Brendan's tone was calmer as he admitted, "I take responsibility for not managing your relationship with him properly."He instructed the bodyguard, "Continue searching for Sean. Expand the search area and review all surveillance footage."The bodyguard left, and Emily asked, "Brendan, are you attending the charity ball that Deirdre will be attending?""Why?" Brendan inquired.Emily suppressed the hesitation in her gaze. "I was thinking that you would receive an invitation to the event. It crossed my mind that I could attend as your female companion, allowing me to connect with several people."Brendan remained silent for a moment before speaking. "If you want to go, I'll take you there. I also want to find out if Deirdre knows anything about Sean's whereabouts. If she is indeed involved in his disappearance, I won't let her get away with it."-On the day of the dinner party, Deirdre stood before the mirror, examining herself.She wore a black silk gown that gracefully hugged
Someone in the group mocked her, saying, "How is that possible? I heard Deirdre has been in Germia and hasn't returned to the country. How could you have seen her before?""Forget it if you don't believe me." The woman pouted. "I can't remember her name, but I'm sure I've seen her in Neve before."The group ignored the comment, and the woman changed the topic of conversation.Meanwhile, Deirdre walked past them and stood alone in a dark corner, sipping her drink.She knew the woman might have seen her at parties when she attended as Brendan's wife years ago.Even if the woman recognized her, she would only remember Charlene's face, not connecting them as the same person.Deirdre was halfway through her drink when a commotion erupted in the room.She looked up and saw a couple entering through the door.She clenched her fist tightly, her eyes filled with coldness as she saw their faces clearly.Brendan still looked the same. His suit accentuated his slender figure, and his well
Emily glared fiercely at Deirdre from beneath the stage, gnashing her teeth tightly. Deirdre could see now, and she appeared even more beautiful and alluring than before. Emily couldn't deny that she had panicked when she saw Deirdre.She quickly turned her head to look at the man beside her. Brendan's dark eyes reflected Deirdre's image, and he never looked away from her. Restless, Emily couldn't resist tugging at Brendan's sleeve."What's happening?" Brendan asked, lowering his head to hear her.Emily forced a chuckle. "I'm not feeling well, Brendan. Could you please get me some antacid from a waiter?""Sure." Brendan complied without hesitation. He would always fulfill Emily's requests without complaint.By the time he returned, Deirdre's performance had ended, and the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. He handed the medicine and water to Emily. She leaned close to Brendan, grabbing the medicine and stuffing it into her mouth to display their love to Deirdre. It brought her
Brendan furrowed his eyebrows slightly upon hearing Ryker's voice but continued to place his bid. "1.5 million dollars.""1.51 million dollars," Ryker quickly countered, determined to outbid Brendan.The crowd couldn't hide their astonishment. Challenging Brendan was no small feat, and they couldn't fathom why someone would dare to do so.As expected, Brendan's gaze darkened, but he maintained his composure, raising his paddle without showing his impatience."2.7 million dollars," Brendan announced.Ryker took his time before saying, "4.1 million dollars."The venue erupted in an uproar, breaking the silence.Whispers filled the air as the crowd wondered how Deirdre could be so captivating that two men were competing for her with exorbitant prices.Deirdre's expression remained unchanged on stage, but she felt somber inside.Ryker's bidding fell within Deirdre's expectations, but Brendan's bidding left her annoyed and agitated."Brendan…" Emily finally couldn't bear it any lo
Deirdre glanced at her reflection in the mirror as an unwelcome guest barged into the washroom. She kept a barely discernible smile and pretended not to notice. Opening her clutch, she took out her lipstick to freshen up her makeup.Unable to contain her impatience, Emily glared at Deirdre's beautiful face with bloodshot, bloodthirsty eyes."I'm curious about who saved your life," Emily said, puzzled by Deirdre's presence when she was supposed to be dead. Accepting this reality proved challenging for her.Emily stubbornly refused to accept responsibility for her foolishness and underestimation of her enemy, which ultimately led to Deirde's resurrection."You bribed that old woman, didn't you? She didn't administer the poison and helped you escape death. I never expected a woman like you to live such a long life."In fact, Emily's muttering to herself bordered on insanity.Leaning against the counter, Deirdre turned her head slowly. "You're wrong. I was indeed administered the poi
At the parking lot.Deirdre hurriedly lifted the hem of her gown as she made her way toward her car. She had no desire to remain at the party any longer now that her task was complete.Not only did Deirdree have people waiting for her at home, but there was also the man who had been staring at her with intense eyes from under the stage. His gaze reminded her of many things.Deirdre unlocked her car with her key, but she was taken aback before she could open the door as a pair of hands reached out from behind her. Her arms were suddenly grasped, and she found Brendan's cold face before her as she turned around in astonishment.Brendan was wearing a well-tailored suit, and his expression was a mix of coldness and conflicting emotions. She could feel the warmth radiating from his palms through the fabric.However, Deirdre quickly regained her composure. They were not supposed to behave like this, or rather, they were not supposed to be so close to each other now."Let go of me!" she
"Killed?" Brendan's expression turned cold as he spoke. "If you consider your current condition as being killed, countless people will admire you for your ability to do so, right? But after all this time, have you not missed the child? Why are you only showing up now to see the child?"Deirdre finally lost her cool. She wished she could kill Brendan. How dare he mention the child in her presence at this point? She had never met the child since it was born, and afterward, she was almost poisoned to death. What was she supposed to do?Ignoring the hatred in Deirdre's eyes, Brendan furrowed his eyebrow. "It's fine if you loathe me, but you shouldn't have taken the child without informing me.""What did you say?" Deirdre managed to remain sensible despite her anger. "Please clarify your statement. What do you mean by me taking the child without informing you? What have I taken?"Brendan narrowed his eyes. "Didn't you take the child?""Have you lost your mind? I haven't even seen the c
"What else can you be other than shameless?" Deirdre seethed, turning her head away stubbornly. "I won't tell you where I live. Figure it out yourself if you can and drop me off at my residential area."Deirdre narrowed her eyes and added, "But I suggest you not do that because I don't live alone. I live with a hot-tempered man who doesn't appreciate me associating with outsiders. Besides, he doesn't work in Neve, so no one can protect you if he decides to confront you."Brendan was displeased with Deirdre's claims about living with another man and referring to him as an 'outsider'."Sterling?" he questioned, giving her a cautious glance.Brendan sneered. "Don't worry. I'm not interested in spying on you. I simply believe that the only man who still cares enough to be with you must be him and no one else."Deirdre spoke slowly. "We have had feelings for each other for a long time, and we got together after facing numerous hardships. I suppose we are fortunate in that way. It's all
"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