“Why can’t I do this to you? I’m just letting you have a taste of your own medicine.”Charlene was stunned. Her heart was clutched by fear as she cried out loud, hoping that Brendan could forgive her. “How can you compare our eight-year relationship to hers? We’ve been together for eight years, and she’s just a nobody! Have you forgotten the time we spent together? I just made a little mistake, but Deirdre is safe. Why can't you just forgive me?”“A little mistake?” Brendan frowned deeply. Charlene threw herself in front of Brendan and continued. “I’m sorry, Brendan. I just love you too much and let my jealousy get the best of me. That's why I went crazy on Miss McKinnon. I'll apologize to her and make up for it! So please, Brendan, please don’t give up on me.”Brendan looked at her coldly and moved away when Charlene was about to touch him.Tears streamed down Charlene’s face.Brendan had lost his patience and told her his purpose for coming here. “Are you the one who asked t
‘There’s no way he could be Kyran. Kyran is still in Germia. It's going to take nearly a day's flight for a round trip alone, so there's no way he can be in the police station.’However, if the figure in front of her was not Kyran, why would he feel so familiar? It was as if she had known the person for a long time…Deirdre’s fingertips trembled as she asked, “Kyran. Is that you?” Brendan’s face was bloodless as she stood opposite her. He did not expect Deirdre to appear in the police station, nor would they run into each other.For a moment, countless thoughts flitted across his head. Was he going to admit that he was Kyran? Or should he just say she had taken him for the wrong person and walk away? At that moment, Charlene broke herself free from her confinement and rushed out of the room. As she ran toward Brendan, she shouted in despair, “Brendan! Brendan! Please give me another chance! Please! I promise I won’t do it ever again!”She threw herself in front of Brendan and D
Brendan looked at Deirdre sharply—his gaze felt like sharp blades that cut through her skin. After a short while, he said, “Not a chance, Deirdre. I’m the one who can end this relationship.”After he finished speaking, he grabbed Deirdre’s wrist and threw her into the car, locking the door in the process.Deirdre was shaking in fear as she struggled to open the door. Even though she could not see now, her nostrils were filled with Brendan’s body scent, and it sent a shiver down her spine. She could not open the door, so she curled up in a defensive position, staring fixedly at Brendan.“What do you want from me, Brendan?” Her voice was shaking with fear despite her effort to force herself to calm down.Brendan had the urge to grab her into his arms, but he knew he could not do that now. He was Brendan, not Kyran. He had to make him look like an evil person. That was the only way to detach himself from the persona called Kyran. That way, he would not cause Deirdre to have any susp
However, this was all Brendan’s fault. He was beyond redemption, and there was nothing he could do to make her forgive him.“Take that back, Deirdre,” commanded Brendan, his voice cold and his breath raspy. Deirdre scoffed and said, “You brought this to yourself, and now you can’t accept what you did?“If even you can accept the bad deeds you committed, what makes you think that I can forgive you? Brendan, you—“His heart was stung with pain as he listened to her words. Before she could finish her sentence, Brendan lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers, his emotion surging.It was as if he was attempting to stop her from saying something he couldn't accept.Deirdre’s eyes widened in disbelief. The soft lips of the man made her mind go blank. Following that, an endless wave of anger, shame, and disgust overwhelmed her.Driven by her rage, she slapped him across his face, stunning him. The side of his cheek was swollen up, and there were some emotions in his eyes tha
The first thing Deirdre did after returning to her room was to go into the restroom and wash her face.Her consciousness finally returned a little bit under the stream of cold water. However, the heavy weight on her chest still made her unable to breathe.She was very grateful for Declan’s timely arrival, which saved her from Brendan’s hands. Otherwise, she might not have been able to get away from him.She picked up her phone. At that moment, she just wanted to listen to Kyran’s voice.Declan sent Deirdre back to the mansion and left. A black car was waiting outside when he came out.He walked over, opened the door, and sat on the passenger’s seat. Brendan was smoking the third cigarette, and he looked haggard. After taking one last drag of his cigarette, he asked, “Is Deirdre okay?”“Are you sure you want to know the truth?” replied Declan, smiling bitterly. “How is there any possibility that she’ll be fine after running into you? She looked somehow unhinged and nearly passed o
“I have no idea either,” Brendan said in a daze. “I’ll hide it for as long as I can.”He just hoped that day would not come so soon. This way, he would have more time to compensate her. -Deirdre had been staying in the house for the past few days. She didn't even open the door as she was too afraid to do so. Based on her understanding of Brendan, she was confident that he would come for her the next day. However, three days had passed, and nothing had happened. It was so quiet, as if Brendan had never appeared in this city before at all.Deirdre even started to wonder whether it was a dream that she had run into Brendan that day at the police station. However, the scorching sensation when the man’s lips fell on hers and his tenacity kept reminding her that everything was real. Brendan had been there, and they had run into each other. It was just that Brendan might still be bothered by Charlene’s case, so he did not have the luxury of caring about Deirdre. On the fourth da
“Let me guess. It’s about Brendan?” asked Declan. Deirdre clenched her fists and closed her eyes. After a while, she replied honestly, “Yes. It’s about him.”“It seems like I hit the jackpot,” said Declan. “What has he done again this time? Did he come to bother you again?”“No. It’s exactly because he didn’t come to disturb me that makes me feel strange. This doesn’t feel like Brendan at all. According to what I know about him, he isn’t someone who’ll give up so easily,” Deirdre said as she lowered her head.She knew Brendan very well, but she was unsure of it now. “Besides…”“Besides what?”Deirdre took a deep breath and continued. “He didn't get Charlene out of detention. Instead, he even gave the police a lot of evidence. I don't understand at all. What is he up to again?” A smile appeared on the corner of Declan’s lips as he said, “I was wondering what you were worrying about. So, this is it.”Deirdre couldn’t help herself and continued. “Don’t you feel it’s strange, M
“Besides, every piece of evidence points to the fact that Charlene abducted you, so there's no way he would help her. I guess he’s just trying to redeem himself. That’s why he gave the evidence to the police.”Deirdre found the remark to be saddening and amusing. Brendan’s effort was completely worthless. Moreover, his repentance came two years too late. If it came a little earlier, if her mother was still alive, perhaps she could pretend that nothing had happened and live a peaceful life. However, everything had already collapsed, and she did not want Brendan’s repentance anymore. She took a deep breath and lay back on the bed, her painful fingers still tightly clenched. She felt an ineffable feeling of lethargy overpowering her and fell asleep curled up in the bed. She lost count of time until she felt someone touching her fingers. She was awakened forcefully by the unbearable pain. However, she felt a shiver down her spine the next moment. Someone was standing next to
"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