Elena glanced at him coolly. “I didn’t ask to come here; you called me. If anyone is being humiliated, you brought it upon yourselves.”
Elena had long since fallen out with the Sterlings. She wasn’t afraid of burning bridges.
Julian Sterling, the fourth brother, sneered. “Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Dylan was Emily’s fiancé to begin with. I advise you to be smart, step aside, and return him to Emily. Max is the one meant for you!”
William Sterling, the fifth brother, chimed in. “Exactly. Since the Holts said you were the one originally engaged to him, you should just marry into the Holt family! Don’t delay my sister’s happiness!”
Emily beamed, delighted to have her brothers rallying behind her. She looked at Elena with triumphant smugness.
Elena stared them down, her voice stern. “You certainly have a way with high-sounding nonsense! I am not a soft persimmon you can squash at will. I am no longer a Sterling, so what right do you have to dictate my life? Putting aside whether I’d give him up, even if I did, do you think Dylan would look twice at a group of heartless ingrates like you?”
“Who are you calling names, you bitch!” Julian roared.
He raised his hand and lunged at Elena, intending to strike her. Elena caught his wrist in mid-air with a snap.
Julian froze, realizing he couldn’t move his arm. What was happening? How did Elena have such terrifying grip strength?
“You dare raise a hand against me? Who do you think you are?” Elena looked at him with utter disdain.
“Enough! Stop it, both of you!” Melissa shouted, her displeasure evident.
Elena released his hand, shoving him back slightly.
“Elena, we’ve tried reasoning with you, but you refuse to listen! Don’t you care about the Whelan family? If you offend the Sterlings, your family won’t have a day of peace!” Julian threatened.
Back to threats?
Elena’s gaze turned as cold as ice shards, piercing straight through Julian. He felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.
“No peace? I think the ones who should be worried about their peace are the Sterlings! I advise you to look after your own crumbling house first.”
Elena finished speaking and turned to leave.
Julian reached out to block her path. “You’re not going anywhere! Unless you agree to give the fiancé to my sister today, don’t even think about leaving!”

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