Resent, Reject, Regret by Aqua Summers

Chapter 42 Running Away? With Whom?

“If this is your revenge on me for stubbornly keeping my child, then shouldn’t his death. have pleased you enough?! I was

incarcerated for a year! I’ve lost everything I’ve ever had! Everything… God… What will it take for you to be satisfied? To let me go?

“I’ve already regretted ever taking up the… the toxic mantle of being the fake Mrs. Brighthall, and I don’t want it anymore… Let me go, I’m begging you… I don’t want it anymore. I don’t want to be Mrs. Brighthall anymore…

She swooned after that.

Brendan released her. His chest was

wrangled in pain, a pain so great that he

could not contain it. It pressed against his lungs, denying him any chance to breathe.

What was going on?

He had always seen himself as an ubermensch-unstoppable and almost omnipotent. And yet he could not answer this one simple question. His mind was beleaguered by sheer frustration. He stood on the balcony and began to empty his cigarette pack, as though he was trying to

self-medicate, however temporarily, with nicotine.

Out of all these inscrutable knots, Brendan was sure of one thing: He wanted Deirdre to return to him and be his devout lover. She had nothing left, after all. Not her eyes or her looks, not even her mother. Sterling might claim to love her now, but Brendan was sure his love was as fleeting as an impulse.

exchange for her submission, he would gladly take care of her for the rest of her life. She would never want for

had no idea how much time had passed. All she knew was that her phone was ringing, and that is what woke her up. She opened her eyes and was immediately assaulted

inhaled sharply upon

hand felt its way to her phone. Hello?” she asked,

“Dee, it’s me!”

voice made her wake up for good.

filled his every word. “Are

Your voice sounds so… hoarse.

what that beast of a man had done to her formed in her memories, each of them ushering new

fists and replied,

”

days, and I caught a cold.

time he sounded grave and afraid. “Every time my mind drifted to the thought of you being caged by t-t-that psychopath, I

Tell me your address.

wanted to tell him no.

Sterling back into this nightmare. She could not-and would not-entangle herself with

that had to be said in person,

“A-Alright.”

had always known where her house

luggage, got changed, and left. She waited at

paced toward his destination as quickly as he could. His eyes caught a glimpse of Deirdre in