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
"Alright, get in the car."The assistant went to open the door to the driver's seat, and Ryker followed him. As the door swung open, Ryker's gaze kept shifting toward Brendan.After the door closed, Ryker stepped back and smiled. "Mr. Brighthall, take care. I'm afraid I haven't been a good host this time. Next time you plan to visit, please let me know beforehand. We'll prepare everything for you, Mr. Brighthall."Brendan nodded slightly, and the car swiftly pulled away.The people behind Ryker didn't seem pleased, judging by their expressions."Mr. Wight, are you really going to let him off the hook? Isn't it suspicious that Ms. McKinnon vanished right after he left the room? I'm nearly certain she hides somewhere in the car!""Where's the evidence?" Ryker narrowed his eyes and watched the car go away.The group exchanged glances, but Ryker actually smiled."Brendan, oh Brendan, Deirdre is your Achilles' heel after all... After acting dumb for so many years, you finally lost y
Brendan's face turned paler as the car swerved off course. Deirdre looked around and realized they were heading toward her neighborhood."Brendan, what's happening?" Deirdre felt confused. "You said you'd take me to get the child. Why are we back here?"The car stopped by Deirdre's house, and Brendan's voice turned cold. "I can't take you to see him right now."Deirdre clenched her teeth upon hearing this. "You liar!"Brendan's expression remained unchanged. "I won't let you see the child unless you listen. Once you agree not to meet Ryker, I'll arrange a meeting."Deirdre's anger flared. "Is blackmail the only way you handle things?"Brendan rubbed his forehead impatiently. "Just get out!"Deirdre angrily slammed the door and stormed out. Brendan took a brief moment, then softly instructed, "Drive."The assistant started the car, and surprisingly, the opposite door swiftly swung open.A four-year-old stepped out, wearing pajamas. His eyes gleamed with clarity, and his face li
Deirdre's face showed a mix of feelings, but more important things needed attention."Let's head to the bedroom first," Sterling agreed, understanding the seriousness.Inside the bedroom, Sterling wasted no time firing questions. "How did you escape? Are you okay? Why did Ryker want you there?"Deirdre felt both amused and exasperated, "You're asking a lot, Sterry. It's hard to know where to begin."Rubbing his forehead, Sterling admitted, "I'm really concerned for you."Deirdre nodded. "No need to worry. I got out safely. Brendan showed up and got me out.""Brendan?" Sterling looked shocked. "Why was he there? And why did he rescue you?""He happened to be there, probably for the hot spring's therapeutic effects. He saved me because he thought Ryker was dangerous."Sterling's expression turned complicated. "But aren't they allies? Would he truly betray Ryker for you?"Deirdre shook her head, "I'm not sure. Brendan trusts Emily, not Ryker. He's suspicious of him. But now's not
Sterling frowned, his gaze fixed on Deirdre. "Analyzing the pastry won't change much. Can you really pretend to like him and stay with him?"Taking a deep breath, Deirdre replied, "Brendan's mother died because of this incident, and he was manipulated by others. I can't stay idle. The enemy is in the dark, and we are in the open. If I don't take the risk, do I have to wait another four years?"Seeing Deirdre's determination, Sterling sighed, battling his own thoughts."Alright," he conceded. "Give me two days, and I'll uncover the truth."Deirdre's face lit up with gratitude, and she revealed a faint smile. "Thank you. I won't let this opportunity slip away."Sterling hurried to the lab, and Deirdre returned to her room, cooling off under a shower. While she was lost in thought, her phone suddenly rang. Her heart raced as she answered, expecting Ryker's call, but it was Brendan."Let's get to the point. If Ryker asks how you left the hot spring resort, tell him I abducted you and
Ryker impatiently tapped the table. "Four years! I trusted you to watch over Brendan, but you turned out even worse than Deirdre."Emily trembled, her thoughts in chaos. "I never thought Brendan's actions were all an act. It's confusing. Could it be? Did Deirdre manipulate Brendan to make us think he didn't lose his memory?"Ryker slapped her across the face. Her face turned hot, and tears welled up in her eyes, a mix of pain and embarrassment. She stumbled backward, but before her anger could take over, she was silenced by Ryker's inhuman expression. Her throat constricted, and she remained seated stiffly on the ground."Don't be naive. What could Deirdre use against Brendan? He's not easily manipulated," Ryker was enraged by Brendan's deceit over four years.He squatted, gripping Emily's jaw. "You know the box's contents. This time, there is no room for failure. Don't disappoint me."-Night had fallen.Emily flicked on the light, stirring the nanny awake from her nap on the s
Bredan remained calm as he picked up the syringe from the ground. Emily instinctively lunged toward Brendan, trying to snatch it away, but Brendan quickly evaded."There probably isn't anything good in here. Injecting this into you wouldn't be pleasant," he remarked casually."Ryker will contact me! This drug, once injected, turns people into idiots. If I become like that, do you think you can escape?" Emily threatened, an intuitive response to suppress her fear.Brendan dismissed Emily's threat with indifference. He simply wasn't interested in such a trick. If Emily were to become a fool, how could he make her suffer?He tossed the syringe into the trash can. "Rest assured. I won't use such cruel tricks on you. Injecting this substance is far less intriguing than other means," he promised.When he discarded the syringe, Emily initially breathed a sigh of relief, but her face turned wary the moment she heard his words."W-What do you mean?""After four years, the effects of th
Deirdre lowered her eyes to the pastry before her. She picked it up and took a bite. The sweet and rich flavor silenced her. She savored it, not speaking until it was gone.Ryker's gaze remained mysterious, his intentions unclear.Deirdre looked up again. "The pastry tastes familiar, but that doesn't mean everything you said is true. Claims like my father being alive and my mother coming from Southedge are just theories without proof."Ryker seemed ready for her response. He opened his briefcase and took out a photo.Deirdre glanced at it, shocked by the face. She held onto the photo tightly."Recognize him?" Ryker asked with excitement. "You share similarities with your mother, but in looks and personality, you strongly resemble your biological father.""Why... Why hasn't he found me and my mother if he's alive?" Deirdre muttered."Because he was about to marry a prominent heiress who matched his status back then. And now, he holds a high position, making it difficult for him 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