After listening to Deirdre's confident and eloquent words, Josie's concerns were alleviated. She asked, "Deirdre, are you certain you'll be able to leave?"Deirdre replied playfully, "Am I going to spend three years in prison if I can't leave? I might as well be dead than go to prison in my current condition, right?"And besides, there's no point in lying to you about this. If I can meet Brendan, I can meet other impressive people too. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."Upon hearing Deirdre's reassurance, Josie chose to believe her. She said, "Find a way to let me know that you're safe once you're released from prison."Deirdre's expression dimmed. "Alright, I will. Go home, Josie. Joe and the child need you. Don't let me take up any more of your time."Josie felt uneasy but held Deirdre's hand for a while before deciding to leave. As she left the police station, she accidentally bumped into a car stopped at the intersection. Instinctively, she yielded to the car, and a man wear
Deirdre clenched her fists tightly, expressing her contempt. "Don't try to persuade me anymore. You talk as if you only want what's best for me, yet you ordered me to starve for a full day. Your behavior will only make me hate you and not want to please you."Saul sighed, unfazed by Deirdre's remark, as it was within his expectations."It seems you're determined to be stubborn with me, huh?" he said.Deirdre smiled and spoke. "I believe Emily doesn't want me to die, right? If something bad were to happen to me here, I can't be sent to prison anymore. Emily wants me to endure torment in prison, so she won't let me die."Since I won't die, what is there to be afraid of? Your threat is inconsequential to me."Saul applauded. "Well said, Ms. McKinnon. My trip here has not been in vain."Noticing Saul's insinuation, Deirdre raised her head and asked, "What do you mean?"Saul replied slowly, "To be honest, I arrived at the police station five minutes ago. I didn't enter because I ran
Saul ended the call, shattering Deirdre's last glimmer of hope. As he prepared to leave, he turned back and said, "Oh, by the way..."To be frank, there is still a possibility to cure Joseph's legs." He continued. "We intentionally delayed revealing this information to you. All you need to do is find a doctor to perform the surgery, and he will regain sensation in his legs soon enough. However..."He smiled. "You made your choice."Deirdre's eyes widened, and rage filled her chest. She was overcome with intense pain, causing her to drop to her knees and scream in agony.Cold sweat covered her body, and her head was clouded with pain, but one thought remained clear in her mind. She had to stop Josie from going through with the $30,000 deal."Hey, are you okay? What's happening? Why are you on the ground?"The door opened, and Deirdre tightly grasped his arm as the person approached. "Please, please tell Josie not to give her $30,000. Joe's... legs... can still be..."Her vision d
Josie's voice was hoarse as she spoke. "Deirdre, Brendan and Declan are part of the same group."If Brendan refuses to help you, how can Declan agree to help? You've been lying to me about this from the beginning, haven't you?"Deirdre felt hopeless. "Did Saul tell you that?""Hmm." Josie weakly replied, "He also told me that if you give birth to a child in prison, the baby will be sent to a welfare center."I can't let you be separated from your child as soon as she's born. I can't be the one to allow that to happen. So, you must seize the opportunity to live and persist, Deirdre."Deirdre bit her lower lip tightly, unable to utter a realistic remark. She wanted to tell Josie that she had underestimated Emily's cruelty and that Emily was using the life-saving $30,000 to push her into a disastrous situation. With Josie sharing part of the responsibility, Emily would not be pleased with the outcome."I... Where are you now?""Us?" Josie turned her head to glance at Joseph, who wa
Josie's mind went blank, unable to comprehend what Deirdre was saying. She asked, "Deirdre, do you understand what you're saying? The doctor confirmed that Joseph's legs were beyond salvage. They're broken...""This is what Emily wants us to believe. In reality, Joe's legs can still be saved. If he undergoes amputation now, he'll lose the ability to walk!"Josie's vision blurred in shock, her body trembling.Meanwhile, Deirdre rushed to the door of the operating theater and pounded on it desperately."Stop! Stop, everyone!"Startled, a nurse hurriedly approached and restrained Deirdre. "Have you lost your mind? The patient is undergoing surgery. If you cause a scene here, who will be responsible if something goes wrong?"Unyielding, Deirdre continued banging on the door, hoping to halt the surgery.Josie, still in a state of shock, could only watch, her body shaking uncontrollably.Finally, the door to the operating theater opened.Deirdre attempted to rush inside, but the doc
Josie's shock was overwhelming, almost causing her to lose consciousness. In anger, she exclaimed, "What? Emily said she would accept a private settlement and forgive Deirdre's offense, and that's when I gave her $30,000. How can that be considered compensation?"The police officer furrowed his eyebrows and responded, "That's impossible. We approved $30,000 as compensation for the losses at the engagement party. It has nothing to do with a private settlement. If it was for a private settlement, then why did we arrest Ms. McKinnon?"Josie collapsed to the ground, and Deirdre clenched her lips, suppressing her anger. She knew Emily wouldn't let the matter go easily, but she didn't expect her to be this cruel.The police forcefully took Deirdre away, and Josie desperately tried to pull her back. "Don't take her! Deirdre is innocent!""I've heard enough of these claims. If she were truly innocent, we wouldn't be here in the first place," the police officer warned. "I advise you to let
After a while, Saul returned with a wide smile on his face. "Congratulations, Ms. McKinnon. Ms. Collins is kindhearted, and she has agreed to your request at long last."Deirdre's fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white."Alright," she said, her voice strained. "I believe there must be a reason Emily would agree to this.""You're right," Saul replied, his delight evident. He cast a meaningful glance at Deirdre's bulging belly. "However, I'm not sure if you'll be able to accept the reason."Deirdre's heart sank. Judging by Saul's tone, she knew it would be an incredibly difficult choice.Taking a deep breath, she spoke firmly. "How can I know if I can accept it if you don't tell me?"Saul smiled and said, "Alright, Ms. Collins has agreed to your request on one condition: she wants you to abort the child in your womb.""What?" Deirdre exclaimed, shocked by the suggestion.Her hand instinctively went to her belly as she listened to Saul's explanation. "You should
"I'm sorry, baby," Deirdre said softly. "I'm sorry that I don't have the capability to protect you. I hope that you will be reborn into a good family while I... I'll come to see you when I'm done with the revenge."-While on their way to the villa, Emily received a call from Saul. Pleasant surprise and pride filled her eyes."Has Deirdre agreed to it?" she asked."Yes," Saul replied respectfully. "Ms. McKinnon has agreed to terminate the pregnancy but wants the earlier promise to be fulfilled as well."Emily expressed her contempt. "I didn't expect the woman to be so naive. Does she really think everything will be fine with the baby being aborted? It's not an easy feat to terminate a seven-month-old pregnancy. There's a possibility of complications or even death if any errors occur or her body isn't strong enough..."Saul instantly understood. "It would be a waste if something were to happen, Ms. Collins. I will arrange for the best doctor for her.""Good," Emily reminded. "Don
"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