Chapter 5
Niamh casually tossed her loose hair over her shoulder. She then greeted the guard with a carefree smile, and entered the kindergarten.
She already knew which class Beau was in, and she walked over with a grin upon spotting Bridget.
“Hi there, I brought more wax bottle candies for Beau. I heard the ones he brought were a big hit with the other kids.”
Bridget eyed Niamh critically. “So, you’re the one who allowed Beau to bring those candies to school?”
Niamh’s face lit up with excitement. “Yes! These wax bottle candies were made by a friend of mine using premium beeswax…”
“So, it was you who nearly caused my son to choke to death!”
The furious shout exploded behind Niamh. A resounding slap landed squarely across her face as she turned, leaving her seeing stars.
“Why the hell are you hitting me?” Niamh yelled.
“It’s because you’re a wicked scoundrel!”
Niamh wasn’t one to be pushed around. Tasting the metallic tang of blood on her lip, she charged forward to grapple with several of the angry parents.
…
Elara arrived to pick up Bambi once school was over. She animatedly described the scene of Niamh getting beaten.
Apparently, Beau had tried to help Niamh when she was attacked, but Bambi grabbed him by the collar with one hand and dragged him away.
Bruised and battered, Niamh took Beau to the teacher and applied for early dismissal.
The other children’s mothers, all of whom recognized Niamh, berated her loudly. Their words were so harsh that Bambi couldn’t even understand them, only sensing their venom.
Sitting in her car seat, Bambi gazed out at the familiar scenery passing by the roadside. “Mommy, are we going home?”
The brightness in Bambi’s eyes dimmed instantly.
Elara told her gently, “This will be the last time we go back to the Fisher residence.”
…
“Mrs. Fisher, Ms. Bambi, you’re back!” Mary sighed in relief upon seeing Elara.
Elara had been away from the Fisher residence for just a day and a night, but the household staff were already struggling to cope.
Elara said, “I’m only here with Bambi to pack up some things.”
Mary didn’t think much of it and simply reminded her, “Ms. Niamh is here.”
As she held Bambi’s hand, Elara walked into the living room, only to hear Niamh yelling.
“Those fat cows! I just didn’t want to stoop to their level! If I really fought them, I’d crush their guts and blow up their insides! Ow! Harvey, be gentler!”
Niamh was sprawled on the couch while Harvey sat beside her, dabbing medicine on her wounds with a cotton swab.
Beau asked anxiously on the side, “Niamh, does it hurt?”
“My skin is thick, so it doesn’t hurt!” Niamh boasted, only to wince. “Ow! Harvey, stop being so rough!”
She grimaced and playfully lifted her leg as if to kick Harvey’s thigh.
“Sit still,” Harvey commanded in a low, firm voice.
Seeing the bruises on Niamh’s face, Beau felt more guilty. “It’s my fault Niamh got hurt.”
He puffed out his cheeks and lowered his head. He then glanced up cautiously at Harvey’s face.
Beau remembered when Elara had accidentally scalded or cut herself while slicing fruit before. She was bleeding profusely, but Harvey had never shown any concern, let alone bandaged her wounds himself.
But when Niamh got hurt, Harvey rolled up his sleeves and personally tended to her injuries with utmost care. Niamh was clearly the most important person to Harvey.
Then, Beau turned his head and noticed Elara and Bambi entering the room. He immediately scowled and turned his face away, refusing to acknowledge them.
Niamh propped herself up with her hands, leaning forward to close the distance between herself and Harvey.
“Elara, you’ve finally decided to come back,” she said in a tone dripping with mockery.
Harvey didn’t even glance at Elara. Instead, he gave her an order. “Niamh’s clothes are dirty. Go to the wardrobe and bring her some new ones.”
It seemed there was only Niamh in his eyes and heart. Elara ignored Harvey’s words, and she held Bambi’s hand as they walked upstairs.
She thought of the vows he had made at their wedding when he promised to take care of her for a lifetime. At one point, she had truly believed he loved her.
They had begun sleeping in separate rooms after Beau and Bambi were born. Ethel had instructed her to focus on the children.
She was told to eat and sleep with them and avoid disrupting Harvey, who was always busy managing the household and his business.
One day, when she was bringing Harvey a plate of coconut pudding, she overheard him on a call, saying, “We’ve been sleeping in separate rooms for ages. How would I know if she snores?”
Elara heard Niamh’s hearty laughter coming through Harvey’s earpiece. She quietly set down the coconut pudding and left the room.
“She’s too clingy. Don’t you find her annoying sometimes?”
That was another thing she overheard. Elara focused all her energy on her children from that day on.
…
Once Elara’s figure disappeared upstairs, Niamh finally spoke. “Elara doesn’t seem too happy. Do you think she’s still mad at me?”
Harvey continued applying medicine to Niamh’s injuries. “Don’t worry about her.”
He had anticipated that Elara wouldn’t last more than two days after running off to her parents’ house with Bambi.
As soon as Niamh left, Elara would inevitably return, humbling herself to win his favor again.
Beau, who was sitting nearby with a sour expression, muttered, “It’s all Bambi’s fault. If she hadn’t held me back, I could’ve protected Niamh!”
Niamh reached out and pulled Beau into her arms. “You may not be an adult yet, but you’re just as strong and amazing as your dad in my eyes.”
Being compared to Harvey made Beau’s lips curl into a shy smile, and his eyes brimmed with joy. He then gazed at Harvey with pure admiration.
Moments later, Elara and Bambi came downstairs. Elara was carrying a 28-inch suitcase while Bambi helped lift the back wheels.
Although Bambi was naturally strong, Elara ensured that she never carried anything heavier than what was safe for her growing body.
Bambi’s small shoulders also bore a backpack, and she clutched a teddy bear in one hand.
Niamh exclaimed in surprise, “Elara, where are you going with such a big suitcase?”
Harvey’s gaze landed on the suitcase in Elara’s hand. His deep eyes were already frosted over. “What’s this nonsense now?”
Elara was panting slightly as she placed the suitcase on the floor. After struggling to remove her wedding ring, she set it on the coffee table in front of Harvey.
Her eyes then caught a glimpse of his long, slender fingers. Harvey had never worn his wedding ring in their seven years of marriage.
Meanwhile, Elara’s years of wearing hers had left a permanent mark around her finger. It was now an indented scar that wouldn’t fade.
Harvey’s sharp brows arched slightly, and his breath was cold enough to freeze the air. “Elara Jones, that’s enough!”
Running back to her parents’ house, and now removing her wedding ring—her childish antics were exhausting to him!
Elara’s gaze shifted to the watch on Harvey’s wrist, then to the matching one on Niamh’s wrist.
She let out a scoff. “Oh, you two are already wearing couple watches now?”
Harvey’s eyes followed hers to Niamh’s wrist, where a woman’s version of his watch rested.
“Elara! The watches may be a matching set, but they mean something entirely different for us. These are more like sibling watches!” Niamh protested indignantly.
“We grew up together! What’s the big deal about matching watches?”
“Oh, right,” Niamh suddenly remembered something. She pulled a square box out of her gym bag.
“Harvey knew you were upset, so he asked me to pick out a gift for you. Elara, just take this gift, and let’s move past the drama from the birthday party.”
She then opened the velvet box, revealing a roughly crafted four-leaf clover necklace.
Tilting her head with an innocent expression, Niamh made sure Elara could see the identical necklace around her neck—only hers was a premium, exquisitely crafted version.
