon, once this is settled, I’ll make sure he’s terminated and issues a public apology to you.”
Warmth surged through Leila’s heart. Her response was firm. “Let’s not rush things. I came here today to clarify a few things. Now it’s clear to me that Sarah intentionally lured me here to embarrass me, but I’ll fight back.”
Turning her gaze toward Sarah, Leila’s eyes were frosty. Sarah, sensing the intensity of Leila’s stare, met her gaze at that exact moment. Unfazed, Sarah returned a defiant look, then pursed her lips and silently mouthed a derogatory word.
Instead of reacting with anger, Leila offered a slight, composed smile.
The time for extending gifts soon arrived. Since she was not particularly close with Rachel, Leila opted for a gift that was simple but impeccable.
Rachel gave it a brief look, made no fuss, and waved for a servant to take it away, showing a disinterest that bordered on disdain.
Seeing this, a small smile played across Sarah’s lips.
As Leila reached for the door, Sarah’s voice stopped her in her tracks. “Leila, wait!”
Leila’s eyelids fluttered, sensing something amiss. She paused and turned to face Sarah with a calm demeanor.
Sarah appeared distressed. “It’s nothing serious, but I just recalled something important.”
Sarah then shifted her gaze to Rachel. “Rachel, remember you mentioned some of your mom’s things were missing?”
Rachel nodded in response. “Yes, that’s right. But how is that relevant now?”
Sarah continued, “Well, the last time I was at the vintage store, I came across two dresses. They were meticulously crafted, and I could tell they held some value. I bought them for Leila. Today, when we were looking at pictures of your mom, it hit me. Those dresses were among your mom’s possessions.”
Rachel rose sharply, her face a mix of shock and disbelief. “Are you sure? Could there have been some mistake?”
Sarah shook her head firmly. “No mistake. I recognized their beauty immediately and even snapped a couple of photos.”
Sarah pulled out her phone, eager to show Rachel the evidence.
Rachel’s eyes filled with tears almost immediately. She seldom allowed her emotions to get the better of her. The memory of her late mother was a tender subject. Even years later, anything associated with her mother still moved her profoundly.
With a shaky voice, Rachel asked, “You mentioned you handed those items to Leila, didn’t you?”
Sarah struggled to hide a self-satisfied grin. “Yes, but it appears Leila didn’t care for them at all. She dismissed what I gave her as trash. Perhaps her taste isn’t refined. She probably can’t appreciate vintage items. Or maybe her dislike for me extends to everything I offer.”
Rachel remained silent, absorbing Sarah’s remarks. She turned to Leila, her gaze laden with sorrow. “Despite our differences, I’m still hoping you’ll sell me those items, even if at a high price. They were my mother’s. I’m not sure how they were misplaced, but I’d be grateful if you could return them.”
Leila inhaled sharply, her chest tightening and discomfort spreading across her face.
Seeing this, Sarah quickly raised her voice. “Leila, you surely haven’t discarded those items, have you? What are we to do? It’s been days. If they’re lost, they’re lost forever. Those were Miss Simpson’s mother’s belongings. This seems rather harsh.”
Leila clenched her fists to maintain her composure. She had long harbored suspicions that something was amiss. Why would Sarah present her with a gift, especially one from a vintage store?
The entire situation struck Leila as suspicious, but she hadn’t discarded the items yet. She chose not to display them just yet.
Leila was uncertain about the loyalties of the others in the room. She feared that even if she brought the unscathed clothes over, they would somehow appear as damaged.
Turning to Rachel, Leila attempted to plead her case as she hastily typed down her response. “Miss Simpson, please believe me, the-“
Yet, before Leila could finish her message, Rachel abruptly stepped back.
Rachel’s eyes were frosty, resembling a sea pierced by shards of ice. “You truly are as treacherous as a snake.”
“Even though you have issues with Miss Miller, what she passed on to you holds value. Is this really how you handle those clothes? Those are my mother’s things. How can I not hold you responsible?” Rachel’s voice carried an undertone of moral coercion.
Everyone in the room grasped Rachel’s predicament. They all knew how deeply Rachel missed her mother, who had passed away. When Rachel finally received news about her mother’s possessions, only to discover they were damaged, the blow was hard to bear. Who could possibly accept that?
Sarah barely contained her amusement, her laughter threatening to spill over. She placed a comforting hand on Rachel’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I didn’t foresee my disagreement with Leila affecting you like this. It’s partly my fault. Had I known, I wouldn’t have gifted her those clothes.”
