Chapter 310 Epilogue: Landon and Alyssa iII /i

    After a year of studying abroad, Landon returned to find his family and Alyssa’s family plotting a marriage alliance.

    Fresh off the ne, his phone buzzed with Alyssa’s call.

    “Hey, where are you?” Alyssa’s voice crackled through.

    “I just touched down,” Landon replied, a grin tugging at his lips.

    Alyssa texted him an address, and he instructed the driver to drop him at the restaurant before taking his luggage home.

    “Landon, you know my grandpa and yours are nning to get us engaged, right?” Alyssa asked, cutting straight to the point.

    Landon’s eyes flickered with a mix of hope and unease. “Yeah, I heard.”

    “I don’t think it’s right,” Alyssa said, her tone firm. “It’s just… weird. Us, married? No way.”

    Landon’s brow creased, a pang of confusion hitting him. “Why

    not?” 1/10

    16:35

    Chapter 310 Epilogue: Landon and Alys…

    B

    b+2 /bBonus

    Alyssa opened her mouth, then faltered. “It’s just not a good fit. We’ve been bickering since we were kids. How’s that supposed to work? Besides, I see you as a friend.”

    Landon let out a dry chuckle, masking the sting. “A friend,

    huh? Didn’t realize we were that close.”

    “Come on, we grew up together,” Alyssa said, exasperated.

    “If you’re not into the engagement, I’ll talk to my grandpa,” Landon offered, swallowing his disappointment.

    In his mind, forcing her into a marriage she didn’t want was pointless.

    Alyssa nodded, her face brightening. “Thanks. Dinner’s on me tonight.”

    Landon’s thoughts churned. When he’d left, Alyssa was barely into high school. Now, she was on the cusp of college graduation, all grown up.

    “Did you get a boyfriend in college?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

    Alyssa’s head drooped slightly. “Nope.”

    But her eyes betrayed her.

    16:35

    Landon caught the flicker of something unspoken–she didn’t have a boyfriend, but there was definitely someone she liked.

    The realization stabbed at his heart.

    At that moment, he felt regret. He should’ve stayed home and studied medicine. A few years abroad, and the girl he’d known had transformed into a woman.

    “What about you? Don’t tell me you didn’t date anyone either,” Alyssa teased, nudging him.

    Landon shot her a sidelong nce. “I went abroad to study, not to chase girls.”

    “Okay,” Alyssa said, her tone t, almost dismissive.

    After dinner, Landon offered to drive her home, but Alyssa waved him off. “I’ve got my car.”

    He watched her red sports car speed away, only then realizing he’d forgotten to tell the driver he was done eating.

    He He ise ist ise

    “Landon, you and Alyssa have always been close–practically childhood sweethearts. Why are you against the engagement?” Landon’s grandfather, Antwan Collins, asked, his toneced.35

    with confusion.

    Chapter 310 Epilogue: Landon and Alys…

    In families like theirs, marriages were often about aligning equals.

    b+2 /bBonus

    Of course, if the younger generation found true love elsewhere, the elders wouldn’t stand in the way.

    Antwan hadn’t spelled it out, but he’d always thought Landon had a soft spot for Alyssa, which was why the two families had agreed to the match.

    He hadn’t expected Landon, instead of Alyssa, to be the one to call it off.

    This left him in a difficult position. He didn’t know how to face Alyssa’s grandfather.

    “Grandpa, I’ve only ever seen her as a friend. You got it wrong,” Landon said, his voice steady but heavyb. /b

    He chose to shoulder the me.

    Landon knew Alyssa’s mother wasn’t around, and her only real support was her grandfather.

    If he took the fall, Allen might go easier on her.

    “Fine,” Antwan sighed. “You tell Allen yourself. I’m not doing

    if

    10

    16:35

    Chapter 310 Epilogue: Landon and Alys…

    b+2 /bBonus

    Landon didn’t hesitate. He went straight to Allen to apologize.

    Allen was understanding. The engagement was only a tentative n; no ceremony had been held, so he didn’t hold it against Landon.

    Love, after all, wasn’t about right or wrong.

    XXXXX

    Alyssa watched Landon slip into her grandfather’s study and emerge shortly after.

    “Grandpa, I’ll walk Landon out!” she called, practically bouncing with enthusiasm.

    “So, how’d it go?” she asked, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

    Landon gave a bitter chuckle. “You’re really thrilled to see this engagement fall apart, aren’t you?”

    “Hey,e on, Landon, it’s not like that. You’re a good guy,” Alyssa said, shing a yful grin.

