Resent Reject Regret by Aqua Summers

Chapter 80 A Curse That Keeps on Haunting

Brendan's other two bodyguards stood behind Sam. They clearly had their own opinions about the entire incident, but even they knew better than to speak loudly

between themselves.

"What the hell has been up with Mr. Brighthall lately, man? He's been acting like he lost his soul and his will to live just because a blind *ss woman went missing," one of them whispered. He was wearing a look that was not subtle by any means. "Your don't think... he's fallen in love with that freak, do you?"

"Bro, you're really acting like this couldn't just be the concern and worry of a decent human being," the other man replied "Come on, man Mr. Brighthall and that freak? It'd be like an elf prince marrying an ogress, bro! Hell, I bet there are ogresses who are even more pleasing to the eye. She looks like a pile of shi-"

"Shut uuuuuuup!" Sam suddenly snapped, shattering his self-imposed silence.

His eyes were wild with fury. It was genuinely unsettling to see someone famous for being approachable and cordial in such a state, so the two bodyguards immediately

shut their mouths.

Sam crouched. He could not get the mental image of a weeping Deirdre out of his mind. His fingers ran through his hair brutishly in frustration. At first, his only feelings. for Deirdre a sad, blind woman who had gone through terrible trauma that had ended with her face ruined-had been sympathy. But so many ordeals had kept happening to her, so even his first impression had become obsolete. She was turning into the bedeviled main character of a classic tragedy.

And the way Mr. Brighthall regarded her! It was just so... conflicting! He clearly cared a lot about her, and yet none of that translated into kindness when he spoke. He was all insults and put-downs. Then again there was the way Mr. Brighthall, a self-proclaimed rationalist, had immediately gone ballistic at Deirdre's apparent provocation. How could he be dense enough not to see her obviously egging him on? How could he then act with such hysterics that... this had happened?

Sam sighed.

The crowd waited for hours. Finally, the light outside the ER room flashed green. As Deirdre was wheeled to a ward, Brendan hurried over to the operating doctor. "How is she?"

It was one of the nurses who answered him, "How is she? Maybe I should be asking you! You're her family, right? Did you know she consumed a very strong drug that did

a number on her body? Or that she was later drenched in freezing water in that state? Her body could not withstand the torment and she almost died!" She frowned, looking irate. "I have never seen anyone so broken at such a young age in my life, sir. If whatever abuse she's enduring keeps up, I don't believe she'll survive next time!"

Brendan's face was as white as a sheet. He could not help stopping the nurse from walking away. "Wait! What do you mean she consumed 'a very strong drug"?"

"I mean a very powerful aphrodisiac, sir. The sort that could cause real damage to the body. She wouldn't even have been sent to the ER if it weren't for that."

Brendan's mind went blank. Was that why? Was that why she had thrown herself at any man who had come her way? It was not because she was a wh*re or-

God. Oh, God.

He clenched his fists. His chest suddenly hurt.

What had he done?!

"Sam." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them, his black pupils reflected the intention of a man braying for blood. "I want you to look into that drunk client she was with. I want you to find out who drugged Deirdre and make them disappear."

"Understood."

Brendan returned to the old mansion by himself that night. Although it was already in the wee hours of the morning, he could see lights from the windows.

He pushed open the door to the living room and found both Charlene and Madame Brighthall there. The air stiffened. Charlene managed to summon joy to her face while running up to Brendan. "Welcome home, Bren!"

He harrumphed coldly and removed his wet coat.

Charlene bit her lip a little and added, "Well? It's been close to two days. Did you find out where Miss McKinnon was?"

Brendan clenched his hands. "I did."

"Oh, that's great news!" Charlene's cry of joy beguiled the fact that she was smiling through gritted teeth. How could that b*tch have been found so soon? Goddamn it, those people had one job, and they had managed to trip over it?!

Urgh, this b*tch was a curse that kept on haunting her!

Madame Brighthall had been quiet, but hearing about Deirdre being safe made her let out a sigh. Her relief was short-lived, as her expression darkened, and she looked

up at Brendan. "Well, then. Now that Miss McKinnon has been found, surely it's not

unfair to ask for a conversation between a mother and her son. Right?"