Deirdre's trembling arms held onto Tilly tightly, but she quickly regained her composure, though disappointment still filled her eyes.She had cut off all attachments five years ago, so why did Brendan's words still pierce her heart?Perhaps Deirdre had hoped that Brendan could regain some sanity deep down, but now she realized he was beyond redemption."You're right. It was my fault for allowing myself to be imprisoned. I was foolish, holding onto hope for certain people. But over these past four years, I've come to understand that some people aren't worth expecting anything from. Rest assured. I won't be so foolish in the future."Her words carried immense weight, especially the promise she made at the end.Brendan furrowed his brow, his face turning pale. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he gnashed his teeth and swallowed his words."When did it happen?" He stared fixedly at Tilly.What pained him was that Tilly bore a slight resemblance to Deirdre. If Tilly was he
"Is it because I haven't allowed them to meet? Or is it that you haven't given me that right?" Brendan stared at Deirdre intently. "Retrieve my phone number, and I'll arrange a meeting for you."Sterling looked concerned and frowned. "Deirdre..."Taking a deep breath, Deirdre replied, "No need, Mr. Brighthall."Brendan narrowed his eyes.Deirdre continued. "I want to see my child, and I will do so through legal channels. I don't need your assistance. Besides, this is my own affair. Please don't trouble yourself, Mr. Brighthall."Brendan fell silent.A heavy atmosphere settled in. Brendan's face turned pale as he asked Deirdre, "So, you would choose this relationship over our child?"Deirdre struggled to remain composed as she looked at the little girl in her arms. "I already have my own child.""Fine!" Brendan laughed bitterly. "Deirdre McKinnon, don't regret your decision! Go back!"His assistant promptly pushed him into the car, and the door closed heavily before the car swi
Sean had had to hide, so he had taken the opportunity to slip away while Deirdre got out of the car.Luckily, Brendan hadn't noticed him in the end.Sean lowered his head, his eyelashes trembling, and pursed his lips, implying something."Did you go to the restroom?" Deirdre asked cautiously.Sean nodded, and Deirdre let out a sigh of relief, hugging him."Next time, don't wander off, or your parents..." Deirdre looked at him affectionately. "Your parents will worry about you."Sean's feelings toward Deirdre's genuine affection were complex. In his heart, he was also grateful that he had changed the strand of hair. From now on, he should be considered Deirdre's child.Although the method was despicable, he swore to treat her with the utmost respect!Deirdre had no idea what Sean was thinking. She patted his shoulder and let him back into the car.Tilly sat in the child seat, still holding back tears from Brendan's intimidation.Sean blinked, confused, as he looked at Deirdre.
The assistant's determination grew stronger. It became evident that Emily still consumed Brendan's thoughts. Despite Deirdre's beauty and excellence, no matter how radiant she appeared, it couldn't compare to the love he had for Emily. The past could never surpass the present."Brendan, where are you? When I went to the hospital, I discovered that you had already been discharged. Why didn't you inform me immediately?" Emily's tone was gentle, but her eyes displayed caution as if facing a formidable foe. She feared that Brendan had gone to find Deirdre."There was an unexpected matter in the company that the other directors couldn't handle. Since I have almost fully recovered, I decided to leave the hospital and go to the office," Brendan replied calmly."I see." Emily seemed relieved, thinking the explanation was reasonable. She calmed down and playfully complained, "You finally get a few days of rest, yet you're still busy with work. It's not good for your health.""I'm resting we
"Brendan, I understand the pain in your heart. Sean is your child and also mine. I've raised him, and I'm deeply saddened when he goes missing. However, we need to move forward. If Sean doesn't come back... are you fine with us not even having a successor in the future?" Emily asked.Brendan's expression turned cold. "Emily, please don't make this kind of joke again. Sean is going to come home."Emily gnashed her teeth and rephrased her words, saying, "I know that he is going to come home, of course. What I'm saying is that it's not a bad idea to let Sean have a younger brother or sister, right?"Moreover, I really want to have a child of my own, Brendan. You can call me selfish or accuse me of going back on my own word, but I hope you can fulfill my wish. I'm worried that I won't be able to make this wish come true if I wait a little longer and age a bit further."Emily lowered herself to him, her beautiful face filled with anticipation.Brendan looked at her face and felt his he
"Hmm." Deirdre tightly clutched the phone. "He insisted I should go alone earlier. I'm afraid he won't agree if you join us."Sterling interjected. "However, Emily learned hypnosis from him. There's no guarantee he won't do something to you.""It'll be fine," Deirdre replied after a moment of silence. "How can we achieve great things without facing risks and challenges? Besides, he seems to have something important to discuss with me, so he won't let me lose consciousness. And don't forget about our plan."Soon, Ryker sent the address.Deirdre showed the address to Sterling, who then drove them there using GPS.They discovered the location was quite a distance from them, definitely not in the city center. It turned out to be a hot spring resort. Upon arrival, they encountered security guards preventing cars without reservations from entering.A staff member approached and said, "I'm sorry, sir and ma'am. We only allow entrance for those with a reservation. Please tell me your nam
‘Memories that are… long forgotten?’Deirdre gazed contemplatively as Ryker hastily left the room. She carefully wrapped up a dessert and hid it in her bag.The door swung open again just three minutes after Ryker's departure.Deirdre was surprised. "Mr. Wight, you're back—"But as she looked up, her voice trailed off. She was in disbelief, her pupils slightly constricting."Brendan? What brought you here?"Brendan appeared in a wheelchair. He was wearing a white suit that accentuated his tall, muscular physique. His handsome face was furrowed, and he exuded a commanding presence."I should be asking you that. What brought you here?" he questioned, thinking he might be mistaken when he saw Deirdre entering the place. He didn't expect her to be so bold.Deirdre regained her composure. "I'm here to meet a friend.""A friend?" Brendan narrowed his eyes. "You mean Ryker? Is he your friend?"You've been abroad for years, so how did you get so close to him?"Deirdre furrowed her e
Brendan displayed an uncanny familiarity with the pathways as if he owned the entire resort.In the blink of an eye, they went from the midway point of the mountain to where a modified Maybach was parked.Brendan lowered his head. "Can you give me a hand?" he asked.Deirdre pursed her lips but helped him into the car anyway, for the sake of the child. She couldn't help but notice the faint medicinal scent on his body, which mingled with the smell of the hot springs.Brendan continued, oblivious to her curiosity. "I've already called the driver. He'll be here shortly. You can get in the car, too."As Deirdre settled into the car, she couldn't resist asking, "Are you feeling... unwell?"Brendan's gaze pierced hers with a sharpness that seemed to probe into her soul.Deirdre patted the seat beside her, only then realizing how narrow the car was."You're concerned about me?" Brendan asked, his eyes narrowing in surprise.Deirdre blushed. "You're overthinking things. It's just that
"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