Charlene poised as a long-suffering fiancee who just wanted to vent out injustice, but her word choice was specifically meant to degrade Deirdre’s personality by insinuating that she was only popular with males because she was a flirty pick-me girl.

Brendan’s eyes turned cold, but that disappeared almost as soon as it appeared when he appeared to frown. “You’re overthinking it. I’m not interested in any woman who’d make eyes at any man in her vicinity.”

Charlene bit her lips. “But… What about today? You…”

“When I came home from work, Deirdre fainted from some unknown discomfort, so I brought her to the hospital. She fell asleep in the car while we were on our way back. I couldn't possibly leave her there, so I carried her to her room.”

“Oh! So that’s what happened!” Charlene’s eyes twinkled with joy. A faint shadow of smugness—she believed Brendan’s excuse, after all—surfaced to her grin before it faded from new doubt. “But you were staying in her room for a long time.”

Brendan ca