Free Web NovelChapter 65: Chapter 65: Jealousy
Seeing the pity in Holly Sinclair’s eyes, Brandon Sterling gave a faint smile.
"Business always has its ups and downs. It wasn’t your fault alone," Holly Sinclair said indignantly, feeling it was unfair to him.
He was once the general manager of the Sterling Group. But a year ago, after a project went wrong, his authority was completely stripped, and his grandfather exiled him overseas to manage a branch office.
He was sent to the middle of nowhere for a whole year.
"It was my fault... I’m just not as ruthless and decisive as Tristan," Brandon Sterling said, his eyelids drooping as he let out a bitter laugh.
"Brandon, don’t think that way. There’s nothing wrong with being a normal person with a heart," Holly Sinclair quickly advised.
Tristan Sterling was indeed exceptionally capable. In just two short years, he had managed the Sterling Group so well that it was orderly and thriving.
But the more iron-fisted a man was, the less human he seemed.
’He probably saves all his tenderness for Vivian Linton,’ she thought.
’That must be why he’s always so cold and ruthless with me.’
"Do you really think so?"
Brandon Sterling’s gaze was fixed on her, his brilliant eyes full of hidden meaning.
"Of course!"
Holly Sinclair nodded emphatically, then carefully applied the ointment for him. "Brandon, why did you come back?"
’It might be tough out there, but at least he wouldn’t be despised.’
’I’m trying desperately to escape the Sterling family’s grasp, so why would he walk right back into the lion’s den?’
"Because this is my home," Brandon Sterling said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"But they..."
’...don’t treat you like family!’
The words were too cruel. Holly Sinclair couldn’t bring herself to say them.
But Brandon Sterling just smiled.
As if he knew what she was thinking, he affectionately ruffled her hair and said earnestly, "Holly, you have to understand, blood is thicker than water. Family is always family."
Hearing this, Holly Sinclair said nothing more.
She silently continued to apply the ointment.
’But her heart was a whirlwind of complicated emotions.’
’Different circumstances lead to different choices.’
’You have to respect other people’s decisions.’
「Suddenly—」
A large hand shot out.
It seized Holly Sinclair’s wrist, yanking her away from Brandon Sterling.
"Ah!"
Holly Sinclair was pulled so hard she stumbled right into the man’s arms.
Her nose slammed into his chest, and the pain instantly brought tears to her eyes.
She looked up in fury, meeting a pair of cold, predatory black eyes. "Tristan Sterling, what are you doing? Let go of me!"
She twisted her wrist, trying to break free, but the more she struggled, the tighter his grip became.
"Tristan, you’re hurting Holly."
Seeing this, Brandon Sterling’s brow furrowed slightly. He quickly stepped in to intervene.
The concerned look on Brandon’s face only made Tristan Sterling inexplicably furious.
His black eyes flashed with a cold light as he sneered at Brandon Sterling, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Did you already forget what Mother just said? Did it go in one ear and out the other?"
Brandon Sterling’s face stiffened, and he froze on the spot.
"Then let me repeat it for you—"
Tristan Sterling paused, then violently yanked Holly Sinclair, who was trying to squirm out of his embrace, back against him. He wrapped an arm tightly around her waist, declaring his claim. "Don’t covet what isn’t yours!"
The words were a clear double entendre.
The temperature seemed to plummet, and a chill filled the air.
The two men stared each other down.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, ready to snap at any moment.
「A moment later—」
Brandon Sterling gave a helpless smile. "Tristan, are you misunderstanding something?"
"Misunderstanding?"
Tristan Sterling sneered, his eyes turning vicious. "If I’d shown up any later, would you have stopped at just holding hands?"
Holly Sinclair shuddered.
She was so shocked she forgot to struggle, staring at the man before her in disbelief.
’What did he mean by that?’
’Is he accusing me of having something with Brandon?’
’What does he take me for?’
’Does he think everyone is as shameless as he is?!’
’What isn’t "yours"...’
’So in his eyes, am I just an object?’
Brandon Sterling said urgently, "Tristan, you’ve really misunderstood. Holly was just helping me—"
"Brandon, don’t bother explaining."
Holly Sinclair cut him off. Swallowing the ache in her heart, she said with cold sarcasm, "To the filthy mind, everything is filthy."
At her words, Tristan Sterling’s expression turned terrifyingly grim.
"Who are you calling filthy?"
He leaned close to her face, his black eyes narrowed dangerously.
His sinister voice was thick with menace.
Holly Sinclair let out a contemptuous laugh. "What? You’re allowed to sling mud at others, but no one’s allowed to tell the truth?!"
Tristan Sterling was furious.
He grabbed her and started to drag her away.
"Ah! Tristan Sterling, stop being a lunatic!" Holly Sinclair staggered as he pulled her, utterly exasperated.
He spun around, cinched his arm around her waist, and breathed coldly against her ear, "You’d better think this through. Are you coming with me, or are you staying here?"
Holly Sinclair’s heart skipped a beat.
’He was threatening her.’
’His unspoken threat was clear: If you don’t come with me, I’ll kiss you right in front of him!’
’Tristan Sterling has really lost his mind,’ Holly thought.
’The kind of crazy where he has no shame, no face to lose.’
’Forget it. I’m not going to argue with a madman.’
Holly Sinclair gave Brandon Sterling an apologetic smile. "Brandon, I’ll be going now—"
Before she could finish, Tristan Sterling forcibly dragged her away.
The man’s movements were rough, showing no tenderness whatsoever.
Holly was so dizzy from being dragged that the world was spinning by the time he shoved her into the car.
The black Maybach quickly sped away from the Sterling Manor.
By the time Holly Sinclair came to her senses, the car was already halfway up the mountain road.
In the cramped space, the atmosphere was tense and oppressive.
She stole a glance at the man behind the wheel.
His handsome face was cold and severe, and he radiated a frightening chill, like a bloodthirsty beast.
’Dangerous!’
"Tristan Sterling..."
Holly Sinclair swallowed nervously and called his name softly.
SCREECH— freёwebnovel.com
Tristan Sterling slammed on the brakes.
The car let out a sharp, piercing shriek that tore through the silent night.
Caught off guard, Holly Sinclair’s body lunged forward with the momentum.
THUD.
Her forehead slammed into the center console, the pain making her eyes water.
"Ah..."
She instinctively clutched her forehead, rubbing it hard to ease the pain. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
She was so angry she wanted to scream at him, but before she could open her mouth, with a CLICK, he unbuckled her seatbelt.
The next second, he was pulling her over from the passenger seat.
She was forced to sit on his lap.
Trapped between his chest and the steering wheel.
"You—"
Flustered and frightened by his aggressive display, Holly Sinclair was about to say something when he crushed his lips against hers.
Tristan Sterling struggled to suppress his rage, capturing her lips and tasting them greedily.
Holly Sinclair’s back was pressed against the steering wheel, digging painfully into her flesh.
"I told you to stay away from him! Didn’t you understand me?"
He buried his face in the smooth, pale skin of her neck, branding her with one mark after another.
His cold voice sounded as if it had come from Hell itself.
It was enough to make one’s blood run cold.
"How... how far?" Her lips trembled, but her eyes blazed with defiance and resentment.
"As far as possible!" he growled through gritted teeth.
Holly Sinclair laughed, her words laced with sarcasm. "Then would you be so kind as to send me to the moon, Mr. Sterling? Would that be far enough?"
"How about..." A cruel, sinister smile touched Tristan Sterling’s lips. "I send him up there instead?"
"Tristan Sterling!!"