    Landon’s chest tightened, a dull ache spreading.

    He couldn’t bear to look at her. “I’m heading out. You don’t need to walk me out, or your grandpa might think we’re closer 5/10

    16:35

    Chapter 310 Epilogue: Landon and Alys…

    b+2 /bBonus

    than we are.”

    Alyssa froze, startled, then called after him from a distance. “Thanks, Landon!”

    Landon’s lips twisted in a self–deprecating smirk. Thanks weren’t what he wanted.

    *****

    Just when Landon thought he and Alyssa were done for good, one night, he spotted her at a bar, slumped over the counter, thoroughly drunk.

    “Alyssa?” he called, his voice thick with surprise.

    She swayed, her eyes ssy and unfocused. “Heh, it’s you, Landon.”

    He frowned, concern ring. “How much did you drink?”

    He shot a re at the bartender, who shrank under his stare.

    How many drinks has this guy served her?

    “You’re wasted. I’m taking you home,” Landon said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

    6/10

    16:35

    Alyssa shook her head furiously. “No way! I’m not going home!

    Chapter 310 Epilogue: Landon and Alys…

    Leave me alone. I wanna keep drinking.”

    b+2 /bBonus

    Landon wasn’t about to argue with a drunk. Without another word, he scooped her up in his arms.

    “Enough. If you keep drinking, your grandfather will skin you alive tomorrow.”

    On the drive home, Alyssa mumbled incoherently.

    “Mom, why? Why’d you marry him?”

    Landon’s brow furrowed, but he stayed quiet, carrying her to her bedroom.

    “Serena, she’s had too much. You may need to look after her,” he told the maid, Serena. “I’m leaving. Please don’t tell Sir Graves about this.”

    Serena nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Collins. I’ll handle it. Poor Ms. Graves has been so downtely. This is her second time getting drunk.”

    Landon assumed Alyssa was upset over her mother’stest remarriage.

    Then, one day, when he was driving, he saw her teetering dangerously on the side of the road. Heart pounding, he 16:35 mmed on the brakes and pulled over.

    7/10

    Chapter 310 Epilogue: Landon and Alys…

    +2 Bonus

    “Alyssa, are you out of your mind? That was dangerous!” he shouted, his voice sharp with worry.

    Alyssa’s eyes were rimmed with red. “You again, Landon? Why is it always you?”

    His expression darkened. He didn’t know why, but every time she was at her weakest, he was the one to find her.

    “I’m taking you home.”

    “No! I don’t wanna go back. I need to find him. I haven’t told him how I feel,” Alyssa said, her voice breaking.

    Landon’s heart stuttered.

    So there really was someone she loved.

    “Then go tell him,” he said, his voice rougher than he meant. “What’s so hard about confessing?”

    He hated himself for drawing back and hated her hesitation

    even more.

    Worst case, that man would turn her down. But it was not quite a bad thing. At least, she could move on.

    Alyssa shook her head, tears streaming down her checks, 16:36

    Chapter 310 Epilogue: Landon and Alys…

    “I can’t. He’s… He’s my stepbrother… I can’t.”

    b+2 /bBonus

    Landon’s chest tightened, a sharp pain slicing through him.

    Gently, he pulled her into his arms. “Alright, no more tears. How about liking someone else instead?”

    He paused, his voice softening. “Like me, maybe. I’d never make you cry.”

    The next morning, Alyssa woke with a pounding headache and learned it had been Landon who brought her home again.

    Landon had texted: [Does your head still hurt?]

    She replied: [Not anymore. Thanks, Landon.]

    Landon didn’t respond.

    He knew she’d probably cked out again, forgetting everything they’d saidst night.

    At a concertter, Alyssa got drunk again.

    This time, Landon couldn’t bring himself to let her go. Gazing

    at her, flushed and unsteady, he murmured, “Alyssa, you’ve tempted me too many times.”

    9/10

    16:36

    Chapter 310 Epilogue: Landon and Alys…

    b+2 /bBonus

    Yearster, when their daughter was three, Alyssa sighed, “If I’d known we’d end up together, I wouldn’t have fought that engagement. Who’d have thought I’d marry you after all?”

    Landon chuckled, his eyes warm, “You didn’t like me back then.”

    Alyssa pouted, “Oh, like you were head over heels for me either.”

    Landon rolled over, pinning her gently beneath him, his lips brushing hers in a tender kiss.

    “I was,” he whispered. “It’s always been you.”