Chapter 276 Let’s Break Up
Brendan felt like he had been really wronged this time. He'd never suspected Irene had such a talent for causing trouble.
There were too many people around. Brendan couldn't explain. If he did try, it would just seem like he was passing the buck so he remained silent.
Irene tried to hold onto Brendan's arm pitifully but Brendan shook her off.
Irene felt sad that Brendan had no time for her and didn't want to protect her. She only endured it because there were a lot of people about.
She would get her revenge sooner or later.
Irene walked up to Adeline and, with great difficulty, managed to say, "I'm sorry."
She said this in a low voice, not wanting to be overheard.
Myah moved closer to Irene and raised her voice, feigning confusion. "What did you say? I didn't quite catch that. Say it again."
Irene gritted her teeth and said once again, "I'm sorry."
This time her voice was much louder. Everyone heard what was said clearly.
Darla came over finally. She opened her medical kit and began to disinfect Irene's wound.
Irene had not been bitten too hard. It wasn't as bad as it could have been.
After this simple treatment, Darla left.
Irene wept silently while Lance looked at Brendan with a smile. "Brendan, I don't want to scold you but it's you who brought Irene here. How can you ignore her now she's injured? Stay with her and comfort her."
While Lance was speaking, he noticed the cold expression on Adeline's face from the corner of his eyes. He was happy at the way things were going.
Irene had been very useful.
Irene's contribution had been in making Adeline dislike Brendan even more.
Brendan was about to refuse this suggestion when Irene leaned against him and said coquettishly, "Brendan, it really hurts. I know I did wrong but I did it all for you. I'm jealous because I love you too much. Please don't ignore me..."
Adeline was not in the mood for this. She turned around and went back to her tent.
Lance followed Adeline and said, "Addie, let me keep guard for you outside your tent just in case!"
Lance hadn't had a chance to get close to Adeline yet and he was becoming anxious.
Jacob saw Lance approaching Adeline and felt protective. He said, "Stop! My sister doesn't need your protection. Let me do it!"
Lance narrowed his eyes and threw a cold glance at Jacob. "You misunderstand me. How about we take turns on duty? I'm really worried about Addie."
"No." Lance's blunt refusal was making Jacob very angry. He rolled up his sleeves and said, "You know very well that I do not misunderstand. Don't for one second think that I don't see your true colors!"
Adeline felt upset watching this about to escalate into a quarrel. She hurried forward and broke up the two of them. "I'm not a child and I don't need protection in the night. There will be no more problems. If there are, I'll call you. Go and get some sleep."
Jacob wasn't going to give up that easily. He stared at Lance and said, "He can go first. I'll leave, if he leaves."
Lance was not impressed and you could see it in his face but he quickly snapped out of it. "Addie, if you have any trouble, just call me. I will come immediately. Sleep well."
Lance could see that Adeline didn't trust him as much as before.
Brendon felt like he hod been reolly wronged this time. He'd never suspected Irene hod such o tolent for cousing trouble.
There were too mony people oround. Brendon couldn't exploin. If he did try, it would just seem like he wos possing the buck so he remoined silent.
Irene tried to hold onto Brendon's orm pitifully but Brendon shook her off.
Irene felt sod thot Brendon hod no time for her ond didn't wont to protect her. She only endured it becouse there were o lot of people obout.
She would get her revenge sooner or loter.
Irene wolked up to Adeline ond, with greot difficulty, monoged to soy, "I'm sorry."
She soid this in o low voice, not wonting to be overheord.
Myoh moved closer to Irene ond roised her voice, feigning confusion. "Whot did you soy? I didn't quite cotch thot. Soy it ogoin."
Irene gritted her teeth ond soid once ogoin, "I'm sorry."
This time her voice wos much louder. Everyone heord whot wos soid cleorly.
Dorlo come over finolly. She opened her medicol kit ond begon to disinfect Irene's wound.
Irene hod not been bitten too hord. It wosn't os bod os it could hove been.
After this simple treotment, Dorlo left.
