Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
This realization stirred jealousy within Melinda, leading her to wonder why Leila, who barely spoke a word, garnered such devotion.
As Melinda passed by Landon, she halted and yelled, “Landon, I’m here to tell you Leila has eloped with another man. Check the hospital’s security footage yourself if you doubt my words.”
Landon turned slowly to face Melinda, his gaze icy and menacing.
He approached Melinda, each step echoing as if crushing her heart beneath his shoes.
Nervousness enveloped Melinda.
Landon’s voice was calm yet icy as he spoke. “What do you think I’ll do to you for slandering my wife? Take a wild guess.”
As Melinda met Landon’s stern gaze, a chill ran down her spine.
Biting down on her lip, Melinda continued. “Why would I lie to you? I clearly saw everything. When I visited the hospital, Leila stepped into a man’s car, and I even wrote down the license plate. You can verify the owner yourself. I have no motive to deceive you, and I’m aware of your investigative skills. Check it out yourself.”
Landon’s expression remained ominously dark. He said nothing further.
A bodyguard glanced at Landon and then let go of Melinda, jotting down the license plate number.
Landon’s eyes narrowed. He instantly recognized the number as belonging to a car from the Hayes family. His initial fears-that Leila might have been abducted by his rivals-dissipated, suggesting instead that she had left willingly.
The Hayes family, deeply concerned about Leila, would never have taken her from the hospital without her approval. This realization dawned on Landon, making perfect sense.
Surely, only Brent had the audacity to spirit Leila away without alerting Landon.
A slight chuckle escaped Landon’s lips as he mocked himself for his previous concerns.
Melinda, feeling quite pleased with herself, contemplated approaching Landon to offer some ‘comforting’ words.
However, before Melinda could utter a word, Landon raised his eyes and snapped, “Get out.”
“You…” Melinda felt insulted but lacked the courage to protest. She turned reluctantly.
The primary doctor witnessed Melinda’s departure and hurried over, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Now that you’ve achieved your aim, will you let me go? I’ve assisted you, so I trust you’ll honor our agreement. I want no part in this. If you’re apprehended one day, leave my name out of it,” he pleaded.
Melinda shot the primary doctor a contemptuous glance. “Look at how scared you are already. Landon really gets intimidating when he’s upset. Right now, what you need to do is deflect his anger. Get him to vent on Leila and Brent instead.”
The primary doctor’s heart sank at the sight of Melinda’s malicious grin. A wave of unease washed over him. “What exactly are you asking me to do?” he inquired, dread filling his voice.
Melinda’s smirk deepened as she leaned in close, her words a sinister whisper in the primary doctor’s ear.
The primary doctor’s eyes widened in horror, and he began to shake his head vehemently. “No, no, I can’t do that. If they find out, it’s over for me. I can’t. Please ask someone else.”
The primary doctor turned to leave, but Melinda was quick to chase after him. She seized his wrist, her grip threatening. “Alright, if you walk out now, I’ll tell Landon about the hidden camera you placed in Leila’s ward. That alone would make him furious.”
Tears threatened to spill from the primary doctor’s eyes as panic gripped him. He deeply regretted ever getting mixed up with Melinda. Perhaps he should have confided in Leila or Landon from the start.
But dwelling on regrets was useless now. There was no turning back.
Noticing the primary doctor’s hesitant consent, Melinda felt a sense of victory wash over her. She gently tapped his shoulder and said, “Follow my instructions, and your family will be out of harm’s way. Once we’re through with this, you can leave the hospital. How about becoming the Kensington family doctor? Dean is Landon’s older brother. Despite Landon’s foul temper, he wouldn’t dare touch a family member. With Dean watching over you, you’ll be safe.”
The look of fear on the primary doctor’s face gradually shifted to one of resolve. Trapped in his circumstances, he saw no other option. While Melinda’s scheme was harsh, it promised him survival.
The primary doctor nodded vigorously. “I’ll follow your lead from here on out.”
Melinda’s smile broadened. After giving the primary doctor further instructions, Melinda left the hospital.
Melinda and Dean had been at odds and living apart, yet today marked a change, as Dean had agreed to return home.
