Resent, Reject, Regret

Chapter 44 What a Pair of Star-Crossed Lovers! Brendan turned back to Sterling. “I’ve got some unfinished business with this *sshole over here,” he snarled. “I’m itching to see if I can beat a man’s lust for another man’s woman out of him!” Deirdre’s heart missed a beat. Panic possessed her, and she immediately clawed at Brendan’s arm. “No, what are you planning to do, Brendan?! This is between the two of us! You can shout and throw punches, but please… don’t drag an outsider into this!”

Her instinct to defend Sterling made Brendan’s eyes grow colder. “An outsider?” he parroted mockingly, smirking. “I don’t think any woman would happily elope with an outsider, do you? And now he’s suddenly just some random what’s-his-name to you? Oh my God, Deirdre McKinnon, aren’t you a callous b*tch! You could murder Sterling with heartache alone, my dear.”

Deirdre’s eyes watered again. Her-heartless? Who was the heartless one among them? What had happened to the man who had appeared at that charity event all those years ago? The man with the kindest smile ever?

Had she hallucinated that? Or had she fallen in love with an impostor?

How could he feel absolutely nothing for her-not even a smidge of compassion-despite what they had shared throughout those two years? “I was wrong, okay? I was wrong, Brendan! I won’t ever see him or talk to him again! I just want you to let him go!” she shrieked before falling to the floor, groveling in tears, her dowdy appearance long forgotten. Sterling’s eyes were red with tears. He would have dived for her if it were not for the muscular bodyguards in his way. “Don’t do this, Dee!” he cried. “Don’t debase yourself like this before this Devil’s spawn! He’s below

you!”

almost deserved a standing ovation! “Ngawww, would you look at these star-crossed lovers! I have got to be the villain for trying to

was broiling now-she could hear

please!” she

into the car?! Or am I supposed to do

hurt him! It’s against the law! Don’t hurt him!”

mind as she struggled to no avail. Her strength was laughable compared to that of a professional bodyguard. To Brendan’s men, she was almost

the car and tossed her inside as easily as one chucked

hear anything from a distance, so she punched the window, screaming, “Please, let me out! I’m begging you! You know battery is illegal, don’t you? Your inaction will make all of you complicit in the eyes of the law!

inmate in a mental asylum. Complicit? So what if they were complicit? Not