The wind outside the Juvenile Rehabilitation Center was sharp and bitterly cold.
Even in Julian’s tight embrace, Niamh couldn’t feel a shred of warmth. In fact, her fingers only grew colder, the chill seeping in deeper with every passing second.
Julian waited, desperate for an answer, but Niamh only stared ahead in silence. Growing anxious, he pressed on. “Niamh, if you choose me, I’ll call off the wedding with Susy. We could be together–leave Aldenville behind, go anywhere you want…”
Niamh’s reply was gentle, but her words hit Julian like a bucket of freezing water. “Don’t you think that’s awfully unfair to Susy?”
He flinched.
“Whether you love her or not, you promised to marry her. The invitations have already gone out to everyone you know. And now, at the last minute, you want to back out? Have you thought about what that would do to her?”
Niamh pushed him away.
“…”
Julian had no answer. Deep down, the truth was simple: he’d never loved Susy–not from the very beginning.
He’d only agreed to the match for the sake of his family and the company, bowing to his parents‘ demands. In his mind, he wasn’t betraying Susy, because he never believed she loved him either.
Susy was the heiress of a powerful family, marrying him for the same
reasons–family, business, ambition. Love had nothing to do with it. If anything, Susy wanted to conquer him, control him, possess him.
“Niamh, love is selfish by nature-‘
“But I don’t love you.”
Niamh’s voice was firm, resolute. Her words cut deep, leaving Julian breathless, as if someone had driven a knife straight through his chest.
“Why? What’s wrong with me? What does Jonathan have that I don’t?!”
He grabbed her shoulders, his grip a little too tight, making Niamh wince in pain.
“I’m sorry–I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to-” Julian let go immediately, stumbling over his apologies..
1/2
13:40
Niamh just felt tired. She’d always hoped she and Julian could be good friends, but the more he clung to her like this, the more impossible that friendship became.
“Take me home, Julian. And don’t forget to give Susy the wedding jewelry.”
Her cold indifference twisted Julian’s face with frustration. His lips parted, but no words came. He didn’t know how to make her stay. In the end, he’d let his last chance slip away.
Julian drove Niamh back to Neovista Realty. She climbed out of his car, got into her own, and disappeared down the street in her white BMW, growing smaller and smaller in his rearview mirror.
Back in his own car, Julian opened the gift bag and took out the jewelry box. Inside was a diamond waterfall set–luxurious, exactly Susy’s taste. Normally, Julian found such flashy designs tacky, but somehow, the set Niamh had designed felt refined, almost elegant.
Yet in the end, the jewelry Niamh had poured her heart into would be worn by Susy.
For a moment, Julian nearly snapped the necklace in two. But he stopped himself, put it back in the box, and handed it over to Susy.
The Thomas Group.
A faint medicinal scent drifted through Jonathan’s office. He looked up, catching Prescott standing by his desk, holding out a cup.
“Mr. Thomas, your stomach’s been acting up again. You really should take your medicine.”
Jonathan took the cup, his dark lashes lifting as he peered over the rim. “Did make this?”
you
Prescott nodded. “Yes, sir. I did.”
Jonathan frowned, took another sip, and pressed, “Prescott… do you want to lose your job?”
Prescott’s composure cracked for a split second. “I’m sorry, Mr. Thomas. The medicine was… actually prepared by Ms. Thornton.”
