Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
“I can’t change anything even if I meet with him.”
“You should meet him if you cherish your relationship with him. I think it’s cruel to break up with Mr. Landon without giving him closure,” Holly persuaded Lauren. “Even if you have to bid goodbye to him, you should wrap up the relationship nicely. Do it with the grace of a Walsh.”
Landon stood tall in the chilly winds, not once looking away from Seaview Manor.
He occasionally let out a cough, and his stomach hurt, but none of it mattered as his soul had already separated from his body.
“Mr. Landon, take your medicine.” Angelina fetched him some pills and a thermal mug.
He lowered his eyes and stared at the pills in his palm. Then, he slowly curled his fingers. When he unfurled his fists, the pills had been crushed into powder, scattering into the winds.
“What’s the point of living?” He smirked.
“Mr. Landon, stop messing around!” Feeling angry and bitter, Angelina croaked, “Life is not just about romantic love. You have much to live for¡ªyou have a loyal friend like Mr. Walsh, and you’ll take over the family business that Mr. Harper Senior had worked hard to build!
“Madam Lauren would feel bad if she learned that you were neglecting your health over a heartbreak. You claimed that you loved her, and you didn’t want her to suffer, but isn’t the worst suffering¡ª”
She caught herself at the right time and pressed her lips.
“Are you trying to say that I was the person who inflicted the greatest harm and suffering on Lauren?” Landon threw his head back from laughing. “You’re right, though. She wouldn’t have suffered this much if it hadn’t been for me.”
“Mr. Landon, look!” Jordan suddenly yelled in excitement.
Landon looked up with vacant eyes, but his heart immediately raced.
A shuttle bus drove in their direction in the middle of the night. Landon immediately recognized Lauren demurely sitting in the back of the vehicle.
Lauren approached Landon, still clad in the white loungewear that she always wore when she was at Sage Manor. Her adorable appearance put a smile on Landon’s face.
As he smiled, a drop of tear rolled down his cheek. When their eyes met, emotions washed over them, and their hearts pounded wildly.
She nearly could not recognize Landon as he’d lost many pounds. Suppressing her heartache, she pursed her lips and said nothing, fearing that she might cry if she opened her mouth.
If she cried in front of Landon, the resolution that she had shown would all mean nothing.
Landon went up to his lover with heavy footsteps and hugged her in tears. She wept in silence, suppressing any sound and refraining from returning his hug.
Despite that, her uneven breathing and her racing heart were proof of her emotions.
There were three things that couldn’t be hidden¡ªcoughing, poverty, and love.
During his journey, Landon had many thoughts and questions for Lauren. He wanted to ask Lauren about the reason she agreed to marry Freddy. Just why?
However, when they finally met, he could only manage to say, “You should’ve put on a jacket. What if you catch a cold?”
She rested her forehead against his chest and shook her head softly. Angelina and Jordan looked away, feeling sorry for the ill-fated couple.
After hugging in silence, Landon touched his lips against Lauren’s ear, which was red from the cold. He pleaded, “Lauren, don’t marry another man. I’m begging you. Please come home with me.”
She did not reply, but her tears stained his chest. After some silence, she clenched her teeth and pushed him away with trembling hands. “Landon, take good care of yourself. Don’t ever meet me anymore.”
It had been a while since he heard his name leaving her mouth, but it sounded distant. She no longer called his name sweetly.
Just as Lauren was about to leave, Landon lost his composure. He grabbed her arm with such great strength that he might crush her bones. “Lauren, how could you do this to me? This is too cruel. You might as well kill me!”
“Mr. Landon, calm down!” Angelina and Jordan frantically stopped him, worried that he might hurt Lauren.
Looking tearful and shattered, Landon questioned, “Didn’t you say that you love me? You said you’d be my woman and only mine. How could you go back on your word?”
He was acting unreasonable and hysterical. His disgruntlement was peppered with threats.
“A marriage that isn’t blessed by family will never be a happy one,” she gently lied to him and herself as she fought the pain. “I’m timid and easily scared. I’m worried that people around me might get hurt or put in a difficult spot because of me.
“I’m just an ordinary woman. I can’t handle a life with adventures and challenges. All I want is to live a simple life, even if it’s loveless. All I ask is peace and safety.
“Landon, breakups hurt at first, but it’ll get better. I’ve gotten over it, and you will too.”
Angelina gaped at Lauren. For the first time, she witnessed someone making a cruel remark in a gentle tone.
After teaching Preston a lesson earlier that day, Angelina started to hesitate. Preston would certainly get his revenge as long as he was alive and kicking. If Landon and Lauren got back together, that would instantly make Lauren Preston’s target. No one could imagine how Preston would hurt the poor, innocent Lauren.
The best solution for the time being was to put a distance between Landon and Lauren. After getting rid of all his enemies and threats, he could then marry Lauren without any worries.
