“I’ve never seen Ms. McKinnon being so lively. I believe that you will certainly be pleasantly surprised if you see her perform one day. You want to give Ms. McKinnon a reason to live. I can see that Ms. McKinnon loves to play the piano deeply. Just give her a chance to do that and perhaps it will become the gleam of hope she needs to hang on to life.”Brendan shifted his gaze to Maeve’s face, his expression emotional and his flawless, gorgeous face overwhelmed with complicated emotions at that very moment. “So you’re implying that I should agree to her suggestion, right?”Maeve smiled. “I’m only working for you, Mr. Brighthall. Other than performing my job with great effort, there’s nothing else that I’m trying to do here. I’m only telling you what I can see, Mr. Brighthall.”She adjusted the scarf she had wrapped around her body. “You stay here for the night, Mr. Brighthall. I’ll sleep in the guestroom.”Upon saying that, Maeve began to walk away. Then, she stopped halfway and
She had bought him this gift at the very least. Brendan wanted to smoke a cigarette to calm the burning sensation in his chest yet he realized that his hand was shaking. He grasped his hand, the one that was holding the cufflinks, with his other hand and got up to leave after a while. He pulled out his phone to make a call. “Help me look into the Oak restaurant to see if there’s anything fishy about it.”…Deirdre had lost track of time by the time she opened her eyes and saw that the other side of the bed was still neat. She removed the blanket and walked out of the room just in time to bump into Maeve. “You’re awake? What happened? Why are you in such a rush?”“Nothing happened.” Deirdre calmed down. She had assumed that Brendan would get rid of Ophelia since she had offended him yesterday. “Why didn’t you sleep in the room yesterday, mother?”“Ah.” Maeve answered casually, “I felt sick and I was afraid that it might be contagious, so I slept in the other room.”She chan
She answered, “He’s my cousin.”The waitress found Deirdre’s answer reasonable. She wrapped her arm around Deirdre’s arm and said, “Does this cousin of yours have a girlfriend? Do set me up with him.”“He does,” Deirdre answered smilingly, afraid that a different answer would cause Sam trouble. The waitress was disappointed. “The piano is here. Someone will tell you when to start performing. I’ll get a move on if there’s nothing else.”Deirdre did not notice the waitress’ coldness because she was distracted by her love for playing the piano. The piano was much better than the one at the cafe, and she attempted to play it. She received quite a number of compliments after a day. She smiled more, and her expression became lively. Sam was distracted by the sight of her and only recovered from the surprise after a while and took Deirdre back to the villa. She asked before she headed upstairs, “Sam, is the light in Brendan’s study still on?”“Yes, it’s on.”Deirdre clenched her fi
“They are cheap.” Deirdre was at a loss for words. She felt as if she was choking on something in her throat. “You’re only going to degrade your status when you wear them.”“That is precisely why you refused to give them to me, right?”Deirdre bit her lower lip tightly. Brendan got up from his seat and wiped away Deirdre’s tears with his hand. He leaned closer to her and said in a hoarse voice, “Deirdre, a person of my status would never care about false things like this. The value of the cufflinks could never affect my status. I acknowledge that I wouldn’t be attracted to these cufflinks normally, but they are highly valuable now because you gave them to me.”When he was done, he kissed her lips. Both of them were burning with emotions. Deirdre’s hands were tightly clasped, her body was tense, and she felt a wisp of gentle affection in her heart. …In the next few days, Deirdre became more and more familiar with the work at the restaurant and she also formed a friendly relatio
‘Now that there’s a customer, he is also here for her.’“Ah, the pianist, huh? She’s busy with her blind date now.”Brendan stopped flipping through the menu. His dark eyes narrowed when he said, “Blind date?”“Yes.” The waitress tittered. “It’s true that she is good at playing the piano, but she’s hideous and blind. No man would ever be attracted to her, so the cleaning lady kindly arranged a blind date for her. Even though the man is seven or eight years older than her, a woman like her doesn’t have many options.”Coldness flashed past Brendan’s dark eyes. The waitress felt a chill down her spine when she saw Brendan’s gaze and forced a smile. “What happened, sir?”“Where is she?”The waitress was stunned. Then, she pointed at the corner and said, “There.”Deirdre and the man were sitting in a blind corner that one would not see without paying close attention to the area. Brendan shifted his gaze to the man. One could totally describe him as grotesque. He snorted. Even tho
“I can go if you’re busy, but can I get your number, Ms. McKinnon? If you have anything else that you need help with in the future… I could…”Brendan clenched his fists tightly abruptly, his veins bulging out of his arms. ‘This man still won’t give up hope?’Furious, he clenched his teeth without uttering a word but glared at Deirdre coldly. Deirdre took a deep breath after sensing the immense pressure radiating from Brendan. She caught her breath before she answered with a forced smile, “I’m sorry. I don’t intend to do that, so I won’t hold you back.”Trevor was obviously dejected but he did not seem to mind very much. “I’m older, so it’s very normal that you’re not interested, Ms. McKinnon. I shall go then.”He walked away swiftly, which was an apparent sign that his ego had been hurt. Deirdre appeared to be overwhelmed with emotions. She would not have spoken so straightforwardly had Brendan not been on the scene. “What? Are you still unable to tear yourself away from him?
Sam escorted her to the door when they arrived at the villa’s courtyard and then drove away. Deirdre stretched out her arms to feel for the sofa when she heard the sound of a light being turned on upstairs. She looked in the direction of the second floor abruptly. She was gauging who it was when she realized instantly after sensing the oppressive feeling they emanated. “Come upstairs.”Brendan spoke in an ice-cold tone. He opened the door to his room, and Deirdre braced herself and walked upstairs with stiff movements. She was flung on the bed by force as soon as she entered the room. The man leaned on her, his cold eyes bursting with terrifying evilness. “Deirdre, do you think that you can lord over me recklessly just because I’ve been treating you well over the past few days?” Brendan spoke in an icy tone. He was furious beyond comparison at the thought of the woman’s smile earlier. “I gave you freedom and tolerated you as much as I could, yet you ended up defending a man
The manager was finally pleased. “I’m very impressed with your work, McKinnon. I hope that goodwill stays.”Dispirited, Deirdre walked out of the manager’s office and stepped into the back of the restaurant. The cleaner had been waiting, so she rose from a crouch and approached Deirdre. “What’s wrong with you, Deirdre? Trevor told me he chose you, but you spurned him in return? Please, you’re not some run-of-the-mill young woman. Don’t you know that beggars can’t be choosers? Seriously, are you really planning to be a spinster for the rest of your life?”Her acrimonious tone somehow paled compared to the vitriol of her word choice. Irritated, Deirdre frowned. “Look. Just because I agreed to meet him, it doesn’t mean I’ll agree to be with him, okay?”“I’m only doing what’s best for you! Do you really think another man would even like you as much as Trevor does? God! He’s used to caring for other people. That’s why he wasn’t bothered by the fact that you’re an ugly blind woman! Lord,
"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