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'?"

buttoned her shirt again.

at her for a while before fastening her seatbelt and driving

targeted at areas where her uniform would cover.

have to be to even

at the offending police station. He was sure those inmates had not done what they did unprompted-and even

be the work of some outside forces. By the time he finished his call, the nurse had finished her task, too. Deirdre put on her clothes, her cheeks a

grabbed hold of her shaking hand and did the

so please, take a good, well-deserved rest. I'll be right beside

you should send 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

hair. Hearing her care for him just warmed his

that my love can’t even get a good night's sleep. The police have incentives not to let news like that be

refute him further, but Brendan, rubbing her hair, interjected gently, "You