Brendan no longer trusted Deirdre, and she didn't expect him to make Emily completely disappear. As long as Deirdre could contact Shea, she might have a chance to find Mrs. Engel by following the clues and turning the tables around."Oh, by the way, do you know that Shea survived and is out of Brendan's organization?" Emily suddenly spoke in a relaxed tone.Deirdre was tensed by Emily's words, wondering how she knew about it. After all, no one should be aware except the organization's members like Sam!Deirdre turned in Emily's direction, who was smiling with raised lips. "She is really lucky. I thought she would lose her life in the basement. Yet, she managed to come out of it alive and without many wounds…" Emily continued leisurely."How do you know!" Deirdre's pupils contracted. She sat up straight and felt her chest as if it was going to explode. "How do you know that she doesn't have many wounds?"Emily smiled but gave no answer. Just then, Deirdre's phone in her hand rang
Sam's phone calls kept coming in, and she barely had time to answer them.As soon as she answered, Sam couldn't wait to speak. "Ms. McKinnon! What happened on your end? Why did you suddenly hand up my call?""I'm sorry, Sam." Deirdre took a deep breath before she continued. "Emily was beside me just now. She is the culprit for Shea's disappearance."Sam was stunned. "I guessed it. Shea suddenly disappeared, and her luggage was found in the hotel by the members of the organization, but she was nowhere to be found. There is no other possibility except for being caught.""What should we do, Sam?" Deirdre asked while reminding herself to stay calm.She was deeply regretful for involving Shea in the first place."Shea is in danger…" Sam replied in a serious tone of voice, "Although I don't know why they caught her, Shea should be safe now. We have notified Mr. Brighthall, and he will go to find Shea. By the way, I've to go now. I'll contact you whenever there are any updates!" The c
"Ah, I see…" Deirdre couldn't help but exclaim, "What a small world.""It's not that the world is small," Sterling said gently and seriously. "I started planning to come back to you a long time ago. This is just an opportunity, and I took on this treatment because of you. Deirdre, don't you see? Why do you think I studied ophthalmology?"Deirdre was stunned, and her thoughts became blurred."Is it because… of my eyes?"Sterling smiled gently with affection. "I was always at a loss when it came to your eyes, and I even became frustrated at times. So when I went abroad, I didn't hesitate to dive into ophthalmology. I want to heal your eyes myself."Deirdre's lips trembled, and she couldn't deny that she was moved.She had been under the impression that Sterling would be somewhat disappointed in her, but she didn't expect him not to resent her but even specialize in ophthalmology just to treat her."Sterry… I don't deserve it.""Whether you deserve it or not is up to me to decide.
"Why are you here? Let go of me!" Deirdre struggled, frowning as Brendan's grip tightened."What am I here for?" Brendan's eyes seemed to be spewing flames when he replied. "Who gave you the right to meet Sterling Fuller without my knowledge? What do you take me for?"Deirdre winced in pain as Brendan's grip tightened.Sterling immediately stood up and tried to stop Brendan's hand, his face dark and indifferent. "Brendan Brighthall, let go of her. You're hurting her."The two men faced each other, their eyes exploding with tension and igniting the surrounding atmosphere.To Brendan's surprise, Sterling shed his usual gentle demeanor and appeared more mature and stable. Even in the face of his confrontation, he was not weak.Brendan's anger flared as he grabbed Sterling's collar, his cold eyes filled with warning as he threatened in a low voice, "Sterling Fuller, it seems you still haven't learned your lesson from a few years ago. Do you want to relive it all over again?""Enough
Deirdre's calm expression was terrifying as soon as those words were uttered.Sterling pulled his business card out of his pocket, handed it to Brendan, and said, "I'm the world-renowned ophthalmologist recommended by Emily Collins."Brendan was shocked beyond words. That doctor turned out to be Sterling Fuller!?That meant Deirdre hadn't conspired with Sterling to meet him. He was the one who had forced Deirdre to come here, and they just happened to meet again.The disappointment was evident in Deirdre's eyes when she said, "Do you understand now? Brendan, this was your choice. You forced me to come here to consult an ophthalmologist, but I had no idea that Sterry was the ophthalmologist at all. Yet, you came over and righteously labeled me as someone disloyal.""I…" Brendan was at a loss for words. He had never expected that the ophthalmologist was Sterling.But the thought of Sterling treating Deirdre, which would often put the two in close proximity, was like a needle in his
If he followed the instructions in his heart, he would feel better, but he gnashed his teeth and forced himself to stay still.The pain in his brain was like a raging fire, becoming more and more intense. Before he fainted, he heard someone calling him."Sir? Sir? Are you okay?"Under the inquiry of the waiter, Brendan gradually regained his composure, but his hands were still shaking."I'm fine."Brendan rubbed his pale face and left the cafe.-At the mansion…Ophelia left the gate and walked along the path for a long time until she saw a car. She immediately got into the passenger seat.A curtain covered the car window, and it was pitch black inside. There was a man sitting in the back seat, holding a cigarette between his fingers and exhaling smoke. One could vaguely see the crimson glow and the sharp jawline."How's it going?""Brendan has been taking the medicine continuously for half a month now. He skipped a few days in between, but it is not a big deal. I think his
"If I had known that I would miss out on a relationship because of my youthful arrogance, I would have come back earlier."Sterling blinked, his tone light and easy, and Deirdre relaxed, knowing that Sterling was just joking."Of course, you should have been impulsive when you were young. Without your courage back then, how would you be where you are today? If I ran into you on the street now, I might not even recognize you," Ophelia complimented.As the three of them talked, Ophelia suddenly realized something. "It's too cold outside. Sterry, why don't you come inside and have a seat? You haven't eaten my cooking in a long time, have you?"Sterling waved his hands as he refused. "I really do miss it, but I'm just too busy today. I just got off the plane and have to tidy up my new place. How about another day? Since I'm Deirdre's attending ophthalmologist, I'll be coming here often, and we'll have enough time.""Mom, let Sterry arrange his schedule first. He is busy as a doctor, a
Gnashing his teeth, Brendan tightly squeezed his palms until his veins bulged. He didn't know what to do next, but he knew one thing for certain—Sterling could no longer exist.Deirdre had no idea how long she had been asleep. When she woke up groggily, she saw a figure on the balcony.Rubbing her eyes, she got up and heard Brendan talking on the phone."Where is that professor from the ophthalmology department? Where did he go? Even if he is furthering his studies, he will come back someday. This surgery is not a surgery that only Sterling can perform."Figure out a way to contact him immediately and give him whatever he wants, as long as he comes back as soon as possible and performs surgery on Deirdre."Deirdre's mind went blank for a moment. When Brendan hung up the phone and entered the room with a cold face, she only recovered to her senses and clutched the blanket."You want to replace Sterry?"Brendan was annoyed by the way Deirdre called Sterling. Suppressing his anger,
"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