Brendan coughed, his tone sounding much more pleasant."Don't bully Emily," he said.The crowd cheered loudly upon hearing Brendan's remark.Deirdre struggled to support her pregnant belly, feeling discomfort and dizziness, whether from the stuffy air in the closet or other reasons.The group of people chatted at the doorway until Emily suddenly noticed Brendan's wrinkled suit. "Brendan, who ironed your outfit? It's so wrinkled. The ironing skill is below par."Brendan lowered his head and examined the wrinkled parts caused by Deirdre's punch. Her blows had left visible marks on his suit, although they hadn't caused any pain.He smoothed his suit and explained, "I rested on the sofa earlier because I was too tired. I forgot to remove my suit, so it became wrinkled."The group at the door jokingly commented, "Mr. Brighthall couldn't sleep soundly last night because he was too nervous, even for the engagement. How will he manage when he's married?"Emily pretended to be shy. "Sto
Brendan pretended to be confused. "What do you mean? I don't understand.""Ms. McKinnon entered the resting area earlier, and I was the one who brought her here. Where is she now..." Ryker paused, his tone meaningful. "Mr. Brighthall, I know about your ill intentions toward Ms. McKinnon. However, she is here with me. If anything were to happen to her, it would be my responsibility."Please hand her over."Brendan remained silent, but Emily's expression turned serious and tense. She glared at Ryker and then turned to Brendan. "Brendan, is Deirdre with you?"Brendan maintained his usual calm expression. "No."Ryker sneered. "Mr. Brighthall, I personally entrusted Ms. McKinnon to you, hoping you would handle your complicated relationship like a real man. I didn't expect that you would not only hide her but also try to cover up this matter.""That's enough," Emily said coldly. She couldn't understand Ryker's motive for stirring up trouble at her engagement party. She had planned to c
At first, Deirdre assumed that Ryker was lying to her, but it seemed there was more to the story. Wiping the sweat from her face, she walked toward the entrance of the resting area, supporting herself against the wall.She opened the door and saw Ryker standing in his eye-catching white suit. Seeing Deirdre, Ryker appeared both surprised and expectant."I've been waiting for you, Ms. McKinnon," Ryker said. "Seems like it's not easy for a pregnant woman to escape from a closet, huh?"Deirdre looked up at Ryker with mixed feelings.Ryker continued. "The engagement party has already started. Don't forget what you promised me.""What did I promise you?" Deirdre asked. "To ruin Emily and Brendan's engagement party?"Ryker raised an eyebrow. "By the sound of your tone, are you backing out of our agreement, Ms. McKinnon?"Deirdre's expression grew tense, and coldness emanated from her eyes, almost giving her a murderous look. "I won't back out of our agreement if you respect me. I will
After hearing the nurse's words, she abruptly ended the call, leaving Deirdre frozen in place with tears streaming down her face. Thoughts raced through her mind."Someone beat up Joseph until... his legs ςεre broken?"But Brendan assured me he could keep Joseph safe. Emily said she would let Joseph leave too!"How did it escalate to this in such a short time?"Joseph had recently become a father and was working at the resort. He was thriving in his life, so how could he now face a future without his legs?Rage surged from Deirdre's chest to her head. She fought back her tears but couldn't contain her hatred.She had already made up her mind to leave. Her priority was to give birth to her child safely, but not only did Emily refuse to leave her be, but she also refused to spare Joseph any mercy.He lost his legs because of her, so how would Deirdre find the courage to face Josie now?"Are you alright, Ms. McKinnon? Why are you crying? I'm sorry we didn't have much information a
Brendan felt a sharp pain through his shirt, causing him to furrow his eyebrows. His face turned pale, and he quickly pushed Deirdre away to prevent her from biting him.Deirdre staggered and fell to the ground, unable to maintain her balance. She instinctively protected her belly by breaking her fall with outstretched arms. However, her emotional state and vigorous actions still caused pain in her belly.Clutching her belly, Deirdre looked up to see Brendan helping Emily to stand. Her eyes were bloodshot with anger.After ensuring Emily's safety, Brendan's furrowed eyebrows relaxed. He turned his fierce gaze toward Deirdre and said, "You must be out of your mind! Call the police and have her taken to the police station!"Deirdre sneered and replied, "You're right. I have lost my mind... I lost it from the beginning! How could I have fallen for you? How could I... I shouldn't have believed your last words, thinking you would protect Joseph!"Panic flickered across Emily's face whi
A floaty voice emerged from the crowd, saying, "However, Mr. Brighthall took Ms. McKinnon to the Kings' wedding a few months ago in Eastgene and publicly acknowledged her as his partner. If the child isn't Mr. Brighthall's, why would he do that?"Emily glanced around but couldn't spot the person speaking. Anger surged within her, and she immediately retorted, "That's because Brendan initially believed the child was his. Who would have guessed it was just an illegitimate child?""If it's an illegitimate child, that means she cheated on Brendan first. Why should he show her any respect?"Deirdre curled up, hiding the hatred in her bloodshot eyes, and lowered her gaze."I can confirm that the child is Brendan's," she said, feigning grief. "I have the courage to get a paternity test, but can you afford to make that bet? Are you willing to announce to the world whether the child in my womb is illegitimate or Brendan's?"Emily staggered back, feeling dizzy, while Deirdre spoke coldly. "
Emily lowered her head, concealing the emotions in her eyes."I had no idea. Ms. McKinnon suddenly confronted me. I thought she blamed me for taking Joseph away, but she mentioned Joseph being disabled. I don't understand..."Brendan's dark eyes reflected her innocence. "So... you were unaware of Joseph's accident?""Absolutely." Emily nodded eagerly. "I only pleaded for Joseph's release. I have no knowledge of anything else. I'm uncertain if something happened to Joseph during his journey...""I understand now."-Deirdre exited the hotel, her stomach pain intensifying. She gnashed her teeth and approached the intersection to hail a taxi."Take me to Crest Hospital, please..."Observing her pale face and profuse sweating, the driver grew alarmed. "Young lady, are you about to give birth? If so, you should find another cab. If my car gets messy, it'll cost me a fortune to clean!"Deirdre took a deep breath and replied with a determined gaze, "Don't worry. My baby is only seven
Deirdre's lower lip trembled as tears streamed down her face, meeting Josie's hopeful gaze. With great effort, she found her voice. "I'm sorry, Josie... I—"But Josie's grip on her arm tightened, cutting her off. "Deirdre, I don't want apologies. I want Joseph to be healthy again. I won't force you, but can you please ask Brendan for help? He's the father of your child. Maybe he'll be willing to assist us."Deirdre's heart ached at Josie's plea. It was a moment of unbearable torment. She couldn't ask Brendan for help, not after what had happened. He had nearly taken her to the police station.Overwhelmed with sorrow, Deirdre sank to her knees, curling into a ball. "I'm sorry, Josie! It's all my fault. I failed to protect Joe. I never imagined that those who hate me would harm innocent people like him. I'm so sorry!"Josie stared at her, her gaze empty. She held her crying child, but her mind was blank.As she stood up, her expression vacant, she murmured, "Joseph... Joseph... He w
"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