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.

spoke in a composed tone, “That concludes today’s meeting. You are all

“Alright, Mr. Landon!”

the room, fleeing the tense situation like startled

Landon” echoing in their wake slammed into Penelope. The realization that her outburst had made her look like a buffoon was a punch to

voice laced with barely contained fury,

a darkness. “Trash deserves to be discarded.” “Return Zoe to me! She is my flesh and blood!” Penelope screamed, “You’ve already refused to acknowledge me as your mother. Zoe is

watched as Penelope

woman 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

her flesh and blood. She appeared to have forgotten that Landon was

have overlooked the fact that it was Landon who had shouldered the family burden at a tender age since Bill’s passing. Thanks to Landon, they were able to live

colors upon seeing Landon remain

not going to give in,

the police will hear about

them everything—how you brutalized and kidnapped your

Your

had tossed his phone onto the table. A video was playing;

face draining of color. She watched Zoe being violated by three men.

pulled at her own hair. She stomped her

your daughter. She’s just a monster that you

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

biological daughter after all. Go ahead and let

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

to the VIP parking lot via your