Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

The chill that permeated the morgue was a constant reminder of the chasm between the world of the living and the dead.
Standing in the shadows of the entrance, Alyssa and Jasper allowed Landon to say his final farewell to Angelina.
Angelina's lifeless face looked as pretty as ever. Covered with a white cloth, she seemed to be sleeping peacefully with a smile. It was as if she was in the middle of a lovely dream she would never wake up from.
Hanging his head, Landon grappled with waves of fury that threatened to crush and suffocate him.
Gulping, he gently traced her lovely profile with trembling fingers. One thing bothered him why was she smiling when she died?
She took a shot to the stomach and fell from a high place. Her bones were crushed upon impact, which felt painful just from the sound of it.
Was she not afraid of the pain, like any ordinary young woman?
"You look pretty when you smile. Why didn't you smile more when you were still around?" Landon mumbled in all seriousness. It was as if he was demanding an answer from the lifeless body before him.
"Angie, please smile for me once more."
"Angie, please wait for me at the door when I come home."
"Angie, I want to hear you calling me 'Mr. Landon.""
Alyssa covered her face because she could not hold back her emotions. She cried silently in Jasper's arms.
He held her trembling shoulders and rested his chin on top of her head. He opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't muster anything.
At that time, they heard footsteps approaching. Cyrus entered the morgue with a small box.
The couple got the hint and made way for him.
"Landon, my condolences." Standing behind Landon's grieving figure, Cyrus whispered, "I've gathered Angelina's personal belongings. Bring them with you when you leave."
Landon turned around, and his blood froze when he saw the box. Most young women would bring makeup items when they went out, but Angelina brought nothing of that sort, only keeping a phone and a dagger on her to protect Landon and Lauren.
Lowering his gaze, Landon took out the blood-stained lucky charm from the box as his lips quivered.
The cold touch seeped into his palm, through his chest, and across his rigid body.
He had gifted Angelina that lucky charm as protection. It wasn't until this moment that he realized that Angelina herself was the lucky charm who'd sacrificed herself to protect him and Lauren.
Cornelius' and Angelina's deaths, the volatile stock price of Harper Group, and the action to be taken against Zoe weighed heavily on Landon.
Thankfully, he had the help of Alyssa and Jasper to resolve the challenges on time.
Under Xavier's and Sean's leadership, the PR departments of the KS Group and Harper Group managed to remove all videos related to the tragedy overnight.
Alyssa and Jasper had made the decision out of consideration for Lauren. The last thing they wanted was for Lauren to be triggered by the videos when she regained consciousness.
Nonetheless, they did not keep the public discourse under control, as they wanted to take advantage of the public's wrath to hold the perpetrators culpable.
A netizen confessed, "I am an alumnus of Lauren Beckett's middle school. The group of bullies led by Zoe Harper had bullied Lauren throughout middle school.
"I was too much of a coward to report the bullying. Today, however, I wish to speak up for Lauren Beckett. If needed, I can provide my testimony against Zoe and that bastard Freddy Hodgson. They totally deserve it!"
"I am an alumnus too! I can testify!"
"Zoe Harper was a big bully in high school too! I once witnessed her slap a girl multiple times, all because her victim accidentally stepped on her new shoes!"
"Is no one talking about Freddy Hodgson, that pervert? He should be arrested for sexual assault and abduction-aggravated assault. Throw him behind bars!"
"How dare Orlander Hodgson think of running for mayor after what his son has done? He should be glad that he didn't suffer anything worse because of the scandal."