Brendan's originally softened brows and eyes turned bone-chillingly icy again. Of course, he knew what Sam felt toward Deirdre, but he thought that Sam had learned to restrain himself. When Emily reminded him, he realized how out of bounds Sam was acting.

"Sam, I warned you before to remember your identity. Deirdre is my woman! If what happened today occurs again, don't even think about setting foot in Neve from now on!"

Sam was so shocked that his entire face turned pale.

"Sir!" He hurriedly explained, "It's not what you think! I have no such feelings toward Ms. McKinnon! Today—"

Emily interrupted him. "No such feelings? If you had no such feelings, would you have secretly gone to another city to ask Mark to come over behind Mr. Brighthall's back?"

Hearing this, Sam clenched his fists tightly, and Brendan didn't bother to listen any longer.

"Get out!"

Seeing Brendan's cold face and barely contained fury, Sam had to hold back from saying the words he was about to blurt out.

He