Can’t Win Me Back

Late at night, Orlander summoned Freddy to the study, where Minnie was present as well.

“What? Calling off the engagement?” Minnie exclaimed in dismay. “Orlander Hodgson, are you joking? The engagement news is made public now. The wives of the local officials have been buttering me up and showering me with gifts when they learned about the engagement!

“We’re so close to the marriage, and now you’re telling me the engagement is canceled? How could I show my face in front of my friends?”

“Dad, what happened? Why are we calling off the engagement?” The memory of the humiliating night made Freddy seethe. “Lauren humiliated me enough by taking Cyrus’ hand to my face and dancing with him. Now, they’re calling off the engagement? It’s a disgrace!”

Didn’t Zoe claim that Lauren was a fool? Lauren was anything but that—she had flirted with another man under her fiance’s watch.

Freddy thought, “I should have married that slut and tortured her daily for cheating on me!”

“Your feelings are not as important as my career,” Orlander suddenly blurted out an outrageous remark with a look of impatience.

and Freddy gasped, “What the heck did you just

Orlander sipped his tea slowly. He was giddy with pride for making the

a private talk with me. She requested that I give up

her support to my electoral campaign next year if I ceded

would support my political rival instead. If you were me, you’d agree

Minnie was at a loss for

best arrangement for us!” Orlander slumped on the couch and dangled his legs leisurely. It didn’t take the elected official long to turn into a thug. “For one, my son doesn’t need to settle for

without being subjected to Javier Beckett’s whims since I’m not asking any favor from him. Secondly, I have secured my campaign funding by agreeing to the deal. Am I not killing

you oversimplifying things? The Taylors are uber-rich. In my opinion, Winston Taylor is more difficult than Javier Beckett!” “Everyone knows that Winston Taylor is sick. He’s living abroad for his medical treatment. I bet he won’t last more than

under Zoe’s influence, saw red whenever Alyssa was mentioned. “You might be able to handle Javier Beckett, but what about Alyssa Taylor, the de facto

Orlander jumped up from the couch