Landon held Lauren’s hand as he steadily walked forward. He smiled, feeling the sweat on her palm


    from


    how nervous she was


    “L-Landon, why aren’t we going to the parking lot?” Lauren asked worriedly when they reached the


    hotel


    lobby.


    “The underground parking lottakes too long to drive through. My car is parked right outside.”


    “But.. but the reporters are outside. Lauren suddenly stopped in her tracks, growing rigid with fear.


    “I-If we go out right now, the reporters are going to write nonsense.”


    “Nonsense? What kind of nonsense?” Landon took off his coat and draped it around Lauren’s


    shoulders,


    then buttoned it up for her.


    He was such a caring boyfriend!


    “If this nonsense they write just so happens to be what I genuinely feel, then it wouldn’t be nonsense at


    all,


    Landon said.


    “Um… you know… they’re going to say we we’re in that kind of rtionship…” Lauren mumbled, her


    face flushed red. Her voice had grown softer the more she spoke, tickling Landon’s heart like a gentle


    feather.


    Landon swallowed tensely, passion igniting in his eyes. He gently ced a hand on Lauren’s back,


    caressing her. “That would be wonderful.”


    Lauren gazed up at him in shock.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    “You’re my woman, Lauren. Only mine. Do you know what that means?” Landon asked, his gaze


    darkening.


    slightly as his fingers traced her back.


    He enjoyed stroking the nape of her neck, feeling her soft hair and skin. All of it tempted Landon like no


    other.


    Lauren shook her head innocently.


    “It means that I’m only going to be with you, no matter what anyone else says.”


    “Only you and no one else,” he thought.


    Lauren’s breathing caught in her chest as she caught sight of the raw passion in Landon’s eyes. She


    really


    adored being together with Landon. But


    Landon gently tugged at her when she stopped moving. “What is it, Lauren?”


    es were wet


    “Can we just go through the back door, Landon?” Lauren asked, nearly begging him. Her eyes with


    anxious tears. “I’m worried that they’ll make fun of you!”


    “Lauren?” Landon asked, confused.


    “Please! We we can be together somece where no one will see us!” Lauren begged, hands pressed.


    together.


    I


    “I don’t care if they make fun of me, but I don’t want them to do the same to you! Everyone who’s ever


    been around me since I was a kid has always beenughed at… I won’t let that happen!”


    Landon’s eyes widened. A great weight seemed to have settled in his heart. As he gazed at her pale,


    worried face, pain began radiating through his chest in waves.


    All of a sudden, hatred boiled within him.


    He hated everyone who had pushed Lauren around before and hated himself for not havinge to


    her


    side earlier in life. That way, he could have protected her earlier.


    “Ah! Let me … let me down!” Lauren cried, her vision shifting suddenly as Landon lifted her up in his


    arms.


    “No.” Landon’s gaze was sharp and steady as he marched out the front entrance. He gritted out, “I


    want to see just who dares make fun of my woman. I’ll make sure they live to regret it!”


    Many of the reporters were still outside the entrance. When they saw Landon walk out with Lauren in


    his arms, they immediately swarmed him.


    “Who are you carrying. Mr. Harper? Is it your new girlfriend? We’ve never seen her before!”


    “Jeez, do you not have eyes? Can’t you see this is the Beckett family’s youngest daughter, Lauren


    Beckett?