Brendan jerked his head up, and his pupils constricted. “Why did you come out of the car?”Deirdre ignored him and continued to press on. “If someone from the outside learns that I was drugged today, it won’t do any good to any of us here. So, can you tell me what you will do about it?”Mr. King Sr. set his jaw tightly. After a short while, he took a deep breath and said, “Of course, I’ll give you a satisfactory answer and bring the proprietor to justice. After Declan returns, I’ll ask him to go to your side and kneel to apologize to you. If you’re still unhappy about it, you can just send him to prison.”Deirdre chuckled. “Things have come to this point, and you still want to protect Cillian?”“I don’t know what you are talking about, Miss McKinnon,” replied Mr. King Sr.“No, you are well aware,” Deirdre said without hesitation. “You are well aware that the one who drugged me wasn’t Declan.”Perhaps Cillian had too much confidence in the drug because his plan was full of flaws.
Deirdre waved her hand in reply to Brendan’s question. However, she still felt weak all over her body. A second earlier, she felt cold, and one more second later, she felt hot. Her head was swimming as well, and she felt like she was walking on a cloud. Brendan placed his hand on her forehead and a hint of surprise crossed his eyes. “You’re sick?”“Maybe.” She had not been feeling well from the moment she had confronted Mr. King Sr. She had just been enduring it. After all, she could not be a drag to Brendan in a situation like that. She mustered all her strength and stood up. Then, she asked, “What are you going to do about the Kings? Are you really going to fight them?”“It isn’t something you should be worried about. Let’s get in the car. We need to take you to the hospital right away,” Brendan said as he ordered Fionn to take them to the hospital.She did not say anything. She just went along with Brendan. As soon as she entered the car, she fell unconscious.By the time sh
Deirdre did not have any appetite, so she asked, “How is Declan right now?”Fionn let out a sigh and said, “Fortunately, his tendons aren’t injured, but he can’t use his right hand to touch anything for the time being.” Deirdre pressed her lips tightly. “Is his ward far from here? I want to see him, and… there’s something I’d like to talk to him about.”“Yes, you can do that, but can you walk that far?” “Don’t worry,” Deirdre said, offering him a smile. “I just lost consciousness. I didn’t hurt myself, so you don’t have to worry too much about me. Besides, the doctor said that I should exercise more because it’s good for my health.”Since Deirdre had said so, Fionn saw no reason to say no. He found a trench coat and draped it over her shoulders. After doing that, he led her to Declan’s ward.Just as they arrived at Declan’s ward, they heard a familiar voice from inside.“Decky… How can you be so stupid? Can you promise me that you won’t fight with your elder brother again? I d
Laura was stunned for a moment. After a while, she shouted, “I had my own reason for doing that! I didn’t have any choice!”“You didn’t have any choice?” A hint of disgust crossed Deirdre’s eyes. “I really don’t understand. Why do you always make it look like you’re the victim? Is it because you’ve pretended to be one for so long that you’ve already gotten used to it? You take advantage of other people's trust and make everything go your way. And now you act like you're forced to do it? Are you saying that you didn't have a choice, so we could only blame our own bad luck for believing in you and walking into your trap?”Perhaps she had gotten too agitated, as she could feel a throbbing pain in her temples again.She could not stop thinking about the things that had happened inside the car. Even now, she did not know how she should face Kyran. As a victim, she had to act as if she had not been hurt by the incident, while Laura, the accomplice who had started it all, had adopted a s
He paused for a moment before adding, “It was Laura, right?”Deirdre was shocked. Declan could tell that he had guessed right by looking at Deirdre’s expression. He smiled lightly and said, “Well, it seems like I have a knack for being a detective too.”“Yeah, you’re pretty good at deducing things.” Deirdre fell silent for a while before asking, “So… What do you think about it?”Declan thought for a while and replied, “She’s my brother’s wife, so it’s only right and natural for her to help him. I might have felt hurt before giving this answer, but I feel calm after saying it. After all, there is no better answer to this question.”Deirdre did not say anything else. The woman he loved had tricked him into having sex with another woman. Forget about Declan. If Kyran had done the same thing to her, she would have felt very hurt as well. “She was also one of the victims of the drug, so she hates it more than anyone else,” Declan said. Then, he smiled and added, “Anyway, let’s not t
“Lose… for sure?”Deirdre inhaled sharply without her notice. She felt as if the cold air in her chest had turned into dense needles that stabbed into her softest point. Other than pain, she could feel a tinge of fear as well. “What’s going on?” Noticing the sudden unpleasant expression on Deirdre’s face, Declan furrowed his eyebrows ever so slightly. “Did something that I’m unaware of happen?”For as long as Declan remembered, the Kings would never target Brendan easily, no matter how displeased they were with him. Brendan was not to be messed around with, so it would be unnecessary for the Kings to go to war with Brendan just to get an apology.“Nothing.” Deirdre composed her expression. “I’m only surprised because I didn’t expect that the Kings would be associated with that level… You should rest. I’ve got to go because it’s getting late.”“Sure. Fionn.” Declan called out to Fionn, who was guarding the door. “Send Miss McKinnon to her room.”Not long after Deirdre returned
Brendan took his sweet time to say, “I think that an intelligent woman will learn to accommodate to circumstances, mind her own business, and live every day in a clear and ordered manner. What do you think?”Deirdre batted her eyelashes, and her beautiful face was tainted with unyieldingness. “I think that a normal woman will not agree to be hidden from the truth like a fool. After all, she is a person, not a pet, to be manipulated by others.”Brendan stared at her for a long time while he kept quiet. In the end, he heaved a sigh softly and said, “Don’t worry. Go and rest upstairs. Everything is going to be fine.”Deirdre’s eyes glistened. “Really.”“If I say that everything is going to be fine, I’m not lying to you, of course. We can’t go back to Neve within a short period. Cillian is injured, and the Kings will need to regain their influence anyhow. Hence, you need to be hidden from the public on the cusp of the transition. When the time is right, we’ll go back to Neve, and they
Brendan exuded a powerful presence that felt like the air was burning with anger. However, he suddenly stuffed the medicine back into the bag the next moment. “You spare no effort to make an excuse and act so mysteriously. I thought that it was something else, so it’s just a contraceptive pill. Are you being so secretive because you’re scared that I will be displeased? Deirdre, you know that you’re overthinking, right?”Deirdre was stunned by Brendan’s reaction for a moment, but she realized soon that she should not have acted secretively.She did not wish to be pregnant with Brendan’s child, and he should also share the same thoughts. Why would she think that Brendan would be angered by her decision?“You’re right. I’m overthinking the situation.” She relaxed, unboxed the medicine, and removed the pill from the packaging before taking it with water.Brendan watched from behind. His expression could not be seen clearly due to the poor lighting. After Deirdre swallowed the pill,
"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