Deirdre frowned, hesitant about physical contact. "Will it hurt?" she asked, referring to the massage.Ryker seemed to understand her concerns. "No, it won't hurt. I'll just apply pressure on the acupuncture points on the top of your head. I'll wear gloves to keep my hands clean and prevent any dirt from touching your skin."With Ryker's reassurance, Deirdre saw no reason to refuse. "Okay, sorry for the trouble," she said.Ryker responded, taking out gloves from his pocket and putting them on. With his slender fingertips, he gently supported Deirdre's head and located the acupuncture points along her hairline, applying gentle pressure."How does it feel?" he asked.Deirdre closed her eyes, surprised by the comforting sensation of having her acupuncture points pressed. Reluctant to open her eyes, she let out a soft "mm" in response.Unable to hear clearly, Ryker leaned closer, his lips near Deirdre's face. Just as he was about to ask again, Brendan suddenly stood up, causing a lou
Ryker's gentle and concerned voice echoed in Deirdre's ears. Calmly, Deirdre gritted her teeth, shook her head, and pushed his hand away."I'm fine. I just ate too much, and my stomach feels uncomfortable.""It's a normal pregnancy reaction, Ms. McKinnon. You're already in the late stages of your pregnancy, but you still have a good appetite. You're not too picky with your food, which is quite lucky," Ryker replied in his usual manner."Some pregnant women experience vomiting and upset stomachs after eating, making it difficult for them to sleep at night. That kind of pain is more intense.""Yes," Deirdre said, lowering her head and gently touching her protruding abdomen. "I am lucky."As she lowered her head, several strands of her hair, which she had put up in a bun, became loose and hung down the back of her neck, exposing her porcelain skin. The hair tickled her sensitive skin, causing it to blush scarlet.Ryker's eyes darkened at the sight, and he reluctantly reached out his
Deirdre's breathing grew heavy as she put the thing on the table, her expression defensive. "Ryker, I'm willing to cooperate with you, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid. You won't tell me what this thing is, and Brendan won't notice it. If he drinks it and dies, I'll be arrested again. It's like killing two birds with one stone for you, isn't it?"Ryker smiled. "How could it be poison? Remember, I said I want something he currently possesses. Otherwise, I could hypnotize him and make him end his own life, just like Cillian..."Deirdre frowned. Their purpose didn't seem to be Brendan's death."Then why did you ask me to drug him?"Ryker replied, "I told you it's a test to see if you're willing to sincerely listen to me or if you're just going through the motions. If you're willing to give it to Brendan without knowing what the drug is, then I'll share my plan with you."Deirdre pursed her lips and fell silent, her beautiful eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. Ryker picked up the drug
"Of course not," Deirdre replied softly, unsure of Brendan's reaction. "But the topic I want to talk about is related to Ryker."Brendan fixed a serious gaze on her."Go on."Since Brendan didn't mention anything else, Deirdre felt relieved, thinking he hadn't noticed what she had done to his milk. She sighed and pretended to be uneasy. "Never mind, it's nothing. After thinking about it, I realize I have nothing to say to you. You should get some rest. I'm leaving."Just as Deirdre was about to walk away, Brendan suddenly grabbed her arm and threw her back onto the bed. He positioned himself over her, making sure to avoid putting pressure on her belly, but his strong arms held her in place, preventing any movement.Deirdre panicked and placed her hands between them."Brendan! What are you doing?""What am I doing?" Brendan stared into her eyes, including the sweaty tip of her nose. "You came to my room out of nowhere, wanting to say something, but then you turned around and refu
Embarrassment flashed across Deirdre's face as she declared, "I'm leaving... Of course, I'm leaving!"She straightened up and made her way toward the door. However, just as she reached for the doorknob, she sensed movement behind her.Suddenly, a muscular arm stretched out from the side and forcefully slammed the door shut, catching Deirdre off guard. Standing closest to her, Brendan emitted erratic hot breaths on the back of her neck."What did you do?" Brendan's question tightened Deirdre's body, but she feigned ignorance."What?""Don't play dumb!" Brendan's grip on her hand tightened.Deirdre inadvertently noticed Brendan's scorching skin."What did you do to that glass of milk? Why do I feel unwell?"Deirdre's pupils twitched. Did Ryker lie to her? Didn't he assure her that Brendan wouldn't be harmed?In the next instant, she turned her head and frantically searched Brendan's body, her teeth chattering nervously. "What's wrong? What's happening? You— Ah!"Brendan abruptl
In an instant, Brendan stabbed the fruit knife toward his arm without hesitation, feeling a sudden pain that brought him back to his senses. Clenching the knife tightly and gritting his teeth, he stumbled toward the bathroom.Unable to see the blood but catching its scent, Deirdre refrained from touching Brendan and gritted her teeth, hastily leaving the room.Downstairs, Frances was still tidying up. Holding her breath, Deirdre urged, "Call the doctor! Tell him to come right away!"Knowing that Brendan had his own family doctor, Frances agreed, but when she picked up the phone, she hesitated and ended up calling Ryker instead."Deirdre wants to call the family doctor?" Ryker feigned ignorance and asked, "What happened?"Frances explained, "Ms. McKinnon was in Mr. Brighthall's room, and then Mr. Brighthall went in. Afterward, Ms. McKinnon rushed out to call the family doctor.""I understand," Ryker replied.Confused by his response, Frances asked, "Mr. Wight, should I call the d
The current Deirdre was the piece of meat that Brendan could feast on. Even if Deirdre's protruding abdomen trembled violently as if it couldn't withstand any torture… Brendan's eyes were red, and he lost his mind and bent down.Desperate, Deirdre searched for something at the top of her head. Upon finding the object, she hesitated for only two seconds before hurling it at Brendan's neck. With a loud thud, Brendan fell headfirst onto her body and toppled sideways.Instinctively, Deirdre supported his head, but the blood on her hand pushed her emotions to the brink. With red eyes and gritted teeth, she rose from the ground, turned off the water, and reached for a bathrobe.As she touched the unconscious man on the ground again, his body still radiated intense heat. The moment her hand made contact, it scalded her. Deirdre's hatred for Ryker intensified.But what surprised her even more was...Deirdre's gaze landed on a certain place, causing her to feel awkward. After struggling fo
The family doctor went upstairs, followed by Frances, but Deirdre stopped her. "You don't need to come up! Just wait downstairs.""Ms. McKinnon, since your eyesight is not good and the doctor needs to take care of Mr. Brighthall, I can be of great help by staying by your side," Frances offered.Deirdre was aware of Frances' potential assistance, but Brendan's unique condition made her cautious. Frances could be a spy for Ryker, so Deirdre couldn't reveal the truth."It's not a big issue. I'll manage alone in the room. You can go downstairs and make some tea. I'll come down and have it later," Deirdre replied firmly.With that, Deirdre entered the room with the family doctor and closed the door.The family doctor was stunned when he saw Brendan lying unconscious on the carpet, blood on the back of his neck."He was drugged! I'm pregnant, and if I didn't knock him out, something bad would have happened!" Deirdre explained.The family doctor snapped out of his daze, realizing that
"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