Ryker pulled up his pants, and an image of a person flashed through his mind."There is indeed one," he said."Who!?" Emily asked anxiously."Sterling. He was in the same research institute as me. Although he joined after I left, he managed to win the favor of that old man. It wouldn't be surprising that the old man told him about my ability to hypnotize…" Ryker replied as he squinted."But isn't Sterling imprisoned because of your connections? How could he have time to contact Deirdre?" Emily said as her face turned pale.Ryker flicked away the cigarette butt. "I reckon they had discussions back in Eastgene.""What do we do now?" Emily was anxious. "Now that Deirdre knows about the hypnosis, Brendan might soon come out of the hypnotic state, right!?"Ryker sneered. "What do you think hypnosis is? Cabbage left on the street? Is hypnosis that easy to be deciphered?"He then added with confidence, "My hypnosis program is complex, and unraveling it is extremely difficult. If we at
Deirdre nodded with a pained expression. "Okay, we'll leave tomorrow." She made a call to Tobey to make arrangements while Brendan took care of his work. In the evening, he embraced Deirdre as they drifted off to sleep."Can you sleep without the incense?" asked Deirdre."I'm trying. It has consumed too much of me. I don't know why I got entangled with something as poisonous as that. I want to quit," Brendan replied as he closed his eyes.Naturally, memories associated with the incense were also tampered with. Deirdre didn't tell Brendan that it was all Emily's idea because it would shatter his inner world. "You don't have to quit and don't worry about finding a way to quit. I'll find a solution for you later, so you can fall asleep without relying on the incense," she said.A sense of melancholy clouded Deirdre's eyes. She didn't even know if Sterling was doing well in Germia. She felt guilty for dragging him into this mess and could only hope that Declan would find him and
"I believe Brendan has experienced quite a lot of stimulation regarding his memories, hasn't he? Have his headaches been getting worse, to the point where he's almost unable to stay conscious? Do you think this is a good sign?"Deirdre's face turned pale because the man had accurately described everything. She trembled and struggled simultaneously to maintain her voice as she asked, "What are you trying to say?""I am kindly reminding you that a hypnotized person cannot handle such stimulation. You can only hope that one day he will voluntarily regain his memories. If he recovers certain fragments under external stimulation, all his memories will clash."After the clash, the resulting consequences are not something an ordinary person can endure. He might turn into a dumb fool or a completely irrational madman. It all depends on luck, but I believe that you wouldn't want either of those outcomes, right?" replied Ryker.Deirdre's lips turned white suddenly, and as she held tight to h
Brendan sighed helplessly, removed his coat as he got into the car, and draped it over Deirdre's legs. "If it gets too hot, take it off."Deirdre pulled the coat up to her nose, inhaling the faint scent emanating from him, and closed her eyes for a moment.Brendan fastened his seatbelt. "If you get hungry on the way to Village Alnwick, let me know. It's quite a long journey, so don't force yourself."Deirdre's expression suddenly turned grim, and her pupils revealed a struggle within.Before Brendan started the car, she quickly spoke up, "Brendan!"Brendan paused. "What's wrong?"Deirdre bit her lower lip. "I... I think we shouldn't go there right now. How about we spend our day off together, just the two of us? You can choose the location. I'll accompany you anywhere in Neve."Brendan smiled and gently enveloped her cold hand in his warm palm. "Aren't we already on a date? It's just that instead of going anywhere in Neve, we are alone together in our own world. Isn't that bette
Every word Brendan uttered made Deirdre's heart wrench in immense pain. Brendan appeared to be caught in the trap and understood it better than anyone else. "But…" Deirdre breathed heavily. "We may still have a chance to go back to the old days if we maintain the current standard. But if we try and end up as what the man described… I won't even have a way to get you back…"She said truthfully, "Brendan, I'm very scared. I'm scared that I'll become the person who puts you in a tight spot."In the next moment, Brendan hugged Deirdre. She took the opportunity to hug him back in a very tight, strenuous manner.Brendan caressed her back, and his dark eyes were filled with unprecedented determination. "Deirdre, no one wants to be kept in the dark for a lifetime. If he can make me lose a portion of my memories of you, it signifies that he can still possibly make me hurt you."I don't want to be a weapon manipulated by someone. I want to seek the truth and figure out what happened betw
"What is this place?" asked Brndan.Deirdre explained, "This is Madame Russell's place. She is my mother... Ophelia's good friend. I stayed at her house temporarily when I left you. She took care of me.""Madame Russell?" Brendan found the name familiar but couldn't recall her. He wondered, "Is that Tobey's mother?"His voice deepened as he asked, "Tell me she didn't take care of you because she saw you as her daughter-in-law."Ignoring his question, Deirdre coughed and proceeded toward the house. Despite his partial memory loss, Brendan was still perceptive and connected the dots easily.Her actions displeased Brendan, and he grabbed her wrists, pinning her against the wall. He asked, "Feeling guilty?"Lowering her head, Deirdre appeared overwhelmed with emotions. She replied, "Why should I feel guilty? It's as if you're accusing me of cheating. We were separated at the time, so I didn't disclose our relationship to Madame Russell. She treated me like a daughter. What's wrong wi
Deirdre found herself torn between laughter and tears. "He was just being polite. It was all in good fun, nothing serious. Besides, he's already married."Even if he is a flirt, can he compete with you? Don't think I didn't notice how you scared him off with your gaze before he could say anything else."Brendan's breath tickled the nape of her neck as he spoke in a righteous tone. "Your boyfriend was right there, yet he seemed oblivious.""That's enough." Deirdre pretended to be angry, puffing up her cheeks. "Joe stayed up late and came all the way here to bring us a blanket. If you're not grateful, at least be kind with your words, okay?"Sensing Deirdre's displeasure, Brendan paused, hugged her, and asked, "Does he really have a wife?""Yes, they've been high school sweethearts for over ten years. They have a strong relationship," she replied."Good." Brendan playfully nibbled on Deirdre's neck. "Otherwise, I wouldn't feel at ease seeing him so friendly with you."Brendan's je
"You're right." Deirdre perked up, pulled away the blanket, and got out of bed. As Deirdre was brushing her teeth, Brendan informed her, "Joe came and invited us to breakfast this morning."Deirdre, not surprised, asked, "How did you respond?""I told him that you were exhausted from being with me last night and needed to sleep in a little today, so he left," he replied.While gargling with water, Deirdre choked and coughed repeatedly.Brendan patted her back, grabbed a towel, and wiped away the foam from her lips. Teasingly, he said, "You're an adult, yet you get choked while gargling. Luckily, you didn't swallow the water."Blushing, Deirdre retorted, "It's all your fault!""My fault?" Brendan raised an eyebrow. "How is it my fault?"Too embarrassed to say it, Deirdre muttered, "What do you mean by 'exhausted from being with you last night'? Joe will surely misunderstand...""Misunderstand what?"Deirdre couldn't voice her thoughts, but Brendan continued. "Deirdre, differe
"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