…
Niamh followed Kendrick to his office, now walking boldly by his side without needing to hide in the shadows anymore.
She made an excuse to go to the toilet when in truth, she was hiding in a secluded corner where she tapped open the email.
The first half of the report was filled with numbers that Niamh did not understand, so she scrolled all the way down where the chemist’s conclusion was.
It said that the person the blood sample belonged to had been infected with several unknown diseases. It was an accumulation of these diseases that resulted in a change of hair color, the color of their irises, and the sound of their voice.
Hemodialysis showed that the patient was not in any life-threatening danger.
However, there was always the possibility of the disease mutating which would result in the patient’s life being slowly consumed to the point where they would die from a lack of treatment.
Niamh’s temples began to throb as she read.
‘So you haven’t fully recovered, after all, Kendrick.’
Her heart was aching, and she forced her tears back.
Thinking about the poison in Kendrick’s body and the potential result if the poison began to mutate, Niamh felt her world go dark again.
‘It looks like there’s no hope of spending the rest of our lives together, simple and in love, Kendrick.
‘If that’s our only future, then I will never let you go again’.
…
Ava read the official statement online, and her eyes quickly fell on the harsh anti-fans who had jumped on the bandwagon.
As she was in a great mood, she immediately called Niamh. “Your marriage with Ryan is in name only, Niamh? Why didn’t you tell me that in the first place, then? I wouldn’t have worried so much if I knew.”
Niamh sighed. “It wasn’t supposed to be so complicated. It only got so out of hand because Ryan suddenly went back on his word.”
“Went back on his word? What the hell?” Ava was shocked. “Isn’t this supposed to be a mission all along? Why did he suddenly go back on his word?”
Niamh did not know how to explain it either, but she had already thought of what she was going to do. “I don’t care if Ryan agrees to the divorce or not, but I’m definitely not separating with Kendrick again.”
Niamh had decided, and she would find this to be the best decision she ever made.
She did not care about anything else. She would appear in public with Kendrick every day from now on, and no one would dare to point their fingers.
Niamh began blending fragrances for her new perfume. She wanted to summarize the feelings she and Kendrick had over the past few years with it.
It started with a slightly bitter and herbal scent, which would lead to subtle sweetness and end with something else. Niamh still had no idea how she wanted to end it.
It was unknown whether they would end bitterly or in sweetness.
Kendrick was supposed to pick her up from work, so Niamh continued to busy herself in the perfume room.
She received a call from the man mid-work saying that he would be late because he had things to deal with. Niamh was in no rush, so she continued to work quietly in the room.
The sky began to darken before she knew it and the workers began to clock out of work as well.
Niamh placed her work down and waited at the pantry for Kendrick.
She had just walked out of the perfume room when she saw Ryan approaching her.
Niamh’s footsteps slowed down. Seeing Ryan now, her understanding of the man had taken a full 180.
He may look like an elegant gentleman, but Niamh would no longer take him for one after the things he had done.
“Why are you here?” Niamh asked coldly.
Ryan smiled and walked toward her. “What do you think?”
He asked back with a meaningful tone.
Niamh did not want to waste her time analyzing the man, so she walked around him.
As she brushed past his shoulder, Ryan reached out to grab her arm.
Niamh struggled, but Ryan’s strength overpowered hers. As Niamh fought against his hold on her, Ryan grabbed her shoulder and pressed her against the wall in front.
“What do you want?!” Niamh glared at Ryan.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Ryan replied, his gaze locking on a struggling Niamh with a mysterious look in his eyes. He suddenly asked, “Do you want Kendrick to live, Eveline?”
Niamh’s expression shifted. “What are you trying to say?”
Ryan was calm. “You should know by now that Kendrick hasn’t fully recovered yet.”
“…”
The certainty in Ryan’s voice chilled Niamh.
He had to be following her or he could not be so certain.
“There’s a very high chance that the poison in his body will mutate. He may be fine now, but he’s a ticking time bomb.”
Niamh suddenly pushed Ryan away. “What do you get from telling me all of this? You can’t possibly be telling me that you have the antidote.”
Ryan shook his head. “I don’t, but someone else does.”
Hope sparked in Niamh’s eyes, but she was still suspicious of Ryan’s claim.
Reading the suspicion in Niamh’s eyes, he replied with certainty, “That person is Adam Brown.”
Adam Brown!
The name echoed clearly in Niamh’s ear when she heard Ryan speak again.
“He’s the one who created the poison in Kendrick’s body, so he’s also the person who understands how to best treat Kendrick. I know where he is.”
“Do you really know where Adam is?” Niamh was doubtful.
Ryan pulled out his phone and showed the screen to Niamh.
From the screen, Niamh saw Adam donned in his white coat as he tinkered with something in front of his medical equipment. Upon taking a closer look, she realized that it was a real-time surveillance footage!
“Do you believe me now?” Ryan asked faintly.
Niamh clenched her fists and reached out to snatch Ryan’s phone only for the man to evade her with his good reflexes. He grabbed Niamh’s hand to pull her to him instead.
His chiseled features no longer held the same gentle smile when they first met. Replacing it was a sinister smirk.
“Every member of the IBCI has gone through strict training and evaluation before they’re allowed to join. I’d advise you not to try and fight me, Eveline, because not even Kendrick might win me in a fight.”
Niamh stared disappointedly at the man. “I must’ve been blind to think that you were a good man, Ryan.”
“Everyone has their own way of dealing with things, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with mine.” Ryan disagreed and deepened his smile. “So, would you like to play a game with me? If you win, Kendrick lives. But if you lose, the countdown to Kendrick’s death will start and no one will be able to save him.”
Ryan loosened his grip on Niamh as he continued, “I’ve indeed fallen for you, not to mention that you’ve helped me in my lowest moments. So I can promise that I won’t hurt you. You have one minute to think about it. Will you come home with me and continue to be my Mrs. Jones, or will you—”
Slap!
Niamh summed up her strength to land a hit across Ryan’s face before he could finish speaking.
Her sharp brows were knitted together as a displeased look surfaced on Ryan’s features.
Unafraid, Niamh raised her hand to slap him again.
However, Ryan caught her hand this time and stared at her with his piercing gaze.
Niamh met his furious gaze fearlessly. “Didn’t you say that you wouldn’t hurt me? Then let me hit you!”
“…” Ryan was speechless. “I’m not Kendrick Waldburg, Eveline. Reject me today and you’re throwing the only way to treat Kendrick out the window. Think carefully before you decide.”
Ryan let go and turned around. Walking past Niamh, he advised, “You have three days to look for me or you’ll never find Adam Brown. Kendrick has two years left.”
Chupse.
Niamh felt something stab through her heart.
Two years.
Niamh did not dare entertain the idea that she would lose Kendrick after two years.
Just as Niamh was about to lose herself in her heartache, she heard Kendrick’s voice sounding from the corner of the elevator. “How dare you come and look for Nia?”
“Eveline is legally still my wife as far as our marriage certificate is concerned. What’s wrong with looking for her?” Ryan responded in seriousness for he knew that it would trigger Kendrick.
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.