“Brendon, you go back first. I’ll talk to you later,” Ranita said before being pulled away abruptly.
“Come with me!” Brendon’s calm demeanor shattered as he grabbed Ranita’s hand with a cold expression.
Jedidiah stepped in front of them and glared at Brendon. “Let go of Ranita!”
“Get out of the way!” Brendon shot Jedidiah a sharp look, and Caleb immediately stepped forward to intervene. “Mr. Bowman, let them talk it out.”
Ranita was dragged into an empty corner and before she could react, her back hit the wall. The man’s huge shadow loomed over her, trapping her in his narrow embrace as his hot breath collided with hers.
“Ranita, are you so lowly that you like him this much?” he asked angrily.
“Do you even know who Jedidiah is? Following him around without any status or identity – what do you want?”
After roaring in anger, Brendon pinched her chin like a wild beast that had lost its mind and bit down on her lips hard enough to make them hurt.
Ranita’s breath was cut off, and the cold scent of grapefruit mixed with her burning body temperature, becoming rich and ambiguous.
But her lips hurt.
The smell of rust filled the air, and Ranita’s long-sealed heart seemed to have cracked open, revealing old wounds that bled once again.
Ranita found it hard to catch her breath. She wanted to push him away, but she was also immersed in this extreme pain. At this moment, she clearly knew that no matter how much time passed, she would always love Brendon.
Her breathing gradually calmed down.
Brendon’s lips had traces of someone’s blood, and his hand tightly gripped her waist. His deep and cold eyes looked at her, seemingly bottomless.
Her heart was beating fast.
She wanted to explain, but then what? If it was destined that she couldn’t be with Brendon, what would all the explanations achieve?
“Ranita…”
“Brendon, you’re right! I am this lowly. I like him so much that I’m willing to follow him without any status or recognition. So, please leave. Don’t disturb me and Ayaan anymore!”
“Ayaan and I won’t disturb your life either. If you’re worried, I can sign an agreement with you. Ayaan won’t claim a single penny of your property, nor will he take anything from you and Shannon’s child.”
“Brendon, I want to stay by the side of the person I love. I feel good about it. Please don’t interfere with me.”
Ranita couldn’t hold back, and the final notes of her voice trembled uncontrollably.
She thought she was fine. Four years should have been enough for her to face Brendon with indifference, treating him like an ordinary ex-husband. She could treat him like a friend. She repeated this to herself over and over, but now she couldn’t pretend anymore.
“I am no longer your wife, and you have no right to control me.” Ranita swallowed the bitterness, her brows and eyes cold. “Let go of me!”
“Ranita!” Brendon was infuriated, his heart burning with anger. “I’m not stopping you from liking anyone, that’s your freedom!”
“But if you insist on acting unilaterally, I will take Ayaan away!”
Ranita’s breath stagnated, and she stood frozen in place with a rigid spine.
Was Brendon threatening her?
Was Brendon trying to take Ayaan away from her?
That was absolutely unacceptable! Ranita looked at the man with an icy expression, feeling a chill in her heart.
“Brendon, Ayaan is my child, and I won’t hand him over to you!”
And I definitely won’t let Shannon be his mother.