Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

The frown on Cyrus' forehead became deeper. At the same time, his gaze got colder and colder.
Cyrus asked, "In other words, you're asking me to back out?"
Landon's throat was dry. He was about to answer when Cyrus continued, "Since
the time I found out that you were both in love, I positioned myself as a bystander. I was afraid that you'd overthink things, so I even tried to avoid causing trouble. As much as I liked Lauren, I didn't dare to meet with her.
"The chance has always been in your hands, Landon. I don't care if you both parted ways because of yourself or because of your family. Why can't you just give me a chance?"
Cyrus' question was extremely critical, and it hit Landon like a ton of bricks. He gaped in shock.
"You're both not in a relationship anymore. It's completely fine with me as I am pursuing her in a normal way. If you still have feelings for her, you can go ahead and profess to her. We can fight for her fair and square. Feel free to do your best to win her back. I will not interfere.
"But you're coming to me now, asking me to back out and give you the chance? Mr. Landon, that's too demanding of you, isn't it?"
There was a hint of icy unfriendliness in Cyrus' voice. He added, "Your feelings for Lauren are sincere. So are mine. You're willing to give up your life for her. What makes you think that I can't do the same?
"You're saying all these to your love rival just to make yourself feel better. Other than that, those words are all meaningless."
Remorse, self-reproach, discontent-a plethora of emotions tore at Landon's weary soul.
That time, on the top-most floor of the art academy, Cyrus used his polished negotiation skills and deftness to save Lauren from her hostage taker. If not for him, he probably would have lost the love of his life.
"May I meet with Lauren for a bit?" Landon's eyes were red. It was as if he was grasping at straws now. His words were sincere yet humble. "I swear that I won't get in your way. I won't fight with you or snatch her away. Just let me meet with her. Can you?"
"If there's nothing else, I'll be getting back to work."
Cyrus didn't look back at him. He opened the car door with a blank look on his face.
Landon sat there stiffly. His lonely figure looked like his soul had been taken away from him.
Then, while Cyrus was halfway getting out of the car, he paused.
He made a purposeful decision and said coldly, "Yesterday, I made plans with Lauren to bring her to the amusement park this weekend to relax. We'll be going to see the fireworks."
After saying that, he got out of the car.
Landon was dumbfounded for quite a while. He only snapped back to his senses after Cyrus' tall figure had disappeared through the entrance of the police station.
Through his pale lips, he muttered, "Thank you."
Friday came in a flash.
Preston was discharged from the hospital. As Cornelius was forcing him to head overseas to "recuperate", he knew that he couldn't stay longer even if he wanted
to.
The moment he entered the manor, he found the entire place in disarray.
His butler and helpers came up to him. They pointed fingers at Sylvia, saying that she came in the morning with a bunch of men in tow.
She had taken away all the valuable things in the manor. If there was anything
that she wasn't able to take, she smashed them all. They estimated that he had lost more than ten million dollars worth of items.