Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Alyssa saw Landon approaching them, looking weak and sickly. She teased him immediately, "Gosh,

Mr. Harper, what's wrong with you? Were you doing hard labor in your bedroom last night?"

"I... Never mind. Forget about it." He sighed in frustration. Where to start?

He couldn't possibly speak ill of Alyssa's brother in front of her, or he'd land Jasper in trouble as well.

As Jasper's brother from another mother, he didn't have the heart to do so.

Alyssa knew he must have something on his mind, but she did not press on if he was reluctant to

divulge.

"Do you want food? I'll make some for you," Jasper offered, turning around to look at Landon while

busy with the cooking.

"Nah. I don't have appetite." Landon wandered to the fridge and opened the door to grab a bottle of

water. Then, he downed the entire drink.

Crumpling the empty bottle, he took a deep breath before announcing, "Lyse, Jasper, I will register my

marriage with Lauren today."

Caught by surprise, they gasped, "What? Today?"

"Yes, today." Landon's eyes burned with passion. His voice broke. "I've thought over it. The more I

delay it, the more problems arise. I don't care if my family approves of my marriage. I'll get it registered

for now.

"After that's done, Lauren and I will be legal spouses—she'll be my wife and the matriarch of the

Harper Group! Even if Grandpa is against our decision, he has no choice but to let it go. Once I'm in

charge of the Harper Group, I'll throw a grand wedding for Lauren. She'll surely understand my

decision."

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Jasper furrowed his brows, his attention completely diverted from the sunny-side-up eggs now burnt in

the pan.

Landon went on, "Jasper, I'll go get my birth certificate from my mom soon. What about Lauren's? Can

you get it by today?"

"Landon Harper, what the heck are you thinking? You're acting weird today," Alyssa chided him with a

stern look.

"Why? All I want is to marry Lauren. Look at your faces. I was expecting applause and support,"

Landon retorted, his brows contorting in anxiety.

"Landon, you've been dating Lauren for a while. You were able to keep your calm before, but why did

you lose it today?" Jasper turned off the stove and cast a worrying glance at his best friend.

He added, "By the way, our birth certificates are with Javier. If you demand to get it from him, he surely

won't hand it over to you.

"After all, you greatly embarrassed him at the Jesseltons' event for Lyse's sake. You know Javier and

his pettiness. If you ask him something, he'll take the chance to make you jump through hoops.

"If you upset him, he might arrange for Lauren to marry another. It's not like he cares about the Harpers

because you are still dealing with the fallout from Zoe's action. To be clear, Javier does not want to be

associated with the Harpers anymore."

"I..." Landon curled his fist.

"By the way, have you resolved your family conflict?" Alyssa addressed Landon with a seriousness that

rivaled the couple's parents. "Do your grandpa and your mom approve of your marriage?

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"If you elope with Lauren, aren't you worried that your grandpa will retract your appointment as the

group president? What if your Uncle Preston takes advantage of the situation to eliminate you?

"You're Cornelius' only grandson, and he cherishes you like no other. How would he perceive Lauren if

you eloped with her? Your family will only look down on her."

"Lauren's my wife, my lover! No one is allowed to look down on her!" Landon bellowed, unable to

accept her words. She made it sound like he was defenseless.

She shook her head disappointingly. "Landon, I don't doubt your love for Lauren, but have you thought

things through? What do you want for yourself, and what kind of life would you want Lauren to live?

"You're currently faced with a dilemma—choose Lauren or Harper Group. You can't have your cake and

eat it. If you fail to helm the company, you'll disappoint your father.

"If you insist on staying with Lauren, you need to mentally prepare yourself to be removed from the

company leadership. Are you really going to let go of something in your sight?"

"Why can't I have both? I want to lead Harper Group, and I want to stay with Lauren!" His eyes twitched

as he glared at Alyssa.

"No one's stopping you from dating Lauren. What you need to do now is keep your calm. Victory is on

the horizon, so please don't mess it up," Alyssa argued with a frown, studying his face. "What

happened between you and Lauren last night? Spit it out, and we'll be your judge. You're only going to

go crazy if you keep everything to yourself."

"We're more worried that you'd do something rash," Jasper chimed in and served Alyssa breakfast.

He was more skilled in the kitchen than Mrs. Rosie now and surprisingly enjoyed the chore.

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He added, "I messed up the breakfast, but eat it while it's hot." His handsome face was a stark contrast

to the apron he wore. He looked comical yet sexy at the same time.

Alyssa grinned and wrapped an arm around his neck, giving him a kiss on the cheek as a reward.

"There's your reward." She playfully tapped his chin with her fingers.

He responded enthusiastically to her kiss, savoring the sweetness of her breath.

In front of the couple, Landon sat dejected, like he had been cuckolded. He confessed, "I have a love

rival."

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