Rachel dabbed at her tears. “It’s not on you. How could you have anticipated any of this? The blame lies with Leila. She’s the one at fault here.”
“Rachel,” a male voice cut in sharply.
A middle-aged man approached briskly, followed closely by a young man. Sarah’s and Leila’s expressions shifted dramatically at the sight of the young man. It was none other than Landon.
Rachel noticed the middle-aged man. She managed a forced smile and murmured, “Dad.”
Phillip Simpson quickened his pace as he noticed the redness around his daughter’s eyes. Rachel was known for her resilience, rarely showing any signs of vulnerability in public, much less crying. Something serious had probably happened.
“Rachel, has someone been giving you trouble?” Phillip asked, his voice cold, his eyes scanning the gathering.
Almost immediately, explanations began to pour in. As each person recounted their version, the blame gradually settled on Leila, fueled by past resentments. The narrative built up to a consensus: it was all Leila’s fault.
Phillip turned his stern gaze on Leila after hearing everything. Without allowing Leila a chance to defend herself, Phillip declared, “No matter the circumstances, it’s clear that my daughter doesn’t want you here right now. I hope you understand that. Today is her birthday, and she deserves to be happy. Her wishes are the top priority today.”
Leila’s complexion turned a shade paler as she stood speechless, unable to respond. After all, it was obvious that Phillip considered only Rachel’s feelings.
Leila saw no reason to linger, yet giving up wasn’t an option for her. She was conscious that leaving today might only intensify the rumors surrounding her.
Although Landon was present, he remained silent throughout, merely standing there, detached, like an onlooker.
Leila hadn’t expected Landon’s assistance in any case. Still, the sight of Landon’s apathetic expression deepened her sorrow. She would have preferred he hadn’t come at all, rather than see her humiliation like the rest of them.
Confronted with Rachel’s overt disdain, Leila clenched her teeth and typed out a message: “I apologize for today’s trouble, but I assure you the clothes are unharmed. I’ll sort them out and deliver them first thing when I return. I may leave now, but I need to make it clear that I have never hurt anyone. I did not push Sarah, nor should you mock me over this. I was unaware those clothes belonged to Miss Simpson’s mother, and damaging them was never my intent, even though they were gifted to me by Sarah.” Her words were disregarded by everyone.
Phillip gestured toward the door, “Please.”
With a soft sigh, Leila didn’t even glance at Landon as she began to walk away. She had only taken a few steps when she heard Landon’s voice from behind. “Let’s take a moment. I have something crucial to ask you, Mr. Simpson.”
Landon pulled an invitation from his pocket. “I found out that this invitation is a fake,” he announced, his frustration evident. “What does this mean? Are you trying to keep me out? If I hadn’t run into you at the entrance, I probably would’ve been turned away.”
Rachel turned toward Landon as he spoke, her expression shifting dramatically at the sight of the invitation in his hand. It was an exact copy of the one Leila had.
Confusion clouded Rachel’s features. What was happening?
Immediately, Rachel’s eyes darted to Sarah, who stood beside her. Sarah was caught off guard by Landon’s words. She had, in fact, asked Landon earlier whether he planned to attend the party precisely for this reason. Had he confirmed his attendance, she would have made sure to switch out his invitation.
However, Landon had been adamant then about not coming, prompting Sarah to discard the idea. Yet here he was, unexpectedly present.
Sarah’s mind raced as she processed the unfolding events. She hadn’t grasped the gravity of the situation until now, especially since Landon had arrived with Phillip. Their arrival together could have been mere chance, and Landon didn’t really require the invitation. However, she was taken aback when Landon specifically inquired about the invitation.
Sarah was too startled to notice Rachel’s reaction.
The guilt and panic were unmistakable in Sarah’s eyes. Rachel’s expression instantly changed. She had suspected Sarah might be involved but didn’t want to delve too deeply into it. After all, Sarah, as her friend, should know she despised this type of behavior most of all. Moreover, Sarah had been her support during the time her mother passed away. Given the reasons above, Rachel was a bit more forgiving toward Sarah.
Phillip appeared confused, while Landon’s demeanor suggested he wasn’t kidding.
Rachel stepped up to address the issue. “It’s possible someone under my supervision mishandled the situation. Mr. Kensington, please be assured, I will deal with them appropriately.”
Landon then tucked the invitation away. He glanced at Leila, who hadn’t gone far yet, and raised his voice, “I’ve also learned that my wife had a similar unpleasant experience upon her arrival, even facing mockery. Miss Simpson, since this has all been a misunderstanding, perhaps you owe her an apology?”