Having successfully sown discord between Leila and Landon, coupled with Dean’s unexpected return, Melinda was in high spirits.
Melinda had planned to head home and cook, yet an impulsive thought struck her. Perhaps she ought to drop by the office to see Dean instead.
Familiar with the layout, she quickly found her way to his office door.
Melinda swung the door open and sweetly called out, “Honey.”
To her dismay, she caught sight of Dean entwined with another woman on the sofa. So absorbed were they in each other that they failed to notice the door swing open or Melinda’s presence.
The sight sent a wave of dizziness through Melinda, nearly toppling her over.
It wasn’t until Dean’s companion saw Melinda and let out a startled gasp that Dean realized what had happened.
Seething with rage, Melinda stormed forward. Though she refrained from confronting Dean directly, she couldn’t hold back from slapping the woman sharply across the face.
The impact nearly sent the woman sprawling. She quickly clung to Dean, whimpering, “Mr. Kensington, your wife is so fierce. That really hurt.”
Dean, with a soothing touch, caressed the woman’s face, blatantly disregarding Melinda, who was visibly shaking with fury.
Scanning the woman from head to toe, Melinda furiously asked Dean, “What does she have that I lack? She isn’t even more attractive than I am. Dean, how could you choose her to degrade me like this?”
Energized by the confrontation, the woman leaped to her feet, jabbed a finger toward Melinda’s face, and retorted, “You don’t understand, do you? It’s because I’m younger! Surely, you’re in your thirties, aren’t you? I’m merely in my twenties. If I lack your looks, Mr. Kensington prefers me.”
The woman’s words stung, and Melinda felt her sanity fraying at the edges.
Melinda, overcome with anger and frustration, tried to confront the woman once more, causing quite a commotion in Dean’s office.
Curious employees peeked from the doorway, yet none ventured closer.
Dean had reached his limit. Watching Melinda unravel like this filled him with embarrassment. He yanked her away and shouted, “Enough! How long will you keep this up?”
Melinda’s hair was a mess, her face streaked with tears.
Feeling utterly betrayed, Melinda glared at Dean. “I’ve been by your side, supporting you through it all. Haven’t I sacrificed enough? Why are you doing this to me? Dean, what do you want from me? Are you pushing for a divorce?”
Dean massaged his temples. “Let’s discuss this at home. You’re not in the right frame of mind now. I’ll arrange for someone to drive you home.”
Melinda shook her head defiantly. “No, I want answers now! You have two choices. Fire her, or I’ll take our child and move back to my parents’ house for good.”
Melinda thought she could intimidate Dean, but he merely chuckled dismissively.
Wrapping his arm around the waist of the woman, Dean smirked at Melinda and said, “Leave as you please.”
Then, Dean strode away with the woman.
Melinda remained rooted to the spot, utterly dumbfounded, nearly collapsing from the shock.
Elsewhere, in stark contrast to the chaos of that scene, Leila experienced a tranquil moment as she escaped from the hospital.
Throughout the ride, Leila gazed at her belly, deep in thought.
Finally making up her mind, Leila typed a message on her phone and showed it to Brent, who was sitting beside her: “Can you help me find a family doctor? I’d prefer to avoid the hospital. It attracts too much attention.”
Brent’s expression turned to one of worry as he promptly inquired, “Is something wrong? Are you feeling okay? Did Landon do something to you?”
Leila shook her head, signaling that wasn’t the case, and glanced down, her cheeks coloring slightly with embarrassment.
She typed another message: “Actually, I’m pregnant. It’s Landon’s baby, but I’m unsure about the baby’s well-being. I need to have it checked.”
Understanding her situation, Brent looked at Leila with a mixture of pity and compassion. “Leila, are you sure about this? How do you plan to handle everything with the baby? I know you prefer to be independent and refuse any help, but raising a child on your own is challenging.”
Leila simply shook her head, her fingers flying over her phone’s keyboard. “It’s fine. I’ve thought it all through. I can handle it.”
Pausing, she glanced down at her belly, a wistful look crossing her face, and then resumed typing. “As long as the baby is healthy, I’m keeping it.”