"Lyse has helped you chase Freddy out of the picture. But there's still Cyrus, who is in love with Lauren. Even if Cyrus isn't in the picture, there will be other men. What are you going to do if Lauren insists that she doesn't want to be with you? Are you going to cut off all her potential marriages?
"Are you going to forbid her from interacting with other men and getting married? Are you going to make her hold onto those illusory memories she had with you?"
Landon stood there with a blank look in his eyes. His heart was being crushed. He felt like he could almost cough up blood.
"You have to understand where the problem lies between you and Lauren."
Jasper stood up slowly. His eyes were bright. "What you need to do isn't to get her back and keep her shackled by your side again and again. You shouldn't treat her like your possession. What you have to do is to change yourself for her sake. Be like a warm ray of sunlight that shines upon her.
"You don't have to be together in order to find happiness. If you really love Lauren, you would feel happy when you see her being happy."
Landon was stunned by those words.
It was in the wee hours of the morning. The lights in the police station were lit as usual.
Cyrus was holding onto a bowl of instant mac and cheese. He was eating it while discussing cases with his colleagues.
Then, a female officer with blushing cheeks walked in. "Chief Cyrus, someone's here for you. He wants to lodge a report."
"Someone's here for me? What's the case?"
"He mentioned that it's a significant case."
"In that case, he should still follow the procedures. Go and get his statement first."
The female officer explained, "He... He is Mr. Harper. He said that if you don't meet him, he will keep waiting until you do."
At the reception area, Cyrus and Landon faced off against one another.
"Didn't you say that you were here to make a report, Mr. Landon? I'm here to see you. Tell me, how were you wronged?" Cyrus looked at him with a half-smile.
Landon replied in a hoarse voice, "I'm here to see you because of Lauren."
Cyrus tensed up. "What happened to Lauren?"
"There's something that I'd like to talk to you in private about."
In the quiet and dimly lit car, the dominant bearings of both Lauren's ex-lover and new lover clashed with one another. The atmosphere was extremely awkward.
"Shoot. My colleagues are still waiting for me."
Cyrus had his hands in his pockets as he stared out the window. It was as if he had set up an invisible cordon between himself and Landon.
Landon tightened the fists on his knees, then released them. After that, he clenched his fists again.
"I admit that I have been quite mean to you in the past. I would like to apologize for my attitude."
A look of astonishment came across Cyrus' face. He stared at Landon in shock. "Mr. Landon, was that apology meant for me? Did you hit your head or something in the middle of the night?"
Landon was speechless.
"That's unexpected. I'm sure there's something else. You don't have to beat around the bush. Just get straight to the point."
Landon took a few deep breaths. He was holding back the waves of emotions surging within him. Slowly, he said, "I love Lauren very much. I can give up everything for her sake, including my life.
"I'm here today to ask you to give me an opportunity, Chief Cyrus-an opportunity for me to reconcile with Lauren."
Cyrus knitted his brows tightly. He fixed his eyes on Landon's face, which had run pale.
As there was no reply from Cyrus, Landon put his pride down completely. In a low yet miserable voice, he asked, "I beg you... Could you give me a chance?"