Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Furious, she took out her anger on Nina. Not only did she order Nina to clean all the manor’s washrooms that night, but she also docked Nina’s year-end bonus.
“That’s enough. Your expression now is worse than that Alyssa bitch. It’s no surprise that Landon isn’t interested in you. Frankly, I am not fond of how you look now either.”
Sophia leisurely filed her red nails on the couch as she made the remark.
Arnid Betty’s outburst, she somehow felt that Sophia had been acting funny.
Usually, Sophia would have jumped in and defended Betty when the latter was humiliated at home. After all, Betty was Sophia’s favorite daughter. Besides, Sophia would not tolerate anyone stepping all over her at the Walsh’s’ residence.
However, Sophia’s indifference was worrying. Betty wondered why Sophia had never intervened, especially when Sophia had clearly heard the commotion downstairs.
Sophia nagged at her, “Betty, I do not wish to see this happening again at home. Remember, Lauren is my daughter too. How could you hit her as her elder sister? If your dad and grandpa hear about this, they’ll fault me for raising you poorly.
“You’re 25 this year, but why do you carry yourself like a manic depressive? You keep saying Lauren is abnormal, but you’re not better than her!”
Betty rushed up to Sophia, glowering as she asked, “Mom, I have a question. Did you witness Mr. Harper and I fighting on the first floor?”
Sophia arched her brow. “Yeah. Why?”
“So, you watched the entire time without stepping in to help me?” Betty snapped in anger. “I can understand you not helping me, but why did you let Landon take Lauren away?”
can’t
Sophia retorted with a smirk, “Why I?”
Betty was stunned by her mother’s nonchalance and stammered, “Mom… You…”
“Even I have given up on Landon Harper. Haven’t you? Tsk tsk, I wonder how a smart woman like me would give birth to a lovesick daughter,” remarked Sophia, shaking her head in disdain.
She added, “At this point, I can’t place my hopes on you anymore. It’s clear that you two won’t work out.
Since Landon is interested in Lauren, I have no choice but to approve of their relationship.
“In the end, Lauren is still my daughter. I’m happy that Landon accepted and cared for her despite her disability, so I have no reason to object to their relationship. If they end up getting married, you should feel proud as well, shouldn’t you?”
Something inside Betty shapped. She felt her vision blur. Did Sophia just say she’d approve of their relationship?
Inwardly, Betty questioned whether she had been reduced to a mere pawn and if she had turned into the butt of a joke.
Trembling violently, Betty yelled hysterically at Sophia, “Lauren will never be with Landon! I won’t allow it.
Never!”
It was the first time she had become so furious with Sophia, whom she had always held in high regard.
A gleam appeared in Sophia’s eyes as she grabbed the wine glass on the table and splashed its contents in Betty’s face. The red wine spilled all over Betty, turning her into a mess.
Bewildered by Sophia’s action, Betty stared blankly at her mother as red wine streamed down her face and dripped onto the floor.
Sophia scowled and tossed the wine glass onto the floor, shattering it. She seethed, “Who gave you the right to raise your voice at your mother? Where are your manners? If you’re unhappy with the situation, then win Landon’s heart.
“But as a veteran, I’m afraid I have to tell you that you’re delusional. Landon Harper will never choose you, not even if every other woman were out of the picture!”
With that, Sophia stormed off. Her final words crushed whatever was left of Betty’s ego and conscience.
Betty’s eyes bulged as she slowly crouched down to pick up the glass shards, clutching them so tightly that they cut into her hands like she wished to strangle Lauren.
She laughed. “Not even if every other woman were out of the picture? Well, they will be, and Landon will be mine!”
Landon escorted Lauren into the car, with Angelina at the wheel as they departed from Seaview Manor’s grounds.
Inside the vehicle, he tenderly embraced Lauren and ran his fingers through her hair, his heart heavy with pain.
He had dropped by Seaview Manor to invite Jeremy for drinks. He’d never expected to run into the fiasco.
