Landon escorted Lauren into the car, with Angelina at the wheel as they departed from Seaview


    Manor’s


    grounds.


    Inside the vehicle, he tenderly embraced Lauren and ran his fingers through her hair, his heart heavy


    with


    pain.


    He had dropped by Seaview Manor to invite Jasper for drinks. He’d never expected to run into the


    fiasco.


    He reyed the memories of Nina’s indignant speech and Lauren’s wounds on her arms with


    resentment. A searing pain surged through his body, unlike anything he had ever experienced.


    Although he had endured heartbreak after Alyssa’s rejection, this anguish far surpassed any previous


    pain.


    Inhaling sharply, he rested his jaw on Lauren’s head and shut his eyes. He vowed that he would keep


    his


    word to protect Lauren.


    “Mr. Harper, where should we go next?” Angelina whispered, looking at him through the rearview


    mirror.


    Landon was caught off-guard by the question. He had told Betty he’d bring Lauren with him, but he


    couldn’t host Lauren at his ce. He’d be in grave trouble if Jasper heard about it.


    “Laurie, I’ll drop you off at Jasper’s. Or how about Alyssa’s ce? Would you like to spend the night


    there?


    * he asked Lauren gently, lowering his gaze.


    She winced and held her left ear, offering no response.


    *Lauren? Lauren?” Landon called out to her a few times, but she did not seem to hear him. Instead,


    she


    incessantly mumbled, “It hurts…”


    “Where does it hurt?”


    Lauren looked up at him, the red marks still visible on her cheek. When their eyes met, the sparkle in


    her


    eyes moved his heart.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    “Landon, I’m sorry. I know you are speaking to me, but I can’t hear you


    “Why can’t you hear me? Landon inquired with worry. Slowly, Lauren removed her hand from her left


    ear,


    revealing blood on her palm.


    Landon took a sharp breath as his mind went nk. Pained, he instructed Angelina, “Angelina, head to


    the


    hospital now!”


    In a bedroom at Crescent Bay, Jasper found himself surrounded by Newton, Ben, the physician, and


    Alyssa.


    Even Xavier had shown up after his work hours in his pajamas and home slippers, having no time to


    change after getting the news about Jasper. Standing next to the men in suits, he appeared quite


    comical. The five of them stood around Jasper, who was speechless at the sight.