My vision swam. But years of disciplined training kept my legs under me. I gritted my teeth, seized the woman who'd blindsided me by the throat, and slammed her head into the table.
"You want to ruin me?" I looked down at her. "You're not even close."
Slap.
A palm cracked across my face without warning.
I stumbled two steps and caught myself on the back of a sofa.
Eileen stood there, brow furrowed.
"All I did was accept Marcus's proposal. What is wrong with you?"
My parents came rushing out at the commotion. Mom took one look at the women groaning in pain and shoved me hard.
"What do you think you're doing? Just because your brother got engaged to Eileen today, you're going to trash the place?
"It's your grandfather's birthday! Can you act like an adult for once?"
The guests hadn't heard what those women said to me. They looked over with disapproving frowns.
"You're twenty-five years old. Grow up. She doesn't want you. Throwing punches and breaking things isn't going to change that."
Marcus's eyes went red.
"Russ, if you really can't handle it, here." He held up his hand, tugging at his ring. "Take it. Just please stop making this harder for us."