“I can give you money if that is what you want, and the villa has never treated you shabbily if all you want is a place to live. But you still insist on going outside and claim that you’re not trying to run away?”

Brendan spoke in a stern voice. He got up from the chair, moved closer to Deirdre, and clutched her shoulders. “Deirdre, I spoiled you by letting you go outside in the past few days and you’ve become wildly ambitious. Now you think you’re strong enough to leave?”

Deirdre was pinned a