“That’s enough.” Ryan’s voice sounded from the stairs, interrupting his mother.
Ryan’s leg was still recovering, so he gripped the railing as he slowly descended the stairs with difficulty until he made his way to Niamh. “Come with me, Eveline.”
Niamh followed, wanting to settle the issue as well.
“My apologies. My parents’ went overboard.” The first thing Ryan did was apologize.
Niamh shook her head. “I agreed when you proposed to marry me back then. I played a part in this as well.”
While she took responsibility, she was also confused.
“Rye, did you not tell your parents that we only got married because it was a mission from the IBCI? They don’t seem to know that we only got married for public image, let alone the fact that we’ve been living separately over the past half a year.
“Your mission ended long ago, and we should’ve gotten divorced half a year ago. I only continued to be your wife because you didn’t want your parents to worry.”
Niamh had only known that the marriage was because of Ryan’s mission when she found out about his true identity.
“I’m sorry. I’ll tell them.” Ryan promised, his gaze slightly reluctant as he stared at Niamh. “Just give me some time. I’ll get the divorce procedures settled. I’ll have to trouble you not to meet Kendrick so much until then.”
Niamh did not think that she could do such a thing.
Now that Kendrick had returned, how could she keep herself from meeting him?
Yet to prevent more trouble, Niamh had no other choice but to control herself.
However, how would Kendrick not realize she was avoiding him?
Niamh was in her office at Montgomery Enterprise when she received a call from Kendrick asking if she was busy. Giving an excuse that was the least of a lie, Niamh told him that she was in a meeting and could not meet up.
They had just hung up when the man appeared by her office’s door.
Niamh’s phone was still by her ear when she watched Kendrick stroll into the room. Panicking, she shot up from her chair. “Kendrick! What are you doing here? I… I was about to go for a meeting.”
“Do you not want to see me?” Kendrick asked straightforwardly, his deep eyes staring into her frantic ones.
Niamh quickly shook her head. “How could I possibly not want to see you?”
“Then why?” The man seemed upset, his brows tightly knitted.
Knowing that she could not hide it anymore, Niamh told Kendrick everything.
Hearing her, a mocking scoff graced the man’s attractive features before his expression turned serious once more. He looked at Niamh and spoke gently, “There’s something I have to be clear with you about, Nia.”
Kendrick’s sudden seriousness had Niamh feeling a little nervous.
“What’s wrong, Kendrick?”
“Ryan must’ve told you about me joining the IBCI, right, Nia?” he asked.
Niamh nodded, her eyes swirling in heartache for him. “He told me how you went undercover to put Lana behind bars.”
“Then did he tell you what my conditions for working with the IBCI were?” Kendrick’s gentle gaze fell on Niamh’s small face.
That was something Niamh did not know.
She replied frankly, “He didn’t tell me.”
“Of course not.” A smudge of self-deprecating scoff appeared on Kendrick’s chiseled features.
“Kendrick?”
“I had just found out the situation I was in when they first found me. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to protect you or take care of you again, so I demanded that the IBCI provide full protection over you and the kids. Especially considering how Lana Johnson has no baselines.
“That was my condition for joining the IBCI.”
Niamh’s eyes immediately reddened as she heard him explain.
He had indeed done all of that for her.
All while she hated him for being with Lana.
She knew he had his reasons, but this was not the truth she expected.
Seeing Niamh’s self-blame and distress, Kendrick reached out to caress her cheek lovingly.
“I don’t regret the choice I made, but I never expected their protection to come in the form of you marrying Ryan.”
He chuckled ironically.
“I had to watch the woman I love the most put on a wedding dress for another man while pretending that none of it mattered to me.”
He stared at her with tears in his eyes. “Do you know what it feels like to have your heart split open and riddled with holes, Nia? Because I think what I felt at that moment might just have been it.”
Niamh could no longer hold her emotions back.
Holding onto him, she hid her head in the crook of his neck and wept. “I’m so sorry, Kendrick.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. As long as you’re safe, it’s all worth it.”
He patted the back of her head in gentle comfort.
“I thought that death was imminent and Ryan just so happened to appear then. I did a background check on him and found out he was clean. I hoped that he would be able to give you the happiness that I couldn’t anymore.”
Niamh felt her heart breaking. “No one else can give me happiness on your behalf, Kendrick. You’re unique, one of a kind.”
Kendrick’s smile warmed at her words.
“It was when I decided to leave Glendale that I found out how Ryan was also from the IBCI and of high position as well. He sure hid it well…” Kendrick’s gaze shifted as he spoke.
He could not delve deep into details with Niamh, and at that moment, his only goal was to get rid of the marriage status between Niamh and Ryan.
She was his wife.
Only his wife.
With her emotions calmed, Niamh’s heart still throbbed faintly in her chest at the knowledge of how much Kendrick had done for her without her knowing.
She did not want to worry the man anymore, nor did she want to drag on the matter of the divorce. As such, she went to look for Ryan.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Jones were out, and Niamh made her way to Ryan’s study.
The man was sitting on the balcony, reading his book. His leg had yet to fully recover.
Ryan was shocked at Niamh’s sudden visit. “Did something happen, Eveline? How can I help you?”
Niamh placed her compiled and signed divorce papers in front of Ryan.
“I’ve already compiled the documents, Rye. You just need to sign at the bottom.” Niamh handed him a pen. “I’m grateful to the IBCI for taking care of their worker’s family. However, my family should be Kendrick.”
Ryan’s calm features froze for a second.
“Kendrick already told me that his condition for joining this international criminal investigation organization was for you to protect me and the kids.”
Niamh watched Ryan’s face for any shift in expressions.
“Marrying me must’ve been an order from your superior, and now that the mission is over, I think we should end this relationship that was never meant to be at all. Thank you for protecting us over the past half a year, Rye.”
Ryan listened calmly and took the divorce papers in his hand.
“There’s no way the mission can be considered over the moment feelings got involved.” Ryan glanced at the papers and looked up. “Could you grant me a request, Eveline?”
Niamh gave it some thought and replied, “As long as it’s within my capabilities, I’ll try my best.”
“I’m sure it is.” Ryan smiled as hope tinted his eyes. “It’ll be my 30th birthday in two days. I’d like to spend time with you during such an important moment. Take it as a beautiful way to end this marriage that was in nothing but name.”
It was hardly an outlandish request and Niamh could not think of a reason to decline. “Sure. I’ll bring the divorce papers over again on that day, then.”
“Alright.” Ryan agreed without trying to hold her back.
Niamh did not dwell and left Jones Manor soon after.
Sitting before the French windows in the study, the corner of Ryan’s lips quirked subtly as he stared at Niamh’s retreating figure.
…
Upon returning home, Niamh told Kendrick of her compromise with Ryan as well as Ryan’s birthday.
Kendrick did not seem displeased. In fact, he even suggested sending her there himself.
Niamh’s heart calmed. Under the midnight blue sky, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders as they watched the stars.
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.