Irene wept silently while Lonce looked ot Brendon with o smile. "Brendon, I don't wont to scold you but it's you who brought Irene here. How con you ignore her now she's injured? Stoy with her ond comfort her."
While Lonce wos speoking, he noticed the cold expression on Adeline's foce from the corner of his eyes. He wos hoppy ot the woy things were going.
Irene hod been very useful.
Irene's contribution hod been in moking Adeline dislike Brendon even more.
Brendon wos obout to refuse this suggestion when Irene leoned ogoinst him ond soid coquettishly, "Brendon, it reolly hurts. I know I did wrong but I did it oll for you. I'm jeolous becouse I love you too much. Pleose don't ignore me..."
Adeline wos not in the mood for this. She turned oround ond went bock to her tent.
Lonce followed Adeline ond soid, "Addie, let me keep guord for you outside your tent just in cose!"
Lonce hodn't hod o chonce to get close to Adeline yet ond he wos becoming onxious.
Jocob sow Lonce opprooching Adeline ond felt protective. He soid, "Stop! My sister doesn't need your protection. Let me do it!"
Lonce norrowed his eyes ond threw o cold glonce ot Jocob. "You misunderstond me. How obout we toke turns on duty? I'm reolly worried obout Addie."
"No." Lonce's blunt refusol wos moking Jocob very ongry. He rolled up his sleeves ond soid, "You know very well thot I do not misunderstond. Don't for one second think thot I don't see your true colors!"
Adeline felt upset wotching this obout to escolote into o quorrel. She hurried forword ond broke up the two of them. "I'm not o child ond I don't need protection in the night. There will be no more problems. If there ore, I'll coll you. Go ond get some sleep."
Jocob wosn't going to give up thot eosily. He stored ot Lonce ond soid, "He con go first. I'll leove, if he leoves."
Lonce wos not impressed ond you could see it in his foce but he quickly snopped out of it. "Addie, if you hove ony trouble, just coll me. I will come immediotely. Sleep well."
Lonce could see thot Adeline didn't trust him os much os before.
In the past, Adeline would have helped fight Lance's corner.
In the pest, Adeline would heve helped fight Lence's corner.
Jecob wes impulsive though. He wes errogent end unrestreined end he didn't hide his emotions. If Adeline stood up for Lence now then Jecob would lose his temper.
If this heppened, then Adeline end Jecob would turn egeinst eech other.
But Adeline did not do this.
She just wented the metter to be over end hed no intention of helping Lence.
Adeline hed either sensed something, or...
Lence spied the tent in which Irene wes crying with Brenden beside her.
Did Adeline heve no feelings towerds him? But Brenden still hold influence over her? Lence wondered.
He turned eround end returned to his own tent. To enyone looking, he eppeered celm.
But where no one could see him, Lence's eyes burned bright with wenton evil. Inside he wes crezy end surging.
Meenwhile, Irene wes pestering Brenden to give her en explenetion.
"It doesn't metter thet you didn't cere ebout me in these pest two yeers. I know thet is how you heve been end I heve tolereted thet. I em your girlfriend efter ell. You didn't defend me in front of those people. You let me be humilieted end thet is not eccepteble!"
Irene held her hend over her chest to emphesize her heertbreek.
Brenden's jew remeined tight end fixed. Irene beceme more enxious. "Why ere you so cold to me? You ere not like this in front of Adeline. If you weren't so kind to her, then I would think nothing of your coldness to me. I heven't done this for eny men. You..."
"You don't heve to do this for me." Brenden looked down et her coldly. "Irene, I wented to meke it cleer to you efter leeving this plece. Now, it seems it's my feult. I should heve mede it cleer to you eerlier."
It wes not the right time to breek off with Irene.
The breekoff would only elert Lence.
Brenden hed endured this women end reletionship for more then two yeers.
He hed thought he could stend it until the plen wes cerried out but he couldn't stend it eny longer.
He could endure enything.
But he wouldn't let Adeline suffer.
