He ate the bowl of noodles Niamh had cooked for him, each strand touched by her hands.
It was such a simple dish–noodles in broth with a sprinkle of pickled vegetables, nothing fancy, even bordering on plain. Yet to Jonathan, it tasted like a grand feast, more delicious than any delicacy he’d ever had.
Niamh watched him eat, torn between amusement and exasperation. Since when did Jonathan eat with the enthusiasm of a child at Christmas dinner?
He polished off the entire bowl in no time, not leaving behind a single drop–not even for her.
Only after Jonathan finished did Niamh speak, her tone unhurried.
“You once told me you don’t always have an agenda for everything you do… but I
do.”
The happiness on Jonathan’s face froze, his smile faltering.
“I came to see you today, to take care of you, to cook for you… Part of it was out of respect for Prescott. But more than that, I want you to get well soon.”
“I’m almost there,” Jonathan replied, a little too quickly.
“Good. Because tomorrow, I need you at the office for the board’s reorganization meeting.”
The cozy warmth at the table vanished instantly.
For a long moment, neither spoke. Then Jonathan murmured a quiet “Okay.”
Seeing his lack of surprise, Niamh guessed he’d already figured out her next move.
Silence settled between them, heavy and unyielding.
Jonathan stared down at his empty bowl, a little grateful he’d eaten so fast. If he’d still been eating when Niamh dropped her news, even the best noodles in the world would have lost their flavor.
After dinner, Jonathan tried to collect the dishes, intent on washing up, but Niamh stopped him with a firm hand.
“You’re supposed to be resting–doctor’s orders. Leave it.”
And besides, it’s too late for anything now-
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Chapter 526
She didn’t say this last part aloud, but her eyes made it clear.
So it was Niamh who washed up, and when she was done, she reminded Jonathan
to take his medicine on time.
“Get some real sleep. I’ll head out. Remember, don’t be late tomorrow.”
“Niamh!”
Just as she reached for the doorknob, Jonathan called her name, his voice unexpectedly loud in the quiet apartment.
Hand still on the handle, Niamh turned and glanced back at him.
He was leaning against the wall, still looking pale and drawn, but his eyes were shining with a kind of desperate hope.
The air between them seemed so still it might shatter.
Jonathan himself wasn’t sure why he’d called out. Maybe it was simply that Niamh had come to see him, to take care of him–and now, for once, it was just the two of them, alone in this space that had once been their home.
He didn’t want her to leave, not yet. Even a second more felt like a small victory.
“Could you… stay with me a little longer?” His voice was rough, weak, but still somehow beautiful–a tone Niamh had never heard from him before.
She looked at him, and in his eyes she saw it clearly: longing, and a deep affection. Once upon a time, she had yearned for that look, had wished Jonathan would have loved her just a little more. Just a little.
But now…
Niamh hesitated for a long time before finally parting her lips.
“Are you begging me?”
Jonathan’s eyes snapped up to hers.
When had their roles reversed? Once, he’d been the one in control; the one people begged for scraps of attention. Back then, it was Niamh who pleaded with him. Now, he was the one asking her to stay.
They held each other’s gaze for a long moment. In Niamh’s view, Jonathan’s pride far outweighed any need to keep her by his side.
“Yes, I’m begging you,” Jonathan said, every word sharp and unyielding.
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Just a handful of syllables, and yet the force of them made Niamh’s heart race.
Jonathan must be feverish, she thought. Out of his mind.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I have plans. I’m meeting Elmer White.”
With that, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway–out of Jonathan’s apartment, which had once been her home, too.
Chapter 527
Chapter 527
