Deirdre would never know how much it pained Brendan to see her retreating into the corner like a puppy being bullied. It felt like his heart was being torn into two by someone’s bare hand. The rage—and his helpless ignorance—at the kind of abuse suffered by the woman he loved was coursing through his veins and animating every single fiber in his body. How he wished he could be the one to suffer in her place!The pain from his forceful kiss lingered on Deirdre’s lips. Quivering, she said shakily, “B-Brendan, I…”He threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly. “Why can’t you just… stand up for yourself more, Deirdre? Why?” he murmured, pained.Deirdre did not know how to react at all. She had never heard Brendan use such a voice before—never heard him sound so desperate, so vulnerable, so pleading. “I’m… I’m fine…” It took her a long time to force her thoughts back down to comfort him. “Nothing happened. I’m okay. It wasn’t so bad, you see? If it were, I would have told the w
”Those people were planted there by whoever masterminded this whole thing. They were meant to stay there for only a few days.”“Okay then,” Declan remarked. “Honestly, this turns out to be a backhanded blessing for Miss McKinnon. Since she’s pregnant, after suffering from this incident, the police’s forced to let her stay here, sending only one of their people to watch her. She no longer had to suffer in that sh*thole detainment center now.”Brendan nodded in agreement. This was probably the only silver lining there was.Declan leaned his back against the wall. “Who do you think ordered this attack?”Brendan shot a glance at him and answered, “Charlene.”“I thought the same.” Declan flashed him a smile. “The mastermind behind her is someone meticulous, cautious, and sharp. They couldn’t have possibly done something so stupid that it could frustrate their own plans. So, this is all Charlene for sure.”Brendan’s eyes seemed to be shrouded by a cold, inky mire. “One day, I’ll settle
Deirdre shook herself out of her trance and nodded. “They have recovered nicely.”“But that’s not what you’ll say if the police come and ask the same question, okay? Tell them you’re hurting everywhere and remain in the hospital.”Deirdre froze. “Is that even allowed?”“Of course, it is,” Brendan replied matter-of-factly. “You’re at your safest when you’re staying here. Nobody can ruffle you while I get to be close to you till my heart’s content.”‘Close to me?’Ever since Brendan came clean about his true feelings, he had been acting way too candidly. Deirdre could not even tell what it was making her feel, so she pretended she did not hear that.“Are the bruises still there?” he asked.Deirdre snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. Hesitantly, she admitted, “I mean… at least I think they’re gone.”“Let me have a look.”Pink hues tinted her cheeks. “What?”“The police’s going to send someone to examine your injuries, right? They’ll only let you stay here if those bl
Deirdre was bewildered. His kiss came in so strongly, passionately, and hungrily that it felt like he had swallowed the air around and between them. All she could smell was pheromones—his. They were all over her, and yet… she did not necessarily hate it.His fingers were usually cold, but they were set alight the moment they grazed her skin. Flames spread across her body. “M-Mm…” She let out a moan.Brendan stiffened for a moment. Then suddenly, he amplified his strength, putting so much force into his arms as if hoping to merge the woman into himself.Suddenly, the young woman curled into a ball and hissed. Alarmed, Brendan let go. His features were overcome with worry. “What happened?”Deirdre’s face turned pale. She was still curling into herself. Brendan looked and found stark bruises on her back. Anger pooled in his eyes, and as he reached out to touch it, his fingers were nothing but featherlight. “Does it hurt?”Deirdre let the worst pass for a moment and shook her he
The leader let out a shaky breath and suddenly thought of the winces and pained grimaces their victim had made. These women had always been the ones throwing punches—they had never wondered about the feelings of those at the receiving end of their abuse.They knew it now—just as they now learned fear and regret. “I… I won’t do it anymore…”Sparing her even a seconds-long glance made Brendan retch. “Sounds to me like you girls aren’t getting enough of it yet.”Finally, the women lost even the strength to cry. Brendan wrapped his fingers with a handkerchief before tipping one of their chins to face him. “So, who gave you girls the order?”-Deirdre stirred, opening her eyes. She instinctively rubbed her hand over her bedside, but there was no one.“Miss McKinnon? Are you awake?”She reeled in realization. Had Brendan left? She nodded nonetheless.“Are you hungry? Do you need me to get you something to eat?” “What time is it now?”“Three in the afternoon.”Deirdre was quite
”You should be detained in a cell awaiting your sentence for suspicion of murder, right? So, why are you here in the hospital? And who is that young woman with you?”“Deirdre McKinnon, why are you panicking? You’re not thinking about running away, right?!”“How dare you hide in the comforts of a hospital instead of facing your trials? What kind of world have we come to when a snake-hearted woman like you can evade justice? Not admitting to your guilt is bad, but trying to run away from tough questions? Honestly, McKinnon, did you really think having your billionaire lover shielding you makes you above accountability!?”“Go to h*ll, murderer!”“F*cking wh*re, stealing another woman’s man and trying to murder her to get her out of the way! H*ll has a special place for you, b*tch!”Their commentaries started becoming more and more inflammatory. At one point, someone even started getting physical and shoved Deirdre as hard as they could. The force knocked her footing awry, and she car
Brendan held Deirdre even more tightly. “Dee… You’re worried about me.”“You… idiot!” Deirdre’s eyes felt warm. God, she had to admit—being in his arms, by his side, made her feel so, so safe. But if the price of this safety was an armageddon of a media firestorm, then she would rather not have any of it. “I.. I am not worried about you! I’m just concerned about myself!”He caressed her hair. “It’s okay. Don’t be scared.”There was no sign of him letting go. He simply held her tightly against his chest.His action ignited a stack of kerosene. The mob rioted.“What the f*ck is this!? Mr. Brighthall, are you protecting a criminal in public!?” “So, the things people said on the Internet about you were right! Deirdre McKinnon is your lover, so you’re protecting her! How could you do this to Miss McKinsey!? This b*tch pushed her down the stairs to kill her, and you, the f*cking fiance, chose to side with the criminal and protect her instead of helping your own fiancee!”“Oh, I get
”I’m fine, Mrs. Engel. Really,” replied Deirdre, smiling, as she felt warmth enveloping her heart. She took a sip of water and turned to Brendan. “Are you going to be okay after, um, today?”“Why? It was nothing.”Deirdre was skeptical of his claim, but she simply could not pry more out of him and decided to get information straight from the horse’s mouth. She waited until Brendan went to his study and asked Mrs. Engel instead. “But Miss McKinnon!”Deirdre flashed a smile. “Don’t worry about how I’m gonna take it, Mrs. Engel. I’ve always been resilient. I’m just curious, that’s all. Just wondering how this whole thing will unravel.”Mrs. Engel searched the Internet for a while and immediately closed the browser. “Those people are acting the same as ever,” she said vaguely. “Uh, Mr. Brighthall’s being dragged into it, but I don’t know if it’s going to affect him that much.”Deirdre's mind turned blank. Of course, it was going to affect him!She shook out of her trance and change
"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