“It’s because you’re in the way, of course. Your presence ruined the loving relationship between me and Brendan!” A moment later, Charlene chuckled, sounding like a show-off. “However, Brendan still cares about me very much. He chose to leave you injured and all alone in the hospital without the slightest concern after finding out that I was displeased. He took me traveling around just to cheer me up, and I had a delightful time sharing a bedroom with him.”She smiled with her head lowered, as if she was shy. Deirdre could obviously feel the stinging pain in her chest, but it was not because she still had feelings for Brendan. She had already given up, but that did not mean that she was dead. She found Brendan’s coldness and ignorance toward her malicious. “So you’re here today to show off your loving relationship with Brendan?”Charlene sneered. “No, of course not. Do I still need to show off my loving relationship with Brendan? I’m only here to tell you something out of kindnes
“Don’t bother. She has always been ungrateful. She will still pull a long face no matter how well you treat her, and the sight of her sickens me,” Brendan said in a displeased tone. “You should head back first. I’ll come and see you tonight.”Charlene nodded shyly. She was about to leave when Deirdre, who was sitting on the bed, suddenly said, “Brendan, are you planning on going to court to go through the divorce procedure with me when I’m discharged from the hospital later today?”Brendan turned his head to the side to look at Charlene as soon as those words were spoken, his dark eyes glistening with coldness.Charlene’s expression was frozen. She hastily explained, “Brendan, I just gave Ms. McKinnon a gentle reminder. I wasn’t trying to do anything.”Brendan did not respond. Instead, he looked at Deirdre once again. His flawless, gorgeous face was enshrouded in a layer of coldness, and his thin lips were compressed tightly as he said in a cold voice, “So what if that is the case?
Charlene braced herself and spoke up under Brendan’s watchful eyes. “It’s apparent that your mother is still abroad, so how can you meet her so soon, huh?”“Is that so…” Deirdre was relieved abruptly and only discovered that her fingers were trembling after her mind relaxed. She had felt terror taking over her, and she was glad that her speculation was not true. “I don’t care. I just want to see her! Don’t worry, I’m not going to hold on to the status of Mrs. Brighthall forever.” Deirdre sneered at herself upon finishing her sentence. She could no longer be bothered to hold the position that had resulted in such loss and destruction. “All I want is to see my mother. I will head to the court for the divorce proceedings by myself without any reminders from you after meeting her.”Brendan’s dark eyes were filled with agitation. “We shall discuss that later. I’ll see you to the door, Charlene.”He walked out of the room swiftly with Charlene in his wake, her chest tight with anxie
Afterward, Charlene was whisked away by Sam, and Brendan found Deirdre sitting on the bed in a daze when he entered the room again. She felt slightly frantic when she heard the sound of the door being opened. “Brendan, when will you let me meet my mother? I… I’ve missed her…”Perhaps she had been suppressing her emotions earlier because she did not wish to show them to Charlene, yet she was feeling anxious for no apparent reason deep down. She felt that she would only be at ease when she met Ophelia in real life. “I told you that she is receiving treatment abroad. We will need some time to make arrangements, even if you want to meet her. Do you think that meeting her is so simple?” Brendan was answering against his conscience, so he spoke in a rather harsh tone. Deirdre was under the assumption that he was not fond of being queried, so she nodded and said in a gentle tone, “Don’t worry, Brendan. It’s not that I don’t want to get a divorce. I’m only worried that you won’t let me
Deirdre walked upstairs by holding the handrail and opened the door to enter Brendan’s room. A moment later, a pair of huge hands grabbed her by her waist and spun her around before she was pushed down and pinned against the soft bed. She was attacked by the man’s ferocious kiss while he stripped his clothes away.Deirdre was taken aback and struggled with all her might. “Don’t! Don’t touch me, Brendan!”“Don’t touch you?” Brendan grabbed her jaw forcefully and looked down at her. “Give me a reason not to touch you. Since you’re still alive and refuse to give me a divorce, shouldn’t we fulfill our duty as husband and wife?”Deirdre hastily explained, “It’s not that I don’t want to get a divorce! I want to meet my mother. If I see her, I will divorce you immediately, Brendan!”“Shut up!” Brendan shouted at her, finding her eagerness to get a divorce very unpleasant. “Your excuse doesn’t sound convincing now that you’ve used it twice. I know what you want better than you!”‘What d
“Don’t tell him!” Deirdre’s face turned ghastly pale, and she bit her lower lip before saying, “It’s unnecessary for you to inform him of this. Just get it for me.”Sam felt troubled but did not accept Deirdre’s assignment in the end. He called up Brendan to report this incident after promising to help her. After he was done reporting it, Sam asked, “Should I get it, Mr. Brighthall?”Brendan was subdued for a long time before he uttered with his teeth gritted in a rage, “Get it! However, don’t get her the contraceptive pills. Get her supplements of the same brand instead.”Sam was caught in a daze for a long while after he hung up. He was so confused by the situation, thinking, ‘Is Mr. Brighthall trying… to get Deirdre pregnant?’Sam was taken aback at that thought. Deirdre took the pills in gratitude after getting them from Sam. She could not see, so she did not notice that something was off. She slept after consuming the pill, feeling pleased. She dreamt of her mother ret
Deirdre was not in the mood to eat after contacting Brendan had yielded no result. She lay on the bed and lost track of time before she realized that the edge of the bed had sunk down in her drowsy state. “Who’s there?” She jolted awake in confusion and stretched out her hand to feel about the bed, only to feel a well-defined, huge hand. A moment later, her hand was grabbed abruptly, and a man said in a mocking tone, “Are you so horny, Deirdre? I was only sitting here, yet you groped me in haste...”Deirdre was stunned for a moment before she immediately pulled back her hand, her expression full of astonishment. “No… Why are you here, Brendan?”“What do you mean why I’m here?” Brendan furrowed his eyebrows, stretched out his hand to pinch her chin, leaned over, and then narrowed his eyes threateningly. “Who else could be in this villa other than me? Or are you so bold that you invited another man here behind my back?”Deirdre’s face grimaced from pain as she uttered, “Aren’t you
It was a long, lustful night. Deirdre opened her eyes after batting her eyelashes and sensed Brendan’s even breathing next to her. She got out of bed cautiously and opened the pill bottle that she had prepared in advance. She hid a pill in her palm and headed to the bathroom. Brendan had his eyes open and watched her throughout the entire process. It was all too obvious that she did not wish to get pregnant with his child. It was so obvious that she could not hide it. Even though her weak body might not necessarily be able to withstand the contraception’s side effects, she consumed the pill over and over again. Compared to her actions two years ago, when she would rather have gotten rid of the pill in secret just to get pregnant, her extremely appropriate actions now made Brendan wonder if Deirdre would be delighted to get pregnant with Sterling’s child. At that thought, Brendan felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. -Deirdre swallowed the pill without water and took a
"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