Frances' pupils constricted. No one could understand the gnawing feeling in her heart at this moment better than her. After finally finding out the hiding places of those things, she wouldn't get any more clues just because she treated Deirdre like this? Regret, as well as anger, clashed in her chest.Of course, she wouldn't think that she was wrong, but instead, she felt that Deirdre didn't appreciate her kindness, so she gritted her teeth and threatened, "Deirdre! Don't forget there are only the two of us in this whole villa now! Only I can give you food and drink. If you tell me honestly, I can give you a comfortable life before you die. Otherwise, not only will you die, but you will also die in pain!"Deirdre smiled calmly when she heard her words. "Frances, now that I'm going to die, do you think I still care about these things?"Frances' eyes widened in fury and anxiety. "Fine! Just you wait! Let's see how much longer you'll live without me!"She rushed straight up. After a w
It was exactly the same as the secret passage she had walked down back then.Wait a moment! She turned her head toward the bed. Wasn't there a wooden board there as well back then?Deirdre suddenly regained her strength and rushed over in a hurry, and when she stepped on the bed, she stretched her hands toward the wall. There was actually a wooden plank on the top. After Deirdre pushed it away, she came to a stairway. She gritted her teeth and went all the way up. The more she went up, the more emotional she was, and the more she trembled.Her mind went blank when she came up from below and reached the secret passage. The basement there led directly to the secret passage on the second floor? So the basement was actually the place she went to in the first place! How could there be such a coincidence!? Deirdre was deeply shocked and filled with joy.Now that the villa was empty, didn't that mean she could leave? She could go to the hospital! She could find a way to get herself examin
The intense pain made Deirdre fall down uncontrollably. A second before she collapsed, Sterling reacted quickly and hastily helped Deirdre to her feet. When he saw the blood in Deirdre's mouth, his pupils contracted and visibly trembled.He held Deirdre's wrist and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you so weak?""Emily injected a drug into me because she wants me to die in the basement." Deirdre bit her lower lip hard to endure the pain, her eyes full of resentment."What?" Sterling was astounded. He didn't expect Emily to be so cruel that Deidre would be deathly ill even if she could come out."Sterry, I can't die… Help me, help me!" Sterling observed Deirdre's face and checked her pulse with his hand. The more time passed, the darker his face became.This drug… was too poisonous."It seems that Emily is determined to kill you and not give you any hope of surviving."Deirdre's pupils trembled, and she shook her head desperately. "I want… I want to live!"She wasn't willing to die!
"Really?" Brendan's doubts completely vanished after hearing Emily's words, and he relaxed."Brendan, put the child down." Emily persuaded him, and Brendan gently placed the child on the bed.The little one clenched his fists and peacefully fell asleep. Though his face was still wrinkled and not particularly attractive, Brendan could still see a resemblance to Deirdre.Brendan closed his eyes and pushed away his thoughts. He needed to stop thinking about her. Everything was in the past.Upon returning, he should let her go. Regardless of her behavior, she had given birth to his child, and it was only fair for him to release her.However, the trip didn't last even half a month. Continuous rain on the island made travel impossible, and the company had another project to handle. Moreover, the island had no internet connection.Brendan grew increasingly anxious about the company's situation. Even writing letters back to the company couldn't ease his worries, so he decided to return e
"Alright…"The assistant held her breath as they drove, the entire journey filled with an unusual silence.Upon reaching the villa, Brendan hurriedly got out of the car and rushed inside the mansion. However, Frances, who should have been there to greet him, was nowhere to be found at the entrance.He stood still. "Where is Frances?""Frances... She's missing. She left the mansion a week ago, and we haven't been able to find her or get in touch with her," the assistant replied after some hesitation."Missing…" Brendan's eyes flickered. He took steps toward the basement. "Does that mean Deirdre has been alone all this time? Why wasn't I informed?""Mr. Brighthall!" The assistant hurriedly followed. "You don't have to go down. Ms. McKinnon, she—"Brendan had already descended into the basement, but what he saw inside left his eyes filled with astonishment.There was no sign of anyone there, let alone Deirdre.The bedding was in disarray at the head of the bed, and an unbearable
Emily's eyes shimmered with a mix of joy and complexity.The joy stemmed from Brendan's state, confirming that Deirdre was truly dead. Finally, this calamity had been eradicated from the world.However, the complexity arose from the fact that despite Brendan being hypnotized by Ryker and no longer loving Deirdre, he still reacted strongly to the news of her death.Could it be that there were certain emotions in the world that even hypnosis couldn't dissolve? Even though his memories had been sealed, could the emotions freely flowing within his heart still impact Brendan?In that case, it was fortunate that Deirdre had died. Otherwise, it would only become easier to threaten Emily's position.The pale-faced assistant emerged from the storeroom, and Emily handed the child to her. "Where is Deirdre's body?"The assistant promptly took the child and replied, "It's at the morgue at Neve Hospital.""I'll accompany Brendan there. You stay home and take care of the child."Emily hurrie
Emily casually removed her coat, revealing her stunning figure. "Well, it's a bit of both," she replied with a hint of arrogance.She glanced at her fingernails and continued. "Since our honeymoon trip, Brendan has become more reliant on me and trusts me completely. He even entrusted that child to my care without any concern. I believe it won't be long before I have easy access to the top-level documents of the Brighthall Group.""Not bad." Ryker applauded her. "I didn't misjudge you. But..."He abruptly changed the subject. "Aside from all that, is there anything else that brings you happiness?"Emily thought about Deirdre's death, and a wicked smile formed on her lips. Naturally, she wouldn't mention her involvement in it. She simply raised an eyebrow and replied, "Deirdre McKinnon's death is one of them. Since you are also at the hospital, did you come to see her?"Ryker stared at her unwaveringly. "I was downstairs for a while before Brendan arrived.""Deirdre didn't die due
Ryker threw Emily to the ground and glared down at her with a menacing expression. "Emily Collins, do you think I'm stupid? Frances Ramos is motivated by money. What benefit would killing Deirdre bring her if she had no one backing her?"Emily's teeth trembled as she crawled closer and said, "Deirdre's death doesn't benefit me either! I have everything I want now. Whether she's alive or dead, it doesn't matter to me. You can't blame me for everything just because there were conflicts between us!"And..." Emily's eyes flickered with emotion as she searched for excuses, trying to avoid the truth. "And Brendan was never good to her. That basement was filthy, messy, and damp. Even a normal person couldn't bear staying there for a month, let alone someone like Deirdre, who had just given birth. It's natural for her to get infected and die in that environment— Ah!"Emily screamed in pain.Suddenly, Ryker leaned in, grabbing a handful of Emily's hair and pulling it upward.Intense pain s
"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