Chapter 153 - Confront the Present

When Adrian first learned from Cassidy that the burn mark on her back was inflicted by Irish, he could barely contain all the ferocious emotions that aggressively surged in him at that moment - and now, he would not be able to keep them pent-up any longer.

At this point, he isn't sure if he detests himself more than he does to them. He still feels like he should suffer a fate that is worse than death, and because being left behind by his wife is one of the things that is close to that, he knows that he deserves all of this. Yet at the same time, he couldn't stand the fact that those who abused her were not compensating nor suffering for what they did. 

Adrian knows that this is his doing, but he also knows that he is not the only one in it.

"How could you...? And I thought that you were only trying to help her out in managing our household affairs and everything. I thought you were really helping her out. How could you lie and pretend?! But then again, you're not an actress for nothing..." he muttered vehemently through gritted teeth, barely keeping the remaining cool he had at that moment.

"I couldn't see you as my sibling at all! I sure regret being born in this family!"

Irish tears up as she hears that and feels Adrian gripping her tighter. Even more than his rough hold, his malevolent expression has made her soul leave her body. She is petrified to the bones, trembling all over. However, unlike earlier, fear is not the only emotion present here -

There are shame, remorse, guilt and regret.

She herself could not remember why exactly she abhorred Cassidy. While she did feel that she didn't deserve being in this family - along with that was the fact that her mother kept prodding her to do the same thing she's doing, she couldn't recall having any deeper reason. It was all fun and games - a mere entertainment.

"I admit my wrongdoings, and I am not going to use any petty excuse for that. I'd been selfish, heartless, obnoxious, cruel, ruthless - you can call me anything. And to be honest, I don't know what I have to do to correct my misdeeds. My crimes are too big to be forgiven..." Irish managed to say despite how shaken and terrified she was, but even then, Adrian was not a bit least convinced.

"But please, believe me when I tell you that I want everything to be alright for the two of you again."

"I don't give a damn at how you feel about us now. You said so yourself - you are selfish. All you ever think about is yourself, and most probably, how you will get out of this situation," Adrian retaliated without hesitation, not believing anything that she said. 

"Fine. I understand where you're coming from. If I can never fix my relationship with you or her again, then that is my punishment. I deserve that and more. You yourself can give me any punishment as you see fit. However, even if you kill me now, that is not going to solve anything between you two."

Confounded, Olivia and Edward can only wonder where all that courage is coming from. But then again, Irish has always been the most brazen and fearless among the four of them. She is also so straightforward that she often appears ins.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e and thoughtless. 

"You have no time for this, Adrian. You can't continue sulking all day. I can't understand how you truly feel because I have never experienced what true love is, but what I do know is that everything you've been doing now will not get you anywhere..." Irish trailed off with an unyielding expression, finally getting a different reaction from him.

"Cassidy left. So what? You can just go after her again. Isn't that what you've been planning to do whether she's here or not? Besides, it's not like she kicked the bucket or something. It's actually quite rude of you to act like you're mourning for her as if it's already her funeral-"

"What did you say?" Adrian hissed underneath his breath, maddened by the terms she used.

"What I mean is that it's not too late at all. Stop acting like it's the end of the world. You're only wasting your time and prolonging your reunion."

"You talk big for someone who-"

"I'm not talking big, Adrian. I'm saying what's right. I know that you're having a hard time getting rid of your negative feelings, but staying this way is only selfish of you, no...? Shouldn't Cassidy be the one drinking and moping around all day when you kept neglecting her before? But what did she do? She only continued chasing after you like an idiot!"

For once, Adrian fell quiet, astonishing both Olivia and Edward.

Irish knew that she struck a nerve. She was not trying to escape his fury by bringing that up, though - she only felt the need to say so. And it seemed like her choice of words this time had worked somehow. She was able to get him thinking with his head again.

"Olivia and I decided that we would continue to earn Cassidy's forgiveness. Even if she turns us down every time or even if she takes revenge and makes us pay tenfold, we will continue to ask for it..." Irish continued with a much more mellowed tone now that he appeared to have calmed down a bit. 

"What about you? If you stay trapped in the past, you will not be able to confront the present. Then, before you know it, you will find yourself repeating the same mistake again - it will be too late again."

"Why are you talking like that? Don't you even get how big of a damage this is?" Adrian rasped sharply, lowering his head in defeat and screwing his eyes shut tightly. 

"And you plan to make it bigger by not doing anything...? We all know that Cassidy once loved you, then go and bring that back before it's too late. There's still a chance."

For a moment, silence only prevailed all around them until Adrian finally loosened his grip on Irish - and she couldn't believe how relieved she was when he did.