Ch. 1861..1870

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1861-"You… You used poison?" Number 24 clenched his teeth. His face burned with fury and disbelief.

He tried to push himself up, but he felt weak. Even wiggling his fingers felt like a Herculean task.

"In the battle ring, fair play reigns supreme," Number 95 said calmly. "Even resorting to tactics like poison or hidden weapons is deemed acceptable within the rules."

He added, "Moreover, I wasn't out for blood. I just want to incapacitate you momentarily. If my aim had been lethal, you'd be dead already."

"Why you—" Number 24 was left speechless. Although he was reluctant to admit defeat, he begrudgingly accepted it.

The rules didn't forbid the use of poison, and his opponent's frontal assault couldn't be deemed an ambush.

His failure to defend himself boiled down to his own lack of strength.

"This round winner is contestant number 95!" With Number 24 incapacitated, the referee swiftly announced the match's outcome.

Soon, the venue erupted in applause.

"Haha… We did it again! Another win in the bag!"

"One move, and it's game over. Contestant number 95 is awesome!"

"When it comes to being impressive, it's gotta be our lucky charm! He calls the shots, and bam, there's our winner. Truly amazing!"

Cheers and excitement filled the air at the betting table as everyone reveled in the moment.

Those who had placed their bets on contestant number 95 were celebrating.

Initially, they doubted the man in gray. But now, they held him in absolute trust and admiration.

To them, he had transcended from a mere acquaintance to their lucky charm.

They considered him a true bringer of fortune.

"Great! We won again!" Ruby beamed with delight.

"See? Trusting my instincts always pays off! Betting with that guy is like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow!" Miles grinned with pride.

"I think we've made enough for now. It's time to stop betting," Crystal chimed in unexpectedly. She had a feeling that pushing their luck further might end in losses.

"Relax, Crystal. We're just getting started here. With our lucky charm on our side, we just ride the wave and rake in the winnings!" Miles waved off her concern.

"Come on. Opportunities to earn celestial stones like this are once in a blue moon. We can't afford to let this slip!" Ruby added excitedly.

Crystal frowned and advised, "But let's not get too greedy. In games like these, regret usually sets in when it's too late."

Miles and Ruby had already amassed a substantial stash of celestial stones. It would be enough for them to make a breakthrough from their current levels if they absorbed them.

"Crystal, you're always playing it safe. They say fortune favors the bold. With all these celestial stones laid out before us, turning a blind eye would be a huge mistake," Miles argued.

"Yes, stop worrying so much. Today's our lucky day. We will hit the jackpot."

Ruby looped arms with her sister and smiled sweetly.

She added, "I promise that I'll call it quits once I've bagged 300 celestial stones.

I swear I won't be greedy."

"Okay, fine. If you insist, I won't stand in your way. Joy or regret, it's all on you."

Crystal shook her head and dropped the subject.

She knew Ruby and Miles were completely hooked after winning their bets.

Trying to dissuade them now felt like a lost cause.

Yet, a flicker of hope remained within her. She wondered if this was their lucky streak and if they would keep raking in the wins.

She reasoned that stopping them from betting would cut off their potential earnings. Hence, she stopped persuading them.

Ten minutes later, the fourth round ended.

The winners of earlier bets walked away with a haul of celestial stones.

It ignited a surge of interest that drew a crowd around the betting table.

Spectators were eager to participate in the thrill and to try their luck.

After all, the allure of celestial stones was simply irresistible. With many winners parading their success, these newcomers were eager to get their share.

Abigail couldn't help but smile at the growing crowd of gamblers. Even though the second crate of celestial stones had been emptied, she remained unfazed.

Instead, she hoped these people would increase their wagers. She was confident that soon she would reclaim all the celestial stones she had distributed.

As the fifth round approached, the venue buzzed with renewed excitement.

In addition, the gamblers at the betting table were practically buzzing with anticipation.

At that moment, all eyes were glued to the man in gray. His three consecutive wins had elevated him to near-legendary status among the gamblers.

Regardless of his choice, they would follow without hesitation, even if it seemed like a risky bet.

"Sir, who's your pick for this round?"

The gamblers gathered around the man in gray, and their eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"Contestant number 13!" he announced confidently.

