“Where is the place you made wine during your childhood?”Deirdre was forced to look up at the man’s facial outline. In the next moment, she turned her head. “Is that important? You won’t let me go there anyway.”Brendan loathed Deirdre’s close relationship with Tobey when they were young. It felt as if the closer Tobey and Deirdre were, the further the distance between him and her grew. They had secrets between them that he was unaware of. “It’s not important, but I would like to know what he left for you.”“Are you scared?” Deirdre sneered and looked at Brendan while she said, “Are you scared that the object hidden by Tobey will make me distance myself from you?”Brendan did not speak but stared at her closely. Deirdre shoved away his hands calmly. “You can set your mind at ease if that is your concern. If I could leave you, why would Tobey have only told me today?”She made sense. If there was a possibility for her to turn the tables, Tobey would not have waited until now
Perhaps it was due to Deirdre’s trouble in adapting to the turbulence that she was sick on the plane on multiple occasions. By the time they landed, she was weak and exhausted. She forced herself to get up from her seat with great effort, yet her knees buckled. She fell forward, and Brendan responded just in time to catch her by wrapping an arm around her. Deirdre’s face was ghastly pale, and she was having trouble catching a breath. She grabbed Brendan’s collar in a state of anxiety and only loosened her grip when she realized her action. Brendan did not loosen his grip over her at once, but his dark eyes were locked on Deirdre’s face without any reservation. There was concern and guilt in his gaze. He caressed the woman’s ghastly pale face with his fingertips and said weakly, “I’m sorry that I can’t help with anything.”He could only watch helplessly as Deirdre gagged and felt uneasy. His heart was ridden with anxiety, but there was nothing he could do in the presence of Dei
Mrs. Engel’s gaze dimmed when she remembered something and said, “Is it because of Ophe—”“Mrs. Engel.” Deirdre stopped Mrs. Engel in time by saying, “It’s already in the past, so we don’t have to bring it up again. Men are always moving forward.”“Yes, you’re right!” Mrs. Engel hastily nodded. She almost triggered Deirdre’s sadness but could not refrain from advising Deirdre in view of her past experience. “Mrs. Brighthall, perhaps I may not be right, but I know that Mr. Brighthall loves you now. He cares about you, and that is why he traveled far to look for me before finding me in a mountain valley. I broke a leg at the time, and he spent a lot of money to get me treatment. He told me that he didn’t want me to pay him back. Instead, he would like me to take care of you so that you’re happy.”‘So that I’m happy?’Deirdre’s gaze glistened with emotions. In the next moment, her gaze cooled down. Did Brendan not feel that he was going against his conscience when he lied to Mrs.
All of a sudden, Brendan’s dark eyes glistened for a brief moment before dimming again. “How did he die?”Sam was overwhelmed with emotions. “He got into a conflict with someone on the street, and he was…”Brendan furrowed his eyebrows and fell silent. Sam was a close acquaintance of Steven, so he was having trouble accepting the situation. “How did that happen so suddenly? Steven would never get into a fight so easily in view of his personality. In addition, he was living abroad, so he should be more vigilant and cautious. How did that…”Brendan did not speak, but his dark eyes were glistening with emotions. After a while, he said, “Noted. You may leave first.”Sam nodded and headed outside.Brendan continued to read the documents, but he was distracted. He lit a cigarette and then put it out again, his dark eyes tainted with shock.‘Dead… How did he die at such a coincidental time?’Steven was living well abroad initially, and when Brendan wanted to inquire him about the pri
“If I were to tell you that I was completely unaware of the things that happened to you in prison, would you still hate me so much?”Brendan’s dark eyes glistened while his voice was tainted with drunkenness and hope.It was as if he were hoping to hear an answer that he wanted from Deirdre. “No.”In the next moment, his enthusiasm was dampened by the woman’s cold tone. Deirdre’s expression was filled with hatred. “If you did those things that hurt me because you hated me, I could only convince myself that I deserved what I got even if I couldn’t make sense of it. However, if you let me go through all those things when you weren’t even planning to hurt me, I will only hate you more.”The woman’s remark sounded crystal clear and put Brendan’s eager heart down in the dumps. He felt powerless. “You should sleep.”He lowered his gaze and got up from the bed next to her before walking out of the room. The room became quiet and empty instantly, leaving only the sound of the howl
“We tracked Ophelia all the way until Lowe, according to Charlene’s photos. The place had already been vacated when our people got there, but we received information from the villagers today. They claimed that many people live in East Lowe, which is the location in the photos. Moreover, those people are strangers that the villagers are not acquainted with. Hence, I boldly speculated that Ophelia is possibly being kept there!”A tinge of hope flashed past Brendan’s dark eyes. Since there was information, it signified they were already getting closer to the truth. If he could save Ophelia, he would still stand a chance at making up for the mistake he had made in the past.However…Did Charlene really have the capability to hide Ophelia in such a far location?“Commission the professionals and get them to depart tomorrow. I want well-trained professionals to go to the mountain to investigate this matter. I won’t allow any mistakes.”“Yes, sir!”“One more thing.” Brendan stopped fo
Deirdre returned to the living room from the garden and changed the subject, “I’m hungry, Mrs. Engel.”“In a minute, sweetie. Your porridge will be ready soon!”The night, surprisingly, turned out to be a restless one. Then, the next early morning, Deirdre found herself woken up by a shrill commotion with Mrs. Engel’s best attempt at consolation thrown in. She rose, put on a coat, and pushed open her door.The racket became clearer and sharper. It crashed into her ears. “For the last time, where the h*ll is Brendan Brighthall!? Tell him to get down here right now! I am not leaving until everything’s even! “How could he do this to me? I sacrificed my entire youth, my better years, to the Brighthall Group! I let them drive me like I was a slave! And he’s repaying all that devotion by sending me away to some foreign country and forcing my children’s schools to expel my kids!?“What the f*ck is this!? If he’s not going to give me godd*mn explanation, I’m taking this to his old reside
Deirdre looked up. “But why would he hide it from him? Do you really think Brendan’s scared of a guy like that?”“Well…” Mrs. Engel faltered.Deirdre flashed a smile. “I’m going back to bed.”She turned on her heels and made her way back inside. The reveal did not make her feel anything in particular—instead, it just reminded her how talented Brendan was at acting. She almost bought it and believed that maybe, deep down inside, he did care about her or love her.Deirdre had only just stepped inside her room when she heard the sound of Mrs. Engel trying to call Brendan’s phone.The call never connected.-Two days passed. One day, Deirdre propped the side of her head with her palm and asked, “So… That Mr. Jensen guy came back?”“Like clockwork, that man. He left after learning Mr. Brighthall was not at home, at least.” Mrs. Engel looked unsettled. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Miss McKinnon. He seemed very unstable today. He was still himself two days ago, but today… God,
"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