Ryan watched the light dim in Niamh’s eyes and his lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Do you have anything to say, hmm?”
“Don’t hurt my parents.” Niamh had to compromise, the willful glint in her eyes forcefully extinguished under Ryan’s ministrations. “I promise that I won’t meet Kendrick again.”
“That’s it?” Ryan quirked an eyebrow as he waited for a better reply.
Niamh clenched her jaw and balled her fists.
“If I look for Kendrick, I’ll never get to see my parents again.”
Niamh swore under Ryan’s threatening aura.
Ryan smirked proudly.
Niamh ignored the stab in her heart and forced herself to calm down. “Have your people bring my mother back now.”
“You should never have tested my limits by meeting with Kendrick if you care for your mother so much.” Ryan loosened his grip.
Niamh thought he had let her go only to feel his palm suddenly hold the back of her head, forcing her to meet his gaze. His fingers rested between her locks and held her tightly in place.
“I want you to remember the consequences, Eveline.”
Ryan then leaned down to kiss Niamh’s lips.
Niamh frantically evaded it and Ryan’s lips brushed past Niamh’s cheek instead.
His sharp brows furrowed in displeasure. “Are you still fighting back, Eveline?”
Niamh’s heart shook as she stared at the man who oozed with anger. “You can do whatever you want with me, Ryan, as long as it isn’t this.”
“Are you telling me that even if you lose everything, be it your parents or Kendrick Waldburg, you will never bow down to me?”
Niamh was stunned and lost for a moment.
Did she not have any other option than to be Ryan’s puppet for the sake of her parents and the man she loved the most?
Seeing Niamh dazed, Ryan lifted his hand as his long fingers began to unbutton Niamh’s collar and the rest of her shirt.
Niamh resembled an indifferent doll, stripped of her ability to fight back.
She felt like a puppet, one that Ryan could control and threaten as he wished.
He held too many of her weaknesses.
Without much effort, the man could easily break through her psychological defenses.
He was not below using any more-disdainful methods either.
Ryan slowly took Niamh’s chiffon short-sleeved blouse off and threw it on the ground.
She was still wearing a camisole but Ryan did not seem to be in any rush to take that off. Instead, he raised his hand to curl a long lock of her hair around his finger and brought it to his nose to smell. “I did say that I’ll make you my woman from your own volition, but if I can drive Kendrick mad myself, then there’s nothing stopping me.”
He gave a wicked smile and tilted Niamh’s delicate chin, reflecting her elegant features in his eyes as his heart picked up its pace. “As long as you’re willing to listen, I can be gentle with you.”
He lowered his voice and went to capture Niamh’s lips…
Watching Ryan’s face approach, Niamh’s mind was suddenly filled with images of Kendrick.
She still remembered how she had promised him during the day, “Don’t worry about me, Kendrick. I’ll take care of myself.”
Yet what was she doing now?
Was she going to let Ryan have his way, then let him drive Kendrick mad?
No way.
She would not be a puppet that Ryan could play with however he wished.
In the short span of a couple of seconds, Niamh’s mind flashed with numerous thoughts.
Seeing that Ryan’s lips were about to touch hers, she took a step backward.
Ryan’s eyes snapped open as his gaze darkened. He was just about to fly into a rage when somebody knocked on the door of the study.
Knock, knock.
“It’s me.” Adam’s voice sounded from outside.
Ryan let go and gave Niamh a strange look before he turned to open the door.
Niamh quickly picked her clothes from the floor and put it on, her heart still suffering from the aftershocks of what just happened.
Ryan’s actions had exceeded her imagination.
It seemed that as long as it benefited him, there was nothing he would not do.
He also seemed to become a completely different person when he got angry and held terrifying grudges.
Ryan opened the door and Adam was shocked to see Niamh standing next to the study table.
“So here she is. I was about to give her an injection but couldn’t find her,” Adam explained. “Should I come in and give it to her now?”
Ryan gave a slight nod and allowed Adam into the study.
Niamh felt heavily against it when she watched Adam walking over, especially when her eyes fell on the syringe in his hand. She tucked her hands behind her.
Adam walked toward her and reached out his hand confidently. “Let’s not waste each other’s time. You have no choice.”
“You’re crazy, Adam.” Niamh mocked as she stuck her arm out without another choice. She then watched with surprise as an intrigued smile graced the man’s features.
“You’re right. I am crazy, but I don’t think you understand how much.”
He smiled meaningfully and injected the contents of the reagent bottle into Niamh’s arm. Just as she was about to fall asleep, he whispered a warning, “Remember, don’t act rashly anymore.”
Those were the last words Niamh heard before she fell asleep.
Ryan walked over to her side and carried her bridal-style just as she lost her footing.
“This is already the sixth injection. Why is she still so deeply in love with Kendrick?” Ryan seemed rather confused.
Adam responded calmly, “I already told you. The injection works differently depending on the person. Perhaps Kendrick matters more to Eveline than we think, or maybe her will is just stronger than others.”
Ryan furrowed his brows and stared at Niamh who was deep in sleep. “I guess I’ll just have to do something to weaken her will and completely smooth that sharp edge of hers off. Or I might never get to complete the last step of my plan.”
Adam was deep in thought for two seconds with his gaze on Niamh’s face. “Understood. I’ll come up with something, then.”
Ryan did not speak much and carried Niamh to the bedroom.
Niamh slept through the night drowsily and woke early the next morning.
Upon waking up, she first confirmed that there was nothing wrong with her clothes and that Ryan had not done anything to her. Then, she sighed a breath of relief and got up to wash and change.
After freshening herself up, a maid then brought her breakfast on time.
Niamh was not in the mood to eat breakfast at all for her mind was filled with thoughts of Eloise.
Just then, Ryan entered her line of vision and appeared by her door like a nightmare that refused to leave her alone.
Staring at the breakfast that she had not touched, Ryan walked over with a hand in his pocket. “What’s wrong? Do you not have an appetite for breakfast?”
“Where’s my mom?” Worry filled Niamh’s eyes.
It had been an entire night and she still did not know how Eloise was doing.
Ryan walked over to the table and looked at the breakfast. “Finish your food and I’ll bring you to see Mom.”
Taken aback, Niamh turned and walked back to the table. She sat down and immediately began to scoff food down.
She must have eaten too fast for Niamh almost choked on the milk. Coughing, she continued to scarf her breakfast down.
Ryan’s mood was light as he watched Niamh listen to his demands.
In no time, Niamh had forced herself to clean the plate. “Where’s my mom? Where did she spend the night yesterday?”
Ryan took a handkerchief and wiped Niamh’s lips in what seemed to be a caring manner. “Don’t frown all the time. Smile a little.”
Niamh did not know how she was supposed to smile, but Ryan seemed adamant about seeing one on her face at that moment.
She forced the corners of her lips to curl and gave Ryan a small smile.
Ryan was elated. “There we go. Now you’re looking more like my wife with how well you’re listening to me.”
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.