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
Ryker was overjoyed and quickly booked a flight to take Deirdre to Southedge.They arrived at a mansion that evening, and the housekeeper guided them to the courtyard. A middle-aged man with graying hair, dressed in a suit and leaning on a cane, eagerly came out from the hall.Arthur's eyes filled with intense emotions when he saw her. "You're Deirdre, right?" he asked in excitement, putting his cane aside to hug her.Deirdre felt uneasy and looked at Ryker for help.The housekeeper intervened, saying, "It's damp and cold. Miss just arrived from Neve. Standing outside could make her sick."Arthur agreed, releasing Deirdre and urging her inside. "Come in quickly, Deirdre. I want to see you well."Inside, Arthur noticed Ryker. "And who's this?"Ryker introduced himself, "I'm Deirdre's boyfriend, Ryker Wight."Arthur's face showed a hint of displeasure at the word "boyfriend." He sensed Ryker's calculated nature but had to accept Deirdre's choice. He nodded."This is my first tim
Arthur summoned some energy and said, "After your long journey, you must be tired. Let the housekeeper guide you to your room to rest. We can talk more tomorrow.""Okay," Deirdre rose. "Thanks."Arthur hesitated, feeling the unfamiliar politeness from his biological child, but he understood."No need for such formality, Deirdre. These are my responsibilities."As the housekeeper led Deirdre across the courtyard, they met Ryker, who was returning from the garden."Hello, Deirdre." Ryker's smile was soft. Their relationship had grown quickly in the past few days. Deirdre had come to rely on him.Seeing Ryker eased some of Deirdre's unease, and she hurried over to hug him.Ryker patted her back gently. "What's troubling you? Are you getting along with Mr. Parker?"Deirdre closed her eyes. "It's just... it hurts. If only my mother were alive. Accepting my father now feels like I'm betraying her."Ryker held her, comforting, "Your parents were separated by force. They loved each ot
Suddenly, Ryker collapsed without warning, losing consciousness.Deirdre clutched her collar, her heart racing. Thankfully, when Ryker awoke the next morning, he would only remember they had slept together.Gently pushing Ryker's arm away, Deirdre slipped out of bed cautiously. Ryker's room was next door, so his luggage should be there. With this chance, she decided to search through his belongings.With a plan, Deirdre opened the room door. The courtyard outside was calm. Barefoot, she entered Ryker's room quietly. Just as she stepped in, someone pressed her to the wall.The movement caught her off guard. Shocked, she recognized a familiar scent. His face...Deirdre's mind went blank. The man leaned in, his lips capturing hers forcefully. She snapped out, shoving Brendan away and slapping him hard."You j*rk!" Her anger brought tears. "You heartless j*rk!"Did he know how agonizing these past four years had been?Brendan let her vent, then he held her wrist and kissed the back
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