Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Landon felt a sharp pain in his heart. His fingers started trembling so much that he almost couldn’t get a grip on his glass.
“Lauren… How is she?”
“I came out with you today because I had something to tell you. Lauren will not marry Freddy. The Hodgsons’ wishful thinking will not come to pass.”
“Are you serious? Lauren is not marrying him. She’s not marrying him?”
Landon’s eyes lit up instantly. A fiery gaze filled his eyes. “I knew it! I knew that Lauren wouldn’t abandon me. She has feelings for me, so why would she marry someone else?”
Jeremy looked deep into his eyes. He shook his head slightly. “Javier was the one who arranged that marriage personally. He pressured Lauren into it. Lauren is submissive, and she always takes others into consideration. She couldn’t and didn’t know how to say no.
“Mandy and Cyrus were the ones who actually made this marriage fall through.”
“Cyrus?” Landon’s chest tightened. He almost crushed the glass in his hand.
“You are my best buddy. I’m not going to hide the truth from you. The reason why Lauren was able to get out of the Hodgsons’ quagmire was because Lyse put a spoke in their wheel. And, that spoke was Cyrus.”
Following that, Jeremy relayed everything that happened at the Hodgsons’ cocktail party that night to Landon.
“But… But you said that these were Lyse’s ideas to help Lauren get rid of the troublesome Hodgsons! So, Mandy and Cyrus were just putting on an act in front of the Hodgson family!”
Landon’s eyes glimmered with hope as he stared at Jeremy. “Lyse has seen how Lauren and I journeyed together. She still supports us being together, right?”
“Lyse came up with this idea so that you and Lauren could have a chance.”
Jeremy lowered his eyes and swirled the wine glass in his hand. “But the problem now is that Mandy and Cyrus are very serious about this marriage. After the party ended that night, Mandy passed down her emerald bracelet to Lauren. It was a bracelet that she had worn for years. That just shows how much she likes Lauren.
“Not just that, Winston has also found out about this. He even said that he would rush back from Mosgravia to discuss his son’s marriage.”
“Fuck! Did they think that I am an orphan?” Landon shot to his feet with urgency. His eyes had turned red.
Jeremy was slightly taken aback.
Landon put his hand to his warm forehead. “No. I do have a mother. What I mean is that they’re taking advantage of the fact that I didn’t have parents who went to propose marriage! They’re seizing this opportunity to steal my woman away from me! That’s unacceptable!
“After the Hodgsons, it’s now the Taylors? No way. If this goes on, Lauren is going to become your sister-in-law!”
Upon saying that, he dashed out of the room.
“Where are you going?” Jeremy called out after him.
“I’m going to see Madam Mandy. If not, I will go to Mosgravia to see Mr. Winston!”
The rise and fall of Landon’s chest made it look as if he had a wild beast going berserk within him. “You’ve both done so much to get me this opportunity. I’m not going to lose Lauren again!”
“But Lauren has broken up with you. It is not unreasonable for Madam Mandy to matchmake Cyrus with Lauren.”
Jeremy had a deep frown on his face. He uttered those absolutely realistic words, “Landon, the current problem doesn’t lie between Cyrus and Lauren. Instead, it lies between you and Lauren.”
“Lyse has helped you chase Freddy out of the picture. But there’s still Cyrus, who is in love with Lauren. Even if Cyrus isn’t in the picture, there will be other men. What are you going to do if Lauren insists that she doesn’t want to be with you? Are you going to cut off all her potential marriages?
“Are you going to forbid her from interacting with other men and getting married? Are you going to make her hold onto those illusory memories she had with you?”
Landon stood there with a blank look in his eyes. His heart was being crushed. He felt like he could almost cough up blood.
“You have to understand where the problem lies between you and Lauren.”
Jeremy stood up slowly. His eyes were bright. “What you need to do isn’t to get her back and keep her shackled by your side again and again. You shouldn’t treat her like your possession. What you have to do is to change yourself for her sake. Be like a warm ray of sunlight that shines upon her.
“You don’t have to be together in order to find happiness. If you really love Lauren, you would feel happy when you see her being happy.”
Landon was stunned by those words.