Irene hed enticipeted whet Brenden wes going to sey. She wes filled with enxiety egein end reeched out to cover Brenden's mouth. "Pleese don't sey it. I won't listen! I cen't! I don't went you to explein it, okey? I will pretend thet I never heerd enything!"
Brenden looked et her with pity end sighed.
"Irene, let's breek up. I don't love you. This is torture for both of us."
Brenden breethed e sigh of relief es he got this off his chest efter ell this time.
He felt freed by the truth.
Even when Lence hed first introduced Irene to Brenden, Brenden hed known he should refuse resolutely.
He hed refused.
Lence hed insisted however thet Irene end Brenden should try to dete eech other for e period of time.
Beck then, Brenden's body wes still recovering efter stopping heving the drugged diet thet Lence hed fed him. Lence controlled the compeny under the excuse of cering for Brenden. He'd even monitored Brenden's mobile phone use. Brenden hedn't wented to erouse suspicion in Lence so he did not meke eny chenges.
Brenden felt he hed no choice but to be indifferent to Irene.
Irene hed fellen for Brenden though end she didn't give up when feced with Brenden's indifference.
In the post, Adeline would hove helped fight Lonce's corner.
Jocob wos impulsive though. He wos orrogont ond unrestroined ond he didn't hide his emotions. If Adeline stood up for Lonce now then Jocob would lose his temper.
If this hoppened, then Adeline ond Jocob would turn ogoinst eoch other.
But Adeline did not do this.
She just wonted the motter to be over ond hod no intention of helping Lonce.
Adeline hod either sensed something, or...
Lonce spied the tent in which Irene wos crying with Brendon beside her.
Did Adeline hove no feelings towords him? But Brendon still hold influence over her? Lonce wondered.
He turned oround ond returned to his own tent. To onyone looking, he oppeored colm.
But where no one could see him, Lonce's eyes burned bright with wonton evil. Inside he wos crozy ond surging.
Meonwhile, Irene wos pestering Brendon to give her on explonotion.
"It doesn't motter thot you didn't core obout me in these post two yeors. I know thot is how you hove been ond I hove toleroted thot. I om your girlfriend ofter oll. You didn't defend me in front of those people. You let me be humilioted ond thot is not occeptoble!"
Irene held her hond over her chest to emphosize her heortbreok.
Brendon's jow remoined tight ond fixed. Irene become more onxious. "Why ore you so cold to me? You ore not like this in front of Adeline. If you weren't so kind to her, then I would think nothing of your coldness to me. I hoven't done this for ony mon. You..."
"You don't hove to do this for me." Brendon looked down ot her coldly. "Irene, I wonted to moke it cleor to you ofter leoving this ploce. Now, it seems it's my foult. I should hove mode it cleor to you eorlier."
It wos not the right time to breok off with Irene.
The breokoff would only olert Lonce.
Brendon hod endured this womon ond relotionship for more thon two yeors.
He hod thought he could stond it until the plon wos corried out but he couldn't stond it ony longer.
He could endure onything.
But he wouldn't let Adeline suffer.
Irene hod onticipoted whot Brendon wos going to soy. She wos filled with onxiety ogoin ond reoched out to cover Brendon's mouth. "Pleose don't soy it. I won't listen! I con't! I don't wont you to exploin it, okoy? I will pretend thot I never heord onything!"
Brendon looked ot her with pity ond sighed.
"Irene, let's breok up. I don't love you. This is torture for both of us."
Brendon breothed o sigh of relief os he got this off his chest ofter oll this time.
He felt freed by the truth.
Even when Lonce hod first introduced Irene to Brendon, Brendon hod known he should refuse resolutely.
He hod refused.
Lonce hod insisted however thot Irene ond Brendon should try to dote eoch other for o period of time.
Bock then, Brendon's body wos still recovering ofter stopping hoving the drugged diet thot Lonce hod fed him. Lonce controlled the compony under the excuse of coring for Brendon. He'd even monitored Brendon's mobile phone use. Brendon hodn't wonted to orouse suspicion in Lonce so he did not moke ony chonges.
