Morwenna glanced up, surprised to see Barclay stepping in to help her. From her perspective, it was already a blessing if Barclay didn't lead the charge in tormenting her.
Jethro was even more shocked that Barclay dared to hit him. The guy who was practically his sisterâs lapdog was now turning on him. Jethro had caused plenty of trouble before, and with just a single call from his sister, Barclay would rush to clean up his messes without question. In Jethro's eyes, Barclay was nothing more than a faithful hound to his sister, to be treated however he saw fit.
Pain twisted Jethroâs features into a snarl. âBarclay! Iâm calling my sister! Iâll make sure she knows you're done for. Donât expect her to ever look your way again.â
Barclayâs expression shifted, then he stepped forward and kicked Jethro a few more times for good measure. âYou are you, and your sister is your sister. I believe Adelaide knows right from wrong. Just because you're Adelaideâs brother doesnât give you the right to act like a spoiled brat.â
Jethro, clutching his stomach, pointed at Barclay, stuttering, âYou... you...â
âWhat about me? You think you have the right to point fingers at me, loser?â
Dressed in his signature floral shirt, Barclay exuded the arrogance of a trust fund kid. Jethro wanted to outdo Barclay in arrogance but fell short.
Jethro's arrogance was all because of his sister's standing in the Stuart circle. Barclayâs arrogance, however, stemmed from the backing of the Clark family. The difference was fundamental.
Barclay had once thought Adelaide was the best woman in the world, which by extension made Jethro somewhat like family to him. But now, after a tongue-lashing from Morwenna, he began to question himself, his actions, and even his once unshakable belief in Adelaideâs perfection. If he could question his loyalty to Adelaide and himself, Jethro was hardly a concern. A beating was a beating.
Jethro read the shift in Barclayâs attitude, his bluster deflated. He realized that without his sister here, these people wouldnât spare him a second glance. Any thoughts of revenge would have to wait for another day, another opportunity.
After venting his frustration with a few more kicks, Barclay stopped, noticing Morwenna had been watching him the whole time. He instantly stepped back, eager to clarify, âDonât get the wrong idea. I didnât do this for you. I just canât stand this jerk.â
Morwenna kept her gaze on Barclay. The once boastful Barclay took another step back, âWhat are you staring at? Look, I saw you all alone and felt a bit sorry for you, okay? Even if I helped you out this time, it doesnât mean we can be friends.â
Morwennaâs steady gaze reminded him of Lorna, her roommate. Maybe beneath the harsh words, there wasnât much malice. Fidgeting under Morwennaâs scrutiny, Barclay blurted out, âEnough! Stop looking at me like that. Fine, if someone bullies you again, Iâll step in, alright? But remember, How the Ice King Became my Doting Billionaire Husband ï¤Chapter 278 My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace ï¤Chapter 492 being tough isnât everything. Having connections is crucial. And for the record, Iâm not doing this for you. Iâm just saving face for Stuart, so you donât get bullied too badly.â
The more Barclay talked, the more awkward he felt, abruptly turning to leave. He feared any more conversation might lead him to publicly declare his protection over Morwenna.
She was a dangerous person to him. Their few interactions had all ended unpleasantly. Yet, he couldnât help but worry. Morwenna was straightforward and impulsive, not considering the consequences of her actions. Not everyone was as patient as him. If she inadvertently offended someone with real power, she might not even know what hit her.