Chapter 249 – Until You Say Sorry Novel

He had no one to blame for the one he hated was himself.

The sunset blurred his vision as the corners of his eyes grew wet.

He could almost see the scene of him chasing after Niamh happily by the sea years ago when they were still young. He had left her there, never to be found again…

Niamh walked out of the lift with a sleeping Jackson in her arms. Not two steps out, she found someone standing in front of her apartment.

Kendrick Waldburg.

He was leaning lifelessly against the wall. The man stared blankly in front of him like a plank of wood that had lost all thoughts and feelings. He was rooted foolishly in place.

Kendrick had always been cold and untouchable as far as she was concerned, dignified and bossy.

She had never seen such a dispirited look on the man.

Perhaps he felt her gaze, for Kendrick looked up. His downcasted eyes fixed clearly on Niamh’s face while everything else blurred.

“Eveline!”

Kendrick strode forward, the gloom in his eyes vanishing in place of relief.

He reached out with a smile as he saw Jackson in Niamh’s arms. “I’ll hold him.”

“It’s fine.”

Niamh rejected, but Kendrick had already taken him.

Afraid to wake the child, Niamh did not protest.

All she could do was open the door so that Kendrick could carry Jackson into the house.

Tucking Jackson in bed, Kendrick carefully closed the door behind him as he left for the living room.

Niamh reached out to take two new copies of the divorce papers from her bag as he walked out.

“Since you’re here already, sign first before you leave.”

Kendrick frowned at the divorce agreement. “I’m not signing.”

Niamh chuckled and walked toward Kendrick with a pen in hand. “That’s what I said too, but what did you do instead?”

“I’ve already told Jack that you’re going on a long business trip and won’t be coming back. Felipe and I will then bring Jack to F Country. We’re not coming back anymore. Hate me or love me, we’re our own entities from now on.”

She placed the pen in Kendrick’s hand. Affection would no longer exist in her calm gaze. There would only be alienation that was even colder than what strangers would have.

“Sign it, Kendrick. Let’s get divorced.”

With his heart shattered to pieces, Kendrick felt the shards cut deep within him, leaving bloody wounds in their wake.

He took the pen and stared at Niamh’s alluring features while his breathing became hitched.

“Do you hate me that much?” he asked weakly, a shred of hope in his heart.

Yet Niamh’s response was decisive. “I do, I hate you. So much.”

Kendrick’s lips curled faintly as he took in a deep breath.

He took the papers and skimmed through them.

She wanted nothing, none of his assets or money—just custody of the child.

Kendrick placed the pen down. “Very well. I agree to the divorce, but I won’t let go of Jack.”

Niamh’s calm expression cracked. “What right do you have to fight over Jack’s custody, Kendrick? What right do you have to be Jack’s father?”

Kendrick merely smiled. He did not protest nor did he fight back.

He knew that this was the only way he could make her stay in his life.

Niamh grew furious at Kendrick’s silence. “Talk, Kendrick Waldburg. What do you want from me?”

“I want you to stay with me, and I want the four of us to be a family again,” Kendrick spoke his deepest wish without a second thought.

Niamh raised an eyebrow in amusement. “How many times must I tell you for you to believe that Lillian is not your daughter? You were the one who said you didn’t want me in the beginning, so why are you pretending that you love me now? Just because you want 70% of the sticks back?”

Kendrick shook his head, boring his burning gaze into Niamh.

“Believe me this once, Nia. I’m truly in love with you.”

“Believe you this once? Why? Why do I have to believe you when you’ve never believed me? Have you ever believed me, Kendrick Waldburg?”

“Nia…”

“Don’t call me that. I don’t want to hear it.” Niamh pushed the man away as he leaned toward her. “We’ll get a divorce, but I’ll never give custody over to Jack!”

With that, Niamh walked toward the entrance and opened the apartment door. “Leave.”

She demanded, only to have Kendrick hold her tightly just as she turned around.

She tried to get away, but Kendrick leaned over to capture her lips.

Not wanting her to struggle and run, a boney hand ran through her soft locks and held her head in place.

“What are you doing, Kendrick Waldburg? Let g—mmph…”

Kendrick swallowed Niamh’s muffled words.

The taste of her sweetness had him close to losing control.

Niamh could not fight against Kendrick’s strength. She could bite, push, and hit, yet it would not deter him as he continued to kiss her.

Her nose was enveloped with his minty scent while her mouth tasted little else that was not him.

Her cheeks became heated as her mind supplied her with mixed memories of everything intimate he had done to her. His scent and his touches were overwhelming her.

“I really love you, Nia. I’ve never loved Nevaeh at all, nor did I do any of this with her. There’s only been you. You have to believe me. Believe me…”

Kendrick rambled softly as if he was drunk and the words drifted intoxicatedly into her ears.

Niamh frowned. “Let me go, Kendrick. Don’t touch me…”

“Don’t reject me, Nia. Don’t push me away. It hurts, please. Give me a chance to make it up to you. I can’t lose you again. I can’t…”

“Let go of me, Kendrick. Have you gone mad?”

“Nia…”

“Slap!”

“…”

Amidst the chaos, Niamh lifted a hand to slap Kendrick across his face.

Stunned, he stopped all motions and the two shared erratic breaths in the quiet air.

“Get out! Go! I don’t want to see you again!”

Niamh pushed the man out while in a daze and closed the door behind him.

Leaning against the door, she took a deep breath and looked downward, realizing that her shirt had been unbuttoned.

Who knew what would have happened between them if she had not slapped him.

Her rationality seemed to have been devoured by his kisses and quiet apologies.

Niamh gripped her open collar in relief that she had not given in to the man again.

…

Niamh brought Jack to the outskirts to play over the weekend and found herself calmed by the fact that Kendrick had not appeared before her again.

The day may have been chilly, but her heart was warm.

Jackson’s innocent smile gave her comfort while it also made her heart clench.

There was hardly anything happy in her memories.

The only memory she had was of the day she married Kendrick. For a moment, she had been truly looking forward to the future and felt truly happy.

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