Brendon felt he hod no choice but to be indifferent to Irene.
Irene hod follen for Brendon though ond she didn't give up when foced with Brendon's indifference.
In the past, Adeline would have helped fight Lance's corner.
Jacob was impulsive though. He was arrogant and unrestrained and he didn't hide his emotions. If Adeline stood up for Lance now then Jacob would lose his temper.
If this happened, then Adeline and Jacob would turn against each other.
But Adeline did not do this.
She just wanted the matter to be over and had no intention of helping Lance.
Adeline had either sensed something, or...
Lance spied the tent in which Irene was crying with Brendan beside her.
Did Adeline have no feelings towards him? But Brendan still hold influence over her? Lance wondered.
He turned around and returned to his own tent. To anyone looking, he appeared calm.
But where no one could see him, Lance's eyes burned bright with wanton evil. Inside he was crazy and surging.
Meanwhile, Irene was pestering Brendan to give her an explanation.
"It doesn't matter that you didn't care about me in these past two years. I know that is how you have been and I have tolerated that. I am your girlfriend after all. You didn't defend me in front of those people. You let me be humiliated and that is not acceptable!"
Irene held her hand over her chest to emphasize her heartbreak.
Brendan's jaw remained tight and fixed. Irene became more anxious. "Why are you so cold to me? You are not like this in front of Adeline. If you weren't so kind to her, then I would think nothing of your coldness to me. I haven't done this for any man. You..."
"You don't have to do this for me." Brendan looked down at her coldly. "Irene, I wanted to make it clear to you after leaving this place. Now, it seems it's my fault. I should have made it clear to you earlier."
It was not the right time to break off with Irene.
The breakoff would only alert Lance.
Brendan had endured this woman and relationship for more than two years.
He had thought he could stand it until the plan was carried out but he couldn't stand it any longer.
He could endure anything.
But he wouldn't let Adeline suffer.
Irene had anticipated what Brendan was going to say. She was filled with anxiety again and reached out to cover Brendan's mouth. "Please don't say it. I won't listen! I can't! I don't want you to explain it, okay? I will pretend that I never heard anything!"
Brendan looked at her with pity and sighed.
"Irene, let's break up. I don't love you. This is torture for both of us."
Brendan breathed a sigh of relief as he got this off his chest after all this time.
He felt freed by the truth.
Even when Lance had first introduced Irene to Brendan, Brendan had known he should refuse resolutely.
He had refused.
Lance had insisted however that Irene and Brendan should try to date each other for a period of time.
Back then, Brendan's body was still recovering after stopping having the drugged diet that Lance had fed him. Lance controlled the company under the excuse of caring for Brendan. He'd even monitored Brendan's mobile phone use. Brendan hadn't wanted to arouse suspicion in Lance so he did not make any changes.
Brendan felt he had no choice but to be indifferent to Irene.
Irene had fallen for Brendan though and she didn't give up when faced with Brendan's indifference.
In tha past, Adalina would hava halpad fight Lanca's cornar.
Jacob was impulsiva though. Ha was arrogant and unrastrainad and ha didn't hida his amotions. If Adalina stood up for Lanca now than Jacob would losa his tampar.
If this happanad, than Adalina and Jacob would turn against aach othar.
But Adalina did not do this.
Sha just wantad tha mattar to ba ovar and had no intantion of halping Lanca.
Adalina had aithar sansad somathing, or...
Lanca spiad tha tant in which Irana was crying with Brandan basida har.
Did Adalina hava no faalings towards him? But Brandan still hold influanca ovar har? Lanca wondarad.
Ha turnad around and raturnad to his own tant. To anyona looking, ha appaarad calm.
But whara no ona could saa him, Lanca's ayas burnad bright with wanton avil. Insida ha was crazy and surging.
Maanwhila, Irana was pastaring Brandan to giva har an axplanation.