He replayed the memories of Nina’s indignant speech and Lauren’s wounds on her arms with resentment. A searing pain surged through his body, unlike anything he had ever experienced. Although he had endured heartbreak after Alyssa’s rejection, this anguish far surpassed any previous pain.
Inhaling sharply, he rested his jaw on Lauren’s head and shut his eyes. He vowed that he would keep his word to protect Lauren.
“Mr. Harper, where should we go next?” Angelina whispered, looking at him through the rearview mirror.
Landon was caught off-guard by the question. He had told Betty he’d bring Lauren with him, but he couldn’t host Lauren at his place. He’d be in grave trouble if Jeremy heard about it.
“Laurie, I’ll drop you off at Jeremy’s. Or how about Alyssa’s place? Would you like to spend the night there?
* he asked Lauren gently, lowering his gaze.
She winced and held her left ear, offering no response.
*Lauren? Lauren?” Landon called out to her a few times, but she did not seem to hear him. Instead, she incessantly mumbled, “It hurts…”
“Where does it hurt?”
Lauren looked up at him, the red marks still visible on her cheek. When their eyes met, the sparkle in her eyes moved his heart.
“Landon, I’m sorry. I know you are speaking to me, but I can’t hear you
“Why can’t you hear me? Landon inquired with worry. Slowly, Lauren removed her hand from her left ear, revealing blood on her palm.
Landon took a sharp breath as his mind went blank. Pained, he instructed Angelina, “Angelina, head to the hospital now!”
In a bedroom at Crescent Bay, Jeremy found himself surrounded by Newton, Ben, the physician, and
Alyssa.
Even Xavier had shown up after his work hours in his pajamas and home slippers, having no time to change after getting the news about Jeremy. Standing next to the men in suits, he appeared quite comical. The five of them stood around Jeremy, who was speechless at the sight.
Alyssa was the first to break the silence. With a furrowed brow, she addressed Jeremy, “What are you staring at? Don’t you realize you’re badly injured? Take off your clothes right now!”
“In front of everyone?” Jeremy questioned hesitantly.
She scolded him impatiently. “Goodness, are you feeling shy? They’re all men, and your body looks the same as theirs.”
Xavier shuddered at the speed of Alyssa’s speech. She had been gentle and obedient to Jeremy in the past, but she had changed into a fiery woman.
Jeremy lifted his pale face and cast her a tender glance. Smiling wryly, he explained, “No, that’s not what I meant. I just thought gathering everyone here for my treatment was unnecessary. I only need you.”
She glared at him and balled her fists. Jeremy was one of the most thick-skinned guys she met.
Newton, always observant, cleared his throat and urged the others, “Jeremy’s right. We can’t be of much help here. Only Dr. Callaghan and Allison should stay, as she has experience in medicine and can assist Dr.
Callaghan.”
Jeremy gazed deeply at Alyssa with a grin. “You’re right. Lyse knows medicine. She’s been taking care of me recently. Dr. Callaghan, leave the medications behind and go off duty. I only need Lyse by my side.”
Everyone cast amused looks at Alyssa, who was seething angrily at Jeremy.
Finally, everyone exited the room, leaving only Alyssa and Jeremy. The ensuing silence was quite unsettling.
She took a deep breath and instructed, ‘Take off your shirt.”
“Okay,” replied Jeremy. He obediently took off the jacket. Just as he was about to take off the shirt, which had been torn from the lashing, his movements tugged on the wounds on his back. He frowned and let out a groan.
In reality, the pain was nothing for a veteran like him. He merely faked being in pain to elicit Alyssa’s pity and care.
She urgently pressed her hand against his and said, “Stop moving around! I’ll help you.”
He felt touched and clasped his hand over hers. She felt the warmth from his hand seep into her heart.
He said, “Okay. I’ll listen to you.”
She was slightly fazed as she removed her hand from his grip and retorted, “We’re not related in any way.
You don’t have to listen to me if you don’t want to. Now, lle face down.”
He obediently rolled around and lay face down on the bed. Alyssa saw some of his wounds were already forming scabs underneath his blood-stained shirt, and the wounds were stuck to the fabric.