âYou donât approve?â Landonâs smile deepened.
Laurenâs eyes were downcast as she nodded.
âI think they deserved far worse, though.â
Landon couldnât help but stroke her hair. âYouâre Jasperâs sister. Itâs only right that I stand up for you when they push you around. Iâve gone easy on them this time. I didnât want to scare you.â
Lauren could feel the warmth of his palm on her head. She closed her eyes and nestled into it, much like a contented little kitten.
Betty just so happened to stumble upon this scene as she walked out from the main event hall. She was shocked to find her demure little sister all the way here.
âYou bitch! I knew you were seducing my man!â she shrieked, then stormed up to them. But she quickly caught herself.
Landon was here. She couldnât lose her precious image before him and make him dislike her even more.
Betty had learned some useful things from Liana, so she could restrain herself even more now.
She decided to hide in a corner to observe the two.
Landon felt a pang of sympathy as he observed Laurenâs disheveled appearance. Her once-white dress was now marred with mud and dirt. It was clear that she had run all the way in the rain.
He took off his red velvet coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.
Betty ground her teeth, her eyes narrowing menacingly as she seethed at the sight.
âDid you come all the way here in the rain? No driver sent you?â Landon asked gently.
âNo one knows Iâm here. Itâs a secret,/ Lauren replied truthfully, never one to lie.
âA⦠secret?â
âM-Mr, L-â Lauren didnât know what to call Landon, nor did she remember how they had kissed fervently all those weeks ago.
âYou can call me Landon, Laurie. My name is Landon Harper. Iâm your brotherâs friend. Calling me Mr.
Landon is kinda old, no?â
Landon ⦠Landon Harper?
Lauren remembered how her sister had yelled and screamed at her for getting close to this man. She quickly stepped back away from him, fearing for her life.
But Landon didnât seem to notice her behavior. He held her cold hand and said, âIâll have someone help you change into something warmer.â
âNo⦠No need-â
âDonât be shy. Itâs only right that I take care of my friendâs sister. Come on.â He was about to lead her away.
âLandon.â Lauren wasnât so naive as to readily accept his actions, but she didnât dare to challenge him.
Do⦠Do you treat my sister like this too?â
Upon hearing that, Landon couldnât help but scoff to himself. Betty didnât merit such treatment from him.
âNo.â Landon beamed at her. âOnly you.â
Meanwhile, Betty was screaming internally in the distance, glaring fiercely at her sister as they left.