For a moment, Olivia only blinks at Irish in confusion and incredulity, but eventually, she comes to realize that Adrian needing a psychiatrist may not be that far-fetched, especially with how crazier and crazier he is becoming each day.

It's not the kind of crazy where he'd go hysterical and berserk. Rather, he was one who would lock himself up all day, act like he was losing his mind by disregarding reality and staying trapped in his own world, and avoid talking with anyone as much as possible. Now, he even cries out of nowhere - they are not sure how long this has been going on, but they can tell that he is already getting to the edge of his sanity.

​​

Adding to his emotional instability is his tendency to switch to ogre mode in a matter of seconds just like earlier.

"If he continues like this, who knows if Cassidy gets snatched away by another guy!" Irish grimaced, recalling her interaction with her sister-in-law and that mysterious friend of hers some hours ago.

"Don't say something like that! You're gonna jinx it! Adrian is already feeling terrible enough as it is!" Olivia talked her out of it, unsure of what had gotten to her all of the sudden.

"I'm not trying to! It's already happening!"

"W-What?"

"I mean, Cassidy being with another guy! We're getting there, Olivia-"

Right then, Olivia hastily cut Irish off by covering her mouth just before these two tall shadows towered over them.

The blonde noticed both of their brothers coming their way while her sister was busy explaining something to her. Thinking that the topic of their conversation would upset their sibling more, she immediately slapped her hands on her lips and made her stop talking right on time. That was when the brunette froze, already having an idea on why she did that.

"And what made you think you were still welcome in my household? Why are you even here?"

As Adrian directs such a callous question to them, he sounds and appears so cold-blooded.

There is not an ounce of humane feeling in his fierce gaze and vicious expression - just a beast forcing himself to be civil towards them. This was the first time they talked with him in quite a while, and this was also the first they were getting a close-up view of how much their misdeeds affected him. It frightened them more than when it was Cassidy they were confronting.

After all, Adrian is capable of doing more than what his wife did.

"You've got guts to show yourselves up like this. How could you be so audacious? Even if you're family, I won't hold back, you know," Adrian taunted with a deep scowl and menacing gaze.

"Adrian, that's enough. Let's talk this through for now," Edward cut in and tried to keep him from getting closer to their sisters, silently gesturing the two to move back at the same time.

"Talk?! A conversation had long been overdue!"

"Calm down. We've all got out faults in this mess. Let's solve this together-"

"Just how do you want me to feel?! My wife was being abused behind my back for a long time! And I knew nothing! Nothing at all! My family, my employees, and even Cassidy herself - nobody ever told me anything! They even hid it so well! I'd been in the dark for all those years!"

"Adrian..." Olivia breathed out shakily, taking a step closer but only to be caught off guard when Irish blocked her path out of nowhere.

"Irish?"

"I'll talk to him. Leave this to me."

She was even more surprised to find her looking somewhat determined. It seemed like she already made her mind to confront him after all. She could see her hands quivering a little, but she still walked closer to him and kept her behind her back the whole time.

"I know... I know that this is my fault as well. I feel like the biggest dummy in the world for not noticing anything. I despise myself so much, and that is the only reason why I have not hurt anyone for this yet. I should be hurt first..." Adrian confessed remorsefully, his once steely look distorting into an extremely pained one.

"I should be hurt the most."

"A-Adrian, listen, I-I..." Irish faltered at the sight of him breaking down and becoming vulnerable once more.

"I-I don't think that you're-"

"But I still don't understand. Why did you do what you did? What did Cassidy do to be mistreated like that? I don't understand at all."

This time, he has focus on her.

She shudders in fear the instant she locks eye contact with him. His wrath is starting to outweigh his pain again. And before they all know it, he has reached out his hands and grabbed her arms before pushing her all the way to the wall. She screeches out loud as she feels her back hit on the hard, solid surface with a thud.

Appalled, Irish can only remain stiff and look back at Adrian while Edward and Olivia watch from behind in utter shock.

"Adrian, stop that! You're drunk!" Edward exclaimed and attempted to pull Adrian away but Irish immediately sent him a pleading look to let him be for now.

"Irish," Olivia gasped a little, awed by how firm her sister was holding her ground and worried that their brother might do something more than slamming her on the wall.

In reality, she can already tell that his tight grip on her alone might end her from extreme horror - a little tighter and it is sure to leave bruises on her. Even then, all she can think of at that moment is that this is now or never. Now that he has his full attention on her, she might be able to knock sense into him somehow.

"Tell me... Why did you have to go to the point where you had to leave that big of a scar on Cassidy...?" he then brought up all of the sudden - and she could see that tears were beginning to fill his eyes for the second time.

"Not only emotionally and mentally... I'm also talking about that burn on her back."

At that, Irish was thunderstruck and speechless, freezing all over as she remembered that horrific memory of how she inflicted such a huge and ineffaceable scar on Cassidy.