Declan walked toward them, and Glenna was already incapable of taking her eyes off him. He was so good-looking that she could only describe him as breathtaking. “Miss McKinnon.” Declan nodded toward Deirdre courteously, then turned his head to look at Glenna. He cracked a smile and said respectfully, “You’re Glenna, right? I frequently sought your help to handle many tasks previously. Thank you for taking the trouble to do those tasks.”Glenna was at a loss for how to behave herself. Her usual high spirits and enthusiasm vanished at this very moment, and she felt muddle-headed. Deirdre cleared her throat, and Glenna was jolted back to reality. She rubbed her palms anxiously at all times and answered, “It's… It’s no… No trouble…”Declan smiled. “You sounded very extroverted on the phone. I didn’t expect you to be so shy in person.”Deirdre could not refrain from chuckling aloud. Glenna was an extrovert, but she would shrivel up when she was in the presence of someone she fancie
Deirdre suddenly began shaking, and the feeling of disgust radiated all over her body. She covered her mouth.Declan hastily stepped on the brake.“What’s going on? Are you alright?”Deirdre recovered from her shakiness and shook her head.“I’m alright.” She said, “Just getting a little motion sickness. Please continue to drive.”Declan said concerningly, “I shall drive slower then. You may let me know if anything.”“Sure.”Deirdre hugged herself tightly, yet she still could not withstand the coldness that chilled her to the bone. The car stopped after half an hour. Deirdre tucked a strand of hair on her face behind her ear. “Are we here?”“Hmm, we’re here. I’ll send you into the house and pay a visit to the village.”Declan was about to remove his seat belt when Deirdre said smilingly, “It’s fine. I’m not fully blind, and I can still tell where the door is. Go ahead and get busy with the Village Alnwick project.”She removed her seat belt and got out of the car while she w
Deirdre was caught in a daze for a moment, but she cleared her head soon enough. ‘Brendan’s tricks are growing cruller with time, and now he has learned to seek pity too?’She would feel sorry for him at this point if she was her past self, but she felt nothing other than hatred now. She said nonchalantly, “What does your well-being have anything to do with me? Go to the hospital if you’re unwell, Brendan. I’m not a doctor and can’t help you. If it’s inconvenient for you to send the phone to me, I’ll seek Mr. King’s help to get it from—”“I won’t hand it to him.” Brendan took a deep breath and concisely interrupted her. Deirdre was stunned and furrowed her eyebrows. “What are you doing, Brendan?”Brendan repeated himself by saying, “Come see me.”“No!” Deirdre roared aloud, her ghastly pale face flushed in anger.The customers in the convenience store looked over at her. She forced herself to calm down with great effort by clenching her fist tightly. Only then she found he
It would be inappropriate, indeed. In the end, Deirdre took the call, but her tone was icy cold. “What the h*ck do you want, Brendan? Are you only pleased after tormenting a person to madness?”Brendan chuckled bitterly. “I’m sick, Deirdre. I’m feeling very ill and have no one else with me. I just want to see you. Even if you don’t care about me, will you not fulfill this request of mine?”After exhaling a breath, Deirdre fell silent while Brendan said, “You can call me despicable or shameless, but I’ll return the phone to you if you come. Otherwise, not only will I destroy the phone, but I won’t agree to get a divorce either.”Upon saying that, Brendan gave her the hotel address and ended the call concisely. Deirdre suppressed the shakiness of her hand as she returned the phone to its spot. “What’s going on?” The storekeeper was extremely anxious. Deirdre shook her head. “It’s done. Please charge me for this call as well.”After leaving the store, her mind was blank.The
It was by no means serious, but external wounds were usually the most painful type of injuries anyone could suffer. Even a little brush on a gash could make one think a sharp, thin blade was peeling their skin. Brendan took a deep breath to calm himself before finishing the entire glass of water. Deirdre placed the glass back on the table.He took another gulp of breath before stating, “The phone’s in the drawer near the headboard.”Deirdre felt her way to the cabinet near the bed and pulled the drawer out. The phone was where he said it would be—a revelation that surprised her since she had not expected him to make it so easy.Then her surprise faded immediately into the same stony face she had reserved for him since the beginning. “Seems like there’s no more reason for me to be here. Goodbye.”She turned on her heels and started toward the door.“D-Deirdre.”His voice came out almost like a frail whisper. She stopped dead in her tracks but did not spare him a glance. Bren
“I had nothing to do with the abduction at all,” said Brendan. “But you won’t believe me if I say that, will you?”The mirthless self-mockery in his tone was so stark even Deirdre felt her heart droop. Doubt crawled into her chest like an invasion of ants—she clenched her hands into fists as a burst of desire to leave seized her.He was back at it again. Back to that idiotic, wounded, “woe is me” pretense. Would he ever quit!? If she stayed any longer, she might just fall for it and be scammed by that stupid innocent look he was making. “Excuse me.”With that, she marched out of the room. Deirdre helped herself with the help of the wall until she felt her chest finally relaxing and she could breathe again. She closed her eyes.She opened them as soon as she finally regained the strength to stand. Remembering where the elevator was, she headed in its direction. There were others inside, and they asked her where to go. She replied through her pale lips, “The ground floor, thanks.
“Girl, you have no idea!” said Glenna, unaware of anything amiss. She even laughed at Deirdre. “Come on. You can’t seriously not know anything about that, right? Okay, so here’s the gossip. Mr. King and Brendan are actually really close. They’re so close they won’t mind lending underwear to one another if the other needs it.“When Brendan got into this big trouble, Mr. King flew straight home from Germia without any warning that he shocked his own family!”Deirdre was stunned. “When was that?”Glenna made a production of counting on her fingers. “About… Huh, I don’t remember the details, but it’s got to be a year ago or something. Mr. King was trying to establish his footing in the Germian business scene, so he almost never returned.”As Glenna prattled on, the smile on Deirdre’s face died second by second. She interjected, “No, you must have gotten all that wrong, Glenna.”The young woman in question blinked in confusion. She broke out a smile. “Okay, why so serious all of a sudd
Deirdre released her grip, and Glenna rubbed on the sore spots. Too sheepish to look directly at Declan, she gave an awkward laugh and replied, “R-Right! We were… b-both too excited to show off our c-cooking skills.”Declan snickered. “God, what did I do to deserve having two attractive women dying to feed me good food? It’s not even my birthday yet!”Hearing Declan call her “attractive” caused Glenna’s brain to eject everything that had happened between herself and Deirdre just seconds ago. Sheepishly, she announced, “I’ll be in the kitchen!”She brought the bags to the kitchen while Deirdre stood still on her spot, unmoving. Declan considered her as he hung his coat and asked tentatively, “Miss McKinnon?”She raised her head, and he smiled. “What’s the matter? Didn’t you have a good rest last night? You’ve been wearing a long face since I got here.”“I didn’t have a good rest, yeah.” She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down, but Glenna’s words haunted her like a sp
"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