Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Zoe continued, “By locking me in here. Did you think you could avenge that bitch this way? You abducted me from the police. They will find me soon! And Grandpa. Mom. They will all find me. You’re finished, Landon! You’re fucking finished!”
“Grandpa is already dead.” Landon, who had been calm all along, choked on his tears as he informed Zoe of this news.
Instantly, Zoe became as white as a sheet, her gaze vacant. “What did you say? Grandpa. is dead?”
Following that, she erupted into laughter, disbelief painting her features. “Landon, you’re lying to me, aren’t you? You would even go as far as coming up with such a lie just to get me?”
Landon’s response was filled with bitterness. “Would I need to lie about something like this? Grandpa’s funeral is in two days. But you won’t be there to bid him goodbye.”
Zoe’s pupils were constricted. She panicked. “How could that¡ª”
“Preston killed him. He stabbed Grandpa three times.”
Zoe’s world crumbled around her. “No… No…”
“You chose to side with the enemy. You wanted to use Preston to come against me and Lauren. But in the end, Preston killed the one in this family who loved you the most. And Dad’s death was also because of him. His helicopter crashed into the sea because Preston hired someone to tamper with it.”
Zoe was utterly stupefied.
“In the past, I have given you multiple warnings to stay away from Preston. I said he might have caused Dad’s death. But you sided with him. You’re his accomplice.”
Landon tried his best to suppress the despair of losing his loved one. He rasped, “He was cruel enough to even murder his own father. Did you think you could survive under him?
“He instigated you to kidnap Lauren. Yet, you were oblivious to the fact that he was also out to get you. He prepared a camera and live-streamed your evil deeds, exposing you on the Internet. You were just a tool he discarded after using. That’s all you are.”
Upon hearing that, Zoe guffawed. The look in her eyes took on a more manic edge. “I was tricked by Preston? What a joke! I’m not a tool. He is!
“Landon, I can’t believe you’d stoop to anything just to guilt-trip me. Did you think that I would fall for that? You think I’ll feel sorry for what I’ve done to you? You can’t claim the moral high ground to punish me. I won’t fall for it!”
Landon maintained a calm expression on his face. “I will give you one last chance. Apologize to Lauren now. I’ll be merciful.”
Zoe spat back defiantly. “Dream on! You want me to yield to that bitch? Over my dead body!”
“Jordan.”
Jordan, who had been waiting outside, walked over to Landon’s side. “I’m here, Mr. Landon.”
“See Ms. Zoe off for the last time,” instructed Landon coldly.
With that, he left without another word, his resolve unshaken.
Zoe exclaimed, “Landon! Where are you taking me? What else are you going to do to me?”
Just moments ago, Zoe was still causing a racket. Now, she was completely terrified. Yet, she remained stubborn and refused to beg for forgiveness. She shouted from behind Landon, “Have you forgotten the oath you pledged before Dad’s grave?
“You said you would love and protect me all your life! Is this how you keep your promise to our dead father?”
Upon hearing that, Landon stopped in his tracks.
A million thoughts bombarded his mind. He felt like his heart was sinking in quicksand; exhaustion gnawed at him from all the struggling he’d been forced to do.
Slowly, with trembling hands, he unfurled his palms. These were the hands that once wove through his younger sister’s silky hair, hands that fed her, cradled her, and hoisted her high in the air. Hands that, in happier times, grasped hers as they raced through the park, laughter echoing in their wake.
He was her older brother. Yet, he had taken on the role of a father from an early age. He did all he could to fill the void left behind by their late father during her formative years.
Yet, these same hands also harbored a simmering hatred for the family member who had shattered him. Now, with these very hands, he was severing the familial bond.
A tear escaped and dropped onto his palm.
“I vowed to love my younger sister. You, on the other hand, have been taken over by jealousy and desire. You’re nothing but a parasitic monster.”
With those final words, Landon walked away.
Zoe’s heart plummeted to her stomach. Her expression was blank. It was as if her soul had left her body. Regret washed over her in a tidal wave. However, there was no turning back.
Night had fallen by the time Landon walked out of the abandoned manor.
Axel was leaning against the sports car’s hood and smoking a cigarette. Spotting Landon, he threw the cigarette at his feet and stomped it out.
“Hey, Axel. You’re still here.” Landon approached Axel. The former’s face was pale.
