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!”

you look at these star-crossed lovers! I have got to be the villain for trying to separate Romeo and Juliet

Deirdre’s spine. She knew he was broiling now-she could hear

please!” she tried again,

going to get her into the car?! Or

Don’t – Brendan! Don’t hurt him! It’s against the law!

Her strength was laughable compared to that of a professional bodyguard. To Brendan’s men,

and tossed her inside as easily as

the car. She could not hear anything from a distance, so she punched the window, screaming, “Please, let me out! I’m begging you! You

So what if they were complicit? Not a soul in the entire city