"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
Deirdre's phone rang while the two doctors attended to Brendan. It was Sterling calling.Deirdre hesitated before answering and heard Sterling's concerned voice on the other end. "Dee, what's going on? Did something happen to you on the way? Why haven't you returned for so long?"Accompanying his words was the sound of a little girl crying, which tugged at Deirdre's heart."I'm sorry, Sterry..." She glanced back at the bathroom. "Something unexpected came up. I... was in a car accident.""A car accident!"Sterling sounded surprised, and Deirdre hurriedly reassured him. "Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just that the other person involved is in the hospital, so I need to handle things.""Are they giving you a hard time? Why didn't you call me earlier and let me take care of it?"Deirdre was troubled. If Sterling got involved, the situation would escalate."It's a minor matter. I can handle it myself, and I'll be back soon. Just wait for me at home."As she uttered the second part of
[Are you free?]The person on the other end quickly responded: [Yes, what's the matter?]Deirdre: [If you have time, help me find out the name and gender of Brendan's child. I need this information.]The other party responded with an "Ok" emoticon. Deirdre put down the phone, her eyes filled with confusion.When she was in Germia before, it wasn't that she didn't want to know about the child's situation. But since she was already suffering enough, knowing about the child would only bring more pain. As such, she had tried to avoid confronting that pain as much as possible.That's why she had waited until now. After returning to Neve, she planned to get in touch with the child. However, Brendan had unexpectedly claimed that the child was missing. She had no way of knowing if it was true or if Brendan was using this as a tactic to prevent her from getting the child back.Regardless, she needed to confirm the child's situation. She looked at the thin writing on the whiteboard, lost i
"Tilly is good girl! It rang!""It rang?" Deirdre glanced at the cell phone Tilly had thrown on the bed and froze for a second. The number on the screen was etched in her memory—it was Brendan's number, a number she hadn't forgotten even after losing her vision. For four years, Brendan hadn't changed his number."Mommy?" Tilly tilted her head.Deirdre composed herself, picked up her phone, and said, "Brendan? Why did you call me?"Brendan clenched his fists. "The kid..."He took a deep breath and asked, "Who is the kid answering the phone?"Deirdre pursed her lips. She hadn't wanted Brendan to find out about Tilly, but now that he knew, she couldn't hide it any longer."It's none of your business," Deirdre replied, her voice cold. "These are my family matters and personal affairs. They have nothing to do with you, and I have no reason to explain anything to you.""It's none of my business?" Brendan held his breath, trying to remain calm. "No, you can't have a child. She must be
Deirdre's entire body froze as she glanced at the drawing on the paper.The artwork depicted a mother holding a boy's hand, capturing the mother's tenderness and the child's longing despite its simplicity.A sudden tightness gripped Deirdre's heart. 'Could this be a tribute to his mother?'As Sean heard the noise, he looked up and quickly hid his drawing, his face filled with embarrassment.Deirdre tried to regain her composure, but her mind was in turmoil.Just yesterday evening, she had started suspecting that Sean might be her child with Brendan, and now she saw him drawing a picture in memory of his mother. How could she not read into it?It was only when the little girl touched her face with her hand that Deirdre managed to compose herself.Deirdre took a deep breath, crouching down with a forced calm smile. "Steve, if I'm not mistaken, the person in your painting is your mother, right? You miss her very much?"Sean pursed his lips and silently nodded.Suppressing her emo
Deirdre anxiously waited for two days, but the outcome was unexpected."We have thoroughly investigated, but there is no information about that child. Brendan has concealed him very carefully. So far, no one has been able to uncover anything. I'm sorry," the investigator explained."How can this be?" Deirdre couldn't believe it. She knew Brendan was discreet, but she never imagined he could hide the child so well."Is there really no way at all?" She frowned. "He told me the child had disappeared. How can he keep all the information hidden... or is he lying to me?""It's highly likely that he's lying," the investigator dismissed it. "After all, he is a ruthless business elite skilled in deception."Deirdre's head throbbed.The investigator added, "If you decide to take legal action against Brendan to fight for custody, your chances of winning are not high. However, there might be an opportunity for you to see the child.""No," Deirdre declined. "I have never met the child before
Could such coincidences really happen in the world? Had he truly returned? Right there, by her side?Deirdre's heart raced.She took a strand of hair from Sean and left the room.Then, she took a strand of her own hair and carefully placed it on the bedside table before she went to sleep.After a while, the door was gently pushed open.Sean poked his little head in, his beautiful face filled with conflict.He knew it wasn't right, but it was the only way... The only way! Only by doing this could he become Deirdre's child!Then, he wouldn't be an orphan anymore. He would have a mother.After making up his mind, he walked barefoot to the bedside table where two bundles of hair were placed—one short and one long. The short one was his, and the long one belonged to Deirdre.He opened his palm, revealing a delicate, wavy lock of hair.It was taken from Tilly's pillow.He quickly exchanged his own hair with the little girl's and returned to his room.Back in his room, his heart p
"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