Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
“Landon is giving half of his assets as his wedding gift to her. Giving them to her is equivalent to giving them to the Walsh’s. Doesn’t he think about the consequences?
“After they get married, I dare say that all the Harpers will end up changing their last name to ‘Walsh’ within a few years!”
“I know right, Grandpa? I knew that you were bothered by this.”
Zoe let out a helpless sigh. “Actually, there’s another thing that I haven’t told you. I was afraid that you’d feel even worse if you found out.”
“At this point, what else is there that I wouldn’t be able to take? Just tell me!”
Deep down, Zoe sneered. She turned around and walked to the coffee table. She then retrieved a document that was hidden under the tray.
“Take a look at this, Grandpa.”
Doubtfully, Cornelius took the document from her and started flipping through it briefly.
In an instant, his eyes widened with anger. He stared at the diagnosis in disbelief. Lauren’s name was written clearly on it!
Cornelius asked, “That lady from the Walsh family has a mental condition?”
“That’s right, Grandpa.” A vicious look flashed across Zoe’s gleaming eyes. She continued, “She and the entire Walsh family have been hiding Lauren’s condition from you all along. She actually has severe autism. In other words, she is mentally disabled.
“I was in the same middle school as her. At that time, other classmates would call her ‘dumb’ and ‘idiot’ behind her back. She also quit her tertiary studies halfway because of her condition.”
“No wonder I’ve always felt that there was something strange about her every time I met her. Despite being 21… or is it 22? Her mind is still like a child’s. Turns out that it’s because of her mental problem!
“As expected, Sophia’s offspring is indeed problematic! Even though she died, she still left her retarded daughter to wreck my precious grandson!”
Cornelius started coughing. He was so consumed by anger that he started to feel unwell. He coughed continuously until his face had flushed red.
Zoe helped to soothe his back immediately. “Deep breaths, Grandpa. Watch your health!”
“Landon. Does he know about that woman’s condition?”
“Landon is well aware.”
Cornelius became even more enraged. More than that, he couldn’t wrap his head around it. “He still wants to marry her even though he knows about it? He’s out of his mind! Isn’t he afraid that their children would also be mentally impaired?
“I really don’t understand it. As my grandson, he can have any woman he likes. Why is he so fixated on a dumbo?”
“Landon is being tricked by Lauren’s naivete. He has had so much fun with glamorous women in the past that he’s now unable to stop himself after getting a taste of something plain,” Zoe remarked in a scornful tone.
Cornelius’ eyes became bloodshot from fury. He hit his palms against the couch’s armrest repeatedly. “The entire Walsh family is a bunch of swindlers! They think that they can shove their undesirable daughter into our family. In their dreams!
“As long as I’m around, I will never let that woman marry into our family! I will go and meet Newton first thing tomorrow morning and break this marriage off!” “I’m afraid that won’t be a good idea, Grandpa.”
Zoe knelt down on one knee next to Cornelius. She held his trembling hands and comforted him. “If you go to Mr. Walsh Senior in such haste, Landon will hear about it immediately.
“You should already know what his personality is like. If he finds out, he will surely cause a ruckus. He’s also such good friends with Mr. Walsh. With him siding with outsiders, we will end up being the ones at a loss.”
“My dear granddaughter, you’re so thoughtful! How smart of you!”
Cornelius started to calm down. He then pressed on, “How about if you come up with an idea for me? How should I handle this?”
“Lauren and I used to be schoolmates. Let me find time to speak with her face to face.”
When Zoe spoke, her voice was gentle and the look on her face was kind. “I’ll tell her how I feel and reason with her. In that way, I hope that I can convince her not to cling to Landon any longer. They will not have a future together.”
Cornelius thought about Landon, who had fallen head over heels in love. He couldn’t help but feel worried. “What happens if you’re not able to convince that lady?”
“Then, I will use the second method¡ªone that is a little cruel and vicious. That said, it is a method that can make them have a clean break.”
Zoe smirked slyly. “You just have to wait and see.”
After a short period of recuperation, Lauren resumed her school life as usual.
She had experienced such an enormous crisis at school. However, no matter how great the commotion was, it would die down quickly when it happened in such a structured environment.
The surveillance footage had been deleted and there were no bystanders during the incident. Due to the pressure from the Harpers and Lauren’s identity, the school kept silent about the incident where she was held hostage.
Lauren was able to live a peaceful life thanks to all that Landon had built for her.
If possible, Landon would have loved to build a flawless ivory tower so that he could keep and protect her within it, like a flower in a closed terrarium.
Nonetheless, what he didn’t know was…
That night, she was outside the study. She had overheard the conversation that sent chills down her spine. That conversation had become like a fine yet barely discernible crack along the wall of the closed terrarium.
Perhaps, just like that, this would be the end.
Maybe, eventually, the crack would spread slowly and become like an extensive web. In the end, the entire terrarium might be covered in cracks.
Every day, Angelina kept Lauren company and watched her like a hawk.
Lauren learned how to conceal her feelings. When she got home, she would close herself in the drawing studio. She focused on painting and didn’t show her emotions.
Angelina didn’t notice anything amiss with Lauren.
If there were anything to say about the difference in Lauren, it would be in her artwork. Their hues had become duller, they were darker, and they had become more bewildering to Angelina.
Lauren heard that Landon had returned home that evening to see Cornelius. She felt anxious about it, so she painted in the studio while she waited for him to come home.
Nevertheless, even after an extensive period, he had not returned home. Eventually, unable to keep herself awake any longer, Lauren succumbed to sleep at her desk amidst her watercolors.
By the time Landon rushed back, it was already in the wee hours of the morning.
He noticed that Lauren had fallen asleep with her head on the desk. She had gotten smears of colorful paint all over her face. A loving smile spread across his face.
“What took you so long, Mr. Landon? Madam Lauren has been waiting for you.”
Angelina asked in a worried voice. “Was Mr. Cornelius unhappy about the engagement?”
“Grandpa has given his green light. He left it to me to make my own arrangements,” Landon answered as he stood at the door and fixed his eyes on Lauren, who was fast asleep. His gaze was filled with love.
Angelina asked excitedly, “Really?”
Landon lifted his finger vertically in front of his lips, signaling Angelina to lower her voice.
“Yeah. After leaving the Harper Residence, I made a trip to Stellus at Belbanks. I heard that there were some good products made of quality materials these past couple of days.
“I was afraid that others would get their hands on it first, so I rushed over to see if I could pick out a couple of things that would suit Lauren.
“I only had some time today. I’ll be busy with other things tomorrow. So, I decided to just settle all I could today.”
Angelina couldn’t help but feel sad. In a hoarse voice, she said, “I’m sure you’ve put in a lot of effort.”
“It’s nothing. Things will get better.”
As he said that, he took out a rectangular box from the pocket in his suit and opened it in front of Angelina.
Sitting in there was a hair clip made of clear quartz. It was exquisitely carved, and it shimmered under the light.
Angelina’s eyes widened in awe. She was deeply drawn by it. A mere glance revealed the unmistakable value of this item; it was exceedingly precious.
“It’s so beautiful. It really suits Madam Lauren.”
“How can my princess be using a pencil to put up her hair? A valuable hair clip like this is what suits her.” Landon’s eyes twinkled with a soft gaze.
Angelina nodded in agreement.
“Oh, there’s another thing.”
Landon retrieved another box from his coat pocket and handed it to Angelina. “This is for you.”
Angelina froze. She hesitantly accepted the box and opened it.
In the box was a green pendant made of opal. Its deep color reflected an elegance and maturity that had been accumulated over time.