Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

In that moment, the room seemed to fall into a hushed stillness, with only the sound of Landon's heartbeat echoing in his ears.

The pages of this diary had turned yellow; Angelina must have used it for years.

With fingers wracked by tremors, Landon carefully opened the diary. Angelina's lack of formal education was evident, yet her handwriting surprised him. It was neat and firm, almost masculine, mirroring his own.

A pang of bittersweet understanding shot through him. His father had taught him to write, and Angelina, ever-present by his side, had absorbed it all. More accurately, her life revolved around him, and this unconscious mimicry was a testament to that devotion.

The diary wasn't a daily record but a collection of moments Angelina deemed precious. One entry read, "Went to Mr. Bill's funeral today with Mr. Landon. Now that he's gone, the burden of the family falls on Mr. Landon's shoulders. The road ahead won't be easy, but he doesn't have to face it alone. I'm here. Mr. Bill, rest easy. Even if the sky falls, I'll always protect Mr. Landon."

Another entry spoke in a lighter mood. "Mr. Landon's been acting strangely lately. Uncharacteristically cheerful during meals. Could he be seeing someone special? I wonder who unlocked the door to his guarded heart. I'd love to meet her."

One entry gushed about Lauren. "Ms. Lauren is such a charming lady. Mr. Landon has impeccable taste!"

Another entry read, "Mr. Landon, this marks our 14th New Year together. I've never experienced a family reunion, but now that you have Madam Lauren, this occasion must hold special significance for you. For me, it remains the same."

"Mr. Landon, the moon is particularly beautiful tonight. It reflects the love that I'll never confess to you."

Landon's hands trembled as he held the diary, tears welling in his eyes, one eventually slipping between the lines of writing, staining the page with his pain.

the image blurred by tears. It

confidence, handsomeness, and charm as he followed behind Cornelius, bearing the air of the head of the household. Close behind

gaze fixed on Landon's back

day and night, a silent guardian, even though

if I liked anyone. You said to let you know so you could check him

worried I'd become an old spinster if I kept following you around. You asked if I ever thought about getting married. Truthfully, I

this life—to see you

Landon sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face. What began as sobs soon escalated into heart-wrenching wails. Angelina had loved him for years, and he, a blind

so he

this pain silently, standing by his side as he loved another. How could she not have felt hurt? Why would she

couldn't believe how stubborn Angelina was. What did he do to deserve someone so

there is another life..." he

he desperately wished Angelina could be reborn as his sister, someone he could

voice thick with emotion, that they would meet again, somehow, some way, in a

Angelina's things

filled with simple belongings, a testament to her unassuming life. Like Angelina herself, these boxes could easily disappear from his life, leaving a

pink diary was the only item Landon held close, a precious link to the