Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
The elderly woman’s grip was strong, but her nails dug in, scratching Leila’s skin.
Leila yelped in pain and turned, her expression darkening as she stared at the elderly woman.
The sight of Leila ignoring her seemed to fuel the elderly woman’s anger even more, making her raise her voice. “Everyone, gather around! An adult is picking on a child! I witnessed her shove my grandson to the ground with my very own eyes, and now she acts as though nothing occurred. This defies all reason! Offer an apology at once!”
Leila had to stifle a laugh. She shrugged off the elderly woman’s grasp and pulled out her phone to type a response. “Your grandson collided with me. He fell by himself. I had no part in it. If there’s any need for an apology, it should be from him to me.”
The elderly woman seethed with anger, then abruptly her expression softened, and she stared at Leila with a puzzling look.
“Why don’t you speak? I understand now-” The elderly woman’s eyes gleamed with scorn and spite. “So, you’re mute. A person like you deserves to be mute.”
Several onlookers could no longer hold their peace.
“You’re crossing the line. This young lady is quite frail. Your grandson is far sturdier than she is. Moreover, she is unable to speak. Bullying her in this state is utterly cruel.”
“I witnessed the incident myself. Your grandson ran into this girl, and she didn’t make any scene over it.”
Realizing the crowd was not on her side, the elderly woman’s face flushed with anger as she tried a different approach. “Even if my grandson did bump into her by accident, wouldn’t it have been kind to help him up? Instead, she just watched him fall and walked away as if she saw nothing at all. Think about it, wouldn’t you be upset if your child encountered such indifference in the future?”
The elderly woman hoisted her grandson off the floor, simultaneously pointing at a red mark on his arm as she spoke. “Look at this, he’s bruised all over.”
However, the truth was the child had simply been lying on the floor, unwilling to rise, which resulted in the mark.
Amidst his loud cries, onlookers exchanged knowing looks, their expressions shifting subtly.
Leila appeared unfazed by the woman’s accusations. Clutching her stomach, an instinctive response kicked in, and she nearly blurted out her pregnancy as an excuse for her lack of intervention. Yet, she paused, realizing these strangers didn’t need to know her personal circumstances.
Unexpectedly, the elderly woman had observed Leila’s instinctive reactions. Her eyes narrowed, a sharp glint passing through her clouded eyes as she clicked her tongue. “Oh, what’s this? Are you pregnant? I noticed what you’ve been buying-all items for pregnant mothers. You live alone, don’t you? Pregnant and unmarried? One wonders who the father might be.”
A murmur rose from the crowd, tinged with disapproval. “That’s uncalled for. What business is her pregnancy of yours?”
The elderly woman’s voice rose sharply. “Why should this not concern me? You might not be aware, but she resides in the most luxurious condominium in our neighborhood. My son has been striving for months to acquire it, yet she obtained it suddenly. There is definitely something underhanded going on here. What makes her worthy of it? She doesn’t strike me as someone capable of earning much. She’s likely being supported by some wealthy individual. How disgraceful!”
Leila’s complexion drained. The realization hit her hard. It wasn’t mere coincidence. It was deep-seated animosity.
This neighborhood was under the Hayes Group’s umbrella.
Jerome had been adamant about Leila moving into that condominium, citing its enhanced security as a prime benefit.
Leila had no choice but to comply, yet she hadn’t anticipated that this would ignite such intense resentment.
With a determined look, Leila composed a text message to the elderly woman. “Your concerns about where I reside are unwarranted. If you continue to spread false stories, I will not hesitate to involve the police.”
The elderly woman’s confidence seemed to falter, yet she pressed on, questioning, “Are you willing to declare that you’re not pregnant? My observations are seldom wrong, and you most certainly appear pregnant.”
The elderly woman’s hands shook as she reached for her phone. “I’m about to snap a photo and share it in our group chat. Let everyone witness and steer clear of such a woman. To be with child out of wedlock… it’s absolutely scandalous!”
Leila felt a surge of panic. Most of the residents had prominent backgrounds, and their exclusive circle was notoriously tight-knit. She worried about the potential repercussions for the Kensington family if word got out.
Despite Leila’s desire to type out her thoughts, the elderly woman didn’t offer an opportunity.
In her urgency, Leila managed to draft a quick message to the police while attempting to wrestle the phone from the elderly woman’s grasp.
During their struggle, the child saw his chance and shoved Leila hard.
Leila stumbled backward, slamming into a table that jutted into her waist.
Strangely, the anticipated surge of pain never arrived. Instead, as Leila’s complexion grew deathly pale, she found herself caught in a comforting embrace.
Then, a chilling male voice broke the silence. “I’d like to see who dares to spread rumors about my wife!”
Leila barely steadied herself. The relief from her close call eluded her, leaving her feeling cold and frantic. When had Landon gotten there? How much had he overheard?
Leila nervously glanced up at Landon. His dark eyes were impassive, betraying no emotion.
