“Tobey is coming back?” Deirdre could not help feeling surprised. “Why? Isn’t there still some time until Christmas?”Madame Russell looked toward Deirdre with a smile. “He called me up some time ago, and it was only natural that I brought you up in our conversation. Then, he applied for a long leave of absence from his company, claiming he missed me after not seeing me for more than six months. However, I’m quite certain that he is coming back to see you.”“To see me?” Deidre wrung the towel and was confused. “Why is he coming back to see me?”“Silly girl, I refuse to believe that you don’t have the slightest idea about this.” Madame Russell cracked a gentle smile. “Didn't you know that Tobey has liked you since he was a child?”Deirdre choked on the water she was drinking. Madame Russell hastily soothed her. Deirdre recovered from the cough, but she was still in a daze.She regarded Tobey as her elder brother all this time, and they did not interact much with each other before

Deirdre found it cynical. She could not sleep, so she felt about her closet for her trench coat and put it on before going downstairs.When Madame Russell opened the courtyard door and entered, she had just arrived in the living room. She said hastily when she found Deirdre, “Why aren’t you in the house? Go back quickly. It’s freezing out there.”Madame Russell shuddered while she walked. “A traveler just got here despite the weather. It’s freezing out there, and there’s no telling why the traveler is here. He is dressed in branded clothes and drives a luxury car. However, he’s a very good-looking man, and his arrival caused quite a huge commotion.”“A traveler?” Deirdre felt her heart racing.“Yes, he seems to be looking for someone and refuses to leave at all. He asked me a few questions when he saw me.”“What did he ask?” Deirdre spoke anxiously, her face pale. Madame Russell was stunned for a moment before she said, “In truth, he didn’t ask much. He asked about the situati

“Is that so? That would be amazing!” Madame Russell beamed widely. “If that is the case, don’t even think about leaving anymore, Deirdre. You can stay in the village to run a business, and I will also be able to take care of you.“Ophelia is gone, and I don’t want you to go through hardship anymore. Otherwise, I will be too embarrassed to meet Ophelia in the afterlife when I’m gone,” exclaimed Madame Russell.Tears welled up in Deirdre’s eyes because she knew Madame Russell sincerely cared for her. She kept her head lowered.Madame Russell held her hands tightly and said, “Be my daughter-in-law, Deirdre. I like you sincerely, and so does Tobey.”Deirdre could not bring herself to reject Madame Russell, so she paused for a moment before saying, “We’ll see what Tobey thinks about this.”Madame Russell smiled joyously. “Sure, sure, sure! We’ll see what Tobey thinks about this. If he has feelings for you too, I won’t bear to let you leave us anymore.”‘Speak of the devil.’Tobey’s

“Sure.” Madame Russell sent over the ingredients.Tobey got up as well. “I’ll help.”Deirdre did not decline, but she devoted her full attention to feel for the tools she needed in the kitchen. Her bangs tucked behind her ears scattered before her eyes when she lowered her head to mix the ingredients.Tobey stared at her for a long time before he stretched out his hand. Deirdre took a step back abruptly yet consciously, as if she was hypervigilant.Tobey was stunned for a moment before he tried to explain himself, “Your hair is in the way. Let me help you tuck it.”“Is that so…” Deirdre was embarrassed. She had a hard time trusting outsiders because of what Brendan had done, yet Tobey was not an outsider but a neighbor who would help her frequently in the past.“I’m sorry that I was caught off guard.”“It’s fine,” Tobey answered in a gentle voice. “It’s normal for you to be vigilant because of your visual impairment. This is a good thing. If you’re still as naive and trustful

’First there was Sterling, then Sam, and now there is this Tobey Russell. She has no lack of people who fancy her, so she left without hesitation.’“Mr. Brighthall…” The man at the door was feeling slightly uneasy. When he saw the blood in the intravenous line, he hastily said, “I’m calling the doctor.”“Don’t.” Brendan opened his eyes—they were bloodshot beyond his control. He pulled out his intravenous infusion without any concern for the blood dripping down the back of his hand. “Get me the bus ticket. I’m going to Village Alnwick now. Do it at once, now!”The man said rapidly, “Mr. Brighthall! You still can’t—” He shut his mouth in fear after he met Brendan’s sharp gaze, yet he could not refrain from saying, “Moreover, now is not the best time. We’ve just found Ms. McKinnon and can’t fully confirm if she will stay there. If you show up now, your presence will only hurt her.”“Could it be that you still want her to run away again, Mr. Brighthall? Just recuperate until your bod

