“Saved me?” Brendan’s glare was grim. The words had taken an absurd quality the moment he had heard them escape Deirdre’s lips. “You saved me? When, might I ask?”Deirdre pressed her lips shut in despair. He snickered. “You can’t even save yourself!” he sneered. “For the love of God, don’t ever say something that cringeworthy again. People around you are gonna feel embarrassed on your behalf!”He let Deirdre go. Now that his booze-addled frustration had found an outlet, there was no reason for him to stay.She lowered her trembling eyelids. In the darkness, she dreamed of a blurry visage. A child. She had hoped that, should reincarnation be true, it would become her child again, and she would pay the debt she owed. But now, she wondered if it was just a pipe dream after all.Sam came to visit her the next morning. He noticed the mess, Deirdre’s unmissable fatigue as she lay on her bed, and the telltale signs on her neck and collarbones. It was easy to tell what had happened last
Deirdre was in a daze. They were going to see Brendan’s parents at the old Brighthall mansion? Well. Their relationship was progressing swimmingly, was it not? Was that why Brendan could not imagine how wicked Charlene really was?She snickered self-deprecatingly. “Let’s go back to the mansion.”She doubted that man would skip going to the mansion tonight. Sam heeded her order, and the car was on its way. Deirdre marched inside when they arrived and took a seat on the living room couch. The long wait began.The boredom of waiting could be mind-numbing, Sam knew, so he turned the TV on. The first thing that leaped onto the screen were images of Brendan and Charlene shopping for goodies. Then came the speculations of media talking heads and celebrity gossipers. “The dashing, young CEO of Brighthall Group has been in a very stable relationship with the same young woman for two years, and now, they were caught on a shopping trip together. Is this a sign of a very specific celebrat
Brendan narrowed his eyes as his gaze swept past the woman near the couch. He had never noticed it when she was in his arms, but now, it became impossible to miss—she was almost emaciated after a week. He could see her collarbones heaving in and out just from her effort to breathe. It pissed him off for some reason. “Ignore her. For all intents and purposes, she’s invisible,” he scoffed with characteristic callousness and disdain without reservation. He leaned close to Charlene, his lips inches away from her ears, and added, “Come to my room. Our relationship will be official after tonight...”He did not say it aloud, but it was enough to let everyone in the living room hear it. Deirdre felt a sting in her chest, but it was nothing compared to the biting frost in her heart. She was hardly surprised, though. In fact, she wanted to laugh. Just a few days ago, Brendan had demanded that she bear him a child—and now, after the revelation of her infertility, she had lost her purpose
Deirdre knew what he really meant: a chance to create doubt against his conclusions. Brendan turned on his heel and marched up the stairs while she clambered a little at his force. Gritting her teeth, she finally snapped, “So you’re not interested in the truth behind Bliss’ death! You don’t give a sh*t even if what I’m about to say concerns Charlene! Is that it?!”Just as she had expected, the bastard stopped dead in his tracks. Deirdre was this close to laughing aloud at his absurdity. Brendan’s brows were furrowed. He was practically glowering when he shot daggers at her. “What did you just say?”Deirdre enunciated her every word as she announced, “The homeless man who killed Bliss was controlled by the woman standing right next to you!”Charlene stared at Deirdre in shock, but her bewilderment did little to conceal her scorn. Repeating the same things over and over again, despite seeing no result, had to be the definition of idiocy, right? She could not believe this b*tch w
She directed her attack back at Deirdre with a voice tight with tears. “What the hell did I do to you, Miss McKinnon?! Why are you doing this to me?! If it’s because you love Bren—if it’s because you want to snatch him away from me, then at least fight me fair and square instead of employing all these disgusting schemes to persecute me!”In the past, this used to be the sort of trigger that would kick Brendan’s rage straight to the boiling point. He would have immediately booted Deirdre out of the door right there and then. And yet, today, the man simply stood a step away from her, leveling his eyes at hers without a word. There were signs of conflict in his eyes. There was doubt.Charlene grimaced. The gnawing panic inside her mind had grown to a chomp. “W-What’s wrong, Bren?”He handed the document to her. “See for yourself.”She almost snatched it out of his hand in her franticness. As she read, all the color was drained out of her face. Brendan’s voice, cold and commanding, c
“These are all excuses! Regardless of how badly Miss McKinnon had been treating me, there was no reason for you to harm her!” Charlene’s eyes turned redder as she added, “It’s my own business if she treated me badly. And one day, she’d understand that I’ve had no ill intentions toward her. Now that you have done this to her, how am I supposed to stand firm before her?”“I’m sorry, Miss McKinney!” Greenlee apologized guiltily. “I promise I won’t do it again. I won’t do it again, I promise!”“It’s useless for you to tell me now. The harm you’ve done to me and Miss McKinnon has been done! I’m so disappointed in you…” Charlene was heartbroken. She had victimized herself with just a few words. Following that, she turned to Brendan and choked. “I’m sorry Bren, it’s my fault. I didn’t know that she really had done this kind of thing. I’m sorry for Miss McKinnon. Please punish me. Otherwise, I’ll keep fidgeting…”Brendan frowned, but his tone was softer than ever. "This had nothing to do wi
Charlene no longer expected anything else to happen tonight. She bit her lip and left. However, as she was leaving, her eyes were filled with intense hatred.Damn Deirdre! Deirdre had not only spoiled her good deed, but she had also almost made Brendan doubt her. Charlene was determined not to forgive this b*tch!After Charlene left, the huge room instantly looked empty. Brendan strode away, and when he took two steps down the stairs, Deirdre gritted her teeth and said, “You knew it. You knew that Charlene was related to this matter.”Brendan stopped moving.His frigid face was full of complicated feelings, and his brows were furrowed. He turned and locked eyes with Deirdre. “What do you want to say?”“It’s simple.” Deirdre gritted her teeth. “Are you protecting Charlene just because you love her? Just because she is the one in your heart, you can turn a blind eye even if others are hurt?!”Brendan remained silent for two seconds before he replied with a frown. “What do you want
Brendan dialed the phone number, and when the call was connected, he passed the phone to Deirdre.The doctor sounded very stable as he said, “Miss McKinnon, I understand how eager you are to see your mother. However, because your mother’s heart issue is at a critical junction, it’s not advisable for her to see you. If meeting you affects her emotions, our hard work all this while will be in vain.”“T-Then...” Deirdre asked while biting her lip, “When can I see my mother?”“It won’t take long, Miss McKinnon. Provided that her situation gets better, probably in about a few months. It’d be good for you to see your mother.”“Alright.”After ending the phone call, Deirdre was still in a daze. She had to wait for several months. When every moment of her life was like a year, could she really survive through a few months?Looking at Deirdre's bewildered expression, Brendan couldn't help raising his hand, wanting to stroke the messy hair on her forehead. But before he could touch her hea
"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