Landon felt Leila’s gaze but didn’t look down. Instead, he pulled her behind him and advanced step by step toward the elderly woman and her grandson.
The elderly woman flinched at Landon’s approach but stood her ground. “You claim to be her husband, correct? Well, let me share the truth with you. Your wife has been disloyal, sneaking around with a man who bought her that condo. She’s even carrying his child!”
“Oh, is that so?” Landon responded, his smile mocking as his eyes turned icy.
Landon then added sharply, “You seem quite sure of yourself, so it must be the truth.”
The elderly woman thought she had driven a wedge between Landon and Leila and straightened up proudly.
However, Landon continued unexpectedly, “That suggests you’ve seen it all firsthand, so please describe this man to me. Tell me when he visits, and I’ll review the surveillance tapes. If I find nothing, it means you’ve been lying and spreading rumors. Such an offense can land you in jail. The duration of your stay in the police station would depend on my mood. If I’m feeling particularly upset, you could even be looking at criminal charges, which would jeopardize your grandson’s future, considering you’re his guardian.”
Landon was merely bluffing, but his words about the grandson’s future struck terror into the elderly woman.
The elderly woman’s voice quivered as she spoke. “Why am I being arrested because of your wife’s outrageous actions? I just found it odd that a woman with no means could afford the best condo in town. Plus, she’s always covering her stomach. Doesn’t that suggest she might be pregnant?”
Before Landon had a chance to reply, Leila was quick on her phone and articulated her thoughts with the text-to-speech function. “You have no actual proof I’m pregnant. You’re just speculating. Your accusations are messing with my life. Looks like we’ll need the police to sort this out.”
“No!” the elderly woman exclaimed, her panic rising. “Whether you’re pregnant or not isn’t my concern. I merely mentioned you seemed to be. That’s all!”
The bystanders couldn’t contain their amusement, openly laughing at the elderly woman’s backpedaling.
Humiliated by their chuckles, the elderly woman collapsed onto the ground, sobbing and beating her thighs. “This world’s turned upside down! Young folks harass an old lady, topple my grandson, and don’t even say sorry, and now they’re trying to throw me in jail. Where’s the fairness in that?”
Leila couldn’t help but laugh at the mention of “fairness” from the elderly woman.
The crowd, recognizing the absurdity, didn’t take the elderly woman’s side against Leila and Landon.
Tired of the drama, Leila tugged at Landon’s arm and signed to leave.
Landon looked down at her, hesitant, yet he didn’t protest.
“Who’s harassing my mother?” A furious shout came from someone within the crowd.
A fat, barrel-chested man appeared, oblivious to the spectacle his mother was causing on the floor and his son’s wailing cries. His demeanor was threatening, causing the bystanders to step aside, visibly frightened.
Leila felt a twitch in her eyelid. These interruptions kept coming, one after another. It was exasperating.
The man scanned the crowd with a furious glare until his eyes settled on Landon. His face softened suddenly, “Mr… Mr. Kensington?” he stammered.
Leila shot Landon a puzzled look. Were they acquainted?
Meanwhile, the elderly woman, ignoring the unfolding drama, leaped to her feet at the sight of her son and straightened herself. She jabbed a finger toward Leila and Landon, her voice rising shrilly. “These two troublemakers! Look what they’ve done to your son! Aren’t you employed by the Kensington Group? Didn’t you boast about the promising Kensington heir taking a shine to you? Surely you can handle these brats.”
As his mother berated Landon, the man’s eyelid twitched in annoyance. He wished he could silence her forever.
Casting his mother stern glances, the man attempted to pull her away, but she reveled in her tirade, her insults becoming even more cutting.
Landon’s expression was icy as he addressed the man, known as Wade Mason, “Mr. Mason, is this really how your family operates? Today, I’ve witnessed it myself. Just because my wife resides in the premier condo in this area, your son chose to deliberately harm her, and your mother is spreading vile rumors that she’s unfaithful to me. So, it seems anyone who lives near your family suffers, right?”
Each of Landon’s words hit Wade like a thunderbolt. He shook visibly, overwhelmed by the confrontation, and then collapsed to his knees before Landon.
“Mr. Kensington, I swear I was unaware of these events. I rushed here the moment I found out. My mother’s mind isn’t what it used to be, and my son… He’s just a boy, too full of pranks. This is all my responsibility,” Wade hastily explained, his voice tinged with desperation.
As Wade spoke, he repeatedly struck himself across the face, clearly petrified.
The elderly woman’s eyes widened in her confusion, and even in her muddled state, she sensed the gravity of the situation. She turned ashen and fell quiet.
However, her spoiled grandson escalated the tension. He pointed a pudgy finger at Leila and yelled, “Dad, why are you kneeling to her? Grandma says women like her are worthless and disgraceful. Grandma told me never to marry someone like her. I should be the one teaching her a lesson!”