- Annabel? - I heard Bruce say before he approached me.
- Breathe, Annabel! - Aideen said with a worried voice. - Take a deep breath, my sister!
I started coughing when the air returned to my chest and the feeling of fainting began to dissipate.
- Are you all right?" Adelaide asked.
- I'm sorry! I'm sorry! - said looking at Adelaide. - What are you?
- About marrying Bruce? - she repeated it by frowning. - We've been engaged since we were kids.
Without being able to control myself, I started laughing. I took Bruce seriously.
- So, you're a man of war? - I said sarcastically. - To me, you're nothing but a coward, miserable!
- Annabel, it's not what you think! - he said as he stared at me. - I didn't even know that...
There was no time for him to continue his useless speech. Without thinking, I slapped Bruce's face hard. I heard the surprise sigh of those watching, but I didn't care.
- Don't ever come near me again! - ...I ordered, before I fired into the castle...
- Annabel! - Bruce screamed. - Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!
I ignored their appeals and kept running. Now I knew I'd been rejected because he was engaged. Bruce MacCalister was the biggest scoundrel I ever had the displeasure of meeting and would do his best to forget him. To hate him would be my only goal now.
Chapter 12
Bruce
- Annabel! Stop now!
She did not listen to me and, ignoring me, continued to run into the castle. I reached her right at the foot of the main salon staircase. She'd been to Dunhill before, and apparently hadn't forgotten the path she was taking to the upstairs quarters.
- I told you to stop! - he said between his teeth. Holding her left arm, I made her turn to me. - Are you deaf? Didn't you hear me call you?
- I heard him perfectly, but if I really knew myself, I'd know that I don't usually take or take orders. - she returned it in a harsh tone and pulled her arm. - Especially if they come from you.
- Look, it's not exactly what it looks like!
- Oh, yeah? - she said ironically. - Then I must be an idiot, because I hear you're engaged.
I took a deep breath, passing one hand over my face.
- It's okay! It's okay! That's what it looks like, but, at the same time, it's not.
Annabel frowned confusingly. She grunted making mention of starting to climb the steps, but I held her again.
- Let go of me! - she ordered. - I said don't touch me! Remember, I still have that beast!
She pushed me. I took a few steps back when Annabel advanced on me in anger.
- You made me think you were to blame for lying with me outside of me. He made a fool of me when he said he wasn't sorry he kissed me and seduced me. What person would accuse the other for her actions? - she took a break. - It doesn't matter now! The fact is, you lied and hurt me. As bad as it sounds, I never thought you'd be able to do what you did.
Annabel threw up her words. The worst part is she was right. I was cruel in saying those words and this story of Adelaide being my fiancée only reinforced my bad side. Even if I don't have it, it makes Annabel get the wrong impression about me. It just made things even worse.
- Annabel, I know I was very cruel about last night, but I didn't lie that I didn't regret kissing you. - I fired. - I just said that because...
- Why were you engaged? - she retaliated. - Or why did you regret lying with a disgusting MacBride?
Annabel's hate-filled words hit my chest like a dagger, through my flesh and into my heart. She was deeply hurt and it was my fault. I've never thought of her being a MacBride before. She was completely different from Ravenna, Loch and even Roy.
- Don't stoop like this! - I said in a soft, deep voice. - Of course you're not disgusting. You're much more than you think you are.
- I know what I am! - she said between tears. - A dreamy fool!
I closed my eyes hard. I couldn't imagine how much pain I had inflicted on her, until I looked into her eyes.
- I've seen and heard enough. - she sighed. - All I want now is a nice hot bath and a bed, from where I will only come out, when I'm very old and less ashamed to have believed that I could...
She took a break.
- That I could what? - I asked, but Annabel was taking steps backwards and shaking her head from side to side. - That I could what, Annabel?
- Forget it!
With this, Annabel gave me a hateful look and turned around. Holding the bar of the dress she went out the staircase towards the top. I watched as she disappeared from my sight. I closed my eyes, sighing with tiredness. Because of what I said last night, I turned around in bed trying to control my desire to go to her room to ask forgiveness and hug her,