Alas, no one had expected Freddy to get involved in the mess out of nowhere. What would happen if Landon’s plan took longer than expected, to the point that Lauren went ahead to marry Freddy?
Landon’s suit was drenched in sweat. The color drained from his face when he heard Lauren’s cruel words. How could she advise him to let go of the unforgettable memories with such ease?
At that moment, they heard a jarring honking sound. Heart sinking, Lauren turned around and found a vehicle’s high beam in her face.
Rory got out of the car and politely opened the car door for Javier, who was clad in leisure wear. Javier got out of the car as well, seemingly woken up from his sleep.
“Lauren, what did you promise me?” Standing in the lights, Javier said sternly, “Didn’t you promise me never to meet anyone from the Harper family? Why are you giving me trouble? Are you going to follow in Jeremy’s footsteps as well? Is Jeremy a bad influence on you?”
Jeremy was Lauren’s Achilles’ heel. She was instantly reminded of Javier’s conversation with him that night.
“Dad, please don’t blame this on Jeremy. Life’s been difficult for him over the years. He’s sacrificed too much for his work, so please do not blame him.”
“I dislike people who don’t listen to me, and Jeremy is the prime example. I have been keeping it to myself because I needed him to manage the company for me. That’s how I turned him into an arrogant and disrespectful brat!
“Now that Justin is recovering, he will return to Solana City once his health markers have stabilized. I could replace Jeremy with Justin in managing the company. Without Jeremy around to anger me, I might even live a few years longer.”
“Dad, don’t replace Jeremy. Please!”
“I will reconsider keeping Jeremy around if you listen to me and agree to the marriage with Freddy Hodgson.”
“Lauren, come to Dad.” Javier extended an arm to his daughter with a flat expression. Lauren lowered her gaze and dragged herself toward him.
“Lauren Walsh, come back!” Eyes ablaze with anger, Landon yelled at her, but she did not turn around at all.
“Mr. Landon, don’t you find it degrading and shameful to travel all the way here and play the victim in the middle of the night?” Javier hugged Lauren with a disdainful look toward Landon. “Lauren is now the fiancee of another man. Your short-lived secret relationship has come to an end.
“If you truly care about Lauren, do not show up in front of her again. She’s been ruined by your family. Are you trying to make her suffer more by pestering her?”
Trembling, Landon stumbled a few steps backward. He watched as the entourage marched away, each step weighing on his heart.
Filled with helplessness, he had never once felt so close to losing Lauren than at that moment.
Jeremy accompanied Alyssa to spend a night at Heightsnew Villa. During intimacy that night, Alyssa looked distracted because her mind was on Lauren’s marriage to Freddy.
Fortunately, Jeremy knew what would turn her on. He nibbled and kissed her while sending jolts of electricity through her body by caressing her skin with his calloused hands. Over and over, he forcefully thrust into her, sending her climaxing and spiraling into desire.
When they were done, Alyssa curled up in Jeremy’s arms and drifted to sleep. Jeremy always seemed to have endless energy in bed. They were sexually compatible, and she was hopelessly addicted to him like a drug.
It was the weekend the next day. By afternoon, Alyssa finally tidied up and went to the living room with Jeremy. There, she spotted Cyrus’ familiar jacket draped on the couch.
Clark, the butler, happened to pass them. She stopped him, asking, “Is Cyrus home?”
“Yes, Ms. Alyssa. Mr. Cyrus is home. He’s chatting with Madam Mandy in the guest room.”
Alyssa and Jeremy exchanged looks. Then, they held hands and wandered toward the guest room.
Right after they stepped into the room, they overheard Cyrus’ voice coming from behind the partition screen. Cyrus, sounding indignant, lamented, “I shouldn’t have given up had I known this. I’d rather be the one marrying her than watch her marry someone like Freddy Hodgson!”
Jeremy and Alyssa exchanged astonished looks. Cyrus, no doubt, must have been referring to Lauren.
After that, they heard Mandy’s shocked gasp. “Cyrus, what are you talking about? Marrying Lauren? Since when have you caught feelings for her?
“Tell me, what role did you play in the breakup between Lauren and Landon? For heaven’s sake, please don’t tell me you came between them. You’re only going to humiliate me. A Taylor son can be gay, but he shouldn’t break up relationships!”
Cyrus, Jeremy, and Alyssa stared at Mandy speechlessly.
After some silence, Cyrus explained bitterly, “I gave up on Lauren because I saw how much she and Landon were in love. Landon seemed to care for her very much, and I did not want to stir trouble. All I wanted for Lauren was a smooth sailing relationship.”
Alyssa lowered her gaze and let out a quiet sigh. Cyrus and Lauren shared a similarity¡ªin that they always prioritize the needs of others before themselves. They were both empathetic and sensitive.
Frankly, Alyssa had thought over the scenario many times¡ªwould Lauren be happier with Cyrus? Alas, hypothetical questions were useless in relationships.
