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."