CWMBR 78

Chapter 78

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"She had a debt."

Bridget, who had been lost in thought with her eyes downcast, looked up at those words. Ain finished the last page of the newspaper and continued.

"But by now, she must have paid it off."

In the past, she might have asked what that debt was. But Bridget no longer wondered about such things. Instead, she felt she should rest a bit longer. Her body still didn't seem fully recovered. It would likely take more time for the medication's effects to completely wear off.

But Ain didn't let Bridget just leave.

"What are you going to do now?"

"What?"

"Your uncle."

Bridget pressed her lips together. The words the intruders had boldly spat out last night came back to her. That they were taking the patient away at the family's request.

Ronan had recently accused Bridget of being crazy because of her actions. If he had intended to use that as an excuse to lock Bridget up in a hospital...

"Things have gotten this bad. We can't just leave him like this."

"What if we don't?"

Bridget repeated softly, her eyelids fluttering.

"Then I'd have to do the same thing to my Uncle. Force him?"

"If necessary."

"To that extent...?"

Bridget couldn't continue. She had been silent, picking at the cuticles around her nails, but now her face twisted.

Using someone to forcibly send him to a facility, or taking equivalent action. What Ain was suggesting probably involved violent means. Bridget knew he was right.

Ronan might do the same thing again tomorrow. Going this far meant he'd stopped pretending to be civilized.

Bridget had to take proactive measures, even if only to protect herself. Rationally, decisively.

"...I need to think about it."

Even so, she couldn't bring herself to speak harshly.

"That's weak."

Bridget lowered her gaze gloomily at Ain's rebuke.

Bridget had to sever ties with her last remaining blood relative in the worst possible way. Just days ago, she never imagined their relationship would sink into such a quagmire.

"I guess I haven't suffered enough."

Bridget muttered bitterly and turned away. Ain did not try to stop her this time.

Sitting on the living room sofa, waiting for her body to return to a more normal state, Bridget mentally organized the tasks she needed to tackle.

First, she had to deal with the broken kitchen door. She needed to check if it could be repaired or if it needed replacing, then decide whether to call someone or find another solution.

She also planned to go to the police station. Of course, people released from mental hospitals didn't look like criminals at all, and the officers couldn't completely block them. If they mentioned Ronan's name and claimed it was a family matter, the officers would likely back off with a helpless look.

But Ronan was someone who cared quite a bit about what others thought. If she filed a police report, he wouldn't be able to act so recklessly.

Just as Bridget finished sorting out what needed to be done and was about to get up, Ain appeared, seemingly having finished his meal. Bridget quickly spoke up.

"Thanks for yesterday, and for keeping watch while I slept. I'll handle things from here. You can go now."

At her words, Ain narrowed his brows as if hearing something absurd.

"Go where?"

"………………You don't need to stay here."

Ain's expression darkened further. He clicked his tongue sharply, then suddenly scanned the surroundings.

"Are you planning to stay here permanently?"

His attitude was reminiscent of when he'd pointed out the house's security flaws. Bridget bit her lip tightly and protested reluctantly.

"This is my house."

"And the place where uninvited guests broke in."

"I can't just move my residence unprepared."

Ain clicked his tongue at Bridget's words. He probably thought she was pathetic.

"Anyway, I'll repay you for today's help. Goodbye."

Bridget, who had just been about to check the kitchen door, changed her mind and headed for the third floor. Her appearance was simply too wretched. Her clothes were in tatters from the chaos of the previous dawn. She needed to wash up quickly and get properly dressed again.

After washing, her mind felt a little clearer. Her body moved much more naturally than before. Thinking the drug's effects were wearing off sooner than expected, Bridget paused abruptly while descending the stairs. Standing still, she listened intently before moving forward with a look of disbelief.

It sounded like something being tapped rhythmically, or perhaps something breaking. Frowning, Bridget crossed the dining room and entered the kitchen.

"………………What are you doing?"

She was sure she'd asked the exact same thing just a moment ago.

Feeling that sense of déjà vu, Bridget asked the question reluctantly. At her question, Ain, who had been crouched with his back to her, stood up. Around him lay a box with its lid wide open and various tools scattered about.

That was definitely the toolbox stored in the warehouse. How did he find it again? No, but why did he bring it out? What was he doing with it now?

