"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
Alyssa was the first to break the silence. With a furrowed brow, she addressed Jasper, "What are you staring at? Don't you realize you're badly injured? Take off your clothes right now!""In front of everyone?" Jasper questioned hesitantly.She scolded him impatiently, "Goodness, are you feeling shy? They're all men, and your body looks the same as theirs."Xavier shuddered at the speed of Alyssa's speech. She had been gentle and obedient to Jasper in the past, but she had changed into a fiery woman.Jasper lifted his pale face and cast her a tender glance. Smiling wryly, he explained, "No, that's not what I meant. I just thought gathering everyone here for my treatment was unnecessary. I only need you."She glared at him and balled her fists. Jasper was one of the most thick-skinned guys she met.Newton, always observant, cleared his throat and urged the others, "Jasper's right. We can't be of much help here. Only Dr. Callaghan and Alice should stay, as she has experience in med
Jasper's gaze took on an unexpected, intense warmth shadowed by darkness.There was something oddly familiar about how Alyssa was tending to him right now. She took out some antiseptic cream and the medicine Omar Callaghan had given him and began cleaning out his injuries."Lyse," Jasper murmured.Alyssa said nothing, though the sudden increase in pressure in her application seemed to serve as a warning.Jasper winced at the pain but remained adamant. "You remind me of someone, Lyse. Someone I met a long time ago."Alyssa was focused on tending to his wounds and merely responded with, "Who?""I don't know either.""What do you mean you don't know?""I mean, I really don't know who they were," Jasper said as he recalled those memories from years ago—that person's lithe but strong figure appearing in mind. "I was still in the Peacekeeping Forces when I met her on the battlefield."Alyssa's hold on the cotton she was using faltered. Her heart fell into her stomach, pounding heavi