Lauren couldn't bring herself to look at Freddy or respond to him. She just hunched her shoulders, wishing she could disappear like a wisp of smoke.
Landon's eyes grew even colder as he stared at Freddy's smiling face.
However, Freddy completely disregarded Landon's hostility. Instead, he extended his hand to Lauren. "Lauren, it's Freddy. We were in the sclass in middle school. Do you remember me?" Landon's gaze darkened, and he slapped away Freddy's hand. "I think my wife doesn't remember you." The atmosphere becextremely tense.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtYet, Zoe secretly chuckled to herself. It would seem that provoking Landon and teasing Lauren was the source of all her happiness in life.
Freddy gripped his throbbing fingertips, and anger flashed in his eyes. Nonetheless, he quickly composed himself and fixed his gaze on Lauren. "Lauren, you got married to Mr. Landon? How c| didn't see any news about it?" Just as Landon was about to answer, Zoe cut in, "Freddy, you've only recently returned, so there's a lot you don't know about. Landon and Lauren have been living together for a long time. Even if they're not officially married, they're already like a married couple." She deliberately raised her voice in the second half of her statement.
The surrounding guests passing by heard her.
"What? The prestigious Beckett family's daughter is living with a man? Even if she lost her mother, isn't Mr. Javier still alive? How could he allow his daughter to live with a man without being married?" "Oh, but this isn't any man. It's Mr. Landon, the future heir of Harper Group." "So what if it's Mr. Landon? Isn't he a man? Besides, he is infamous for being a playboy in Solana City. If they've been living together for a long twithout getting married, doesn't that imply that he's not interested in marrying her? "Mr. Landon is a man with power and status. Even if he gets divorced many times, women would still be clamoring to be with him. But Ms. Lauren can't do that.
"When she gets older, she'll lose her worth, with her reputation ruined. So what if she's the daughter of the Beckett family? She'll probably end up marrying a man beneath her status." "That young lady is really naive and foolish." Rumors and gossip spread chaotically. It sounded like one thunderous explosion after another in Lauren's ears.
Due to immense anxiety, her forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat.
Landon also heard the gossip. His fierce gaze swept over, scattering the gossipers.
Freddy suddenly understood. "Oh... | see." "What do you see?" Landon's eyes turned cold as he glared fiercely at Zoe's smug face. "Zoe, the entire Harper family knows that I'm going to get engaged to Lauren. The engagement ceremony is currently being organized, and I've sent out the invitations.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Are you so forgetful, or has your brain turned into mush? Lauren is my fiancée, the future lady of Harper Group.
How many times do | have to repeat it?" The onlookers were shocked and murmured among themselves.
Zoe was both ashamed and furious. Her face turned red before losing its color.
Freddy couldn't bear it anymore and stepped forward. "Mr. Landon, that's quite rude of you to say that. After all, Zoe is your sister—" "Who do you think you are? This is none of your damn business!" Landon's eyes were bloodshot with anger.
Since the very first glance at Freddy, Landon had been itching to deliver a punch.
If Freddy babbled another word, Landon would punch him, regardless of his status as the mayor's son.
Freddy's face darkened as he stared at the fierce and imposing-looking Landon.
The Hodgson family was a prestigious family with a long history of officialdom. He was the child of a high-ranking official in Solana City. Being pampered by his family since childhood, when had he ever experienced this kind of humiliation?