Landon’s private jet touched down at Sna City International Airport under the cover of night.


    Zoe descended the stairs from the aircraft, wrapped in an opulent fur coat, her radiant brown curls


    cascading around her. She slipped into the waiting car that hade to pick her up.


    After the incident with the counterfeit ne, Landon had grounded Zoe, going so far as to


    confiscate


    her phone.


    He had wanted to cut off hermunication with her terrible friends, who had a bad influence on her.


    In protest, Zoe had resorted to starving herself after bouts of crying and frustration. Penelope couldn’t


    bear to see her daughter suffer. So she had persuaded Landon to release Zoe and send thetter back


    to Yoarkley for a period of self-reflection instead.


    By the time it was winter, Landon had reluctantly permitted Zoe to return to Cyrris. Boredom had


    consumed her in Yoarkley, and Landon hadn’t visited her once. It had been too much!


    Zoe couldn’t contain her frustration. “Where’s Landon? Why isn’t he here to pick me up?” she


    comined. She unleashed her wrath on Gary Hopkins, one of Landon’s bodyguards, by incessantly


    kicking the front


    passenger seat.


    Gary, who had watched Zoe grow up and was one of Landon’s trusted employees, had served Zoe for


    a


    long time.


    He looked at her with warmth and offered a vague response. “Well, Mr. Landon. He’s been quite busy


    Zoe’s tears flowed as she punched the seat relentlessly. “Landon has changed! He’s not as good to me


    as he used to be! He always picked me up, no matter how busy he was!


    “He never called me even once when I was in Yoarkley. He clearly doesn’t care about his sister


    anymore.”


    Her tantrum escted into a fit of tears. Gary felt a pang of sympathy for her. He mustered his courage


    and whispered, ‘Ms. Zoe, I’ll tell you something, but please stay calm after you hear it.”


    “What’s it?” She sniffled, taking the napkin from Gary.


    Gary hesitated before confessing. “Mr. Landon hasn’t been in touch with you because… he’s been


    involved with Ms. Lauren.” He broached the sensitive topic carefully.


    “What did you say?” Zoe eximed in disbelief.


    “That’s not all,” Gary continued, moving closer to her and deciding to reveal the whole truth.


    “He’s been staying with Ms. Lauren for a few days now.”


    “That’s impossible!” Zoe raged, her eyes filled with hatred. “How could that idiot marry a Harper?


    Besides, my brother has never brought any woman home!”


    “No, Mr. Landon didn’t bring her home. They’re staying elsewhere.”


    Upon hearing this, Zoe felt a ‘wave of dizziness wash over her. “Where is that ce? Take me there


    right


    now!”


    Landon’s private vi was located in an affluent, hilly neighborhood in Sna City. The white walls and


    green tiles of the vi were symbols of wealth.


    Though not as stately as the Harper Residence, it offered a lush environment, making it an ideal setting


    for rxation and rejuvenation.


    Landon had dedicated himself to caring for Lauren as she recuperated from her injury, forsaking work


    and othermitments.


    Formerly a nightlife-loving yboy, he now willingly stayed in, fully devoted to Lauren. This change


    made


    Angelina feel like she was getting to know him again.


    “Landon, I made something for you! Come and see,” Lauren beamed, pulling him toward the backyard.


    She was wrapped in a red cloak with white fur trim.


    Angelina stared at the youthful face under the red cloak, thinking that Lauren resembled a princess.


    Even as a fellow woman, she had developed a fondness for the lovable Lauren. It was no surprise that


    Landon adored Lauren.


    “Slow down! There’s some snow on the ground. Don’t slip,” Landon reminded Lauren tenderly.


    These days, he carried her across the vi and hardly allowed her to walk around unless it was


    absolutely


    necessary, such as for a bath or a trip to the bathroom.


    He pampered and doted on her like never before.


    The backyard was a tranquil winter wondend, with a delicate dusting of snow on the trees and


    shrubs.


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


    Laure appeared like a blossoming camellia in the snow, enchanting Landon.


    “Look, Landon!” she eximed, her cold right hand securely held in Landon’s warm grip. She pointed


    at a


    Her eyes sparkled as she proudly proimed, “I made this snowman for you. Isn’t it lovely?”


    Landon was pleased with the snowman, but upon closer inspection, he was left momentarily


    speechless.


    A rather unttering photo of himself was stered on the snowman’s face. Not only that, Lauren had


    picked one of his worst photos, printed in ck and white.


    *Laurie, I have plenty of good pictures. Why did you choose this one?” Landon grumbled, feeling a bit


    bewildered.


    “Um, I took that picture of you secretly. I wanted it to be a surprise,” she replied, her bright eyes looking


    up


    at him.


    “But why is it in ck and white?”


    “The printer ran out of color ink…”


    Landon sighed and managed a wry smile as he gently ruffled her hair through her red hood. Well, he


    appreciated her gift. He shouldn’t have expected more.


    Out of nowhere, Landon’s Dobermann, Richie, dashed out. He began barking and charging straight at


    the


    snowman.


    *Richie,e here!” Landon shouted in worry, but it was toote. Richie had knocked the snowman’s


    head off.


    The dog wagged his tail and barked excitedly, while Lauren blinked and jokingly remarked, “Uh,


    Landon,


    your head just rolled off.”


    Landon clenched his fists. In a yful mood, Richie started nudging the snowball around. Lauren


    remarked, “Wow, Richle is ying with your head like a ball!”


    Landon gritted his teeth and eximed, “Richie McRich, how dare you kick my head around! I’ll have to


    send you away!”


    Richie seemed to understand Landon’s tone and gave Lauren a pleading look, whining softly.


    “No! Don’t punish Richie!” Lauren yfully protested, swaying Landon’s arms.


    ‘I’ll rebuild the snowman. Just wait for me.”


    Landon was utterly charmed by Lauren’s antics. He watched her tenderly as he added, “Richle, you’d


    be in


    big trouble if your mom hadn’t put in a good word for you.”


    He had blurted that out without thinking, and his heart raced with anticipation. Fortunately, Lauren


    hadn’t.


    heard him, as she was engrossed in rebuilding the snowman.


    Somehow, he wished she had heard his unintentional confession.