"Landon, you''re home early today," Jasper replied to Landon''s greeting.


    "Darling, I''m home. Why don''t you give me a hug after a long day?" Landon beamed as he opened his


    arms at Lauren. The ck coat, which was loosely draped on his shoulders, fell onto the floor, but he


    did not bother to pick it up.


    Despite feeling oddly nervous, Lauren obediently went up to Landon and sneaked into his arms like an


    adorable kitten. He wrapped his tall and muscr body around her, carrying with him the warmth from


    the car heater that seeped into her skin. The warm sensation helped soothe her emotions.


    "Landon, don''t be angry," she mumbled in a voice only audible to them.


    "Hm? Why would I be angry at you for no reason?" he whispered in a raspy voice.


    "I-I..." Lauren had learned to carefully ponder her words before voicing them aloud. After some thinking,


    she chose to keep her thoughts to herself.


    "If you''ve done something to upset me, just give me a kiss, and I won''t be angry at you anymore."


    Landon rubbed his lips against her cold cheek.


    Embarrassed to kiss Landon in Alyssa and Jasper''s presence, Lauren still tiptoed and gave him a peck


    on the lips to avoid making him upset.


    However, a peck was not enough to satisfy Landon. He pressed a hand on the small of the back,


    forcing her to kiss him deeper.


    Angelina happened to serve the tea and desserts. Unfazed by the kiss, she smiled politely at the


    visitors. "Mr. Beckett, Ms. Alyssa, please have some tea."


    Coughing awkwardly, Jasper handed a cup of tea to Alyssa. "Lyse, have some tea."Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Oh, sure." She epted the cup and looked away from Lauren and Landon withplicated feelings.


    The kiss was supposed to be a sweet and loving scene, but Alyssa was gued by a feeling that


    something was amiss with Lauren, who seemed a little withdrawn and timid.


    Lauren had lost her mother, and her deadbeat father was of no help. Her grandfather, Newton, was in


    such bad health and could not look after her since they rarely met up. As her sister-inw, Alyssa


    decided to pay closer attention to Lauren''s well-being.


    After Landon and Lauren wrapped up their kiss, Jasper calmly remarked, "Landon, I need to have a


    private talk with you."


    "Sure. Let''s go to my study." Landon, happy to meet his friend, went upstairs with Jasper.


    "Angie, I love fresh orange juice. Could you make two sses of orange juice for me and Lauren? She


    likes it too," Alyssa requested with a warm smile.


    Sure. I''m on it." Angelina headed to the kitchen.


    Alyssa had deliberately made the request to send Angelina away. She took Lauren''s hand, sped it


    tightly, and addressed Lauren, "Lauren, I have a question. How are you doingtely?"


    "I''m fine. Landon and Angie are taking good care of me." Lauren blinked innocently at Alyssa.


    "Did Landon do anything weird to youtely?" Alyssa prodded with a skeptical squint.


    After some serious thinking, Lauren admitted with flushed cheeks. "Y-Yeah."


    Alyssa immediately questioned, "And what is it?"


    "Um... He... He''s no longer using the condom when we''re doing it..." Lauren started breathing


    nervously as she was too shy to broach the topic. Regardless, she answered Alyssa''s question with


    honesty.