“Besides, every piece of evidence points to the fact that Charlene abducted you, so there's no way he would help her. I guess he’s just trying to redeem himself. That’s why he gave the evidence to the police.”Deirdre found the remark to be saddening and amusing. Brendan’s effort was completely worthless. Moreover, his repentance came two years too late. If it came a little earlier, if her mother was still alive, perhaps she could pretend that nothing had happened and live a peaceful life. However, everything had already collapsed, and she did not want Brendan’s repentance anymore. She took a deep breath and lay back on the bed, her painful fingers still tightly clenched. She felt an ineffable feeling of lethargy overpowering her and fell asleep curled up in the bed. She lost count of time until she felt someone touching her fingers. She was awakened forcefully by the unbearable pain. However, she felt a shiver down her spine the next moment. Someone was standing next to

“That is none of your business!”“How is that none of my business when I’m your husband?” Brendan said in a bitter tone, “I think he’s just a coward who ran away in fear of trouble!”“You have no right to criticize him, Brendan!” It was Deirdre’s first time losing her temper. She exhausted every means to defend her lover. “He is a thousand times better than you! Forget it.”Deirdre suppressed her shakiness and found the situation amusing for no apparent reason. “What’s the point of me taking what someone like you said so seriously? You’ve always lived in your own world! When have you ever cared about others’ feelings? You will never feel that you are at fault!”Brendan stared straight at the woman’s face and felt a wave of pain wash over his chest. The pain was so overwhelming that he bent over and buried his head in the nook of her neck. He said in a hoarse voice, “What if I… know that I’m at fault?”Brendan spoke in a soft voice as if he was consumed by his ego or was not planni

‘You don’t deserve to compare yourself to him.’The remark was merciless. It sent a wave of pain through his body like a sharp knife that stabbed into his heart. Yet, he did not even have the excuse to disclose the truth about himself.Kyran was him but not him at the same time.Kyran was the product of his meticulous disguise. He was a robot with forcefully controlled emotions and sexual desires. He was the exact opposite of Brendan.In truth, he wanted Deirdre to accept his true self even more. However, he knew that it was only his silly notion.Brendan’s fists tightened at the sight of the vigilant woman who was near the point of breakdown. A feeling of extreme reluctance was burning in his chest.He could not refrain from saying, “Do you hate me that much?”Deirdre was shaking. She sneered upon hearing that, as if she was poking fun at his question.“I understand now.” Brendan chuckled in a self-mocking way. “That man is all you care about, so you want me to disappear from

After Declan left, Deirdre stretched out her hand and felt for the business card placed on the bedside table. The business card was made of sturdy materials, just like the man’s mannerisms. The corners of the business card felt so sharp it could cut through skin, and the writing etched onto the card's surface could be felt just by touching it with one's fingers. Brendan had come prepared. He knew she was blind, so he left a business card she could read with her touch.‘Does he think I will agree to his condition?’Filled with boundless rage, Deirdre wished she could throw away the business card. Yet, in the next moment, she was reminded by a voice in her head, “Are you really going to give up on the chance to get a divorce?”If she agreed to his condition, she could be rid of interacting with this man for eternity in exchange.She could travel to Germia with Kyran to have their wedding with peace of mind. She would not be bothered by her past marriage. She knew this was a rare

Deirdre would not think this way in the past, so it was apparent that Kyran had spoiled her.She could not refrain from making a call to Kyran.The call was picked up after a long time. “Deirdre.”His voice sounded hoarse, as if he had been smoking all night long.Deirdre was momentarily stunned, and she could not help feeling concerned. “Kyran… are you alright?”“I’m alright. Why do you ask?”Deirdre said, “You sound very tired, like you haven’t slept all night.”Kyran paused for a moment before he said, “I haven’t slept all night, indeed.”“Why? Is it because your father’s condition is not so good? Or is it because you have something else happening at work?”Deirdre regretted not going to Germia with Kyran so she could monitor the situation over there.She would not be how she was now, doing nothing at home but feeling anxious. She sounded anxious.Kyran chuckled and comforted her with a gentle voice by saying, “Don’t fret. I’m alright. I’m the caregiver of my father in

