“If that’s the case, then you shouldn’t leave. Dan is a good gentleman who you can rely on.”
However, Ava was lost and could not believe what was happening. Her heart was thumping fast. “Dan, what are you talking about?”
Daniel’s eyes became much more passionate. “Ava, I don’t hope our night that day will turn into a meaningless memory. Perhaps you’ll find it hard to believe in what I’m saying to you now. I don’t even know when it all started but I know that I’ve slowly become more concerned about you. There are still plenty of days to come and I’ll prove it to you that my love for you is from the bottom of my heart.”
“…”
Daniel was obviously confessing his love for Ava. Niamh, who was listening, felt happy for Ava. However, Ava was stunned.
‘How is this possible?’
The man who she had a crush on for so many years was now confessing to her?
Besides, Daniel’s mention of that night and the hundred-dollar note made her have some thoughts.
With widened eyes, Ava found it unbelievable as she thought to herself.
‘It can’t be… It just can’t be, right?
‘The man with me on that night was actually Dan?’
Ava thought of that possibility. The depressing emotions she had been having all this while suddenly transformed into excitement.
However, before she could further clarify the facts, a middle-aged woman who looked almost like Ava came to Ava’s side. “Ava, it’s time to check-in. Are these your friends?”
Daniel suddenly came up and held onto Ava’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Aunty. I’m Ava’s boyfriend.”
His comment made both Niamh and Ava shocked.
The middle-aged woman was even more shocked. “What? You’re Ava’s boyfriend?”
Ava was dumbfounded, and no words were heard from her, but her face was obviously warming up. It turned scarlet, all the way to her ears.
“Ava, what’s going on? Since when do you have a boyfriend?” The middle-aged woman pestered.
Ava looked into Daniel’s anticipating eyes and grasped onto his hand subconsciously. “I’m not going to Y country. I want to stay on in Glendale.”
“What? How could you?” The woman was expressing her disagreement.
“Why can’t I?” Ava counter-questioned coldly. “You ditched me in Glendale all by myself for so many years. Since when have you guys ever cared for me?”
The woman kept quiet after hearing her reply. Looking helpless, she just stared at Ava.
Ava did not speak another word. She grabbed Daniel’s hand and spun around to leave the scene.
Niamh wanted to follow, but her phone rang once again.
It was Fabian who called, and he was speaking in a heavy tone. “Hey, can I meet you right now?”
Niamh thought about the breaking news she saw on the net not long ago about Lana getting arrested.
“You’re planning to talk about Lana’s case with me?” asked Niamh.
Fabian kept quiet for a few seconds, then answered, “No, I’m looking for you to know more about Kendrick’s condition.”
This intrigued Niamh’s curiosity. She suddenly felt insecure. “Kendrick? What’s up with him?”
Niamh was feeling perturbed and kept questioning, but Fabian claimed that speaking through the phone was rather inconvenient. Hence, he invited Niamh out to a place to meet up.
In the meantime, Niamh made her leave as she did not want to disturb Ava and Daniel’s quality time together.
However, as soon as Niamh left, Ava felt uncomfortable and her heartbeat went erratic. Her face was unusually warm as well.
However, Daniel held onto Ava’s hand naturally and walked along the streets with her as if it was nothing to him.
Ava felt as though she was in a wonderful dream, but this was only limited to being a spectacular dream and nothing else beyond it.
Niamh drove her car to where she was supposed to meet up with Fabian. As soon as she got out of her car, Fabian immediately strolled to her and asked with a stern expression, “Hey, do you know where Kendrick is right now?”
“You asked me to come all the way here just to know where Kendrick is?” Niamh was puzzled. “Why are you looking for him? Does it have something to do with Lana?”
Fabian frowned. “Lana has been arrested by the men from IBCI. My brother is still stuck in there, unable to free himself. Before that, Lana said she was going with Kendrick to discuss a business issue. It was then she got arrested. So, only Kendrick knows what went on at that moment.”
“IBCI?” Niamh seemed to be familiar with the international crime investigation department, but as for the incident of Lana being arrested, she was not feeling the slightest pity for her.
