Declan came up with a rather standard answer. “Miss McKinnon needs you still.” He said, “She called me today and told me about how you’ve been acting off recently. She’s very worried about you as a friend. I feel that we shouldn’t affect her usually calm life anyhow, don’t you think so?”Glenna felt her heart sink. She had naively assumed that Declan perhaps cared about her at the very least, which was why he would try to explain the painful topic to her willingly. “So…” Glenna’s voice was shaky when she said, “So, you’re only here to see me to solve this issue. You’ve never found yourself to be at fault, right?”“A deceit will always be wrong. However, as I’ve said, we don’t have a right to intervene as outsiders.”Declan looked at the tears she held back in her eyes calmly. “Glenna, you’re an adult and a childhood friend of Fionn. I hope you won’t ruin your friendship with Miss McKinnon because you’re doing it out of momentary spite.”Glenna clenched her fist tightly and lo
“Glenna, how are you?”Glenna chuckled dryly and said, “I’m fine. I feel bad for making you worried. I was too busy with work… a while back.”Deirdre accepted the excuse and said smilingly, “It’s fine that you’re busy with work for a short while, as long as you’re still willing to call me.”“Why would I not be willing to call you? I treat you like a friend from the bottom of my heart.” Glenna felt choked up upon saying that. Deirdre said, “Are you free today? Would you like to come over for dinner at my place tonight?”“Will Kyran be there as well?”“Of course. He’s living with me.” Deirdre paused for a moment. “Or would you like to meet me with just the two of us?”“No, I’m only asking casually.” Glenna chuckled forcefully. “I’ll be there tonight. Remember to cook me my favorite stuffed eggplant. It’s been a long time since I last had it, and I miss having it.”Deirdre could not help laughing. “Sure.”After ending the call, Kyran came upstairs. He tilted her chin and kissed
Who was their mystery photographer? Kyran had no idea. He knew that if the pictures were to be leaked to the public, it would spell trouble. Deirdre stood still and waited for Kyran’s return patiently. It was a great moment to immerse herself in—she liked being a part of the bustling scene. It made her feel alive. She heard footsteps drawing near and thought it was Kyran. Unexpectedly, it was a middle-aged woman. “Fine day, young lady. The man who was with you… Is his name ‘Kyran Reed’?”She was gregarious enough, but her choice of words triggered Deirdre’s defense. She frowned warily and asked, “Can I help you?”“Oh, no! It’s nothing big! I don’t mean to scare you,” explained the middle-aged woman. “Kyran Reed simply wanted me to inform you that he’s caught up with something and can’t really come to you, so you should wait for him at the entrance.”“Caught up with… what?”The middle-aged woman chuckled dryly. “Beats me. I’m just a messenger. I wouldn’t know. That’s all, real
Kyran became Deirdre’s kitchen helper. Around 5:00 p.m., they heard a knock on the door, prompting Deirdre to clap the flour out of her hands in joy. “Sweet! That has to be Glenna! Let her in, Kyran!”A subtle change shadowed Kyran’s expression, though he ultimately obliged and answered the door.The young woman had a few bags on her fingers when the door opened. When she saw Kyran, her eyes dodged him for a second. Steeling herself, she called out, “Hi, Mr… Reed.”Kyran nodded and stepped aside to let Glenna in. Deirdre strode out of the kitchen and greeted cheerfully, “You came just in time, Glenna. A new change of kitchen helper is sorely needed! Kyran’s just no good at these things… He could not even peel and slice those potatoes right. If we want our dinner to happen soon, I’m gonna need your help.”“Well, well, well! You’re in luck! This is exactly what I’m born to do!” Glenna placed the fruits down and rolled her sleeves. “Let me at ‘em!”Her usual preppiness had return
Deirdre tossed an implicative glance outside the kitchen. “Believe me, I’ve seen the worst, and now nobody else’s skill could ever faze me again. Seriously, try to surprise me.”“Heh.” Declan excitedly washed his hands and grabbed a spare knife. He made a few nicks and began to unpeel it. “How’s this?”Deirdre’s poor sight would not be able to help her tell, but she also thought this was the best opportunity to get Glenna and Declan talking again. “What do you think, Glenna?”Quietly exasperated, Glenna turned in the direction of Declan’s hand and noticed how beautiful his fingers really were. It was as if a man with good genes simply could not have anything remotely out of place in any part of their physical appearance. Glenna never fancied herself as someone who gave a dime about hands, and yet even her heart throbbed.When she finally broke out of her trance, she realized she had been silent too long.Declan tried to dispel the awkwardness in the air with a chuckle. “I must hav
Kyran’s brows began to furrow as Deirdre asked gently, “Hmm? Who was it?”“I don’t know. Must be one of those telemarketers. I’m gonna answer it for a bit.”He rose and started toward the balcony. Unfazed, Deirdre resumed talking with Declan for the rest of the dinner. When Kyran’s food was starting to grow cold, she noticed he had not returned.Declan, perceptive as ever, could read Deirdre’s face. “It’s probably something from work. Since he hasn’t been in his office these days, he probably has a mountain of affairs to which he has to nod off.”“Yeah. You’re probably right,” Deirdre replied with a quick smile as a heavy sense of dread and foreboding unfurled in her chest. The incident with the middle-aged woman earlier today seemed to foretell something bad to come.A low rumble groaned from overhead. Glenna looked up from her meal and muttered to herself, “Is it gonna rain?”“I think it is,” answered Declan. “The weather hasn’t been playing nice lately.”Glenna looked alarmed
Deirdre started to hate storms and their thunderclaps ever since she was incarcerated. Her sight had only been robbed back then. Aside from how hard it was to acclimate to that darkness she could no longer escape, she had to avoid being tormented by other prisoners who were all too happy to capitalize on her blindness.A single clap of thunder used to frighten her so much that she would shake despite herself. But since her life had gone back to normal, she had rarely been this panicked. Shutting her eyes, Deirdre wiped away beads of cold sweat from her face and turned on her side to face where the man was.She reached her fingernails out to the comforter wrapped around him and opened her eyes suddenly. “Kyran?”Deirdre ran her hands through his side of the bed. It was empty and cold. He was gone. When did he leave? Where did he go?Deirdre lost her sleep. She swiped her shirt hanging from the side of her pillow, put it on, slipped into her shoes, and went outside.The living r
“Naturally, I’ll respect your eventual decision too.” Kyran allowed the woman’s scent to calm him down. When he felt like he had finally gained a semblance of control, he studied the hazy, silvery moonlight from outside, illuminating each strand of her hair, and ran his fingers through them. “It’s not as grave as you’ve imagined, but it’s… It’s not good for you. Those people are after me and me alone, yet you get dragged into my problems. I’m sorry. I’m a sorry excuse of a man—”Deirdre clasped her hand over his lips. She shook her head, her expression sincere. “Please, don’t ever say something like that to me, Kyran. I know how good you are, better than anyone else in the world. If you’ve somehow brought harm to me, then God knows how much trouble I must have brought you! But here’s the thing… I never feel bad for any of it, so you shouldn’t be.”Kyran’s eyes seemed to be trembling. In the end, he nodded. He lowered his head and began searching for her lips.Deirdre was flustered