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.

a composed tone, “That concludes today’s meeting.

“Alright, Mr. Landon!”

and left the room, fleeing

slammed into Penelope. The realization that her outburst had made her look like a buffoon

the empty meeting room. “Landon,” she spat, her voice laced with barely contained fury, “did you

flesh and blood!” Penelope screamed, “You’ve already refused to acknowledge me as your mother.

Penelope

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

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

was Landon who had shouldered the family burden at a tender age since Bill’s passing. Thanks to Landon, they were able to live a comfortable life within the Harper

true colors

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

will hear

them everything—how you brutalized

you, Landon! Your reputation will

tirade. Landon had tossed his phone onto the table.

She watched Zoe being violated by three men. The men took

and pulled at her own hair. She stomped her

daughter. She’s just a monster that you nurtured

pressed thin with repressed fury. and cold. “You failed to

all. Go ahead and let those tears out. You’ll never be able to see her

her emotions spiraling out of control. She laughed through tears, spewing curses between clenched teeth. Jordan

turned to Landon. “Mr. Landon, I’ll have Madam Penelope escorted to the VIP parking lot