Brendan had always been a master weaver of lies. “Declan has an ongoing project in Neve, but his project at Alnwick sets him back from finalizing the deal. I’m going there on his behalf.”Deirdre nodded. A moment later, she declared, “I don’t want to go.”She began to shiver. “There are too many traumatic memories associated with that place. I can’t even think about it without feeling fear. I worry that I might not even be able to sleep once I’m there. It’s that stressful.”An expecting mother’s mental health would always be the top priority. The last thing Brendan wanted was for Deirdre feeling too tense and distressed. The excuse not to go with him practically wrote itself, and all Deirdre had to do was to use it. “So, I think you should go alone. I’ll be fine here. Don’t worry. If you’re worried about me, then give me a call every once in a while when you’re free.”Brendan kissed her hair. “What happens if you accidentally kick the table and get injured?”She laughed. “Kyran, p
Despite being visually impaired, Deirdre could still make out who the figure could be. “Tobey? Is that you?”“Dee!”Deirdre was startled. She scanned around cautiously before continuing. “I thought you said we’d contact each other over the phone! Why are you suddenly here, in person? What if Brendan’s moles—”“Don’t sweat it, Dee,” he replied, smiling. “I would only come here in person after being 100% sure both he and his people were gone. It’s just you and me here.”Deirdre breathed a sigh of relief, though some of her anxiety and paranoia refused to go. She unlocked the door hurriedly and stepped inside. Turning around, she called out to him, “We’ll talk inside.”“I’ll pass.” The young man looked at the mud caking around his soles. “I’ll talk here.”Deirdre stopped by the door as Tobey scowled. “Brendan left for Neve, didn’t he? I saw the news. He’s engaged to some woman named Charli McKinsey!”A beat later, Deirdre answered him placidly. “You’re right.”“That crazy b*stard!
For some unknown reason, the uncertain, almost unsettled look on Deirdre’s face summoned a swirl of anxiety. He frowned, and his eyebrows locked together into a knot. He could not tell why or where this anxiety was coming from, but his gut was telling him that something big was about to happen…“Bren!”The door to the lounge opened. Charlene sashayed into the room in tailor-made sartorial finery, decked in jewelry amounting to more than a million dollars in total. She seemed to have made it her mission to become the epitome of a wealthy exhibitionist—one could see it on her face. And her face! The surgery was clearly a success, judging from her recovery. After leaving the detainment center, Charlene had some of her “imperfections” adjusted, and with the right application of cosmetics, she was genuinely beautiful in her own way. Brendan tossed a glance in her direction and felt a surge of disgust shooting into his mouth. His mien was frigid, but Charlene dismissed it altogether wi
This time, however, the elusive Madame Brighthall made her appearance. Anyone who could read between the lines knew what that meant. And so everyone began to treat Charlene as the confirmed Mrs. Brighthall. Charlene had achieved her objective. Deirdre switched off the TV, hung a coat on herself, and went upstairs to her bed. She placed her hand on her abdomen and lay on her back for a while before finally falling asleep. As her dream slowly coalesced, her phone suddenly rang from beside her head. She was startled awake. Feeling for her phone, she pressed the answer button and asked raspily, “Who’s this?”“Dee.”Hearing Kyran’s voice drew Deirdre out of her sleep, though not necessarily out of her dream. It felt as though she was back in those days again when Kyran was just Kyran. But if it were a dream, then why did she feel a chill crawling up her spine?She steeled herself as best she could. “Kyran? Are you finally finished with your work?” “Mm… Hmm…” He sounded drunk. His
“That’s more like it,” Deirdre said quickly, relieved. He believed her now, did he not?Dread refused to leave her alone. She had thought that with everyone leaving the compound, Tobey could come right at her door and still be relatively safe. She was wrong—Brendan had somehow made her neighbor his mole, too. The only small solace was that the neighbor did not recognize Tobey.Deirdre bit her lips tightly. She should insist on bringing Tobey inside the next time. “Dee.”She snapped out of her thoughts. “Oh? What’s the matter?”“I want to go home. To see you.”Deirdre was stunned. She chuckled. “Alright, it’s a little too late for jokes now, Kyran. There’s no flight coming home right now, and you’re not driving in this state. What you should do is rest. Go to sleep.”“I could always ask someone to drive me home.”“Nope, that’s still dangerous to my liking. I won’t be able to sleep knowing that!” she said, doing her best to assure him. Brendan finally relented. “Okay. But only
”Hello!”“Someone’s very chipper today.”It was prudent of Deirdre to have stopped shy of calling out Tobey’s name, or Brendan would have immediately caught wind. “Did you guess it was going to be me?”Deirdre gripped her fork tightly. “Who else could have called me?”He laughed. Deirdre heard the sound of the airport announcing boarding time for a specific plane and froze. “Where are you?”“Aww… You heard that?” Brendan sounded a little disappointed. “It was supposed to be a surprise, but I guess the announcement had to come at the worst possible timing, huh? I’m coming back from Neve.”Deirdre jumped to her feet, her chair falling behind her. “Why are you suddenly coming back? You said your trip would take three days. It’s only the second day today!”“You’re the reason, Dee. What else could it be?” He chuckled and lowered his voice. “I hate every second of being here. I just couldn’t stop myself from thinking about you and our child. Besides, I don’t feel safe leaving you al
Because they were to leave by cargo ship, they couldn’t take their car with them. Therefore, Tobey had to park the car at the roadside, which was quite far away from the pier.To avoid letting the cat out of the bag, they ran immediately after getting out of the car and tried to board the cargo ship before 11:00 a.m.In addition to the strenuous exercise, Deirdre had not slept for a night already. Hence, she felt her lower abdomen aching.Covering her lower abdomen, she felt a stream of heat under her body, along with a sharp pain.“What’s wrong, Deirdre? Are you tired?”Deirdre shook her head with her face white as a sheet.“Endure a bit. The cargo ship won’t wait for us. We’ll be fine as long as we get there,” comforted Tobey.“Okay.” Deirdre nodded. She didn’t tell Tobey about her body’s condition. As time waited for no man, she stretched herself to the extreme and paced forward until she finally got to the pier.She heaved a sigh of relief when she felt that her lower abd
“Well, let’s just submit to fate.”She had no other choice because this was her only chance to escape. She was willing to die instead of returning to Brendan.“But! But—““Tobey, there is no but.” With downcast eyes, Deirdre said, “I know you well. Once I told you I’m pregnant, you’d have scruples and may not even have let me on the ship for the fear that I may have accidents on the ship. However, you don’t know Brendan. This is the only chance I can escape!”“Oh, dear…” Feeling distressed, Tobey said, “But what if something happens to you?”“No, it won’t.” Deirdre smiled. “I felt pain just now when I bled, but I’m a lot better now.”Tobey took a deep breath. “Hold on, let me talk to them. Since you’re pregnant, you must not be harsh to yourself. Even if we have to pay extra, you’ll have a room to stay.”-At that moment, Brendan rushed to the mansion. The door was opened, and he could smell Deirdre’s scent, but none of her clothes and belongings could be seen.Deirdre’s belon
"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