Deirdre nodded while Tobey came back to the point of the conversation by saying, “You sought my help yesterday, but you haven’t managed to tell me what sort of help you need.”Deirdre’s breathing felt much heavier upon hearing that. She clutched a book she held tightly.“Tobey, please don’t be too surprised by what I’m about to tell you.”“What’s going on?”Deirdre regulated her breathing for a while. “It’s possible that my mother is still alive.”Tobey’s eyes were filled with disbelief upon hearing that. Deirdre continued. “I’m unable to explain this matter fully. All in all, I wasn’t with my mother during her death, and I only found out about her death after a long time. I gradually accepted the information, but then this photo came. She pulled the photo out of the book. “My friend told me that the person in this photo looks about 70% similar to me and about my mother’s age. Can you please help me to take a look if it’s her?”Tobey’s expression turned serious as he took the
Declan pondered for a moment. Before he could answer, Glenna sneered and said, “Mr. King, you make the act of sleeping with someone sound so refreshing and refined.”Declan furrowed his eyebrows ever so slightly. “That’s not what I mean.”Glenna asked, “What do you mean then? You don’t love me, yet you want to take care of me as my boyfriend. What else are you trying to say if not this?”She mocked herself by saying, “Should I feel honored that I’m capable of charming Mr. King with my appearance and identity? I should be grateful that I’m so blessed.”Declan subconsciously shifted his gaze to the face and figure that Glenna was referring to. The woman belittled herself improperly. In truth, Declan found her to be very pretty, and her figure was also quite amazing.He swallowed a gulp of saliva without his notice. Declan said, “It’s possible that I spoke inappropriately without considering your feelings. What I’m trying to say is that I know that I’ve disappointed you in some w
“How is this happening?” Deirdre inhaled sharply. She agreed that it seemed intentional indeed. “Are they doing this to dismiss your company because they are not planning on working with your company anymore, but they refuse to reject the company?”“No. The collaboration is supposed to be a win-win situation for both companies.” Tobey was amused. “Moreover, we did it because of them… So, I would assume that it was Kyran who commissioned someone to distract me if I didn’t know that you and Kyran had just gotten acquainted at the time.”Deirdre smiled and regarded it as a joke. After all, it sounded absurd. They chatted for a while more until Tobey’s phone rang. He picked up the call and said, “You’re here too? Please hold on.”He asked Deirdre, “I have a university friend who’s nearby and wants to pass something to me. Will it be okay for my friend to drop by for a while?”Deirdre nodded. “Of course.”Tobey announced the exact address to his friend and said after hanging up the c
Jamie feigned his anger. “What do you mean? Do I look like that kind of person who takes advantage of women by shaking their hands?”Deirdre could not help laughing. She took it upon herself to extend her hand. “Hello, Jamie.”Jamie was chivalrous indeed. He loosened his grip over her soon after they shook hands. Then, he asked enthusiastically, “Are you from here, Deirdre? Do you know of any good places to eat here? The three of us should go grab some lunch, my treat!”“She’s not living here. Moreover, she has been living in Neve for a few years, so I’m sure that she wouldn’t know about the food scene here.”“Neve?” Jamie was surprised. “I’ve returned to Neve for three to four years since I finished graduate school, but I’m actually unaware of such a beautiful girl living in Neve. It seems that I’ve been staying at home for too long.”He was only joking, but Deirdre was thinking way too much. It was normal for Jamie not to notice her presence because she had been hated by every
Jamie said, “I’m not too sure about that either, but I found him familiar.”“Familiar?”Jamie asked in a serious tone once again, “Is his last name Reed for real? Are you sure that he’s not someone else?”“Hmm. Aside from that, it’s also impossible for you to have met him elsewhere before.”“Why do you say so?”Tobey said, “If I’m not mistaken, Deirdre told me that he grew up in Eastgene as a child and lived in Germia for a long time. You’ve never been in either of these places, so how can you be acquainted with him?”“You’re right.” Jamie said softly, “Perhaps I’ve mistaken him for someone else. I’ll ask someone when I’m back in Neve.”-After getting in the car, Kyran asked, “Are you going to reach out to Tobey in the next two days?”He remembered Tobey’s remark even though it was no longer as provocative as before.Deirdre nodded. “Tobey will be leaving the day after tomorrow, and that is why he is traveling between Village Alnwick and here to stay in touch.”“Leaving the
“Yeah.” Deirdre felt a pang of pain shoot through her chest. She was confident that Kyran must have gone through a lot as well. “This is the result of his efforts. It wasn’t easy for him to get where he is today.”“Yeah.” Tobey averted his gaze. Suddenly, he remembered something and chuckled.“What’s the matter?”“Do you remember Jamie?”“Yeah.” According to Deirdre’s memory, Jamie was a cheerful young man who liked to help other people.“Initially, he planned to invite the two of us to a meal today. But he suddenly thought of something, so he went back to Neve after his mission was over.”“What did he think of?”Tobey continued indifferently. “He said that he felt Kyran was familiar and he seemed to have seen him before in Neve. He remembered that he had a photo of him on his old phone, so he went back to get it.”Deirdre was stunned for a moment. Then, she smiled. “He must've mistaken Kyran for someone else. Kyran only works in Eastgene and Germia. He has only heard of Neve
Eilis felt a bit embarrassed. Since it was her fault, she forgave Charlene for her rude comments and smiled. “I’m very sorry about that, girl. You were standing behind me, so I didn’t see you.”“You didn’t see me? Are you saying that I purposely walked into your elbow myself and allowed you to hit me? How is there any possibility that you didn’t see me?” Charlene pressed on. She pointed at a shopkeeper and said, “Hurry up and get this old thing out of this salon! Can't you smell her body odor? I'm sure that her house must be a garbage dump. I can't believe that you guys are willing to serve her. Are you not worried that she might spread the virus and bacteria on her body to others?”Eilis’s face turned pale when she heard Charlene’s harsh comment about her.She had made the clothes on her body all by herself. Even though they were a bit worn out, she would take them off and wash them when they got dirty, so there were no stains on her clothes at all. “What are you still waiting fo
Deirdre did not expect Brendan to tell Charlene everything, and that was what infuriated her the most.He used her pain as a tool to please Charlene. Otherwise, how would Charlene be so clear about what happened? Deirdre closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down. After a short while, she opened her eyes and ignored Charlene. She turned around and looked at Tobey. “Let’s go.”Tobey could see that something was not right with Deirdre. He nodded, and the trio began walking toward the door.Charlene’s lips curled up in a cold smirk as she said, “Hold on for a second.”Deirdre stopped in her tracks.Charlene approached her and leaned closer to her. There was only a small distance between their lips as she said, “Since both of us have known each other for so long, let me give you a hint. Are you sure the Kyran who shares the same bed as you is the real Kyran?”Deirdre froze. In the next second, she caught a familiar scent from Charlene, and her countenance turned ashen pale. Sh
"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