The balcony window was open, so Kyran reached out and shut it before pulling Deirdre into his arms. “Why are you standing here? Aren’t you cold? I wouldn’t like you catching a cold.”He was so caring and attentive, though he could not help but express seriousness at the thought of her health.Deirdre chuckled, a little guilty, and explained, “I heard it was raining out there, so I was worried the journey from Village Alnwick would get a little bumpier. Good thing you came back so soon, though!”She pressed the side of her head against his chest until a scent caught her attention. It was the same thing she had smelled from the previous night. Was it that woman again? Did he just come back from that woman’s side?Deirdre lowered her eyes, and Brendanm caught on. “What’s wrong?”She shook her head and smiled. “Nothing! Are you hungry? I’ll make you something hot.”“Nice.”A little while later, the weather worsened. The rain washed over the ground with palpable ferocity. The next

Deirdre’s rage dissipated in all of her weariness. He was right—she knew what she was getting when she chose to do this. Brendan stared down at her from his nose, his gaze unreadable. “So, why are you here, exactly?”Deirdre closed her eyes. “I want you to let Kyran live in peace.”“What!?”She opened her eyes and swallowed the bitter lump forming in her throat. Her pretty, clear eyes were begging him. “Please, Brendan, if you’re pissed about something, just vent it on me. Don’t drag Kyran into it, please! He doesn’t know. He doesn’t deserve it.”The absurdity of this revelation crashed onto him. He gripped her chin tightly and pulled her closer in. “I wish I could crack your skull open just to see whatever the h*ll is eating your brain. You’re accusing me of venting my steam on Kyran somehow!?”“Am I wrong?” A look of confusion swept across her face momentarily before certainty replaced it. Kyran had not been acting like himself lately, and that woman had something to do with i

Deirdre shook herself awake and unbuckled her seatbelt. “Oh, God. Sorry. I was lost in thoughts. Thanks for bringing me home.”“Don’t mention it.” Sam hesitated for a moment before asking, “Um, Miss McKinnon, you don’t look so good. Are you okay? Did Mr. Brighthall say something demeaning again?”Deirdre wished that was the extent of his humiliation back there. She wished that was all it took for this to end. But Brendan clearly enjoyed dragging it out. Deirdre resented him for it, yet she was clearly too hapless to do anything about it.She could not say much to Sam, so she smiled and assured him that she was fine. Pulling out her phone, she asked, “Can you help me remove Brendan’s number from my blacklist?”Sam had never worked with an old model before this, but it didn't take him long to get used to it. It took him only a minute. Deirdre thanked him and left. Then, for days on end, Deirdre lived in a constant state of anxiety and distress. She would jump, prepare herself men

“Where’s Brendan?” Deirdre demanded.“Brendan’s not here, sweetheart!” The middle-aged man brought his beer mug toward her and caressed her cheeks. “You’re here to serve us.”Serve? Deirdre’s eyes trembled. She slapped the man’s hand away. “Don’t touch me!”The crowd erupted into laughter. “Oh! Spicy!”The middle-aged man grabbed her hand with the strength of a lobster’s claw. “But what if I’m touching you, huh? What are you gonna do about it, huh? Brendan got you here to be our entertainment for the night, sweetheart. Make us happy, and we’ll make you very happy too!”Deirdre’s quivering eyes turned red. She was shaking. Brendan had sent her there to be their plaything!?A chill ripped through her innards. Every breath felt like a stab to her lungs. No wonder Brendan had told her to come here and to put on something “nice”. He never planned to let her live in peace—he wanted to humiliate her to win back Charlene’s heart!The man reached out again. “Come drink with me, babe!”D

Deirdre was hysterical. She lunged and pounded her fists on him in a post-traumatic fit. “Are you happy now? Huh? Are you finally satisfied now!? Nothing pleases you more than seeing me humiliated and dehumanized and suffering from a nervous breakdown, doesn’t it, you demon!? If you hate me so much—if you hate me this much—then why didn’t you let me die and rot in prison!? Let me die with my child, and I wouldn’t have to suffer all of your torment for no f*cking reason!”Brendan froze. It felt like a million thorns were stabbing his chest simultaneously, stinging him so much that his teeth chattered. It hurt, yet he could not even garner the strength to voice it. It took him a while to reel out of that pain. He threw his arms around her and squeezed her as tightly as he could, as though he was worried that she might vanish if he did not. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry… I should have protected you.”He was muttering to himself as pain ravaged him.“You’re sorry?” It was a scoff. What an abs