Chapter 15
Apartment.
When Arlene came back, Brendan was sitting on the couch waiting for her.
This time he really went too far with his temper,” Brendan said in a low voice, looking around. “Took everything with him? Protesting against me?”
Arlene walked up to Brendan, her voice hoarse.“You’re going to give me back the opportunity to study abroad, right? I mentioned it to you half a year ago, this chance to study abroad is very important to me, you promised me…”
Arlene squatted in front of Brendan, nervously looking at him.
She had told Brendan many times, but he never took her seriously.
Brendan hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit guilty, but his pride prevented him from admitting his mistake.“It’s just a spot for studying abroad.”
He actually remembered it, Arlene had mentioned the study abroad quota to him six months ago,
Just… yesterday when Paige mentioned that her cousin wanted this spot, he completely forgot about Arlene,
It’s really important… Brendan, I’ve never asked you for anything before, but this time, can you help me please?” Arlene pleaded, looking at Brendan.
Whether she’s worthless or has no self–respect, it doesn’t matter.
She just needed a chance, a chance to climb up.
“Even if I can’t go, I’ll still support you. I can make it up to you with whatever you want.” Brendan didn’t want to break his promise to Paige, after all, he had already agreed to it.
Arlene looked at Brendan anxiously, stood up uncontrollably. “I don’t need it! Brendan, I don’t need you to patronize me, I don’t need you to confine me! I don’t want to be a canary that can be abandoned at any time, a canary that can’t see the light!”
Arlene backed away, breathing heavily, and looked at Brendan.“I just need this chance…”
Rather than compromising all your life, it’s better to fight your way out on your own.
But as an orphan from the lower class, she could easily have her right to fight and enter the arena taken away by others.
So she needed Brendan’s help, she needed to get this chance.
That was my chance… it was all based on my performance…. I deserved it, why did you… help someone else take it away from me?” Arlene was not happy, really not happy.
She couldn’t ask Albert because his condition was that she couldn’t study abroad in a short period of time.
But she just wanted this opportunity this year, just the opportunity to be mentored by Devon.
So the only one who could help her was Brendan.
Brendan was supposed to be there for her, but he ended up being the last straw that broke the camel’s back, the one who took away her only chance.
How could she accept this, how could she not hate.
Brendan, you can’t do this to me…” She had been with him for four years, after all.
Can’t we even consider a four–year relationship?
Arlene’s depression symptoms were already very obvious, and after being triggered, her body became somewhat uncontrollably stiff. Somatization made it difficult for her to control her behavior well, and she pinched her palms with her nails, blood dripping down her fingers.
‘Arlene! Calm down, Brendan said, watching Arlene’s out–of–control state, feeling a pang in his heart.
He furrowed his brows, pulled Arlene into his arms, and reassured her anxiously, “I’ll go talk to Paige and ask her cousin to give you this opportunity first. Take a deep breath…
Four years ago, Arlene was discharged from the hospital and received six months of therapy. The psychologist told Brendan countless times, “Be careful not to trigger her again.”
At first, Brendan was really caring, and he had more patience with Arlene than he does now.
He slowly forgot about Arlene’s trauma because she was too well–behaved and sensible.
Arlene grabbed Brendan’s clothes tightly and cried so hard she couldn’t breathe.
Tl go fight for you, Brendan reassured once again.
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Breathing slowly calmed down in a hurry, Arlene weakly smiled.
Help her fight?
That was her spot and chance, Brendan took it and gave it to his crush’s cousin. She just wanted her own things back.
“Brendan… This opportunity is really important to me,” Arlene emphasized again.
This opportunity was really important to her.
Brendan also knew that Arlene couldn’t handle too much excitement anymore.
Four
years ago, Arlene had tendencies of self–harm and suicide. If she is triggered again this time, it could worsen her condition.
He actually knew everything.
But he just didn’t care.
Just like that day, Brendan called Paige over, knowing full well that Darin and Wilma were both there, just to please her… he was asking for trouble.
Take a good rest.” Brendan knew that the study abroad spots would be finalized soon, so he had to go talk to Paige now.
Arlene couldn’t help but lean against the wall.
Arlene
She was waiting for Brendan’s answer.
Menu
Brendan drove to the Hilton’s mansion.
The car parked outside the Hilton’s mansion, but Brendan hesitated. He had promised Paige to help her cousin get this opportunity, and he had already told Paige today that the spot had been given to her cousin. If he changed his mind now…
Paige definitely figured out his relationship with Arlene.
Brendan was leaning back in his seat with a headache, with Arlene on one side and Paige on the other.
He was having a hard time making a decision now.
1
In comparison, Arlene was indeed more obedient and easier to pacify.
Brendan wanted to make it up to Arlene more, but her situation today made him feel uneasy for no reason.
After a long silence, Brendan finally called Paige.
“Hello? Paige, are you asleep?”
Upstairs at the Hilton’s mansion.
Paige stood by the window and saw Brendan’s car.
She furrowed her brows, pretending to be sleepy on purpose.“Hmm… almost falling asleep, feeling tired today.”
“Paige…” Brendan wanted to speak.
Paige seemed to have guessed something and intentionally interrupted Brendan, saying, “Bren… I was a bit scared. I had a nightmare just now, that William hit me… During those four years in Britain, I thought of you every day…”
dreaming
*Bren, you know, I married William out of necessity. We were too young back then, you couldn’t protect me. I had to follow my family’s arrangement, it wasn’t what I wanted.” Paige cried.
She was smart, she would always shift the blame to Brendan.
Because Brendan was still young at that time, he had just taken over the Dudley Group, so he couldn’t make decisions on many
collaborations,
Paige said she had it rough, William was abusive, and her family pressured her, she was living in hell every day.
Brendan tightened his grip on the phone, his voice hoarse.“I’m sorry…”
He blamed himself for not being able to protect Paige back then, which led to her being forced to marry that British guy by her family, and suffering so
much in Britain.
Im not afraid of anything now. I’m back, Bren, you’re still waiting for me. I’m so happy,” Paige said, crying.
Brendan felt sorry for Paige, so he couldn’t bring himself to speak up for Arlene to get a spot.
“Bren, it’s so late, what’s up?” Paige asked, crying.
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< Chapter 15
“No big deal, just worried you might have nightmares at night, so I called to check on you…” Brendan comforted softly.
Thank you… Paige said with a smile through tears.“So, will you go to the beach with me tomorrow?”
“Okay…”
Menu
After hanging up the phone, Brendan put his hand on his forehead. He couldn’t refuse Paige, so he had to let Arlene swallow this grievance. He would compensate Arlene several times until she was satisfied.
Apartment.
Arlene didn’t sleep all night, she sat on the sofa waiting for Brendan’s call.
Brendan didn’t call all night.
The next morning at ten o’clock, Brendan called.
Arlene answered the phone in a panic, her voice already hoarse and almost unable to speak. “Brendan…”
“Arlene, sorry… that spot, you give it to Janet, whatever conditions you want, just name it,” Brendan said in a serious tone.
He seemed generous, standing from the perspective of the superior, “bestowing” Arlene.
Arlene was so stiff all over, and then she started shaking slowly.
In the end, Brendan chose to sacrifice her to make his crush smile.
Originally, her fate couldn’t even compare to a smile from Paige.
