“Grandpa!” Jack greeted and looked past him, but he did not see the person he wanted to see. “Where’s Dad, Grandpa?” the boy asked, his large eyes sparkling.
Winston leaned down to pat Jackson’s head affectionately. “Do you want to see your dad, Jack?”
“Mhm.”
“Alright. Then follow Grandpa, hmm?”
“Jack will not return with you.” Felipe stood and rejected coldly. “Why are you here? Did Kendrick call you to come over?”
Niamh could feel the distaste in Felipe’s voice as a rare sight of anger flashed through his usually kind and soft-spoken appearance.
Winston’s heavy gaze locked with Felipe’s as he walked toward Niamh. His eyes when facing her bore no deceit. “I’m very sorry about what happened before, Niamh. I’ve never had the chance to tell you I’m sorry.”
Winston’s apology took Niamh off guard, but the genuineness of his apology was evident in how he put his ego aside to apologize in such a situation.
Niamh replied with a faint smile, “I accept your apology. Is there anything else? I have to board soon.”
“There is.” Winston’s eyes were attentive. “Kendrick truly loves you. He knows he has screwed up.”
Felipe’s expression darkened. “Does Kendrick’s true love mean that Eveline will get hurt again and again? He turned away without a second glance when Niamh was moments away from drowning to death. Is this true love?”
Felipe looped an arm around Niamh’s shoulders. “Let’s go, Eveline. It’s time to board.”
“Alright.” Niamh nodded and held Jackson’s hand. “Let’s go board the plane, Jack.”
“But Daddy isn’t here yet.” Jackson pulled his pink lips into a pout, reluctant to leave. “Won’t we wait a little longer for Dad, Mom?”
Niamh walked out of Felipe’s embrace and comforted him with a small smile. “We’re not waiting for Dad anymore, Jack. He’s too busy with work to come.”
“Kendrick isn’t busy with work. He’s staying with the old master in the hospital!” Winston blurted out the truth.
Felipe’s eyes darkened as Niamh turned to look at Winston in confusion, urging him to go on.
“The old master is in the hospital. The doctor told us to be prepared for the worst since he might not have much time left. Still, the old master just woke up and he kept calling your name. Kendrick told me not to disturb you, but I couldn’t help come looking for you either.”
Niamh was shocked. “The old master was calling my name?”
Winston nodded in certainty, his eyes glistening with worry and pleading. “The old master hasn’t said anything but ‘Niamh’ since he woke up. He really wants to see you.”
Niamh felt her heart clench.
Reading hesitance in Niamh’s appearance, Felipe stepped up decisively and grabbed Niamh’s hand. “We’ve gotten so far, Eveline. Don’t look back now.”
Niamh found determination in Felipe’s eyes. She was about to open her mouth when she heard Winston’s sincere voice. “I know you hate every one of us in the Waldburg family, Niamh, but the old master was the one who treated you the best the years you were married into the family. He was the one who believed and supported you no matter what, and even if you’ve lost your memories, I think your heart still remembers the kindness the old master showed you.”
Felipe had run out of patience. “Enough. You just want to gain time for Kendrick.”
“Felipe,” Niamh called out to an enraged Felipe. “I want to see Grandfather.”
Relief washed over Winston’s features while Felipe’s expression darkened, but he could not hold Niamh back.
…
At the hospital.
Sitting by the old master’s bed, Kendrick’s gaze was fixed on the world outside through the window.
He watched an airplane fly over him, but he had no idea if it was the one that carried the person he loved the most.
As he guessed sadly, he heard footsteps drawing close from behind.
He initially thought that it was a nurse, but the familiar tempo of the steps had Kendrick’s heart lurching in its cage.
He turned around in disbelief, but the reflection in his dark eyes of the woman from his dreams proved how real it was.
“Nia?”
His eyes widened in shock.
“It’s really you, Nia.”
Kendrick was certain that this was not a dream, but he did not understand what was happening. “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be on a flight to F Country by now?”
“I was the one who called my daughter-in-law back.” Winston appeared behind Niamh.
As off-putting as the title ‘daughter-in-law’ was to his ears, it sounded just as natural.
Niamh glanced at Kendrick as she walked toward the hospital bed. Seeing Old Master Waldburg sleeping peacefully, she let out a breath of relief.
While she may not remember the past, she could tell from the time she had spent after losing her memories that the old master indeed treated her differently.
“I’ll be here watching over your grandfather. The two of you can talk outside if you need.” Winston was evidently creating opportunities for them.
Kendrick looked at Niamh, feeling reluctant. His throat was clogged with words he wanted to say, only for him to swallow them back and give a gentle smile. “Go back to the airport, Nia. Grandfather will be alright.”
“This is what you wanted to tell me?” Niamh looked at Kendrick and asked, her eyes sharpening despite her calm expression. “You might not have anything to say, but I do.”
Niamh turned around and walked out, leaving Kendrick in a daze behind her. It felt unreal.
“What are you still doing standing there?” Winston advised, saying, “If you don’t want her to go, then don’t let go.”
Those were familiar words.
He too had once sworn to never let go.
Yet now, there did not seem to be much he could do for Niamh apart from letting go.
The early summer breeze swept coolly against his cheek as Kendrick followed quietly behind Niamh on the busy street, his eyes tracing her back figure longingly.
Niamh stopped walking before he had his fill of her beauty.
Kendrick’s footsteps came to a halt as well. He watched her turn around, and he watched the sun shine on her gentle features, engulfing her in a sheet of a warm glow.
“What did you want to tell me, Nia?”’
“I’ve decided that I won’t leave just yet.” Niamh’s tone was curt, but her eyes were frank. “I’ll wait until Grandfather’s situation stabilizes before I do.”
Kendrick was shocked. He should be elated, but why did he feel his heart sink lower?
He gave it some thought before smiling generously through the pain. “Don’t worry, Grandfather will be alright. Don’t let us hinder your plans any further.”
Niamh wanted to laugh at Kendrick’s careful, walking-on-eggshells tone.
She was surprised to know that even the dignified and unfeeling Mr. Waldburg had such a side to him as well.
“I’m not doing this for anyone. I just don’t want to leave with regrets,” Niamh replied coolly despite the nudge in her heart telling her that she had something she did not want to lose.
Regardless, she wanted to stay a little longer in Glendale.
…
Felipe returned to the villa and swept everything off from the table in a rage for Niamh had not gotten on the flight in the end because of the old master.
His brows knitted tightly as an overwhelming aura of fury festered between his brows.
The sight of him caused the few bodyguards stationed by his side to shiver in fear.
Suddenly, he quirked an eyebrow and turned to look at a subordinate on his side.
Understanding his gesture, the man walked courteously toward Felipe. “Your orders, Master Waldburg?”
Felipe pulled out a picture from his drawer and flung it at the man. “This is the target.”
“Yes, sir,” the man replied, “I’ll give the order now.”
Felipe’s brows remained furrowed in displeasure as a storm brewed in his frosty eyes. “Looks like I have to be a little more thorough or I’ll never get rid of the lingering feelings she has for you.”
…
Old Master Waldburg’s condition had gotten neither better nor worse during the few days he spent in the hospital.
As such, Kendrick brought the old master back to be taken care of at the villa by a care worker he had employed especially for the case.
Seeing the old master being brought back, Karen wanted to greet and talk to them but did not dare to engage in a face-to-face conversation with Kendrick.
Kendrick still remembered how Yvonne, her partner-in-crime, had tried to plot against Niamh in the jewelry competition last time.
He was still angry, and Karen feared that prodding him now would be no different from shooting herself in the foot.
Winston too had no longer talked to her ever since that day.
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.