Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

The maid who entered was Holly Lockstein, the best friend of the late Nina when they were working at Seaview Manor. Now that Lauren had moved home, Holly volunteered to attend to her.

"Why aren't you resting yet? It's late," Lauren addressed Holly gently.

"Ms. Lauren..." Eyes flickering, Holly finally said after some hesitation, "Mr. Landon has stood at the Seaview Manor entrance for more than two hours. I learned about this when I heard Mr. Durham talking about it with the others."

Lauren's pupils wavered. She felt as if someone had stabbed her in the chest and twisted the blade.

"Mr. Durham and the others kept it a secret because they didn't want to wake Mr. Javier. Even if Mr. Javier is asleep, it'll be trouble if Rory learns about it." Holly looked worried.

Lauren turned her back to Holly and switched on her phone. The phone vibrated nonstop as a barrage of notifications of incoming calls flooded her screen. Landon had called her many times, but he only texted her once, writing, "Darling, I miss you."

Her tears fell onto the screen. His affectionate text had opened her wounds again. She thought she'd gotten used to losing him. Even if she hadn't, she thought she'd at least be calm at the mention of him.

had gone down the drain because

Lauren, just sneak out to meet with him." Holly felt

head low and

insisted, "You'll regret

can't change anything even if I

you cherish your relationship with him. I think it's cruel to break up with Mr. Landon without giving him closure," Holly persuaded Lauren. "Even if you have

winds, not once

a cough, and his stomach hurt, but none of it mattered as his soul had already

fetched him some pills and a thermal

curled his fingers. When he unfurled his fists, the pills had been crushed into powder, scattering

of living?" He