Jasper squeezed Alyssa''s hand, his gaze holding a somber weight. "There''s something I need to


    discuss with you."


    In the room, Lauren clung tightly to Angelina, her warm tears soaking Angelina''s ck suit.


    "Look, Madam Lauren. I''m right here with you. I''mpletely fine," Angelina reassured her, returning


    the embrace. Though her voice was steady, tears welled in her eyes. "Those people only wanted to


    scare you. You''re alright now. It''s all over...


    "Such a thing won''t happen again. Nothing but happiness awaits you and Mr. Landon."


    "Landon and I. do we even have a future?" Lauren''s voice was barely a whisper.


    Angelina''s chest clenched at that question. She promptly answered, "Don''t think like that, Madam


    Lauren. What happened wasn''t as big a deal as it seems. Mr. Landon, Mr. Jasper, and Ms. Alyssa will


    handle everything. Things will return to normal!"


    "Angie. I''m not stupid. I know why this happened. It''s because of the Harpers. They don''t want us


    together." Lauren''sshes fluttered with tears.


    It was a heartbreaking sight.


    "This time, they were merely trying to scare you—only hurting your left leg and kidnapping you. But


    next time, they might take your life. The Harpers won''t ept me, and if Landon insists on being with


    me, it will only endanger him."


    "No, Madam Lauren! Don''t think that way!" Angelina panicked, shaking her head frantically. Tears


    welled up in her reddened eyes. "You''re Mr. Landon''s reason for living! He wouldn''t survive without you.


    Fighting for power and position would mean nothing to him without you by his side."


    "But I''ll only be a burden," Lauren insisted, her voice filled with despair. "He''ll have to use all his energy


    to take care of me. He''s already stretched thin."


    At that moment, Lauren appeared different from her usual childlike and naive self. Instead, she seemed


    clear-headed and rational, as if this incident had forced her to mature.


    "I''m not like Alyssa, who can be Jasper''s partner in every way," Lauren said. "I can''t offer Landon that


    kind of support. I''ll only be a burden.


    "And I''ll also cause you to face even greater dangers, Angie. You''re not just a subordinate or a


    bodyguard to me. You''re like a sister. You''re incredibly important to me.


    "I''ve always felt this way. I don''t deserve his love. Landon is more suited to be with someone better."


    "Madam Lauren, please don''t give up on Mr. Landon. I beg of you..." Angelina pleaded, her voice


    trembling with anxiety, on the verge of tears.


    Perhaps Lauren had long understood the Harper family''s stance. She might have been aware of how


    difficult it was for Landon to protect her from all the dangers. Perhaps the crisis that day was the final


    straw for her.


    "I know all that Landon has done for me. If we continue like this, there wille a day when he''ll lose


    control," Lauren said, her eyes swollen.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    She slowly closed her eyes as she recalled the time at Newton''s birthday party—her first time alone


    with Landon; it was in the garden, under the moonlit sky. His eyes had twinkled like stars then, filled


    with joy. Now, a veil of sadness seemed to cloud those once-bright eyes.


    A bittersweet smile touched her lips as she relived the memory. Tears welled up again. "I want Landon


    to be himself again. I want him to move forward bravely, without any worries."