Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Landon’s voice was icy as he confronted the man. “You dare touch my woman?”
The man, drained of all hope, whimpered in response. “I didn’t know she was yours. I wouldn’t have dared if I’d known…”
Meanwhile, Leila, still visibly shaken, clutched herself tightly. She was relieved that Landon had arrived just in time.
The altercation only ended when Landon’s club snapped. He turned to Leila with a cold stare, his concern not for her well-being but rather questioning her presence. “What are you doing here?”
Leila signed hurriedly, her face etched with panic as she explained she came with Linsey and only Linsey. She hastily waved her hand, indicating she wanted to leave.
Leila was desperate to avoid any misunderstanding. Landon’s dislike for Linsey was no secret, and she didn’t want to cause a scene.
Despite her explanation, Landon’s expression darkened further. Did she want to leave just because he was here?
As the tension mounted, the course manager and some staff members rushed over.
Landon, still seething, pointed the broken club at the man sprawled on the ground and declared, “If he ever shows his face here again, I’ll beat him to a pulp.”
Landon then disdainfully tossed the broken club at the man.
“Of course, Mr. Kensington,” the manager assured him, bowing apologetically. “I’ll revoke his membership immediately. I’m truly sorry for this incident!”
The manager then instructed the staff to remove the defeated man from the premises.
Just then, another voice cut through the tension. “Landon, what are you doing here? So it was this little mute. I thought I was mistaken!” Seconds later, Sarah, clad in a red dress, rushed over and clutched Landon’s arm.
Opting not to intrude, Leila took a step back, her body turning to exit.
Landon caught Leila’s desire to leave hastily, his eyes narrowing with displeasure. “Weren’t you here to play golf?” he asked, dismissing Sarah’s presence as he moved closer to Leila.
Leila hesitated, first shaking her head and then nodding in affirmation. Her golf club was within reach, her attire unmistakably meant for the game, signaling her true intentions.
“I remember you weren’t quite a pro before. You always wanted me to guide you through it, didn’t you?” Landon remarked nonchalantly, selecting a fresh club from the nearby bin.
Taken aback by Landon’s sudden mention, Leila’s heart fluttered with unease. Could he be setting her up for embarrassment in front of Sarah? She had indeed lingered around Landon in the past, feigning interest in golf to garner his attention. However, such desires had to be shelved now. She bowed her head, feigning forgetfulness.
“No worries. I’ve got some free time today. Let’s get you some pointers,” Landon stated, indifferent to Leila’s reaction. He walked over, slid his arm around her waist, and guided her onto the course.
Positioning himself behind Leila, Landon gently placed his hands over hers on the club, enveloping her in his presence. “Let’s start your lesson,” he remarked softly.
Leila’s body tensed as Landon’s presence enveloped her. Nearby, Sarah’s piercing glare cut through the air, while other guests, who had arrived with Landon, looked on in surprise. Few were aware that Leila was Landon’s wife, many mistaking Sarah for Landon’s partner.
Now, as Landon coached her in their golf game, right in front of Sarah, Leila dreaded what might unfold next. Her palms grew clammy as Landon guided her swing, but their coordination was off, sending the ball veering far from the target.
“Been a while since you played?” Landon seemed oblivious to the tension, his chuckle resonating warmly near Leila’s ear, making her shiver.
Leila just nodded, unable to find her voice.
“Relax, put some power here,” Landon advised, gently adjusting her stance and chin, aligning her for the next shot.
Landon’s body pressed close, providing a comforting warmth that Leila once longed for. Yet now, she wished only to escape.
“Landon, I want to sit over there. Will you come with me?” Sarah’s voice interrupted the moment.
“If you want to sit, go on your own. Don’t you have legs?” Linsey interjected sharply. Having witnessed Landon’s closeness with Leila, and knowing Leila’s hopes for their relationship, Linsey felt a surge of protectiveness.
Sarah’s face fell, her eyes still fixed on Landon with a mix of hope and resignation.
Landon appeared aloof, paying no heed to his environment as he continued to guide Leila.
The second throw was notably more accurate.
“Nice shot! Now, try doing it yourself.” With that, Landon stepped back, releasing Leila.
Linsey approached cautiously, eyeing Sarah suspiciously.