“I didn’t dare leave, in case you did something rash. Jeremy wanted me to keep an eye on you.” Axel feigned relief. “Fortunately, you didn’t go overboard.” “Were you worried that I’d kill her?” Landon shook his head and continued, “I won’t take her life. Jeremy doesn’t want blood on my hands. I don’t want to disappoint him.”
Axel fixed his eyes on Landon, hesitant to speak.
“Do you think it’s unreasonable how I treat my sister?” Landon’s voice wavered, his emotions barely contained.
Axel crossed his arms and briefly pondered before responding, “Let me think about this from a different perspective. If Lyse were the victim, I would have been even more brutal than you. I’d kill her, and no one would be able to stop me.”
Landon lowered his head. He felt really tired. “Axel, I’m not sure why, but my heart still hurts, but I don’t regret it.”
Following Zoe’s abduction, the police conducted an exhaustive search throughout the night, but she remained elusive.
The surveillance camera at the scene had been hacked, and both officers on duty didn’t manage to get a good look at the abductor’s face before they were each injected with a tranquilizer.
Zoe had vanished in plain sight.
The next day, an emergency board meeting was held at Harper Group. Unanimously, all board members voted for Landon to be officially promoted.
He hadn’t even turned 30 and had already taken over the Harper Group and become the head of the Harper family. He was now the chairman of both the company and its board of directors.
Dressed impeccably in a black suit, Landon occupied the head of the conference table, receiving applause and well wishes from the attendees. Though now perched atop the pinnacle of power, his expression remained neutral.
Despite being the leader, Landon didn’t appear particularly elated. After all, he had never wanted any of this.
Right at that moment, the meeting room door flung open.
“I object!” Penelope burst in, her eyes ablaze with fury. She glared and shouted angrily in front of all the board members. “Landon, you are such a cold-blooded and ruthless creature!
“I am a major shareholder at Harper Group. I have shares on hand too! I disagree with you being the head of the family! You’re someone who even dared to harm your own sister! You’re immoral and selfseeking. What gives you the right to be in charge of Harper Group?”
Landon was looking down as he twirled his pen between his fingers.
Everyone else in the room shook their heads as they glanced scornfully at Penelope, who was causing a scene.
“Zoe was en route to the hospital for treatment when she vanished without a trace, and they have yet to locate her. I know it was you who took her!” Penelope’s voice reverberated as she advanced toward Landon, pounding the table with both hands. Ignoring the presence of the board members, she continued, “Landon! Give me back my daughter!
“If you don’t return her to me, I will hold a shareholder meeting and have you ousted from Harper Group! Return Zoe to me!”
Landon stopped twirling his pen. However, he still didn’t look up at Penelope.
“What are you doing, Penelope?” one of the board members interjected. “Perhaps Ms. Zoe left of her own volition while the police weren’t looking. If you wish to pursue this matter further, it’s best addressed with law enforcement.”
“Indeed,” another chimed in. “This is a board meeting; personal family matters shouldn’t be aired here.
It reflects poorly on Harper Group.”
“Personal family matter?” Penelope’s eyes widened incredulously. “Are you dense? If it were your child, would you spout such callous remarks?”
The board members fell silent. In their minds, they acknowledged that Penelope hadn’t exhibited such behavior when Bill was alive. Her widowhood seemed to have taken a toll on her sanity.
Landon, despite being the focal point of the conflict, had remained passive. Finally, he spoke in a composed tone, “That concludes today’s meeting. You are all dismissed.”
“Alright, Mr. Landon!”
Everyone got up and left the room, fleeing the tense situation like startled rabbits.
The unison of “Mr. Landon” echoing in their wake slammed into Penelope. The realization that her outburst had made her look like a buffoon was a punch to the gut. It had been nothing more than a childish tantrum.
Silence descended upon the empty meeting room. “Landon,” she spat, her voice laced with barely contained fury, “did you take Zoe? Where is she?”
Landon’s response was a glacial stare. His eyes, devoid of warmth, held a darkness. “Trash deserves to be discarded.” “Return Zoe to me! She is my flesh and blood!” Penelope screamed, “You’ve already refused to acknowledge me as your mother. Zoe is the only one I have left. Give her back to me!”
Landon silently watched as Penelope went into a frenzy.
Penelope, a woman who showered her daughter Zoe with indulgence but lacked any true parenting skills, was now a cornered tigress. For most of her life, Penelope had coasted by, sheltered and carefree. This was the first time Landon had seen such fierce protectiveness in her, and tragically, it was directed at a monster.
