Amidst her mental distress, Lauren had also been injected with a high dose of sedative. Hence, she still


    hadn''t stirred when morning came.


    Meanwhile, Landon stood resolutely in the freezing courtyard like a lone sentinel. His entire body had


    gone numb from the freezing cold.


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    Though his face had paled considerably, he dared not budge. He was close to his limit, yet the hope of


    Lauren seeing him upon waking kept him rooted to the spot.


    Why this cruel twist of fate? Once inseparable, they were now denied even a glimpse of each other.


    Lost in thought, Landon was startled by the sound of approaching footsteps—hurried yet firm.


    "I''ll take you home, Landon," Jasper''s voice was low and strained, filled with frustration and deep


    concern for his friend. "You''re being absurd! There''s no point in you torturing yourself like this!"


    Landon groaned as he lowered his frigid gaze. His face was so stiff he could barely form an


    expression.


    "You once waited outside Heightsnew Vi to beg for Lyse''s family''s forgiveness. Why can''t I do the


    same?"


    A lump formed in Jasper''s throat. "Our circumstances are different."


    "How are they different? I, too, seek Grandpa Newton''s forgiveness... I, too, yearn to see my wife. How


    is this any different?" Landon''s agitation intensified, his frail body swaying precariously forward.


    "Landon!"


    Jasper''s reflexes were lightning-fast. He extended both arms and caught Landon before he could fall.


    Thankfully, Jasper''s superior height and build were crucial in that moment. If he were an average man,


    he might not have been able to break Landon''s fall.


    "Jasper. I miss my wife," Landon choked out, his voice thick with emotion. Tears welled up in his red-


    rimmed eyes. He leaned his forehead against Jasper''s broad shoulder, struggling to regain his


    composure.


    In a raspy whisper, he confessed, "Not seeing Lauren feels like someone ripped my heart out."


    His fists pounded his chest in a disy of raw pain. "It hurts so bad, Jasper. Like. it could kill me."


    "Listen to me. Let''s go to the hospital first. You need to get checked out."


    Landon shivered. Jasper offered aforting pat on his back in the face of his pain. "After that,e


    back to Lyse and my ce. Mrs. Rosie will take good care of you. You can rest, and when you wake


    up, I''ll arrange for you to see Lauren."


    After much persuasion, Jasper and Jordan helped Landon into the car and rushed him to the hospital.


    At the hospital, Landony in his ward, an IV drip delivering fluids. asional coughs wracked his


    weakened body. The harsh cold had taken its toll; he''d fallen ill.


    "Mr. Landon, I''ve removed all the videos about Madam Lauren online and stopped the negative


    comments," Jordan reported, his bloodshot eyes betraying hisck of sleep.


    Jordan added, "I know it might seem insignificant now, but with time and your unwavering support by


    her side, things will improve for Madam Lauren."


    Landon stared at the ceiling. "Thank you," he murmured.


    "Don''t thank me. It is my duty to serve you and Madam Lauren!" Jordan insisted, shaking his head


    vigorously.


    Atst, Jasper spoke up with a glum expression on his face. "Landon, why did the Harpers suddenly


    target Lauren? And why focus on her condition? I find this quite bizarre."


    "At yesterday''s board meeting, Preston presented Lauren''s psychological diagnosis report to the board


    members," Landon exined, his grip tightening on the nket until his veins were showing.


    "What did you just say?" Jasper''s frown deepened. The news struck him like a physical blow. This


    situation was far more serious,plex, and brutal than he initially thought.


    "Now that I think about it... something has been off from the very beginning."


    Landon pushed himself upright. He spoke through pale lips, "When Preston presented the diagnosis


    report, there wasn''t a flicker of surprise on Grandpa''s face. He didn''t even touch the documents. It''s


    clear he knew about Lauren''s condition beforehand and yed along with Preston''s scheme.


    "But this information is top secret within the Becketts. How did Preston get it? Grandpa Newton and Mr.


    Javier would never reveal it, and Sophia''s dead."


    "Who else could it be besides Betty?" Jasper''s eyes shed with anger. "While Sophia was alive, they


    were thick as thieves. Sophia wouldn''t hesitate to betray anyone for her own gain.


    "Even though Betty is a Beckett, she wouldn''t have normal ess to such confidential documents.


    Sophia must have given it to her."


    "Betty and Preston are working together?" Landon''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Don''t forget your troublemaking sister," Jasper added with a chilling sneer. "Zoe has always been


    close to Betty. She''s probably the middleman in this."


    If Jameson was the one responsible for the misfortunes in the Schmidt family, then Zoe yed the


    same role for the Harpers.


    What a perfect pair!


    Just then, Xavier''s call came in. Jasper answered, putting it on loudspeaker. "Go ahead, Xavier."


    "Mr. Beckett, I have news from our bodyguards who were keeping watch at Seaview Manor. Last night,


    Betty drove out on her own to Middleton Resort in the West."


    Jasper exchanged a grim look with Landon. "Who did she meet?"


    "Our men waited in hiding. Shortly after Betty left, Zoe and Mr. Hodgson''s son came out. However, they


    didn''t leave together. They went in separate ways in separate cars."