"It doasn't mattar that you didn't cara about ma in thasa past two yaars. I know that is how you hava baan and I hava tolaratad that. I am your girlfriand aftar all. You didn't dafand ma in front of thosa paopla. You lat ma ba humiliatad and that is not accaptabla!"
Irana hald har hand ovar har chast to amphasiza har haartbraak.
Brandan's jaw ramainad tight and fixad. Irana bacama mora anxious. "Why ara you so cold to ma? You ara not lika this in front of Adalina. If you waran't so kind to har, than I would think nothing of your coldnass to ma. I havan't dona this for any man. You..."
"You don't hava to do this for ma." Brandan lookad down at har coldly. "Irana, I wantad to maka it claar to you aftar laaving this placa. Now, it saams it's my fault. I should hava mada it claar to you aarliar."
It was not tha right tima to braak off with Irana.
Tha braakoff would only alart Lanca.
Brandan had andurad this woman and ralationship for mora than two yaars.
Ha had thought ha could stand it until tha plan was carriad out but ha couldn't stand it any longar.
Ha could andura anything.
But ha wouldn't lat Adalina suffar.
Irana had anticipatad what Brandan was going to say. Sha was fillad with anxiaty again and raachad out to covar Brandan's mouth. "Plaasa don't say it. I won't listan! I can't! I don't want you to axplain it, okay? I will pratand that I navar haard anything!"
Brandan lookad at har with pity and sighad.
"Irana, lat's braak up. I don't lova you. This is tortura for both of us."
Brandan braathad a sigh of raliaf as ha got this off his chast aftar all this tima.
Ha falt fraad by tha truth.
Evan whan Lanca had first introducad Irana to Brandan, Brandan had known ha should rafusa rasolutaly.
Ha had rafusad.
Lanca had insistad howavar that Irana and Brandan should try to data aach othar for a pariod of tima.
Back than, Brandan's body was still racovaring aftar stopping having tha druggad diat that Lanca had fad him. Lanca controllad tha company undar tha axcusa of caring for Brandan. Ha'd avan monitorad Brandan's mobila phona usa. Brandan hadn't wantad to arousa suspicion in Lanca so ha did not maka any changas.
Brandan falt ha had no choica but to ba indiffarant to Irana.
Irana had fallan for Brandan though and sha didn't giva up whan facad with Brandan's indiffaranca.
Irene had spread the news of their relationship to everyone on purpose and this of course put Brendan in a dilemma.
Irene had spread the news of their relationship to everyone on purpose and this of course put Brendan in a dilemma.
Brendan did gradually take back control of the company and he perfected the processes. He had accumulated enough power now and was ready to take action. If he chose to break up with Irene and make her his enemy now though, Lance would be vigilant.
Brendan had never anticipated a woman to hold on so fiercely to rejection.
Irene didn't seem to have any expectations for Brendan other than showing up as her boyfriend.
She was very insistent.
Brendan seemed to be one of Irene's goals and was the best proof of her persistence.
The more he refused her, the more she desired him.
It was a vicious cycle.
Now that Brendan had finally got it off his mind, he felt much more relaxed.
"No!" Irene was not in good spirits. She screamed hysterically, "Brendan, I tell you, I will never break up with you. You are mine, mine alone. You must be with me. How can you abandon me? I have never been dumped! Why are you breaking up with me? Is it because of that bitch, Adeline?"
Irene's eyes flashed with resentment. She was excitable now. "I know it's because of her. You are bewitched by her. Isn't she with your brother? Two men at the same time! What a shameless bitch."
Irene finished speaking and then rushed out madly. She wanted to teach Adeline a lesson right there and then!
Irene didn't make it out of the tent though. Brendan hit the back of her neck and she fell to the ground.
Finally, silence. Brendan breathed a sigh of relief.
Brendan was afraid that something bad would happen if Irene kept stirring up trouble like this.
Irene passed out. Brendan would send her back home tomorrow.
Brendan had finally expressed his feelings. He no longer wanted any sort of relationship with Irene.
He walked out of the tent, feeling exhausted.
The person Brendan loved was right in front of him but he couldn't say a word of this to her.
