Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Landon's back bowed lower and lower as waves of emotions flooded over him- emotions he had suppressed for so long now released all at once.
Lauren's eyes welled with tears as she reached out, her trembling hand finding its way to Landon's haggard face. With a gentle touch, she traced his features, pausing at his graying sideburns.
"I... I've become uglier, haven't I?" Landon placed his calloused hand on the back of her hand. He gently nuzzled against her hand and tried his best to smile. "I'm not as handsome as before. Lauren, does that make you hate me?"
Lauren's heart ached, her attempts at speech nearly faltering. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, her gaze flickering with emotion.
Alyssa, her heart tender, could no longer contain her emotions. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.
Newton couldn't bear to watch any longer. He dragged Javier out of the room with him. Jasper and Alyssa followed them out of the room, giving Landon and Lauren some space to be together.
The lovers, reunited after a brush with death, had so much they wanted to share, even if Lauren couldn't express herself verbally.
Landon held onto Lauren's hands tightly. His breathing was heavy, and his tears continued to fall onto the back of her hands.
Their eyes met, and no words were needed to express how deeply in love they were with one another.
Lauren's lashes fluttered, and with her finger, she began to trace letters on Landon's hand-Angie.
After the final letter was formed, Landon's fists clenched tightly, trembling with the pain of losing someone dear to him. His lips turned downward as he struggled to suppress his grief. "You should rest, Lauren. When you've recovered, I'll take you to see Angelina."
Lauren was a simple woman. She didn't see through his white lie. She nodded earnestly and weakly flashed a smile.
Lauren had regained consciousness and Newton was on the mend, preparing to be discharged from the hospital. As Ben tidied up the ward, Newton took the opportunity to speak with Javier.
"I won't beat around the bush," Newton began, his expression serious as he took a sip of tea. "Cornelius has passed away, Preston and Zoe have faced consequences for their actions, and Penelope is receiving treatment for her mental health overseas. Landon has kept his promise and resolved all the family's issues. Is there anything else that worries you?"
Javier looked down, clearly burdened by thoughts he struggled to articulate.
"For Lauren's sake, Landon has really sacrificed too much. Jasper and Alice told me about the personal bodyguard who grew up with Landon. She sacrificed her life to save Lauren, bringing down one of the perpetrators with her."
Javier nodded, his expression grave. "That woman was Angelina. I know she worked for Landon from a young age."
"Javier, are you still holding on to your bias against Landon? Are you still unwilling to accept him? As a parent, don't you want your children to find happiness?
"Consider your own past. Despite the disapproval, you married Anne. Can you bear to separate these star-crossed lovers? Both Landon and Lauren have suffered because of your objections. Can you continue to turn a blind eye to their pain?"
In that moment, Javier recalled the younger version of himself, and just like Landon, he had once loved a woman relentlessly. However, he had to admit that he wasn't as deeply in love as Landon was.
Back then, he was blinded by the fairytale that Sophia had created for him. As such, he was forever separated from the love of his life. He even misunderstood her for over 20 years.
Yet, no matter how much regret he felt, it was all too late.