Can’t Win Me Back novel (Alyssa and Jasper) novel Chapter 1860

Late at night, Orlander summoned Freddy to the study, where Minnie was present as well.

"What? Calling off the engagement?" Minnie exclaimed in dismay. "Orlander Hodgson, are you joking? The engagement news is made public now. The wives of the local officials have been buttering me up and showering me with gifts when they learned about the engagement!

"We're so close to the marriage, and now you're telling me the engagement is canceled? How could I show my face in front of my friends?"

"Dad, what happened? Why are we calling off the engagement?" The memory of the humiliating night made Freddy seethe. "Lauren humiliated me enough by taking Cyrus' hand to my face and dancing with him. Now, they're calling off the engagement? It's a disgrace!"

Didn't Zoe claim that Lauren was a fool? Lauren was anything but that—she had flirted with another man under her fiancé's watch.

Freddy thought, "I should have married that slut and tortured her daily for cheating on me!"

"Your feelings are not as important as my career," Orlander suddenly blurted out an outrageous remark with a look of impatience.

Shocked, Minnie and Freddy gasped, "What the heck did you just say?"

"Couldn't you tell from tonight that Cyrus was crushing on that idiot?" Orlander sipped his tea slowly. He was giddy with pride for making the strategic decision. "Mrs. Taylor had a private talk with me. She requested that I give up on the engagement.

"She pledged her support to my electoral campaign next year if I ceded Lauren. Mr. Winston is aware of this matter as well. If I declined, the KS Group would support my political rival instead. If you were me, you'd agree to her conditions too."

Freddy clenched his jaw indignantly while Minnie was at a loss for words.

"Minnie, Freddy, this is the best arrangement for us!" Orlander slumped on the couch and dangled his legs leisurely. It didn't take the elected official long to turn into a thug. "For one, my son doesn't need to settle for a dimwit.

Oddly, he felt terribly upset at the sight of Lauren dancing with Cyrus, like a husband who was publicly humiliated by his wife's infidelity.

"Guess what? You've ruined Javier's impression of you. Knowing how petty he is, he won't agree to the marriage even if I don't bring up the topic." Orlander shook his head in disappointment. "Freddy, you're not fated to marry into wealth. Just give up on that idea."

…

Javier, on his way home from an event the next day, asked Rory for updates from last night.

"Mr. Javier, Mrs. Taylor is pretty generous toward Ms. Lauren. She gifted Ms. Lauren a bracelet worth tens of millions on their first meeting." Rory spoke up for the Taylors. "What a jarring contrast between the Taylors and the Hodgsons. Ms. Lauren is about to get engaged to Freddy Hodgson, yet his family has not offered her any gifts. They can't be compared with the Taylors."

Frowning, Javier argued, "Did the Taylors win you over with just a bracelet? It is worth nothing to them. I bet Winston Taylor has a cart of those jewelry."