Alyssa saw Landon approaching them, looking weak and sickly. She teased him immediately, "Gosh,


    Mr. Harper, what''s wrong with you? Were you doing hardbor in your bedroomst night?"


    "I... Never mind. Forget about it." He sighed in frustration. Where to start?


    He couldn''t possibly speak ill of Alyssa''s brother in front of her, or he''dnd Jasper in trouble as well.


    As Jasper''s brother from another mother, he didn''t have the heart to do so.


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    Alyssa knew he must have something on his mind, but she did not press on if he was reluctant to


    divulge.


    "Do you want food? I''ll make some for you," Jasper offered, turning around to look at Landon while


    busy with the cooking.


    "Nah. I don''t have appetite." Landon wandered to the fridge and opened the door to grab a bottle of


    water. Then, he downed the entire drink.


    Crumpling the empty bottle, he took a deep breath before announcing, "Lyse, Jasper, I will register my


    marriage with Lauren today."


    Caught by surprise, they gasped, "What? Today?"


    "Yes, today." Landon''s eyes burned with passion. His voice broke. "I''ve thought over it. The more I


    dy it, the more problems arise. I don''t care if my family approves of my marriage. I''ll get it registered


    for now.


    "After that''s done, Lauren and I will be legal spouses—she''ll be my wife and the matriarch of the


    Harper Group! Even if Grandpa is against our decision, he has no choice but to let it go. Once I''m in


    charge of the Harper Group, I''ll throw a grand wedding for Lauren. She''ll surely understand my


    decision."


    Jasper furrowed his brows, his attentionpletely diverted from the sunny-side-up eggs now burnt in


    the pan.


    Landon went on, "Jasper, I''ll go get my birth certificate from my mom soon. What about Lauren''s? Can


    you get it by today?"


    "Landon Harper, what the heck are you thinking? You''re acting weird today," Alyssa chided him with a


    stern look.


    "Why? All I want is to marry Lauren. Look at your faces. I was expecting apuse and support,"


    Landon retorted, his brows contorting in anxiety.


    "Landon, you''ve been dating Lauren for a while. You were able to keep your calm before, but why did


    you lose it today?" Jasper turned off the stove and cast a worrying nce at his best friend.


    He added, "By the way, our birth certificates are with Javier. If you demand to get it from him, he surely


    won''t hand it over to you.


    "After all, you greatly embarrassed him at the Jesseltons'' event for Lyse''s sake. You know Javier and


    his pettiness. If you ask him something, he''ll take the chance to make you jump through hoops.


    "If you upset him, he might arrange for Lauren to marry another. It''s not like he cares about the Harpers


    because you are still dealing with the fallout from Zoe''s action. To be clear, Javier does not want to be


    associated with the Harpers anymore."


    "I..." Landon curled his fist.


    "By the way, have you resolved your family conflict?" Alyssa addressed Landon with a seriousness that


    rivaled the couple''s parents. "Do your grandpa and your mom approve of your marriage?


    "If you elope with Lauren, aren''t you worried that your grandpa will retract your appointment as the


    group president? What if your Uncle Preston takes advantage of the situation to eliminate you?


    "You''re Cornelius'' only grandson, and he cherishes you like no other. How would he perceive Lauren if


    you eloped with her? Your family will only look down on her."


    "Lauren''s my wife, my lover! No one is allowed to look down on her!" Landon bellowed, unable to


    ept her words. She made it sound like he was defenseless.


    She shook her head disappointingly. "Landon, I don''t doubt your love for Lauren, but have you thought


    things through? What do you want for yourself, and what kind of life would you want Lauren to live?


    "You''re currently faced with a dilemma—choose Lauren or Harper Group. You can''t have your cake and


    eat it. If you fail to helm thepany, you''ll disappoint your father.


    "If you insist on staying with Lauren, you need to mentally prepare yourself to be removed from the


    "Why can''t I have both? I want to lead Harper Group, and I want to stay with Lauren!" His eyes twitched


    as he red at Alyssa.


    "No one''s stopping you from dating Lauren. What you need to do now is keep your calm. Victory is on


    the horizon, so please don''t mess it up," Alyssa argued with a frown, studying his face. "What


    happened between you and Laurenst night? Spit it out, and we''ll be your judge. You''re only going to


    go crazy if you keep everything to yourself."


    "We''re more worried that you''d do something rash," Jasper chimed in and served Alyssa breakfast.


    He was more skilled in the kitchen than Mrs. Rosie now and surprisingly enjoyed the chore.


    He added, "I messed up the breakfast, but eat it while it''s hot." His handsome face was a stark contrast


    to the apron he wore. He lookedical yet sexy at the same time.


    Alyssa grinned and wrapped an arm around his neck, giving him a kiss on the cheek as a reward.


    "There''s your reward." She yfully tapped his chin with her fingers.


    He responded enthusiastically to her kiss, savoring the sweetness of her breath.


    In front of the couple, Landon sat dejected, like he had been cuckolded. He confessed, "I have a love


    rival."