“Let go! Let go!” Donna screamed in pain, releasing Lauren’s hand. At the same time, Zoe took a few


    steps backward in shock.


    Donna kicked and hit Richle, but he refused to release her.


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


    “Don’t hit Richie! No!” Lauren fell on top of the Dobermann to protect him.


    Filled with resentment, Zoe kicked Lauren again amidst the chaos.


    “Zoe Harper!” A stem voice cut through the turmoil, making Zoe freeze. Her leg was suspended mid-air


    when she was caught red-handed.


    She stiffly spun around, her heart leaping into her throat. She mumbled, “L-Landon…”


    Landon stood tall at the entrance, seething with anger. His expression darkened.


    His chest heaved as his eyes glinted with an impending storm.


    Lauren, still unaware of Landon’s return, hugged Richie tight and shut her eyes. She curled into a ball,


    quivering pitifully.


    Donna nearly fainted from the shock of Landon’s arrival and momentarily forgot about her pain. No one


    had expected him to return so abruptly after he had gone out.


    “Zoe, did you hit Lauren?” Landon confronted Zoe, his eyes wavering as he took in Lauren’s bruised


    and


    swollen face. He closed in on Zoe.


    Zoe involuntarily shivered when she saw an expression in Landon’s eyes that she had never witnessed


    before. It was terrifying.


    She couldn’t justify her behavior, but she believed Landon wouldn’t be too hard on her, no matter


    much he loved Lauren,


    After all, she was his precious sister. Family came before anything-or so she thought.


    “Yes, I hit her! Landon, you’ve gone too far. You disappointed and hurt me!”


    how


    Tears streamed down her face as she wept and wailed, “You sent me off to Yoarkley and didn’t check in


    on me at all. Not even a call!


    “And this is why-you’ve been spending time with this bitch! You dumped your sister for her! Landon, are


    you-”


    Midway through her rant, a resounding p echoed through the living room. Landon was devoid of


    emotion as he delivered a p to Zoe’s face.


    Zoe’s head turned to the side upon impact, her cheek immediately disying a vivid red mark from the


    force of a grown man’s p. The p hurt like hell, and it shattered Zoe’s heart.


    Angelina, who had just walked into the living room, looked astonished by the scene. Landon had


    always been a loving and protective brother to Zoe, so the idea of him hitting her had never crossed


    Angelina’s


    mind. It was truly a shocking right.


    “Zoe, I cannot believe that the evil and hateful woman in front of me is my sister,” Landon remarked


    without looking at her.


    a


    Heartbroken, he instead held onto Lauren’s arm and pulled her into a hug. He added, “Or have I


    spoiled


    you rotten? Are you no longer my innocent baby sister?”