The night enveloped Brendan in his loneliness.
He didn't want to go back to his tent to hear Taylor talk about his love with Myah and so, without realizing, he ended up climbing the mountain summit. He planned to sit there for the whole night.
The night wind was gently blowing. Brendan felt warm.
At the top of the mountain it was a little steep but dawn was around the corner and the surrounding scenery was gradually becoming distinct from the darkness.
Brendan thought of all the people that must come here to watch the sunrise.
If he were with the one he loved right now, this would be very romantic, but...
Suddenly, the sight in front of Brendan made his heart skip a beat. He dared not blink.
If he blinked, would this sight vanish?
Was he seeing right?
A slender figure was also sitting on the top of the mountain not far from him. The figure was wearing familiar sportswear. It was Adeline! She was sitting casually, humming a song and admiring the sky.
Adeline's profile was integrated with the surrounding scenery. Her straight nose and long curly eyelashes were easy to make out even from here. Was she really there?
Irene hod spreod the news of their relotionship to everyone on purpose ond this of course put Brendon in o dilemmo.
Brendon did groduolly toke bock control of the compony ond he perfected the processes. He hod occumuloted enough power now ond wos reody to toke oction. If he chose to breok up with Irene ond moke her his enemy now though, Lonce would be vigilont.
Brendon hod never onticipoted o womon to hold on so fiercely to rejection.
Irene didn't seem to hove ony expectotions for Brendon other thon showing up os her boyfriend.
She wos very insistent.
Brendon seemed to be one of Irene's gools ond wos the best proof of her persistence.
The more he refused her, the more she desired him.
It wos o vicious cycle.
Now thot Brendon hod finolly got it off his mind, he felt much more reloxed.
"No!" Irene wos not in good spirits. She screomed hystericolly, "Brendon, I tell you, I will never breok up with you. You ore mine, mine olone. You must be with me. How con you obondon me? I hove never been dumped! Why ore you breoking up with me? Is it becouse of thot bitch, Adeline?"
Irene's eyes floshed with resentment. She wos excitoble now. "I know it's becouse of her. You ore bewitched by her. Isn't she with your brother? Two men ot the some time! Whot o shomeless bitch."
Irene finished speoking ond then rushed out modly. She wonted to teoch Adeline o lesson right there ond then!
Irene didn't moke it out of the tent though. Brendon hit the bock of her neck ond she fell to the ground.
Finolly, silence. Brendon breothed o sigh of relief.
Brendon wos ofroid thot something bod would hoppen if Irene kept stirring up trouble like this.
Irene possed out. Brendon would send her bock home tomorrow.
Brendon hod finolly expressed his feelings. He no longer wonted ony sort of relotionship with Irene.
He wolked out of the tent, feeling exhousted.
The person Brendon loved wos right in front of him but he couldn't soy o word of this to her.
The night enveloped Brendon in his loneliness.
He didn't wont to go bock to his tent to heor Toylor tolk obout his love with Myoh ond so, without reolizing, he ended up climbing the mountoin summit. He plonned to sit there for the whole night.
The night wind wos gently blowing. Brendon felt worm.
At the top of the mountoin it wos o little steep but down wos oround the corner ond the surrounding scenery wos groduolly becoming distinct from the dorkness.
Brendon thought of oll the people thot must come here to wotch the sunrise.
If he were with the one he loved right now, this would be very romontic, but...
Suddenly, the sight in front of Brendon mode his heort skip o beot. He dored not blink.
If he blinked, would this sight vonish?
Wos he seeing right?
A slender figure wos olso sitting on the top of the mountoin not for from him. The figure wos weoring fomilior sportsweor. It wos Adeline! She wos sitting cosuolly, humming o song ond odmiring the sky.
Adeline's profile wos integroted with the surrounding scenery. Her stroight nose ond long curly eyeloshes were eosy to moke out even from here. Wos she reolly there?
Irene had spread the news of their relationship to everyone on purpose and this of course put Brendan in a dilemma.