It was alreadyte into the night when Landon got back home.


    Angelina happened to being out from theundry room with a basket full of clothes. She put the


    basket down to wee Landon the moment she spotted him.


    "Where''s Lauren? Has she gone to bed?" Landon took off his suit jacket and handed it to her. He


    looked pumped up and ecstatic.


    "She has."


    Landon sighed, "I rushed all the way back..."


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He was a little disappointed. However, he continued smiling brightly right after. "I''ll just update her


    tomorrow morning, then."


    Angelina blinked. "You have good news, Mr. Landon?"


    "Grandpa has agreed."


    Landon was bright-eyed. He was so excited that his voice was trembling. "Grandpa has agreed to me


    marrying Lauren!"


    "Really?"


    Angelina was overjoyed. Tears welled up, making her eyes glisten. "Congrattions! Your wish to


    marry Madam Lauren is finallying true! There''s nothing more joyous than this!"


    "Mom called me when I was on my way home. She said that she could agree to ept Lauren. But


    only on the condition that Zoe has to be allowed to return."


    Landon''s gaze turned cold. He scoffed, "How could that be? Mom was such a simple person. When did


    she learn to bargain with others? Does she think I will not marry Lauren so long as she disapproves?"


    Angelina nodded in concurrence.


    The impression she had of Penelope was that important matters often eluded her. Landon was always


    the one holding things together after Bill''s passing. If it hadn''t been for Landon, Preston would have


    taken over thepany long ago.


    Landon lowered his voice. "However, Grandpa only agreed because Prepillon put in a few good words


    on my behalf. He might be cooking something up. I need to keep a watch on him."


    "Preston is the type of person who only does things for his own benefit. You should still beware of him,"


    Angelina said seriously.


    Landon took a quick shower before sliding under the covers. Hey next to Lauren, feeling satisfied.


    The more he thought about it, the more excited he felt. He wasn''t able to fall asleep. Thus, he inched


    closer to Lauren quietly, closing the gap between them.


    Despite that, he wasn''t satisfied. He ced his arms around her.


    His body started burning up once he embraced her. He slipped his yful hand under her nightgown


    and started to fondle her.


    Lauren stirred. She opened her bleary eyes. Naturally, she hugged him. "You''re back..."


    "I''m sorry to wake you, darling." Landon felt a little bad. Yet, he was reluctant to retract his hand.


    "Landon. are you. wanting to do it?" Lauren had been conditioned by him. She was being too


    considerate and tuned in.


    Landon sighed. He pulled her in by the waist. "It''s alright. Otherwise, you won''t be able to get a shuteye


    again tonight."


    "You seem very happy."


    Lauren closed her eyes. She listened to his racing heart. "Your heart is beating really fast. Also, when I


    was asleep, I think I heard youughing. What made you so happy?"


    Landon took a deep breath. He kissed her on the forehead. In a loving voice, he exined, "I am finally


    going to marry you, Lauren. I can marry you with my head held up high.


    "You will be able to be the wife of the Harper Group''s president. You are going to be


    acknowledged by everyone. You will no longer be in the shadows."


    Lauren''s eyes shot open. There was a sparkle in her eyes.


    Landon continued seriously, "I n to meet your father within these two days. I will bring you along. I


    want to ask him for your hand in marriage. I want to do this officially."


    Lauren gaped. Her lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.


    Landon had been addressing her as his "darling" every day. Even so, she only ever treated it as his pet


    name for her. She had never demanded marriage from him.


    What was more was that Sophia had been sentenced to death for murder. Since then, she never dared


    to hope that she''d really be able to marry him. All she wanted was to apany him in silence.


    "Landon. You. You don''t need to force yourself."


    "Force myself? You''re saying that I''m forcing myself?"


    Landon was so worried that his voice cracked. His love and passion for her burned like a fire within


    him. He squeezed her tightly in his arms. "No, Lauren. I''m not forcing myself. My dream is to marry


    you. That''s all I wish for in my life."


    They spent a few days preparing. Landon and Lauren picked a restful day to visit Seaview Manor.


    "Mr. Landon? Ms. Lauren? You''re here!" Rory was the first toe out and greet them.


    "How have you been, Mr. Rory?" Lauren linked arms with Landon. Her smile was as bright as the sun.


    "I''m good. I feel even better after seeing you."


    Rory observed Lauren closely. Her cheeks were rosy. It appeared that Lauren had gained some weight.


    He figured that Landon had been taking good care of her. In fact, he was treating her very well. With


    that, It made Rory feel more at ease too.


    "May I know if Mr. Javier is around, Mr. Rory?"


    Landon was smiling warmly. He held on to Lauren''s hand tightly. "I wish to see him. I have something


    very important to discuss with him."


    Rory noticed that Lauren was blushing. He had a pretty good guess about what it was about. He


    couldn''t hide the glee on his face.


    "Mr. Javier is home. I will go to him right away and..."


    "Lauren, you''re back."


    Before Rory could finish his sentence, he heard Javier''s voiceing from behind him.


    Both Landon and Lauren looked up.


    Javier was walking down the stairs slowly. He was in his casual homewear. Betty was tagging along


    behind him. She was dressed more modestly now.


    Landon almost couldn''t recognize her. Didn''t she use to be very shy? At first nce, he actually


    thought that Liana had made her return from overseas.


    "Dad. Hi, Dad." Lauren tightened her grip on Landon''s hand. She was clearly more nervous than


    earlier.


    Javier acknowledged her greeting. Then, he looked over at Landon. The gaze in his eyes turned cold


    instantly.


    "You''re finally willing toe back home, Laurie." Betty forced a friendly smile on her face. "It''s been


    so long since I saw you. I really missed you."


    "Lauren." Javier had a glum expression on his face. His tone was frigid. "Now that you''re home, don''t


    leave. You''re not a wild child whom no one cares about. You are part of the Beckett family. What would


    others think if you''re always staying out?"


    "That''s right, Laurie." Betty furrowed her brows. She had a concerned look on her face. "You are only in


    your early 20s. You are still in your youth. What''s all this business about cohabiting with another man?


    "Your good reputation wille to ruins once people learn about this. Mr. Landon is a man, so it


    doesn''t really matter to him. But you are a woman. You are the one on the losing end!"