Fear and regret ravaged his mind. He suddenly felt faint. Sam was still with him when he finally recovered his composure. He feigned some semblance of calmness and declared, “No, we just have to wait a little longer. I’ll talk to her again!” He would not let her leave him. Never!Fate had different designs than his, however. Before he had recupared enough to talk to Deirdre, the police came to him and informed him that she had backed down.She had finally agreed to settle this privately. Brendan was elated. The police had come to ask him if she “had shown homicidal intent”, and naturally, Brendan denied it. He expressed no intent to pursue a criminal charge against her either, and so the case was settled. He could not wait to get out of bed as soon as the police left. Alarmed, Sam rushed to stop him. “Mr. Brighthall, sir, stay back! We can’t let your injury break open again!”Brendan was just too fitful. His emotions were in chaos. Gripping Sam’s hand tightly, he ordered, “E
“Shut up!” Brendan bellowed with all his might. His wound vibrated with his growl, making him cry out at the sharp pain in tandem. His vision blurred. His knees buckled. Her car had fallen into the sea? She had died?Impossible! That was insane! She had been so alive yesterday when she had cursed his name, made how much he disgusted her plain, and screamed about avenging her mother! She had been so alive when she’d wished he was dead! And now… her fate was suddenly uncertain?Brendan’s vision turned black and he toppled. A nurse screamed nearby. Before his consciousness faded out, he muttered, “Deirdre… Deirdre…”He had a dream. In the first few days after Deirdre’s incarceration, Brendan had been surprisingly unaccustomed to her absence. As soon as he’d return to the house, he would instinctively call out, “Deirdre, make me some mushroom soup!”He would then stop himself, and the newly-hired cook would smile nervously. “Wow, Mr. Brighthall. This Deirdre girl must mean a
Even though the possibility was slim, Sam kept hoping.Three days had passed, and Deirdre was yet to be found. Even the police had given up on the search.The only kin of Deirdre had passed away a year ago, and Brendan was her husband. Hence, the police went to get his signature to verify Deirdre’s death.Brendan dropped the pen on the ground, unwilling to sign. “It’s impossible!”In an extremely firm tone of voice, Brendan stressed, “How can we conclude that Deirdre is dead when her corpse has yet to be found? Perhaps she never boarded that car. It’s a mistake made during the investigation!” The police officer looked at Brendan with sympathy and sighed. “A policeman witnessed it, and it’s been recorded by the surveillance camera that Miss McKinnon was indeed in the car.”“What about the journey? Did she not get out of the car?!” Brendan pursed his lip, and his eyes reddened. “I don’t believe it. Unless I see her body, I won’t sign!”He not only was unwilling to sign, but he al
“Who did it? When was it?”Sam narrowed his eyes. “The day before Miss McKinnon was jailed. It was also the day you kicked Mrs. McKinnon out of the yard. After she was kicked out, a car came and took her to a mental hospital. The video was also released that day. Perhaps… Miss McKinnon saw it…”Brendan’s mind went blank. He suddenly recalled the phone call from Deirdre that day. For the first time, she had hysterically and desperately bawled that he was forcing her.At the time, he had reacted with a sneer. He had thought Deirdre was trying to gain his sympathy because he had just taken back everything he had given to her.She had eventually agreed to be jailed. And he had thought that she had been reluctant to part with the luxurious life. Instead, her mother had been suffering.She had done it willingly, and he had never forced her. However, he had never thought that someone else might be forcing her.At that moment, Brendan regretted it. As he thought of his condescending atti
“I’m fine.”In fact, Brendan hoped that the wound would never heal so that he would never forget that he used to ruthlessly ruin a person’s life.Quivering, he closed his eyes for a while before he reopened them. “Go back.”Sam drove him back to the mansion. However, a figure at the door attracted Brendan’s attention as soon as he got out of the car.He was rather dizzy when he saw that blurry figure. He thought it was Deirdre, who had come to see him. He hurriedly took a few steps forward, only to see that Charlene was standing there.“Bren!” Charlene went up to meet him while clenching her hands nervously. After receiving the news that Brendan was going to see Steven, she had been so worried that she had rushed there immediately without much thought.It seemed that Steven hadn’t exposed her.For an instant, Brendan’s eyes darkened. Although his face was no longer that frigid, he still didn’t show any emotion. “Why are you here? It’s too cold. Go back.”“If I don’t come again,
Brendan wiped Charlene’s tears with his fingertips, and his heart softened. While suppressing the complicated look in his eyes, he said, “Don’t think too much. I’m happier that you could wake up.”“Really?” Charlene bit her lower lip and asked, “Do you still like me?”Brendan was stunned. He didn’t know if it was because Deirdre's death had filled his mind, but he would have a heartache whenever he thought of her.Frowning, he couldn’t answer the question.While restraining her hatred toward Deirdre, Charlene didn’t force Brendan to answer but changed the subject. “About the promise you made to marry me back then, is it still valid? Ms. McKinnon has died, and your marriage has… Bren, it’s time for you to give me an answer.”As he looked at Charlene’s expectant expression, his heart seemed tightened by something, and he could not breathe.However, he knew he should repay what was owed. He had ruined Deirdre’s life and couldn’t ruin Charlene’s anymore.…After the truck was drive
Deirdre was once a well-known beauty in the region. Many young men had been paying her attention, waiting for the opportunity to ask her hand in marriage as soon as she became an adult. However, who would have thought that…Tears welled up in her eyes as Madam Russel thought of it. She turned on the TV and said, “Deirdre, watch it a little while to relieve boredom while I take out dishes from the kitchen.”“Okay.”Deirdre fumbled and sat on the sofa. Watching TV series was a good way to spend time. While she listened to the drama, she combed her hair.The entertainment news followed the TV series. The news presenter said, “Mr. Brendan Brighthall, the CEO of the Brighthall Group, has recently announced that he will be engaged to Miss Charlize McKinley, with whom he has been in love for many years, on the evening of the 28th. For this reason, he booked the largest resort in Neve, the Oceanside Resort. It seems that he has found the love of his life. Let us wait for the wonderful even
“You’re right!” Madam Russel said, nodding as hard as a bobblehead on a bumpy road. She scooped a portion of mashed potatoes and set it on Deirdre’s plate. “Either way, you should eat more! Your body needs it, dear. Give me some time. I’m gonna get a locksmith to break the lock to your courtyard in a few days.”“Sure.”…Everyone in Brendan Brighthall’s proximity knew a new demon had possessed the man. He had been dedicating himself, headfirst, to his work, almost welcoming the deluge, and had been found spending the nights in his office.His assistant could not take it anymore. “Mr. Brighthall? You’ve finished reading your paperwork, right? Last I checked, there isn’t anything important or urgent pending your attention, so maybe… Maybe you should go home. Rest up for the day, okay?”She stopped shy of telling him why she thought it was necessary—the terrible blue-black eyebags and his almost gaunt visage.Brendan propped his forehead with his palm. As soon as he stopped, fatigue