Chapter 608: Chapter 609

Chapter 609 You'll Be A Great Mother "My mother-in-law hated it. She was very livid and told the gardener to uproot the entire bed. She didn't instruct them to replace the flowers, though, so no one dared to do anything about it,” explained Laura.

“After that, it just... stays barren.”

No sooner after she finished, the trio heard the sound of a baby crying. Laura quickly rushed ahead of them into the living room.

“Rose was Declan’'s mother's name. It was also her favorite flower, so she used to plant rows and rows of rose beds in the garden. So, the first thing anyone would think about when they look at the roses would be her,” said Brendan, picking up the explanation Laura left off.

Deirdre was stunned. "So that's why," she muttered. "I still can't believe the matron of a powerful, elite family could not even stomach the sight of some harmless roses, though.”

Brendan snickered. “If she had a bigger heart, Declan’s mother wouldn't have died.”

“Excuse me?"

“Nothing. We're here.”

Brendan held Deirdre’s hand and led her to the living room, where Laura was still trying to pacify a crying toddler. Seeing the two of them, she flashed them an apologetic smile. "God, I’m sorry! Joy's so young and, well, we don’t have anyone to help us care for her today, so I have to bring her with me so that she won't hurt herself when she’s alone. Really sorry for the inconvenience."

"It's nothing at all,” replied Deirdre. "Is Joy your daughter?"

Yes." Laura's expression darkened. "My father-in-law named her. He said... her birth would bring the family joy."

Deirdre stiffened for a moment and changed the subject. "How old is she?"

"Half a year old.”

She crouched and held the baby’s gaze. "Hello, sweetie! Why the pouty- pout face, hmm?”

Joy stared at her and suddenly broke out a smile, showing her uneven teeth and a drop of drool at the corner of her lips.

Laura was amazed. “Wow! Joy doesn't usually get near any strangers, but she seems to really like you, Miss McKinnon!”

“Really?” Deirdre’s eyes softened. What a regret, not to be able to see Joy's smile. She reached out to her and asked, "May I carry her?"

"Sure thing!" Laura handed the baby over. Widening her eyes, Joy made herself comfortable in Deirdre’s arms and began to chuckle.

"This is amazing, Miss McKinnon. You'll make an incredible mother!”

Deirdre's expression froze.

Brendan felt a sting in his heart, and his face darkened.

Laura acutely sensed the strange change in the air, but she could not understand why. Before she could dwell on it, Deirdre smiled and replied, "I guess I could, but unfortunately, I doubt my baby will be half as adorable as little Joy over here.”

“Nonsense! Both you and Mr. Brighthall have those appearance genes down pat. Your baby will have the best of both worlds.”

Deirdre flashed a smile.

“Is Cillian still busy?" asked Brendan.

Laura recoiled as though she had just remembered why they were there.

”Oh my God! I'll get him."

She hurried upstairs.

Deirdre enjoyed the baby's small, soft frame squirming in her arms. She could not stop playing with it, but the smile in her eyes faded quickly. "If my kid lived... they would have called me mom by now."

Brendan's fingers trembled. As imposing and towering as he was, an air of loneliness and anguish dwarfed him at the thought.

He opened his lips, closed them, and opened them again, but every word he could conjure stopped dead in his throat. His eyes were red.

“I'm sorry.”

Deirdre chuckled. "Sorry is the most useless word in the world, do you know that? Its only use is to give the victimizer a false sense of closure while the victims themselves languish in pain. And here I thought a word so meaningless would have never escaped your lips."

Brendan said nothing.

“Of course, I don't really blame you for everything. I was at fault, too.” She continued. "If only I didn't insist on keeping it... the kid would have never died a stillborn. And really, this was for the best. If we had the child, it would have become a burden to us both.”