Excitement rippled through the crowd as they gazed over the battle ring.

Number 13 was a man armed with a silver spear. With chiseled features and a ruggedly handsome face, he looked intimidating.

"Number 13 seems oddly familiar. Could he be a disciple of the Celestial Alliance?"

"You're right. He's Brandon Swift, one of the Celestial Alliance's top ten talents!"

"What? One of the Celestial Alliance's top ten talents? Shouldn't he be competing in Group B? Why is he here in Group C?"

"So, what are we waiting for? Let's place our bets!"

With Brandon's name in the mix, excitement surged through the crowd as they scrambled to place their bets on Number 13.

The gamblers didn't hold back. They bet all their celestial stones and rare treasures without a second thought.

As Abigail watched this unfold, a fleeting smile crossed her lips before her expression turned serious again.

It was time to spring her trap!

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1862-Upon hearing that, Zoe glared at Freddy. She examined his face which was colored with anger, all because of Lauren.She had a feeling that Freddy's feelings for Lauren had changed. In the past, he displayed nothing but scorn toward Lauren. However, he seemed to be green in envy over Lauren now."No way... I can't let this slide!" His temples throbbed in fury. "Our families agreed on the marriage. Lauren Beckett shall be mine, and no one can take her from me!"As he was speaking, Zoe straddled him naked without warning and slapped him twice in the face. He looked confounded. "Zoe, w-what are you doing?""Freddy Hodgson, that's too much! Didn't you vow only to love me in this life?You said you only have me in your heart!" She glowered at him as she tightened her grip on his neck as if she wanted to suffocate him to death. "All your reactions show that you're catching feelings for that idiot. Tell me.Have you fallen for Lauren Beckett?""N-No, Zoe, I didn't! I'm marrying her to avenge you. Everything I did was for you!" He held her waist and gasped for breath. The suffocation gradually set in, but it aroused him as well."I'm warning you now, Freddy." She leaned over and slapped his cheek before threatening him through gritted teeth. "The Harpers were originally gangsters.It's a piece of cake for us to kill someone discreetly. Betray me, and I'll make sure you die a horrible death. Got it?"Freddy shuddered at her intimidation, but he couldn't shake off the sight of Lauren in Cyrus' arms. She had danced so gracefully that night.The thought of it made him clench his fist indignantly.At that moment, Zoe received a call from an unknown number. Putting on her bathrobe, she answered impatiently, "Who's this?"She was greeted by silence. She snapped, "Speak up! Are you a mute?""Zoe Harper, it sounds like you're having a great time," Betty rasped in a low, heavy voice that sent a shiver down Zoe's spine.Zoe muttered, "B-Betty Beckett? I thought you had—""You think I'll never be back after Jasper sent me abroad?" Betty cackled evilly."Too bad! Betty Beckett is a tough one. I'm back!"Zoe clutched her bathrobe with trembling fingers."I was the one who gave you the health report that ruined Landon and Lauren's marriage. When we were busted, you got out of it unscathed, yet I was unfairly banished. Do you really think I'll resign to my fate?"Zoe's expression hardened. Knowing Jasper and Alyssa's capabilities, they might be the ones orchestrating Betty's comeback. Betty wouldn't have been able to come home without external help otherwise.However, Zoe had no time to mull. She questioned coldly, "So, what is it that you want?"Zoe felt sick in the stomach when she listened to Betty's gory description. Betty seemed to have lost her mind.Zoe advised, "That's not a bad idea, but you need to pay the price for murder.What's the point of coming home if it's just to kill Lauren? Do you enjoy being thrown behind bars in Solana City?""So, old friend, we'll need to work together one more time. Though, it'll be the last."Just as she was considering Betty's proposal, she received a call from Penelope.

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1863-Zoe calmed down and said to Betty, "I have an important call to take. Wait for me. I'll make the arrangements and call you back."

Then, she hung up on Betty and picked up Penelope's call with a sweet tone, "Hello, Mom."

Penelope sighed. She began hesitantly, "Zoe, come with me to visit Uncle Preston in the hospital. Your grandpa will be there as well."

"Is Uncle Preston… hospitalized?"

