Brendan pinched the bridge of his nose as if he was trying to fight back fatigue. “I accidentally took a nap during my bath. What’s the matter?” “Oh, it was nothing,” Charlene smiled. “I was just enjoying a chat with Miss McKinnon.”“A chat?” snarled Deirdre, clearly not in the mood to play along. “I’m not in the mood to engage in brain-rotting chatter in the middle of the freezing night. Miss McKinney, though, spent a good few minutes knocking on your door until everyone in the house woke up!”She turned on her heels and slammed her door shut.Brendan turned his attention back to Charlene. His face was markedly devoid of rage, impatience, or any emotion. Still, his attention lingered on her body for a far longer time than he usually did.“Aren’t you cold?” he finally remarked.Of course Charlene was cold—her getup was scant by design! She did not expect Brendan to take his bath this late into the night either. But since he put it that way… Charlene would not let this perfect ex
Charlene was strangely not irritated at all. She rebutted Deirdre with a cheery smile, “I’ll just take Miss McKinnon’s ornery behavior as good old venting and move on.”Her mood was blazingly sunny. She took up a seat at the side and took her fill of breakfast, spirited, when there was suddenly a series of commotion outside.To Charlene's surprise, Madame Brighthall strutted inside with Brendan at her tail. She rose. “Bren, it’s early! Why are you here?”Brendan shot her a warning glance. Madame Brighthall strode inside hurriedly straight toward Deirdre. She picked up the young woman’s hand and examined it, remarking, “God, you’ve got bonier…”A pang hit Madame Brighthall. “God, that detainment center is just a hotbed for inhumane practices! How could the people working there not try to help? Especially since you’re pregnant!”A wave of emotions washed over Deirdre. She knew Madame Brighthall’s concern and care for her were genuine. “It’s okay, Madame Brighthall. I didn’t actu
Charlene was feeling a little smug, though. She was the one in the passenger seat! That meant something about her status in Brendan’s heart. Being the city’s elite family, they were allowed to skip the queue and go straight to the check-ups. As Deirdre lay on the examination bed, Charlene suddenly asked, “Do we know the sex of the baby yet, doctor?”The doctor was personally against answering questions like sex and gender before the baby was born, but his client was the Brighthalls. He would not dare to defy them. “It’s a girl. You’ll be seeing a sweet little princess soon,” she answered as skillfully as she could. Charlene stole a look at Brendan’s reaction. His eyebrows were furrowed. His eyes were as dark and unlit as the abyss. It was as if the answer displeased him…She curled the corner of her lips and feigned shock. “A girl? That can’t be right. Are you sure?”“As sure as ever be.” Charlene gave an implicative “Oh!” while Madame Brighthall seethed. What was the point of
After the examination was over, Deirdre and Madame Brighthall exited the consultation room, only for the latter to see Brendan leaning against the wall nearby with Charlene snaking her arm around his.In the past, Brendan would have immediately taken his arm right out of hers. The fact that she could hold onto him for so long was a statement Madame Brighthall could not ignore—and the cue for her expression to immediately darken as she led Deirdre out of the way. Brendan and Charlene followed them closely. When Madame Brighthall and Deirdre were about to get into the man’s car, Brendan suddenly said, “You and Deirdre will be going home in Sam’s car. Where I’m heading isn’t in the mansion’s direction.”Sam appeared and opened the backseat door. Madame Brighthall’s hand froze in mid-action. Her ire finally flared. “Dee has just finished her examination, Brendan! Where are you going if you’re not going to stay at home with her?” “I have work to do,” he replied flatly. “It was just
Charlene wanted to ignore it, but a glance at the screen made her change her mind.Deirdre’s voice came as soon as she answered it, murmuring, “When are you coming home, Brendan? I… I’m having some difficulty breathing. Please take me to a hospital.”Breathing difficulty?Charlene snickered to herself. God, what a pathetic excuse this b*tch had cooked up. Deirdre acted as though she did not care, yet quietly proved that she was hoping she could win Brendan’s heart through her kid anyway. What a wh*re.“It hurts to burst your bubble, Miss McKinnon, but it’s me. Bren’s not in a state to answer your call, I’m afraid.”There was silence from the other side. Then, Deirdre spoke coldly. “Why isn’t he answering me? What’s he doing next to you?”“Well…” Charlene gave a chuckle worth more than a thousand words. “Do you really want me to spell it out, Miss McKinnon?”“Where is Brendan!?” Deirdre’s voice was shaking. “I want him to talk to me! Now!”Charlene hung up the call and felt exhi
She meant Neve Hospital? Charlene pried the curtains open, revealing the building right opposite the bar they had been staying in. What a coincidence! How could she possibly let up the chance to screw Deirdre even harder?She hung up the call and decided to text: [I’m on the first floor of Nyx’s Pub. Had too much last night. I’m having a stomach upset. If there’s any relief medicine, please bring some for me. I think it’s time we talk.]After ensuring the address was right, Charlene sent their location to Mrs. Engel’s number and deleted all of Brendan’s conversation history and text messages. Then, she dropped his phone back where it was. She looked out of the window and watched Mrs. Engel and Deirdre coming out of the hospital. Meanwhile, the door to the bathroom was unlocked. Brendan emerged from it, his black hair matted. He was wearing his shirt from yesterday and trying to smooth the accumulated wrinkles. He took his phone and was ready to leave. “Bren?” Charlene watch
”How’s drinking too much supposedly comparable to a pregnant woman’s health issue!?” Mrs. Engel fumed. “And this is a matter between Mr. Brighthall and Mrs. Brighthall! It’s none of your business!”“Mrs. Engel, you forgot yourself,” Brendan suddenly said, his voice dangerously low. “Don’t make me hear this again.”Mrs. Engel froze. She was stunned.Deirdre clenched her fingers so hard her nails turned white. She raised her head. “What do you think we forgot about, huh? The ‘fact’ that we’re supposed to be nothing more than a mute or a lowly servant in your eyes?” Brendan’s eyebrows furrowed. Charlene snickered. ‘Deirdre, you insolent, stupid b*tch. She thinks Brendan will let her go after talking back at him like that?’Charlene predicted Brendan’s reaction to a tee. A sheen of frost overcame Brendan’s face as he coldly said, “I want you to be obedient and deliver my child without accident.”“Ah, so you want me to be a mute and a servant altogether. You really think you can do a
Deirdre did not even blink. “Uh, thanks for pointing out the obvious, I guess? I mean, what am I supposed to do? Mope and not eat because a b*tch f*cked a jack*ss last night?”Charlene sneered. “You’re awfully calm despite the fact that I f*cked your man, Miss McKinnon. I guess all of your love martyr behaviors in the past were all for show, after all. Welp, that’s actually good news for you. Since you’re so good at sharing, I guess I’ll allow Bren to continue his sexual relationship with you after we’re married, if only so he has a guaranteed outlet and mate to play with when I’m busy.”Mrs. Engel was hardly the only one who reacted. Deirdre grimaced in disgust, too. “Uh, no thanks. Unlike our Miss McKinney here, I’m not in the habit of putting a piece of chewed gum from the floor into my mouth.”Charlene immediately turned her sight outside. “Did you hear that, Bren? I was trying to be accommodating to her, but she called you…”Brendan stepped into the room, and an overcast shado