Alyssa silently rolled her eyes at Jasper and mused, "Did I ask for your opinion, you jerk?""Go on, Alice! I believe you wanted to discuss this after careful consideration," Newton said gently."Grandpa, I hope you can step in and bring Lauren out of Seaview Manor to live with you," Alyssa voiced out without reservations because she treated Newton as family.Jasper concurred, "I agree."Alyssa shot back, "I never asked for your input."He narrowed his eyes and grinned. "It's okay. Even if you didn't ask for my opinion, I wholeheartedly support the idea."She glared at him irritatedly and clenched her jaw. She was so frustrated that she nearly left the car.Newton asked with concern, "Alice, did you suggest this because something happened to Lauren?""She is autistic, but her parents are busy taking care of the family and running a company. I'm afraid they don't have time to look after her, which will not help her condition at all."My hope is for Lauren to stay with you and e
Just as a spectacle had ended, another was about to start. As Javier and Jasper weren't home, Betty was emboldened to act out.She was convinced that Lauren had leaked news of Jasper's punishment to Newton. So, she marched to Lauren's room and dragged Lauren to the living room by her hair. She seemed to have picked up a thing or two from Javier and decided to reenact the punishment right away."B-Betty, let go of me! My scalp hurts!" Lauren pleaded, tears welling up as she felt the pain in her hair."You little traitor! Bitch! Oh, it hurts? Great. I'll teach you a lesson for selling out!" Betty cursed vehemently while delivering a stinging slap to Lauren's face."Ouch!"The loud slap echoed through the hall, leaving the household staff shocked and concerned for Lauren. However, they remained powerless to intervene as mere employees.Lauren covered her face and wept, "Betty, it's all my fault! I will not repeat my mistake!" She knew that no one would come to her help. She had wa
"You've hurt Nina. Apologize to her now!" Lauren sprang up from the ground, her delicate shoulders trembling with anger as she fixed a piercing gaze on her sister. This was one of Lauren's rare outbursts."Apologize to her? Hahaha! You're delusional!" Betty laughed, but she was interrupted by Lauren's next move. Lauren snarled and charged at her like an angry bull at lightning speed. Before anyone could react, she had knocked Betty onto the ground. Betty landed on her back like an upturned turtle, narrowly avoiding an embarrassing flash of her skirt.The servants around them snorted and let out stifled laughs. "Lauren Beckett!" Betty seethed with anger as if she might spontaneously combust. She sprang to her feet, feeling an urge to tear Lauren into pieces."Come up here! Hold her down right now!" Betty commanded. The two stocky maids, who were loyal to Sophia and Betty, rushed over right away and held Lauren's arms.Lauren fought back with all her might, her eyes wide with rag
"Release her," Landon commanded, his gaze unwavering as it bore down on the two maids. His tone carried a menacing edge akin to an infernal angel. The two maids nervously looked to Betty for help.Betty was aware of Landon's affection for Lauren from the way he ordered the maids around. She had wanted to cave in for her Mr. McDreamy but changed her mind upon second thought.Following Sophia's clash with the Harpers after Zoe's incident, any hopes of Landon developing feelings for Betty had been shattered. Moreover, Landon's intervention in their family affairs, even if it was out of concern for Lauren, was entirely unwarranted.Brimming with resentment, Betty hissed, "Do not release her! You're working for the Becketts, and you shall listen to m—"Her words were abruptly silenced by a piercing scream. One of the maids restraining Lauren was sent hurtling through the air by the force of Landon's kick. Betty stared in shock as the maid landed on the floor like a ragdoll.The sec
"I …" Betty stammered and faltered in the face of Landon's threatening presence. She took a step back in fear."Seems like you're pretty forgetful. I'll give you a final warning in front of your servants," Landon remarked with hostility. He continued, "Lauren is important to me. Whoever bullies her will be going against me and the Harper family!"His words resonated throughout the hall, causing Betty to break into a sweat and turn pale. Without Javier and Sophia around, she had no backup at all."You've been fortunate not because of your status as a Beckett but because you haven't pushed my limits, Betty. If you lay a finger on Lauren again, I'll make sure you rot in prison. Not even Javier Beckett could save you."With that, Landon lifted Lauren with his left arm and cracked his fingers on his right hand. He issued a stern warning, "Don't you fucking try me. I will not hold back even if we are family friends!"He squinted at the staircase when he spoke. Sophia sensed his chilli
As a secretary cum bodyguard, Angelina frowned at Nina's appearance and instantly shielded Landon. Nina approached them and fell on her knees, rendering them dumbfounded."Mr. Harper, would you please help Ms. Lauren? Could you?" Nina pleaded in tears as she knelt on the cold ground."Angelina, help her up," Landon ordered. "Stand up, and we'll talk."Angelina attempted to help Nina up, but Nina shook her head and refused to do so. She begged, "I won't get up unless you promise to help Ms. Lauren. I may be a humble servant, but I'll use my limited power to help her just this once!"Landon's heart grew heavy, and he demanded to know, "What is going on?"Nina wiped away her tears and shuffled up to Landon. Then, she gingerly rolled up Lauren's sleeve. Landon and Angelina were stunned by what they saw next.Lauren's pale arm was full of old and new bruises alike, enough to shatter anyone's heart. Landon's eyes flared with anger, and his muscles tensed beneath his shirt.He hissed,
Sophia leisurely filed her red nails on the couch as she made the remark.Amid Betty's outburst, she somehow felt that Sophia had been acting funny. Usually, Sophia would have jumped in and defended Betty when the latter was humiliated at home. After all, Betty was Sophia's favorite daughter. Besides, Sophia would not tolerate anyone stepping all over her at the Becketts' residence.However, Sophia's indifference was worrying. Betty wondered why Sophia had never intervened, especially when Sophia had clearly heard the commotion downstairs.Sophia nagged at her, "Betty, I do not wish to see this happening again at home. Remember, Lauren is my daughter too. How could you hit her as her elder sister? If your dad and grandpa hear about this, they'll fault me for raising you poorly."You're 25 this year, but why do you carry yourself like a manic depressive? You keep saying Lauren is abnormal, but you're not better than her!"Betty rushed up to Sophia, glowering as she asked, "Mom, I
Landon escorted Lauren into the car, with Angelina at the wheel as they departed from Seaview Manor's grounds. Inside the vehicle, he tenderly embraced Lauren and ran his fingers through her hair, his heart heavy with pain. He had dropped by Seaview Manor to invite Jasper for drinks. He'd never expected to run into the fiasco.He replayed the memories of Nina's indignant speech and Lauren's wounds on her arms with resentment. A searing pain surged through his body, unlike anything he had ever experienced. Although he had endured heartbreak after Alyssa's rejection, this anguish far surpassed any previous pain. Inhaling sharply, he rested his jaw on Lauren's head and shut his eyes. He vowed that he would keep his word to protect Lauren."Mr. Harper, where should we go next?" Angelina whispered, looking at him through the rearview mirror.Landon was caught off-guard by the question. He had told Betty he'd bring Lauren with him, but he couldn't host Lauren at his place. He'd be i