Niamh froze.
Her long lashes fluttered upward, and in the depths of her eyes, Jonathan’s striking face was reflected back at her.
He looked utterly serious.
But for a moment, Niamh couldn’t understand why Jonathan had to say these words with such gravity.
She remembered the fireworks show Jonathan had arranged.
The hot air balloon, the cake, the fireworks bursting across the night sky—
It really had been the most romantic birthday party she’d ever had.
She’d been confused at the time, but also deeply moved.
And yet, the more she’d been touched, the more her heart had pounded with hope and happiness…
The worse it had hurt when the knife finally came. The deeper the wound.
Niamh was silent for a long time before forcing a faint smile.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said softly. “Those fireworks weren’t for me.”
They were for Marina.
It had been charity—a consolation prize after he’d helped Marina snatch away the gemstone Niamh had reserved for herself.
Niamh tried to wrench her hand out of Jonathan’s grasp, but he held her arm in a vice-like grip, painfully tight.
“What are you doing?!”
Only when Elmer appeared did Jonathan finally let go.
He noticed the angry red marks blooming on Niamh’s pale arm and realized, belatedly, just how hard he’d been holding her.
He opened his mouth to apologize, but before he could get a word out, Elmer’s voice cut in.
“Are you all right? Does it hurt? Here, let me see.”
Elmer bent and gently blew on the marks on Niamh’s arm. The cool air soothed the sting a little.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” she managed, then glanced at Jonathan before turning and heading to the restroom.
Jonathan had the distinct feeling she’d just glared at him.
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