”No trouble, darling! No trouble at all!” replied the man, scratching his head and chuckling to himself. “I should be the one to thank the two of you! There’s no way I’m the only one contributing to pictures this good. The models did at least half of the work in this case! Anyway, I should excuse myself. I hope I get an invitation to your eventual, coming-soon wedding!”He bolted away just like that. Deirdre hardly had the time to explain her relationship with Kyran. Sensing the young man’s burning gaze laser-focused on her neck, she apologized under her breath, “He fled before I could explain. Besides, I don’t think he’d trust me if I told him we aren’t a couple.”“I know. That is why I don’t think there’s anything to explain. I like the ‘misunderstanding’ better.”Kyran’s smile worsened Deirdre’s embarrassment. She was starting to feel a little sick in her stomach, too, and before she knew it, her hand was pressing against her belly. The man caught her action and asked, “Do you
Deirdre could feel the woman’s jealousy as though it was a tangible gust. She stumbled backward, but she was too late. The possessed young woman had lunged, and her fingers extended like claws at her mask.Freya yanked it down and revealed bandages covering half of Deirdre’s face. She was almost enraptured—as though she had stumbled upon a secret treasure trove. “I knew it! I knew it! The lower half of your face is not done yet! It’s still as ugly as sin! That’s why you had to wear a mask. You can’t even bear to show it to the world!”Deirdre ignored her provocation. Frowning, she demanded, “Give my mask back.”Freya was too happy as she had uncovered her secret. Mockery and schadenfreude rolled into a single gut punch when she continued. “You really think you’re some gorgeous angel fallen out of heaven, huh, b*tch? Don’t make me laugh! Most of those beautiful masked girls you see on the street actually looked like sh*t when you pull their masks away, anyway. I guess you’re no diffe
Deirdre’s indifference ignited another bomb barrel in Freya. She chucked the mask to the floor, scrunched it under her shoe, and stomped. “You want your f*cking shame-cover so much? Find it yourself! Are you gonna stay in here until you find your mask? Or are you going to give up and let everyone jeer at Kyran when you walk beside him without it?”Freya put her cap back on and hurried out of the bathroom, not giving Deirdre the time to pull her back in.Now left all alone, Deirdre had no choice but to get on all fours to look. The wet floor and its putrid smell made her stomach churn, but she imagined the reception she would receive if she went out as she was and gritted her teeth. She had to continue searching.As she scoured the floor repeatedly, she suddenly heard a mechanical voice from her earpiece. “Are you still in there, Deirdre?”She broke out in a cold sweat. Taking a deep breath, she gnashed her teeth and tried again. A few people entered the bathroom and found her on al
“Kyran…” Deirdre murmured. A warm glow seemed to be enveloping her chest. The corner of her lips curled. “You don’t need to say things like that to make me feel better, Kyran. I’ve gotten used to it. People have been making these comments about me for four years. I know what will happen the moment I step outside looking like this.”“Does it weigh hard on you?”Deirdre shook her head. She used to feel dejected, but not anymore, or she would not have chosen to stay in Alnwick. “If it doesn’t, then why don’t you want to step outside?” Kyran stated matter-of-factly. “The Deirdre I know doesn’t give a d*mn about what the shallow masses think of her. She lives true to herself and is comfortable with herself. All of them were stray characters who wandered into her life only to be forgotten when they were out. So… why is the same girl suddenly afraid of letting them see her now?”Deirdre froze.“Is it because of me?”Deirdre’s pupils seemed to be trembling. She looked perturbed. Freya’s
“So… This is how you spent four years of your life.”Deirdre froze as the voice in her ear continued. “What did you do to deserve this, Deirdre? If only I had met you sooner… If only I had known you sooner. I could have protected you!”Deirdre felt a lump unfurling in her throat. Her body was shaking—pain and self-pity suddenly took the form of a deluge flooding through her veins and breaking into her heart. Her eyes turned red. She thought she had grown accustomed to her fate and was done questioning God’s injustice. She had accepted this as the divine’s inexplicably stubborn grudge against her.And then Kyran appeared and expressed empathetic anguish. He came and showed concern. And suddenly, the agony she had hidden was exposed. Naked.It took her a long time to calm down and fight back the urge to cry. She raised her head and smiled. “Why apologize to me, Kyran? This has nothing to do with you at all! I’m happy just to live a peaceful life here. I want nothing now.“Maybe… May
Deirdre smiled and held him back.Afterward, some people came forward to give blessings. The amusement park staff saw it and even brought them a bouquet of flowers. "For you two! You look very happy, you must always be together!"Deirdre took it and shyly said, "Thank you."Someone in the crowd whistled. "Congratulations! Have a blessed marriage!"Deirdre had never received so many blessings in a short while. She was so touched that she felt so warm that her hands and feet were still hot even after they had left the park."Deirdre." A mechanical voice rang in her ear, which seemed to be smiling. "I am very happy. Today is the happiest day of my life."Deirdre noticed that Kyran’s hand was mixed with sticky and nervous sweat, and she couldn’t help but smile. "Me too. I’m also very happy."Because Kyran was worried that Deirdre's face would be too cold, he bought a mask for her to wear. Following that, he hailed a taxi and returned to the hospital to wrap the bandages.After Kyra
“Yes.” Deirdre lowered her eyes. “You love me, and I know it, but I have nothing but feelings for you. Kyran, let me tell you the truth, I-I would feel uneasy.”Deirdre’s words made Kyran fall into silence as if he was thinking. Finally, Kyran said, "Okay, then I will answer whatever you want to know."My company’s headquarters is in Germia, and my parents are also there. I don't have a good relationship with them, so I don't communicate very often. There are no brothers and sisters in my family. I am an only child and don’t have a residence. I just came back from Germia, and…" Kyran paused before continuing to type, "You know my appearance.""I know?" Deirdre was stunned for a second and shook her head in confusion. "How do I know? I obviously can't see anything, and I never met you before I lost my sight."Kyran said, "One night, didn't you touch my face with your hands?"Deirdre was taken aback for a moment before realizing that she was teased.Her cheeks were flushed, and she
“Yes, I was at the amusement park earlier. May I ask… Is there anything wrong?""There’s nothing." The woman said with hints of contempt, "I’m just very surprised. With your status, how did you get Mr. Brighthall’s favor? I just wanted to come to see what kind of personality charm you have. Now that I see..."The woman laughed. "I’m here to see Mr. Brighthall, who’s used to various delicacies from the land and the sea, trying to taste some light porridge."The expression on Deirdre's face froze for a moment. "What Mr. Brighthall?"The woman raised her eyebrows. "Mr. Brighthall doesn't allow you to tell the public about your relationship with him, does he?"Deirdre clenched her palms so tightly that her fingers were transparent. Though suffocating, she still restrained herself and calmed down. "I don't understand. Who is the Mr. Brighthall you're talking about?""Who is it?" The woman was surprised by Deirdre's question. "Naturally, the Mr. Brighthall I’m referring to is Brendan B
"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