“…”
“I was fully conscious as I gritted my teeth. You were defending that heartless liar with all you got. You believed her lies and were so certain that I was the one who killed your adopted daughter, Brittany. You called me an animal. Even when I was in despair, I never cried. Do you know why?”
Niamh took a deep breath. “Because I didn’t have the courage to cry. I was worried that my tears would blur my vision. I wanted to take a good look at my parents before I died even though they hated me to the bone.”
After Niamh said that, Eloise was already crying hysterically. On the other hand, Sean could not control his tears anymore.
They remembered when they went to see Niamh in the conjugal room the time Brittany was murdered.
Niamh’s face had appeared white and haggardly. That image kept on appearing in their heads, as well as their brutal and cruel treatment toward her.
They had cursed and slapped Niamh all to defend Nevaeh. Sean even slapped Niamh who was already weak so hard that she collapsed to the floor.
Their hearts were hurting now as they thought back to it.
They could not endure the pain in their hearts that was caused by remorse.
Eloise and Sean could not imagine how strong Niamh had to be to not cry in that situation.
At this moment, Niamh was as tough and strong as she used to be. She smiled lightly when she recalled her miserable past.
“It’s all in the past. I don’t want to look into anything anymore.”
She smiled lightly as a disappointed glint appeared in her eyes.
“I don’t blame you for being fooled by Nevaeh’s meticulous ruse. I’m just upset that my birth parents were unable to distinguish right from wrong. You even chose to side with her and defend her after you knew how many inhumane things she had done.”
“Eveline…”
“When that pendant fell from me, I stole Mrs. Montgomery’s toothbrush from the hospital to check our DNAs. I knew there was a peculiar relationship between us, but you were so sure that I was the one who stole Nevaeh’s pendant. Perhaps it was fate. I’m destined to meet but not fated to be together with my parents.”
After Niamh said that, her disappointed gaze scanned Eloise’s body. Then, she looked at Sean who was feeling extremely remorseful.
“Despite having no chance to experience the love from my parents, I still want to thank you for bringing me to this world. The thing I longed for the most in this world is to have parents. The person I loved the most in this world was already destined to not be mine. I won’t make demands like how I used to back then.”
After she said that, Niamh turned around without holding back.
“Eveline! Eveline!” Eloise wailed and ran up to her with Sean following behind, but Niamh did not stop.
From the back, she looked carefree. However, tears were threatening to spill from Niamh’s eyes even though Sean and Eloise could not see.
The dim streetlight blurred her vision, but she was still walking carefreely.
Eloise ran outside and watched as Niamh’s car sped away.
At this moment, Eloise finally collapsed and knelt on the icy ground. Tears of sadness and remorse poured from her eyes as she pleaded. “Eveline, my Eveline… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!”
Sean knelt on the ground with one knee in remorse. He held Eloise who was wailing uncontrollably.
Then, it started snowing lightly with snowflakes fluttering around them. The bone-chilling coldness penetrated their bodies, but it could never compare to the sadness and pain in their hearts.
…
Niamh’s phone rang on the way home.
She turned to look and saw Kendrick’s name on the caller ID.
She ignored it before blocking Kendrick’s number without hesitation.
When she was back in the apartment, she took a shower and went to bed.
The next morning, Niamh received Felipe’s call. She got up, cleaned herself, and went to Waldburg Corporation.
When Niamh got there, a gentle smile appeared on Felipe’s handsome face. His bright eyes that looked like onyxes were twinkling softly.
Niamh smiled back at him before bringing Felipe to the office that used to belong to Kendrick.
Felipe looked at the scene outside the french window and saw the snow fluttering among the skyscrapers and onto the nooks and crannies of the bustling city. He was able to capture all those in his eyes.
He lifted the corners of his lips as a rare smile appeared on his face. “This position never belonged to Kendrick in the first place.”
There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Felipe’s voice, as well as a trace of anger in his eyes.
Niamh could understand his dissatisfaction. After all, how could reputation mend the pain and ache of a destroyed family?
Felipe turned around and looked at Niamh. The ominous glint in his eyes disappeared quickly and there was just gentleness left.
“Vera, from now on, everything will belong to us.”
Niamh smiled and nodded. “It’s yours. After all, it’s the Waldburgs’ property. I never wanted to take over this company. Now that it’s back to you, it’s going back to its rightful owner.”
Felipe was shocked. “You don’t want any of this?”
“The thing I want the most right now is to see Kendrick dispirited while having nothing,” Niamh said and frowned as if she was in deep thought.
“However, I keep feeling like the reason why I could hack into Kendrick’s computer so easily to transfer the stocks and important information is that he’s purposely allowing me to do so.”
“You’re saying that he knows you’d do this but he didn’t stop you?” Felipe frowned.
Niamh was quiet. What Kendrick said that day kept replaying in her head. ‘The person I’ve loved this entire time is you.’
“Vera, Vera?”
“Hmm?”
Niamh came back to her senses as she lifted her head to look into Felipe’s gentle eyes.
Felipe asked in concern, “What are you thinking about?”
“Felipe, can you not touch Waldburg Manor?” Niamh asked with a pleading tone.
Felipe frowned, looking at Niamh solemnly before grabbing her shoulders. “Vera, don’t be fooled by that old man. Back then, in order to get the Waldburgs’ estate, he schemed to kill my parents. It’s evident that he’s not a nice person.”
After Niamh heard that, she was silent.
‘Is Grandpa someone who’d do anything just to get what he wants?
‘If he is, then why did he care for an outsider like me so benevolently?
‘Even though he knows I’m back for revenge, he still supported me.’
“Vera.” Felipe’s gentle voice caressed her ear like the spring breeze.
When Niamh came back to her senses, Felipe was already holding her hands.
The man was smiling softly with his eyes filled with emotions.
“Vera, you keep saying that I saved you throughout these three years. However, you have no idea that you’re the one who saved me.”
“Hm?” Niamh did not understand what Felipe was saying.
Felipe did not explain much. He only held her hands gently with a gaze that was even more passionate than before.
“Now that everything’s been sorted, I only have one wish. I hope you can marry me and become my wife. I will cherish you and protect you in this lifetime. I’ll give the best to you and Lily. Vera, will you marry me?”
Niamh knew Felipe had liked her this entire time, but aside from gratitude and appreciation, she did not have any romantic feelings for him.
However, she had told herself that if Felipe were to propose one day, she would not reject him.
After pondering about this, Niamh came back to her senses.
Niamh smiled when she looked at Felipe’s expectant gaze.
Right as she was about to say yes, a stern and overbearing voice sounded from the office. “She doesn’t want to.”
Niamh was taken aback. Then, she lifted her gaze and saw Kendrick’s icy expression as he strode over to her domineeringly.
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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