Yet, Deirdre could not feign the agony and hatred shown in her body language.She could not bring herself to answer his question within a short period. Tobey expressed his dejection. “So, you do have someone already?”“No,” Deirdre blurted and exhaled a breath.She suppressed the tremble caused by the resistance she felt in her heart and forced a smile with great effort. “I was only caught by surprise. Why did you suddenly ask me this? You also know about my current situation and how I don’t meet many people. How can I possibly have someone I like, huh?”“Really?” Tobey’s eyes glistened with a glint. He leaned closer to her and asked in a lowered voice, “So, Deirdre, can I?”Deirdre was stunned. Tobey continued to say, “Deirdre, I’m not scared to make a fool of myself, but I have liked you since high school. You were very outstanding, and I could not help being attracted to you because you were like the sun. Yet, you were too young, and I was ashamed because of that. I strived t
“Alright.”Deirdre nodded. Tobey returned after a short while. “Deirdre.” He sounded unprecedentedly anxious and stern. “I have to return to the company immediately.”“What happened?”Tobey heaved a sigh in agitation. “One of the projects I’m handling is suddenly facing some issues, so I’ll need to handle it. Moreover, I must leave immediately because I can’t afford to lose time. I won’t be able to get a bus ticket if it’s late.”“Ah…” Even though Deirdre did not understand the situation very well, she knew that work was important. “You should go quickly. Don’t worry about me. Madame Russell can come and pick me up later.”Tobey heaved a deep sigh, his eyes still filled with affection. “Dierdre, everything I said to you before you rejected me is valid. I want to be with you to protect and treasure you. I’m doing it not only because of my mother and Madam McKinnon but it’s more so for myself. You can give it proper consideration while I’m away. I’ll be back in a few days. By then
Soon afterward, the man seemed to notice Deirdre and said in a surprised tone, “Is this… Ms. McKinnon from the Russells?”Deirdre could not answer, but she could only glare at the area before her in fear. Who was the person Declan called out to earlier? Kyran? Who was that?Declan came to understand the situation and chuckled softly. He said in an apologetic tone, “I’m very sorry, Ms. McKinnon. Did my friend scare you? He’s a mute and can’t express himself with speech. He always does something that causes misunderstandings. However, he is a nice person. Please don’t take it to heart.”‘Mute?’ Deirdre was stunned. ‘This man is mute? So… He’s not Brendan?’Deirdre calmed down gradually. If that man were Brendan, he would have already exhausted all sorts of threatening measures to deal with her by now. How would he be so calm and composed that he did not even speak or respond after she hit him?“He…” Deirdre pointed at her forehead and furrowed her eyebrows deeply. “Wiped my forehe
“Yikes…” Madame Russell’s expression was solemn. “I heard him speaking on the phone with an anxious tone. Do you think something bad has happened?”“No.” Deirdre comforted Madame Russell by saying, “Tobey sounded anxious because he was worried that he wouldn’t be able to catch the last bus. There’s no airport here. However, I believe the matter is not dire because Tobey said he will be back when he is done handling the matter.”“Great then.” Madame Russell cracked a smile. She asked mysteriously while she held Deirdre’s hand to walk home, “How was it? How was the performance?”“It was rather impressive,” Deirdre answered with her head lowered. In reality, she had only listened to the performance's first half. “How about Tobey and you?”“Huh?” Deirdre was caught off guard. “What about Tobey and me?”Madame Russell smiled mischievously. “Tobey reminded me to take good care of you repeatedly when he called me before he left. He was having such a hard time parting with you that he w
Deirdre was moved into silence. Her tongue failed her, and it took her minutes to recover her voice finally. “Tobey, I… I’m not worth it.”She did not deserve his concern. She was a hideous, blind, formerly-incarcerated ticking time bomb whose very presence could spell trouble at any time. She did not deserve to be with a man whose life was on the ascent. Tobey’s tone darkened. “Don’t you dare look down on yourself, Deirdre. Or was that a dig at my romantic preferences?”Deirdre fell silent. “You want me to tell you the ugly truth? Okay,” he added. “Truth is, I’m taking advantage of the current you. You’re at your most vulnerable, a lonely soul crying out for companionship and a place to belong. I’m merely seizing this moment. You know why? Because I know that even now, even when it seems like I’m at the height of my life, I don’t measure up to even a fragment of the blinding splendor you used to emanate.”Deirdre had always been their school’s brightest star. Her destitute fami
Suddenly, a lone rock coursed through an arc and slammed onto her forehead. A sharp pang jolted her.Deirdre moved her hand and felt warm blood on her fingers. Her head swam in a dizzy sea of pain as she heard the children's remarks.“We know you’re in there, you freak! Don’t pretend not to hear us! It’s your eyes that are busted, not your ears! Haha, she thinks she can stay inside and say nothing, guys! Then we’ll play ‘try to hit the freak’ with her!”The children did exactly what they said they would. Rocks began to shower at her, and the fact that every single one landed at her quickly removed the possibility of coincidences. Her visage turned pale. Enough was enough. Deirdre was just about to rise when she heard the child’s unkind delight turn awry. “H-Heeeey! Who the h— What are you doing!?”There was a crash. Something was chucked onto the ground. Deirdre opened the gate and was immediately greeted by the sound of the leader’s angry tears. “How dare you lay your hands on
Deirdre lifted her head and pursed her soft lips into a polite smile. She was mesmerizing. Despite the absence of life in her damaged eyes, something in her face radiated. It summoned a wave within Kyran’s chest so violent that he had to press his lips thin to battle the urge.He extended his fingertip and wrote on her palm, ‘No need.’ Then, a moment later, he wrote, ‘Sorry for last time.’Deirdre stiffened a little, then she understood him. He was talking about their meeting during the musical. He had hurt her forehead.“It’s okay,” Deirdre replied, smiling. “I misunderstood you, that’s all. You just wanted to help. Besides, my forehead was pretty much healed by nighttime.”The man gave no response for a long beat before writing, ‘I’m still sorry.’He knew how uncomfortable Deirdre was when a stranger touched her, so he had been writing on her palm with a tin layer of tissue between his finger and her skin. His fingertip lingered in the middle of her hand before waltzing around
As for the man’s looks… The anxiety bubbling within her mind made Madame Russell frown. She had always believed her son to be handsome, so much so that he could sit comfortably among typical male leads in a romantic drama. But this guy?He looked like what happened when God decided to show her just how premature her conclusion was.Madame Russell quickly took up Deirdre’s hand. “Mr. Reed?”The man did not answer.Deirdre spoke on his behalf. “He can’t speak, Madame Russell. He’s mute.”“Mute?” The older woman parroted. A new hint of pity colored her gaze. She could not help herself—she had imagined a man who looked as gorgeous as this young one would speak with a dulcet voice.“Yea. He helped me, Madame Russell. Some of the kids in the village threw rocks into the yard while I was walking, and it was Mr. Reed who chased them away. Then he helped me plow.”At that moment, Madame Russell turned her attention away from Kyran to the bandage on her forehead. Her heart ached. “What