The Kiss that Sparked it All novel Chapter 1883

Spotting Bertha emerging, McNeil approached her, asking, "What's wrong with her? Is she ill?"

Bertha shot McNeil a resentful look, her voice icy, "She's not ill. She's injured."

McNeil's eyes narrowed abruptly. "Injured? How? Who hurt her?"

Bertha's expression hardened. "You did!"

McNeil was taken aback, lost for words in his guilt.

Bertha continued, "All of this is because of you! If it weren't for the Howards pushing Marlinie into a corner, she wouldn't have had to leave her daughter in someone else's care. Ellinor wouldn't have had to suffer so much from a young age, and Marlinie wouldn't have been injured by that unreasonable woman when she went to confront them! You've already hurt Marlinie enough. If you have any conscience left, stay away from her! You've seen how much she despises seeing you!"

McNeil felt shame, but also confusion. "I know I wronged her, but why did she avoid me to the point of leaving her daughter with someone else? I've been searching for her..."

Hearing McNeil's words, Bertha's anger surged. "How dare you ask such a question? If your family hadn't been hunting Marlinie and her daughter, would she have left her child with someone else? You didn't believe in her innocence. You and your Howard family blamed her for tarnishing your reputation. You've chased her away from her family. She feared involving her family and had to run and hide with her daughter! And now you have the audacity to ask me this!"

McNeil's shock was genuine. "Hunting them down? What are you talking about?"

Bertha frowned. She thought he had shown remorse, but instead, he was playing innocent. No wonder Marlinie was so reluctant to see him. He was such a hypocrite!

"I don't have time for this. Marlinie needs a doctor! If you have any decency left, don't disturb her now!"

With that, Bertha sidestepped him and strode towards the nurse's station.

McNeil stood there, dazed.