Ryker noticed the truth in Deirdre's words as her every attempt at a password failed. It made him question why Brendan had brought up Deirdre's name in the first place. Was it merely a coincidence?Ryker composed himself quickly and offered reassurance, saying, "There must be passwords you haven't tried yet. Take your time. There are still chances."Deirdre's mind was overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness. The days of trying different combinations had led her to believe that unlocking it was nearly impossible. She didn't have the courage to try again. Instead, she focused on making Brendan suspicious of Ryker.A few days later, as Deirdre was about to head to the study, she heard the sound of a car outside. The assistant had arranged for someone to help Brendan up the stairs.Brendan's steps were unsteady, and the strong smell of alcohol clung to him."What's happening?" Deirdre inquired, concerned, as she approached the assistant.The assistant forced a smile and apologized,
Deirdre struggled to grasp the deeper meaning behind Brendan's words, but it eluded her understanding."Are you suggesting... that I can't protect her?" Deirdre asked, her voice filled with uncertainty."Can you truly protect him? Can you safeguard our child?" Brendan retorted.Lost in her thoughts, Deirdre realized her powerlessness in the current situation.Leaning back in his chair, Brendan loosened his tie and took a rare moment of comfort. "Deirdre, once you give birth to the child, you should leave. You don't belong here, and you don't belong by my side."Furrowing her brow, Deirdre prepared to challenge his statement, but before she could speak, Brendan abruptly stood up.Due to his towering stature, maintaining balance was a struggle for him, and his actions seemed unsteady.Additionally, Deirdre strained her neck just to meet his gaze, finding it challenging to reach out and touch him. "Brendan, don't wander around while intoxicated. If you fall, there will be no one to
Moving aside the tightly sealed counter, an unexpected opening appeared before Deirdre. It was pitch black inside, hindering her vision. However, what startled her even more than the sight behind the counter was the fact that she had unlocked it with her own fingertips.It was a fingerprint lock. Yet, she had never registered her fingerprints or used fingerprint unlocking before. Deirdre felt immense surprise, her tightly clenched hand radiating warmth."Why?" she questioned with trembling lips. "Why can my fingerprint unlock it?"Brendan didn't answer but suddenly embraced her tightly, exerting strong force.Deirdre listened to his steady breathing and heartbeat, unable to fully comprehend the impact within her heart."When did it happen?" she asked.Brendan rubbed his chin against her forehead. "I forgot."Indeed, he had forgotten when this idea first occurred to him. Perhaps it happened one day when he saw the peacefully sleeping woman curled up on the sofa, thinking that som
Deirdre felt an instant chill throughout her body, rooted to the spot as a ray of light illuminated her face.Her face turned ghastly pale. "Frances, is that you?"Frances didn't immediately answer but surveyed her surroundings with the flashlight on her phone.Naturally, she was unaware of the hidden room beneath Deirdre's feet. All she could see with her naked eyes were the pitch-black walls that had never been renovated."Is this what Mr. Wight wanted? I expected some kind of spectacle or valuable treasures, but it seems there's nothing here after all."It was clear from Frances' tone that she had come to take something from Deirdre. She stared at her intently after finishing her sentence. "Did you take all the items?"You figured out the secret code to this place early on! Did you move everything in here beforehand?" Deirdre furrowed her eyebrows. "You could see me enter the study room from downstairs. If I had taken something, wouldn't you have noticed immediately?"Franc
'Explain?'Deirdre's heart raced as Brendan asked her to explain, even though he was the one who had opened the secret tunnel. Could it be that he had forgotten?A distressing thought crossed Deirdre's mind—she wouldn't be able to defend herself if that were the case!"I did enter the secret tunnel, but I didn't open it. I don't know the password," Deirdre said through her gritted teeth. "You were the one who opened it. You were drunk, so I went in to take a look. I didn't find or discover anything."Frances sniggered at her response. "Ms. McKinnon, who would believe you? Why would Mr. Brighthall open the secret tunnel in the study for no reason?"Frances continued defaming Deirdre, attempting to divert suspicion from herself. "I've noticed your sneaky behavior in the past, always visiting the study. Could it be that you opened the secret tunnel after Mr. Brighthall passed out from drinking, and now you're trying to blame him after being caught?"I refuse to believe that the tunn
Brendan sneered at Deirdre with contempt."A fingerprint lock?" He pushed her hand away. "Deirdre, if you want to lie, at least come up with a proper one. The secret tunnel existed when my father was alive, and the password hasn't been changed since. Are you telling me that it can be unlocked with just your fingerprint? Tell me, is it you who's lost your mind or my father who has lost his?"Deirdre tried to defend herself, but the words couldn't escape her mouth.It was because she found the idea absurd herself.How could the secret tunnel possibly be unlocked with just her fingerprint?Yet... the door had opened. It wasn't a dream."What's the matter? Can't come up with another lie?" Brendan stared intently at Deirdre, his gaze filled with annoyance and disappointment as she expressed her confusion."I always knew you were a rebellious woman. I kept giving you chances, hoping you would change your malicious ways and learn some propriety, especially now that you're becoming a mo
Deirdre struggled to remain calm despite Frances' scheming tone."Do you think I'm a fool, Frances? Do you believe I will reveal my only trump card to you?"It's simple. If you want the password, get Brendan to free me!""That would be impossible!" Frances responded immediately. "It's clear that Mr. Brighthall has made up his mind to keep you here until you die. No one can change his mind!"'Imprisoned until death, huh?'Despair filled Deirdre's heart. Brendan had been ruthless to her, and his mercilessness only grew after being hypnotized. He probably wouldn't even bother providing her with basic necessities if she wasn't carrying his baby."If that's the case, I won't even remember the password." Deirdre closed her eyes and said, "Unless...""Unless what?" Frances' eyes lit up with eagerness."Brendan goes to work at the company every day, right? You can let me out when he's not around so I can get some fresh air."She needed to return to the study to test if her fingerprint
Ryker stepped forward and leaned very close to Deirdre as if they were only separated by a railing. "Tell me first, what is the password?"Deirdre raised her head. Soon afterward, she lowered her body, opened the lid of the meal container, and began eating as if no one was around her. She needed adequate nutrition to sustain herself. Ryker did not rush her but waited for her patiently. When Deirdre was finally done eating, she wiped her mouth clean and said, "Ryker, you're an intelligent man. However, I'm not a fool either. How can I be sure you'll free me after I tell you the password?"My only trump card is the password. I'll share it with you after you let me out."Ryker was not surprised by her remark, but he found it amusing. "Ms. McKinnon, I understand your intention but don't forget about your current situation."I'm the only person who can help you, and your only option is to count on my help. Otherwise, you will be trapped in this boundless darkness until death."