Chapter 309 Epilogue: Landon and Alyssa I

    The night before Lucien left, he felt like drowning his thoughts

    in a bottle.

    Drinking alone was too dreary, so he called up Landon, who seemed just as weighed down by his own troubles.

    “Lucien, tell me, what’s so wrong with me? Why doesn’t she see me?” Landon grumbled, swirling his ss.

    Lucien shot him a sidelong nce, a wry smirk tugging at his lips.

    In his mind, he scoffed. If he couldn’t win over the woman he loved, it was no surprise Landon was striking out.

    “Who’s got you all twisted up?” Lucien asked, his curiosity piqued.

    Landon nced at him, hesitating, then dodged the question.

    “What about you? Got your heart in knots too?”

    Lucien didn’t answer, just poured himself another drink, the amber liquid catching the light.

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    Both men sat, wrapped in their private aches, sses clinking

    in a wordless toast to their shared misery.

    Their only n for the night was to drink until the world blurred.

    Landon caved first, slumping over the table, mumbling Alyssa’s name as the driver helped him stumble back to his apartment.

    No one was there to catch the quiet confession of his lonely heart.

    *****

    Alyssa and Landon had been at each other’s throats since they were kids.

    To Alyssa, Landon was the pettiest guy she knew.

    Older by years, he never let her win–not at games, not at anything.

    As kids, he’d swipe her toys; as they grew, his teasing only got sharper.

    From her earliest memories, Landon held the top spot on her list of people she couldn’t stand.

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    Then came the day her mother returned, her face pale and

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    broken.

    “Alyssa, your father… there’s been a car ident. He didn’t

    survive.”

    Alyssa’s world copsed.

    She’d been counting on her dad to bring home that new doll she’d begged for. How could he be gone? They’d just talked yesterday,ughing over the phone.

    At the funeral, for once, Landon didn’t poke fun.

    d in ck, Alyssa huddled in a corner out of her mother’s sight, her sobs muffled.

    But someone found her anyway.

    “Hey, Aly,” Landon said softly, his voice almost a whisper.

    Alyssa didn’t turn, her shoulders trembling with quiet cries. The sound tugged at Landon’s teenage heart, a flicker of unexpected tenderness.

    “Stop crying, okay? I’lly off you from now on,” he said, his tone awkward but sincere.

    However, no words could heal the wound of losing her father

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    Landon didn’t try again. He just sat beside her, silent, keeping herpany as she cried from sunset until the sky turned

    ck.

    When Alyssa’s mother, Elena, finally found them, Alyssa wiped

    her face and ran to her.

    “Mom, I’m here!”

    She didn’t so much as nce back at Landon.

    For a long time after that, the two hardly saw each other.

    When they crossed paths again, Alyssa was different. She was quieter and more withdrawn. The fearless, mischievous little princess seemed to have dimmed.

    Landon heard about Elena’s remarriage and could sense Alyssa’s growing resentment.

    During Thanksgiving, Zane and the others threw a big birthday bash for Luna.

    Alyssa and Luna shed, and Alyssa stormed off, locking herself in her room, refusing to attend the party.

    She felt small, forgotten.

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    It was Thanksgiving, and her parents were nowhere to be

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    found.

    Her family was fawning over the person she loathed most.

    Curled up on her bed, Alyssa’s eyes welled up again.

    She used to scoff at Luna’s tears. Now, she felt she was no

    different.

    A sudden knock at her window startled her.

    Peering out, she saw Landon perched outside. She flung open the window, and Landon climbed in, all gangly confidence.

    “What, you pulling a heist?” Alyssa quipped, her voice wobbly but sharp.

    Landon grinned, mussing her hair with a yful roughness. “Get your head out of the clouds, Alyssa. I brought you some turkey. It is my mom’s recipe. Give it a try.”

    Alyssa stared at the food, her throat tightening as tears threatened to spill.