"As you can see."

"I can see, but I don't understand, so I'm asking."

Ain paused at Bridget's cold reply. He lowered the metal crowbar he was holding and said.

"I can't just leave the door like this."

Behind Ain, who stood at an angle, the door swung wide open. The handle had already been completely torn off during last night's commotion, and now one hinge seemed loose, causing the door to hang slightly askew. Below, pieces of wood presumed to have fallen from the door lay scattered messily. Bridget, who had been quietly observing the scene, calmly opened her lips.

"So you mean you completely destroyed it?"

"Where exactly does this look destroyed?"

"Are you still in the process of destroying it?"

When she asked calmly, Ain fell silent. Seemingly at a loss for words for a rare moment, he then offered a somewhat flimsy explanation.

"I was trying to balance it."

Bridget rolled her eyes and looked at the metal crowbar he had set down moments before. She couldn't fathom how a crowbar could possibly help balance a door.

Looks like he really was trying to break it.

Bridget pressed her temples firmly, her eyes disapproving. She couldn't be sure of anything else, but she knew for certain that this broken door was providing Ain with a very convenient excuse.

"Move aside."

"Why?"

Without further explanation, Bridget walked past him to inspect the door hinges. Replacement seemed more prudent than repair.

Until the new door arrived, they'd need a temporary barrier to seal the entrance.

After a cursory check, Bridget turned back.

"What are you doing?"

"Hold it steady so it doesn't move."

Ain, who had been watching her suspiciously, grabbed the door panel as she instructed. Meanwhile, Bridget retrieved wooden planks stored in the shed. After stacking the planks to one side, she picked up a hammer and nails from the tools scattered on the floor. Ain, who had been staring intently, wondering what on earth Bridget was doing, narrowed his eyes. Ignoring Ain’s gaze, Bridget placed the boards against the door.

"That's a bit dangerous to swing around..."

Thud! Thud! Thud!

With a powerful sound, nails drove into the wooden door. Ain, who had been holding the door and about to speak, shut his mouth due to the impact of the hammering transmitted through the door.

In an instant, a single plank was secured beneath the door. Seeing this, Ain spoke again.

"You handle it well."

Thud! Thud! Thud!

"Your skill is truly excellent."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"You should also block the top part..."

Bang!

With an unusually loud sound, the hammer struck the wooden door with a force incomparable to moments before.

"You’re noisy."

Bridget's sharp retort made Ain raise an eyebrow. He seemed utterly unfazed by the tool in her hand, calmly opening his mouth again.

"I didn't know you knew how to do this sort of thing."

It would be better to just finish the job quickly. Bridget gritted her teeth and scanned the door. The current task was simply to board up the spot where the handle had fallen off and secure the door so it wouldn't budge at all. Bridget knew she could handle something as basic as hammering nails. Once this was done, they could call in a professional for proper repairs and replacement.

Bridget started hammering again. This time, Ain didn't chatter pointlessly either.

Thanks to that, it was finished quickly without any distractions. Though it was a bit clumsy, after confirming the kitchen door was securely fixed, Bridget tidied up the toolbox.

"Did you learn this while helping out at the Grand Theater?"

Ain, who had been watching Bridget with a look of amazement the whole time, suddenly asked.

He was right. Of course, stage setup had its own crew, but Bridget had occasionally found herself with nothing to do and ended up hammering alongside them a couple of times. It was probably just at a kids' activity level, though.

Even though Bridget didn't respond, Ain continued without caring.

"You didn't actually do stage setup, did you?"

"………………. I just helped out a little."

"You're such a fool."

Now, letting his words go in one ear and out the other wasn't difficult. Bridget picked up the toolbox, stood up, and faced Ain.

"The door is blocked, and my body has recovered. So, it seems there's no reason for you to stay here any longer."

At Bridget's words, Ain closed his mouth with a subtle expression. He glanced at the patched-up door, then shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

This time, he turned away. Bridget, as if she'd been waiting for this moment, watched Ain's departing back without a second thought as he put on his coat. The moment he stepped outside, she locked the front door.

Click.

After securing the latch, she exhaled a long sigh and pressed her forehead against the front door.

"...Guess I didn't suffer enough."

Her faint muttering, with no one to hear it, faded helplessly into the air.