"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
Deirdre was momentarily stunned. She knew exactly who Brendan was referring to, which filled her with anger and amusement."Brendan, how can you be so heartless? How can you shamelessly bring the child up in front of me? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been forced to leave the child! There's no mother in the world who doesn't want to be with her child!"Brendan fell silent and started the car without saying another word.As they drove out of the underground parking lot, he finally spoke. "If you don't leave, even if you can't be the child's mother, I won't stop you from seeing the child. Deirdre, it was your choice to give up. You were the one who first walked away from this child."The sound of the wind rushing past filled the car as Deirdre's eyes filled with a mix of confusion and resentment.She found it absurd. Brendan still believed that she had left first, that she couldn't endure and had abandoned their child. But it was Emily who had drugged her! If she hadn't left
Deirdre momentarily froze upon hearing the question.After a moment, she replied calmly, "Sterry and I are currently focused on our careers. Marriage is not important to us at this stage of our relationship. Perhaps we will choose to get married when we have more free time or opt for a destination wedding."Brendan's forehead veins bulged."How can you do this to the child? Does the child know that you found it a father for no good reason?"Deirdre frowned and was about to argue, but in the next second, she sensed that something was wrong with the car's speed."What are you doing!?"Brendan tightly gripped the steering wheel, his usually calm face now showing urgency and a mix of emotions."Your car has been tampered with.""What?" Deirdre was startled for only a moment before she realized who the culprit could be."There's an issue with the brakes. They've likely been tampered with. They failed just now. Fortunately, I wasn't driving fast. Otherwise..."Brendan didn't finish
"Brendan!" Deirdre felt a chill run down her spine, but the car door on his side was deformed and couldn't be opened. She had no choice but to go to the passenger seat, squeeze in, and unfasten his seat belt."Are you crazy? Why didn't you say that your leg was stuck!?" Deirdre panicked.Why did the collision happen to impact the driver's side? It seemed too coincidental. Or did he... do it on purpose?Deirdre was confused. If it were the old Brendan, he would have sacrificed himself, but she didn't think the hypnotized Brendan would be so selfless. Moreover, the dent in the car would likely only cause minor injuries to her, but it could significantly impact Brendan."I'm fine." Brendan's voice remained unchanged. "Just my leg is stuck. I tried to pull it out, but it's a bit difficult."It was definitely more than just "a bit difficult".Deirdre was furious. "Is it really just your leg? Are you bleeding? Does it hurt? Do you feel any discomfort?"Brendan stared at her intensely
"Forget it."Deirdre was determined to find evidence. She couldn't just let it go that easily. The problem now was that Brendan wouldn't believe it even if she presented evidence.The two of them remained silent as they made their way to the hospital.Brendan had an X-ray of his leg taken, but fortunately, there were no muscle or bone injuries. However, due to the severity of the injury, he still needed to be hospitalized.Upon seeing the medical report, Deirdre breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Brendan, who was sitting on the bed. "I've already consulted with the doctor. It will take about a week before you can get out of bed and walk. I'll contact a nurse right away to take care of you.""Nurse?" Brendan immediately understood what she meant and narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean? Are you abandoning me?""What do you mean by 'abandon'?" Deirdre didn't want to entertain his question. "Brendan, we were both victims of a car accident, but only one of us was injured. Now, y
After Brendan picked up the phone, Emily spoke urgently. "Bren! Where are you? I heard from the security guard that you got into Deirdre's car. Are you okay?"Brendan's eyes darkened. "What could possibly happen to me? You're talking as if something terrible is going to happen. Do you already know that something will happen to me?"Emily remained silent for a moment, then quickly came up with an excuse. "I'm just worried that Deirdre might retaliate against you. She's so cruel to you, and she can be very unpredictable. I was afraid that she might conspire with others to harm you after you got into her car.""Whether she plans to harm me with others, I don't know. But her car was indeed tampered with.""Really?" Emily felt guilty. "Did anything happen after you got into her car?""There was a car accident, and I'm currently at the hospital.""How could this happen..." Emily bit her lower lip tightly. "Is it serious?""If it were serious, I wouldn't be able to talk to you now. How
"Okay, thanks. Got it."After the nurse left, Brendan continued to moan in pain. Deirdre felt a mix of worry and speechlessness. Just moments ago, he seemed fine when they were arguing about who was at fault. Why did Brendan's condition deteriorate as soon as she was about to leave?"The nurse mentioned that the pain is normal, and there's no way to alleviate it. I'll have to endure the discomfort," Brendan said softly. "Indeed, if I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have intentionally taken the hit to protect someone. Now that I'm in pain, that person is being heartless toward me."Deirdre was at a loss for words. This was going too far! She couldn't comprehend when Brendan had become so pretentious."What do you want me to do now?" Deirdre was troubled. "It's impossible for me to feel your pain on your behalf."Brendan looked up at her. "You can't experience the pain for me, but you can at least do something to distract me from it.""Do something… to distract you?" Deirdre was
Deirdre quickly understood his meaning, and her ears turned red. It turned out that Brendan wanted to go to the toilet… That made sense. It had been so long."How am I supposed to look for a man in the middle of the night? Not all the doctors on duty are free, and you are an adult man, so a man can't move you alone," Deirdre said, feeling a little guilty. "I'll help you go find the bedpan. You just have to make do with it."Brendan's brows furrowed. "You're asking me to use that kind of thing?""What's wrong with that kind of thing?" Deirdre was upset. "Your legs are already like this, so why do you still have a sense of superiority? You should be grateful that you can even use a bedpan."Brendan was at a loss for words. Why had this woman become so sassy after four years? Her words were all direct jabs at him."I can't get it up now."Deirdre was stunned for a moment, and then it suddenly dawned on her that Brendan was impotent now. So things were different now. He had to find t
"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