Brendan must have woken up shortly after Sam left, and the first thing he did was come to pick her up.Deirdre was so overjoyed that she burst into tears while her other hand gently stroked her belly. 'Baby, do you see? Daddy loves us very much. No matter how great the pain he has endured, no matter how unbelievable the events, he will always stand unwaveringly by your mom's side,' she thought.Now, there was nothing to fear as long as she and Brendan were united in the face of external challenges with no hidden agendas. Nothing could bring them down, and they could start everything anew.Filled with hope, Deirdre walked into the lobby. Even though she could only see blurry images, she accurately spotted Brendan amidst the crowd.Clad in a black suit, he exuded an air of elegance and supreme authority."Brendan!" Deirdre bit her lip to hold back her tears but couldn't control her legs, and she rushed toward him. "I'm sorry... It was my fault for letting the culprit into the house
Tears welled up in Deirdre's eyes despite her smile after she noticed that the destination was the hospital.She figured that Brendan still cared about her and that he was having trouble coping with Madame Brighthall's passing, which was why he was cold and distant.She stretched out her hand to hold Brendan's hand in joy. "Brendan, are you taking me to the hospital so I can get a checkup?"My belly has begun to feel unwell since yesterday. Take me back to rest in the villa after we are done with the checkup, okay?"She spoke with sincerity, yet she noticed that Brendan turned his head to look at her with emotions in his eyes that she could not discern.In the next moment, he held her hand back.The man's fingers were cold, but it set Deirdre's mind at ease. She followed his footsteps. It was only that the man was walking swiftly, so Deirdre had to exert strength to catch up to him. They got into an elevator, and Sam was also planning to get into it. However, he felt Brendan's
Deirdre opened her eyes with great effort to stop the tears and sorrow from rushing out of her. Brendan was supposed to know that the prison was the source of her agony. She had almost exhausted all her strength to forget the painful memories of that time. Yet, it was turned into a weapon to slander and hurt her. "I don't believe this, Brendan." She shifted herself on the ground with great difficulty and clutched the hem of Brendan's pants as she looked up. "I don't believe that you can be so merciless that you'd speak without considering the consequences… Say it again, say what you said earlier… again!"Brendan lowered his head to look at her. For some unknown reason, Deirdre's unyielding gaze triggered an ineffable feeling in him as if it had taken a cut on his heart.He felt like he did not want to say those words again, those words that infuriated her. Perhaps it was because he did not wish to make her lose her mind so quickly. That would not be fun anymore if that were t
"Ms. McKinnon."Meanwhile, the person standing by the side suddenly spoke to remind her. The person's voice was nonchalant and even slightly displeased when he said, "Mr. Brighthall has ordered you not to move about. You have to keep kneeling even if you can't stand it anymore because this is your punishment. Sam is going to be in trouble if you move again."Deirdre gnashed her teeth, her breathing labored when she begged, "You're acquainted with Sam, right? Will you please help me for a moment? I will only need to rest for a while, just a short while. My back hurts. I'm pregnant, and I can't stand kneeling like this."The man sneered. "If you know that your body can't endure this, why did you do something so vicious?"You made Sam pick up your mess as well. Do you know how many beatings Sam has taken because of you? Even if that is the case, he is still obsessed with you. A murderer is totally undeserving of him."Deirdre clenched her fists. "I'm not a murderer…"She had not hur
The man recovered from his surprise. He did not have the courage to decide by himself, so he immediately pulled out his phone to dial Brendan's number.The call was only picked up after a while. Brendan's cold voice could be heard easily due to the morgue's spacious room."Didn't I tell you not to call if it's not important?"The man appeared anxious. "Sir… Ms. McKinnon… She is bleeding!""Bleeding?" Brendan sounded hesitant for a brief moment. Soon, he was calm and said, "Is it another one of her self-torturing tricks?"Deirdre curled up on the ground from the pain and batted her eyelashes weakly upon hearing that.How did her relationship with Brendan turn into this? Did he have no trust for her at all?The man hastily answered, "No."He took a glance at Deirdre with a strange expression. "I assumed that she was pretending initially to draw pity on purpose as well. However, I saw with my own eyes that there is blood where she is kneeling… I believe that it is her… child…"Br
Brendan was jolted back to reality when the presentation ended and realized he had been distracted.He clenched his fists in agitation. He did not have any idea why he felt flustered, but he felt as if his heart was constantly hanging high somewhere and that the heart would not return to its original spot before he received the response he wanted or did the thing he wanted to do.In fact, it was close to a breakthrough point. He felt as if his heart would crash ferociously and shatter into pieces."Mr. Brighthall?"Brendan was jolted back to reality. He stood up and picked up his jacket under the crowd's watchful eyes."I'm heading out. Send a report of the presentation summary to my office, and I'll go through it tomorrow."His walking pace was quickening without his notice as he dashed to the elevator while dialing Jet's phone number. Jet's phone was turned off, triggering Brendan's impatience for some unknown reason. Brendan furrowed his eyebrows ferociously until the elev
Emily feigned her disappointment soon. "Mr. Brighthall… Frankly, you still care about Ms. McKinnon in your heart, right? Something bad has happened to her, and you're actually so concerned…"Brendan shut his eyes anxiously and suppressed the agitation and restlessness he felt in his chest. He answered quickly, "I'm not concerned about her!"When Brendan noticed that it was hard to explain his anxiety, he pulled a long face and said, "She is sinful, but the child is innocent."Just like my father. If I had a choice, I wouldn't want him to be my father."Emily smiled. "So, it turns out that you're concerned about the child. You're right. Ms. McKinnon has committed crimes, but her child is innocent indeed. However, Mr. Brighthall… Are you planning on keeping the child?"You should know that Ms. McKinnon is the child's mother. Keeping the child means that you're keeping Ms. McKinnon…"Brendan's expression turned solemn. "So?"Even if I keep her, I won't allow her to gain any advanta
Jet was shaking with fear, but he could not help feeling puzzled. He found Brendan's expression to be strange.'Mr. Brighthall… Has he really fallen in love with Ms. McKinnon, who is in surgery now?'He was actually fine with his subordinate defying his order. One should know that Jet was convinced that he would be kicked out of the organization the moment he helped Sam and acted as the scapegoat.The operation theater's door opened after a prolonged silence. The doctor came out, and Brendan stood up abruptly before Jet had reacted to the situation."How is she?"The anger in the doctor's heart vanished significantly after seeing how anxious Brendan was. "Are you the patient's husband? How could you make her kneel in a cold place for two hours!? Fortunately, her body has recovered pretty well from her previous treatment. Otherwise, not even God could have saved her today!"There's a limit to showing one's penitence. Is it okay for a pregnant woman to be kneeling for a long time?"
"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