"Landon beat him up badly. He suffered from serious injuries—he lost his arm, to be exact, and he's forever crippled. He drifts in and out of sleep all day. I hesitated to tell you about it because I'm worried that his bad condition would give you a scare."

"What? Did Landon." Stunned, Zoe cared less about Preston's misfortune than her own fate. She feared for herself now that Landon had dealt with Preston.

Landon seemed to be getting serious. Based on Zoe's understanding of his character, she knew that this was just the start. He wouldn't go easy on Preston, and that was the price one had to pay for hurting Lauren.

"Zoe, your brother has changed. He's a ruthless man who turns against his family!" Worried for Zoe, Penelope advised her, "I know you've been through a lot. Landon is unfair to you. But nothing good comes from fighting against him now that he's in power in the Harper Group.

"Listen to me. Stop giving Lauren trouble. I'll emigrate to Yoarkley with you soon.

Let's never return to Solana City anymore. Okay?"

Alyssa and Jasper uncorked an expensive red wine to celebrate the canceled engagement. Alyssa was dressed in Jasper's oversized white shirt. Sitting on the table of the wine cellar, she dangled her legs and clinked her glass with Jasper.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes carried a seductive look. "Mr. Beckett, we secured our first victory. We can finally enjoy a good night's sleep."

He trapped her underneath him by placing an arm on the table. His eyes were filled with desire. When he couldn't hold back anymore, he kissed her hard on the lips.

After some foreplay, Alyssa accidentally tilted her glass as Jasper held her by the waist. The red wine stained the shirt that she was wearing and trickled down her fair legs.

"Are you sure you can have a good sleep?" he said in a raspy voice while rubbing his fingers against her rosy lips.

"You are quite busy at work lately, aren't you? You're not that young either. Can you handle it?" Alyssa teased him with a blush on her cheeks.

"I think I'll perform better than my peers on average, even when I am 80 years old." Smiling, he ran his lips over her cheeks.

However, Alyssa put on a serious look instead of fooling around with him. "Let's talk about something serious. Mandy told Winston about Cyrus' crush on Lauren.

"Jonah called me today, telling me that Winston was too excited to sleep last night. Early this morning, he got Ben to prepare the gifts for Lauren. He even said he'd meet with your grandpa to discuss the marriage between Cyrus and Lauren."

Jasper's eyes wavered in shock, knowing that they had to go along with Cyrus and Lauren's "relationship" if Winston learned about it. He had once heard Alyssa describe Winston as a man who'd go to great lengths to make his sons' marriages happen.

That did not come as a surprise, as Winston had married four wives himself.

"Heh. I don't mind having Lauren as my sister-in-law. I just don't know how you feel about it," Alyssa taunted Jasper with a squint.

Sean said through the door, "Ms. Alyssa, is this a good time to talk to you and Mr. Beckett? I got news from Mosgravia."

Alyssa was dressed sexily since she did not expect Sean to come to her with updates at this hour. Jasper hurriedly draped a jacket over her before answering the door.

"Ms. Alyssa, Mr. Beckett, I hope I didn't interrupt anything." Sean started having fantasies when he saw their flushed faces.

"That's fine. Let's talk." Jasper went on one knee in front of Alyssa and slowly buttoned her shirt to avoid accidental exposure.

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1864-"What?"

"Is that true?"

Jasper and Alyssa exclaimed at the same time—one looking astonished, and the other agitated.

Sean gulped. He was parched from rushing all the way here. "It's true! To prevent anyone from tampering with the result, I made Dr. Lovelace perform the DNA test in Mosgravia. The DNA test in Solana City was carried out in one of the Taylor family's hospitals. I even monitored the entire process!"

Jasper's lashes cast a shadow under his eyes. He repeatedly read the outrageous and wicked results printed on the report. It clearly said that Betty was not related to Javier.

Alyssa soon calmed down after all the agitation. The report had confirmed her longtime skepticism. She had started questioning Betty's bloodline from Betty's personality, character, and looks. Now, the truth had finally been revealed.

"Sean, did Julien say anything to you when you requested the DNA test?"

"Oh, he did." Sean looked amused. "He asked me if any one of Mr. Winston's wives was pregnant and if Winston was the one requesting the DNA test out of skepticism. He even vowed to carry the secret to his grave!"

