Madame Brighthall’s smile blossomed from her lips, and suddenly it seemed like spring had dawned on a face fraught with illness. She even coughed less. “Go and make them some nice, warm chicken soup. By the time they are inside, they’ll have something to enjoy.”The maid caught her mistress’s infectious joy. “Okay, ma’am. But please, you stay in here and don’t go out to join in on the fun, okay? It’s very cold out there,” she reminded Madame Brighthall. “Unless, well… they take too long, I guess.”“I know, dear.” The older woman ran her finger through her hair bun and shot an annoyed look at the maid as if a little disgruntled. “What was that supposed to mean? I’m not a kid, you know. I’ve long grown bored of snow. Why would I want to get out there and join in on the fun?”The maid tittered and left. Deirdre and Brendan did not spend too much time out there, either—the weather was just too cold. Brendan could tell from the way her hand started to lose warmth, so he led her insid
“Oh God, you’re right!” Madame Brighthall nodded in realization. “Blasted sickness has turned my brain into mush! Bren is at a critical moment when everything he does and says is under scrutiny. If you two marry now, you’ll be dragged into the storm too, Dee!”She smiled. “Ah, I should check if the soup’s done.”Brendan waited until his mother had left before stating hesitantly, “Dee, about the thing between us… Can you please hide the truth from her at the moment? She hasn’t been feeling well, but all she cares about is… well, us being happy together. If you tell her you’re going to leave after our child is born, it might hurt her a little too much.”Deirdre finally understood why Brendan interrupted her. He was worried she might accidentally let the cat out of the bag and crush Madame Brighthall’s hopes. “Don’t worry about that. She’s more than just your mother. She’s also one of the kindest people to me in this entire world. I wouldn’t say anything that could break her heart ev
“Sure thing.” Even after the maid held Madame Brighthall by her hand and led her away, Deirdre remained by the door to the child’s room and continued to look inside, regardless of the fact that she saw nothing. “Brendan, what does it look like?”He entered the room and stood next to her. It was a small room, but it had everything—toys of all shapes and sizes and a cot leaped into one’s field of vision. Madame Brighthall’s care was evident. She was worried that her granddaughter might not like pink as much as she had hoped, so she tried to balance it with other colors. “Do you want to know?”She nodded. Brendan took her hand. “I’ll let you feel it.”He held her fingertips, letting them outstretched to the baby mobile hanging above their head. “This is a mobile of the night sky. The moon, the stars, and the planets.”“This is the wallpaper. Pink and blue stripes. Cartoon pictures dot them, and every single one of them has my mom’s writing embroidered on it.“This is the cot. M
For the first time, Deirdre realized Brendan was in more pain than she was enduring. Her mother was at least coming back to her.But he was losing his.He had to pretend that that day was not coming. He had to watch his mother put all of this effort into decorating the room and yet never live to see it used.Deirdre clenched her hands. “Does she know?”“I didn’t tell her, but I suspect she’s aware of her own mortality. It’s her own health, after all. Which is why she spent so much time and effort in this room. It would be fine if she never got to see her granddaughter… if that same child could still feel her love anyway.”Deirdre’s face was stricken with tears. A moment later, she whispered, “I’m sorry, Brendan. You must be in so much more pain than I am.”And she had misunderstood him. She thought he was trying to ensnare her.Brendan said nothing and simply ruffled her hair. “The Brighthall retinue knows all about it, and I think mom does, too. She just chose not to make it ex
Madame Brighthall broke out a smile. “Now that’s more like it! You’re one of our family, Dee. I will not have you treat this as something that doesn’t belong to you. Besides, it’s not like I can wear it with me when I finally go to see the Maker, can I? It’s less of a waste when it’s with you!”As she spoke, a strong fit seized her again. She breathed hard as though she was asphyxiated. Brendan frowned as the maids came to her aid immediately and led her to her room. Deirdre caressed the bracelet lovingly, but after mulling it over, she took it off. “I still don’t think I can accept this, Brendan. You should hold onto it. Then maybe, one day, you can pass it to someone you love.”Passing it to someone he loved one day?But she was already there! Right in front of him!His eyes darkened. When the last of any ray of joy finally died, he replied flatly, “No. My mom gave it to you, so it’s yours, period. She adoring you has nothing to do with me. She would have given you the bracelet
Following that, Brendan asked, “Deirdre, are you cold?”“Yes, I’m very cold…”“Should I hug you to sleep?”“Um…”“But we aren't a couple. It’s inappropriate for me to get on the bed with you, right?”“...”“Should I carry you to the couch?”“Okay.”The recording ended, and Deirdre was shocked. But then she quickly realized something. “This was a trap! It must be you inducing me when I was not in my right mind. That was why I agreed! Otherwise, how could I have gone to the couch with you?”“Induced” Brendan rebutted with righteous indignation, “It was you who agreed to come to the couch yourself. Moreover, you were the one who kept telling me that you were cold. Hence, how could I ignore you just like that?”Deirdre was at a loss for words and was searching for a comeback.Deirdre found a rebuttal. “Even so, it’s because you induced me first. If you had asked me for my account password at that time, I would have given it to you.” Brendan didn’t refute it but played another
As Deirdre got into the car, the heater was blasting warmth, making the ride a cozy one.Just as Brendan was about to drive off, his phone started to ring.He pressed the speaker button and heard Sam’s voice on the other end. “Mr. Brighthall, we just received word that the exchange is happening today. They’re afraid the weather will get worse tomorrow and the sea may be unsafe.”It sounded like an excuse, but Brendan didn’t pay it much attention.In fact, it was a good thing for him to be able to do the exchange earlier. Hence, Brendan replied that he would head over immediately and hung up the phone.“What’s going on?” asked Deirdre.“Your mother is coming from the sea today. But because the wharf is a windy place, especially on such a cold day, I’ll take you back first. After securing your mother, I’ll send her immediately back to the mansion.”Deirdre was surprised yet happy. She put her hand on Brendan’s arm but couldn’t hide her trembling.“No, I don’t want to… I can’t sta
Brendan patiently waited. The window of the building was tightly sealed, making it nearly impossible to shoot accurately, especially in the foggy weather.Besides, with so many targets at the wharf, the opponent would have to be reckless to attempt to shoot with the risk of Connor being killed.After contemplating his next move, Brendan didn’t mind following the opponent’s lead, but he was also waiting for Sam to make his way through.Suddenly, someone exclaimed, “Mr. Brighthall! Is that a boat?”Brendan looked toward the pointed direction with the binoculars and saw a ferry slowly making its way out of the fog. A woman stood at the bow, and as Brendan focused, he recognized her face. It was Ophelia.He scanned the area around the ferry and saw only two people smoking while talking to each other. They didn’t look like they were with the opponent.Just then, Deirdre couldn’t wait any longer and rolled down the car window. “Brendan, how’s the situation? Has my mother arrived?”Exc