Perhaps she had gotten hurt then, and in her wound buried a thorn. Every time they met again, the thorn would start to hurt her. The pain only worsened until she got to the point where she started praying for death…
Niamh furrowed her defined brows as the dreamscape began to shift, bringing her back to the most painful memory from three years ago. Her hands reflexively gripped the bedsheets, and she began to mumble while sleepwalking.
“Why, Ken? Why won’t you just believe me…”
For a moment, Kendrick thought he heard someone calling the name ‘Ken’. This thought snapped him back to reality as his confused gaze landed on Niamh.
He watched her pretty brows crease and her cherry blossom lips part as if she was sleep talking.
“Why…”
Niamh’s brows furrowed deeper at the sudden question.
‘Why?
‘Did she just say why?’
Starting at the look of distress on Niamh’s features, Kendrick leaned over to hear her better.
“Why won’t you believe…”
Bang!
Just as Kendrick was about to lean his face closer to Niamh’s ear, the ward door was pushed open with a loud bang.
He was interrupted right before he could hear Niamh’s entire sentence.
His sharp brows were scrunched as Kendrick lifted his gaze that was filled with extreme displeasure.
Eloise barged into the room in a huff. “How can you be here waiting by this woman’s bed lovingly while my daughter is still in a coma because of you, Kendrick Waldburg? Not only that, but I can’t believe you kissed her too! What do you take Nevaeh for?”
Kiss her?
Kendrick stared coldly at Eloise, thinking that she had seen him lean forward toward Vera and misunderstood the scene.
The dignified and proud Kendrick met Eloise’s fuming gaze before he parted his thin sexy lips in a casual reply. “Yeah, I kissed her. So what?”
Eloise’s expression darkened. “How could you say such a thing, Kendrick? Nevaeh’s—”
“Nevaeh and I are no longer engaged.” Kendrick’s words were frosty and distaste became apparent in his peach blossom eyes. “How many times must I repeat myself before you accept the fact?”
“You…” Eloise felt the fury consume its way to her chest. “How could you be so heartless, Kendrick? Nevaeh’s been with you for so many years. You’re the only one she has ever wanted. How could you dump her for a witch who looks just like Niamh Delgado? Do you even have a guilty conscience, Kendrick?”
“Enough!” Kendrick suddenly yelled, startling Eloise to a halt.
Kendrick’s attractive features were currently graced with a splash of fury and his eyes were covered with frost. “I refuse to allow anyone to slander her again.”
“Her?” Eloise rolled her eyes hilariously at Niamh who was still deeply asleep, thinking that Kendrick was referring to Vera Quinn. “Hmph. The Montgomeries will never forgive you if you hurt Nevaeh, Kendrick. Nor will we forgive this witch!”
With that said, Eloise left. Her infuriated words carried the promise of a threat and the dignified aura of a rich missus.
However, Kendrick did not seem fazed at all by her threat. The Montgomeries may be one of Glendale’s four major rich families, but they did not hold a candle to the Waldburgs.
Not to mention, since when had anyone managed to threaten Kendrick Waldburg? Kendrick was afraid of no one.
If anything, Kendrick’s biggest fear would be the moment blood trickled out of Niamh’s mouth as she lay lifelessly in his arms…
He initially wanted to listen to Niamh sleep talking, but she seemed to have stopped talking after Eloise’s interruption.
After staring at Niamh’s quiet appearance for a few seconds, Kendrick turned and left as well.
Only after the doors were closed did Niamh dare to blink open her eyes.
When Eloise barged in earlier, it had shocked her awake.
While pretending to still be asleep, Niamh listened in to every word of hatred Eloise had for who she was before and who she was now.
The corners of her lips quirked self-deprecatingly as her eyes burned and reddened.
The previously blurry memories from right before she succumbed to darkness finally cleared, and she remembered how Kendrick had suddenly appeared to save her in time.
She remembered how he had held her tightly and comforted her as well as how she had leaned into his embrace from how safe he made her feel…
Niamh’s heart began to race, thumping a familiar beat in her chest.
She bit her lip and clenched her fists.
‘No. How could I possibly fall for him all over again?
‘I hate him!
‘The love within me died with every push toward the deep end he forced me to take.
‘It’s like how drowning survivors would never yearn for the sea again.
‘But I promise I’ll let you know how it feels to be suffocated, Kendrick.’
…
Eloise returned to Nevaeh’s hospital room where Kendrick arrived shortly after.
Eloise seemed proud of herself at Kendrick’s arrival, thinking that her words must have gotten through to him.
“Took you long enough to start worrying about Nevaeh.” Eloise’s tone was cold.
“Nevaeh has gone through too much, Kendrick. I can’t believe she got… taken advantage of by four different men. Stay by her side, Kendrick. I’m scared that she might take her life lightly because this burden is too much for her to handle…” Rose wiped a tear sorrowfully, playing the part of a broken- hearted mother.
Kendrick frowned, directing the frost in his gaze to Rose.
Amid her fake crying, Rose averted her gaze immediately when they met Kendrick’s suspicious ones.
“I thought you were watching Nevaeh this entire time? How did she end up at the waste paper factory in the west?”
“I went to get her some water, but Nevaeh was gone when I returned,” Rose stuttered to explain.
“I thought her legs were fractured? How could she suddenly walk again?”
“It… Someone must’ve planned to take Nevaeh away!” Rose lied. “It must be Vera. She must’ve told someone to kidnap Nevaeh!”
Kendrick’s gaze hardened. “What evidence do you have to support your claim that Vera did it? I suggest you watch your words before you baselessly accuse others.”
“…” Rose was left speechless. In the face of Kendrick’s icy gaze, Rose felt beads of cold sweat form from all the pressure she was feeling.
“I’ll definitely find the evidence to prove that it was her!” Eloise suddenly proclaimed, “Only she would hurt Nevaeh in such a ruthless way!”
Kendrick’s sharp brows frowned at her words. Just as he parted his lips to speak, a nurse exited the room. “She’s awake, but her emotions are rather unstable. Try not to upset her.”
“Nevaeh,” Eloise exclaimed heart-wrenchingly, distress apparent on her features.
She pushed the door to enter only to be held back by Rose. “I think the person Nevaeh wants to see the most now is Kendrick, Mrs. Montgomery. I’m sure you have a lot to say to her, Kendrick. We should let them spend some time together first!”
Eloise agreed.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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