“What?!”Shea was so surprised that even her usually expressionless face looked strange.Deirdre was also shocked beyond belief. “Mom, are you sure? You are the one who asked Ms. Collins to sprinkle the powder? Why?”Ophelia blinked, looking puzzled. “Because I thought you’d been eating less vegetables lately, of course. That’s why I wanted you to get extra vitamin C. I’m very busy every day and I have to go to the market to buy fresh supplies before 7:30 in the morning. I was worried that your breakfast would be cold by the time you came down, so I asked Ms. Collins to heat your breakfast and sprinkle the vitamin powder on it.”Deirdre’s face changed.Emily rubbed her teary eyes and said helplessly, “Ms. McKinnon, as your attending physician and the heir of Collins Pharmaceuticals, I have my own professional moral compass… I find it hard to believe that I would encounter such a thing in my life…”As she spoke, she began to sniffle as if she had suffered a great injustice. But in
“She was already acting when she started provoking me that day.”Shea was deeply shocked, and her face turned pale.She had thought that, by using today’s incident, she would be able to deal with Emily for good, but instead, she had fallen for Emily’s trick.“I’m sorry, Ms. McKinnon. It's my carelessness that made me fall into her trap. If I had been more careful, I might have noticed that something was wrong with Emily earlier.""It's not your fault." Deirdre stood up from her seat. "I fell for it too, didn't I?"Shea’s eyes dimmed, and she remembered something else. “And what about Mr. Brighthall…”“I’ll go explain it to him.”Deirdre wouldn’t let Emily succeed. She would turn the tables.She made some coffee and walked to the study’s door by herself.However, before she could knock, the door opened.“You’re going out?” Deirdre asked.“Yes, I have to go out,” Brendan replied. He was wearing a suit, and his expression was cold. However, his expression changed when he saw th
“I’m in the organization. What’s wrong?” Sam replied, sounding confused.Deirdre took a deep breath and said urgently over the phone, “Quick, come pick me up, now!”Sam was surprised by the urgency in her tone but didn't question her. He immediately hung up and rushed over to pick her up. After the call ended, Deirdre began frantically calling Brendan.She called him once, then called him again.At first, the call didn’t go through, but after a while, someone finally picked up.“Brendan!”Hearing the urgency in Deirdre’s voice, Brendan softened his tone unconsciously when he replied, "I'll be back in an hour."“Where are you now?” Deirdre asked, suppressing her emotions.Brendan glanced around before answering, “I’m at a restaurant discussing a potential cooperation.”If he was at a restaurant discussing a potential cooperation, why had he taken Shea away? Deirdre had a hunch that Brendan was lying and decided to probe further. "Which restaurant? Let me come pick you up,"
Night City wasn’t too far away. If they drove fast, they should be able to get there in 10 minutes.“Shea, you have to hold on,” Deirdre whispered to herself.On the way, Deirdre told Sam what had happened, and he was very surprised.“Even if there was a problem with the test report, Shea must have at most made a mistake. According to reason, a penalty would suffice. Why did he take Shea away without saying a word?”“I was wondering about that as well. Something more serious must have happened,” Deirdre replied, gripping her seatbelt tightly.Then, they didn’t say anything else.Sam stepped on the pedal and managed to park the car in eight minutes.Deirdre unfastened her seatbelt and hurriedly got out of the car with Sam, heading into Night City.Deirdre pushed open the door to the private room in a hurry, only to be stunned by the eerie silence inside.The lights were bright, and a group of people were standing there, but no one said a word. Brendan was sitting on the sofa, a
“Shut up!" Deirdre didn't want to put on a show for Emily anymore. "What does my business with Brendan have to do with you, an outsider?"Emily’s face turned pale. She looked over at Brendan, who remained unresponsive. Hence, she could only swallow her displeasure.After all, Deirdre wouldn’t be smug for long."I just wanted to warn you, but if you don’t like it, then I won't say anything else," Emily said. Brendan's gaze remained fixed on Deirdre's face, and after a moment, he asked, "Do you really want to know?"“Really.”“Okay, but don’t you dare cover up for Shea regarding the result." Deirdre's face turned slightly pale. She was wondering what Brendan meant and what Shea had done?“If Shea did something wrong, I certainly won’t cover up for her. But the point is, what exactly did she do wrong?” Deirdre frowned.“Do you remember the report you gave me?” Brendan asked. Deirdre nodded. That was the report Shea had tested, which listed the ingredients used by Emily to d
“Ms. McKinnon… In the video, the bread given by Shea was indeed intact,” Sam replied.Deirdre gasped.She began to wonder whether she had been deceived and whether Shea was one of the bad guys.No, Emily was definitely not innocent. This entire series of events had been completely orchestrated by her. How could Shea have followed Emily's instructions?Unless the two of them were in cahoots… However, if Shea and Emily were in cahoots, they could have done much more to benefit themselves. They could have sacrificed Shea to elevate Emily’s position in Brendan's heart, although no normal person would make such a trade.“Sam, can you tell me about all the angles of the bread in that video?" Deirdre asked."At the beginning of the video, Shea was holding the bread when she showed up in the lobby. However, at the time, the shape of the bread couldn't be seen clearly. It was only after the bread was handed over to the staff that it was confirmed to be intact," Sam explained.“So, the
