As a secretary cum bodyguard, Angelina frowned at Ninaâs appearance and instantly shielded Landon.
Nina approached them and fell on her knees, rendering them dumbfounded.
âMr. Harper, would you please help Ms. Lauren? Could you?â Nina pleaded in tears as she knelt on the cold ground.
âAngelina, help her up.â Landon ordered. âStand up, and weâll talk.â
Angelina attempted to help Nina up, but Nina shook her head and refused to do so. She begged, âI wonât get up up unless you you promise to help Ms. Lauren. I may be a humble servant, but Iâll use my limited power to help her just this once!â
Landonâs heart grew heavy, and he demanded to know, âWhat is going on?â
Nina wiped away her tears and shuffled up to Landon. Then, she gingerly rolled up Laurenâs sleeve.
Landon and Angelina were stunned by what they saw next.
Laurenâs pal arm was full of old and new bruises alike, enough to shatter anyoneâs heart. Landonâs eyes flared with anger, and his muscles tensed beneath his shirt.
He hissed, âWho did this to her?â Despite his anger, he went straight to the point.
Angelina recoiled at Landonâs reaction. Knowing him well, she knew he must be really angry when he spoke in curt sentences.
âItâs⦠Itâs Ms. Bettyâs doing!â Nina blurted out without consideration. âMs. Betty has been bullying Ms.
Lauren at home. She thinks she can do so because sheâs the favorite child of her parents. Sheâs been hitting and cursing at Ms. Lauren like a devil!
âWhen Mr. Jasper is at home, Ms. Betty will hold back because sheâs afraid of him. But he rarely visits home due to his demanding job. He canât do much for Ms. Lauren either.â
Landonâs frown deepened. Angelinaâs fists involuntarily clenched.
âMr. Harper, youâre Mr. Jasperâs closest friend. I can see you care for Ms. Lauren. Can you help her and protect her?â Nina cried uncontrollably.
upon Lauren in Landon inhaled sharply and promised, âOkay, I promise you.â He cast a determined gaze upon his arms, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.
He added, âI will protect Lauren as long as I am around.â
With that, Landon whisked Lauren away from Seaview Manor, but not before humiliating Betty in front of the household staff.
The incident might have occurred behind closed doors, but Betty sensed that her authority had been undermined.
Why? Betty was envious that even Lauren, whom she considered lesser in appearance, family background, and talents, had found herself a guardian angel.
She couldnât fathom the reason Landon snubbed her for a mentally challenged woman.
Furious, she took out her anger on Nina. Not only did she order Nina to clean all the manorâs washrooms that night, but she also docked Ninaâs year-end bonus.
âThatâs enough. Your expression now is worse than that Alyssa bitch. Itâs no surprise that Landon isnât interested in you. Frankly, I am not fond of how you look now either.â