It was in the wee hours of the morning. The lights in the police station were lit as usual.
Cyrus was holding onto a bowl of instant mac and cheese. He was eating it while discussing cases with his colleagues.
Then, a female officer with blushing cheeks walked in. “Chief Cyrus, someone’s here for you. He wants to lodge a report.”
“Someone’s here for me? What’s the case?”
“He mentioned that it’s a significant case.”
“In that case, he should still follow the procedures. Go and get his statement first.”
The female officer explained, “He… He is Mr. Harper. He said that if you don’t meet him, he will keep waiting until you do.”
At the reception area, Cyrus and Landon faced off against one another.
“Didn’t you say that you were here to make a report, Mr. Landon? I’m here to see you. Tell me, how were you wronged?” Cyrus looked at him with a half-smile.
Landon replied in a hoarse voice, “I’m here to see you because of Lauren.”
Cyrus tensed up. “What happened to Lauren?”
“There’s something that I’d like to talk to you in private about.”
In the quiet and dimly lit car, the dominant bearings of both Lauren’s ex-lover and new lover clashed with one another. The atmosphere was extremely awkward.
“Shoot. My colleagues are still waiting for me.”
Cyrus had his hands in his pockets as he stared out the window. It was as if he had set up an invisible cordon between himself and Landon.
Landon tightened the fists on his knees, then released them. After that, he clenched his fists again.
“I admit that I have been quite mean to you in the past. I would like to apologize for my attitude.”
A look of astonishment came across Cyrus’ face. He stared at Landon in shock. “Mr. Landon, was that apology meant for me? Did you hit your head or something in the middle of the night?”
Landon was speechless.
“That’s unexpected. I’m sure there’s something else. You don’t have to beat around the bush. Just get straight to the point.”
Landon took a few deep breaths. He was holding back the waves of emotions surging within him. Slowly, he said, “I love Lauren very much. I can give up everything for her sake, including my life.
“I’m here today to ask you to give me an opportunity, Chief Cyrus¡ªan opportunity for me to reconcile with Lauren.”
Cyrus knitted his brows tightly. He fixed his eyes on Landon’s face, which had run pale.
As there was no reply from Cyrus, Landon put his pride down completely. In a low yet miserable voice, he asked, “I beg you… Could you give me a chance?”
The frown on Cyrus’ forehead became deeper. At the same time, his gaze got colder and colder.
Cyrus asked, “In other words, you’re asking me to back out?”
Landon’s throat was dry. He was about to answer when Cyrus continued, “Since the time I found out that you were both in love, I positioned myself as a bystander. I was afraid that you’d overthink things, so I even tried to avoid causing trouble. As much as I liked Lauren, I didn’t dare to meet with her.
“The chance has always been in your hands, Landon. I don’t care if you both parted ways because of yourself or because of your family. Why can’t you just give me a chance?”
Cyrus’ question was extremely critical, and it hit Landon like a ton of bricks. He gaped in shock.
“You’re both not in a relationship anymore. It’s completely fine with me as I am pursuing her in a normal way. If you still have feelings for her, you can go ahead and profess to her. We can fight for her fair and square. Feel free to do your best to win her back. I will not interfere.
“But you’re coming to me now, asking me to back out and give you the chance? Mr. Landon, that’s too demanding of you, isn’t it?”
There was a hint of icy unfriendliness in Cyrus’ voice. He added, “Your feelings for Lauren are sincere. So are mine. You’re willing to give up your life for her. What makes you think that I can’t do the same?
“You’re saying all these to your love rival just to make yourself feel better. Other than that, those words are all meaningless.”
Remorse, self-reproach, discontent¡ªa plethora of emotions tore at Landon’s weary soul.
That time, on the top-most floor of the art academy, Cyrus used his polished negotiation skills and deftness to save Lauren from her hostage taker. If not for him, he probably would have lost the love of his life.
“May I meet with Lauren for a bit?” Landon’s eyes were red. It was as if he was grasping at straws now. His words were sincere yet humble. “I swear that I won’t get in your way. I won’t fight with you or snatch her away. Just let me meet with her. Can you?”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be getting back to work.”
