Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Javier stormed in with a stern expression, exuding deep resentment. He was closely followed by Rory.
"The weather is so good today. Why do you look so gloomy? Don't ruin my day."
Clicking his tongue, Newton shifted his gaze away from Javier's solemn face, showing clear annoyance toward him. "Seeing you makes my chest feel tight. It's like I've lost another two years of life."
Javier paid no mind to banter with Newton. He went straight for Lauren,
completely disregarding the presence of the Taylors. "Lauren! Come back with me now!"
Lauren looked visibly frightened, her face turning pale. Instinctively, she clutched her teddy bear and stepped back.
Just as Javier's hand was about to touch her, another hand with taut veins suddenly grabbed his wrist firmly, like a pair of handcuffs.
Lauren's eyes widened abruptly as she looked at the tall figure standing in front of her. "Cyrus..."
Cyrus met Javier's reddened eyes and smiled coldly. "Mr. Javier, please talk things out. You're scaring Lauren."
Javier took a deep breath but still couldn't pull his hand out from under Cyrus' restraint. Embarrassment and anger showed in his gritted teeth. "Let go!"
Cyrus' sharp eyes narrowed slightly, and he calmly released his grip.
Javier immediately stepped back to create distance between them. He lowered his head to steal a glance at his wrist, only to see that it had turned purple.
Cyrus had gripped his wrist so firmly. It was as if he were treating Javier like a criminal.
"Grandpa Newton, Mom, it's about time. I'll take Lauren out." Cyrus suppressed the chill in his eyes and bid farewell to Newton.
Unable to contain his anger, Javier let out a furious roar. "Didn't you hear what I just said, Mr. Cyrus? Lauren must come back with me. She's not going anywhere!"
Newton's anger surged. "Lauren had plans to go out with Cyrus first. Mrs. Taylor even visited us with thoughtful gifts. What's with all this shouting in front of our guests?"
"You don't understand the situation. If you did, you wouldn't be treating them this way!" Javier impatiently waved his hand. "Regardless, my daughter cannot associate with the son of the Taylor family. I can't explain the reason now, but I will later."
Wait." Mandy's cold and imposing voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
She raised her eyes and landed her intimidating gaze on Javier's face. "Why are you keeping us in suspense? Mr. Javier, if you have something to say, speak openly. Why can't your daughter associate with my son?"
Her powerful presence clearly demonstrated that the matriarch of the Taylor family was not to be trifled with.
Seeing that, Newton secretly envied Winston. If Javier could marry such an outstanding and capable wife, maybe he wouldn't be so obstinate.
Javier, burning with anger, sneered. "Mrs. Taylor, can you swear that you didn't bring your son to approach Lauren under Alyssa's instruction?"
Mandy's brows furrowed slightly.
"You pressured Orlander, using campaign funds as leverage to force the Hodgson family to break off Lauren's engagement. Wasn't it to prevent Lauren from marrying Freddy?
"You alone can't stage this drama, so Alyssa involved your son to publicly humiliate Freddy at the Hodgson family banquet. Wasn't it to emphasize that the Taylors are interested in Lauren?"
Newton and Ben were both dumbfounded.
Lauren dared not look at Javier, let alone at Cyrus. She closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, as she clutched her teddy bear tightly.
"I found it strange from the beginning. Mrs. Taylor, you've been tending to family affairs in the Taylor family for so many years, never meddling in business or politics. Your son had little interaction with my daughter before this.
"But right at the crucial moment when Lauren was about to be engaged to Freddy, you suddenly appeared to obstruct it. Who would believe that you acted without someone's instruction?"
Javier had been active in the business world for over 30 years, so he could see through everything. He couldn't help but reveal a knowing smirk.
"Lauren and Landon broke up because they weren't meant to be together. Isn't it too much for Ms. Alyssa to use this as a way to hinder my daughter's marriage?" "Let me make it clear. Even without the Hodgson family, I wouldn't agree to Lauren being with Landon again. And Mrs. Taylor, you approached Lauren with a purpose. I will never let her have any contact with your son. Who knows what
ulterior motive you have in mind?"
Cyrus' eyes were cold and stern, and his fists were clenched, but with Mandy and Newton present, he had to consider both families' dignity.
Frowning, Newton was about to speak.