Brendan froze in place.

Deirdre tilted her head up, her hands cradling his face. Her eyes were filled with a reddish hue, unable to see clearly yet seemingly able to see everything.

Brendan even caught a trace of guilt and pity in her gaze.

Pity?

Brendan was displeased. Since when did he need a woman to pity him?

He turned his face away and demanded, "Deirdre, never look at me with that kind of expression."

That expression confused him and made him feel uneasy. It was as if everyone else