As Madame Russell was speaking, she winked at Tobey. Tobey took the hint swiftly. Noticing that Deirdre was still hesitant, he said smilingly, “Don’t worry about my mother, Deirdre. She still has sewing work to do and is not interested in watching musicals. We shall go ahead ourselves and consider it a diversion. You’ve been busy with the yard for days, so it’s time for you to rest and relax your mind.”Deirdre agreed with his remark. Some enjoyed musicals, and those who did not would find them boring. Perhaps Madame Russell would find it a waste of time if she were to go. “Alright then, Tobey and I shall go.”“Go, go!” Madame Russell wanted to shut the door eagerly. “It will be fine even if you come home late!”After the door was shut, Tobey cleared his throat and said, “That’s just how my mother is. She’s always so easily excitable. She is not trying to do anything. She just doesn’t want you to feel lonely. Don’t mind her.”“I know.” Deirdre lowered her gaze and chuckled soft

Yet, Deirdre could not feign the agony and hatred shown in her body language.She could not bring herself to answer his question within a short period. Tobey expressed his dejection. “So, you do have someone already?”“No,” Deirdre blurted and exhaled a breath.She suppressed the tremble caused by the resistance she felt in her heart and forced a smile with great effort. “I was only caught by surprise. Why did you suddenly ask me this? You also know about my current situation and how I don’t meet many people. How can I possibly have someone I like, huh?”“Really?” Tobey’s eyes glistened with a glint. He leaned closer to her and asked in a lowered voice, “So, Deirdre, can I?”Deirdre was stunned. Tobey continued to say, “Deirdre, I’m not scared to make a fool of myself, but I have liked you since high school. You were very outstanding, and I could not help being attracted to you because you were like the sun. Yet, you were too young, and I was ashamed because of that. I strived t

“Alright.”Deirdre nodded. Tobey returned after a short while. “Deirdre.” He sounded unprecedentedly anxious and stern. “I have to return to the company immediately.”“What happened?”Tobey heaved a sigh in agitation. “One of the projects I’m handling is suddenly facing some issues, so I’ll need to handle it. Moreover, I must leave immediately because I can’t afford to lose time. I won’t be able to get a bus ticket if it’s late.”“Ah…” Even though Deirdre did not understand the situation very well, she knew that work was important. “You should go quickly. Don’t worry about me. Madame Russell can come and pick me up later.”Tobey heaved a deep sigh, his eyes still filled with affection. “Dierdre, everything I said to you before you rejected me is valid. I want to be with you to protect and treasure you. I’m doing it not only because of my mother and Madam McKinnon but it’s more so for myself. You can give it proper consideration while I’m away. I’ll be back in a few days. By then

Soon afterward, the man seemed to notice Deirdre and said in a surprised tone, “Is this… Ms. McKinnon from the Russells?”Deirdre could not answer, but she could only glare at the area before her in fear. Who was the person Declan called out to earlier? Kyran? Who was that?Declan came to understand the situation and chuckled softly. He said in an apologetic tone, “I’m very sorry, Ms. McKinnon. Did my friend scare you? He’s a mute and can’t express himself with speech. He always does something that causes misunderstandings. However, he is a nice person. Please don’t take it to heart.”‘Mute?’ Deirdre was stunned. ‘This man is mute? So… He’s not Brendan?’Deirdre calmed down gradually. If that man were Brendan, he would have already exhausted all sorts of threatening measures to deal with her by now. How would he be so calm and composed that he did not even speak or respond after she hit him?“He…” Deirdre pointed at her forehead and furrowed her eyebrows deeply. “Wiped my forehe

“Yikes…” Madame Russell’s expression was solemn. “I heard him speaking on the phone with an anxious tone. Do you think something bad has happened?”“No.” Deirdre comforted Madame Russell by saying, “Tobey sounded anxious because he was worried that he wouldn’t be able to catch the last bus. There’s no airport here. However, I believe the matter is not dire because Tobey said he will be back when he is done handling the matter.”“Great then.” Madame Russell cracked a smile. She asked mysteriously while she held Deirdre’s hand to walk home, “How was it? How was the performance?”“It was rather impressive,” Deirdre answered with her head lowered. In reality, she had only listened to the performance's first half. “How about Tobey and you?”“Huh?” Deirdre was caught off guard. “What about Tobey and me?”Madame Russell smiled mischievously. “Tobey reminded me to take good care of you repeatedly when he called me before he left. He was having such a hard time parting with you that he w