Can't Win Me Back

The police found the kidnappers' base while the livestream was still in progress.

Numerous police cars surrounded the old manor. Red and blue lights flashed in the ominous darkness while the piercing sirens broke the stillness of the night.

Zoe, who was as resilient as a cockroach, roused herself before Betty, who remained unconscious on the ground.

Zoe was scared out of her wits when she heard the police sirens. She was about to escape when a few familiar figures barged into her line of sight.

"Lauren!"

Landon was the first to rush forward. In the midst of his anguish, a ray of hope appeared within his crimson, tear-filled eyes.

Landon had always been fearless. Despite knowing full well that there were cold-blooded mercenaries on Shelland Island who would not hesitate to kill, he accompanied Jasper there without hesitation.

But right now, his face was as white as a sheet. With shaky steps, he stumbled his way through the room.

The living room offered a grim tableau—Betty and her gang of bullies lay sprawled and unconscious across the room. The room was not very big, yet Lauren was nowhere to be found. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Jasper and Alyssa tore through the remaining rooms, their shouts of Lauren's name swallowed by echoing silence—no answer.

At this point, Cyrus rushed into the room with two other colleagues.

"We've searched the entire manor and surrounding areas. Lauren is not here!"

"What about Angelina?" Alyssa's beautiful face was beaded with sweat.

"We can't reach her! But the Technical Department is tracking her phone!"

Jasper's heart sank. "Lyse, you said that Preston set up this trap. Were Zoe and those rats just a distraction so that he could take Lauren and Angelina somewhere?"

Alyssa's throat tightened as stifling fear gripped her.

Zoe realized that there was no escaping. Her legs turned to jelly, and she trembled like a leaf.

Zoe remained oblivious to the consequences that awaited her, unaware that her earlier actions had come to light. She put on a scared and pitiful face before crawling to Landon's side, crying out in fake anguish.

"Landon! You're here! Are you here to save me? Preston kidnapped me, and he even tried to lay his hands on me—ah!"

A bloodcurdling scream tore from Zoe's throat before she could finish her words. Murderous fury blazed in Landon's eyes. With a powerful kick, he launched Zoe flying, like a ragdoll.

The others barely registered the blur that zipped past them before a heavy thud echoed through the room. Zoe slammed into the wall, then crumpled to the ground in a heap.

A groan escaped her lips as her body spasmed, and a spray of crimson splattered the floor as she spat out a mouthful of blood.

Landon ignored her whimpers. He stalked toward her with menacing strides and began kicking her stomach with all his might.

He held back no mercy. His intent was clear—he wanted her dead.

Pain seared through Zoe. Robbed of any sound, she writhed on the floor, her worst self on full display for her former classmates and lover.

Usually, Jasper would intervene to stop Landon, but this time, he stood to the side, his cold gaze fixed on the scene unfolding before him. He wanted to do everything Landon was doing now. However, if he were Landon, Zoe would be dead.

Though Jasper harbored the same desire for vengeance, he refused to let hatred override his rationality. He wouldn't become a murderer, nor would he allow Landon to cross that line.

"Landon, stop! You'll be charged if she dies!" Cyrus, acting as the voice of reason, intervened. "Think about Lauren. Do you want to live apart from her forever?"

Landon's eyes burned with a terrifying madness. He shoved Cyrus aside, grabbed Zoe's hair, and yanked her limp form off the ground. "Where's Lauren? Tell me!"

Blood filled her mouth, choking her words. Still clinging to her lies, she rasped, "I... don't... know... Landon... it. wasn't me."

"Why are you still lying, Zoe?"