The maid fell onto her knees pathetically. “B-But Madame Brighthall, Miss McKinsey’s going to marry Mr. Brighthall! She’s going to be our mistress very soon, and we… We can’t possibly say no to someone like that! What if Miss McKinsey holds grudges against us—”“You’re telling me… You cower before her so-called authority while I’m still alive!?”“Madame Brighthall?”A soft, quiet voice flitted through the room from upstairs. The older woman turned around.Deirdre was standing at the stairs, her expression placid. Her eyes were not even red. “Madame Brighthall, it was not a big deal at all.” She continued flatly. “They aren’t wrong to think twice about keeping her out. Charli’s going to be the next mistress of the family, and if they refuse her entrance on your behalf, it’s only going to become a point of conflict between you and your daughter-in-law.”“Dee!” Madame Brighthall felt her words choking in her throat. She could imagine just how smug Charlene had been when she deliberat
”Deirdre is the one you truly love! So what’s with this…. wedding with Charlene? God, it’s like I don’t even know my own son anymore!”Brendan was silent. Then, almost languidly, he said, “This is between Deirdre and me, mom. You don’t have to care.”“I don’t have to care?” Madame Brighthall took a deep breath to maintain her composure. “I would love to turn away, Bren! I even wish you could just marry Charlene already, and then what happened? You would put yourself at death’s reach if it meant you could keep Deirdre by your side. But now that you have her back with you, you… go ahead and do these things that just don’t make any sense!” “This whole thing is hard to explain.”Madame Brighthall felt her heart chilled. “So, you’re not even going to attempt to explain it, are you? Or are you telling me that the one you love has always been Charlene McKinney, and the only reason you did so much to get Deirdre back was that you’re just that possessive?”Brendan thinned his lips. The mo
Charlene entered while stretching her waist. She said, “You are indeed putting up with it that you don’t even turn on the light. So, this is how you are being treated? It seems that you don’t have a great life anyway.”Faking a smile, Deirdre replied, “For sure, I’m not as honorable as you are, that you have thousands of supporters just to celebrate a birthday. I’m just staying here in the mansion.”Feeling rather proud, Charlene teased, “So, Deirdre, what’s the meaning of you living in this world? You should have taken a look at yourself, whether you are capable of snatching Brendan away from me. Whether it's the wedding in the near future or the birthday party today, Brendan will give me whatever I request. He has been accompanying me these few days too—”Charlene didn’t continue but cast a meaningful look.Accompanied? How had he been accompanying her?Thinking of the possibility Brendan might have done it with Charlene, Deirdre felt badly nauseous and thought about how unclean
Deirdre was on the brink of collapse. “Charlene McKinney! You vicious woman! How could you attack a patient with mental health and an unsound mind!? Why aren’t you dead yet!?”Charlene was forced to retreat to the balcony, yet she kept provoking Deirdre, “You can’t blame me only, can you? You should blame yourself for falling in love with Brendan. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have needed to deal with a fool, would I?“Thankfully, Brendan arranged for your mother to be there, where all his men were my subordinates. Hence, I could easily approach her and even delete all scenes recorded by the monitoring cameras except the scene when your mother jumped down. To put it bluntly, Brendan was the accomplice.”Taking a deep breath, Deirdre felt so painful that she was trembling.“Deirdre, don’t you think that you’re such a j*rk? The man you love not only sent you to suffer in prison but also loves the culprit responsible for your mother’s death.”“Shut up!” Deirdre looked up with her eyes turned
Charlene must not die. Otherwise, Deirdre couldn’t explain herself under so many eyewitnesses.Seeing the scene, Brendan held tightly on the rail, so tightly that his veins were bulging.He had taken a lot of precautions, but he didn’t manage to prevent Charlene from provoking Deirdre.When he saw someone taking pictures, Brendan subconsciously stood before Deirdre to protect her while his eyes filled with coldness.“If I do remember correctly, you must be the chief editor of the Entertainment Weekly Magazine.” Squinting his eyes while looking at the man with the camera, Brendan warned, “If any photos are leaked today, I guarantee that Entertainment Weekly Magazine will vanish completely from Neve! You can try if you don’t believe it.”The Entertainment Weekly Magazine was the largest media outlet in Neve. As the chief editor, the man had a lot of connections, so he could stop all media outlets from publishing the news as quickly as possible.That was the reason Brendan purposely
With a loud noise, the cover of the lamp shattered on the ground.Slowly, Brendan put down his arm, which had a long and narrow cut on it. Blood gushed out, but he didn’t even frown. He was merely stunned.For Deirdre to really attack him, she must really hate him.He even believed that Deirdre would push him down the balcony, just like how she had pushed Charlene if she were powerful enough.Madame Brighthall rushed upstairs toward them. When she saw Brendan’s bleeding arm at the door, she was startled for a moment and hurriedly went forward.“W-What’s wrong? Deirdre… Brendan… What—”Brendan’s phone rang out suddenly. When he saw the caller on the screen, he accepted it with his uninjured arm.“Mr. Brighthall.” Sam’s tone sounded serious. “Have you solved the problem of the banquet? Would you like to come over? Charlene is—”“Okay, I’ll be there immediately.”Brendan immediately cut off the call and was prepared to depart. His action pulled up short Madame Brighthall for a mo
After Deirdre’s wounds were dressed, Madame Brighthall kept her company for a while. Deirdre lay on the bed after Madame Brighthall left, yet she was having difficulty falling asleep. She dreamt of her mother sitting cross-legged under the apricot tree and waving to her when she finally fell asleep. Her smile was just as kind and gentle as before. “You’re late. Put down your school bag quickly. I don’t want my precious daughter to be tired.”She ran forward with tears down her face, yet the scene changed to the rooftop instantly. She watched as her mother jumped from the rooftop and screamed hysterically, but there was nothing she could do.“Miss McKinnon! Miss McKinnon!”Deirdre was awakened by the sound of someone knocking on the door. She sat upright in shock, breathing heavily, and her face was drenched in tears.“What’s going on?”She felt her way to open the door. The maid said in a panicked tone, “Miss McKinnon, the police are here.”Deirdre sat in the living room and
Brendan signaled the caregiver to leave. He asked coldly after the door was shut, “Did you call the police?”Charlene blinked innocently upon hearing that, and her expression turned so grievous instantly that she was almost tearing up.“Hmm… Brendan, I know you must think I’m at fault. However, I can’t help it because Miss McKinnon is truly terrifying! She shoved me down the stairs with her own hands! Had the grass not cushioned my fall, it’s possible that I wouldn't be alive anymore. I’m lucky I only broke a leg, but I don’t have the courage to think what Miss McKinnon would do to me in the future. So, I can only let her face the consequences she deserves.”“Consequences that she deserves?” Brendan narrowed his eyes.Meanwhile, Sam’s call came. “Sir, the situation is looking very bad now. It’s apparent that Charlene is well prepared in her plan. There is a drone recording of Miss McKinnon pushing Charlene down the stairs, and it is posted online. The online community is already
"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