Whispers of Destiny: His Belated Love

Rosemary's comment was initially just a dig at Maxwell, but the guy didn't get all riled up like she imagined. He just looked at her and said coolly, "How do you know no one's got your back if you never try?”

?? Was this dude off his rocker again?

She grinned and warily edged back a few steps, thinking, "Help, there's a creep in the house."

As Maxwell saw her like that, his face darkened in an instant, "What do you mean?"

Rosemary chucked the plate she was holding onto the table, “I'm staying away from you before your crazy is contagious and I start jabbering like a lunatic too.”

She spun around and headed for the restroom. Just as she stepped out of a stall, she was blocked by a group of people.

"Rosemary, we're old classmates. How come you don't hang out with us anymore?" The ringleader was Crystal's BFF and a college mate, as were the others following her.

But not from the same department, not tight. Rosemary raised an eyebrow and smirked coldly, "What, you guys here to help Crystal get the video back?"

Shirley crossed her arms and looked down on her arrogantly, "Crystal kindly invited you to the party, and you repay her by spreading these wild accusations. Hand over the video."

"Calling me a liar on one hand and asking for the video on the other, you can't hide the truth just by covering your ears. Tell Crystal, if I don't see her publicly apologize in ten minutes, I'm gonna have a chat with Bernard."

She yawned. If it weren't for Pearl's request, she wouldn't have even bothered showing up. Sticking around this long was the most respect she could muster for an old classmate.

On her way out of the restroom, as Rosemary walked past Shirley, she was suddenly blocked, "Since you refused to do it the easy way, guess I have no choice but to be sorry about this."

She gestured to the others, "Tie her up and toss her in the stall."

The group slowly closed in on Rosemary.

Shirley continued, "Back in college, your recklessness could be chalked up to naivety, but after battling it out in the real world for this long, still not knowing your place, I can only call you stupid. You think you can threaten Crystal just by flapping your gums?"

She leaned in close to Rosemary, oozing disdain, "It's bad enough being dumb, but vain too? Can’t believe you orchestrated a scheme to sell your own graduation project at a high price and then donated the money to the school. If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to show my face after being exposed like that in public. And we have Victoria to thank for broadcasting this whole fiasco."

Back when Rosemary's grad project was displayed at Greenwood University, it sold for a record price. Everyone was shocked, even more so when she donated all the money to help poor students. She never meant to make it public, but Rosemary went around trumpeting the news and even convinced the university administration to hang a banner at the school entrance, supposedly to honor her.

Before long, the truth came out that it was all staged by herself. One could imagine the fall from grace, from the pinnacle to being the target of everyone's scorn!

Now, Rosemary was encircled by the group. She cracked her knuckles. It looked like she'd have to throw some punches to get out today.

Shirley added, "Snatch her phone. Without it, let's see how she,"

Before she could finish, Rosemary's foot sent her flying back a few steps! Shirley instantly went pale, doubled over clutching her stomach, "Rosemary, you dare hit me!"

"I hit you, so what? What are you, a cactus that can't be touched?"

"This is the Sullivan family's place. You dare to cause trouble here; Bernard will definitely kick you out."

This was the Sullivan family's turf, and Bernard and Crystal's engagement party to boot. Shirley wouldn't be pulling this big of a stunt on Rosemary without being prepared. At least until this group was gone, nobody would interfere.

Rosemary approached Shirley with a mocking smile, "Even if I leave you lot crippled today, nobody's gonna..." Nobody was gonna come in.

Before she could finish, there were knocks on the door.

Damn, life's slaps came at her from everywhere!

Shirley, the dimwit, couldn't even clear the room before starting trouble? As the others were about to jump in, the knocking stopped them, "Shirley, what do we do?"

They were all high-society ladies; getting caught bullying someone in a restroom would be disastrous for their reputations.

Outnumbering and with the upper hand, Shirley refused to let it go. She glared menacingly at the defiant Rosemary, "Scared of what? The door's locked, no one can get in. Today, I'm going to make that bitch kneel and apologize!"

With a loud bang, the restroom door, which was bolted from the inside, was violently kicked open. NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

A tall, impeccable man stood at the door, his face stern, radiating a chilling aura. His gaze swept over the group, finally resting on Rosemary, his brow furrowed, "What's going on?"

Shirley, who had just been ferociously threatening to make Rosemary beg for mercy, instantly changed her tune, tears welling up, "Mr. Templeton, she hit me; my stomach hurts so much. Could you please take me to the hospital? I might be bleeding internally!"

The footprint on her clothing was proof, leaving no room for Rosemary to deny.

Maxwell stared at Rosemary, who didn't even bother to offer an explanation and even rolled her eyes at him, not hiding her displeasure in the least.

Shirley, her voice rising in anger and frustration, kept on, "Mr. Templeton, look at her. She's clearly showing you no respect."

The woman's nagging voice was especially grating in the quiet restroom. Maxwell frowned in distaste, "Shut up."

Shirley's face turned beet red; never before had someone rebuked her so rudely.

With peace restored to his ears, Maxwell extended his hand toward Rosemary, "Come here."

Rosemary was in a foul mood, old memories stirred up again by Shirley's words. She despised Victoria and even more so Maxwell, who had supported her.

Back in the day, Victoria was the queen bee in school, and like 98% of that credit went to Maxwell. All those folks were tripping over themselves to rub elbows with Mr. Templeton, treating Victoria like she was the next big thing.

Rosemary wasn't green-eyed about the attention Victoria got, but damn, those people sucked up to her by dumping on Rosemary who didn't jive with her.

So, her college life was pretty much a dumpster fire, and Maxwell had his fingerprints all over that mess. Right now, she'd give anything to pin him down and give him a taste of his own medicine, payback time.

Rosemary didn't want to stick around here, but Maxwell was blocking the gate, right by the door. If she wanted to bounce, she had to squeeze past him, "Mr. Templeton, I know you've got no shame, but come on, at least pretend to care about decorum. This is the ladies' room, and you're lurking here like some creep. Anyone would think you're up to no good."

Talked about no shame; he was shameless and thick-skinned!