Brendan squinted his eyes. "The reason is simple. She slandered Emily, and your eyes will never recover."Tears welled up in Shea's eyes. “No, Mr. Brighthall, I didn’t do it!”“You didn’t? Then how do you explain this?” Brendan gave her a warning look.Shea was speechless. She didn’t even know what had happened. The bread she had taken was the one that had been bitten and she hadn’t let anyone touch it. How could this be?Her silence made Brendan think that she was unable to refute.Deirdre cursed in her heart.“Brendan, I know clearly what kind of person Shea is. She would never do anything to harm me! I can vouch for her myself. This is all just a misunderstanding!”“Vouch for her?” Emily sighed helplessly. “Ms. McKinnon, you can be kind, but don’t be too kind. She’s been trying to harm you after all! Have you ever wondered why Shea had the same ingredients that were found on the tested bread? Obviously, she had it in her possession. If you believe her, and if something happen
As expected, Brendan’s face turned cold, and his deep black eyes were inscrutable. At that moment, Emily quietly walked up to Shea, leaned in close to her ear, and whispered “Do you want this situation to continue? Look at the vibe between Brendan and Deirdre. The love they had for each other has gradually turned into conflict, and you are the reason for all of this.”Shea was stunned and began to feel an intense sense of guilt."Given Brendan's personality, even if he really promised Deirdre to let you go, he would still feel a knot in his heart. After all, he would have been forced to do this by Deirdre for your sake," Emily added.After Emily finished speaking, she rose to her feet. Sam glanced over and saw Emily by Shea’s side. Shea had lowered her head and lost all her spirit.“Shea…” Sam sensed that something was wrong.Meanwhile, the confrontation between Deirdre and Brendan continued.“So you’re forcing me not to pursue this matter, right?” Brendan’s palm on the sofa ti
"Where is she?"Brendan stared at him, utterly surprised. Sean's voice trembled a bit, but his eyes held a clear and hopeful gaze.Brendan finally calmed down and looked behind him. "There, that's your mother."This was the first time Sean had spoken. Deirdre felt her mind buzzing. When she snapped back to reality, she extended her hand. "Sean, come here."Sean's eyes held gentle amazement. He was intelligent—perhaps he had sensed it on the way there. Thus, his feelings were a blend of happiness and satisfaction.He felt joy that Deirdre was going to be his mother.Being a kid, he took a few steps but couldn't stop his tears, holding onto Deirdre firmly.Deirdre suppressed her own urge to cry and crouched down, wiping away his tears. "Do you... hate mom for not being there and not recognizing you?"Sean shook his head frantically. "As long as you're here… That's enough…"Deirdre hugged him tightly, and Brendan approached, wrapping them both in his embrace.When they brought S
"I was too young back then, still sulking with my father," Brendan replied after recalling his childhood.Arthur chuckled. "Kids will be kids, after all. Besides, your father was an excellent businessman, and you've followed in his footsteps. I've heard about your impressive success with the business in Neve. You're truly talented. With the Parkers under your control, I can finally relax." Brendan thought it was just praise from an elder. He was about to give a humble response when he got surprised by the rest of the statement. This made him freeze in place."The Parkers?" Deirdre was equally surprised."What's wrong?" Arthur beamed. "Don't you both already have children? Although you've divorced, your relationship is still strong. Don't tell me there's no thought of remarriage?""Remarriage? It's not the right time yet." Deirdre blushed from the teasing."It'll come eventually. If that's the case, then you are both part of the Parkers now. You're my only daughter, and he's my s
Beneath the envelope lay the evidence. Deirdre stared at it for a long time, with Brendan by her side, offering silent support.The next day, they boarded a plane back to Southedge. Within three days, news of the top political figure's downfall due to corruption spread like wildfire throughout Southedge, even captivating the interest of other cities.Upon learning the full story in his study, Arthur's aging face was stained with tears of regret. "If only I had known sooner... I wouldn't have let your mother leave like that."Deirdre lowered her gaze and handed the letter to Arthur. "My mother explains in the letter that her departure was a voluntary sacrifice to protect everyone. She never blamed you."Arthur gazed at the letter, struggling to find the right words.Deirdre left silently, shutting the door.-Ryker was also brought to the police station. Under Sterling's methods, he confessed to the murders. Emily faced the same outcome.All of them waited for their trials.-
