I snapped my head around, flashing Noreen a smile.
"Long time no see... Noreen."
The shard in my hand plunged hard into her arm. Blood sprayed, blurring my vision in crimson.
Chaos erupted instantly.
Screams pierced the hall, shouts for security rose above the din, while whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd.
"Who the hell is that? Does he have a death wish, stabbing Miss Noreen like that?!"
"Didn’t Maxwell say Miss Noreen threw out a Carter orphan five years ago—her so-called husband? Don’t tell me... that’s him?"
"Doesn't look like it."
"I heard that orphan had no one—no family, no friends. Just one dog. And Maxwell had it tortured to death overnight. Didn't everyone in high society see the video? They skinned the poor mutt alive!"
"Wait—look! Miss Noreen is smiling!"
As blood kept seeping from Noreen's arm, Maxwell cried out, "Noreen!"
Ignoring his own head wound, he rushed to her side. He shielded her with his body, glaring at me with all the fury he could muster.
"Colin! How dare you hurt Noreen! The Carter family raised you for twenty years, and this is how you repay them? Like an ungrateful wolf? Apologize to Noreen right now!"
I looked at Maxwell, barking like the head of the Carter clan itself, and laughed. Then I turned my gaze on Noreen.
"Five years, and you've raised yourself a dog who'll bare his teeth for you. Satisfied, Noreen?"
Maxwell's face drained of color.
Immediately, Noreen shoved him behind her, just like five years ago.
"Colin," her voice was cold, "whatever we had ended five years ago."
"I've said it before: my heart belongs to Maxwell. I never loved you, and I never will. I don't care how you've survived these past five years, or how you managed to sneak an invitation to tonight's banquet."
Her eyes cut through me like ice. "But you will never step foot in the Carter family again. I won't let you ruin Maxwell's life."
She looked down at me with merciless gaze.
"I was willing to ignore you tonight, as if you didn't exist. But since you dared to hurt Maxwell, you'll pay the price."
She clapped her hands, and security immediately swarmed in, circling me. One of them handed her a knife. Noreen took it, waiting for my answer.
I laughed.
"Noreen, do you really think the world revolves around you?"
I pointed to the knife in her hand.
"If you've got the guts, you'd better finish me off today. Because if you don't—"
I stepped closer, my voice dropping into a deadly whisper. "—when it's my turn to finish you... don't you dare beg on your knees."
Laughter burst from my throat, echoing through the now-silent banquet hall. Noreen's face darkened, her body trembling with rage.
And at that moment, I remembered—five years ago, she had made me tremble the same way.
Back then, she had used Darcy—my only companion, my dog—to break me.
She locked him in an iron cage, gagged him so his cries were muffled, and forced me to kneel. Each time I refused to beg, the blade cut deeper into his body.
I had been proud, unyielding—until then. Watching Darcy writhe in agony shattered me completely.
"Noreen!"
I had sobbed, my voice hoarse. "Please—don't hurt Darcy!"
"I was wrong! I admit it!"
I had slammed my head into the ground over and over, my forehead splitting, blood mixing with tears.
"I know I was wrong! I'm begging you!"
All I wanted... my only wish... was to take Darcy and leave the Carter family forever.
I had pleaded until my voice broke.
"Please... let him go. Let Darcy live."