    Landon’s grin faltered, a sh of panic in his eyes. “Whoa, you crying because you’re that hungry?”

    i“/iYou’re so annoying!” Alyssa snapped, though the heat in her 5/10

    tone sounded more like an attempt to hide her emotions.

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    Landon always knew how to kill a moment.

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    Alyssa took a bite of the turkey, then tilted her head. “Why the window? What’s with the grand entrance?”

    Landon scratched his head, a sheepish grin spreading. “Thought it’d be more… epic this way.”

    “I’m heading out. Eat up, and no more waterworks, got it?” he said, moving to leave.

    Alyssa bit her lip, watching him mber back out the window with stubborn determination. “Landon, thanks!” she called

    after him.

    Landon paused on the sill, tossing her a soft smile. “Anytime.”

    It was probably the first time she had willingly thanked him.

    Downstairs, Alden caught Landon leaping from the window, his face a mix of amusement and confusion. “Landon, what’s

    with the acrobatics?”

    Landon dusted off his hands, shing a grin. “Just training for the long jump. Thought I’d see how far I could go starting from the second floor.”

    “See ya!” he called, striding off.

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    Teenage boys, always chasing that cool factor.

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    Alden shook his head and went to check on Alyssa, but she was already asleep, so he left her be.

    XXXXX

    At home, Alyssa kept to herself, opening up only to her grandfather, Allen.

    “Grandpa, I want to board at school,” she said, her voice sweet and pleading.

    Allen’s eyes widened in mock outrage. “Board? And who’s gonna bake you those little treats you love?”

    Alyssa pouted, “I just don’t like Luna. She drives me up the wall, and I don’t want to deal with her.”

    Allen sighed, softening, “What’s got you so against her?”

    “I just don’t like her,” Alyssa mumbled, unable to pin down one reason among the many.

    “Alright, you’re staying put,” Allen said firmly. “You don’t have to hang out with her. You’ve got me, right?”

    Alyssa let the boarding idea drop, but the summer before high

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    school, someone ratted her out to Allen about a supposed boyfriend.

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    “Luna, did you snitch to Grandpa?” Alyssa demanded, her eyes shing.

    Luna looked innocent, wide–eyed. “Alyssa, it wasn’t me. I didn’t say anything.”

    Alyssa’s one–day fling was crushed under Allen’s watchful eye.

    “Grandpa, who told you?” she huffed, cheeks puffed out in frustration.

    Allen gave her a stern look. “Does it matter? You’re fifteen, Alyssa. No time for silly crushes. Wait till after your SATs— when you’re eighteen, I’ll ease up.”

    Alyssa barricaded herself in her room again.

    What her family didn’t know was that her “boyfriend” was just a study rival.

    Most of their conversations had been about homework.

    Alyssa’s secret goal was simply to learn from him and take first ce in the ss rankings.

    Now her n was toast.

    NOWO

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    “Sorry, we’re done. My grandpa doesn’t want me hanging out with you,” she told the boy, her voice t.

    “Alyssa, what if we keep it secret? I really like you,” that boy said, his voice tinged with desperation.

    “Nope,” Alyssa replied, shutting the door on her brief taste of

    romance.

    Unbeknownst to her, it was a teenage boy who’d tipped off Allen.

    And for once, Luna took the fall for someone else’s move.

    *****

    Yearster, Landon was rocking his daughter to sleep while Alyssa scrolled through her phone nearby.

    “Dewitt sent me a wedding invite,” she said, frowning in confusion.

    Landon’s eyes sharpened.

    He kept his voice calm and asked, “Who’s Dewitt?”

    Alyssa shrugged. “Some guy from high school. Always got first your ssi./ii” /i

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    “You going?” Landon asked, his tone casual but probing.

    “Nah,” Alyssa said. “Haven’t talked to him in forever.”

    Landon turned away, lips curving in a sly smile. “Smart move. Sounds like a nobody.”

    He nced at their daughter. “Right, Dolly?”

    Dolores blinked her big, sparkling eyes, cooing in agreement with her doting dad, “–ya!”

    Landon’s grin grew. He knew his little girl would support him.

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