”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
Brendan gnashed his teeth as he felt wave after wave of dizziness, leaving his internal organs riddled with blood and throes.Glenna retaliated with a smile. “That’s right. You should be suffering more than her. This is the price you need to pay for hurting her.”-Tobey might have paid a great price, but Deirdre finally managed to rest in a room.There was a woman, the wife of a crew member, who was responsible as a chef for taking care of the crew’s meals. When she learned Deirdre was pregnant and bleeding, she purposely came and knocked on Deirdre’s door.Because Deirdre couldn’t see, the woman helped Deirdre to change, put a sanitary pad on her lingerie, and took out her bloody clothes to wash them.Deirdre truly appreciated the woman’s help, but the woman replied, “It’s not a big deal at all. I’m just doing what I can. When I was pregnant, I didn't suffer as much as you are. I didn’t have to board a cargo ship, traveling in the cold wind.”She sat near Deirdre and asked cur
As soon as Deirdre heard Tobey, her pupils constricted with surprise."Impossible!" she retorted.“In this case, why are you so reluctant to let go of his child?”Deirdre looked heartbroken. She didn’t know whether she should explain herself, but she eventually did. “Tobey, I was pregnant in the past.”“What?” Tobey was astounded.While smiling wryly, Deirdre told everything she had experienced in the past few years. Perhaps she was too tired to hide all the grievances to herself and felt rather relieved after she finished speaking.Meanwhile, Tobey was shivering. He was so furious that his eyes reddened and he punched hard at the railing. “That lunatic! Why doesn’t he die!?”Moving her messy hair aside, she said, “I'm sorry for that child. I always feel that I owe him. If I could protect him back then, he wouldn't leave in that way with despair…”“Deirdre…” Tobey hugged her. “It is just an embryo, yet to become a fetus.”“Yes,” said Deirdre, her eyes downcast. “But I’m still
“What do you mean by impossible?” Brendan’s handsome face was indifferent. The corners of his lips curled up into a mocking smile when he said, “You’ve underestimated her too much. What can't she do to stay away from me? Let alone to board a cargo ship, even if she was asked to dive into the water, she would never hesitate…”His eyelids were so heavy again that he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Following that, he asked soberly, "Where are those ships going?"Sam belatedly realized that Brendan was asking him a question and replied, “It’s not clear because those ships can go anywhere with the waterway extended toward all directions. Special cargo ships are heading for almost all reachable cities.”Brendan didn’t say anything else. He merely bent to pour himself a glass of wine and continued pouring it down his throat.Sam felt heartache and advised, “Mr. Brighthall, stop drinking. You got well not long ago. What if your health relapses?”With a sardonic smile, Brendan pour
There was no need to sign a contract, and the house had two rooms and one living room, making it very convenient to live in.After settling down, Tobey took Deirdre to a clinic to check on her pregnancy.After the consultation and tests, the doctor said there were signs of miscarriage. The embryo would have been lost if it weren't for good luck.Deirdre was reminded of the day they were on the run—she had been bleeding and almost had had a miscarriage.Fortunately, she had managed to pull it through. Otherwise, she might not have been able to survive the miscarriage on the ship.Following that, the doctor prescribed some medicine for Deirdre. The total cost for the consultation fee and medicine was about 300 dollars.When they had to pay, Deirdre couldn’t help but feel pain.“Tobey, what about we don’t take the medicine…” Deirdre’s face turned pale because she knew it was the time when they needed money the most. “The child… will be aborted sooner or later. Hence, it's a pity to
“Well, there’s nothing to cry about. We’re just hiding temporarily, not forever. When Brendan gives up, I’ve enough experience to work in a big company. This job that I found pays daily, and it’s an opportunity for me to gain experience. Hence, I think it’s quite good.”Although Tobey said it was quite good, Deirdre didn’t think so. She knew how tough it was to work at a construction site. She thought the job might be suitable only for a middle-aged man without a degree who had never enjoyed a good life.However, Tobey was still young. He used to be a manager with an annual salary of more than 100,000 dollars in a national company, yet he had to lower his status to work under someone else.She thought it was ridiculous.However, she had no right to say no because Tobey was the one who had to support their daily lives.Swallowing back her tears, she washed the apples in the bag. When she handed Tobey one, he said, “Don’t pressure yourself, Deirdre. In fact, I do enjoy my current li
"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