Alyssa was dumbfounded at Julien's hilarious response. There was no way Julien would carry the secret to his grave. He was simply craving for some juicy gossip.

"Sean, don't let anyone else hear about this."

Sean scratched his head with a troubled look. "Uh… Mr. Jonah knew about Betty's DNA result because Dr. Lovelace immediately updated him."

Feeling exasperated, Alyssa relented. "Fine. They're a couple anyway, so it's fine. Do not let anyone apart from Jonah and Julien learn about the results. Got it?"

Sean quickly nodded.

At that moment, she sensed a threatening air. When she looked up, she found a scarily furious look in Jasper's eyes.

She questioned him in a softer tone, "Jasper, are you alright?"

Jasper gently tossed the crumpled report onto the table with vacant eyes. "I'm fine. Just thought the entire situation laughable.

"Lyse, for a moment, I thought of my mom. I remembered the day when a heavily pregnant Sophia Kirkman showed up at our home. All the memories flashed across my mind."

Feeling sorry for Jasper, she clutched his cold hand firmly. "I know how you feel.

I understand you.

"My dad asked for a DNA test the day after Sophia gave birth to Betty. The test confirmed that she was his daughter. Looking back, I believe that Sophia had made the necessary preparations. It was way easier to forge a DNA report back in the day compared to today."

Sean shared Jasper's heartache. He, too, hated Sophia to the bone, even when she was dead.

"That's true. The move wasn't that surprising, coming from an evil woman who was determined to marry into wealth and get out of poverty.

"I'm just surprised that Javier had never suspected Sophia and Betty once, after years of living with a daughter who did not resemble him at all." Her expression was clouded with disbelief. "I occasionally heard Winston and Jonah mentioning your dad when I was younger. Javier was a very capable man, and his business strategies were nothing short of epic.

"Sophia was nothing more than a vixen, pulling shoddy tricks to take advantage of him. How could he have never suspected her of anything?"

"When Sophia showed up, Dad and Grandpa were at the height of a war in the company. The more Grandpa disapproved of Sophia, the more Dad wanted to marry her. Not to mention he and my mom were having relationship troubles at that time. Sophia took her chance to ruin their marriage.

"Besides, Dad was extremely arrogant. It helped that Sophia was meek and subservient around him. He truly believed that a woman of Sophia's humble origins would never have the courage to harm a man of his superior social standing."

An oppressive silence descended on the wine cellar.

Alyssa stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the corner of his lips. She purred, "Your love is all that matters to me."

He placed a hand on the small of his waist and returned the kiss. He'd respond to her at any time, anywhere.

"How do you plan to use this crucial information?" Sean inquired.

At the same time, Jasper's phone buzzed.

"Hello, Xavier."

"I have bad news, Mr. Beckett! Our men lost track of Betty!"

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1865-Why can't you even handle a minor task? Do you not want your bonus?" Jasper scowled.

Alyssa kept her composure. "Xavier, calm down. Take your time."

"After Betty left the hospital, my men had been tailing her. They saw her dragged into a white Bentley, and she stayed in that car for quite a while."

Alyssa felt her heart sank at that information. She was plagued by unease.

Jasper demanded. "Where did she go in that car?"

"She didn't go anywhere. After a while, they sent her back to her rental. She did not step out of the house for three days after that—not even taking out the trash.

"By then, our men realized something was off. They broke into her place and found her missing. She didn't even pack her bags."

Alyssa questioned, "How about her passport and identity card?"

"She didn't take them with her at all. She literally vanished into thin air!" Xavier grew emotional and worried. "I had people stationed at the airport to monitor her movements. She had no money and no identification. Where on earth could she have gone? She couldn't have illegally crossed borders, could she?"

"Xavier, you must have jotted down the carplate information of the white Bentley.

Please send it to me. I'll get Jonah to run that plate in Mosgravia." Holding Jasper's hand firmly, she surmised, "Things might be more complicated than they seem. Someone's telling Betty what to do and help her escape.

"Jasper, we need to be vigilant in Solana City in the next few days. I worry that she might return!"

