Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

In actual fact, Jasper had told Alyssa that he would go home earlier that night so that he could whip up some of his new dishes for her to try.
However, Landon was the one who suggested for him to stay. It was also a time when he was in need of company. Jasper just couldn't turn him down.
Jasper and Landon arrived at the restaurant they frequented.
Delicious-looking dishes were served up to their table in the private room. Yet, it was obvious that Landon didn't have much appetite. He hadn't touched his cutleries at all. All he did was down glasses of wine one after another.
"You have to watch your gastritis. You should stop drinking if you can't take alcohol anymore." Jasper covered the top of Landon's glass with his palm.
"You are the only one left in this world who still cares for me." Landon leaned back and smiled awkwardly.
In an anxious tone, Jasper responded, "Are you saying that not being together means that she doesn't care about you anymore? You're hurting those who care for you when you act so irresponsibly toward yourself."
Landon felt a sharp pain in his heart. His fingers started trembling so much that he almost couldn't get a grip on his glass.
"Lauren... How is she?"
"I came out with you today because I had something to tell you. Lauren will not marry Freddy. The Hodgsons' wishful thinking will not come to pass."
"Are you serious? Lauren is not marrying him. She's not marrying him?"
Landon's eyes lit up instantly. A fiery gaze filled his eyes. "I knew it! I knew that Lauren wouldn't abandon me. She has feelings for me, so why would she marry someone else?"
Jasper looked deep into his eyes. He shook his head slightly. "Javier was the one who arranged that marriage personally. He pressured Lauren into it. Lauren is submissive, and she always takes others into consideration. She couldn't and didn't know how to say no.
"Mandy and Cyrus were the ones who actually made this marriage fall through."
"Cyrus?" Landon's chest tightened. He almost crushed the glass in his hand.
"You are my best buddy. I'm not going to hide the truth from you. The reason why Lauren was able to get out of the Hodgsons' quagmire was because Lyse put a spoke in their wheel. And, that spoke was Cyrus."
Following that, Jasper relayed everything that happened at the Hodgsons' cocktail party that night to Landon.
"But... But you said that these were Lyse's ideas to help Lauren get rid of the troublesome Hodgsons! So, Mandy and Cyrus were just putting on an act in front of the Hodgson family!"
Landon's eyes glimmered with hope as he stared at Jasper. "Lyse has seen how Lauren and I journeyed together. She still supports us being together, right?"
"Lyse came up with this idea so that you and Lauren could have a chance."
Jasper lowered his eyes and swirled the wine glass in his hand. "But the problem now is that Mandy and Cyrus are very serious about this marriage. After the party ended that night, Mandy passed down her emerald bracelet to Lauren. It was a bracelet that she had worn for years. That just shows how much she likes Lauren.
"Not just that, Winston has also found out about this. He even said that he would rush back from Mosgravia to discuss his son's marriage."
"Fuck! Did they think that I am an orphan?" Landon shot to his feet with urgency. His eyes had turned red.
Jasper was slightly taken aback.
Landon put his hand to his warm forehead. "No. I do have a mother. What I mean is that they're taking advantage of the fact that I didn't have parents who went to propose marriage! They're seizing this opportunity to steal my woman away from me! That's unacceptable!
"After the Hodgsons, it's now the Taylors? No way. If this goes on, Lauren is going to become your sister-in-law!"
Upon saying that, he dashed out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Jasper called out after him.
"I'm going to see Madam Mandy. If not, I will go to Mosgravia to see Mr. Winston!"
The rise and fall of Landon's chest made it look as if he had a wild beast going berserk within him. "You've both done so much to get me this opportunity. I'm not going to lose Lauren again!"
"But Lauren has broken up with you. It is not unreasonable for Madam Mandy to matchmake Cyrus with Lauren."
Jasper had a deep frown on his face. He uttered those absolutely realistic words, "Landon, the current problem doesn't lie between Cyrus and Lauren. Instead, it lies between you and Lauren."