Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Upon hearing Lauren's retort, Zoe was filled with rage. She clenched her fists so tightly that her meticulously adorned nails dug into the flesh of her palms.

If it weren't for the people around them, she would have slapped Lauren already.

Zoe took a deep breath. Smirking maliciously, she leaned close to Lauren's ear, speaking in a low, mocking tone. "You're right. You're not an idiot. You're a psycho."

A psycho.

She was a psycho.

Lauren's mind buzzed loudly, and cold sweat soaked through her pure white cotton dress.

At that moment, the piano music on stage began to play.

The melodious notes flowed into her ears. But for her, they were like painful melodies, only intensifying her stress.

"Lauren, you've always wanted to be Landon's wife—to be Mrs. Harper. But do you think you're qualified? You know your illness best. Do you think you can give birth to a child with normal intelligence for Landon?"

Zoe hit her sore spot, each word striking at her heart.

Lauren lowered her head. Tears were welling up at the corners of her eyes, and her cotton dress was crumpled from her delicate fingers, much like her heart at that moment.

"Landon is not only your lover but also the heir of Harper Group. He'll be the head of the Harper family in the future."

if she were considering the bigger picture. Her voice was cold as she said, "My dad's last wish is for our family to become a century-old aristocratic family. If you want to be Mrs. Harper, you'll need

Landon? What if your illness is passed on to your child? Do you want the Harper family to have no successors?

closed her eyes, sweat beading on

you go through the hardship of giving

the vulnerable Lauren. "Harper Group is my dad's life's work. If Landon can't inherit Harper Group, how can our

like you as the future matriarch of the Harper family? If Landon

and let Uncle Preston become the heir of Harper Group. When that

Zoe uttered felt like a sharp knife cutting

you're not an idiot, you must understand my

Zoe was

Landon," Lauren spoke with her head still

weak,

suddenly shrank at those words. "What

I love

raised her eyes, meeting Zoe's fierce gaze with all her strength. "All my life... I've always been a coward. I've never fought for anything for myself, nor have I ever desired anything. But now, I just want to

her teeth.

the Harper family doesn't accept me. I don't want any status. I just want to be with Landon. As long as

and captivating that they outshone

at Lauren's persistence and shamelessness. Her high heels

in the corridor until