He tightened his grip on her fingers. "She'll only land herself in trouble if she comes home!"

"Maybe not this time." She analyzed with trepidation, "The person backing her must be powerful. They had sent her back to Solana City without needing a passport and without anyone knowing.

"Think carefully. Who else in Mosgravia would have the power and willingness to help Betty?"

Jasper furrowed his brows. A gleam flashed across his eyes. When he looked at Alyssa, she had blurted out, "Could it be Justin?"

He squeezed her hand. He, too, shared the same opinion.

"Ms. Alyssa, could it be Jamiper's doing? He's totally capable of doing so," Sean suggested another suspect.

Alyssa shook her head softly. "Sean, think carefully. Jamiper is smart enough to know we're monitoring Betty 24/7 in Mosgravia. We've seen through his tricks.

Even if he wanted to help Betty, he wouldn't have done it openly.

"I believe whoever's helping Betty was confident that we wouldn't get anything on them because we were unfamiliar with them. Jameson is not likely a suspect precisely because of this.

"That's why I suspect Justin's involvement. I don't know his ulterior motive, but I can't think of anyone else with his capabilities."

"If I were Justin, I wouldn't have helped Betty. Firstly, I do not have any sibling relationship with her. There's no point in inviting trouble. Besides, Justin benefitted from Sophia and Betty falling out of favor.

"Fewer family members means less competition for power." Jasper closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm down. "But I think your analysis makes sense too.

"Anyway, if this is Justin's doing, we can't do much about it. All we can do is stop Betty and interrogate her before we take our next step."

Alyssa pressed her lips in frustration. Similar to Jasper, she refused to think of Justin as the vile Jameson —especially when Justin was Jasper's brother and savior.

Jasper's life had been fraught with pain and disappointment thus far. Alyssa could only hope that Justin wouldn't betray Jasper's trust.

Penelope and Zoe showed up at the hospital the next day with expensive gifts.

The atmosphere in Preston's room was frigid and tense. Preston lay against the headboard and glared at the mother and daughter with resentment.

Zoe stared at his empty right sleeve. The horrific sight made her sweat all over.

Zoe was too stunned to defend her mother from Sylvia's attack. Penelope, who hailed from a distinguished family, had never faced such chaos. Looking disheveled, she cried frantically, "I… I… Landon…"

"Enough! Shut up!" Cornelius finally broke his silence and bellowed at Sylvia, which effectively shut her up.

She wiped away her tears and stood at the side.

Teary-eyed, Penelope repeatedly apologized to Preston and Sylvia. She said to Cornelius, "Dad, I really have no idea what Landon was up to out there. Preston, Sylvia, I'm really, really sorry. I'll take care of Preston's medical expenses—"

"What good is an apology?" Preston held his empty sleeve with a contorted expression. "An arm for an arm, or I will not let this slide!"

"Dad, Landon has crippled Preston and even usurped all his company stocks!

Why haven't you taken action against Landon? Do you not see Preston as your son?" Sylvia, in pain, confronted Cornelius.

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1866-Preston quivered in anger. His face turned white.

"Dad, how could you say so? Preston is your son too! I don't know how he'll live out the rest of his life after what Landon did to him!

"You didn't offer him words of comfort or even hold Landon responsible. Instead, you're pinning the blame on him. Do you want him dead?" Sylvia widened her eyes in disbelief and raged.

"How am I supposed to hold Landon responsible? He's the second largest stockholder of Harper Group and the company president. All the directors on the board pledged their loyalty to him. Laying a finger on him would mean hurting the company.

"As the family patriarch, shouldn't I look at the big picture?"

Preston clutched his bedsheet tightly. Anger festered in him. What Cornelius did wasn't "looking at the big picture", but sacrificing his second son.

Cornelius knitted his brows and sank into a short silence. Then, he said resolutely, "Preston, I bought the flight tickets for you. Take a few days' rest before you emigrate abroad with Sylvia to recuperate."

"Emigrate? What do you mean?" Preston was thrown a curve.

"You had a fallout with Landon. After you transferred your stocks to him and were removed from your duties in the company, you have no business staying in Solana City. You'll only make the Harpers a laughingstock." Cornelius marched out of the room without hesitation, seemingly worried that he might be attacked by Preston at any time.

