Burned Once, Never Again (Niamh and Castiel)

Niamh declared firmly, "I'm not going back to Maplewood."

"What do

you think you're doing, Niamh? Are you running away from home? Is that the kind of person you've become now?" Castiel's voice was tinged with frustration.

A rich man's wife running away from home was no small matter. In a family as prominent as the Jamisons, countless eyes were watching their every move. Niamh's decision to move away from Maplewood would be in the headlines by the next morning.

For months, the Jamison family had been embroiled in one scandal after another. Although they had managed to handle most of it, the negative effects of the rumors still lingered. The Jamisons had started to yearn for a peaceful life instead of being surrounded by drama all the time.

Niamh knew exactly what Castiel was thinking.

She said mockingly, "Don't tell me you're worried about your reputation now. You and your family certainly didn't seem to be ashamed when you were messing around with Macy."

"Why do you have to be so confrontational whenever we speak, Niamh?" Castiel's head throbbed with a dull ache.

Niamh didn't bother to hide her disdain. "How should I talk to you, then? You and that woman have dragged my name through the mud. Do you hear me complaining? Why are you all aggrieved when I haven't even said anything about it yet?"

When Niamh thought of the online controversy and harassment that surrounded her three months ago, she didn't think there was any need for her to speak nicely to Castiel.

Castiel's temple throbbed. He had come to take her home, but now....

Niamh brought up the subject that had been bothering her, "By the way, I went to the police station today. I can't believe you bailed out those people! Care to explain what exactly you were trying to accomplish as my husband?"

The moment Niamh mentioned the people behind the online abuse, Castiel's eyes darkened.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

He had nearly forgotten about that incident. "You're questioning me about that? How about you give me a reasonable explanation for what happened?"

"You're asking me to explain? Are you out of your mind?" Niamh fumed,

Castiel's expression remained austere, and his anger was barely contained.

He continued, "Each of those individuals received fund transfers from your bank account, Niamh. How do you explain that?"

Niamh froze. Her bank account? It seemed to be the one linked to the card she had been

transferring money into-the same card that had gone missing.

This was indeed well-played.

"Do you expect me to thank you now? Should I be grateful that you worked so hard to cover this up for me?" Niamh asked with biting sarcasm. Chapter 35

She had underestimated how thoroughly her enemies had plotted against her. But this revelation only confirmed her suspicion that the people fueling the online attacks had been bought.

With this, things would be easier to resolve.

Castiel's gaze was filled with growing disappointment that he could no longer hide.

Niamh closed her eyes for a moment before turning and walking away. Behind her, Castiel's voice rang out in anger. "Stop!"

"What now?" Niamh's voice was cold and devoid of any warmth.

"Mom is awake. She wants to see you,"

When Niamh heard that Renee wanted to see her, she knew all too well what that meant. She was the bane of Renee's existence, so Renee wanted nothing more than to rip her apart. And so, she couldn't let go of her grievances unless she vented them on Niamh. "I'm not going," Niamh replied flatly. She didn't wait for Castiel's reaction and walked off without another word.

Castiel sat in the car and watched Niamh's retreating figure, his expression growing darker by the second. The brooding look in his eyes intensified as well.

Niamh had completely changed. Not only had she refused to apologize to Macy, but she hadn't visited Renee in the hospital even once.

Was it all because of that man overseas? Did she think she could simply leave and be with her new overseas lover?

Castiel would never allow that to happen.

Castiel stormed back to his office huffily. He had barely sat down when his phone started ringing. It was a call from the hospital.

He answered curtly, "Speak."

Whatever the person on the other end said made his already grim expression shift dramatically. *I'll be there right away," he said before hanging up urgently.