‘That lady has done so many evil things. All the events that are happening now are because of her own doings. There’s no one to blame.
‘However, for Kendrick…’
She thought back about this period of time when Kendrick spent so much time with Lana and even aided her in committing crimes.
‘Is that the reason he’s being pursued by the IBCI?’
Niamh shook her head. “I don’t know where he is. I’ve cut ties with him.”
Fabian let out a depressed sighed after getting his reply. “It’s a punishment from the gods.”
Niamh’s eyes went icy after hearing his comment. “Are you empathizing with your brother and sister? In my opinion, even if Lana’s dead, she’s not worth the pity. As for Yorick, he should bear the responsibility for what he has done so far. In the end, they all deserve it for what they’ve done.”
Fabian totally understood Niamh’s current feelings.
“I’m very sorry.” He offered his most sincere apology, especially when he thought about Lillian who up to this day could not speak a single word. It just made him feel even more hurt.
Niamh composed herself and looked at Fabian. “You did nothing wrong to me. You don’t have to apologize. The person I hate is Lana.”
She finished her statement and left the scene without turning around.
On her way back to Waldburg Manor, Niamh kept thinking about Fabian’s comments.
‘Kendrick and Lana joined forces and did illegal tradings. Now Lana has been arrested, but Kendrick has gone missing.’
When the traffic light turned red, Niamh took out her phone and clicked on Kendrick’s contact number but did not hit the call button.
“Eveline Montgomery, I hope this will be the last time. I don’t wish to see you ever again.”
His words that were full of loathing back from that day kept resonating in her ears.
Seeing that the traffic light had turned green, Niamh placed her phone back down and pressed on the accelerator.
She just got back to Waldburg Manor when she received a call from Ryan. He said that he would be busy with business for these two days and would not have time to head back home. Hence, he asked for Niamh to stay at Waldburg Manor for two days.
Niamh was unsure about Ryan’s occupation. However, because of her trust in him, Niamh did not question him further.
After entering the house, she spotted her two children sitting on the sofa without speaking a word. The sight made her feel rather insecure.
‘Lillian’s already not talking, but now Jackson isn’t talking either. What the hell is happening right now?’
“I’m back, Jack. What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you greeting me?” Niamh expressed her concern.
Jackson raised his big teary eyes and mumbled, “Mommy, Daddy doesn’t want us anymore.”
Niamh was slightly dumbfounded, not knowing the reason behind the sudden comment given by her son.
At that moment, Karen came to the scene while carrying Pudding in her hands. “Earlier in the afternoon, Kendrick stopped by.”
Niamh stood up abruptly. “Kendrick was here? When? Why did he come here?”
“When you went out just now. He came the moment you left.” Karen looked troubled. “He only stayed for a few minutes. He didn’t react no matter how Jack chased after him and called out to him.”
When Niamh heard this, she felt an excruciating pain in her heart.
She also understood why Jackson looked so down.
It was because of his heartlessness and indifference.
“Kendrick was really brainwashed by Lana. Not only did he do that to you, but he’s now even ignoring his own flesh and blood. Look, Jack fell and scraped his knee. As a father, he didn’t even feel upset about it.”
Niamh felt worse the more she heard about it. She walked back to Jackson and rolled his pants up. When she saw the bandage on the little guy’s knee, she clenched her fist and walked to one side to call Kendrick.
She did not expect him to pick up so fast. Then, Niamh heard the sound of the wind but Kendrick was not saying anything.
“Kendrick, it’s fine if you don’t love me anymore, but why do you have to hurt us?” Niamh berated as she felt her heart cracking. “Does hurting the people who care about you and love you make you happy?
“Kendrick, how can you be so savage?”
Kendrick was standing in an empty cemetery as he heard Niamh say the last sentence with a shaky voice. He stared in front of him dully and said coldly, “Eveline, are you done?” His words were like ice as he suppressed his emotions for her. “I don’t want to hear your voice ever again.”
He fought back without mercy and hung up.
A cold gust of wind grazed him, a cold feeling spread in his broken heart.
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.