Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"What did you just say? Repeat it." Landon's breathing grew uneven. His eyes were shooting fire.
Landon looked provoked and tethered on the brink of sanity, much to Freddy's pleasure. Freddy lifted his chin and cackled manically like a victor. "Mr. Landon, I need to thank you for my marriage to Lauren.
"I wouldn't have gotten her hand in marriage if the Harpers had treated her better. Instead, you tortured her endlessly, triggering her despite knowing about her condition, which was totally despicable. You could have married her if it weren't for your family."
Just now, Angelina and Jordan couldn't make out the content of Freddy's
whisper. However, they heard his second remark loud and clear, and they looked pained.
"You're lying!" Landon grabbed Freddy by the collar, nearly lifting him off the ground. He then proceeded to toss Freddy against the car door.
His swift action caught Freddy's bodyguards by surprise. The bodyguards attempted to stop Landon, but Angelina and Jordan immediately kept them away from him.
Meanwhile, Freddy grimaced in pain as he felt his body falling apart. Having
been raised sheltered, he had never been abused in such a manner. He said in a shaky voice, "W-Why would you vent your anger on me? You should blame yourself for failing to keep Lauren by your side. You're angry at your
incompetence, but you're letting it out on me."
The color drained from Landon's face. He could taste blood in his throat.
Freddy continued, "Even if I weren't in the equation, the Becketts would never allow their daughter to marry you! Did you think the Hodgsons forced her into marriage? She agreed to marry me because she was disappointed in you!"
"Shut up!" bellowed Landon.
He hurled another punch at Freddy's face, causing the latter to shut his eyes in fear.
"Mr. Landon!" Angelina interfered in time. She held Landon's fist with her calloused hand. "Please, don't do this! I beg of you!"
However, Landon's anger did not dissipate. He gritted his teeth.
"Haha! Why aren't you punching me?" Freddy was emboldened after knowing that Landon was hesitant. "That's because you don't have the guts. Your family has already crossed the Becketts. Mr. Newton and Mr. Javier shared the same sentiment they would like the Harpers blacklisted in Solana City!
"Lay a finger on me, and I promise that none of the Harper Group's projects will ever materialize in Solana City. I want to witness the Harpers' downfall!"
The weather at midnight was relentlessly chilly.
Lauren hadn't gone to bed. Clad in comfortable, fluffy loungewear, she focused on sketching. The ruffling of pencils on the paper was the only sound in the quiet
room.
Despite only sketching the outline of a man, anyone could tell that she was drawing someone whom she longed for. He was the only person who tortured her with heartache whenever she thought of him.
Pausing, she traced the lovely eyes of the man on the paper with trembling fingertips. Her mind was flooded with beautiful memories she'd shared with Landon.
Feeling a dull pain in her chest, she hurriedly closed her eyes. She thought, "It'll get better soon, won't it?" Sooner or later, she'd adjust to a life without Landon, and he'd put her behind as he dated someone who was a better match for him.
She heard a soft, hesitant knock on the door at that time.
"Ms. Lauren, are you asleep?"
"Not yet. Come in." Lauren flipped to a new page, concealing her sketch of Landon.