"Absurd... nonsense!" It took Brendan quite a while to utter those words. His face turned pale, and he said with a hint of disbelief, "Deirdre, if you're going crazy, go to a mental hospital. I am who I am, Brendan Brighthall. How could another name suddenly appear out of nowhere?"Deirdre closed her eyes in despair.Brendan not remembering Kyran was perfectly normal because Kyran's existence was all because of her. If Brendan wanted to discard the memories of being with her, to let go of the pain, he would also let go of Kyran."One year ago, with the help of Madame Brighthall, I faked my death and escaped. When you found me, you were using the name Kyran Reed. Kyran loved and protected me. He was willing to sacrifice everything for me. And it was during that time that our child came into existence," she explained.Brendan's face paled to a grayish hue, and his black pupils remained fixated on Deirdre. His mind was in a state of turmoil.He remembered that period of memories bu
Brendan held his forehead, feeling as if the headache was sticking to his brain. His nerves twitched sporadically while his face turned pale."So... Kyran Reed really isn't me?" he asked back."No."Brendan rubbed his throbbing temples. "Fine, I believe you. Since Kyran Reed isn't me, then Deirdre must be deceiving me."He was about to end the call, but Declan spoke up, stopping him. "Brendan."Declan took a deep breath and said, "Let Ms. McKinnon go. I will handle the rest." Brendan frowned instantly, displeased. "Declan, you're overstepping. Apart from the fact that Deirdre is carrying my child, I won't let her easily obtain freedom just because she has committed murder. If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."Brendan angrily ended the call, and Declan sighed while staring at the darkened screen. His expression was indiscernible in the dim light."Decky," Laura called as she cautiously stepped out of the room, tears still lingering in the corners of her eyes. She approache
A flicker of emotion briefly crossed Declan's face, but it quickly vanished, leaving no trace behind."Go back to the room and remember to cover up the wounds on your hand tomorrow. Don't let anyone notice anything unusual," Declan demanded as he removed his wristwatch."Decky? Decky!"Laura crawled over, only to be met with the cold closing sound of Declan's door.Inside the room, Declan put on his nightgown. His phone vibrated, indicating a new message about Brendan's recent situation.After reading it, his expression grew solemn. He intended to close the message, but his fingers involuntarily tapped on another one.It was sent yesterday, and it read: [Ms. Glaser is preparing to go to Northern City. Her former superior at the previous company has hopped to another company and taken Ms. Glaser with him. That superior seems to have an interest in Ms. Glaser.]Declan closed his eyes and opened them again, swiftly deleting the message without leaving a trace.-After receiving D
Brendan took a glance at the smile on Deirdre's lips that she could not conceal, and his gaze turned much colder. He chose not to expose her but asked, "Why did you lock yourself in the room? What are you up to?"Deirdre pretended to be normal. "I was changing."She felt rather anxious and was worried that Brendan would expose her. Yet, Brendan took a glance at her and turned around to make way for her. "It's time to eat."Mrs. Wanner prepared meals specially catered for a pregnant woman's nutritional needs. She was hired specifically to take care of Deirdre because of her expertise in this area. It was precisely due to this reason that Brendan did not enjoy any of the dishes. He took two bites and got up to head to the study. Mrs. Wanner got closer to Deirdre in a fear-stricken state. "Oh no! The food that I prepared today tasted too bland and not suited to Mr. Brighthall's taste. Will he be angry at me? Should I cook something else?"In truth, Deirdre knew that Brendan di
'So it turns out that he's only acting like this because the food is not up to his preference?'Deirdre chuckled upon hearing that. "Really? Great then. It's great that he has eaten.""He has eaten and has polished it clean!" said Mrs. Wanner.Deirdre nodded and headed upstairs soon afterward. She hesitated for a while before opening Brendan’s study door.She clasped her hands behind her back anxiously and said, "So, you finished your dinner, huh?"Brendan could not hide the emotions in his expression, but he said coldly, "Don't overthink this. I just don't like to have leftovers."It was a poorly-executed excuse, but Deirdre did not mind that at all and approached him slowly. She clasped her hands behind her anxiously, and her fingers were intertwined tightly. "Will…"Brendan raised his head and looked at her nervous face. He narrowed his eyes and waited for her to continue her sentence.At last, Deirdre inhaled a deep breath and mustered the courage to say, "Will you be fre
Deirdre's chest burned with warmth from Brendan's caring behavior, strengthening her belief that he might regain his memory. Overwhelmed with emotions, she stood on tiptoes and gently wrapped her arms around his neck, planting a shy and sweet kiss on his lips.Although Brendan's gaze grew colder, he didn't resist her kiss.Not being experienced in kissing, Deirdre intended to take the lead after planting two soft kisses on his thin lips. However, she was taken aback when Brendan pinned her against the closet, catching her by surprise.Brendan tucked the loose hair on her forehead behind her ear to look at her shy face closely. His chest was burning with desire, yet another type of coldness inhibited him."Who taught you to kiss like this?" he asked.Deirdre was stunned. She then experienced Brendan's so-called kiss.He wished that he could swallow her and take her apart. He kissed so ferociously as if he wanted to suck out all the air in her lungs until she clung to him weakly li
Deirdre's smile deepened while Brendan's dark eyes were dimming.'She took me to meet a dog for the purpose of causing my death from anaphylaxis, just as I had expected.'Brendan looked at Deirdre's affectionate gaze and the smile on her lips. He took a stride and walked inside as if he was doing it willingly. "Mr. Brighthall!" the owner called out to him. Brendan turned around and found the owner searching everywhere. "Please hold on. We're not fully prepared yet. Please don't go in yet.""Prepare?" Brendan appeared confused. "What else do you need to prepare for?"Deirdre looked at him with her head tilted. "Don't you know that you're allergic to pet fur?"Brendan was stunned and stared straight at her."I know," he answered but had no idea why Deirdre would say that.Deirdre furrowed her eyebrows and said, "If you're aware of that, how can you enter the place without taking any safety precautions? There's dog fur all over the inside. What will you do if you have an allerg
Bliss immediately approached Deirdre with its tail wagging. It rubbed against Deirdre's face with its snout to greet her enthusiastically. Deirdre petted its short fur and played with it.Brendan stood by the side and felt peculiar as he witnessed the scene.It was strange that he could not recognize the dog, but he felt like he was connected to it somehow.‘Bliss… What a familiar name…’Still, he could not remember clearly.He turned his head to ask the owner, "You claimed that the dog recognizes me. Has it seen me before?"Unaware of Brendan's amnesia, the owner casually assumed that he had forgotten due to his busy life. She gently reminded him, "Mr. Brighthall, do you remember? You brought Bliss to our pet shop a little over a year ago."She explained, "Back then, our pet shop was struggling financially, on the brink of bankruptcy. You generously provided us with financial support under the condition that we would take good care of Bliss and ensure its happiness as it grew u
"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