Can’t Win Me Back

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.

“That concludes today’s meeting. You are

“Alright, Mr. Landon!”

got up and left the room, fleeing the tense situation like startled

realization that her outburst had made her look like a buffoon was

descended upon the empty meeting room. “Landon,” she spat, her voice laced with barely contained fury, “did you take Zoe? Where is

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

watched as Penelope went

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

and blood. She appeared to have

have overlooked the fact that it was Landon who had shouldered the family burden at a tender age

true colors upon seeing Landon remain

she threatened, “You’re not going to give in,

Then the police will hear about this! The

tell them everything—how you brutalized and kidnapped

Your reputation

tossed his phone onto the

She watched Zoe being

in her hands and pulled at her own

just a monster

fury. and cold. “You failed to raise her. So, I can

now. She’s your biological daughter after all. Go ahead and let those tears out. You’ll never be able to see

control. She laughed through tears, spewing curses between clenched teeth. Jordan

Landon, I’ll have Madam Penelope escorted to the