Brendan's sudden request for Deirdre to go to the room surprised her. They had never done this before and usually maintained a certain distance between them.

Deirdre pretended to be unfazed and got up from the sofa. Ryker narrowed his eyes and asked, "Ms. McKinnon, do you often go upstairs alone with Mr. Brighthall?"

"Yes," Deirdre replied calmly. "Whenever he has free time, he reads bedtime stories to our child upstairs."

"Read bedtime stories?" Ryker raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Deirdre