Bowen's neck veins bulged as he kicked open the door. "Brice, what do you mean by this?"
Brice slowly shielded me behind him, and his gaze was icy.
"She was in a relationship with me for seven years. Everyone in the city knows she's my woman," Bowen shouted hysterically.
"Your woman?" Brice finally lifted his eyes, and his gaze was sharp and piercing. "Just because she's been with you for seven years, does that give you the right to humiliate and trample on her with another woman?"
Bowen's face turned pale, but he stubbornly defended himself. "That's between her and me. But you, are you really going to pick up the woman I played with? Do you want to make the Green family the laughingstock of the city?"
"Bang!" Before he could finish, a dull thud interrupted his shouting.
Brice didn't waste any words. He punched Bowen hard in the face.
Bowen staggered back and crashed into the doorframe. Blood immediately appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He clutched his face and looked up in disbelief. Brice had always been aloof and proud and had rarely spoken harshly to him since they were kids.
"You hit me?" Bowen spat out a mouthful of blood, and his eyes were fierce.
Brice looked down at Bowen and exuded an intimidating aura. "If you can't say anything proper, I won't mind shutting you up. Remember, she's your sister-in-law, and you can't be rude to her."
Bowen was pushed back by the chilling aura and took half a step back. He turned to James, who had hurried over at the noise and seemed to clutch at a lifeline. "Grandpa, are you just going to stand by while Brice acts so recklessly? Leyla and I are engaged. You arranged it back then!"
"Enough!" James's cane struck the floor heavily. His authoritative voice commanded the room. "The agreement with the Yates family was for Leyla to be the future daughter-in-law of the Green family. She is resilient and smart. As long as she marries into the Green family, I will be happy. I don't care which grandson she marries."
James's eyes were sharp as he pointed at Brice. "Over the years, Brice has expanded the Green Group's business threefold. And you? You kept playing around with women and causing trouble. Every time Brice has to clean up your mess. This is what the Green family owes Brice."
"I don't agree!" Bowen shouted, and his voice almost broke from anger.
Brice let out a cold snort, and his gaze was indifferent. "It doesn't matter whether you agree or not. I brought her here today to tell everyone..."
He paused, and his tone became firm and irrefutable. "I've chosen her, and no matter who opposes, I marry only Leyla for the rest of my life."
James squinted, and a flicker of nostalgia and relief flashed through his eyes. He murmured, "Just like me in my youth, once I've made up my mind, I never waver..."
Then, his expression turned stern. "Leyla, as long as you're willing, you can be with Brice from now on. If anyone dares to wrong you even a little in the family, they are going against me."
"Grandpa!" Bowen's roar was drowned out by Brice's actions.
Ignoring all the gazes, Brice bent down and picked me up in his arms.
As my body lifted off the floor, I let out a cry and instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck.
His familiar scent surrounded me, and he looked down at me. His eyes were not as cold as ever. They looked so warm. "Don't be afraid. I'll take you home."
Brice carried me out of the old mansion, and the sunlight outside was perfect.
Behind us came Bowen's unwilling roars and the crashing of objects.
Through Brice's broad shoulders, I glimpsed Rosie forgotten in a corner. Her face was pale.
