Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Landon was looking down as he twirled his pen between his fingers.

Everyone else in the room shook their heads as they glanced scornfully at Penelope, who was causing a scene.

"Zoe was en route to the hospital for treatment when she vanished without a trace, and they have yet to locate her. I know it was you who took her!" Penelope's voice reverberated as she advanced toward Landon, pounding the table with both hands. Ignoring the presence of the board members, she continued, "Landon! Give me back my daughter!

"If you don't return her to me, I will hold a shareholder meeting and have you ousted from Harper Group! Return Zoe to me!"

Landon stopped twirling his pen. However, he still didn't look up at Penelope.

"What are you doing, Penelope?" one of the board members interjected. "Perhaps Ms. Zoe left of her own volition while the police weren't looking. If you wish to pursue this matter further, it's best addressed with law enforcement."

"Indeed," another chimed in. "This is a board meeting; personal family matters shouldn't be aired here.

It reflects poorly on Harper Group."

"Personal family matter?" Penelope's eyes widened incredulously. "Are you dense? If it were your child, would you spout such callous remarks?"

The board members fell silent. In their minds, they acknowledged that Penelope hadn't exhibited such behavior when Bill was alive. Her widowhood seemed to have taken a toll on her sanity.

Landon, despite being the focal point of the conflict, had remained passive. Finally, he spoke in a composed tone, "That concludes today's meeting. You are all dismissed."

"Alright, Mr. Landon!"

and left the room, fleeing the tense situation like startled

"Mr. Landon" echoing in their wake slammed into Penelope. The realization that her outburst had made her look like a buffoon was a punch to the gut. It had been

spat, her voice laced with barely contained fury,

stare. His eyes, devoid of warmth, held a darkness. "Trash deserves to be discarded." "Return Zoe to me! She is my flesh and blood!" Penelope screamed, "You've already refused to acknowledge me as your mother. Zoe is the only one I have left. Give her

watched as Penelope went into

woman who showered her daughter Zoe with indulgence but lacked any true parenting skills, was now a cornered tigress. For most of her life, Penelope had coasted by,

and blood. She appeared to have forgotten that Landon was her flesh and

who had shouldered the family burden at a tender age

Through gritted teeth, she threatened, "You're not going to give in,

tell them everything—how you brutalized and kidnapped your own sister! They'll condemn you, Landon! Your reputation will be

through her tirade. Landon had tossed his phone onto the table. A

stared at the phone, her face draining of color. She watched Zoe being violated by three men. The men took their

her head in her hands and pulled at her own hair. She stomped her

a monster

pale line, pressed thin with repressed fury. and cold. "You failed

after all. Go ahead and let those

out of control. She laughed through tears, spewing curses between clenched teeth. Jordan summoned two bodyguards to escort her

Penelope escorted to the VIP parking lot via your private elevator. She won't encounter anyone along the

Let her leave the way she

Landon's intention, Jordan complied silently. He knew Landon wanted everyone to witness Penelope's breakdown, discrediting

in the meeting room earlier?" Landon asked with a blank look