Resent, Reject, Regret

Chapter 743

Chapter 743 An Engagement

Still, Deirdre could not stop herself from asking, “Why?” Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Brendan placed his head on where her shoulder and neck met. He twirled a strand of her hair with his fingertip. “Because a baby girl will be an adorable, mischievous, sweet little gremlin. Just like her mother.”

“But what if it was a boy?”

The light in Brendan’s eyes dimmed. “Then I hope he doesn’t turn out like H me. Had Deirdre still believed him to be Kyran, she would have chalked this up as Kyran being modest as usual. He was perfect! Impeccable! Flawless! Why would anybody hope their son turned out differently?

But now, she was simply startled at Brendan’s sudden display of self- awareness. She forced herself to smile and reply, “You’re pulling my leg again.”

Brendan responded by squeezing her hand silently. Feeling a little disconcerted,

Deirdre made up an excuse, “It’s getting late. I need to take a shower.”

She rose, and Brendan suddenly called out to her. “Dee?”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

Deirdre was stunned. “How much?” she asked, just to go along.

“So, so much. I’d sacrifice everything for you. I’m… I’m so happy for our child, Dee. I’m just so grateful for them to even exist. Oh God, I love you.”

His voice, his words, his manner of speaking-all of them were saturated with unmistakable sincerity. It overpowered Deirdre so much that she almost lost control of her act, and that thought terrified her. She could feel that sudden, impulsive urge to just beg Brendan to let her go because somehow… Somehow, she wondered if

Brendan had some sense and decency left in him. If he did… If he knew he had done much wrong, he would let her go in good faith, right? Right?

“Dee?”

She shook herself out of her thoughts and raised her head. “Hmm?”

“I thought you were going to take a shower upstairs.”

She nodded. “Oh. Right.”

Deirdre closed the bathroom door and turned on the shower. Cold water beat down on her hands as she stared into space. She had to repeatedly remind herself that “Kyran Reed” was a product-a well- made, heavily designed and packaged hoax. They were the same person all along.

But was there a hint of authenticity in the things he said just now? What if?

Fortunately for Deirdre, her question was answered soon enough. It did not take more than three days before she heard about Brendan and Charlene’s engagement from the news.

The media had a field day with this godsend of a topic. They teased, joked, and milked the fact that Brendan and Charlene had been a couple for such a long time but never seemed to have the good timing for their engagement. That moment had finally arrived, as it seemed-the two would be engaged by next week, and their wedding should be expected within three months.

It was neither shocking nor breaking news, but the media managed to ramble about it for more than ten minutes. As Deirdre tightened her grip around the remote control and listened, she thought of the confession

Brendan had made yesterday.

God, it was both disgusting and hilarious. What he meant was loving two people via two separate identities. How “sweet.”

She shut her eyes and tried to calm the storm in her mind. It was then she heard the sound of keys entering the knob and turning.

Brendan strode inside just in time to hear the talk show hosts’ remarks.” I’m sure this isn’t going be an empty promise like the last time, right? I mean, if my memory serves, which it does, he was supposed to get engaged last year. And then some whatchamacallit happened, and it got delayed indefinitely the way your flight is always delayed.”

“Come on, Stephen. Be nice. Mr. Brighthall’s got a bit of a health complication at that time, remember? Pardon him for not having the energy to go on with the not-hectic event that is ‘rich people’s engagement party’, man! Besides, people wanna be engaged when they are at least in the pink of health, right? So, when he’s finally right as rain, that engagement is going full-steam ahead!”

Deirdre switched off the TV quickly as Brendan frowned. He stepped forward and asked, “Why are you watching that?”

“I was just listening to his talk show, and the news became one of the talking points,” Deirdre answered placidly. She rose from the couch. “I didn’t expect you to be home this early.”

Suddenly, she picked up the scent of roses.

Brendan brought the flowers to her. “I bought some sweet pastries for you today, and there was a florist next door. I thought about how much you love flowers, so I went ahead and bought a bouquet.”