“Here, eat some eggs. You need protein.”Deirdre stopped moving her spoon slightly. Brendan caught the change instantly. “What is it?”“Nothing.” She cast her eyes down on her food, looking a little hesitant, before drawing the egg close to her lips. Sam snatched the spoon away from her, alarmed. “Miss McKinnon, no! Don’t you remember what the doctor said? No eggs two hours after taking your meds!”“What the…?” Brendan’s eyebrows were furrowed dangerously. Incredulity swirled behind his eyes as he scanned her face. “Why didn’t you say anything?!”Deirdre shrugged. “It was just not important.”“N-Not important?! You mean severe nausea is fine? Gastric pain is fine? Cold sweat and pain are fine?!” Even Sam was growing exasperated. “Or did you forget what happened the last time you ate a teensy bit of egg? Is that why you were gonna stuff yourself that much just now?!”His snippy retort made Deirdre choke on her reply. Brendan’s face, erstwhile pale in shock, turned redder and r
Brendan knew she was only compliant for Ophelia’s sake, but the result alone was satisfactory. He asked for a digestion pill and pushed it into Deirdre’s mouth. He checked the watch on his wrist. It was almost time. “Time to go.” He wrapped Deirdre in a coat and led her outside. Sam was about to follow too, but Brendan stopped him. “You’ll be staying at home today. Deirdre and I have some private business to attend to.”Dr. Ginger waited for the two of them to leave before ambling close to Sam and leaning on the bodyguard’s shoulder. He had a cheeky grin on his face. “Do you ever read the room, lad? Can’t you tell that these two are going on a date?” “A date?” Sam frowned. “No way.”“Why not?” Unlike him, Dr. Ginger knew precious little about the couple's messy history. Still, as he shook the hand towel clean, he pointed out, “Mr. Brighthall and Miss McKinnon’s relationship might be, uh-hem, complicated. But it’s obvious that their hearts are bound to each other. Misunderstandi
Deirdre wanted to return to the familiar sanctuary of his car, but Brendan threw his arms around her waist from behind, stopping her. She suddenly felt deeply defeated. His hands inched slowly to her own until, finally, he was holding them. “Then let me bridge that gap for you today. Let me be your eyes! You can’t see anything while on a Ferris wheel, so I’ll describe it all for you. You won’t be able to see the world blurring as you ride a roller-coaster, but you could still feel it—the climb, the plunge, the roll, the turn, the thrill. Just because you’ve lost your eyes, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost the hope to live, Deirdre. Please… trust me.”‘Trust me.’It was a soft request, but somehow, it deafened the sea of cheers and joy around her. Her thoughts unraveled at the sound of it. Brendan led her slowly inside, one step at a time. The amusement park was one of his many investments, but he forewent any priority privilege he should have had and joined the line as patiently as
“You’ve got nothing to worry about then.” Deirdre said, her eyes downcast. “I’m not his girlfriend. His lover is someone else.”“I f*cking knew it!” The woman cried. Her eyes twinkled in joy as she considered Deirdre. The more she examined her, the sorrier Deirdre looked in her eyes. “Jesus, how the hell did you even get someone as hot as him to be your amusement park partner? Oh, wait. I think I know—he pities you, right? Must be tough, growing up with that sort of face and being blind at the same time. So he brought you here to grant your wish out of charity!”Charity? Deirdre froze. The woman saw her, thought it must be a gotcha moment, and beamed. “I got it all right, didn’t I? You thought the same, didn't you? Why else would a man this perfect even want to hang around?”While she was busy putting Deirdre down, Brendan reappeared. He stared at the woman next to Deirdre and frowned. “What’s wrong?”Deirdre shook her head. “Nothing.”He looked at the woman pointedly. “Who’s th
Failing to answer her own question, Deirdre laughed mirthlessly to herself. “Don’t tell me this is all about atonement, Brendan. You never opened yourself up to me over the course of our two years together, but even I know you’re not the type to suffer through anything in the name of atonement.”The real Brendan Brighthall would always use money to get out of things—even his own moral failings and irreparable wrongs. He would never care to use any other method. Why would he? Why squander his precious time and effort?Brendan was nonplussed. Even he did not know why. Was it because he did not want Deirdre to lose that one last hope she clung to? That one last thing that stopped her from stepping over another ledge? Was it because he could not bear the thought of her hating him? Was it because he would not be able to stomach seeing Deirdre writhing in hellish anguish after discovering her mother’s death?It was all of that. That was why he had to make Deirdre fall in love with him
“No, I want something longer.” Brendan insisted with a frown, obviously not taking no for an answer. He came up with a hasty excuse too. “She might catch a cold if it’s too short.”Deirdre almost never stepped out of the house, but still… He was far from the only man at home. What about Dr. Ginger? Sam? They were around her all the time. This dress would leave her legs exposed and he really, really hated how that imagery made him feel. Laia let out an awkward chuckle. “Oh, my bad for… neglecting that very important fact. How about this one?”“The neckline is too low.”“This one?”“Her back would be exposed.”In the end, Deirdre felt her way to a white fur coat. Laia’s eyes twinkled, as she had just had a good idea. “I’ve got this skin-tight black dress that is just perfect for her. She won’t feel cold, and it’s—”‘Conservative. It covers every inch of her so that there is nothing left to be seen!’Laia stopped herself before she could say those words aloud. Instead, she change
Laia had already told the staff in the boutique. Hence, when a staff member heard Charlene, she smiled apologetically.“I apologize, Miss McKinney. Laia is taking care of an important guest now. Why don’t you wait a while? When she’s done, she’ll definitely get to you immediately!”“What?” Charlene was enraged. She was a VIP client of almost all the boutiques in Neve, yet today, she was being humiliated before Madame Brighthall. While suppressing her anger, she said, “What do you mean an important guest? Is that guest more important than me?”While putting a business smile on her face, the staff member replied, “That important guest is Mr. Brighthall.”“Bren?”Madame Brighthall was rather surprised, while Charlene’s smile contained hints of complacency. “Oh, it turns out that it’s Bren. In that case, Laia should come over here. Where’s Bren? Is he currently with Laia?”The staff member kept a business smile on as she answered, “Miss McKinney, I apologize, but we can’t violate our
‘Do you think she is presentable?’Just like a sharp knife, every word pierced Deirdre’s heart and twisted.Deirdre was trembling faintly while Brendan stood before her and said with a frigid face, “Mother, your words are too harsh!”“Harsh?” While looking at his furious face, for the first time, Madame Brighthall sensed the estrangement between her and her son and felt disappointed. “Do you expect me to greet the third party in your relationship with a smile and treat her like my daughter?!”“Deirdre is not the third party!” Brendan gritted his teeth. “We’ve registered–”“Bren!” Charlene, who had intended to be a bystander, suddenly chimed in. Her eyes revealed how panicked and incredulous she was.Did Brendan want to tell Madame Brighthall the truth? Did he want to tell Madame Brighthall that the woman who had been spending time with her in the past few years was actually the third party?That Deirdre and Brendan were true husband and wife?If Brendan did it, what would her s
"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