"Did you mean that?"


    Cyrus jumped. He turned around immediately. He hadn''t realized that Lauren was behind him. She was


    hugging a brown fluffy teddy tightly and looking at him sheepishly.


    Lauren looked adorable to him at that moment.


    Cyrus''s gaze became slightly deeper. Heughed light-heartedly and answered in a warm tone, "Of


    course I meant it. Did you paint this?"


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "Yeah, I did." Lauren nodded.


    "You must have put a lot of thought and emotions into it. It took quite a bit of effort, didn''t it?"


    "Mm... That''s alright. The most important thing is that Landon likes it."


    Lauren''s eyes lit up at the mention of Landon. She smiled sweetly, and her face blushed pink.


    "Landon treats me very well. There is not much I can give him, so I just did this painting as a gift. I''m


    d that he likes it."


    Cyrus'' heart skipped a beat.


    Throughout all these years of being a police officer, he was always immersed in the dark side of the


    world. Every day, he fought fiercely with countless abominable devils.


    It had been a very long time since he had seen such pure eyes.


    The woman in front of him was just like the clear moonlight. Inconspicuously, she had lit up his dull and


    gloomy heart.


    Lauren noticed that he had his gaze fixed on her. She blinked and looked at him with a confused look


    on her face. "Mr. Cyrus?"


    Cyrus snapped out of his thoughts. The corner of his lip curled upward.


    He said, "I remember the time from L''s birthday party when you addressed Lyse as Alyssa. So,


    there''s no need to bother with formalities. Call me Cyrus, just like Alyssa does."


    "Cyrus?" Lauren waspliant. She addressed him exactly how he asked her to.


    Cyrus smiled with his dashing eyes. He was about to reply when a cold voice sounded.


    "Mr. Cyrus, Ms. Lauren is Mr. Landon''s partner. It isn''t appropriate for you to be so close with her in


    private."


    Angelina watched Cyrus with a gloomy look in her eyes. She walked briskly to Lauren''s side, giving off


    an attitude of assertiveness as if she was defending Landon''s rights.


    Cyrus remained calm. He smiled slightly and responded, "What did I do that was so indecent that


    warrants such defensiveness from you?


    "Why? Does being with Landon mean that she doesn''t have the right to interact with others normally?


    Are you saying that any man who talks to her will have to die? Is he overly paranoid, or is his


    selfesteem just so low?"


    "You!" Angelina gnashed her teeth as she red at Cyrus. If he weren''t Alyssa''s elder brother, she


    would have already given him a tight p on the face!


    "Angie..." Lauren tugged at Angelina''s shirt and shook her head anxiously.


    Lauren might not be very articte and look simple-minded, but she often understood the ways of the


    world.


    Cyrus was Alyssa''s brother. It was because of this connection that he would stop to chat with her. She


    was aware of that.


    If they were to have bad blood just because of a tiny matter like this, it would put Alyssa in a tough


    position, and that would be bad.


    Cyrus caught a glimpse of Lauren''s nervous expression. In the end, he smiled nonchntly and


    strutted past Angelina.


    "No one can steal whatever that is meant to be his. So, what''s the use of being overprotective? You''re


    wasting your time being concerned. After all, us Taylors are cultured people."


    To their great surprise, Winston chose thetter after being given the option to leave or stay for dinner.


    He decided to stay despite having had an intense argument with Alyssa.


    After a recent argument, they were now sharing a meal. Only the Taylors were capable of making 180-


    degree turns like this.


    Nheless, Jasper was now scared out of his mind. He had to whip up a meal under Winston''s


    watchful eyes. He had never been so freaked out in his entire life. His heart was in his mouth!


    Winston sat in the living room, exuding regality to intimidate Jasper. Jasper felt like he was weing


    royalty.


    "Lyse, I only have a few simple dishes in my repertoire. Plus, they''re not that great." Jasper stood stiffly


    in the kitchen, feeling worried. "Would those make him throw up?"


    Alyssa snorted. "You''re exaggerating."