Feeling bitter, Mandy nheless smiled with understanding. "You wouldn''t have talked back to me


    otherwise.


    "I will not stop you from pursuing the woman you love, but with one condition—Lauren and Landon


    must have a clean break. If they remained entangled with each other, I do not want you involved in it."


    Mandy''s tone grew serious. "I do not mind your partner''s background or life experience as long as


    she''s a decent youngdy. However, I will not ept a daughter-inw whom you stole from another


    man."


    Jasper had a newfound respect for Mandy. It was no surprise she had raised three wonderful children.


    "Lauren will have the final say." Cyrus'' eyes shone with determination. "If she chooses me, I will not


    disappoint her. But if she chooses to be with Landon, I will help them to ovee the challenges, no


    matter what it takes."


    An idea came to Alyssa. Eyes twinkling, she asked, "Cyrus, are you really willing to help?"


    "Have I ever walked back on my word?" Cyrus seemed to have made up his mind.


    "Since Mandy is here as well, I will openly state my idea." After a pause, Alyssa inquired firmly, "Cyrus,


    may I make use of you?"


    Jasper and Mandy exchanged confused looks. Cyrus fixed a solemn gaze on Alyssa. "Lyse, what is it


    that you want me to do?"


    She shed a clever smile at him. "I want you to wreck their marriage."


    Her daring idea made him speechless. Smiling wryly, hemented, "Lyse, my mom has just warned


    me not to steal a woman from another man. You''ve got a bold idea there."


    She wagged her fingers at him. "No, no. By wrecking their marriage, what I mean is I''d like you to ruin


    the uing marriage between Lauren and Freddy, so he won''t get toy his hand on her."


    The look in Jasper''s eyes deepened. He wrapped an arm around her waist. Last night, he made love to


    her in an attempt to distract her and make her fall asleep.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    However, he couldn''t get any shut-eye at all, as he thought through solutions for Landon and Lauren


    and made preparations for the future. To his surprise, Alyssa was more clear-headed than him.


    Looking back, none of the Taylor sons could escape their fates of being used by Alyssa in one way or


    another.


    "Do you want me to pose as a love rival and fight with Freddy over Lauren?" Cyrus rested his chin on


    his fingers. Deep in thought, he said, "Well, it''s no different than stealing, but I don''t mindpeting


    against Freddy. I''m a Taylor—I don''t shy away from conflicts, and I can handle the fallout."


    Frowning, Jasper opined, "Lyse, Javier has agreed to the marriage. He''s very happy with the


    Hodgsons. Even if we make Cyrus openlypete against Freddy, it''ll be hard for Cyrus to win Javier''s


    approval." "Indeed. Lyse, Javier Beckett holds a deep grudge against our family because of your


    actions at the horseracingpetition. That old bastard can''t possibly approve of Cyrus," Mandy


    taunted Javier without a care in front of Jasper, much to Cyrus'' dismay.


    Meanwhile, Alyssa stifled augh at Mandy''s antics. Colene was a bad influence on Mandy, teaching


    thetter how to cuss.


    "Javier''s opinion doesn''t matter. It takes two to tango, doesn''t it?" Smiling confidently, she exined, "If


    the Hodgsons refuse to take Lauren as their daughter-inw, Javier can''t force the marriage. He can''t


    afford to lose face anymore."


    Jasper fixed a gentle and passionate look on Alyssa. "Lyse, you''re smart."


    "Lyse, do you need my help?" Mandy offered with a faint smile, "If my son ns to steal a girl, he''ll


    need my help as a parent to pressure the Hodgsons into giving up on Lauren."


    "Mom." Cyrus choked on emotions. He felt guilty and bitter for questioning her opinion of Lauren before


    this.


    Simrly, Alyssa felt helpless and heavy-hearted. "Mandy, sorry to trouble you over our matters."


    "Don''t mention it. We''re family, after all. Besides..." Mandy teared up from the sadness that inundated


    her. "I neglected Cyrus and Miley because I couldn''t get over Damien''s death for a long time. As a


    mom, I didn''t even know that Cyrus was in love.


    "It makes me even guiltier when you thank me for a minor effort."


    The mention of thete Damien reminded Alyssa of that portrait. After some hesitation, she decided to


    hold her tongue.