Resent, Reject, Regret by Aqua Summers

Chapter 875 You Just Have to Trust Me

Deirdre would never know how much it pained Brendan to see her retreating into the corner like a puppy being bullied. It felt like his heart was being torn into two by someone's bare hand.

The rage-and his helpless ignorance-at the kind of abuse suffered by the woman he loved was coursing through his veins and animating every single fiber in his body. How he wished he could be the one to suffer in her place!

The pain from his forceful kiss lingered on Deirdre's lips. Quivering, she said shakily, "B-Brendan, I...”

He threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "Why can’t you just- stand up for yourself more, Deirdre? Why?" he murmured, pained.

Deirdre did not know how to react at all. She had never heard Brendan use such a voice before-never heard him sound so desperate, so vulnerable, so pleading.

"I’m... I'm fine..." It took her a long time to force her thoughts back down to comfort him. "Nothing happened. I'm okay. It wasn't so bad, you see? If it were, I would have told the warden."

Brendan unbuttoned her collar and stared at the bruises coldly. "This is your definition of 'okay'?"

went quiet. She hastily buttoned her

her for a while before fastening her seatbelt and driving her to the nearest

examination, that all of her bruises had been targeted at areas where her uniform would cover. They were all over her and were made by

you have to be

show up at the offending police station. He was sure those inmates had not done what they did unprompted-and even if they did, they would not have found the need or

some outside forces. By the time he finished his call, the nurse had finished her task, too. Deirdre put

her shaking hand and did the last button

rest easy tonight, so please, take a good, well-deserved rest. I'll

me back there." "Why?" "Because I have pretty much recovered by this point. Besides, I'm... I'm a suspect. If other people learn that I've been sent to the hospital in the middle of my

her care for him just warmed

police have incentives not

had wanted to refute him further, but Brendan, rubbing her hair, interjected