"Where do you want to go?" Deirdre didn't refuse."Amusement park!" Aurora replied excitedly."Amusement park?" Deirdre hesitated slightly. She was afraid she couldn't take care of Aurora because the amusement park was crowded, and she couldn't see well."Hold on. Let me give a call to Uncle Declan. If he's free, we can invite him to come along." Deirdre said, hoping to strengthen the relationship between Declan and Aurora.Deirdre turned around to tell the driver, but Aurora grabbed her hand at lightning speed before she could."What are you calling Uncle Declan for? We already have someone to go with us," Aurora said."Who do we have?" Deirdre said with surprise."Let my uncle come with us! He's strong enough to carry me and protect you at the same time!" Aurora replied cheerfully."Brendan?" Deirdre gasped, feeling very conflicted.She was not in a good relationship with Brendan yet. Just as she was about to persuade Aurora, the little girl leaned in close to her ear and wh
Deirdre was still blushing, so she turned her head toward the window throughout the journey. It wasn't until the car stopped that she realized they had reached their destination.Suddenly, Brendan leaned over, taking her by surprise as he unfastened her seatbelt. "What are you thinking about? We're running out of time."Deirdre straightened her back, feeling nervous as the man's body temperature and breath sprayed onto her ear, causing her thoughts to become jumbled. Her eyes flickered as she replied, "I can manage on my own."Brendan didn't refuse her request. After Deirdre unbuckled her seatbelt, he said, "Deirdre, do you remember? I took you to the amusement park twice before."Deirdre paused her movement of opening the door. "The first time, I was filled with guilt and afraid of losing you. The other time, I wondered when I would be able to be with you openly and honestly. You are harboring ill feelings toward me now that we can come openly. I know I was wrong, but can we f
Aurora also shook her head. "It's too difficult and troublesome. I don't want it anymore. Let's go."Seeing this, the stall owner quickly said, "Hold on. I haven't finished my sentence yet. You don't need to pay if you don't miss 30 rounds. Our guns are all very accurate. As long as you have a basic foundation in shooting, we can guarantee that you can hit every shot!"Becoming more interested, Brendan weighed the toy gun in his hand."Are you sure you didn't do anything to the gun?"The stall owner said confidently, "No way, we're a serious business!"Brendan glanced left and right. "Is it okay if I try it? I'll start if I can confirm that nothing is wrong with the gun.""Of course, of course!" The stall owner nodded. Who would refuse such a profitable deal?When Brendan raised the gun, Deirdre realized that the two of them were still holding hands and subconsciously wanted to break free. Unexpectedly, Brendan grasped even tighter.Deirdre was stunned for a moment, then she ra
Brendan turned his head to look at Deirdre. She was momentarily stunned when she felt Brendan's earnest and burning gaze. She then heard his confident voice saying, "Deirdre, do you want to take a bet?""Bet?" Deirdre was puzzled. "What are you betting on?""If I miss even 1 of the 30 rounds this time, I will stop playing this game. If I succeed… you must agree to one condition."Deirdre was stunned. At this juncture, he was still thinking of betting with her. But it would be better to only lose once than lose money endlessly. She would rather end it sooner since Brendan couldn't hit everything accurately anyway."Fine."Upon receiving this answer, Brendan smiled and readjusted his gun-holding posture. He prepared himself and then pulled the trigger.This time, it was the sound of a balloon exploding."Uncle, you're amazing!" Aurora jumped up and down and cheered.The stall owner was taken aback and praised while grinning ear to ear, "Amazing! It's a good sign that you hit your
"What about you, Deirdre?"Taking advantage of the situation, Brendan cast his eyes on Deirdre's face with a teasing look in his eyes. "You haven't forgotten the bet you made with me, have you?"Naturally, it was impossible for Deirdre to forget it, but what surprised her even more was that Brendan was a capable marksman. She had assumed Brendan was bound to fail, so she agreed. Or was this his goal all along?Thinking that Brendan might ask her to accompany him for a night, Deirdre looked troubled. She was afraid she would never be able to return if she went out this time. She still needed to investigate the matter regarding Declan."I..."Brendan saw the vague conflicted look in her eyes, and his eyes darkened. "Deirdre, you won't go back on your word, will you?""Of course not." Deirdre denied it immediately and bit the bullet. "Since I promised you, I will never go back on my promise. As long as your request is not too excessive, I will agree to it.""Okay." Brendan leaned c
"Alright." At that point, Declan did not continue to ask any more questions. "Rest assured that I'll take care of Ms. McKinnon. I can't guarantee anything else, but I can at least guarantee her safety."Afterward, Deirdre got into Declan's car. Declan started the car engine and drove away under Brendan's watchful eye.Back at the villa, Brendan's words still echoed in Deirdre's mind. When he said that he would hurt her, was he afraid that what had happened that day would happen again? But why did Brendan suddenly become like this for no reason? He became afraid of his own actions as if everything was under Emily's control.After falling asleep with mixed emotions, Deirdre woke up very early in the morning. When she was in a daze on the bed, someone knocked on the door suddenly."Who is it?"Aurora whispered to the crack of the door, "Auntie, it's me!""Rory?" Surprised, Deirdre got up to open the door. The moment the door was opened, Aurora rushed in and closed the door very care
"I know Uncle Declan picked us up yesterday." Aurora had a complicated expression. "That's why I don't want Uncle Declan to be hurt. Mom is scary..."At the end of her sentence, Aurora couldn't help trembling.Deirdre grabbed her hand forcefully. "Rory, did your father leave because your mother did something?"Aurora bit her lip and nodded. Thinking about it, she couldn't help but shudder again.Feeling her anxiety, Deirdre held her in his arms. Aurora tried hard to take a deep breath and said, "The day my father committed suicide, I was in his room. I didn't take the initiative to go to his room. Dad discovered something. He said that he wanted me to reveal my mother's true colors. He told me to hide in the closet and asked the servant to lock me from the outside. But I could clearly see through the gap that my mother brought someone into Dad's room."Deirdre couldn't help being surprised. "She brought someone? A man or a woman?""A man." Aurora whispered, "It's a man I don't kn
Deirdre admired Aurora's logical thinking. "Yeah, she's a murderer."Aurora was silent for a while, then asked again, "Then will she go to prison and be punished?"Deirdre didn't answer immediately but tried her best to look at Aurora's face and stroked her hair. "Does Rory want her to get the punishment she deserves?"Aurora lowered her head and pondered for a while, then suddenly asked, "Will Uncle Declan end up like my father?"'Deirdre frowned. "Rory, I can't give you an answer because I don't know what Declan means to your mother. But judging by your mother's character, since she can make your father commit suicide, Uncle Declan will end up in the same way once he displeases your mother."Aurora's pupils trembled, and she shook her head violently. "I don't want Uncle Declan to become like that!"Deirdre kissed her on the cheek. "So I will find a way to stop this. I will not let this happen before my eyes."She needed to stop it for the sake of Declan and Glenna. After getti
"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