“Let’s go back.” She looked as if she was missing the puppy. “Bliss is at home all by itself. Ιt’s going to grow anxious if I’m not around.”Sam bought some dog food from a pet shop nearby. Deirdre fell in love with a set of dog clothing after feeling it with her hands and bought it as well. The two of them arrived at the villa, and Deirdre made her way to the bedroom on the second floor eagerly.“Bliss, Bliss.” She beamed widely, expecting the little puppy to come to her as soon as she opened the door, just like it behaved usually. However, not a sound could be heard at that very moment. Deirdre’s smile faded slowly. She then opened the door and searched around the room. “Bliss? Bliss?”Sam came upstairs upon hearing the commotion. “What’s going on, Ms. McKinnon?”Deirdre’s face turned ghastly pale, but she forced herself to calm down. “Bliss is not responding to me. Sam, will you please help me look around and see if it’s hiding under the bed or has fallen asleep?”Sam went
“Why did I go out? Why did I leave this place? If I had stayed in the villa all this time, it wouldn’t… it wouldn’t have… I deserve to die!”As she muttered to herself, Sam felt even sorrier for her. He was the one who had brought Bliss into her life, yet this had still resulted in Deirdre having an emotional breakdown. “Ms. McKinnon, don’t say that. This is not your fault!”Deirdre was crying, so she was incapable of hearing Sam’s remark. She propped herself up and walked forward step by step. “Ms. McKinnon!” Sam attempted to stop her because it was a truly gruesome scene. “Don’t go. You’re going to get dirty.”‘Dirty? I’m the dirty one. If someone else had taken care of Bliss, perhaps it would still be chewing on a toy now. I’m the one who caused its death.’“Not dirty… Bliss is not dirty at all. How can it be dirty?” Deirdre stretched out her arms to feel the ground until she touched Bliss at last. She broke into tears of joy and held Bliss in her arms. “Ms. McKinnon…”“B
Brendan furrowed his eyebrows, while Sam immediately stepped forward and said, “Mr. Brighthall… Ms. McKinnon is already experiencing an emotional breakdown, so she’s not able to withstand any more triggers.”Brendan’s face turned green from anger. It was already getting dark, and it was not appropriate for Deirdre to be holding a dog’s corpse out there. Could she be planning to hold the dog for a whole night?“Let go, Deirdre.” Brendan exhaled and said, “I’ll arrange for someone to give it a proper burial. It’s not going to die in peace if you continue to hold it like this.”Deirdre turned a deaf ear to his advice and refused to let go. She would regret not taking a glance at her child for the rest of her life, and that was why she refused to let go of Bliss. She wanted to keep it company, as she was certain that it was cold after lying on the ground for so long. “Deirdre!” Brendan narrowed his eyes. The sky was growing darker and darker, and the bloody stench on her body was al
Deirdre put on the clothes indifferently and followed Brendan downstairs. As soon as she reached the first floor, she heard the sound of high heels clicking coming from the entrance. Soon, Charlene walked over and said smilingly, “It’s a pity that you left so early. You missed the climax of the musical.“The main character’s dog died after being dismembered. It was truly exhilarating to watch.” She enunciated her words clearly and emphasized her remark on purpose. Deirdre’s eyes turned bloodshot instantly as she ran toward Charlene and clutched her throat, roaring hysterically, “You’re heartless! It was just a dog!”“Dierdre!”“Ms. McKinnon!”It all happened so unexpectedly that Charlene was thrown into the coffee table. Deirdre’s eyes were bloodshot, and she used all the strength in her ten fingers to choke Charlene. Brendan pulled her away from Charlene and threw her to the floor coldly. He showed concern for Charlene instead, asking, “Are you alright, Charlene?”Deirdre kno
Deirdre’s entire body was trembling, and she wrapped her arms around herself tightly. “Ms. McKinnon…” Sam said hesitantly. He could not help feeling sorry for Deirdre’s situation after witnessing the whole incident. “Are you alright?”Deirdre’s eyes were red with tears. Sam was the only person she could trust now. He was the only one. She hastily said, “Sam, tell me if it’s true. Was Bliss killed by a homeless man?”“Yes.” Sam heaved a sigh. Even though he suspected Charlene, there was nothing he could do without adequate proof, and the mastermind had executed the scheme very well. “The surveillance footage shows that the homeless man tormented and killed Bliss because he was mentally unstable. That is not unexpected, and there’s no way we can pursue this incident legally. After all, it’s not a human life, but a dog's life…”‘Yes, it was just a dog. An outsider wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow because it died in the backyard.’“Understood.” Deirdre’s voice was shaking. “Ms. McK
In the end, he shoved Charlene away. “This is unfair to you. It’s getting late. Rest well.”Upon saying that, he headed to the master bedroom by himself to rest, leaving Charlene standing alone in the corridor. Her face, which was delicately made up, looked ready to crumble at that very moment, and she was clenching her teeth in rage. She remembered that he had slept with Deirdre the night before she had come to the villa, yet he had used unfairness as a reason to reject her. ‘Is he really scared that it would be unfair to me, or is he utterly unwilling…’Charlene did not have the courage to think any further. She lowered her beautiful gaze, thinking that she needed to work faster. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable if Deirdre were to get pregnant.…The next morning, Brendan got up very early to work on official business. After he was done, he told the driver, “Go to the nearest pet shop.”“Pet shop?” The driver was surprised. “Aren’t you allergic to pets, Mr. Br
She felt as if she could watch the scene of Bliss’ tragic death in the backyard at that very moment. She experienced an emotional breakdown and said, “Take it away! Leave!”Brendan had been looking forward to Deirdre’s reaction, yet his face turned green with anger instantly when he heard her tell him to leave. Soon, his gaze turned icy. “Deirdre, why are you acting crazy? Weren’t you devastated over the dog’s death yesterday? I got you a new dog, yet not only have you not shown any appreciation, but your behavior is disgusting!”‘Show appreciation?’Deirdre’s chest was racing, and she felt endless coldness enshrouding her, as if she was trapped in an ice cellar.“Do you think that having another dog take Bliss’ place right after Bliss’ death will make everything better? As though the incident never took place?”“What else could I do?” Brendan sniggered. He did not feel any emotion for animals. “Do you want me to resurrect the dog?”Deirdre wanted to laugh. So it turned out tha
Deirdre was ungrateful no matter how well he treated her. On the contrary, she loathed him for meddling in her business and wished that he would leave her. If Sterling had given her the dog as a gift, he figured that she would have immediately given herself to him as a sign of appreciation. Brendan felt jealous at the thought of this possibility. He clenched his fists tightly, and his expression turned even colder. “You’re overthinking. A woman like her doesn’t deserve to be treated well by me. I thought of doing it at the time because the dog died in my backyard.”“Is that so?” Charlene’s eyes turned gloomy, yet there was nothing she could do to object. She bit her red lips gently and said, “So it turns out that you’re now showing concern for Ms. McKinnon on purpose, Brendan. In that case, my mind can be at ease. It’s possible that I’m not magnanimous enough and I want to have all your attention. Am I being selfish?”“How can you be?” Brendan looked at Charlene’s conflicted expr
"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