Brendan’s smile faded, but his attention remained transfixed on Deirdre. “I was just thinking… I’m not that great of a boss, after all.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because if I were, if I did everything as well as I could, why would any of my subordinates want to betray me? In fact, he would rather die than let me know anything?”

He did not sound too emotive, but Deirdre could hear forlornness and melancholy undergirding his tone.

“I admit to being a terrible, unforgivable husband, Deirdre, but I’ve always thought that I was at least good at looking out for my people. But today showed me how wrong I was. I haven’t done anything right at all.” He continued. “My life, the choices I made, might seem brilliant and genius to other people, but in truth, I have nothing.”

He sounded jocular, but still… Brendan rarely put himself down. Deirdre could not help but fall silent.

Right now, she really wanted to offer him comfort.

“Brendan, nobody’s exempted from criticism. Even if God was p