"Lauren, what in the world are you saying?" Jasper, who was usually calm andposed, reacted in


    shock. He ced his hands heavily on her shoulders. "Marriage is not child''s y. This is a matter of


    your lifelong happiness!


    "Do you not know what kind of person Freddy is? Did you not see how he was acting intimately with


    Zoe? Aren''t you worried that this might be a plot from Zoe to mess with you and Landon?"


    Lauren let him shake her shoulders as tears rolled in her eyes along with the shaking.


    "Did you really fall out of love with Landon? Look into my eyes and tell me. do you really not love


    Landon anymore?" Jasper''s brows knitted together tightly as he bombarded her with questions.


    "Jasper, I''m a grown woman. I''m no longer the child who locked herself in her room all day, not daring


    to speak to anyone. I''m no longer the girl whose onlypanions were drawing blocks and dolls."


    Lauren''s voice was soft, but her resolve was firm. "I know what I''m doing; I know what I want."


    Jasper''s voice trembled. "Is marrying Freddy what you want?"


    "Since I can''t be with Landon anymore, who I marry doesn''t matter."


    "Who said that you can''t be together with him? He loves you so much that he can give up everything!


    As long as you don''t give up..."


    "Jasper, I''m tired."


    Lauren''s face sank as she shook her head lifelessly. "If Landon betrayed his family and gave up his


    inheritance for me. I would never be able to live with this guilt. Even if I stayed with him, I would not feel


    happy.


    "But if I don''t marry into the Hodgson family, I fear I will not have a day of peace. I''m scared. I''m even


    more scared that I''ll bring trouble to Landon and hurt Angelina.


    "Breaking up. is the best oue for us."


    Jasper slowly let her go. He couldn''t swallow the bitterness in his throat, just as he couldn''t find any


    words to say.


    That day, when Angelina returned the pearl hair clip to Landon, he became seriously ill. The


    combination of heartbreak and shock made him throw up blood.


    After a checkup at the hospital, they found that he had severe gastritis. It was a result of his irregr


    schedule and frequent consumption of alcohol during business gatherings.


    This time, his gastritis worsened, so he had to be hospitalized.


    However, aside from Angelina and Jordan, no one knew about it.


    Landon was officially the chairman of Harper Group. However, he didn''t even arrive on time for the very


    first board meeting.


    In the meeting room, Cornelius sat at the main seat and nced at the empty seat beside him with


    annoyance.


    "This is the first meeting, but Mr. Landon isn''t even here. The audacity..."


    "See, "The Tyrant" isn''t an empty title. Now that he''d sessfully gained power, eventually, he won''t


    even give a shit about Mr. Cornelius."


    "It''s too early to joke about this. Mr. Preston was just defeated; he''s not dead yet. If Mr. Landon


    continues like this, when Mr. Cornelius finally has enough, the position of chairman might belong to Mr.


    Preston again."


    As Preston listened to the surrounding gossip about Landon, he couldn''t help but grin.


    Underneath the table, he was texting Zoe.


    "Zoe, I really need to thank you properly about this matter once I have time."


    "You''re too kind, Uncle Preston."


    "It''s just such a shame that I couldn''t kick that little brat from the chairman''s position. The old man still


    favors him. Truly, what a shame."


    "Uncle Preston, a watched pot never boils. You lose to Landon because you''re too impatient."


    She continued texting, "I heard that Lauren and Landon have broken up. Landon was so upset that he


    got hospitalized, but I don''t know what is the cause of his hospitalization. The Beckett family released a


    statement that they will never let Lauren marry into our family.


    "Not only that, Mayor Hodgson and his wife brought Freddy along to the Beckett''s house to ask for


    Lauren''s hand in marriage. They''ve been quite cozy with each other.


    "When Lauren and Freddy have confirmed their wedding date, Landon will be so crushed that he will


    never recover. He won''t be able to retaliate. By then, it will be your time to take revenge!"


    Preston''s eyes shone with excitement. He was about to reply to Zoe when suddenly a loud bang rang


    through the room, nearly startling him out of his seat.


    Landon''s wide shoulders were covered with a sable fur coat. His hands were in the pockets of his ck


    patterned zer. His domineering yet ssy demeanor made everyone hold their breath.


    With one kick, the door swung open. Landon bore an expression of indifference and arrogance.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    His intimidating presence made Preston look like a pitiful bug that could get squished with just a finger.


    "Sorry, I woke upte." Landon yawned.


    Preston saw that he looked alert and healthy. Aside from looking a little pale, he was fine. Preston felt


    disappointed and chuckled.


    "Haha... Mr. Landon, you are really quite impressive. You just took over, and you''re already shaking


    things up."


    Cornelius frowned. Although the Harper Group was never the most uptight, Landon was too unruly!


    "Let''s cancel today''s meeting. Grandpa and Preston can stay. The rest can leave."


    Landon stared at everyone coldly, and his gaze stared daggers at Preston''s enraged, ruddy


    complexion.


    "Landon, this is outrageous. How can you call your uncle by his first name?" Cornelius red at him


    and pped the table with his palm.


    Landon snickered, "Then what should I call him? Prepillon?"


    Preston almost choked in anger.


    "Landon!" Cornelius banged the table again.


    "If you don''t make everyone leave, can you bear to watch what I''ll doter?"


    Landon leaned on the table with both arms, flexing his muscles as a wicked smile lifted his lips. "If you


    insist on protecting Prepillon, then I won''t hold back in front of everyone."


    No one said a word in the huge meeting room.


    There wasn''t a person who wanted to miss out on this juicy gossip, but they didn''t dare to stay as well


    in case they got into the line of fire.


    Cornelius couldn''t ignore Landon''s threats, and he knew Landon''s temper very well. If Landon was


    threatened, he wouldn''t hesitate to light Harper Group on fire. Hence, he could only order the board to


    leave.


    Soon, only the three Harpers were left in the room.


    "Landon, why did you make such a big ruckus?" Preston asked angrily.


    Landon pulled out a chair and sat leisurely. He tapped his finger against the table without a rhythm, and


    his smile was sharp and malicious.


    "I want Preston to get the fuck out of Harper Group."