Before she could think deeper into it, she found herself pulled into Felipe’s arms.
The man had a cooling fragrance to him, faint, but rather enchanting.
Niamh’s heart raced.
Felipe’s thin lips tilted into a provocative angle as he looked down at the dazed woman in his arms.
“Eveline.”
“Hmm?”
Niamh looked up confusedly, meeting Felipe’s deep gaze head-on.
His gaze pressed down on her as his attractive appearance seemed to grow closer.
Stunned, Niamh closed her eyes frantically as Felipe’s lips seemed to be moments away from her own.
Felipe halted before finally placing his lips on Niamh’s forehead instead.
While he could tell that Niamh had yet to fully accept him, he had also been waiting too long for this day.
Niamh was about to make an excuse to exit Felipe’s embrace when he suddenly held her by the waist and settled her on the bed.
He held her in his arms before Niamh could react and escape. Then, he leaned his face toward her and placed a warm palm on her cheek.
“Eveline,” he called out her name softly. “I know you can’t remember how happy we used to be back in F Country, but that’s alright. I’ll help you remember.”
Felipe’s voice was low, and in the dead of the night, it wafted to Niamh’s ears while dripping with bewitchment.
She looked up to find the distance between them closing, and her heart thumped in her chest.
However, Niamh found that the racing tempo in her chest was hardly due to attraction but rather fear and unease.
Felipe placed his lips between her brows as his slender fingers fell on the buttons of her sleepwear, unbuttoning them slowly…
With the outer layer of her sleepwear opened, cold settled in.
As bewitching was the aura Felipe oozed, Niamh’s mind was very clear.
She grabbed Felipe’s hovering palm and curtly rejected. “I’m sorry, Felipe, but I don’t think I’m ready yet.”
Niamh fled decisively from Felipe’s arms.
Niamh found it much easier to breathe now that distance had been restored between them.
Reining his displeasure in, Felipe got up and apologized. “I’m sorry, Eveline. I’ve overstepped.”
Niamh shook her head. “It’s not your fault, it’s mine. I’m sorry I can’t remember what happened and the feelings I once had for you back then. That’s why I…”
“It’s alright.” Felipe comforted her with a smile. “Don’t force yourself, you’ll remember it one day.”
“Thank you, Felipe.”
“You don’t need to thank me, silly. While we haven’t gotten registered, we’ve already had our wedding ceremony and as far as my heart is concerned, you’re my wife.”
Felipe walked over to hug Niamh and run his fingers through her silky locks. “Don’t think too much and get some rest.”
“You too.”
Felipe nodded lightly. “Goodnight.”
He smiled and turned, but by the time he left Niamh’s room, all traces of the smile had vanished from his face.
While Niamh’s rejection did not mean she still harbored feelings for Kendrick, it was enough proof that she did not harbor them for him.
A fierce look flashed through his eyes before they reverted to being warm and gentle.
‘Eveline.
‘You will fall for me. I’ll make sure of it.
‘It’s a decision I made ever since the moment I saw you.’
…
The night passed.
Kendrick had not slept the entire night for all he could think of was the kiss Felipe gave Niamh before they left.
His mind refused to calm until Niamh returned the next morning.
Hiding the worry and concern in his heart, he smiled at Niamh as if nothing was wrong. “You’re here, Nia. Grandfather just called for you.”
Niamh looked up. “Did Grandfather say anything else?”
Kendrick shook his head. “That’s all he said.”
Niamh’s heart shook. She could only imagine how much the old master cared about her to have her name constantly on his lips at such a time.
Yvonne was at the villa as well with the excuse to look after Karen.
While she had breakfast with Karen in the dining room, she overheard Niamh and Kendrick’s conversation.
She was relieved to know that the only thing Old Master Waldburg could say was ‘Niamh’.
She had already taken the jewelry and the wallet.
While she had yet to touch the jewelry, she already spent the little cash she found in the wallet at a bar last night. The only thing interesting about the night was that she had met a man, a man who…
Bang!
Karen suddenly slammed the chopsticks on the table, snapping Yvonne out of her own thoughts. She turned her head and found Karen glaring at Niamh.
“Hmph. How could you be so shameless?! You hit me and stole my money, but you still have the galls to march in here like you own the place?”
“Don’t be too loud, Aunty Karen. We don’t want to irk Kendrick in case he hears us.” Yvonne reminded her with mock kindness.
However, her words only managed to fuel Karen’s fury.
“So what if he hears? I’m the victim here. Are you telling me I have to keep quiet when the culprit is standing in front of me?” Karen threw her cutlery down and marched furiously toward Niamh.
“Kendrick isn’t your husband anymore, Niamh. You have nothing to do with the Waldburg family, so why do you still come here every day? To make my life difficult by being an eyesore?”
Niamh turned back and smiled. “You’re very welcome to turn and look the other way if you think I’m an eyesore.”
“This is my house! Why do I have to hide from you?” Karen argued.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, so why do I have to hide?” Niamh fired back.
“You…”
“This is Nia’s house. She can come and go as she wishes. Stop causing trouble.” Kendrick advised Karen in displeasure.
Karen refused to back down. “You’ve already gotten divorced, so she’s not your wife anymore. How could this be her house?”
Kendrick glanced at an unfazed Niamh before parting his thin lips. “She is. She’s legally still my wife.”
“What?” Karen and Yvonne were stunned, even Niamh looked shocked.
“Is this the scene of the crime?” Two policemen suddenly appeared, interrupting a confused Niamh.
Karen immediately rushed forward. “Indeed, officers. I’m the victim, and I suspect this woman!” She pointed at Niamh. “She was the one who hit me. She even stole my wallet and jewelry. Arrest her!”
Rage tinted Kendrick’s frown.
The two officers gave Niamh a look. “Niamh Delgado?”
Niamh replied calmly, “My birth name is Eveline Montgomery. Niamh Delgado is just the name I used to have.”
The police nodded. “Please follow us to the station to record a statement later.”
“Of course.”
“Hmph.” Karen scoffed. “I’d like to see how long more you’re going to pretend!”
Yvonne smirked behind Karen, impatiently waiting for Niamh to be charged.
With Niamh facing charges, she would be able to walk free.
The policemen followed Karen to the scene of the crime and so did Yvonne. Walking toward the staircase, they were met with the care worker pushing Old Master Waldburg from his room.
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.