“What?”“I’m asking you if your condition involves only a date, right?”Brendan could not refrain from chuckling as if he was making fun of her sensitive emotion. “Or else?”“At night… I’m not going to sleep with you.”The other end of the call was quiet momentarily as soon as she made the remark. Soon afterward, he laughed sarcastically and said, “Are you doing this so you can keep your chastity for the man?”Deirdre shut her eyes tightly. She did not want to quarrel with Brendan on this issue. “I just don’t want to be touched by someone like you.”Brendan was stunned for a moment before he sneered and said, “Someone like me? What kind of person am I?”Deirdre did not answer, and he did not inquire further. He said, “Don’t worry about this, Miss McKinnon. I’ve encountered way too many women who are prettier than you with better bodies. I’m not interested when they push themselves against me, let alone you. We’re just going on a date, and that is all.”He said it in contempt,

‘Treat him like he’s my husband?’If she had a chance like this in the past, she would be so delighted that she could not sleep all night. She found it cynical now that she heard Brendan’s request and resisted the idea very much in her heart.“What if I don’t?”Brendan’s gaze was still. He walked one step closer to the woman and exhaled warm breath when he spoke, yet the words he spoke were cold. “I will just consider that you wish to continue this relationship willingly, and I’ll come and take you back to Neve when I’m done with my tasks.”“That would be impossible!”Brendan smirked mockingly. “Would you like me to remind you once again? You have a favor to seek from me, Deirdre. It’s you who wants to get a divorce and not me who is forcing you to get it.“You can always turn around and go back. I’ll just pretend that nothing happened today.”‘Go back?’Deirdre’s chest felt so heavy that she was suffocating. ‘If I were to go back, all my previous efforts would be wasted, right

Brendan found it ridiculous as well. “This is the result of setting up two people by force.”Even if they were holding hands, the outsiders would never feel their love for each other. Brendan kept quiet for a moment and could not refrain from asking, “How about you and that person? Will both of you be regarded as a couple as you ought to be?”Deirdre furrowed her eyebrows. “Don’t bring him up constantly.”Brendan appeared powerless and said sarcastically, “It’s because you’ve never smiled when you’re with me.”Deirdre was stunned. She took a deep breath and said, “Is it caused by my reluctance to smile?”She had been all loving and affectionate in the past. She would not be able to hold back her smile every time she saw him in the past, which was not that different from her current situation.All in all, they were just not suited for each other.Their marriage was a product of reluctance, and it could not be faked nor forced. The atmosphere turned solemn. The waitress could

Brendan would actually write down the food she did not enjoy eating and the food she was allergic to on a paper that he passed to the waitress…“How can that be possible?”The waitress smiled and said, “It is possible. He is precisely the kind of person who hides his little quirks and conceals his feelings but still offers trivial care in some places.“Moreover, if he really didn’t love you as you described him, it would be unnecessary for him to pay so much attention to small details like this, right?”Deirdre’s mind went blank, but she was well aware that the waitress was right. Brendan was the type of person who was not interested in the outside world.He had very little time, so he did not enjoy wasting his time on trivial matters. He would watch a person crying profusely on their knees in contempt if the person was someone he did not care for. However, he would be extremely meticulous in every way if he were to care for the person. Still, why would Brendan behave this way

Deirdre was stunned while Brendan came to react to the situation by assuming a cold, sharp expression on his face. “However, since we’re already here, don’t try to pick faults anymore. It’s already rare that I remembered your wish in the past. Do you think I would come here to endure the cold willingly if not as your compensation?”“Compensation?”“Hmm, compensation.” Brendan’s eyes were dark as ink. “You can put an end to your mother’s case from now on.”Deirdre’s pupils shook violently. She was so furious that her entire body was shaking beyond her control.‘So, I should bring everything to an end just with his carefree compensation after those acts of his, pushing things too far, and the human life that was lost!?’Deirdre could not hold back her anger and stood up. She was afraid that she would give Brendan a slap if she were to stay any longer.She ran to the door, and before she could walk away, Brendan caught up to her and grabbed her wrist. He furrowed his eyebrows and su