The distance from Southedge to Village Alnwick was immense, yet Brendan displayed unwavering resolve."Then let's depart today," he said.As Deirdre bid farewell to Arthur, an unexpected glimmer of sadness flickered in his eyes. "Visiting your mother's grave, huh? Okay, go ahead. Take care of yourself, don't overexert.""Yes," Deirdre replied. Faced with Arthur's hesitant gaze, she felt compelled to add, "Dad, I'll be back."Arthur met Deirdre's gaze, hope rekindling in his eyes.Deirdre softly sighed. "You're my father, my family. Of course, I'll return." "Really? You mean it?" Arthur's excitement made his hands tremble slightly. He held onto Deirdre as if wanting to convey something, but all that emerged was a murmur, "Then please return early... Come back as soon as you can...""Sure. I have a friend coming over later today. Take care of him. Oh, and my boyfriend is here, too. Don't worry about the specifics. I'll explain everything upon my return."As she stepped out, Bren
"Brendan Brighthall?" Ryker wiped away his own nosebleed. "How did you manage to come from Neve? Didn't I ask Emily to keep an eye on you? That useless fool who can't even accomplish simple tasks.""Choosing to control minds with drugs all along, you should have anticipated this outcome." Brendan acted roughly. As he got up, he took the key from Ryker and placed Ryker on a chair.Deirdre clenched Brendan's sleeve tightly. Sensing her tension, Brendan embraced her to calm her down."It's okay. I'm sorry for coming back so late, making you go through this.""It's not your fault. Your timely arrival saved me from further trouble. It's my own foolishness... I let him find something to use against me," Deirdre said, shaking her head weakly.Brendan frowned, cupping Deirdre's face. "He wasn't someone easily deceived, to begin with. You've done well. I'm the one who brought you into this danger, which is unforgivable."Brendan's dark eyes were filled with intense emotions. He had arrive
Deirdre hugged Ryker, resting her head on his chest as he patted her back. "By the way, you're not curious about where I went after I left early this morning?"Deirdre realized the hidden meaning behind Ryker's words, retreated from Ryker's embrace little by little, and looked at him.Ryker's eyes, as enigmatic as ever, held a clarity that seemed to pierce through everything. "I went to the hospital."He didn't wait for Deirdre to respond. "Because I was curious why I was so sleepy last night for no reason. Any ordinary person might chalk it up to exhaustion. But I know my body too well. You drugged me."Deirdre felt a sudden chill running down her spine.Ryker took a step forward casually, but his eyes were full of killing intent. "I underestimated you, Deirdre. Your acting skills are far more impressive than I imagined. You nearly had me fooled. You deserve an Oscar. What a pity that you're now in my hands."Deirdre retreated abruptly, but she found a cold wall barring her esca
Deirdre was momentarily stunned as she watched Arthur search around the study. Eventually, he uncovered a rusty key from a drawer.Arthur raised the key. "Is this what your mother desired?"Deirdre's mind raced, thoughts swirling. "Is this from my mother?"A hint of disappointment shadowed Arthur's eyes as he nodded. "This is the only thing she left me before she departed. She didn't explain why. She just made me promise to keep this key and never search for her."Although I agreed, the thought of it weighed heavily on me. So, I hid the key in a corner of the drawer instead of treating it like any other possession. In hindsight, I shouldn't have made that promise. I shouldn't have let her go alone."Deirdre's voice wavered, confusion evident. But as realization dawned, her heart raced. "Can you give me the key?"Arthur earnestly nodded, his expression solemn. "This belongs to your mother. I'm willing to give it to you whenever you're ready. To be honest, I'm relieved to pass it o
The butler nodded and guided Deirdre to the study's door. Gathering her emotions, she pushed it open.Arthur's attention was on some documents, but the door's creak made him look up. He met Deirdre's gaze, causing a subtle flicker of surprise and uncertainty in his eyes."Deirdre..." He set aside the file. "Did you just wake up? Hungry? I'll have the kitchen prepare something."Deirdre shook her head, closing the door gently."Not hungry. I came to talk.""Everything okay?" Concern colored Arthur's expression. Though he seemed worried she might leave, he tried to hide it. "Go ahead. I'm with you."Deirdre found his reaction slightly amusing. "I'm not leaving."A spark returned to Arthur's eyes. "Then what's up?"As Deirdre grew more serious, she said, "I came to Southedge not just for a visit. I want to know if my mother left something with you before she passed. Something significant.""Left something?" Arthur was puzzled. "She left several things. Which one do you mean?"De
Brendan's eyes held a hint of pity as he spoke hesitantly. "Your mother took that item away."He gently touched Deirdre's face. "That man kidnapped your mother years ago. I don't know what happened during that time. Maybe he hurt your mother and wanted to keep her forcibly. Eventually, your mother found a chance to escape back to your father with the man's item."She left suddenly while pregnant with you, not out of hatred for your father, but to protect you. Now, that person is unsure if your mother or Arthur has the item. Thus, he aimed to kidnap both you and your father, taking his time to retrieve them."Deirdre's mind was overwhelmed, flooded with information that threatened to drown her. This unexpected revelation left her in disbelief.'My mother left my father because of me? And the mastermind behind Ryker is responsible for my mother's kidnapping?'"So that item holds significant importance for this person, enough to bring him down, right?" Deirdre forced herself to calm