Lauren approached Landon, still d in the white loungewear that she always wore when she was at


    Sage Manor. Her adorable appearance put a smile on Landon''s face.


    As he smiled, a drop of tear rolled down his cheek. When their eyes met, emotions washed over them,


    and their hearts pounded wildly.


    She nearly could not recognize Landon as he''d lost many pounds. Suppressing her heartache, she


    pursed her lips and said nothing, fearing that she might cry if she opened her mouth.


    If she cried in front of Landon, the resolution that she had shown would all mean nothing.


    Landon went up to his lover with heavy footsteps and hugged her in tears. She wept in silence,


    suppressing any sound and refraining from returning his hug.


    Despite that, her uneven breathing and her racing heart were proof of her emotions.


    There were three things that couldn''t be hidden—coughing, poverty, and love.


    During his journey, Landon had many thoughts and questions for Lauren. He wanted to ask Lauren


    about the reason she agreed to marry Freddy. Just why?


    However, when they finally met, he could only manage to say, "You should''ve put on a jacket. What if


    you catch a cold?"


    She rested her forehead against his chest and shook her head softly. Angelina and Jordan looked


    away, feeling sorry for the ill-fated couple.


    After hugging in silence, Landon touched his lips against Lauren''s ear, which was red from the cold. He


    pleaded, "Lauren, don''t marry another man. I''m begging you. Pleasee home with me."


    She did not reply, but her tears stained his chest. After some silence, she clenched her teeth and


    pushed him away with trembling hands. "Landon, take good care of yourself. Don''t ever meet me


    anymore."


    It had been a while since he heard his name leaving her mouth, but it sounded distant. She no longer


    called his name sweetly.


    Just as Lauren was about to leave, Landon lost hisposure. He grabbed her arm with such great


    strength that he might crush her bones. "Lauren, how could you do this to me? This is too cruel. You


    might as well kill me!"


    "Mr. Landon, calm down!" Angelina and Jordan frantically stopped him, worried that he might hurt


    Lauren.


    Looking tearful and shattered, Landon questioned, "Didn''t you say that you love me? You said you''d be


    my woman and only mine. How could you go back on your word?"


    He was acting unreasonable and hysterical. His disgruntlement was peppered with threats.


    "A marriage that isn''t blessed by family will never be a happy one," she gently lied to him and herself as


    she fought the pain. "I''m timid and easily scared. I''m worried that people around me might get hurt or


    put in a difficult spot because of me.


    "I''m just an ordinary woman. I can''t handle a life with adventures and challenges. All I want is to live a


    simple life, even if it''s loveless. All I ask is peace and safety.


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "Landon, breakups hurt at first, but it''ll get better. I''ve gotten over it, and you will too."


    Angelina gaped at Lauren. For the first time, she witnessed someone making a cruel remark in a gentle


    tone.


    After teaching Preston a lesson earlier that day, Angelina started to hesitate. Preston would certainly


    get his revenge as long as he was alive and kicking. If Landon and Lauren got back together, that


    would instantly make Lauren Preston''s target. No one could imagine how Preston would hurt the poor,


    innocent Lauren.


    The best solution for the time being was to put a distance between Landon and Lauren. After getting rid


    of all his enemies and threats, he could then marry Lauren without any worries.


    s, no one had expected Freddy to get involved in the mess out of nowhere. What would happen if


    Landon''s n took longer than expected, to the point that Lauren went ahead to marry Freddy?