Can't Win Me Back

Landon's pupils constricted. All of a sudden, his vision started to blur. "She's dead?"

"Yes. She died a horrific death. They almost couldn't identify her when her body was discovered."

Jordan knitted his brows together tightly. Then, he continued in a low voice, "When the authorities performed an autopsy on her, they discovered that she had been sexually assaulted. She had severe STDs festering in her lower body."

Landon shut his reddened eyes. He tightened his grip on the water basin, and his hands trembled slightly. "Who was she assaulted by?"

"Many."

Jordan hesitated before continuing, "Not long after arriving at Tsulu, Zoe was sent to an underground club. That place is actually a high-end brothel. The women there provide sex services specifically to the big shots at Tsulu.

"I heard that all the women there end up in the same way. They would all be completely fucked up. Even if Zoe wasn't murdered, that's just how things would have ended up for her."

Landon lowered his eyes.

Deep down, he was disturbed by a plethora of intense and bitter emotions. He couldn't utter a single word.

There was no doubt that he hated Zoe.

When he sent her off on that stowaway boat to leave her to fend for herself in a foreign land, his heart was burning with hatred.

Though, to his surprise, he couldn't find it in himself to hate her once he found out about her tragic death. It was as if someone had ripped a hole through him.

His love and hate for her for over two decades had just disappeared through a deep abyss, never to be found again.

"Pardon me for saying this, Mr. Landon. I think that it's completely unnecessary for you to feel sad for her even though she was your biological sister."

Jordan's gaze was frigid. There was a look of deep hatred in his eyes. "Madam wouldn't have ended up like this if it wasn't for her. Ms. Angie and the entire Harper Group wouldn't have ended this way either. An eye for an eye. She deserved it."

"Go to Tsulu tonight and bring Zoe's ashes back." Landon's eyes were dark as he spoke. "Then, investigate what she experienced during her time in Tsulu."

"Mr. Landon!"

"I'm not saying this to seek revenge for Zoe, Jordan. The past is the past. She's already dead. All the hate is now ashes to ashes; dust to dust."

Landon held back the surging emotions within him. His eyes were clear. "I have heard about the underground club at Tsulu. The person who was able to send Zoe there is surely someone who understands Harper Group.

"That person took action against Zoe in secret. There are only two possibilities—they wanted to release their anger or to silence her."

Jordan gaped in sudden realization.

"If that person schemed anything with Zoe in the past, it's all over now. That said, I cannot let my guard down. I cannot let him do anything against Harper Group again."

Jordan gave a firm nod in response. "I understand!"

Just as both Landon and Jordan came to a mutual understanding, they spotted the Becketts walking toward them.

"Landon!" Newton called out as he waved. He had a kind smile on his face.

Landon handed the basin to Jordan. Frantically, he wiped his wet hands on his pants and went up to Newton.

"Hi, Grandpa Newton and Mr. Javier," he greeted them politely.

"Look at this polite young man. Even though he's seated highly as Harper Group's chairman, he still humbles himself. You don't see people like this every day." Newton beamed.

Javier used to see Landon as a useless playboy. After all the hardships they had been through, he was starting to grow fond of him.

Newton, Javier, and Landon walked into the hospital ward to see Lauren. She was lying in bed with her eyes closed. Her eyes fluttered open slowly when she heard noises in her room.

"Ahh..."

"Lauren, my dear... I'm here to see you."

Newton sat by her bed. He picked up her hand and caressed her palm. Even though his eyes were glistening with tears, he tried his best to put a smile on his face.

He chuckled, "I see that you've gotten plumper. It seems like Landon has been taking good care of you. You have to make sure she eats well, Landon. Or, even better still, make her as plump as a little piglet!"

"Dad, no woman would want to be as fat as a pig!" Javier protested.

He then blurted, "Moreover, she wouldn't look good in her wedding dress like that."

Landon stayed put with a reserved posture. His body stiffened up, and his heart started pounding. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

"Ah. Ahh." Lauren's pale cheeks blushed pink.

She propped herself up. As Landon approached her to help her up, she leaned her flushed cheeks against his chest.