“I… I have nothing else to say.” The corner of her lips twitched, and she felt bitterness in her chest. “Do you have nothing else to say, or are you incapable of keeping up your lowly lie because you’ve been caught?” Brendan asked closely. “Speak! Who told you that Ophelia died the other day?”‘Since it was not Charlene, it must have been someone else. On the other hand, that person keeps finding ways to circumvent the surveillance devices just to meet Deirdre and make her waver…’An idea occurred to Brendan unexpectedly. He looked at Deirdre with his icy gaze, got up, and grabbed her shoulder. “It was Sterling, right? Is he back to stirring trouble on purpose?”“What are you talking about?” Deirdre’s face was furrowed in agony. “How is this related to Sterling?”“If it wasn’t him, why would you be covering up for that person by blaming Charlene?”The more Brendan thought about it, the more sense it made. ‘Sterling is living in another city, so he could still slip into the city
Her unfocused eyes widened in surprise and joy. ‘The police are actually at the door, mentioning Ophelia’s name. Could this have been arranged by Brendan? Is he taking me to meet Ophelia?’Deirdre’s smile grew wider without her noticing, and she took a step forward. “Are you the police? Is my mother here? Where is she?”“Ms. McKinnon!” Sam’s expression changed drastically, and his hand, which was clutching Deirdre’s shoulder, shook once without him noticing. He pulled her back strongly and said, “You should go inside!”Deirdre’s smile was half-frozen on her face, and she refused to leave stubbornly. “What’s going on? Sam, it’s not easy for me to acquire information related to my mother. This is a good thing. Why are you asking me to leave?”Sam could not explain why, but he could feel that something really bad was about to happen. Especially since the matter involved Ophelia. Deirdre had attempted to commit suicide because of Ophelia, and the police was suddenly visiting her less
Sam picked up the letter from the floor, and the sight of the writer’s name signed at the bottom made him stop breathing. The letter appeared to be old, and not in a fake way. It really was the letter left by Ophelia when she had still been alive. He looked at Deirdre, who was standing in front of him. The woman had stopped moving as soon as the police officer had left and was now dangling from the gate just like before without moving. The jacket had already fallen to the ground during her struggle, and the back of her figure looked emaciated. The sight of her made pity fill his heart. “Ms. McKinnon…” Sam felt uneasy deep down and spoke in an exploratory manner. Deirdre slid down from the gate abruptly, her unfocused eyes bloodshot. She shook her head desperately and chanted, “It’s fake… It must be fake! My mother is obviously still alive and well. I heard the voice clip of her saying she missed me. How could someone like her possibly have committed suicide a year ago? This mus
Brendan’s sharp brows were tightly furrowed. He was about to speak when Deirdre said, “But I know that he was just a fake cop. Apart from the fact that he suddenly found the villa’s location for no apparent reason today, he talked about almost the same things as that person the other day.”“What?” Brendan sounded alarmed. “What did he say?”“He claimed that my mother Ophelia died a year ago after jumping off a building.”Brendan’s entire body tensed up as soon as he heard the remark. “Those people are all talking nonsense!”“Hmm, I know,” Deirdre said. “I believe that you wouldn’t lie to me.”Brendan fell silent once again. After a long silence, he asked, “What’s that letter on the table?”He had come in such a rush that Sam had not managed to brief him on all the details. Deirdre was stunned for a moment before she answered, “It’s just a letter. It’s nothing important.”The letter had come out of nowhere, so Brendan refused to believe that it was as unimportant as Deirdre h
The letter was positively crawling with wishes and hopes for Deirdre, and only a few lines described the mother’s own state of affairs. She had clearly believed this was just another of many letters she would pen for her daughter in the future—she had thought she would get to write again. She had not known, at the time, that she was writing the last letter she would pen in her life. Brendan’s chest tightened. He had just destroyed one of the most priceless things in the world… with his own hands. If Deirdre knew…She would go mad. He immediately called someone in to restore the letter.Deirdre returned to her room shortly after he left. She instinctively got down on all fours, her hands grazing across the floor to feel for the pieces. To her disappointment, she could not find a single piece, even though she was sure Brendan had scattered it like confetti.“Miss McKinnon, what are you looking for?” Sam asked.“Can you help me look, please?” Deirdre replied with a request. “Are
“Dr. Ginger’s suggestion,” Deirdre replied flatly. She let the coat hang on her shoulders. “He said a shut-in lifestyle wouldn’t help my recovery either, so he told me to go outside and immerse myself in the elements for a bit.”“I don’t think your sorry excuse of an outdoor getup was part of the suggestion, was it? How will you see Ophelia if you catch a cold?”There was a plop as her gardening shears fell to the ground. Deirdre looked at Brendan in disbelief, her tool forgotten, her lifeless eyes quivering in their sockets. “What did you say?” Her voice was trembling. “I said...” Brendan repeated himself with emphatic enunciation. “Ophelia is ready to return. She’ll be with us in ten days.”This meant more than the world to her. Her eyes reddened instantly, and she clawed at Brendan’s collar—despite already suppressing most of her violent excitement—and blabbered, “D-Don’t you dare do this to me, Brendan! Don’t! Don’t g-give me hope…”Brendan fixed a strangely unyielding star
“The truth behind our…?” Brendan’s ire was palpable. “What’s that supposed to be?”Deirdre panicked a little. He knew exactly what she meant and had asked her this question anyway. How was she supposed to answer that?Brendan closed his fingers around her wrist as his handsome face loomed close to her own. “We. Are. Husband. And. Wife, Deirdre McKinnon,” he stated, prolonging each word. “You should remember that. I’m not some polyamorous man loving a harem of women. All you have to do is stay in your lane and stop trying to harm Lena—and I swear, you’ll always have a shelter in me. “It’s not impossible for us… to go back to how it used to be.”Brendan stiffened. Had he really said that? Why would he say that? Was this his deepest wish after all? To go back to that time?Deirdre was so taken aback that she could not even reel out of her own shock. His voice—his request—reverberated within her brain like a cursed echo. What was the point of telling her this? Was he trying to expl
Brendan would admit that he was feeling up, but he absolutely did not appreciate seeing her initial reaction to his arrival. It was as if she was accusing him of being nothing but a sex-starved animal!“I came here to rest, Deirdre.”“Rest?”“Yes. Rest,” he replied slowly. “Look, it will be very easy for Ophelia to see through our current facade. You’re repulsed by me, and that’s so obvious even I could tell. The good news is, we’ve got 10 days to slowly phase into some semblance of intimacy. It’ll look natural in the end.”Deirdre’s face turned pale. Brendan, sensing a revolt, changed tactics. “If you object to it, fine by me.”Object? Deirdre felt the wind get knocked out of her. Her real intention was obvious, but this was not optional for her. She had to please him, not just for Ophelia’s sake, but because she knew Brendan very well. This was the man who would do anything—noble or ignoble—to get what he wanted. Nothing she could say or do would change that. She would rather
"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