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.

composed tone, “That concludes today’s meeting. You are

“Alright, Mr. Landon!”

up and left the room,

her look like a buffoon was a punch to the gut. It had been nothing

voice laced

to be discarded.” “Return Zoe to me! She is my flesh and blood!” Penelope screamed, “You’ve already refused

silently watched as Penelope

For most of her life, Penelope had coasted by, sheltered and carefree. This was the first time Landon had seen such fierce protectiveness in

She appeared to have forgotten that Landon was her flesh and

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

colors upon seeing Landon remain

threatened, “You’re not going to

the police will hear about this! The media

them everything—how you brutalized and kidnapped your own

Landon! Your

tirade. Landon had tossed his phone onto the table. A video was playing; pitiful cries filled the

stared at the phone, her face draining of color. She watched Zoe being

her head in her hands and pulled at her own hair. She stomped her feet and wailed,

a monster that

were a pale line, pressed thin with repressed fury. and cold. “You failed

despair now. She’s your biological daughter after all. Go ahead

laughed through tears, spewing curses between clenched teeth. Jordan summoned two bodyguards

by Penelope’s antics, Jordan turned to Landon. “Mr. Landon, I’ll have Madam Penelope escorted to the VIP parking lot via your