“Who are you?”The man’s tone was icy cold, and he exuded an oppressive coldness from his body. He shielded Deirdre behind her and looked at the woman with a gaze sharp as a knife that could cut through a person’s throat.“Who sent you here?”The woman felt suffocated, and her knees turned to jelly from being stared at. She found that Mitch was already an imposing man, followed by a bunch of subordinates to do his dirty work. Mitch was extremely overbearing, but he was a weakling in comparison to the man before her.“I…” The woman could not help speaking with a shaky voice. She gnashed her teeth ferociously in an attempt to continue speaking, but she was already so terrified that she was rendered speechless.Kyran narrowed his eyes, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number. “Hello, I would like to report a case. The location is No. 106 Peak Residence, and someone has broken and entered a private residence with the intention of theft. Please come.”Soon, the police came and det
“However, will you still find out what you want if I die?” Charlene burst out laughing profusely. Noticing that Brendan was frowning and quiet, she leaned closer to him coquettishly. “I love you so much that I won’t go back on my word. I’ve always kept my promises to you. Deirdre doesn’t know about my existence, and she won’t find out who you are.”Brendan found her remark ridiculous and avoided her approaching hand. His gaze was filled with disgust, hatred, and coldness that he did not bother to conceal. “How about that woman today? Don’t you dare tell me that she is not a part of your trick.”Charlene admitted to it by saying, “I sent that person indeed.”“So, how dare you claim that you didn’t go back on your word?”“Is that woman related to my promise?” Charlene said boldly and smiled charmingly. However, her gaze was tainted with hatred. “I promised you that I won’t let Deirdre find out the truth, but I haven’t promised you that I won’t do everything in my power to discourage
Brendan recalled once again and found it strange. Both women had the exact same face, but why were Charlene’s eyes glistening with intelligence and scheming?Was it because she was honored over the years that she became obsessed and incapable of becoming the person she was in the past?Brendan’s mind was a chaotic mess. He stopped himself from continuing to think about it with great effort. He shut his eyes to calm himself and opened his eyes again. “As for the favor from the fire, I’ve already paid it back with eight full years of my life. I saved your life once during that period. A life for a life, so I don’t owe you anything anymore.”He owed it to Deirdre, and he would never be able to repay it fully. He hoped that he could make it up to her bit by bit with this. “I don’t agree with that!” Charlene’s beautiful face became distorted. “I won’t!”Brendan looked at her coldly. “It’s up to you to agree with that, but I get to decide if I’m willing to do it. If you want to be with
The balcony window was open, so Kyran reached out and shut it before pulling Deirdre into his arms. “Why are you standing here? Aren’t you cold? I wouldn’t like you catching a cold.”He was so caring and attentive, though he could not help but express seriousness at the thought of her health.Deirdre chuckled, a little guilty, and explained, “I heard it was raining out there, so I was worried the journey from Village Alnwick would get a little bumpier. Good thing you came back so soon, though!”She pressed the side of her head against his chest until a scent caught her attention. It was the same thing she had smelled from the previous night. Was it that woman again? Did he just come back from that woman’s side?Deirdre lowered her eyes, and Brendanm caught on. “What’s wrong?”She shook her head and smiled. “Nothing! Are you hungry? I’ll make you something hot.”“Nice.”A little while later, the weather worsened. The rain washed over the ground with palpable ferocity. The next
“Naturally, I’m very aware of whom you’re working for. I know he’s your boss. So, if you really can’t help me, then just send me back home. I won’t hold it against you,” said Deirdre despite already deciding to coerce Sam by capitalizing on his softr-heartness.She was sure Brendan would never punish Sam too much, even if he disobeyed his boss a little, which meant she could stand to be more forceful and get what she wanted. And yet, in the end, she could not find it in her to do it. Sam had been nothing but kind and helpful to her—she could not let herself force this same man into a corner and use him as a means to her end.“But you’re just going to try to see Mr. Brighthall through some other way if I send you back home, right?”Deirdre cast her eyes down. “You’re not wrong.”He sighed. “Christ. I guess… I guess I could ask Mr. Brighthall to agree, if nothing else. I’m not allowed to make my own decisions, but I can at least suggest something to him.”He got out of the car and w
Deirdre’s rage dissipated in all of her weariness. He was right—she knew what she was getting when she chose to do this. Brendan stared down at her from his nose, his gaze unreadable. “So, why are you here, exactly?”Deirdre closed her eyes. “I want you to let Kyran live in peace.”“What!?”She opened her eyes and swallowed the bitter lump forming in her throat. Her pretty, clear eyes were begging him. “Please, Brendan, if you’re pissed about something, just vent it on me. Don’t drag Kyran into it, please! He doesn’t know. He doesn’t deserve it.”The absurdity of this revelation crashed onto him. He gripped her chin tightly and pulled her closer in. “I wish I could crack your skull open just to see whatever the h*ll is eating your brain. You’re accusing me of venting my steam on Kyran somehow!?”“Am I wrong?” A look of confusion swept across her face momentarily before certainty replaced it. Kyran had not been acting like himself lately, and that woman had something to do with i
“Feeling it already?” Brendan smirked, his eyes narrowing at the sight. He bent, looming over her, and gently tipped Deirdre’s chin up at him.She slapped her hand away as shame rose to take control of her. Everything about it was so embarrassing, yet Brendan was such a professional at kissing that even her rage could not come up with any retaliation.She asked for it the moment she came to see him. She knew this was going to happen.She fought her shame at bay and clenched her hands. “Why? Why are you doing this? If Charlene knows… She’s not going to be happy about this!”The name seemed to have summoned dark clouds into Brendan’s gaze. Deadpanned, he replied, “Why? Because that’s who we are. That’s what all men are. Just because I love her doesn’t mean I’m going to save myself for her or something stupid like that. I can always indulge in my old bedmate if I do it behind her back.”‘His old bedmate… Me…’Deirdre blanched at the idea. She shot a look of disappointment at Brendan
Deirdre shook herself awake and unbuckled her seatbelt. “Oh, God. Sorry. I was lost in thoughts. Thanks for bringing me home.”“Don’t mention it.” Sam hesitated for a moment before asking, “Um, Miss McKinnon, you don’t look so good. Are you okay? Did Mr. Brighthall say something demeaning again?”Deirdre wished that was the extent of his humiliation back there. She wished that was all it took for this to end. But Brendan clearly enjoyed dragging it out. Deirdre resented him for it, yet she was clearly too hapless to do anything about it.She could not say much to Sam, so she smiled and assured him that she was fine. Pulling out her phone, she asked, “Can you help me remove Brendan’s number from my blacklist?”Sam had never worked with an old model before this, but it didn't take him long to get used to it. It took him only a minute. Deirdre thanked him and left. Then, for days on end, Deirdre lived in a constant state of anxiety and distress. She would jump, prepare herself men