Landon trudged back to the living room while looking dispirited. Angelina happened to descend the


    stairs after having coaxed Lauren to sleep.


    When Landon lifted his gaze, he identally met her eyes, causing her to hang her head fearfully.


    "Stop lowering your head. You''re about to bury your head in the sand. What are you, an ostrich?"


    Frowning impatiently, Landon sat on the couch and put a cigarette between his lips. However, he


    hesitated to light it when he recalled Lauren hated the smell of cigarette smoke.


    Angelina did not look up. She had always carried herself with arrogance and aloofness in public, a


    stark contrast to her present self—unsure, submissive, and guilty. She wanted to dig a hole and hide


    due to shame.


    "Come here."


    She strutted over to Landon. The short distance felt like it took forever.


    "Is Lauren asleep?" Landon asked in a low voice.


    "Yes." She stared at her feet. Her voice was shaky. "I''ll pack my stuff and leave immediately. I will not


    be an eyesore to you."


    "Just stay," he remarked icily.


    Despite his tone, she was overjoyed and relieved to hear that. "D-Did you just say..."


    "You''re like a sister to Lauren. I know she won''t be able to eat well if you leave her." He took out the


    cigarette and crushed it in his palm.


    At the end of the day, he did not have the heart to treat his loyal subordinate cruelly. "So, stay and take


    care of Lauren. You can be clumsy at times. You''ve even ruined a few of her dresses in theundry,


    and you aren''t exactly the best when ites to cooking. But I don''t trust anyone else to stay by


    Lauren''s side.


    "However, I do not want such an incident to happen again. Otherwise, I will not only fire you, but I will


    also rip you into pieces."


    Landon was clearly joking, but Angelina lowered her head in shame. She fought back tears as she


    replied, "I''m sorry. Mr. Landon, this will never happen again."


    Late at night, Landon sat on the couch and approved some documents under the dim and soft light of


    the standingmp while wearing matching couple pajamas with Lauren. Unlike Jasper, he was not a


    workaholic. He was simply trying to make himself sleepy as his mind was a mess.


    "Mm. No... Don''t hit me^ Don''t!" All of a sudden, Lauren kicked off the nket in her dreams and


    started contorting as though she was pinned down. She let out muffled, panicked screams, "I''m an


    idiot! I''m stupid! Please don''t hit me!"


    "Lauren!" Eyes wavering in shock, Landon hurried over and sat by the bed. Then, he scooped her into


    his arms, knowing that she had a nightmare. "Calm down. I''m here with you. There''s nothing to be


    scared of."


    "Don''t hit me! Don''t hit me."


    Hugging Lauren tightly, he repeatedly caressed her back, which was drenched in sweat. He


    questioned, "Who hit you? Lauren, tell me. Who hit you?"


    She opened her eyes and panted heavily. By that time, she was soaked in cold sweat from head to toe.


    "Lauren, who bullied you? Tell me who they are." A murderous look crept into his eyes. He sounded


    stubborn and hostile. "Whoeverys a finger on you, I''ll skin them alive!"


    Landon firmly believed that one''s thoughts would manifest in dreams. Lauren wouldn''t have had


    nightmares if not for something that had happened in the day.


    Puzzled, he thought he had protected Lauren well. Besides, Angelina stuck by Lauren''s side on


    campus. Who could have bullied Lauren?


    "N-No." She hugged him by the waist, shaking her head and closing her eyes. "Maybe. I am having


    nightmares because I was still in shock at what happened in the day. No one. ever bullied me."


    She wanted to forget the memories of school bullying that were worse than nightmares, not to mention


    that the main bully was Landon''s own sister. She refused to ce Landon in a difficult spot, choosing


    between his lover and his sibling.


    "Is that true? Lauren, is it just a nightmare?" He kissed her forehead, his lips turning cold from the panic


    just now.


    "Yeah. It''s just a nightmare." Eyes misty, she gently kissed his Adam''s apple and suggested, "Darling,


    let''s. sleep together. I''m not afraid of anything with you by my side."


    Landon had tried to exert self-control over his desire since Lauren was injured. However, her action


    aroused him, causing blood to rush to his head. He slowly pinned her onto the bed, leaving a trail of


    kisses on her corbone, chin, and lips.


    They were engulfed in mes of passion and drowned in an ocean of lust. Lauren''s youthful allure and


    her soft body drove him to madness every time they made love to each other. The curve of her tiny


    waist was crescent-like when he lifted her body higher to push himself deeper into her.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    The moon in the night sky lost its lusterpared to the steamy and hot sex in the bedroom.


    As Landon had missed the important meeting yesterday due to thest-minute return to Sna City, he


    woke up early the next morning, ready to apologize to Cornelius at the Harper residence.


    Since Lauren did not have the habit of sleeping in, she woke up at the same time as Landon. She


    helped dress him and fasten his tie, looking more like a housewife by the day.


    Landon sat on the couch, legs folded as he watched the financial news on his tablet. At the same time,


    Lauren was taking a shower in the bathroom.


    Angelina entered their bedroom with breakfast.


    "Angie," Landon said in a raspy and sleepy voice. "The bedsheet is soiled. Please change it."