He added, "You have nothing left to fight with Landon. If you keep living in denial, you might lose more than an arm the next time you go up against him."

Penelope and Zoe took the opportunity to leave with Cornelius. After the three of them departed, silence returned to Preston's room.

Sylvia, knowing that the tide had turned against them, brazenly pointed a finger at Preston and laughed at him. "Hahaha! Seems like your dad has completely given up on you. You are of no use to him anymore. This is the Harper family—a den of heartless wolves!

"Well, that's not technically true. Your brother, Bill, was the only good egg in this family. He's kind and passionate. He always took good care of you. Too bad he died an untimely death, no thanks to a certain somebody." "Shut the fuck up!"

Preston grew belligerent when she touched his sore spot. Sylvia, who had been by his side for years, was privy to a lot of his secrets.

Scoffing, she retrieved the papers she had prepared from her luxury bag and tossed them onto his bed. "Sign the divorce papers as soon as you can. You need to fulfill all the conditions I listed in the document, or your secret of ten years might get out."

With that, Sylvia left the room with a look of disgust.

After Zoe declined Preston's call, she received a sarcastic text from him.

With a stiff smile, she asked, "Uncle Preston, w-why are you looking for me?"

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1867-Preston stared at her with a fake smile and a spiteful stare. "I'm now disabled thanks to your genius idea! It's pretty unfair that I'm struggling while you get away with it."

"Uncle Preston, what else can you do now?" Zoe immediately distanced herself from the situation. "You were the one who released Lauren's mental health diagnosis on the board of directors' meeting. You arranged for Lauren to be put away. I wasn't part of it at all.

"No one would believe in empty accusations anyway. Do you have evidence to prove that I gave you the diagnosis? I'm afraid you can't drag me down with you."

"Is that so?" Preston let out a loud cackle, which gave her the goosebumps.

"Dear Zoe, do you really think that your actions were secret? Do you remember ganging up and bullying Lauren when you were in school?"

Her heart felt like a jackhammer in her chest. Turning pale, she stammered, "WWhat are you talking about? No one bullied her!"

"Well, I'm 30 years your senior. I'm more shrewd and experienced than you could imagine." Chuckling thuggishly, he stated, "I have witnesses and video evidence to prove the horrific bullying on Lauren. I think you might have played a role in shaping her condition today. Don't you think?"

Zoe's heart drummed wildly. Sweat formed on her forehead.

Back in school, Zoe was part of a gang of six bullies, including Freddy. There were two girls and four guys in total. One of them might have secretly filmed her bullying Lauren and kept the footage. Perhaps the bully had submitted the footage after being pressured by Preston, which he blackmailed Zoe with.

"If I passed this footage to Landon… Zoe, what surprise will be in store for you if he learns about it?" Looking threatening, he hissed, "Will he cut off your left or right hand? Tsk tsk. Too bad my poor niece will have to say goodbye to piano playing soon."

"Enough! What do you want?" Zoe growled in anger and spite.

"I want you to avenge me." With a crazed look in his eyes, Preston snarled, "I want Landon to suffer!"

Suddenly, an idea struck her. She immediately called up another person as mad as Preston—Betty Beckett.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1868-With help from a woman named "Ms. Gardner", Betty returned to Solana City successfully. After that, she hid in a single-story house in a small village on the outskirts of town, just like a wanted criminal.

She only dared to roam around nearby and only left the house to purchase necessities. Other than that, she didn't dare to journey too far.

She had no guts to stay at any hotel or inn. She feared that she would be captured by Jasper's men the moment she showed her face in the city.

Her living condition was akin to a rat living in the sewers. This ignited the fire of hatred within her even more. She couldn't wait to get her revenge so that she could get out of her current situation.

At nightfall, Betty and Zoe agreed to meet at a quiet café in the suburbs.

When her coffee was served, Zoe caught a whiff of it and pushed it away in disgust.

"What's this? Horse shit? Is this even drinkable?"

Betty, on the other hand, drank her coffee calmly. "It's coffee from civet poop."

"Poop my ass. Just one sniff was enough for me to tell that it was animal poop.

This is just like shit!"

