Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Landon sat by the bedside, lifting Lauren's bruised hand and gently pressing it to his cheek. He rubbed her hand tenderly against his cheek before placing a delicate kiss on her palm.

This was also how he typically showed her affection. He treated her like an incredibly fragile and precious object, guarding her with unwavering devotion.

He had cared for her diligently, yet those monsters had mercilessly ravaged his beloved, dragging her through the mire and shattering her.

"Lauren, I'm right here. Open your eyes and look at me, will you?" he implored, tears welling in his eyes, his lips quivering with emotion. "Wake up... Don't leave me alone."

In the end, he remained seated like that until daybreak.

Early the next day, Javier, accompanied by Rory, arrived to visit Lauren.

Jasper was sitting outside the hospital ward. He hadn't slept all night. A conflicted look came across his eyes when he saw Javier, but he stood up anyway.

"Have you been sitting here all night without sleeping?" Javier was surprised to see the dark circles beneath Jasper's eyes.

Jasper replied coldly, "Yeah. I wasn't sleepy."

possible? It has been four days, hasn't it? The longest someone can go without sleep

The

couldn't believe that Javier was

used

throat. "I had Rory buy some breakfast. You haven't eaten, have you? Here, have

carrying two boxes of takeout. He placed them on the chair

he said that the hospital food tastes bland. He specified that he wanted pancakes and such. I don't understand what's

Alyssa was also here all night. I got

misheard. He stared at Javier and asked,

out a lot since that incident with Lauren.

as usual. "Although I don't really like her,

feelings about what Javier had said and didn't know how

these

was as if Javier and Jasper were starting to get along better