Ranita was not only sober now, but also filled with anger like a volcano erupting. A group of grown men, adding up to hundreds of years old, were actually fighting. It was unbearable to watch! Ranita turned around and stormed out the door.
The room fell silent.
Jedidiah stood in the position closest to the door and was the first to react by following her outside. “Ranita! Where are you going?”
“I’m going home!” Ranita roared, feeling extremely guilty for venting her emotions on Jedidiah.
“I’m sorry!” Jedidiah was deeply touched. When Chole returned to the Bowman family when Ranita was fifteen years old, she had never been angry or quarreled with him again. They were no longer as close as they used to be!
In fact, Jedidiah preferred it if Ranita still acted like she did before: reckless and carefree; getting angry whenever she wanted; acting silly whenever she wanted; being cute whenever she wanted…
“It’s my fault…” Jedidiah reached out and hugged her gently.
“Jedidiah, let her go!” Brendon followed them outside and saw them hugging each other without hesitation. He immediately pulled her away from him and hid her behind.
Jedidiah gritted his teeth,”Brendon! I won’t hold you accountable for what happened earlier because of Ranita. If you dare bother my sister again, I’ll beat you up every time I see you!”
“That’s right! If he bullies your sister again next time, Jedidiah, you call me immediately, and we’ll all be there!” Augustus came out too just to join in on the fun.
Ranita glared at him angrily,” Augustus, don’t say anything.”
“What did I say? I just said… Ranita, you’ve grown up now. How do you talk to your brother? When you were a child, you used to follow me around asking me secretly buy snacks for you…”
Augustus looked at Brendon dissatisfiedly. “What’s so good about this guy? Why are you helping him?”
Ranita thought that Augustus was here just to stir things up!
Didn’t he see that Jedidiah almost exploded with anger already? He was still adding fuel to the fire here!
“Let’s go home, Ranita!” Jedidiah extended his hand.
“Don’t go. Ranita, hold onto me instead.” Brendon grabbed her finger and stared at her with dark eyes like rolling waves trying to engulf her into them.
Ranita was caught between two difficult choices. If she went with Jedidiah and left, Brendon would definitely be furious. But if she went with Brendon, then she would upset Jedidiah as well. It was a lose-lose situation. Ranita was feeling very troubled inside.
“Oh my god! Cynthia, I finally found you!” George rushed over, his body reeking of a mix of perfume and alcohol that was slightly overwhelming. But Ranita didn’t care and stood by George’s side. “George, it’s getting late. Let me take you back to your hotel.”
The best option at this point was not to choose either side.
George looked at Ranita and Jedidiah, then at the several large men standing in the hallway. Just as he was about to say something, Jedidiah spoke up, “Mr. Carr, we’ll trouble you for a bit.”
George understood what was going on and smiled, “I’m actually heading back too. Let’s go, Cynthia!”
“Mr. Bowman, we’re leaving first. Take your time!”
Without looking back, Ranita left with George in tow.
Brendon had a dark expression on his face while Jedidiah wasn’t pleased either but at least his prized possession hadn’t been taken away by someone else.
Jedidiah sent Augustus and the others away before turning to Brendon, “Let’s talk.”
“Good timing because I want to talk with you too.” Brendon glared coldly at Jedidiah.
Their gazes met like two planets colliding into each other in an instant explosion of sparks.