Despite that comment, Zoe still didn't forget to tease Betty. "It seems like you've really turned over a new leaf, Betty. You're even able to stomach such a disgusting drink. You're quite adaptable, aren't you?"

"It's quite meaningful to be able to experience country life," Betty commented.

She then took another sip of the coffee expressionlessly.

At that moment, Zoe's phone rang. She got up and went outside to answer the call.

Betty's eyes went dim instantly. She bit down hard on her finger until it bled.

Then, she dripped a few drops of her HIV-infected blood into Zoe's coffee.

She smiled slyly as she stirred the coffee with the spoon.

By the time she was done, Zoe had returned to her seat.

"We're close friends, Zoe. I know that you deserve more than this drink."

Betty put on a pitiful look on her face. She pleaded, "I know that you're reluctant, but could you just have a sip? Could you just accept my good intentions?"

Betty was as humble as a lamb even though she used to be from a wealthy family. Zoe was pleased to see Betty's current demeanor in front of her.

She was feeling thirsty anyway. Unsuspectingly, she picked up the cup and took a big gulp of coffee.

Betty suppressed her urge to smile. Deep down, though, she was roaring with laughter.

Zoe put down her cup gracefully. She went straight to the point. "Let's keep things short. I am in agreement with the partnership that you mentioned last time.

"But what plans do you have? After what happened last time, they would surely enforce tighter protection over that idiot. Will you have a chance to take any action?"

"I heard that Cyrus Taylor is pursuing Lauren."

Zoe jeered. "With Alyssa to matchmake them, I'm afraid your grandfather will be all for this marriage. Even if Javier were to step in, he might not be able to stop them at all.

"Since Cyrus is pursuing her, I'm sure that they will have to go on dates. They'll definitely be out on their own, right? We don't have to worry about not having any opportunities to strike."

"I think you're being too simple-minded. The Taylors are talented people. None of Alyssa's brothers are easy to deal with."

Right now, Betty was sharper and more conniving than before. "Cyrus Taylor is a cop from the Criminal Investigation Division! You will be kidnapping someone from an officer's side. Aren't you being too unrealistic?"

"You don't have to concern yourself about that. I have an expert who can help me." Zoe raised her eyebrows proudly.

Betty frowned. "An expert? Who is it?"

Zoe beckoned to Betty to come closer. Then, she uttered a mysterious word, "Sir."

Jasper couldn't stop worrying about Landon. So, he found time to pay him a visit.

Landon was in the president's office at Harper Group.

He put down the documents in his hands. Jordan had brought his medication to him. He stuffed the pills into his mouth and swallowed them.

"Why are you taking so much medicine, Landon? Is your gastritis acting up again?" Jasper furrowed his brows.

"I'm fine. I'll be better after taking these pills and getting more rest."

As Landon was feeling exhausted, his replies to Jasper became laconic.

Worry filled Jasper's eyes. "Rest? Did you even rest? Jordan has told me that you barely slept every day. You stay up all night to work. Are you trying to work yourself to death?"

Landon gave Jordan a sidelong glance coldly.

Jordan lowered his head immediately. He became aware that he had spoken out of place.

"I want to beat you, Jasper." Landon curled his lips up into a rare smile.

"Stop making yourself suffer, Landon. Your health is your most important asset.

You will have nothing without good health!"

"I'm not making myself suffer. I just… am unable to fall asleep."

Jasper clenched his hands into fists. His heart broke for Landon.

He couldn't allow Landon to start taking medication. Once he started taking them, he would become reliant on them. It wouldn't be easy to quit after that.

Then, a knock came from the door. Angelina hurried into the office.

 

Angelina handed a copy of the divorce agreement to Landon. Jasper stood up and came round to look at it together with Landon.

"Wow, Sylvia is asking for the lion's share. She's basically having Prepillon leave their marriage with nothing." Landon pressed his lips into a slight smile.

"Not unless Sylvia has something fatal on him. This could explain why she dared to suggest divorce and make such bold requests."

"She has something on him?"

Landon was silent for a moment. He widened his eyes and grabbed onto Jasper's arm suddenly.

"Unless… she found out that my father's death that year had something to do with Preston?"

