Despite being afraid of Deirdre, Emily still carried the fear of Brendan waking up again. The consequences could have been disastrous if Ryker hadn't hypnotized him once more."Thank you, Bren, for trusting me so much." Emily promised. "I assure you that I will treat this child as my own and protect her from any harm."Brendan nodded in agreement. "I believe you."Taking advantage of the moment, Emily suggested, "In that case, it would be better for Ms. McKinnon to live with me. As a woman, I can provide more convenient care, and I know a well-known maternity nurse who can take excellent care of Deirdre."Deirdre's tension spiked as she looked up at Brendan, her eyes filled with urgency.Pretending not to notice, Brendan replied, "Okay."Emily's smile widened. "Ms. McKinnon, my car is parked at the back. You can follow me to the Collins residence. Don't worry. I'll take good care of you."Deirdre felt a sense of danger in Emily's words, her voice sounding like a growl in her ear
Deirdre clenched her teeth, suppressing the disgust welling up inside her. "I'll sit in the front.""Sitting in the front?" Brendan's dark eyes paused, and then his emotions surfaced. "Do you hate me?"Deirdre found the question absurd. "It's pointless for you to ask that yourself."Brendan didn't respond but pulled her forcefully toward him. Unexpectedly, Deirdre's body tilted and fell into Brendan's arms. The warmth felt the same as before, but his heart no longer belonged to her."Sit still," Brendan commanded, gripping her waist. "Don't hide from me."Deirdre was momentarily stunned and almost wanted to laugh. "Brendan, don't tell me you still possess some unexplainable desire to control me.""Possessive? You?" Brendan sneered at her, then stepped away for a moment."Deirdre, being overly confident isn't a good thing. I won't allow you to evade me because I don't want you scheming against me. After all, if a malicious woman like you resorts to heinous acts involving our chil
Deirdre laughed, dismissing the significance of the room and villa. "It's okay. Emily will own this place now. I stopped caring about it long ago. If I still did, I'd be devastated by now."Mrs. Wanner smiled wryly and commented, "Ms. McKinnon, it's good to see your positive mindset. You're so beautiful. I'm sure you'll have a bright future."Deirdre laughed heartily. As Mrs. Wanner began preparing tonic soup, Deirdre wandered around the house alone. However, her lack of familiarity led her to bump her knee a few times. When the meal was ready, Deirdre went downstairs, but Brendan was nowhere to be found.Mrs. Wanner explained, "Mr. Brighthall always eats in the study. He's too busy with work and can't be without his documents."Deirdre responded with a simple "Mm," not disappointed but a bit unfortunate that she couldn't see him. She planned to have a conversation with Brendan, ask to meet Joseph and Josie in person to confirm their situation, and request that Brendan return the $
Deirdre felt a tinge of sadness upon hearing his words, yet she maintained a calm expression. "If you hate me so much, we do no need to have this conversation, Brendan. Let me go."They shouldn't have been in such a position. Deirdre struggled to free herself from Brendan's lap, but he held onto her tightly, unmoving."Don't leave," he said with a frown, his voice soft. "Stay like this for a while."Deirdre found his words amusing. "Brendan, you claim to hate me, yet you're embracing me at the same time. Don't you see the contradiction?"Brendan paused for a moment, looked up into her reddened eyes, and took a step further. He pulled her closer, holding her in a more intimate embrace."What does it matter if I'm contradicting myself? As long as it makes me feel better, that's enough."Deirdre bit her lower lip suddenly. He still had that familiar arrogance, but she glimpsed a trace of the Brendan she once knew. It reminded her of how he had treated her tenderly even when he was u
"Why are you here?" Brendan asked.Emily said softly, her voice filled with tenderness, "I came because I miss you. Is there a problem? Bren, don't you want me here?""It's not that." Brendan's voice was unusually loving and tender. "I was just surprised. It's late already. How will you get back?""Then I won't go back." Emily adjusted his collar. "Bren, can I stay here tonight?"Brendan hesitated for a moment, then covered his mouth. "I was just joking. I know you're tired from your work, so I won't disturb you.""I'm sorry." Brendan's eyes showed guilt.Emily leaned against him. "Don't apologize. It's not just your fault. I should have been more careful and not used the incense without knowing its effects on you."She sighed. "Let's not dwell on this. Where is Ms. McKinnon?"A flicker of emotion crossed Brendan's eyes. "She's asleep.""She goes to bed so early?" Emily was surprised."Well, pregnant women tend to do that. Let's go downstairs and talk."Listening from inside
Brendan's eyes fell on the woman's pale face and then on her frozen red hands. "You're mad?" he said. "I thought you had already returned to your room."Deirdre felt resentment and helplessness welling up in her heart. "Brendan, stop pretending. I don't believe you didn't know I was in the study. You purposely didn't come here. You left me alone on purpose."Brendan's eyes remained calm, and he didn't bother to refute her."I'm glad you recognize that. I did it to teach you a lesson. Otherwise, you might develop misguided feelings for someone you shouldn't be coveting."He spoke self-righteously, causing Deirdre's eyes to turn red with anger."So you just left me here to freeze in the cold? Brendan, was I the one who pursued you? You are shameless. From the beginning to the end, you held me by your side and embraced me. And now you tell me not to have delusional thoughts? How could you be so disgraceful!?"Brendan looked ashamed but didn't say much. "It was just a misunderstandin
Deirdre's ears burned, and shame and embarrassment filled her face. She asked, her voice trembling, "Is that enough?"Brendan didn't respond and walked away with determined steps. Shortly after he left, Mrs. Wanner came upstairs.Brendan instructed her, "Go and make Deirdre some hot tea."Mrs. Wanner nodded repeatedly, cautiously glancing at Brendan. She wanted to speak but hesitated.Brendan noticed and furrowed his brow. "Just say it."Unable to hold back, Mrs. Wanner asked, "Mr. Brighthall, after Ms. Collins left, did you go to your room to take a medicated bath? Were you feeling unwell and neglected Ms. McKinnon because of it? You didn't intentionally leave her alone in the study, right?"Brendan's black eyes turned icy, and his gaze grew even colder after hearing her questions. He didn't nod or deny, only saying, "Go and make hot tea."Mrs. Wanner felt a little happy in her heart. Wasn't that an implicit confirmation? It seemed that deep down, Brendan still cared about
Back when Deirdre had a congested nose from the cold, she couldn't smell anything. Curious about a particular scent, she asked, "What's that smell?"Mrs. Wanner's eyes shifted, and she replied, "What smell are you referring to?""The scent of herbs," Deirdre clarified.Mrs. Wanner chuckled nervously and said, "Oh, that must be the tea. I added some medicinal herbs to it."Deirdre didn't pay much attention to it and casually responded, "I see. I'm going back to my room."As she made her way out of Brendan's room, she had to pass by the study. Just as she reached the door, it swung open, revealing Brendan standing there, observing her slightly flushed complexion."Are you finished?" Brendan asked.Deirdre didn't feel like responding, and Brendan seemed unfazed. "Since you've finished the tea, you should rest early.""I don't need your concern. I can take care of myself," Deirdre retorted."Very well." Brendan closed the study door.As Deirdre walked past Brendan on her way to h
"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