Lauren remembered being aroused by the bumpy ride on Landon''s erection. She scratched Landon on


    his back in the heat of the moment, leaving behind red marks.


    "Which dress should we pick?" Landon, carrying Lauren in his arms, stood in front of the massive


    wardrobe. He nted moist kisses on her flushed cheeks.


    "Mm. Anything is fine..." Lauren leaned against his sweaty chest and panted. She struggled to keep her


    eyes open.


    "Is it difficult to make a pick?"


    Soon, she gasped from the dizziness as she was plunged into the wardrobe filled with expensive


    evening dresses. Landon quipped, "I''ll help you out."


    Surrounded by soft fabric, they continued making love and inching toward the climax.


    "Ms. Lauren, here''s your teddy bear," said the maid, who jolted Lauren out of her daze.


    Face burning in embarrassment, Lauren turned her back to the maid and covered her cheeks. She


    replied, "I won''t carry it with me tonight."


    The maid looked worried, knowing that the bear was Lauren''s emotional support stuffed toy. Lauren


    would lose sleep without the teddy bear with her.


    Lauren pressed her lips. "I''m meeting some guests with Dad tonight. They''ll onlyugh at me if I bring


    the teddy bear along."


    The Hodgsons hosted a private cocktail party at their residence that night. Out of consideration of the


    ongoing gossip about Lauren, they thoughtfully invited only family and close friends to the event. In


    other words, it could be described as a low-profile pre-wedding event for Freddy and Lauren.


    Onder and Minnie led Freddy to socialize with the guests, enjoying the limelight.


    Joseph Lovce, holding a champagne ss, approached them with Aidan. Smiling, he said, "Freddy


    will soon be engaged to Lauren. I will definitely be there at their engagement with a huge gift for him."


    Onder merrily clinked sses with Joseph. "You''re Freddy''s godfather. I''ll be sure to send you the


    first invitation!"


    Freddy smiled at Joseph. "Thanks, Joseph."


    When they were chatting away happily, Lauren showed up at the event holding Javier''s arm. She


    remained ufortable at social events. In the past, she had only been able to keep herposure


    thanks to thepany of Jasper, Alyssa, and Landon.


    Her heart pumped wildly when she felt the judgmental looks cast by the guests.


    "Mr. Javier! Lauren!" Freddy''s eyes lit up when he saw them. Putting down his wine ss, he


    approached them in great strides. "Wee! It''s our honor to have you here tonight."


    "Freddy, you''re so polite." Javier patted Freddy on the shoulder with a smile. "It''s Javier from now on.


    We''re going to be family soon, aren''t we?"


    "Indeed, Javier." Freddy immediately switched to a first-name basis with Javier. Then, he fixed an


    intense look on Lauren''s pale face.


    She kept her head low and squirmed under his gaze. She felt uneasy.


    Freddy''s parents joined them at that moment. Onder''s wife, Minnie, took Lauren''s hand, caressing it


    while showering Lauren withpliments. She appeared very satisfied with her future daughter-inw.Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Only Lauren felt like a fish out of water at the event, as though all the blood had drained from her body.


    A shiver ran down her spine.


    Suddenly, the door swung open, and two majestic figures presented themselves. Their imposing air


    was hard to ignore.


    Looking up, Lauren instantly grew emotional when she recognized the man.