“Deirdre.”Hoyt mustered his courage and interjected, “Didn’t you hear what the lady said? She wants you gone, mister!”A patina of steel seemed to form in Kyran’s eyes. He typed, “This is between Deirdre and me. Please don’t meddle in our affairs.”He managed to put up the exterior of courtesy, but the glare he wore betrayed an unyielding, domineering aura hellbent on making sure nobody could look him in the eyes.It was a lot for Hoyt—a country bumpkin with zero brush with the rich and powerful—to take. Any little confidence he had was imploding fast, yet he was stubbornly nailed to the floor between Deirdre and Kyran.“A-A-All I know is that M-Miss McKinnon d-d-doesn’t want to t-talk to you.”“Ten minutes is all I need, so please step aside,” typed Kyran. He was furious. “Move or be moved.”Deirdre acutely sensed escalation and finally spoke up. “What do you want, Kyran?”“First, he should step out.”Deirdre was familiar with the depth of his brutality and knew better than
Declan chuckled self-deprecatingly. “It was more than just ‘not talking.’ We give each other stink eyes when we see each other, too. So, why would I care about someone who hates my guts? Why would I eagerly visit him? Why would I even tell you we knew each other as if it was something I should be proud of?”Deirdre shook her head. She was not going to let herself be duped anymore.Kyran extended his hand toward her, and she slapped it away. “How about the fact that there isn’t a guy called Kyran Reed in Room 1106? What about that?”Kyran stared at the hand she rejected, his expression darkening. He typed on his phone, and the mechanical voice said, “Because I’m trying to keep a low profile.”“What?” She was perplexed.Declan gave a mirthless laugh. “It’s because of me. My brother’s an irritatingly exacting man. He makes sure I can never, ever surpass him in anything, so any cooperation or work I have with Kyran is done in secret.“My brother doesn’t even know Kyran has returned f
Kyran looked at her gently. He pulled something that he had been holding dear for a long while from his pocket and handed it to Deirdre. Even though they were crumpled and unrecognizable, Deirdre knew the moment she held them in her hand that they were their air tickets to Germia, the tickets to her freedom.Tears began to stream down her cheek, and Kyran gently wiped them off her face. He typed on the phone, “I’ve been waiting for you to return so that I can fulfill my promise. Deirdre, I'm glad I found you, and I’m glad that you're still alive.” Deirdre could sense his relief through the mechanical voice and words. However, before she could say anything, Kyran faltered and limped forward.“Kyran!” She was shocked and hastily went forward to support him, but Kyran had become so much heavier that she could barely hold him. Deirdre squatted down and placed her hand on his forehead. When she realized that he had a fever, she exclaimed, her voice shaking, “What happened? Why is he h
Declan said, “I’m sorry. Something unexpected happened.” “He didn’t eat on time either, right?” The doctor sighed. “The report shows that his digestive system is in disarray. We’ve already tended to the inflamed wound, and he’s receiving IV drip treatment right now. You just need to ensure he won’t get out of his bed and go everywhere anymore. Or else, with his current immunity level, he might be unable to handle it.”“Okay, we’ll take good care of him.”After the doctor went back inside, Declan pulled his cigarette out of his pocket, but he resisted the urge to take it as he realized he was in the hospital now.He leaned on the wall, feeling the coldness from the hard surface seeping into him. “Kyran had been eating cold lunch boxes for the past few days.” Deirdre’s pupils constricted.“It was because he would put down his lunch and go to look for you whenever he received any news regarding your whereabouts. By the time he returned, his lunch boxes had turned cold. But he was
Declan pushed the door, and the light in his eyes dimmed as he saw their interaction.No matter how calm he was right now, he did not have any mood for a joke right now. He handed a phone to Deirdre and said, “Miss McKinnon, I believe this is yours.”Deirdre was stunned. She did not expect that she could still get her phone back.“Where did you…”“We found it lying in a bush in the courtyard. It had shut down due to insufficient battery, but many phone calls came in after we recharged it.”Deirdre’s heart skipped a beat. She was certain that most calls came from Madame Russell and Tobey. After all, she rarely did not answer their calls for so many days or did not give them any calls.She took over her phone and pressed her lips tightly. “Thank you very much, Mr. King.”Declan offered her a wide grin and said, “Don’t mention it. I’ll leave Kyran in your care then, Miss McKinnon. I’m going back to the hotel to get some rest. I’ll come back again when he wakes up.” “Okay.”After
The nurse was talking in a low voice, so there was a high chance that Deirdre had not heard her.After ascertaining that Deirdre had not heard what the nurse had said, he released the nurse and said in a cold voice, “If you don’t watch your mouth again, I’ll kill you.”The nurse’s face turned as pale as a sheet of paper, and she hastily explained, “I didn’t do it on purpose. I thought—”“Shut up!” His voice was hoarse due to his fever, but he could still strike fear into other people. His eyes were filled with anger as he said, “There is only Kyran in this world. Brendan doesn’t exist anymore. You should count your luck that she didn’t hear it this time. If you make the same mistake again, there will be serious consequences for you!” “Yes, sir!”-Outside of the ward, Deirdre walked to the side and answered the call.Tobey’s voice rang out from the other side of the line. “Deirdre, is that you?”“Yes, it’s me, Tobey.”Tobey only calmed down a little bit when he heard her voic
Kyran was stunned. He clenched his fists in secret. His heart began to pick up its pace, but then the stinging pain on the back of his palm calmed him down. He typed on his phone and asked, “What about now?”Deirdre lowered her head. “I already know that you’re not Brendan, and I’ve made up my mind,” she said. “I shouldn’t have suspected your identity just because someone told me that you’re not Kyran. After all, we’re a couple, and I should have faith in you.” “Yeah,” Kyran replied bitterly. “Deirdre, I’ll never be the person you talk about. I’m Kyran, your Kyran.”“My Kyran?” Deirdre lowered her head. It seemed to her that Kyran was really good with lovers’ prattle, and she felt a bit embarrassed.Kyran put his hand on hers and asked, “Deirdre, do you hate that guy very much?”Deirdre froze. Then, pain and suffering entered her eyes. It took her a few moments to calm herself down and take a deep breath. “Yes. I hate him. His existence is a nightmare for me. He destroyed everyth
Deirdre sensed changes in his emotions and said, “Mr. Leigh is just a good friend of mine. He’s a good man.”“I know.” Kyran forced down his jealousy and guard against Hoyt. “That’s why I want to go with you,” he typed.“You want to come with me?”“Yeah. They took care of you when you were in trouble. By right, I should buy some gifts and thank them personally.”Even though she felt what Kyran said made sense, she was worried about his wound. She asked with a frown, “But you—”“I feel a lot better after the IV drip treatment. I believe that my fever will go down soon. Besides, moderate exercise is good for the body too.”Since he insisted on coming with her, Deirdre had no choice but to nod. “Alright, you can come with me. But remember to let me know if you’re feeling uncomfortable.”“Okay.”Kyran changed into his clothes, and they left the hospital together. Before they headed to the village, they went to a store to buy some gifts and filled the back of the seat to the brim.
"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