Deirdre found his reaction insulting. The corner of her lips curled into a sneer as she enunciated her next words clearly. “The condition of my eyes is completely your fault! It was all you, Brendan! Now, you’re pretending to want to treat my eyes. Will I get back the one year that I lived without my sight? Your trick of rewarding me after punishing me doesn’t work on me anymore!”“What kind of nonsense are you talking about!” Brendan clutched the steering wheel tightly as he glared at Deirdre in confusion. “Did I blind your eyes? Deirdre, don’t you dare think that you can vilify me just because I treat you well! Don’t you dare!”“Vilify you?” Deirdre felt a coldness course through her entire body, immobilizing her while also sobering her up. She realized that her actions were futile. ‘Will Brendan acknowledge that it is his fault after what I said? He’s only losing his temper out of embarrassment. How could a conceited man like him ever admit his crime?‘All he wants is a serva
Upon hearing that, Deidre clenched her fists so hard that her nails dug into her flesh. She would never forget that, of course. She would never forget how merciless this man was or that he had made her spend a year in agony. Deirdre’s body was shaking, but she calmed herself enough to open her eyes once again. Her glassy eyes were lowered when she made a mocking remark. “Why would you waste your breath here if you could send me there again? I believe that life wasn’t all that good to you after Brendan made me plead guilty. Am I right?”Charlene’s face turned pale. Deirdre was right. She had assumed that the relationship between her and Brendan would grow after Deirdre was imprisoned and that they would get married and have children. However, Brendan had suddenly grown more distant. Even though he had never declared it openly, Charlene knew that Brendan blamed her for the hit-and-run. He also blamed her for getting Deirdre imprisoned. Charlene’s eyes were burning with hatred and
‘Yeah?’Brendan could not believe it upon witnessing Deirdre’s reaction. How could she actually be so nonchalant after causing someone else’s leg injury?He clutched the woman’s throat in a strong grip. “How can you be so malicious, Deirdre! Your eyes are blind, yet this doesn’t hide your sinister intentions. Charlene helped you up the stairs out of kindness, yet you showed no remorse after shoving her down the stairs. You should’ve been the one pushed down the stairs!”Deirdre felt like laughing. “If you had come a little later, I would have been pushed down the stairs.”Brendan paused for a moment. Soon, he frowned in disgust. “You’re impenitent!”He pulled strongly to drag her off the bed. “How can you still sleep after crippling someone’s leg? Deirdre, you disgust me. Go to the door and repent for your mistake! Come back when you’re ready to acknowledge your mistake!”Deirdre was almost incapable of getting up after being pushed to the floor. Her entire body felt weak and lim
“Deirdre! Deirdre!”Brendan’s pupils constricted in fear. He tossed away the umbrella to pick up the woman and took her back to the room without any concern about the mud on her body. On the other hand, Deirdre’s breathing was weakening with each passing second. Her entire body was ice-cold, and the only body heat left was on her face. She was running a high fever. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you!”He clenched his teeth. Steven would have been astonished for sure if he was there, as Brendan was speaking with a voice tainted with unprecedented anxiety. “Do you think you can get away just by losing consciousness? Do you think that you can put an end to everything just by doing this? That would be impossible! Deirdre, you’re mine for life and you’ll be buried in my family’s tomb when you die! Don’t even think about extricating yourself. Don’t even think about it!”He wrapped Deirdre in a blanket and increased the heater’s temperature before he called up a doctor. He smo
She was glad that the kitchen arrangements had not changed. Deirdre poured herself a glass of water and took two gulps quickly before she heard footsteps behind her. Brendan was home.Deirdre turned her body in the direction of the door with tense movements. She could sense the man’s gaze, and it caught her off guard. She was properly dressed, yet she could still feel his coldness. She pulled her clothes tighter without realizing it and heard him ask, “You’re awake, huh?”Deirdre braced herself, nodding despite not understanding the nature of his question. She kept her head lowered as she downed the last gulp of water in the glass. Soon, the footsteps approached her and stopped right in front of her. Deirdre’s body turned stiff for a moment when she sensed the man’s touch on her forehead. She pulled back subconsciously, only to discover that he had just touched her forehead for a brief moment. He was feeling her body temperature. It came as a surprise to her, but a moment l
Clink…Deirdre heard the sound of something breaking and felt her body burning as if Brendan had raised his arm to deliver a tight slap on her face. He would spare no effort tormenting her and would actually make her kneel down before Charlene? He wanted her to do it as everyone in the hospital bore witness too?‘Am I not a person to him? Don’t I have any integrity left?’Her heart ached so badly that it felt as if a rope was tightened around it until her heart turned into mush. Her eyes were moist with tears, but she could no longer shed any. “Sure…” After a long time, she shut her eyes and said with her fists tightly clenched, “I will kneel down and apologize to Charlene as long as you leave Sterling out of this!”There was a moment of dead silence. Soon, a clang was heard when the plates shattered to the ground. Brendan had kicked over the table.She could sense his overpowering anger just by listening to his voice. Deirdre batted her eyelashes in confusion. ‘Why is Brendan
Upon saying that, Charlene turned her head to the side, her body trembling from fear, as if she was reluctant to be in Deirdre’s presence. However, Deirdre was forced to bow down to her at the door repeatedly because of her remark. The nurse in the room shut the door coldly while Deirdre remained kneeling before the door on the hard, tiled floor. She had also knelt on the muddy ground yesterday night, so blood was seeping from her red, swollen knees. Deirdre’s face turned ghastly pale from the pain, and cold sweat was streaming down her cheeks. Meanwhile, she heard Charlene’s coquettish voice coming from the other side of the door. “Brendan, I’m thirsty. Will you get me some water?”The strong passion in the room was unstoppable. Cold sweat dripped from Deirdre’s face. Her gaze was empty, and her knees went numb from pain. She drew the attention of quite some people while she knelt in the corridor. People were gathering around to watch her, some of them confused, while other
Brendan was furious. “Is this how you acknowledge your mistake, Deirdre?”Deirdre’s entire body was trembling from pain. She couldn't care less about her demeanor because she was in so much pain that she needed to rest before she spoke. She asked with her lips trembling, “What do you want from me then?”Brendan’s gaze turned cold. He was about to speak when Charlene held his hand and said in a fake magnanimous voice, “Forget it, Brendan. We won’t make a fuss out of this situation anymore. Let her leave.”Her voice softened as she said, “Will you stay with me today, Brendan? Don’t leave tonight. The bed is big enough for both of us.”Her voice softened more toward the end of her sentence as if she was feeling shy. Deirdre felt her pain become dull for a moment when she heard the remark. Brendan wanted to decline at first, yet he remembered something and glared at Deirdre’s face with his dark eyes. He refused to believe that she would forget her deep love for him, which spanned o
"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