Landon struggled to catch his breath, feeling overwhelmed.


    During the party previously, he wanted to protect his best friends. Thus, he chose to go against Javier.


    He did so with his friendship with Jasper and Alyssa in mind.


    However, this was an expensive price to pay. He might never be able to marry the woman he loved.


    He was able to go against the entire Harper Group. He was even able to put everything at stake. But


    how would Lauren be able to do that? She was a meek woman. She was so timid.


    Even if Lauren was willing, Landon couldn''t bear to have her do so. She would be carrying a


    magnanimous burden on her shoulders. How could he bear to see her betray her family?


    "Come home, Lauren. You are my most obedient daughter. Listen to me. Come home."


    Javier''s gaze softened when he looked at Lauren. He opened his arms.


    "You are young and clueless about love. Plus, you''re terrible at gauging people''s intentions. You can''t


    even tell if you''ve been deceived.


    "But that''s okay. I don''t me you. You are still my daughter as long as you decide toe home.


    You''re the daughter I love the most."


    Lauren felt as though all her blood had been drained from her body. She stood rigidly at the same spot.


    She had already lost her mother. She really didn''t want to lose her father, too. But, more than that, she


    didn''t want to lose Landon.


    "Lauren, Dad has been treating you so well. Do you want to make Dad angry?"


    Betty was still standing by the side. She chimed in, "You used to be cooped up at home every day. You


    don''t know how evil people can be, especially men. You shouldn''t trust a single word that they say."


    She was already enraged by Landon earlier on. She took this opportunity to snap back at him, "You


    were lecturing me earlier on, Landon. But I think that you''re just a pot calling the kettle ck!


    "Lauren, Landon may be coaxing you with flowery words each day. However, did you know that he is


    the number one yboy in Sna City? The list of his ex-lovers is probably thicker than the dictionary!


    He only chose you because he wants to add someone like you to his collection.


    "It would be toote by the time you hit a dead end. By then, Dad wouldn''t want to take you in any


    longer, even if you wanted toe home!"


    Lauren shivered uncontrobly. She became even more teary-eyed.


    Landon wrapped his arms around her immediately. He caressed her back with his hand tofort her.


    He was already at his tipping point. Even so, he remained infinitely patient with Lauren.


    "Landon... I''m sorry... I..."


    "My granddaughter is a wonderful woman. Who is that heartless idiot who doesn''t want to take her in? I


    must see him for myself!"


    They heard a powerful voiceing from outside. The facial expressions on Javier''s and Betty''s faces


    changed.


    Following that, Jasper entered the room. He was pushing Newton in his wheelchair. Walking right next


    to Jasper was a striking and stunning woman. It was Alyssa!


    There were only three of them. But, they walked in with an air of mightiness and power. Javier''s chest


    tightened. Betty was so stunned that her face looked like it was about to crack.


    "Jasper, Lyse." Landon was on the brink of tears.


    Jasper looked at him. He pressed his lips together slightly and nodded.


    They had been best buddies for 20 years. That small gesture was enough. No words were needed.


    They always understood each other''s difficulties at crucial moments like these.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "How''s Lauren, Landon?" Alyssa noticed that Lauren was looking pale. She didn''t have time to bother


    about anything else. She was only concerned for Lauren.


    "I''m here. She''s fine," Landon answered in a raspy voice.


    Newton nced around with his eagle eyes. In the end, he fixed his eyes on Landon and Lauren. His


    gaze became gentle.


    "Dad, what. what brings you here?" Javier walked down the stairs, looking extremely awkward.


    "How much meaner were you going to be to Lauren if I hadn''t shown up? What else were you going to


    spew from that foul mouth of yours?" Newton stared at him. He wished that he could stand up and give


    him a good, hard kick!


    Javier''s neck flushed red. "Dad! How could you say that? Lauren is my daughter. I''m doing all these for


    her sake!"


    "Bullshit!" Newton spat in front of him. "At the end of the day, you only want to make yourself feel good!


    So, you pressured Lauren like that. You made use of their rtionship and insulted Landon. How


    brazen of you!"


    Landon was choking on his tears. He looked at Newton through bloodshot eyes.


    "Just listen to yourself. I really need to clean my ears after hearing the things you said. You made me


    feel so disgusted!"


    Newton looked at Javier with a scornful gaze. "If you ask me, I think that you are the one who doesn''t


    know how to read people''s intentions. You didn''t even realize it when you were being tricked!


    "You married that evil bitch, Sophia. Did you think that you''ve got sound emotional intelligence? Lauren


    is a million times better than you! Don''t you dare drag her down like that!"