Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

On their way back, Jordan was in charge of driving while Angelina sat in the front passenger seat. Keeping Landon company, she said to him, "Mr. Landon, we
need to keep our guard up for the time being.
"Jameson Schmidt is the owner of The Millennium, and he'll definitely catch wind of what happened tonight at his clubhouse. I'm worried he might use your action against Preston tonight to stab you in the back."
"Whatever. He's just a paper tiger." His tone was sharp and arrogant as ever. He rasped, "I've gotten what I wanted anyway. Preston's man hurt you in the leg, so I took his arm. We're even now. As for the rest, I don't fucking care."
"Mr. Landon, thank you for getting back at him on my behalf." Angelina's eyes grew misty. Choking, it took her a while to speak. "But I hope this will be the last time. I will avenge myself in the future. I do not want you to get into trouble over someone like me."
He pursed his lips and fell silent.
"Mr. Landon, would you like to head home?" Jordan saw Landon having a shut- eye in the back through the rearview mirror.
"Home? Do I still have a home?" Coughing, Landon felt the bitterness spread across him. "The moment Lauren left, I no longer have a home. I cannot bring myself to return to Sage Manor."
These days, he called the hotel presidential suite his home, as he had nowhere else to go. With his wealth, he could have bought ten more villas, but he was scared of being alone in an empty house.
Any building that resembled a home would evoke his deep yearning for Lauren. Each corner would reignite the happy memories he'd shared with her.
His longing for her was worse than death. One day, he might be crushed under the pain.
"Angie, I need a cigarette," he said in a hoarse voice.
Feeling sorry for him, she declined, "No, Mr. Landon. You've been smoking too much lately. The doctor made it clear that cigarettes and alcohol are bad for your health. You have a heavy responsibility on your shoulders, and you can't afford to crumble! Please don't self-sabotage anymore."
While she was speaking, Jordan stepped on the brakes, causing them to jolt.
"What's wrong?" Landon narrowed his eyes.
Sweat formed on Jordan's forehead. He honked repeatedly. "M-Mr. Landon, a car is in our way, but it refuses to give way."
Angelina noticed that the car, though not as expensive as the Harpers', carried a unique monotone carplate. In Solana City, only the powerful or the politicians possessed carplates like that.
She decided not to invite trouble. She said to Jordan in exasperation, "Let's back
up."
Landon held the opposite view. "Let's go ahead."
Angelina looked troubled. "But Mr. Landon, that car is..."
"They are the ones against traffic. If anything, they should have backed up and yielded to us. If they aren't going to follow the rules, we don't have to show them any respect. Drive into them."
Jordan dared not defy Landon. He accelerated and collided with the car ahead, causing the hood of the other car to spring up.
The driver of the opposite car angrily came over to argue with them, but Jordan was ready to teach him a lesson.
"Are you blind? How can you run into us? Didn't you notice our special carplate at all? My goodness!" The driver yelled at them insolently, "Are you going to take responsibility if anything happens to the people in my car?"
Under the high beam, Angelina finally made out the face of the man seated in the opposite car.
Stunned, she gasped, "Mr. Landon, that's Mayor Hodgson's son, Freddy!"
Landon's eyes widened in shock. He cast a threatening look at Freddy and got out of the car. Angelina followed suit.
Seeing that, Freddy lazily got out of his car under the protection of his bodyguard. The air between the two men was tense; the look in their eyes showed they were ready for war.
Freddy snickered. He carried a mocking attitude, a vast shift from his formalities at the Schmidt Group event. He taunted, "Mr. Landon, it's time to switch your driver. He's not that good, eh?"
Angelina silently curled her fists. She couldn't believe that a man of Freddy's stature would behave like a hooligan.
"Are you blind? Can't you see the lane divider?" Landon immediately went straight to openly insulting the hypocritical Freddy.
Freddy's expression froze.
Landon smirked, looking like a handsome devil in the night. "Your driver behaves
worse than a beast. Does he take after you?"
"You" Freddy so wanted to punch Landon, but he feared he might not be Landon's match.
Taking a deep breath, he grinned maliciously in a manner that did not match his social standing. "Hah! I won't take your outburst to heart. I'm big-hearted, unlike someone."
"Who are you insinuating?" Angelina glared at him and took a step forward. Seeing that, Freddy's bodyguard did the same thing to protect his employer.
Freddy continued smiling. "Not only am I not angry, but as a man, I also feel for you. A breakup hurts badly, especially when you can do nothing but watch as your woman marries another man. That must hurt like hell."
Heart sinking, Landon hissed at him, "Who's getting married?"
"Haha! Mr. Landon, you didn't know, did you? Since we ran into each other, let
me keep you updated so I don't have to send you an invitation." Taking a step forward, Freddy whispered into Landon's ear, "I'm getting engaged to Lauren soon. She's mine now."