Finally, Landon found Lauren in the yground, sitting alone on the children’s swing.


    “Lauren…


    Lauren’s hair and her red cloak were coated in ayer of snow, making her look like a snowman,


    Silly girl. How long has she been sitting out here in the cold?


    Heart aching at the sight, Landon slowly walked up to her. “There you are, Lauren.”


    He knelt down on one knee before her, sweaty palms holding onto her cold hands that were locked


    around her teddy bear.


    “How … how did you find me?” Lauren asked, blinking in surprise.


    “Our hearts are connected, Lauren. I would be able to find you no matter where you go,” Landon


    croaked


    out lightly.


    He caressed her flushed cheeks as the pain in his chest swelled. “You’re never running away from me


    again, Lauren.”


    Lauren’s eyes grew downcast as she went silent.


    “It’s so cold out here. Why don’t youe home with me?”


    “I want to live with Grandpa, Landon.” Lauren slowly inched her hands out from Landon’s.


    “I called Grandpa’s assistant, Mr. Gorham, earlier. He said he’ll send someone to pick me up right


    away.”


    “You… don’t want me anymore?” Landon asked sadly.


    Lauren shook her head, lips pulling taut. “I-I don’t want to make things hard for you. I don’t want you to


    be


    angry with your mom.


    “Please don’t be angry at her anymore. She’s your mother, you need to listen to her.”


    “But I only want to listen to you.” Landon’s gaze was tender as he brushed off the snow on Lauren’s


    shoulders.


    He cupped her cheek with his hand, knowing his cool palm would help sooth her still-stinging cheek.


    “You should hurry and go home, Landon. Mr. Gorham will be here to pick me up soon,” Lauren ushered


    him even as her own heart hurt at the suggestion.


    “Let me ask you something, Lauren.” Landon swallowed nervously, his eyes brimming with tears.


    “Do you love me?”


    Love.


    Love?


    Lauren blinked in surprise. She looked up at Landon, her lips parting as if to speak yet no words came


    out


    of them for several long seconds.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Landon’s heart ached so painfully.


    What was he thinking? What happened to it being enough that only he loved her?


    Lauren was no ordinary girl. He couldn’t do this to her.


    “Landon,” Lauren called softly.


    She gently raised her hands, cing them on top of Landon’s.


    “I love you.”


    He had been in her heart from the very beginning.


    It might have been since the first time he had kissed her, or when she had secretly sketched that


    drawing


    of him.


    Or it might have been each and every time he had stood by her, without a care about what the rest of


    the


    world thought.


    She didn’t know what love was, but this all-epassing feeling in her heart might be it.


    Landon’s heart pounded in his chest as tears flowed down his cheeks.


    He had enjoyed thepany of countless women throughout the years, but this was the first time he


    had


    felt truly in love.


    The lovers hugged one another tightly in the snow.


    Landon tried wrapping her closer and closer still in his coat, but it wasn’t enough.


    He wanted Lauren to be buried deep in his heart.