Sarah, however, showed no interest in competing for Landon’s attention and instead picked a new club from the bin and positioned herself at the course’s perimeter.
As Leila lined up her shot, Sarah took her stance on the opposite side, looking determined, and swung her club.
“Oops!” Suddenly, Sarah’s club slipped from her grip, spiraling through the air and striking Leila’s arm with a solid thump!
Taken by surprise, Leila stumbled and fell. A vivid red welt quickly formed on her arm, left bare by her short-sleeved top.
“Leila!” Linsey was at Leila’s side in an instant, cradling her arm tenderly. “Are you okay? Does it hurt? Is it broken? Can you move it?”
The pain was nearly enough to bring tears to Leila’s eyes, but she managed to shake her head.
Confused by Landon’s sudden show of affection, Leila assumed he might be feigning interest in her to provoke Sarah. He wouldn’t take her side against Sarah. Thus, she rose to her feet and reassured Linsey she was fine.
“You can’t move your arm, yet you say you’re fine?” Linsey’s eyes gleamed with anger. She turned to face Sarah and snapped, “You did this deliberately! Just you wait! Do you think my family’s lawyers are a joke?”
“I… I didn’t mean to. I didn’t realize the club would slip from my hands. No one ever taught me how to play. I didn’t know the right posture…” Sarah’s voice broke as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her sobs came fast, painting her more as a victim while she subtly shifted the blame to Leila.
“You didn’t mean it? So the club just ‘accidentally’ struck Leila? Out of the entire expanse of this golf course, you had to be right next to Leila? Well then, I suppose I didn’t ‘mean’ to do this either!” Linsey shouted, her fury peaking as she lifted her golf club, aiming at Sarah.
“Stop it!” Landon intervened abruptly.
Sarah quickly hid behind Landon, clutching his arm. “Landon, I swear it was an accident…”
“Fine. Leila must be blind to marry a man like you!” Linsey hurled her club to the ground, shooting Landon a look of deep disappointment, and then turned to assist Leila. “Let’s get you to the hospital,” she said gently.
Leila’s arm was visibly swollen, a bad sign that something might be wrong with the bone.
Linsey offered her shoulder for support as they began to walk away, but they hadn’t gone far when they heard footsteps.
Landon hurried over, took Leila from Linsey’s grasp, and carried Leila away from the golf course.
“You!” Linsey rushed to catch up, but Landon was already strides ahead, quickly carrying Leila to the parking lot. He hoisted her into the passenger seat, fired up the engine, and zoomed off.
By the time Linsey arrived, Landon’s car had vanished into the distance.
At the private hospital owned by the Kensington Group, a team of orthopedic surgeons was already on standby. Soon after, Steven appeared, sporting a smirk. “Been in a fight? Mistreated? Dude, I know you enjoy your games, but try not to overdo it, okay?”
“Shut up!” Landon’s expression was stern. “Organize the medical tests, and make it quick!”
“Alright, what should we look into? Maybe her brain and eyes? She nearly froze last time, and now she shows up battered like this, still hanging in there. Surely something’s off with her eyes or her brain!” Despite his teasing words, Steven moved efficiently.
Leila was visibly scared of Steven, but she was in so much pain that she trembled uncontrollably and couldn’t muster the strength to protest.
Leila was soon wheeled away for a comprehensive series of tests, administered a painkiller, and her injuries were addressed.
“There are no fractures, but the bruises are deep. I’m going to get you a cast anyway. Try not to move around too much,” Steven informed Leila as he reviewed her X-rays.
Leila nodded, her gaze lowered as she examined her splinted arm, showing no visible emotion. Her right arm was injured, rendering her unable to perform many tasks for some time, including using sign language to communicate.
Throughout the medical examination, Landon stayed by her side, his expression somber and unreadable.
Cautiously, Leila glanced at him.
“What do you want to say?” Landon picked up Leila’s phone and placed it in her uninjured left hand.
Leila awkwardly unlocked it and typed a message. “You can leave. There’s no need to take care of me.”
Upon reading the message, Landon’s expression darkened immediately. “You really don’t want me around, do you?” he questioned, his voice tinged with hurt. She had been ready to leave upon seeing him at the course earlier, and now, after he had brought her to the hospital, she was dismissing him again?