"That''s true. But Cyrus Taylor is way better than Freddy Hodgson." Rory scoffed. "How dare Freddy


    Hodgsonin to you in your face? I wonder if he''s lost his mind."


    The scowl on Javier''s face deepened when Rory breached the topic.


    Rory added, "Mr. Javier, I think Cyrus is serious about Ms. Lauren. Why don''t you call off the


    engagement to Freddy Hodgson? Marrying Ms. Lauren off to the Taylors is more advantageous for


    you. I''m sure Mr. Newton would be d—"


    "Firstly, my son wanted to marry Alyssa; now, my daughter wants to marry Cyrus. Are there no other


    suitors for my children other than the Taylors?" Javier furiously mmed his hand on the armrest.


    Rory quickly shut up.


    Javier looked out of the window indignantly. Objectively speaking, Mandy''s son was much better


    than Freddy or even Landon. Javier was aware of Freddy''sck of affection for Lauren—the young


    man merely went along with his family''s arrangements.


    Inparison, Javier could tell that Cyrus genuinely loved Lauren from the way he stared at her.


    s, if only Cyrus wasn''t a Taylor...


    A call from Newton interrupted his train of thought. Frustrated, he deliberately dyed answering


    the call.


    Momentster, he finally picked up the call. "Dad, why did you call?"


    "Are you free to talk?"


    "Go ahead."


    "The Hodgsons would like to call off the engagement.”


    Shell-shocked, Javier raised his voice. "What did you just say?"


    "Hah. I bet that Onder Hodgson is too ashamed to meet with you. Early this morning, he


    contacted Ben and talked to me in person. I was reluctant to entertain him at first, but I was


    interested in talking to him after I learned about his intention.” Newton couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Thank God the Hodgsons backed down. They know they''re not good enough for my beloved


    granddaughter. Javier, you don''t really have good taste, you know that?"


    Javier turned stone-faced when he heard Newton''s remarks. Something did not feel right. Last


    night, Mandy and Cyrus forced their way into the Hodgsons'' family party. Later, Freddy had an


    outburst after Cyrus danced with Lauren. Cyrus then proceeded to flirt with Lauren.


    Following that, the Hodgsons decided to call off the marriage.


    Why did everything feel like part of the Taylors’ grand scheme? Javier felt as though he was being


    led by the nose.


    At night, at the same hot springs hotel, Freddy drove Zoe crazy when he made love to her.


    "Oh! Don''t be so rough! Just kill me!" Amid her screams, she was pinned down by Freddy and


    forced into various sexual positions that she never dared to try.


    Despite all the cussing, she went along with him and indulged in the sex. After three rounds of


    lovemaking, both Zoe and Freddy were spent. They slumped on the bed from exhaustion.


    "Damn it. You almost fucked my brains out. What''s wrong with you?" Zoe, too tired to clean up,


    gave him a shove. "What was with you? Did something happen?"Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Staring at the ceiling with a t expression, Freddy paused before reluctantly confessing, "My


    engagement to Lauren is not happening.”


    "W-What? Why?" Zoe''s jaw fell in shock.


    "Everything went smoothly until Mrs. Taylor showed up with Cyrus. She forced my dad to give up on


    the marriage so that Cyrus could have Lauren.” Freddy clutched the bedsheet in rage. "I''ve


    underestimated Lauren Beckett. How could she cheat on me behind my back?"