“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
It must, must not be real!Deirdre struggled to get up to confirm, but she was rooted to the spot in the next second.If Kyran was really Brendan, she knew she wouldn’t get the correct answer even if she was to ask again. He must have prepared to hide everything from her.Deirdre hugged her head and wept. Although the woman was impatient at the start, she became rather empathetic toward her. "Isn't it just a man? Is it necessary to cry like this? Since you don't know that he is Brendan Brighthall, it means that you aren’t someone who is greedy for wealth and status. You just got together, which means you don't have much affection. Why don’t you just break up with him? After all, suffering from short-term pain now is better than long-term pain tomorrow."It's impossible for Mr. Brighthall to marry you. Don't be delusional and think that you are an exception. At most, he needs a blind woman who doesn't know his identity to pass the time during his treatment. The sooner you wake up, t
Since Deirdre said so, Kyran naturally couldn't force her. Thus, he arranged for a nurse from the hospital to accompany her.When they were out, the nurse asked, "Miss McKinnon, shall we go to the supermarket to buy sanitary napkins first?"Deirdre remained silent for a while before she replied, "I’d like to go to an electronics store. I want to repair my phone.""Oh? Is your phone broken?""Yes, the sound is relatively soft."“Okay.”The nurse did not suspect Deirdre and took her to the electronics store.After entering, Deirdre suggested, "I'm going in to fix my phone. Can you help me buy two packs of sanitary napkins at the supermarket?"The nurse hesitated. "But Mr. Reed told me to follow you wherever you go."Deirdre assured with a smile, "He asked you to follow me wherever I go because he is worried that I will be followed and have an accident. But now that I am in an electronics store, it is impossible for someone to rush in and kidnap me, right? Do you think the electr
Deirdre told the electronics store’s owner the phone number, and he quickly sent it. "Okay, I’m done!"“Thank you.”Deirdre gave the money she received from Kyran to the electronics store’s owner. Following that, she stood at the door and called Tobey.The other end quickly answered. Deirdre took a deep breath and said, "Tobey, did you receive the photo I sent you?"Tobey was silent for a moment and smiled wryly. "It turns out that you were the one who sent me this photo. Deirdre, do you think that I’m emotionless? You rejected me, and after you got together with Kyran, you actually sent me a photo with your loved one. Did you send it so that I can enjoy it as well?"Deirdre was stunned for a moment and quickly replied, "No! That's not what I meant..."Tobey smiled. "Don't be nervous. I was just joking with you. Although I am indeed quite sad, I am relieved seeing that you look happy in the photo."Deirdre’s eyes were downcast and misty. When she found her voice only after a whi
“No need,” answered Deirdre. “I just recalled that I’ve got enough. What about you accompany me to the pet shop?”“Pet shop?”"Yes." Deirdre remembered that Brendan was allergic to dog fur. If Kyran was Brendan, he would definitely be too.Deirdre explained, "I'm rather bored. I wish to go to the pet shop for a while."Although the nurse didn't know why, she didn't take it seriously. Anyway, the pet shop happened to be on the opposite street. When the two entered, Deirdre requested a dog that tended to shed hair, hugged it in her arms, and waited for a long time before letting go.Afterward, the nurse sent Deirdre back to the hospital. Upon reaching the door of the ward, she repeatedly inhaled to calm herself before she opened the door and entered.Kyran was unpacking the meal box. When he saw Deirdre, his eyes turned gentle. "You’re back in time. The meal is here. Take off your coat, wash your hands, and let’s have a meal.""Hmm." Deirdre took off the coat with dog fur and thre
Kyran rolled up his sleeves and put his arm before Deirdre.Deirdre raised her hand and put her fingertips on Kyran's arm as she breathed calmly.Due to the allergic reaction, Deirdre knew rashes would appear on Brendan’s body. She knew she couldn't see it, but she could feel it with her hands.Deirdre didn't know what she felt. She only knew that the moment she touched Kyran's arm, she felt his skin was smooth and clean.She froze for a moment. Her reaction made Kyran type with the other freed hand, "What's wrong?"Deirdre shook her head in reply. While massaging, she took the opportunity to grope the whole arm. Following that, she massaged the other arm just to find out that there was no allergy rash on them at all.‘Could it be on his neck?’Deirdre was confused. She massaged Kyran’s arm for a while longer before saying, "Okay. Now, please sit down. I will massage your neck."The man didn't intend to resist and sat down obediently. Deirdre ran her hands along Kyran's neck an
“When was it?”“When we returned from the pet shop. Anyway, I came here to clean up after I finished my work not long ago. I’m almost done now. Miss McKinnon, do you need me to clean up the fur on your clothes with the vacuum cleaner?"“Okay…”When the nurse had done cleaning, she notified Deirdre and went out.After Kyran had taken a shower, he came out while wiping his hair, only to see Deirdre standing at the door alone.He looked for his phone, picked it up, and typed, "What's wrong?""Nothing." Deirdre smiled. "Have you finished taking your shower?"“Yes.”“Then, it’s my turn.”"Be careful not to burn your face with the hot water."Deirdre paused while she was pushing the door open and nodded. "Sure."When she entered, she leaned her back against the door, feeling rather feeble.If Kyran knew that they had been to the pet shop and had taken allergy medicine in advance, he would probably not have shown allergic symptoms. In other words, her test had failed.She still c
“Your phone, someone called you earlier.”Upon hearing the answer, Deirdre’s face, which was blushing from the heat, instantly turned pale.“Who?”Kyran didn't answer but paced toward her step by step.Before Deirdre could speak again, Kyran took the towel from her hand and gently patted her hair. His movements were infinitely gentle, but the air pressure around him was inexplicably suffocating.Deirdre clenched her fists tightly, and her palms were sweating. She asked again, "Who called?"Kyran finally stopped his movements. With his face unexpectedly cold, he took out his phone and typed, "Who do you think it could be?"Deirdre swallowed her saliva. She couldn't think of anyone else apart from Tobey, but she didn't know what they had said over the phone and why Kyran was in a bad mood.“W-Was it Tobey?”Kyran replied with a sophisticated feeling in his eyes, “Yes, it was him.”As predicted...Deirdre felt uncomfortable.Kyran asked, "Is there any secret between you and hi
"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