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
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
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