Resent, Reject, Regret

Chapter 674

Kyran’s brows began to furrow as Deirdre asked gently, “Hmm? Who was it?”

“I don’t know. Must be one of those telemarketers. I’m gonna answer it for a bit.”

He rose and started toward the balcony. Unfazed, Deirdre resumed talking with Declan for the rest of the dinner. When Kyran’s food was starting to grow cold, she noticed he had not returned. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Declan, perceptive as ever, could read Deirdre’s face. “It’s probably something from work. Since he hasn’t been in his office these days, he probably has a mountain of affairs to which he has to nod off.”

“Yeah. You’re probably right,” Deirdre replied with a quick smile as a heavy sense of dread and foreboding unfurled in her chest. The incident with the middle-aged woman earlier today seemed to foretell something bad to come.

A low rumble groaned from overhead. Glenna looked up from her meal and muttered to herself, “Is it gonna rain?”

“I think it is,” answered Declan. ‘The weather hasn’t been playing nice lately.”

Glenna looked alarmed. She snatched her bag and coat and made her way to the door.

“Oh no. Oh no! I got to go before it rains! Who knows how long this rain’s going to last? I still need to be at work by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!”

Deirdre rose to her feet. “You know, you can always just stay the night here. We’ve got a guest room and clean bedsheets. You don’t have to rush.”

“Uh, no. My laptop’s waiting at home, and there’s still a document in there that I need to amend before tomorrow.” Glenna declined quickly.

As she moved, Declan followed and swiped his coat from the rack. “My car’s right outside. I’ll drive you home.”

That was completely out of Glenna’s expectations. “No, thanks!” she answered instantly.

Eyeing the man’s unfinished plate of chips, she shifted her eyes and added, “You should just continue your dinner. I don’t need anyone to drive me home.”

“Getting an Uber now is not a good idea, Glenna. Get into my car.”

Declan’s usual affability seemed to have vanished suddenly at the tail-end of his sentence. In fact, he sounded so commanding it was as if he would not accept any contrary opinions. Glenna had to swallow her decline.

She quietly walked toward Declan’s car and took the backseat.

The man smiled, but it did not reach his eyes at all. “Am I supposed to be your driver for the evening?”

Glenna turned, shot a glance at Deirdre by the door, and gnashed her teeth. She took the passenger seat.

Deirdre waited until the sound of his car vanished into the distance before moving to close the door. It was then that a pair of hands suddenly wrapped themselves around her waist.

The man’s broad, sturdy chest pressed against her back. His chin rested on her shoulder, close to her neck. His breathing was a little off.

Deirdre quickly caressed his cheek before tilting her face toward him.” That was a long call. What happened? You okay?”

After a brief silence, Kyran replied, “It’s nothing. It’s just work stuff.”

It was exactly as Declan had said. Curious, Deirdre replied, “Didn’t you say it was an unknown caller’s number?”

‘’That call ended quickly. Then the work call came. Been on it since then.”

“Really?”

Deirdre sensed something was amiss about Kyran today. His mood seemed a little gloomy ever since they returned from the supermarket, but now, it seemed like his dark mood had reached a crescendo. He could hardly disguise the fatigue in his voice.

But then again, there was no real reason Kyran should hide anything from her, right? His fatigue was probably out of something mundane, like sheer weariness over his affairs.

Ever since Kyran returned from Germia, he had been busy. He even got sick these few days.

No wonder he was in a bad mood.

Deirdre turned on her heels. ‘The food’s gone cold, so I’ll make you a simple bowl of spaghetti instead. You can take an early rest after that. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds good.”

Deirdre had no idea how long her sleep had lasted. All she knew was that she woke from her sleep and sat up straight at the clasp of thunder. Breathing hard, she could not stop

herself from shaking.