Abandoned by All I Took It All Back novel Chapter 145

The commotion in the hallway quickly drew gasps from onlookers.

A security guard from the second floor rushed over and tried to pull the enraged Nolan away. But Nolan, fueled by an unknown strength, shoved the guard aside and continued to land punches on Yates's face.

Janina and the other three had no intention of breaking up the fight. They stood to one side, silently cheering Nolan on. Maggie rolled up her sleeves, ready to join the fray, deciding to use her shoe to hit the scumbag's face. The thought had barely formed in her mind before she was already bending down to slip off one of her heels. Why use a shoe? To avoid getting her hands dirty, of course. A man that disgusting wasn't worth her touching.

How dare he mess with her best friend? Shameless! Vile!

But before Maggie could take her first step, Jacqueline heard the noise and rushed out of her room. She threw herself over Yates, shielding him from Nolan's attack.

Nolan's clenched fist froze in mid-air, inches from its target.

No matter how out of control he was, he wouldn't hit a woman.

"Nolan! Are you insane? Why are you hitting my cousin? What is wrong with you?" Jacqueline screamed, her eyes red with fury, looking as if she wanted to kill him. But in an instant, that murderous look vanished, replaced by tears welling in her eyes. She trembled, looking at the bruised and battered Yates with helplessness.

Ordinarily, seeing her like this would have made Nolan's heart ache with pity. A damsel in distress could easily evoke a man's protective instincts. If he hadn't known the truth about them, he too would have been fooled by her act. But now, all he felt was an icy chill that cut to the bone.

To any outsider, of course, it just looked like a sister fiercely protecting her brother.

Nolan lowered his gaze, hiding the emotions in his eyes. He swayed unsteadily and slurred his words. "Coushin? Oh... no, tha's not him! I'm hittin' a dog... a big ol' dog..."

Jacqueline was speechless.

So was everyone else.

Jacqueline, supporting Yates whose face was swollen like a pig's, was furious but had no recourse. If she made a scene, Nolan was just a drunk who didn't know what he was doing. But if she let it go, he would have gotten away with the beating scot-free.

Yates, gritting his teeth against the pain, didn't dare make a move. He hated Nolan with a passion and swore to himself he would make him pay for this, and then some.

Just as Yates was about to say something, Melody chimed in at the perfect moment. "Oh, Nina, you know how Nolan gets when he drinks! Why didn't you get him out of here sooner?"

With that, she knelt beside Yates, her face pale, her eyes welling with tears of sympathy. "Yates, are you in pain? It hurts me so much to see you like this. It's all Nolan's fault! How could he hit you so hard? He's ruined your handsome face."

"Why wasn't it me who got hurt? Seeing you like this is breaking my heart..."

Melody covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking with sobs.