Free Web NovelChapter 86: Chapter 86: At Worst, a Fight to the Bitter End
A cold shout rang out as Holly Sinclair’s hand was seized.
Sharp pain shot through her wrist.
Holly Sinclair didn’t have to look up to know it was Tristan Sterling. It couldn’t be anyone else.
She looked up, meeting his cold gaze.
Tristan Sterling’s eyes were glacial. The chill emanating from him was so intense it was like being plunged into an icehouse.
"Tristan..."
Vivian Linton immediately ducked behind Tristan Sterling, calling his name in a choked voice before turning to Holly Sinclair with an aggrieved look. "Holly, you really need to work on that temper of yours. Megan and I were just trying to reason with you. It’s one thing not to appreciate it, but how could you lay a hand on us...?"
Holly Sinclair paid her no mind, not even bothering to spare her a glance.
"Let go!"
Holly Sinclair gritted her teeth, trying to wrench her arm away from Tristan Sterling, but his grip was like an iron vise, making it impossible for her to break free.
Tristan Sterling glanced at Connor Grant.
Connor Grant immediately dispersed the onlookers.
"Apologize!"
Once the crowd had dispersed, Tristan Sterling stared at Holly Sinclair and commanded coldly.
"And why should I?" Holly Sinclair scoffed.
"Because you hurt them."
"That’s because they started it with their insults!" Holly Sinclair shot back, fighting her corner as a bone-chilling coldness emanated from her eyes.
Tristan Sterling sneered. He shot a mocking glance at Brandon Sterling, his every word a dagger. "Were they wrong?"
Holly Sinclair froze.
She stared at him in disbelief.
’Is he deaf?’
’Vivian Linton publicly humiliated his own flesh and blood, and he’s still defending her?’
’Even if he and Brandon don’t get along, they’re still brothers! Blood is thicker than water!’
’Is Vivian Linton really more important to him than his own family?’
Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Brandon Sterling pressed a hand to his bleeding forehead and took a step toward Vivian Linton, preparing to bow. "Miss Linton, I—"
"Brandon!"
Holly Sinclair’s sharp cry stopped him.
She violently shook off Tristan Sterling’s hand and pulled Brandon Sterling behind her.
Shielding him.
’She would never allow Brandon to bow down and apologize to a manipulative bitch like Vivian Linton for her sake.’
’She hadn’t done anything wrong!’
’Why should she be the one to apologize?!’
Watching Holly Sinclair shield Brandon Sterling behind her, a cruel smirk touched the corner of Tristan Sterling’s lips.
His gaze turned to ice.
"Apologize. Don’t make me say it a third time."
A storm was brewing in his eyes, and his voice was as cold as the dead of winter.
"Never!" Holly Sinclair straightened her spine, her reply sharp and resolute.
"Say that again." His dark eyes narrowed dangerously. free𝑤ebnovel.com
"Not. A. Chance!" she repeated, biting out each word with unshakable resolve.
Tristan Sterling laughed.
He leaned in close, his lips brushing her ear as he exhaled a cold, sinister breath. "Feeling brave now that you have someone in your corner? Believe it or not, I can make sure that by tomorrow, you never see him again."
His voice was so low that only she could hear.
The color drained from Holly Sinclair’s face.
’He was threatening her.’
’To be precise, he was using Brandon to threaten her.’
She looked up at the cold, ruthless man, the corners of her eyes slowly turning red. "What are you planning to do?"
"Protecting him right in front of my face? Am I just a ghost to you?" he seethed, his predatory gaze both domineering and dangerous. "I sent him away on a business trip for two months. I can just as easily make it two years. Or twenty. Or even for the rest of his life."
’Despicable! Shameless!’
Holly Sinclair wanted to curse at him, but her throat felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, and she couldn’t utter a single word.
All her anger and grief finally melted away, leaving only a bitter smile.
"Tristan Sterling, you’re really going to force me to apologize to her, aren’t you?"
She laughed, her eyes red-rimmed with a hurt and sorrow she couldn’t conceal. "You just have to serve up my dignity for her to trample on, don’t you?"
"And she’s just supposed to let you hit her for fun?" Tristan Sterling bit out coldly.