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1869-Jasper patted the back of Landon's hand to calm him down. The veins were bulging from the back of his hand.

"I know that you have been investigating Bill's cause of death all these years.

Moreover, you've always had your suspicions about Preston, who has the strongest motive. It's just that you haven't found any evidence.

"Sylvia is now bringing up divorce with Preston out of the blue. She even drafted this divorce agreement with such exorbitant demands. I'm certain that she has something on Preston—something that is fatally threatening to him.

"Even if it's unrelated to Bill's death, it has to be something that will cause him to suffer the consequences of his own actions and spend the rest of his life in prison."

"It must have been Preston! Who else could it have been?"

Landon was reminded of Bill's death once again. An immense pain filled his heart, and his eyes became bloodshot.

"Back then, both he and my father went to Southsmire for an inspection. The helicopter that they were on was flying over the sea when the main gearbox malfunctioned. It caused the aircraft to plunge right into the sea. The craft sank in no time.

"My father did put on a life jacket at the time. However, the craft was sinking too fast. Furthermore, the cabin was a confined space. He had no chance to escape at all. In the end, my father, alongside three other high-level executives from the corporation, as well as the pilot, lost their lives!

"Preston… Preston was the only one who survived!"

Jasper pursed his lips tightly.

"How could it have been so coincidental? How was he the only one who got lucky?"

Landon was devastated. He slammed his palms on his desk. "My father spent his entire life working hard for Harper Group. He contributed to charities enthusiastically. Step by step, he tried to wipe off the corporation's dark side and bring the entire family back on the right track.

"He was such an outstanding, hardworking, kind man. Why did the heavens have to take his life? I don't believe that God would be so unfair!"

Jasper had a serious look on his face. "Everyone else died while Preston was the only one who survived.

That is indeed quite strange."

"Exactly! Prepillon doesn't even have nine lives!"

"Back then, Preston could escape from the craft's cabin because he had a small glass breaker with him. He smashed the window and swam to the surface."

In a raspy and resentful voice, Angelina explained, "After that, he explained that he had the habit of carrying such a tool. He also defended himself by saying he wasn't a good swimmer, so he couldn't rescue Mr. Bill. He claimed that if he had tried to save him, both of them would have ended up drowning.

"That was such poor defense. Who would believe him? He was just banking on the fact that he had power at Harper Group back then. He then oppressed Mr.

Landon as he was still young; there was no one to back him and his mother up!"

Jasper stayed silent for a moment. Then, he took a deep breath and said, "Even if Preston advertised that he was the one who murdered Bill, it would still be difficult to prosecute him. So many years have passed. Furthermore, there has been no concrete evidence.

"Just take my mother's case as an example. Nina hid herself and recorded Sophia's confession. Tessa, who served my mother back then, was found and testified in court. If not for them, it would've been a much bigger challenge to avenge my mother."

Landon gritted his teeth. His eyes were filled with fury.

"That said, perhaps we can try our luck with Sylvia."

Jasper knitted his brows together suddenly. "As Preston's partner, she must know a lot of his secrets."

"I heard Mr. Cornelius has handled all the procedures for Preston to migrate overseas. He won't allow him to return to Solana City. It's clear that he wants to give up on him completely."

Angelina muttered, "Preston is being chased out of the family without any power. He has also been incapacitated. He is no longer a threat. It is no wonder Sylvia dared to suggest divorce at this crucial timing despite not having a strong family background."

"The divorce is indeed a good opportunity."

 

Landon understood what Jasper meant. He nodded in agreement.

Other than Alyssa, there were probably only a handful of people who could beat him.

"Got it, Mr. Landon!" Jordan rushed off to see to his task.

Jasper reminded, "You need to also be prepared for the possibility that she'd refuse to admit to anything."

"I have ways to deal with stubborn people. Even if she couldn't spill anything about this, I can make her spill about other things."

Then, Landon smiled brightly, just like he used to. "It's getting late. We haven't spent time together in a while. Shall we go for a meal?"

Jasper returned a slight smile. "Sounds good."

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1870-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.

"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!"

"But Lauren has broken up with you. It is not unreasonable for Madam Mandy to matchmake Cyrus with Lauren."