Nevaeh was frustrated and pissed now that her plans had been ruined. She had the urge to rage and vent, yet this was a setting where she had to continue to act as a gentle and kind woman.
The perfect words to get Niamh in trouble formed in Nevaeh’s mind now that the other had returned. She watched Kendrick approach Niamh and lean over flirtatiously to whisper in her ear.
After that, she watched Kendrick lift an arm for her to hold in his own volition and Niamh actually linked arms!
Nevaeh’s hand balled into a tight fist, the strength she was exerting almost strong enough to crush the stem of the glass.
She was fuming with anger as she stared at how Kendrick had brought Niamh over to Old Master Waldburg and how Old Master Waldburg noticeably brightened up at the sight of Niamh. He even raised an arm to pat her shoulder affectionately.
“You’re here, Niamh. You’ve made Grandfather’s day.” Old Master Waldburg treated Niamh as if nothing had happened.
He was never disgusted by her identity. If anything, he was the only one who had placed his unbridled trust in her and protected her ever since she got married to Kendrick.
As grateful as Niamh was for Old Master Waldburg, she was also moved.
She had been extremely worried when the old master was admitted to the hospital due to heart complications three years ago. To see him energetic and alive now placated the unease in her heart.
However, the old master sighed as he stared melancholically at Niamh. “Such a great girl, beautiful and smart. It’s a shame this grandson of mine was too blind to appreciate such a great wife.”
The old master spared Kendrick a displeased glance. “Tell me, what’s so bad about Niamh? I can’t believe you’d dump such a beautiful wife to get married to that other one! Hmph!”
“It’s not Kendrick’s fault, Grandfather. It was never our fate. Right, Kendrick?” Niamh lifted her onyx orbs, not expecting for them to lock with Kendrick’s deep ones.
Had he been staring at her this whole time? His gaze enveloped her with nostalgic warmth as his lips parted to answer. “Rather than blaming fate, it would be more accurate to say that I was never deserving of you.”
His words stunned Niamh.
“Tell me, Niamh. Should we get to start all over again, would you let me fall for you?”
“…”
Niamh felt Kendrick’s elbow inch toward her as he spoke, almost as if she would disappear if he relaxed his hold.
“Hmph! I’d never say yes if I were Niamh!” The old master’s voice reigned Niamh’s emotions back in check.
She had almost allowed herself to hope.
Such was merely a skilled ploy Kendrick was using to placate the old master.
‘To start all over again is too much easier said than done, Kendrick.
‘For all the pain you’ve put me through and all the fatal scars and wounds you left me would never be erased!
‘The fact that I loved you is one of the past.
‘All I have left for you, is hatred!’
Right then, Eloise walked over with Nevaeh in tow. “You look happy, Old Master. What are you and this lady over here talking about?”
“What ‘this lady’? This is Niamh.” The old master emphasized with displeasure.
“She’s not, Grandfather. This isn’t Niamh. Niamh died three years ago. This lady is Miss Vera Quinn, she just looks like Niamh.” Nevaeh explained with a smile, then turned to look at Kendrick. “Aren’t I right, Kendrick?”
Smiling, she was so sure that Kendrick would lean over to speak in her ear. Instead, he frowned in distaste.
The old master was infuriated, frowning as he stared at Niamh. “Nonsense! She’s Niamh!”
“She really isn’t Niamh, Old Master!” Mrs. Waldburg had arrived to join the group. Glancing warily at Kendrick, she opened her mouth to speak anyway. “Just think about it, Old Master. Would we let her in if she’s Niamh?”
“You’re right, Mrs. Waldburg!” Eloise agreed, sparing Niamh a belittling look. “We would have thrown her out already if she’s Niamh Delgado. That shameless and ruthless woman died three years ago!”
Hearing her, color began to drain from the old master’s face as his energy and spirit dampened.
Niamh faced Kendrick and frowned with concern.
Kendrick’s expression turned horrifyingly frosty. “Are you guys done?”
“Don’t blame Mother, Kendrick.” Nevaeh furrowed her brows and held Kendrick by his arm to persuade him. “Mrs. Waldburg and my mom are right. She isn’t Niamh. Grandfather has to know the truth someday.”
