Lauren curled up in a dust-filled corner. It was the height of summer, but she was so cold that she shivered.


    At this time, Freddy, who had been standing aside, quietly walked up to her. He took off his jacket and knelt to cover her shoulders with it.


    She was about to say "thank you" when she realized that he was tantly staring at her chest.


    Her small, developing breasts could be seen through her soaked shirt, and even her white bra was visible!


    In her panic, she screamed weakly and hugged her chest with her shuddering arms.


    "Lauren, let me touch them for a bit, alright? Just a bit, no one will know."


    Freddy said those disgusting words with such sincerity, like a devil''s maniptive persuasion. When she recalled those memories, it still plunged Lauren into a deep pit of depression and fear.


    "I know why you want to marry off Lauren so desperately.”


    Jasper''s fists clenched tightly, and his knuckles turned white. "If you were angry, you could have taken it out on me. As a parent, you cannot leverage your daughter''s happiness for your instant gratification!”


    "Jasper, did you learn how to be passive-aggressive from that girl from the White family? You are misinterpreting my good intentions!"


    Javier pointed at Jasper furiously. "Lauren is my daughter. Would I harm her? All my choices are for her benefit!"


    Jasperughed coldly. "More like it''s for your future''s benefit. Arranging a marriage between us and the Hodgsons would bring great returns for Beckett Group and you."


    The atmosphere turned stiff and cold.


    Javier''splexion turned from flushed red to pale white. His own son had uncovered his shameful intentions right in his face. With that, more fuel had been added to the fire.


    He roared, "It''s still better than the match you found for Lauren!"


    Lauren shut her teary eyes tightly.


    "Right now, everyone in Sna City knows of the scandal between Lauren and Landon. My daughter has been harassed enough, and now she has to be gossip fodder. When she goes out, people will look at her differently.


    "This is all because of the match you tried to arrange for Lauren, all because of the meddling from you and your idiot friends!"


    Jasper''s expression was icy. He knew that Javier would use this point to attack him viciously. Landon and Lauren were deeply in love. He wasn''t in the wrong. He was innocent.


    But what the Harpers did was unforgivable! There was no way to plead their case!


    "You sent my daughter, your most gentle sister right into the tiger''s den, the Harpers! Before she even married into the family, she suffered so much humiliation from the scheming! Is your sister so worthless? What''s wrong with marrying into the Hodgson family? This is no disservice to her!


    "At the very least, the Hodgsons are an influential, wealthy family. Not like the Harpers. Bastards, the lot of them! Cornelius came from a lowly, messy background. What kind of children can he raise? I''m pretty sure that Landon is a useless man, just like his grandfather!”


    Javier was so incensed that he couldn''t stop throwing insults.


    "Dad! That''s enough... Stop talking about Landon!" Lauren couldn''t help it anymore. Her tears started falling. "Landon has always been kind to me, and he''s never wronged me!


    "We''ve already broken up. We''re not together anymore, so stop saying these things about him!" "Lauren..." Jasper''s heart twinged with pain.


    Lauren and Landon went through so many obstacles before getting together. They were about to see their rtionship bear fruit, but now everything was back to square one.


    Why did fate have to be so cruel and mess with this tragic couple? What did they do to deserve this?


    Upon hearing his usually obedient daughter talk back against him, Javier''s face paled.Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    When he heard that they had broken up, his expression softened a bit as he said patiently, "It''s good that you two broke up. That yboy''s so-called love for you was just an act. He can''t keep it up forever.


    "It''s not a big deal. There''s no need to be so hung up on him. Follow my ns from now on, and you will have true happiness in life.”


    "I will not allow Lauren to marry Freddy Hodgson!" Jasper''s eyes zed with anger. "His rtionship with Zoe is unclear, and he''s probably no saint.


    "You keep saying that the Harpers are a tiger''s den, but are the Hodgsons a paradise? You''re just using Lauren as your money-making machine!"