“You lunatic! Are you planning to kill Deirdre before you’re satisfied? How could you do such a despicable thing!” Sterling grabbed Brendan by his collar and questioned him, his eyes filled with rage.Brendan took the blow without resistance, allowing Sterling to throw him to the ground.Sterling was unsatisfied. He wanted to give Brendan another punch, but Brendan grabbed his fist. His pale face finally showed a hint of emotion.“Sterling, don’t push your luck too far.”“Who’s the one who has pushed his luck too far?” Sterling’s gentle face showed unprecedented annoyance. “You think you can do whatever you want because of Deirdre’s feelings for you? Do you think she will stay by your side forever? If you keep this up, she will hate you even more! I thought you were at least a little bit clear-headed, but you’re still so stupid. You’re not even worthy of Deirdre!”Feeling his chest tighten and go numb and his face turn cold, Brendan asked, “Have you said enough?”Brendan’s lips
“Don’t try to put a positive spin on it. The conflict between me and Deirdre has been accumulating over time. Even without you, things would have ended up the same way.”Emily tried to keep a smile on her face. However, her expression turned sour.“Well, you have a great deal of patience. Unless you lost control of your emotions and hurt Ms. McKinnon…?” Emily trailed off as she raised her eyebrows inquisitively.When he heard this, Brendan’s gaze turned fierce and menacing, and he glared at her. He had already drunk a lot and was feeling a bit drunk, but his menacing aura still surprised Emily.“Who told you that?” Brendan reached out and grabbed Emily’s neck without hesitation, warning her in a low voice, “Emily Collins, don’t you know that going too far is offending to certain people? Or do you have a death wish?”Emily’s soft lips trembled as Brendan tightened his grip. Her face turned purple, and she said, “No, I don’t! Didn’t I tell you a long time ago that you’re easily infl
Deirdre’s eyes turned cold, but her expression was sarcastic as she turned around.“I’m not as good at taking care of people as Ms. Collins, so I think it’s better that you do it. After all, you are not only good at it, but you also enjoy it.”She chuckled to herself, but Emily’s smile gradually faded. How could she not understand that Deirdre was mocking her for being so eager to act as a caretaker without even having the proper title?Emily was no pushover, though, and quickly regained her composure. “It’s my fault that Brendan drank too much, and I should be the one taking care of him. But since this isn’t my home, and it’s inconvenient for me to eat and sleep here, I’ll have to trouble you.”“Why would it be inconvenient? If you don’t mind, there are guest rooms upstairs. You’re welcome to stay anytime. But I can’t make that decision alone. I don’t know if Brendan would welcome you here,” Deirdre said, nodding her head in the direction of the second floor.“Well, since Brendan
“Deirdre… Deirdre…”Brendan murmured to himself, greedily inhaling her scent. “Is it you? Have you come to find me?”Deirdre was taken aback. She had not expected this to be yet another ploy of his. While she was annoyed, her disappointment grew deeper.“Brendan Brighthall, let me go!”She struggled desperately, but Brendan’s arms remained immobile as he kept repeating the same words.“Is it you? Have you come to find me… You’ve come to find me… Deirdre…”His breath fell raggedly on her neck, and only then did Deirdre realize that he was truly drunk.“Deirdre… Deirdre…”Brendan repeated her name over and over again, his grip on her tightening, as if he was afraid she would leave him once more.“Don’t leave me. Don’t walk away from me. Don’t abandon me…”Deirdre was startled.She had never intended to abandon him. He was the one who had first cast himself aside.“Brendan, I don’t care if you’re awake or not, let go of me. You’ll never stay this way. This is just someone else
Deirdre didn't have time to think too much. She went upstairs to her room and brought down a blanket. Carefully, she covered the man with it.As she tucked in the corner of the blanket under Brendan’s shoulder, her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly. The force was immense, but Deirdre didn't feel any pain because it happened so suddenly."Brendan? Are you awake?" She lifted her eyelids but froze on the spot. Although she couldn't see Brendan's face or expression clearly, she felt a chilling sensation at that moment. Even worse, it was a familiar feeling."Deirdre?" Brendan held Deirdre's hand and pressed his fingertips into her flesh with a strong warning in his eyes. "How did you get here?"He looked distant and guarded.Deirdre was stunned for a moment. Then, she heard him say, sounding slightly confused, "Aren't you… still in prison?"Deirdre froze. Before she could question him, the grip on her wrist relaxed, and Brendan fell asleep again, letting only the sound of
Deirdre's eyes relaxed. "Okay, fine then."It seemed that yesterday was really a misunderstanding. Perhaps she had recalled that time because he had drunk too much.For some reason, when Brendan thought of Deirdre's attitude, he felt a little flattered, and his eyes revealed a gleam of hope."Deirdre, don't you blame me?" He was cautious. After doing such an unforgivable thing, he thought he would never get Deirdre's response again.When Deirdre came back to her senses, she was naturally upset with Brendan, but she was even more surprised by how out of control he was.While Ophelia was going to the kitchen, she asked, "What were you thinking when you treated me like that on that day? Did your reason tell you to stop? Why did you treat me like that?" She tried to look at Brendan's expression, but her eyes teared up uncontrollably at that moment. Brendan's handsome face turned pale as if Deidre had touched his sore spot. "I'm sorry."Deirdre said urgently, "I don't want your apol
Deirdre moved her soft lips. She wanted to say that as long as Emily was still in between them, they would never be able to smoothly be together. But after thinking about it, she didn't say anything."You should go to the company first. I want to meet your psychologist when I'm free. I want to ask him about your condition."There was a strange look in Brendan's eyes. "Okay. I'll arrange for you two to meet."Deirdre said, "Tomorrow. I want to see your psychologist tomorrow."If it weren't for the fact that it was too last minute and she was worried that the psychologist wouldn't be able to make it, she even wanted to meet the psychologist today, no, now! She wanted to know more about Brendan's condition. Perhaps this was one of the factors behind Brendan's distrust of her."Okay, I'll arrange for you two to meet tomorrow." Brendan wanted to hold her hand but finally gave up. Before receiving treatment, he didn't dare to get close to Deirdre again."I'll leave first." Brendan tidi
Ophelia had always been very kind. In Village Alnwick, she was even so kind that she let others order her around. Even when other people threw their clothes to her for washing, she happily accepted it.Now… Perhaps her mentality had changed?Seeing Deirdre deep in thought with downcast eyes, Ophelia held her hand."Dee, you were already pregnant when I came, so I can only treat Brendan as my son-in-law. If he treats you well, I have no complaints, but look at the current situation." Ophelia's eyes had a complicated look. "He doesn't keep a distance from other women, and he has done many bad things to you. He is not a suitable person for you, can you understand?"Deirdre was stunned for a moment before nodding immediately.Ophelia thought of something. "Sterling is a very good man. I used to treat him like my future son-in-law. He is back now, and you two would be a great match."When Sterling was mentioned suddenly, Deirdre was stunned for a while."Mom..." She said awkwardly,
"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