The air seemed to freeze.
A sharp pain seized Holly Sinclair’s heart.
The faintest hint of a smile touched Vivian Linton’s lips.
Seeing Holly’s pain, Brandon Sterling couldn’t stand it any longer and immediately bowed his head toward Vivian Linton. "Miss Linton, I’m sorry!"
"Brandon!"
Holly Sinclair tried to stop him, but it was too late.
She thought that would finally satisfy Vivian Linton, but who could have known—
"I don’t accept it..."
Vivian Linton whimpered from behind Tristan Sterling, her voice choked with grievance.
"Exactly! The one who hit her should be the one to kneel and apologize!" Megan Grayson, ever the mind-reader for Vivian Linton, immediately piped up.
Tristan Sterling turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Megan Grayson.
Megan Grayson instantly felt as if she’d been plunged into an ice bath. Terrified by her cousin’s murderous glare, she involuntarily shrank back.
She lowered her eyes, not daring to speak again.
"Kneel and apologize?" Holly Sinclair stared intently at Tristan Sterling.
Tristan Sterling’s lips formed a thin line. He said nothing, simply returning her cold stare.
When Tristan Sterling remained silent after a few seconds, a flicker of disappointment went through Vivian Linton.
’She knew Tristan wouldn’t actually make Holly Sinclair kneel to her.’
’It made sense, she supposed.’
’After all, Holly Sinclair was his wife. If she knelt in public, he would lose face too.’
Vivian Linton immediately adopted a magnanimous air, speaking in a soft, conciliatory tone. "You don’t have to kneel. Holly, as long as you sincerely apologize to me, a simple ’I’m sorry’ will be enough."
Holly Sinclair shot her a look, a silent, cold sneer on her face.
She turned her gaze back to the stone-faced man.
"Tristan Sterling, you can forget about ever making me bow my head to a bitch. Do whatever you want. If worst comes to worst..."
She bit out the words, pausing slightly before rising onto her tiptoes to whisper hotly in his ear, "...we’ll take each other down!"
Without waiting for his reaction, she turned, grabbed Brandon Sterling’s arm, and walked away.
"Stop!"
Tristan Sterling roared.
His handsome face was livid with rage.
Holly Sinclair paid him no mind and didn’t look back.
"Holly Sinclair!" Tristan Sterling started after her.
But he had barely taken a step when Vivian Linton’s pained cry came from behind him. "Tristan, ah—!"
Vivian Linton had tried to grab him, but had stumbled and fallen instead.
Tristan Sterling immediately spun around and rushed back to Vivian Linton’s side.
...
Holly Sinclair came out of the pharmacy.
She got in the car, took out antiseptic and gauze, and began to treat the wound on Brandon Sterling’s forehead.
Thankfully, it had only broken the skin and wasn’t serious.
"This might sting a little. Try to bear it," Holly Sinclair said.
"Mm." freewēbnoveℓ.com
Brandon Sterling nodded, but the moment the antiseptic touched the wound, he couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath. "Sss..."
Seeing this, Holly Sinclair immediately softened her touch.
"Holly, this is all my fault. I asked you to be my date and made Tristan so angry." Brandon Sterling looked intently at Holly Sinclair’s solemn expression, his own face riddled with guilt. "How about I go and explain things to him?"
"Explain what?" Holly Sinclair snorted dismissively as she carefully bandaged Brandon’s wound. "Weren’t you the one who said that a clear conscience fears no accusation?"
’He’s the same way with Vivian Linton!’
’When has he ever explained himself to me?’
’If I try to explain, not only will he refuse to believe me, he’ll probably think my defensiveness is a sign of a guilty conscience.’
"But..." Brandon Sterling said, worried.
"He’s filthy himself, so he assumes everyone else is just as filthy. My conscience is clear. There’s nothing to explain," Holly Sinclair said coldly.
Seeing her resolute stance and knowing that further persuasion would be useless, Brandon Sterling sighed helplessly and dropped the subject.
Just as she finished dressing the wound, Holly Sinclair’s phone suddenly rang.
She answered it casually while packing away the gauze and antiseptic.
"Hello...? Grandpa?!"
