Deirdre walked over rigidly while Kyran raised his hand to wipe away the fine sweat on her face with a tissue.“Don’t be scared. I won’t force you to do anything against your will. We won't reconstruct your face if you don’t want to reconstruct it. It’s fine.”Deirdre felt a surge of warmth from the prolonged coldness she experienced and said softly, “Thank you.”She looked as distracted as before as Kyran held her icy cold fingers and tried to warm her up to the best of his abilities.“You have an inner demon, right?”Deirdre appeared to be overwhelmed with emotions.Kyran asked, “Can you tell me why you don’t want to reconstruct your face? What did the face do to you in the past?”Deirdre clenched her fists tightly and also held Kyran’s fingers tighter. After slightly relaxing, she did not answer his question but asked, “Kyran, why do you want to reconstruct my face out of nowhere?”She felt her heart wrench in pain, yet she forced a smile. “You find my face very terrifying a
Yes, Deirdre did not have the convenience of borrowing someone else’s face, like Charlene. Her face was given to her by her parents, and she had grown into it herself. Yet, she loathed her previous face due to her painful past.‘Isn’t that… funny?’If Ophelia were still alive and knew about this, she would surely be sad, right? Her daughter, whom she was so proud of, did not even have the courage to restore her previous facial appearance.Deirdre lowered her head and sobbed. Kyran wiped away her tears and comforted her. “Deirdre, no one can force you against your will. It’s your face, and you’re the sole decision-maker for it. We won't do if you don’t want a facial reconstruction. Anyone acquainted with you will disregard your appearance and like you sincerely.“As for those who criticized your appearance, you don’t need to mind them because they are only a rock on your life path that you tripped once but won’t step on again.”Deirdre didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Kyran
Deirdre felt her heart racing. Even when she was already calm, she could still feel lingering fear in her heart.She nodded. Dr. Engle asked, “Did you not receive medical care after the injury? It’s apparent that the wounds were swollen and infected previously. Afterward, this resulted in the festering of the face. It’s no wonder that your whole face is destroyed even though there are only a few scars.”Deirdre clutched the hem of her top tightly without her notice and felt suffocated.She remembered being kept in the small, dark room of solitary confinement when she was in prison. The place was not only humid, but it also smelled terrible. The wounds on her face had begun to itch and fester in a few days. She had attempted to seek help because the infection felt extremely unpleasant, yet in return, the prison guard had berated her impatiently by saying, “You returned from the infirmary a few days ago. Why do you want to go again today? You think you’re some hot sh*t, right? Don
Declan opened the door and entered the room just in time to hear his remark. He chuckled and said, “You guys sure are lovey-dovey.”Deirdre lowered her head in embarrassment and fiddled with the blanket. Kyran asked, “How can I help you?”“I had something to go over with you initially, but I would like you to teach me now how to keep a straight face when you make such a sick, flirtatious remark?” Declan muttered, “Do you feel less shame because you’re using the phone to convey the message?”Kyran replied in a righteous tone, “If the heart is sincere, the remark is no longer flirtatious, but it’s the truth from one’s heart.”Declan said in a pleading manner, “Alright then, I can’t win an argument against you, anyway. How is Miss McKinnon’s face? Does Dr. Engle think that it can be restored?”Deirdre raised her head subconsciously when she heard her name. “Hmm. Dr. Engle said that it is slightly difficult, but it should be fine.”“Great then. He’s very famous in his profession. Don
Deirdre was under the assumption that the company that Kyran mentioned was that he would keep her company from the bed, and she did not expect him to…She was rather concerned, yet she felt warm and fuzzy inside her. She said softly, “Don’t do that again in the future. The loss outweighs the gain if you get injured.”“Sure, I won’t do it next time.”Deirdre’s expression relaxed. “I’ll help you get back to the room.”One was having trouble walking, while the other could not see. They walked cautiously and ended up sweating by the time they got to the room. Kyran sounded like he was chuckling. Deirdre was confused. “Why are you chuckling?”“Nothing.” Kyran suppressed the urge to laugh and typed, “I felt that we were supporting each other to walk with hobbled steps earlier like how we would when we’re old.”Deirdre was stunned upon hearing the remark. ‘When we’re old? He is thinking about how we will be when we are old… Does he think we will still be together and support each
“Dr. Engle, what’s going on? Is there an issue?” Deirdre could not help feeling anxious.Meanwhile, a nurse knocked on the door and entered the office to send in some documents. She took a glance at Deirdre and asked, “Why isn’t Miss McKinnon in yet? Isn’t today the day to remove her dressing?”Dr. Engle chuckled and said, “Miss McKinnon is here, isn’t she?”The nurse was astonished. Half of Deirdre’s face was concealed by the mask, and her eyes were extremely beautiful and crystal clear. One could tell at one glance that her facial features were outstanding and beautiful. “Uh… Is this Miss McKinnon?” The nurse was incredulous. The skin around Deirdre’s eyes was filled with chunky scars and mangled flesh in the past. It was so bad that she did not want to take a second glance at Deirdre after seeing her skin condition, regardless of how beautiful her eyes were.Now that the skin around her eyes was restored impressively, her beauty was displayed naturally.The nurse recovered fr
The man inhaled and said in a regretful tone, “It’s truly a…. You have such beautiful eyes.”Soon afterward, the man said, “Where are you going? Do you need my help to send you to the place you want to go?”“It’s fine.” Deirdre pondered closely and declined his offer. “I am used to this and can go by myself.”“Let me send you. The hospital is crowded. You might get turned around if someone were to knock you over, and you might be unable to tell where you are.”Deirdre was about to decline when she suddenly heard a phone’s mechanical voice coming from ahead of her. “Deirdre.”It was Kyran. Deirdre raised her head abruptly. The man’s arms wrapped around her, and the hug was tightened the next moment to protect her. Kyran seemed to be on guard and exuded hostility. The man did not even have time to react to the situation before Kyran took it upon himself to speak through the phone. “Why did you come back by yourself? I could have come for you.”He seemed to be declaring his poss
Deirdre realized that Kyran did not react to her face after they returned to the room. Even though only the upper half of her face was restored, it was very startling to see her current face compared to her previously mangled face. Unexpectedly, Kyran behaved as if he was used to the sight of her.Deirdre was confused about that. After staying in the room for a while, Kyran behaved as if he realized something and asked, “Why are you still wearing the mask?”Deirdre explained softly, “The recovery of my upper face is quite well, but my cheeks are still severely injured. Dr. Engle said that the recovery will be slower and that I will require regular wound dressing. We should be able to see some results in another two weeks or so.”“Alright.”‘Alright? That’s all?’Deirdre could not conceal the disappointment in her eyes. “Kyran, I’ve already sent the staff members to measure and pave the road on the Village Alnwick project. Later—” Declan opened the door and entered the room.
"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