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!"

the room, fleeing the tense situation like startled

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 nothing more

descended upon the empty meeting room. "Landon," she spat, her voice laced with barely contained fury, "did you take Zoe? Where

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

Penelope went into

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,

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

who had shouldered the family burden at a tender age since Bill's passing. Thanks to Landon, they were able to

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

brutalized and kidnapped your own sister! They'll condemn

tossed his phone onto the table. A video was playing;

She watched Zoe being violated by three men. The men took their turns with

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

She's just a monster that you nurtured and

His lips were a pale line, pressed thin with repressed fury. and cold. "You failed to raise her. So, I can only use this

She's your biological daughter after all. Go ahead

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

Landon, I'll have Madam Penelope escorted to the VIP parking lot via your private elevator. She won't encounter anyone along

the window with a cold demeanor, responded, "No need for that. Let her leave

silently. He knew Landon wanted everyone to

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