Yet, the conversation had evidently nothing to do with work at all.
Niamh did not press it. Thinking about what had happened over the past few days, she took Kendrick’s hands. “We haven’t even gotten the chance to have a nice meal even though you’ve been back for a while already, Kendrick. I want to make you dinner tonight. Let’s just forget about the kids tonight. It’ll just be the two of us. Is that okay?”
“Of course. Just the two of us.” Kendrick curled his lips into a small smile and pressed them against Niamh’s forehead.
Niamh then went shopping for ingredients and began preparing in the kitchen.
The sky began to darken as Niamh started on the dishes in the open kitchen.
This had been her dream all those years ago when they first got married—a simple and quiet life.
Yet the day had never come despite the years that passed.
Niamh ended up making a simple homemade meal—three dishes and a soup. It was all Kendrick’s favorites.
She set the table and helped him to the dishes.
At that moment, Niamh finally felt what it meant to live a simple and married life.
However, Kendrick had only taken a few bites when he started coughing.
“Are you alright, Kendrick?” Niamh was worried as Kendrick’s coughing did not seem to end.
Kendrick shook his head. “Don’t worry. Can I have a glass of water, cough cough…”
Niamh quickly stood to get a cup of water. Turning around, she watched Kendrick wipe the corner of his mouth with a piece of tissue before quickly stuffing it into his pockets.
Niamh felt her heart grow cold.
She remembered the ball of tissue Kendrick had coughed blood into half a year ago.
Tightening her grip around the cup of water, she pushed her feelings aside and passed Kendrick the cup as if nothing was wrong.
A few sips later, he stopped coughing and gave her a smile. “I want to eat your cooking for the rest of my life, Nia.”
Niamh stared at Kendrick and nodded her head seriously. “Okay. I’ll cook for you until we’re both grey and old.”
Not realizing the change in Niamh’s expressions, he continued to eat.
After dinner, the two decided to take a stroll outside.
While walking by his side, Niamh would turn to look at him from time to time. It was as if he would run away if she did not keep her eyes on him.
“Will you leave me again, Kendrick?” Niamh suddenly asked.
Kendrick looked down to meet her gaze. “I won’t.”
Niamh’s heart relaxed greatly at the reply, but what he did during dinner was still fresh in her mind.
Upon returning to the villa, Kendrick went to take a bath.
Carefully opening the bathroom door, Niamh glanced at the man who was taking a shower behind the glass doors.
Her eyes fell on his clothes by the rack, and she carefully tiptoed forward. She was reaching out to take the clothes when the glass door next to her suddenly opened and the man inside stretched his hand out, stopping Niamh while dragging her into the shower with him!
Taken off guard, Niamh found herself tugged into the shower by Kendrick. She ended up losing her balance and fell into the man’s arms who held her up in time.
Water droplets fell from the man’s wet hair, drenching her clothes. Niamh raised her hand to wipe her eyes but found her wrist being held.
“Did you want to shower with me?” Kendrick’s deep baritone drifted into her ears bewitchingly.
Niamh felt her heartstrings shake, not knowing if Kendrick had found out her true motive.
She looked up to stare at the expression he was wearing, but the falling droplets had her eyes constantly closed.
“I just wanted to wash my hands.” Niamh gave an excuse, feeling guilty.
“Is that so?” Kendrick lowered his voice. The raspiness of his deep voice ignited something within her. “If you’re going to wash your hands, you might as well wash the rest of you, hmm?”
“…”
Stunned, Niamh felt her cheeks grow warm.
They may have been married for many years now, but Niamh still felt shy at the idea of taking a shower together.
Niamh’s cheeks were still burning even after they showered. Sitting frozen on the bed, she basked in the warmth of Kendrick blowing her hair for her.
She could not stop thinking about the ball of tissue Kendrick had hidden away.
Why would he hide it if nothing was wrong?
As she fell on the bed, Niamh had the urge to search Kendrick’s pockets. However, the man’s hold on her was constant.
Afraid that she would disturb his sleep, Niamh resigned herself to falling asleep as well.
Yet with his actions fresh in her mind, sleep refused to come.
Raising her worried gaze, she stared quietly at the man’s sleeping appearance under the faint moonlight.
With his eyes closed, she could no longer see the man’s differently colored irises. Still, his hair, scent, and voice had all changed.
The thought stabbed into Niamh’s heart like a thorn as it began to swell.
She quietly moved toward him to press her lips against his in a genuine kiss.
“I love you, Kendrick. I really don’t want to lose you again.”
She then leaned into the man’s broad chest as sleep took her.
Just as Niamh closed her eyes, Kendrick’s deep ones slowly blinked open.
Under the quiet moonlight, the man stared calmly ahead as darkness swirled behind his deep gaze.
Tightening his arms in mock subconsciousness, he pulled the person in his arms in a tight embrace.
…
Niamh had thought to wake earlier the next day to rifle through Kendrick’s clothes.
However, she woke up late to Kendrick making her breakfast instead.
His cooking was good and Niamh finished the food happily. Despite her smile, her heart was still mulling over the hidden tissue.
Still, she knew that Kendrick had already gotten rid of it by now.
A few days had passed and Niamh did not see Kendrick coughing again. She wondered if she was overthinking.
She had not forgotten that call the other day.
Just what had Kendrick gone through over the past half a year?
He had not told her how he survived the life-threatening crisis, and she did not want to prod him either.
She knew that the only reason why he did not tell her was that he did not want her to worry.
Her heart ached for him. She wondered how much of a toll it had taken on him to suffer everything in silence.
Just then, Niamh suddenly received a call from Ryan’s mother who told her to take a trip to Jones Manor.
Niamh went as it was something she would have to deal with sooner or later.
After entering through the door, she was met with Mr. and Mrs. Jones sitting solemnly on the sofa.
Seeing Niamh enter, Mrs. Jones took the magazine by her side and threw it at an unprepared Niamh.
“Pick it up and look at what’s written on it, Eveline Montgomery!” Mrs. Jones huffed.
Niamh did not take Mrs. Jones’ attitude to heart. Reaching down to pick up the magazine, its cover title spoke of how she had gotten back together with her ex-husband, Kendrick Waldburg, and how the two of them had bought a new house where they now settled down in.
The cover page was of the two of them holding hands as they took a sweet stroll under the moonlight.
“Have you ever considered Rye’s feelings, Eveline? You’re Ryan’s wife!” Mrs. Jones accused.
Mr. Jones’ expression was stern as he began to chide unkindly at Niamh. “I knew something was wrong when Rye said he wanted to marry you! I had heard of how you’ve been on and off with that Kendrick Waldburg. Who knows if Rye was bewitched or possessed when he said he wanted to get married to you, this divorced woman with three kids.”
Niamh took Mr. and Mrs. Jones’ angry words in a stride as she explained frankly, “We’ve given it serious thought when Rye and I got married. It’s just that—”
“It’s just that what? You’re a divorced woman with three kids with you and even your parents are dead. Rye didn’t even care about any of that, so who are you to give excuses now?” Mrs. Jones marched furiously toward Niamh and warned.
“I’m telling you, Eveline. You’d better make things clear with Kendrick and stop being with him. That man is crazy! He even has a gun on him! Deal with this issue or we can’t be faulted for taking matters into our own hands. I’ll have you know that there’s nothing to celebrate about being a cheating wife!”
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.