Josie's anxiety was evident as she questioned, "Discuss? What can you two possibly discuss? He spoke so harshly before, and you two were supposed to have nothing to do with each other. How come you two are together again? You must be deceived!"Understanding Josie's concerns, Deirdre tried to reassure her, saying, "Josie, don't worry. I'm fully aware and won't be deceived. Besides, we are not together.""Not together?" Josie was puzzled. "If you're not together, then how..."Deirdre explained, "I made a deal with him.""A deal?" Josie asked, seeking clarification.Deirdre briefly explained Brendan's desire for a child.Josie shook her head disapprovingly. "No! Deirdre, have you lost your mind? How can you give him the child? You know what kind of woman Emily Collins is. She won't treat the child well. The child will suffer!"Deirdre smiled faintly. "But if I don't agree, the child will be sent to an orphanage. Instead of being an orphan, at least with Brendan, the baby will have
Brendan's gaze turned deep and serene, his voice carrying the same emotions as always."Hmm," he replied, turning his head slightly. "It's good that you know."How could Deirdre not know? She knew all too well, which made her even more grateful to Brendan for keeping her grounded and preventing any illusions from taking hold.Once back home, she immersed herself in a soothing bath, letting go of all her exhaustion.In the following days, they led a calm life, barely exchanging more than a nod with each other.But on this particular day, they coincidentally bumped into each other while getting a meal. Mrs. Wanner, wearing a smile, took out two tickets from her bag and placed them in front of them.Brendan glanced at them sideways. "What's this?""My youngest son has a friend at the theater, and they've arranged a fantastic performance today," Mrs. Wanner explained, her gaze shifting between the two. "He specifically saved two tickets for me, but I'm not interested in those young
Since Brendan had agreed to go watch the play with her, it wasn't completely impossible, right?After giving it some thought, Deirdre decided to change into a different outfit. Due to her pregnancy, she couldn't wear tight clothes anymore. She put on a fitting black dress and draped a white shawl over her shoulders.Carefully considering her appearance, she pinned up her hair and applied a faint trace of red lipstick to her lips. It wasn't a date, but she was dressing up seriously.As Deirdre descended the stairs, Mrs. Wanner couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. "Ms. McKinnon, you look so beautiful! Why don't you try your luck in the entertainment industry? With your face, you're bound to make a name for yourself and have influence. Will you still need to worry about Ms. Collins by that time?""I'm already 27. The prime time for women in the entertainment industry coincidentally ends with me." Deirdre chuckled.Mrs. Wanner shook her head with regret. "When you were in your ear
Deirdre raised her head and saw the towering building in front of her, its magnificence evident despite the lack of clear visibility.The assistant stepped out of the car and reminded her, "Ms. McKinnon, do you mind waiting in the car? I'll go upstairs and check if the meeting has ended. Mr. Brighthall doesn't like to be disturbed during meetings, so his phone is unreachable."Deirdre nodded as the assistant headed upstairs. Soon, she heard the sound of the door opening.Brendan approached, his figure close enough to catch her attention, along with a subtle fragrance. He paused for a moment upon seeing the well-dressed Deirdre before getting into the car, keeping his distance."Wearing makeup?" Brendan inquired."I thought going to the theater required some attention to appearance, so I dressed up accordingly," Deirdre explained."Indeed," Brendan commented casually. "Your makeup seems rushed, with no eyebrows drawn and only remnants of lipstick on your lips."Deirdre instinctiv
"A blind woman?" The man paused, feeling a tinge of pity. However, as he closely observed Deirdre's face, he realized that she was even more stunning up close than from a distance, and he became even more captivated."So, where do you stay? I can come to find you. Since your eyesight is inconvenient, there must be many places you can't go. I know a lot of people and can take you to many places!" he persisted."I'm sorry, but I prefer staying at home. If there's nothing else, please be quiet. I want to rest," Deirdre politely rejected him.The man sneered at Deirdre, finding it strange that a blind woman would act so aloof. He might not even consider himself worthy of her if her eyesight were intact. But as a blind woman, with his wealth, he had more than enough to offer. Perhaps this woman was playing hard to get."You want to rest? It's not suitable to sit here. The air conditioning will give you a headache. I'll ask my friend to take you to the employee lounge to rest. What do
The theater owner's face contorted with disdain as he spoke to Brendan. "Mr. Brighthall, pay no attention to this nobody's words. I've never met this gentleman before, so why would I let him call the shots in my theater?"The owner's displeasure was evident, as he valued his reputation and wouldn't tolerate anyone trying to take advantage of him."Is that so?" Brendan pretended to be unaware, fully aware of the truth. "So, everything he said about you bowing down to his commands was a lie?"The owner's gaze turned sharp instantly, his neck turning as red as a beet, a mix of fear and dread."No... No..." The man's voice trembled with fear. "I never said such things!""Oh?" Brendan raised an eyebrow. "Are you accusing me of defaming you?"The man's legs gave way in an instant, and despair consumed him."No... I didn't... It's..."Realizing his mistake, he forcefully slapped himself in the face, disregarding the bewildered onlookers. The slaps echoed loudly, leaving red marks on h
"Can't you speak for yourself? Don't you know how to decline when someone tries to strike up a conversation with you?" Brendan's unreasonable blaming made Deirdre laugh in frustration."How would you know I didn't decline when you weren't around? Could it be that I am only regarded as declining him by shouting loudly for him to bugger off?" She smirked, anger evident in her voice. "If that's the case, you'd probably blame me for making a scene and embarrassing you, right?"Brendan frowned. "You berated me so much just for making a comment about you."Deirdre gnashed her teeth. "If I were to slander you and claim that you refuse to reject other women, would you be pleased?"Brendan's gaze dimmed, and he turned his head to the side. Deirdre was surprised by Brendan's lack of obsession over the details, realizing the situation. She gave him a strange glance."Brendan, are you... jealous?"Brendan took a cold, sidelong glance at her. "Dream on."Deirdre realized she may have overtho
"Stop joking around. The cast of the musical is trained professionals, and this is their first show. I'm sure they can't change the story as they please, so it can't be strange."The woman nodded, relieved. "You're right. I must be overthinking it.""Yes, you're definitely overthinking it."With that, they finished washing their hands and left without dwelling on the matter.Deirdre couldn't shake off the thoughts about the musical performance as she sat on the toilet. If she had to pinpoint something strange, it would be the supporting actress. The character seemed to undergo a drastic change midway through the musical. Rubbing her face, she stood up and exited the washroom.Brendan was smoking nearby. He extinguished the cigarette and dispersed the smoke upon seeing Deirdre."Let's go," he said.Deirdre followed Brendan, and he drove as they got into the car. With his assistant gone, Deirdre naturally took the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt. Just as she did, she aske