“And you?” Maverick let out a low, ugly laugh. “Ha… I’ve been your doormat for so long. Haven’t I treated you well? Haven’t I been considerate enough? Then why wouldn’t he feel safe handing you to me? Why wouldn’t he agree to let me marry you? Just because I’m from the countryside? Just because I wanted success too badly, and he called me some pathetic, desperate little climber who doesn’t deserve you? Who the hell does Holden think he is!”

Maverick’s ...