But in the end, Deirdre overestimated her position in Brendan's heart. He would rather go to the study than come to her room to explain."I..." Brendan was about to speak, but his throat seemed to be stuck close in the next second. He held his forehead as mixed feelings overwhelmed him, and he couldn't figure out his thoughts at all. As Deirdre was waiting for him, disappointment arose in her heart.She lowered her head. "Brendan, I just need your answer. I'm not the kind of woman who can't let go of a relationship. As long as you choose Emily between me and her, I promise, I will stop harboring feelings for you, and we can just end it."Upon hearing that, a stabbing pain shot through Brendan's heart. Deirdre said her last sentence so easily. Was it so easy for her to let go of him?But… What about him? His feelings were clear in his heart. He raised his head and said with red eyes, "I don't want you to leave."Deirdre's fingertips trembled, and she tried to keep a calm and compos
Brendan was lost in thought. He liked Deirdre from the bottom of his heart—those feelings were beyond his reason. He had feelings and longed for her. But this was not exclusive to Deirdre. He also felt this way toward Emily.This confused him, and he could not figure out the answer. If he loved Deirdre and was reluctant to part with Emily, then what was this relationship to him? Was it fair to Deirdre?Because of that thought, he didn't dare to face Deirdre after he returned. He was very guilty and ashamed. In the end, Brendan did not go after Deirdre."Mrs. Wanner, follow her, and don't let anything happen to her."With a dazed expression, he opened the door and entered his room.-Deirdre walked out of the villa. The sun was very warm, but her heart was cold. As for why Brendan had not come after her, he had likely found his answer in his choice between Emily and her.Deirdre caressed her stomach as she laughed at herself for falling in love with him. If she hated Brendan as s
Deirdre hesitated again and again before she answered the phone. She held up the phone to her ear and said, "Is this Dr. Chapman? Hello.""Ms. McKinnon, it's me." An attractive and gentle voice came from the other end of the phone, and Deirdre froze for a moment.Declan continued, "Don't look surprised and don't call out my name. Someone should be watching you not far away at this moment."Deirdre, feeling astounded, pursed her lips and subconsciously hid her hands in her cuffs."Then... Can they hear me talk?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.Declan understood her concern and smiled reassuringly. "Naturally, they can't hear you as long as you keep your voice down."Deirdre let out a sigh of relief but was also curious. "Mr. King, why did you call suddenly and use... this method? And why did you say that someone is watching me not far away? Did you discover something?"Declan was as calm as ever. "The information I found out is actually similar to what you've found out,
"Then that means he told—""No." Declan knew what Deirdre was going to say and interrupted her. "Ms. McKinnon, I hope you think through it carefully. If he loves you so much, will he suddenly change and fall in love with someone else? That woman is still the culprit who destroyed his body."Deirdre was stunned and bit her lower lip in confusion. Then, Declan added, "I heard Laura mention hypnosis. It can make a person have feelings for another person invisibly, and it is not controlled by oneself."Deirdre's face turned pale in an instant, and her soft lips trembled. She pressed her teeth tightly, lowered her head to restrain her emotions, and said, "Mr. King, so you mean that Brendan was hypnotized to have feelings for Emily, and he can't even control his feelings for Emily?""That's right," replied Declan. "The hypnotizer is on the same side as that group of people, so they will naturally attack Brendan. The weakening of Bren's body is a sign of their attack."I thought he could
Deirdre was shocked that the woman turned out to be Laura's younger sister. She had mixed feelings about Declan's messy connections.She handed the phone to Yvonne, and the latter said enthusiastically, "Your eyes can't see well, so I'll take you home. Where is your home?"Deirdre told her address, and Yvonne walked side by side with her. Deirdre took two steps before she suddenly lowered her head and coughed.Yvonne leaned over, and Deirdre whispered, "Ms. Smith, please tell Mr. King that Sterling disappeared after going to the research institute, and I can't get into contact with him. I suspect that he may have been kidnapped and placed under house arrest."No matter what it is, I can't go to Germia. I heard that Mr. King lived in Germia for a while before. Please ask him to help me investigate Sterling's whereabouts. Set him free if you can."Yvonne made an affirmative sound and raised her voice to say, "Where does your stomach hurt? Miss, you have to hold on. You are pregnant.
"You can see how important I am to Brendan, so how could I not be aware? I should… give him some time," said Deirdre.Mrs. Wanner's eyes lit up when she heard that. "Exactly! I suspect that Mr. Brighthall simply doesn't understand liking someone. If he really cared about Emily Collins, he would have gone to see her long ago. But I have never heard him mention her name in the past few days," she explained.Deirdre bit her lip and walked forward. Just as she entered the villa, she collided with Brendan, who was hurrying and seemed to be searching for something.It was only when he saw Deirdre that the tension in his face relaxed."Mr. Brighthall? Where are you going?" Mrs. Wanner asked in surprise.Brendan's gaze was fixed firmly on Deirdre's face. He opened his mouth as if to speak but ultimately gave up and averted his eyes."Just going out for a bit," he replied.Mrs. Wanner hoped that Brendan would say he would find Deirdre, but his response left her slightly embarrassed."We
After speaking, Brendan's face turned pale, and his brows furrowed in intense pain.Deirdre was instantly shaken to the core.Brendan might not be aware, but she knew that he had been hypnotized and influenced by the hypnotic suggestions.It was already incredibly difficult for him to sort out his own thoughts, and now he wanted to make a choice.Deirdre's eyes welled up with bitterness. She lunged toward Brendan and embraced him, sobbing and choking with tears."Brendan... Brendan..." she repeated his name while quietly apologizing in her heart.It was all her fault. She had trusted a wolf to watch over the sheep, allowing Brendan to drink the medicine without hesitation, ultimately harming his once-healthy physique.And now, he was even more deeply trapped in the torment of hypnotic suggestions, yet he still mustered all his mental strength to stand in front of her.Brendan was taken aback for a moment, then closed his eyes and embraced her. "I'm here."Deirdre, I don't know
"Okay," Deirdre replied, her eyes filled with moved tears.Brendan looked at her with a pained expression, his brows furrowing. "Did I ever say that I don't want to see you cry? It hurts my heart. Deirdre, never cry again. I won't let you cry again."Deirdre's fingertips trembled, and her throat felt constricted, but her heart was filled with joy. "Yes, you did. How could you have never said it... You said you would never let me cry.""But I haven't kept my promise." Brendan frowned, his fingers gently wiping away the tears from Deirdre's face. "You've cried several times, and it's my fault.""No, as long as you have me in your heart, that's enough," Deirdre replied, shedding tears of happiness.The two of them spent a long time outside until Mrs. Wanner smiled and coughed as she approached them. "Mr. Brighthall, it's getting colder. With Ms. McKinnon's health, it is not good for her to stay outside any longer. It's better to go inside as soon as possible. Also, the soup I stewe
"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