Nevaeh gave Niamh a deep look. “You don’t have to pretend to be Niamh just to make Grandfather happy, Miss Quinn. What’s fake will never be real! Grandfather will know one day, and to delay the truth would only have him feeling worse.”
“Plus, you must know that the things my sister did were hardly good. Pretending to be Niamh will only garner you more looks of disgust and hatred.”
Hearing her, Niamh turned to look at her surroundings and smiled. “Oh? Is that so? Was this Niamh really that bad?”
“Of course!” Nevaeh ascertained in a heartbeat, her voice climbing a few decibels. “She threw away her dignity just to be with Kendrick! Not to mention how easy she was, having relationships with all sorts of men. Then, to hurt me, she even teamed up with someone to kidnap my and Kendrick’s son. Are you sure you want to be a double for such a person, Miss Quinn?”
“Shut up! Niamh would never do something like that!” Old Master Waldburg knocked his cane against the ground in fury.
Nevaeh sighed with pity. “That’s the truth, Grandfather. Niamh was not as pure as you think. She even kidnapped your great-grandson. Kendrick is well aware of these things too!”
She asked rhetorically, “You saw it with your own eyes, didn’t you, Kendrick?”
Kendrick’s expression darkened, bile rising within him after hearing the events Nevaeh recounted.
He had realized the very moment he fell for Niamh that every ‘sin’ she committed could all be forgotten.
Not to mention how he had suspected if what he saw was the actual truth when Niamh lay in his arms on her dying breath. Perhaps everything he saw back then was merely what someone else wanted him to see. Perhaps everything he saw was false.
Nevaeh tugged on him with a coquettish tone in response to Kendrick seemingly ignoring her. “Why aren’t you saying anything, Kendrick? Unless you actually want Miss Quinn to replace Niamh? But what if Miss Quinn’s reputation gets tarnished for pretending to be such an evil woman?”
Crash!
Just as Nevaeh finished talking, the sound of a wine glass shattering on the floor sounded in the room.
“Are you alright, Sir?”
“A ghost! It’s a ghost!”
At his words, everyone’s gazes flew toward the direction of the man. Meeting their eyes was the sight of a server helping a man who had slipped and fallen.
Nevaeh spared a casual glance in that direction only for her expression to shift dramatically when she realized the man who had fallen was Tanner, and the ‘ghost’ he was pointing at was Vera Quinn!
Tanner Long!
This tramp!
How could he have gotten in?
Confusion and unease settled in Nevaeh’s stomach.
Tanner was pointing at Vera, claiming she was a ghost with eyes blown wide and fright written all over his face!
That could only mean that he had mistaken Vera for Niamh and was sent into shock. Being sent into shock meant that he could end up saying things he should not!
However, Niamh’s lips quirked at Tanner’s terrified scream. From the corner of her eyes, she watched anxiety flash across Nevaeh’s expression. Then, Niamh approached Tanner with a confused look.
Locking eyes with Niamh, Tanner’s fright grew as he began to shout. “Ah! It-It’s really… It’s you!”
Coupled with the influence of alcohol, he believed without a doubt that Niamh’s ghost had come to haunt him!
For all the horrible things he had done in his life, it made sense to feel such a heavy weight of guilt.
Niamh raised a brow and asked with mock confusion, “Do you know this man, Mr. Waldburg? Why does he look so afraid of me?”
Kendrick had no idea that Niamh was the one who sent Tanner the invitation, allowing him to attend tonight’s celebration.
He furrowed his brows and walked toward Tanner, frost seeping from his attractive features.
The sight of Tanner reminded him of how this horrendous man had tried to rape Niamh twice and how he proclaimed to have an illicit relationship with her.
“Kendrick!” Nevaeh quickly ran over to pull Kendrick back by his arm. “Today’s the 50th anniversary of Waldburg Corporation, Kendrick. Let’s not ruin the atmosphere for everybody just because of him, alright? Just have the bodyguards throw him out. You shouldn’t have to deal with it yourself.”
“Am I safe to presume that you all recognize this man, Miss Delgado?” Niamh walked over curiously. “Who is he exactly?”
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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