Chapter 490 Do You Believe Me Now?
Declan chuckled self-deprecatingly. âIt was more than just ânot talking.â We give each other stink eyes when we see each other, too. So, why would I care about someone who hates my guts? Why would I eagerly visit him? Why would I even tell you we knew each other as if it was something I should be proud of?â
Deirdre shook her head. She was not going to let herself be duped anymore.
Kyran extended his hand toward her, and she slapped it away. âHow about the fact that there isnât a guy called Kyran Reed in Room 1106? What about that?â
Kyran stared at the hand she rejected, his expression darkening. He typed on his phone, and the mechanical voice said, âBecause Iâm trying to keep a low profile.â
âWhat?â She was perplexed.
Declan gave a mirthless laugh. âItâs because of me. My brotherâs an irritatingly exacting man. He makes sure I can never, ever surpass him in anything, so any cooperation or work I have with Kyran is done in secret.
âMy brother doesnât even know Kyran has returned from Germia, so naturally, I am not going to let my brother catch on. Thatâs why I had to register your name as the patient instead.â
Deirdreâs lips trembled. âIs that it?â
Kyran stepped forward slowly, and she backed away as though she sensed it. âDonât you get one step closer!â
Her instinctive defensiveness made Kyranâs face turn pale. Nevertheless, he ignored her and held her hand softly.
Deirdre felt a wave of sentimentality gushing into her chest. She tried to struggle out of his hand, yelling, Donât touch me!â
Kyran gently lifted her fingertip and let it graze his face. âDeirdre, you want to know who I am, Touch me.â
donât you?
Deirdre widened her eyes. He was so close to her, yet it was as if she was peeking through a fog. She could not see. Her fingertip trembled.
She shut her eyes and allowed herself to touch the manâs features-his cheeks, nose, forehead⦠The more she traced, the faster her heart raced in shock.
âNot Brendan. This is not Brendanâs faceâ¦
âThe features are wrong⦠Or rather, they are of the wrong shapes and places. They are just⦠different from Brendanâs.â
A tear rolled down her cheek. âSo, he⦠is not Brendan, after all.â
She could not be sure of it. She had been losing so many nights of sleep just to accept this cruel reality, and now she had to brace another topsy-turvy twist again!?
It was then that she heard the TV. âNow breaking: Brendan Brighthall has returned to Neve by December 7th late evening and is now putting out a statement regarding his health. Here he is, speaking to us live.â
There was a commotion and then the sound of a reporter. âMr. Brighthall, why did you leave Neve to recover? What are your comments on the allegation of you avoiding someone?â
âWhen is the engagement party between Miss McKinsey and you?â
âThere are rumors regarding how poor your health is. Are those rumors true? Is it true that youâre basically holding yourself by a thread?â
âMr. Brighthall, are we witnessing the fall of the Brighthall empire?â
Their relentless questions suddenly ceased.
The heavy footsteps-no doubt from the man of the hour-stopped, and Deirdre heard that dreaded voice she would avoid to the edge of the Earth. âIâll address the last question about the Brighthall Groupâs future. only once. Rather than dreaming about the day it crumbles, I think you should wait for the sun to fall down on Earth. Would have made better live entertainment, too.â
Deirdreâs expression froze. She turned mechanically to the saleswoman and asked, âWhat date is today?â
The saleswoman had become the unwitting witness to the entire ordeal, which gave her quite the fright.
Still, she dutifully answered, âDecember 7th?â
This was a live broadcast, right? Unless Brendan could somehow make a copy of himself or something, how was he supposed to be here with her while simultaneously being there at Neve?
âDo you believe me now, Deirdre?â typed Kyran. âDo you believe me when I tell you Iâm not the man you hate?â
Deirdreâs eyes were wide. She thinned her lips. She could not say a word.