“Cooking?” Niamh took a whiff of the dessert before she threw it on the coffee table in disgust, knocking over the hot water on the table onto Mrs. Waldburg’s expensive dress.
Karen sucked in a breath as she stood and pointed a mortified finger at Niamh. “Have you gone mad, Vera? How could you splash hot water on me? I knew you were no good by your appearance, looking just like that btch Niamh! I just never expected that you would be even more abominable than that btch!”
Seeing Niamh remain unfazed as she ignored her words, Karen reached out to grab Niamh’s wrist harshly. “I suggest you listen to me, Vera Quinn. You’d better not offend this mother-in-law if you want to marry into the Waldburg family, or I swear to God, I’ll make sure you end up just like that b*tch Niamh! You hear me?”
Niamh turned to look at her wrist that was being grabbed by Karen as the woman’s warning sounded in the air. She then broke into a meaningful smile and slowly got to her feet…
“Mother-in-law?” Niamh scoffed as she spoke, mockery apparent on her enchanting features. “How dare you call yourself a mother-in-law?”
“…” Karen’s eyes widened in shock.
Niamh tugged her arm back as her proud eyes swept coldly over Karen’s frustrated and infuriated expression. Frost suddenly permeated the air. “You’re the one who has to watch herself around me. I’m not Niamh Delgado, and I won’t allow you to walk over me and scold or hit me as you wish.”
“You…” Fury flared in Karen’s eyes as she raised an arm to give Niamh a lesson.
“Stop!” Kendrick’s icy tone shot through the air, freezing Karen’s hand mid-strike.
Niamh quirked a defined brow and parted her pink lips. “Do you not see how much Kendrick cares for me? Don’t offend me, do you understand?”
“…” Karen was too infuriated to speak.
A sliver of fear shone in Niamh’s eyes as she looked up and walked toward Kendrick. “Let’s go back, Kendrick. I don’t think Aunty wants to see me.”
Kendrick sent Karen a frigid gaze. “This will be the last time I repeat myself. Vera’s going to be your daughter-in-law very soon. It would do you good to change your attitude around her.”
“Kendrick! You… Don’t let yourself be blinded by this woman’s lies! She’s not as fragile and innocent as you think!” Karen pointed frustratingly at Niamh as she emphasized.
“All I’ve heard is you picking on Vera time and again. I also saw you raising an arm at her just now,” Kendrick stated indifferently as he placed Niamh’s jacket over her shoulders and took her hand. “Let’s go.”
“Hmm.” Niamh nodded, allowing Kendrick to interlock their fingers and bring her away.
Karen took a deep breath and ran after them to the car.
“Why would your mother lie to you, Kendrick? This woman really isn’t the kind and nice person you think she is! You’re going to regret getting married to her, just like when you married that b*tch Niamh!”
Kendrick’s grip on the steering wheel tightened at his mother’s words.
Raising the driver’s window in extreme displeasure, he hit the accelerator and left.
Looking through the rearview mirror, Niamh broke into a small smile at the sight of Karen stomping her foot angrily in the night breeze.
Kendrick made Niamh a bowl of noodles upon their return to the villa.
Perhaps it was the hunger, for Niamh found the noodles rather flavorful.
If they could go back in time and he had shown her even the littlest bit of warmth, they would never have ended up like this today.
Yet there were no such ifs in this world.
…
The following day arrived with Kendrick publishing the news of him getting married to a woman called Vera Quinn.
The internet was filled with thousands of comments blessing the couple, yet Niamh could not bring herself to feel a shred of happiness reading them.
These comments were once negative and filled with insults when she had married him years ago.
There was not even one person who blessed their union during that large-scale ceremony. Her innocent and hopeful prayers were the only thing there was.
Now that she had the blessings of the entire city, she no longer held the same youthful hopefulness of a bride-to-be.
Her phone rang as she read the comments.
Niamh picked the call up without a second thought after glancing at the caller ID. “Felipe,” she greeted, paying attention to the words the man on the other end spoke before nodding. “Alright, I’ve got it.”
Niamh hung up and grabbed her purse, leaving the house.
The unexpected guest she met as she stepped out had her stopping in her tracks.
Niamh’s expression was one of annoyance as she took in Daniel’s sudden appearance. “What do you want this time?”
“Are you free, Ms. Quinn? I’d like to bring you somewhere if that’s alright,” Daniel asked warmly, his voice making it seem as if he was pleading.
Niamh averted her gaze indifferently. “How many times do I have to tell you that I’m not Niamh Delgado? There’s nothing for us to talk about.”
With that, she walked away.
“Ava’s been in a car accident. It’s not pretty. She wants to see you one last time before she goes.”
Niamh’s footsteps halted as her heart began to thrum erratically.
Taking a deep breath, she had a feeling that this could be a test from Daniel and Ava.
How could Ava suddenly get into a car accident? No way, she would definitely be alright!
Niamh thought to herself quietly as she stared at Daniel in annoyance.
“I don’t know this person you speak of. Please leave me alone.”
She hurriedly made her way off, but her heartstrings were pulled taut in her chest.
Daniel’s gaze was sorrowful as he stared at Niamh’s decisively retreating figure. “Do you have to be so heartless, Niamh? Ava was your best friend. Do you want her to leave the world without closure at all?”
Niamh heard Daniel clearly for she had not made it too far when he spoke. However, her heart was adamant.
Still, Niamh trembled as she took out her phone to inquire the moment she turned a corner.
They told her that a lady by the name of Ava Long had indeed arrived at the emergency room due to a car accident.
“Ava…”
Niamh’s heart raced.
Hailing a taxi by the side of the road, she immediately made her way to the hospital Ava was admitted to.
Niamh arrived at a private hospital room after asking around the hospital staff.
The door was open, but she found herself not daring to walk in.
She was afraid to see what Ava would look like all injured.
She was even more afraid of having arrived a tad too late.
Balling her fists, Niamh still entered the room in the end.
Upon walking in, Niamh was dumbfounded by the sight before her eyes.
On the bed lay a person who no longer seemed to be breathing. The ECG showed a flat line.
Niamh walked over nervously, thinking that a closer distance would allow her to see the patient’s face. However, she realized that their head had already been covered and hidden from sight when she arrived by the bed.
The entire bed was covered in a sheet of pure white.
Niamh’s body froze where she stood as she reached out her shaky hands to lift the covers.
Ava’s ashen complexion entered her vision, and Niamh felt the air get punched out of her chest. Her eyes burned as droplets of tears streamed from the corner of her eyes.
“Ava…” she murmured, a shaky finger tracing Ava’s still warm cheeks.
“Why? How did it end up like this?”
Niamh refused to believe her eyes.
She imagined the day of their reunion to be not too far from now, so why did Ava have to leave her at such a time?
Why did the Heavens have to take away the people she loved again and again?
What horrible war had she started in her past life to warrant such painful experiences in this life?
Niamh leaned down painfully, clutching Ava’s hand in hers. The sickening pale color on Ava’s cheeks tore her heart apart.
“I’m so sorry, Ava. Niamh’s late…” she whispered regretfully in Ava’s ear as she hugged her.
However, she then heard a low chuckle by her ear just as she finished speaking.
Still startled, Niamh was met with a familiar voice speaking next to her ear. “Are you finally admitting it now?”
Niamh’s teary eyes widened. She was certain that she had not hallucinated that voice.
As she lifted her head, she stared at Ava’s small grin while she smiled at her with her big eyes blinking. Ava was alive.
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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