"But why are you in such a mess? Didn't he come to pick you up?"Deirdre's fist clenched in anger and desperation, almost piercing the skin of her palm.The receptionist was taken aback. "Ms. Collins... Do you know this woman?"Emily's voice was gentle as she spoke. "This is Ms. Deirdre McKinnon, the woman whom Brendan enjoys the most when I'm not around. And what she said is true. She is pregnant with Brendan's child. If she comes again next time, don't stop her from coming in."Emily's tone was soft, yet her words carried a sense of superiority and cynicism.The woman Bren enjoyed the most? Don't stop her next time she comes over? Wasn't she speaking as if she was the legal wife of Brendan being disdainful of the mistress? The receptionist immediately understood her words and looked at Deirdre with a look of disgust."So, she's that kind of woman. She should mind her behavior and stay at home. She shouldn't have come to the company. Mr. Brighthall hasn't been teaching her prope
"You must be receiving a lot of hate on the Internet nowadays, right? If I were you, Ms. Collins, my main concern would be dealing with these hateful comments, rather than thinking that I'm the true victor just because I won a verbal fight. After all, until we obtain the marriage certificate, no one can be sure who the mistress is."Emily bit her lower lip. Deirdre's words struck a chord with her. She was indeed frustrated and worried about the situation. The Internet was mocking Brendan for slapping himself in the face, spreading rumors of an ongoing affair between Emily and Brendan.Upon hearing Deirdre's remark, Emily's face turned cold.At that moment, the elevator doors opened with a 'ding', revealing a man dressed in a suit with a naturally commanding aura. His tall and well-proportioned figure made his attire look tasteful, but his expression was cold, deterring people from approaching him. His dark eyes held little emotion, but as they landed on Emily amidst the crowd, they
Deirdre's eyes were red, not from sadness but from agitation. She raised her head, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Brendan as she spoke, "I'm not asking for preferential treatment, but every wrong has its instigator, and every debt has its lender."Brendan, you abandoned me outside, ignored me for two months, and then turned around and got engaged to the young lady from Collins Pharmaceuticals. Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"Emily frowned, ready to refute."Ms. Collins!" Deirdre interrupted abruptly, clenching her palms tightly and gritting her teeth. "This is a family matter. Even if you call the police, they'll consider it a couple's dispute at most. I don't think you want to make a big deal out of this, do you?"Emily pursed her lips, displeased, and remained silent.Brendan stood tall, his cold demeanor casting a shadow over Deirdre's fragile frame."What do you want me to say? If you're making a fuss about your pregnancy, then there's no need. I don't want the child. You
Deirdre raised her head eagerly, her eyes filled with hope. "That day at the resort, when you called me with that familiar tone, I knew you had regained your memories. That's why you left me, to face all of this alone, right?!"Brendan's expression remained unchanged, showing no signs of recognition. He seemed annoyed by her persistence. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Resort? Calling you with a familiar tone? Deirdre, you're taking things too far. I simply took you to Village Alnwick to find a place for you to stay during your pregnancy."Deirdre couldn't believe what she was hearing.Meanwhile, Brendan flicked his cigarette butt and grabbed her chin, bringing his face closer to hers. "For the sake of the child in your womb, I'll be lenient. My advice is for you to stop causing trouble and obediently return to the hospital to await delivery. Afterward, I'll leave you a sum of money. I won't treat you poorly."Deirdre was shocked to hear such harsh words coming from Bren
Deirdre was filled with mixed emotions upon hearing Joseph's words. She felt touched by how Joseph and Josie treated her like a younger sister and made her feel like part of their family, but she also feared causing trouble for them.Joseph tried to reassure her, saying, "I can't go back if it means leaving you alone in Neve. Josie wants me to take care of you. If Brendan was acting like a real man, I could leave. But seeing the situation now, I can't just leave you behind. You should come back with me."Deirdre looked down and recalled a similar conversation she had with Brendan at the resort. At that time, she had promised to take the child to a safe place without hesitation. Now, she felt obligated to fulfill that promise.She nodded and replied, "Okay, Joe, I'll go with you."Joseph was surprised and pleased by her decision. "Great, come live with us. We'll leave tomorrow!"Deirdre hesitated and said, "I can't leave tomorrow yet. I need to figure out something first, and I'll
Before Deirdre could speak, Jet quickly explained his position, "I work under Mr. Brighthall, so it's useless for you to find me, Ms. Deirdre. I can't betray Mr. Brighthall and help you."Deirdre sighed helplessly. "I'm not trying to involve you in anything against Brendan. I'm just looking for you.""Looking for me?" Jet's eyes filled with guilt. "Does Mr. Brighthall know about this?"He discreetly led Deirdre to a hidden spot and clarified, "Ms. McKinnon, I don't know what you're planning, but I can't assist you. Mr. Brighthall will certainly marry Ms. Collins. I know he mistreated you, but as subordinates, our duty is to follow orders and obey arrangements. I can't help you with anything else."Taking a deep breath, Deirdre replied, "I didn't come to make you betray Brendan. I just have one question for you."Jet was surprised. "What is it?""When did Brendan and Emily get together?"Jet hesitated for a moment before Deirdre interrupted him. "Jet, this isn't betrayal. I just
"Jet, believe it or not, the current Brendan is not the real Brendan," Deirdre declared.Jet was stunned by her words, and his mouth twitched slightly. "Ms. McKinnon, you must be joking. How could the current Mr. Brighthall not be the real Mr. Brighthall...""At least his consciousness is not!" Deirdre gritted her teeth. "He was hypnotized, hypnotized by Emily!"Jet's expression turned subtly awkward, and Deirdre let out a sigh. "I know what I'm saying may sound ridiculous, and I don't expect you to believe me. Just remember to remain cautious. The fact that Brendan arranged for you to work by his side shows that he trusts your identity. Be careful, and don't trust Emily too much. I... will be leaving tomorrow."Jet couldn't accept everything she was saying at the moment, especially the part about Deirdre leaving. His body visibly froze."Ms. McKinnon, are you leaving? What will Mr. Brighthall do if you leave?" he blurted out, feeling surprised. What would Brendan do? He was clear
"Bren, you've been so kind to me. Transferring Collins Pharmaceuticals to you was not in vain," Emily said with gratitude, her eyes filled with tenderness as Brendan pushed the document toward her."Take this. When the time comes, you will handle the product launch yourself. Let me know if you have any questions."Emily accepted the document, her lips curling into a smile. "Okay. I've also set the day for the new product launch.""When will it be?""On our engagement day, we'll release the news first. Then, we'll make an official announcement on our wedding day."Brendan's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "That's perfect. At this point, there will be plenty of media coverage, and on our wedding day, Neve and everyone else will pay attention to us. It's a great opportunity to pave the way for our product announcement.""That's exactly what I thought. That's why I considered having the new product launch event on our wedding day," Emily replied. She opened the document, glanced at it,
"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