Amidst her mental distress, Lauren had also been injected with a high dose of sedative. Hence, she still hadn't stirred when morning came. Meanwhile, Landon stood resolutely in the freezing courtyard like a lone sentinel. His entire body had gone numb from the freezing cold.

Though his face had paled considerably, he dared not budge. He was close to his limit, yet the hope of Lauren seeing him upon waking kept him rooted to the spot.

Why this cruel twist of fate? Once inseparable, they were now denied even a glimpse of each other.

Lost in thought, Landon was startled by the sound of approaching footsteps-hurried yet firm.

"I'll take you home, Landon," Jasper's voice was low and strained, filled with frustration and deep concern for his friend. "You're being absurd! There's no point in you torturing yourself like this!"

Landon groaned as he lowered his frigid gaze. His face was so stiff he could barely form an expression.

"You once waited outside Heightsnew Villa to beg for Lyse's family's forgiveness. Why can't I do the same?"

A lump formed in Jasper's throat. "Our circumstances are different."

"How are they different? I, too, seek Grandpa Newton's forgiveness... I, too, yearn to see my wife. How is this any different?" Landon's agitation intensified, his frail body swaying precariously forward.

"Landon!"

Jasper's reflexes were lightning-fast. He extended both arms and caught Landon before he could fall. Thankfully, Jasper's superior height and build were crucial in that moment. If he were an average man, he might not have been able to break Landon's fall.

"Jasper... I miss my wife," Landon choked out, his voice thick with emotion. Tears welled up in his red-rimmed eyes. He leaned his forehead against Jasper's broad shoulder, struggling to regain his composure In a raspy whisper, he confessed, "Not seeing Lauren feels like someone ripped my heart out."

His fists pounded his chest in a display of raw pain. "It hurts so bad, Jasper. Like... it could kill me."

"Listen to me. Let's go to the hospital first. You need to get checked out."

Landon shivered. Jasper offered a comforting pat on his back in the face of his pain. "After that, come back to Lyse and my place. Mrs. Rosie will take good care of you. You can rest, and when you wake up, I'll arrange for you to see Lauren."

After much persuasion, Jasper and Jordan helped Landon into the car and rushed him to the hospital.

At the hospital, Landon lay in his ward, an IV drip delivering fluids. Occasional coughs wracked his weakened body. The harsh cold had taken its toll; he'd fallen ill.

"Mr. Landon, I've removed all the videos about Madam Lauren online and stopped the negative comments," Jordan reported, his bloodshot eyes betraying his lack of sleep. Jordan added, "I know it might seem insignificant now, but with time and your unwavering support by her side, things will improve for Madam Lauren."

Landon stared at the ceiling. "Thank you," he murmured.

"Don't thank me. It is my duty to serve you and Madam Lauren!" Jordan insisted, shaking his head vigorously.

At last, Jasper spoke up with a glum expression on his face. "Landon, why did the Harpers suddenly target Lauren? And why focus on her condition? I find this quite bizarre."

"At yesterday's board meeting, Preston presented Lauren's psychological diagnosis report to the board members," Landon explained, his grip tightening on the blanket until his veins were showing.

"What did you just say?" Jasper's frown deepened. The news struck him like a physical blow. This situation was far more serious, complex, and brutal than he initially thought.

"Now that I think about it... something has been off from the very beginning."

Landon pushed himself upright. He spoke through pale lips, "When Preston presented the diagnosis report, there wasn't a flicker of surprise on Grandpa's face. He didn't even touch the documents. It's clear he knew about Lauren's condition beforehand and played along with Preston's scheme.

"But this information is top secret within the Becketts. How did Preston get it? Grandpa Newton and Mr. Javier would never reveal it, and Sophia's dead."

"Who else could it be besides Betty?" Jasper's eyes flashed with anger. "While Sophia was alive, they were thick as thieves. Sophia wouldn't hesitate to betray anyone for her own gain.

"Even though Betty is a Beckett, she wouldn't have normal access to such confidential documents. Sophia must have given it to her."

"Betty and Preston are working together?" Landon's eyes widened in surprise.

"Don't forget your troublemaking sister," Jasper added with a chilling sneer. "Zoe has always been close to Betty. She's probably the middleman in this."

If Jameson was the one responsible for the misfortunes in the Schmidt family, then Zoe played the same role for the Harpers.

What a perfect pair!

Just then, Xavier's call came in. Jasper answered, putting it on loudspeaker. "Go ahead, Xavier."

"Mr. Beckett, I have news from our bodyguards who were keeping watch at Seaview Manor. Last night, Betty drove out on her own to Middleton Resort in the West." Jasper exchanged a grim look with Landon. "Who did she meet?"

"Our men waited in hiding. Shortly after Betty left, Zoe and Mr. Hodgson's son came out. However, they didn't leave together. They went in separate ways in separate cars." Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

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