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!"

room, fleeing the tense

The realization that her outburst had made her look like a buffoon was a punch

descended upon the empty meeting room. "Landon," she spat, her voice laced

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

silently watched as Penelope went into a

any true parenting skills, was now a cornered tigress. For most of her life, Penelope had coasted by, sheltered and carefree. This

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

to have overlooked the fact that it was Landon who had shouldered the family burden at a tender age since Bill's passing. Thanks to Landon, they

Landon remain impassive. Through gritted teeth, she threatened, "You're not going to give in, are you? Fine. Then the police

and kidnapped your own sister! They'll condemn you, Landon! Your reputation will

phone onto the table. A video was playing; pitiful cries

face draining of color. She watched Zoe

and pulled at her own hair. She stomped

a monster that

with repressed fury. and cold. "You failed to raise her. So, I can only use this method to teach

must be in despair now. She's your biological daughter after all. Go ahead and let those tears out. You'll never be able to see her

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

Landon. "Mr. Landon, I'll have Madam Penelope escorted to the VIP parking lot via your private

her leave the way she entered—through the main entrance. Let the public

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

meeting room earlier?" Landon asked with a blank look