Chapter 4

That night, Sinead opened the ticketing app and searched for a direct flight from the city of Lunacoast to the city of Aragon, a major city in the country of Espada.

As soon as she was done purchasing the ticket, Nelson walked in with Irene. "Sinead, I've got good news. Irene has agreed to be with me. You're the first person I'm telling. I'm a pretty good friend, right?"

Looking at their tightly clasped hands, Sinead nodded, her tone calm. "Congratulations."

Irene's eyes were full of happiness as she gave a shy smile. "Thanks for the good wishes. Liana said you were badly hurt. Are you feeling any better? I brought you something to eat. Why don't you give it a try?"

As she spoke, she urged Nelson to hurry up and pour the seafood stew.

Sinead froze for a moment before she reacted as she watched him obey her every word, "Thank you, but I'll have to pass."

Nelson's expression instantly went cold as he looked at Sinead with displeasure. "Irene cooked this herself. I originally didn't want to share it with you, but she was worried about your injury. That's the only reason I even agreed to bring you a bowl. How could you be so ungrateful?"

As he spoke, he filled a bowl and shoved it into her hands, insisting she eat it on the spot.

Sinead wanted to explain, but he clamped down hard on her wrist. In the struggle, the bowl tipped, and the hot stew splashed straight onto her wound.

"Ah!" Sinead let out a sharp cry.

The pain was so intense that cold sweat broke out on her forehead as her whole face twisted and paled. Irene jolted in surprise, guilt flooding her expression as she quickly got some paper towels to try to wipe them off.

Worried Irene would get burned, Nelson quickly pulled her behind him to shield her. "This isn't your fault, Irene. She's been tough since forever, and this is nothing serious. Don't blame yourself."

Sinead's hand holding the tissue trembled again and again, her chest tightening.

The next moment, Jackson pushed the door open. When he saw his daughter's wound bleeding through the bandage again, he went pale and yelled for a nurse at once.

Liana's heart was aching, yet she still took the seafood stew with forced patience and explained to Irene, "She's allergic to seafood and can't have the stew. We appreciate the thought, so thank you."

Nelson stood there in a daze, his expression going stiff. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Staring at the gauze soaked red with blood, there was only bitterness in his throat. He had always remembered what she could not eat in the past. Every time they went to a restaurant, he would remind the servers repeatedly. No seafood. No scallions. No cilantro.

Now that he had Irene, his heart was full of her. Of course, he no longer remembered these small things. A heart only had room for one person after all—the one he loved the most.

After a long silence, she forced a smile and answered, "You never even gave me a chance to speak."

The ward went dead quiet. Irene looked so guilty that she was on the verge of tears. Nelson's heart ached for her, but he said nothing and simply left with her.

-

Sinead had to stay in the hospital for three more days before she was discharged because the wound became infected.

As the date of their relocation drew closer, everyone in the Green family was busy packing. Jackson and Liana did not have the time, so they prepared a generous gift and asked Sinead to make a trip to the Lane family home.

As soon as she walked in, Nelson's parents, Kenny and Opal, took her hands and kept apologizing. "We're so sorry, Sinead! Despite the years between you and Nelson, he only looked out for Irene in that dangerous car crash, and you ended up getting so seriously hurt. We really feel awful. We'll make him apologize to you."

Sinead shook her head and spoke gently to calm them down. "Ms. Johnson is Nelson's girlfriend, so it's only right for him to protect her. I'm fine now. Nothing really happened, so please don't worry."

Seeing that she truly did not seem to mind, Kenny and Opal finally let go of some of their guilt.

After the three of them chatted for a while, Sinead brought up the real reason she had come and told them that the Green family was moving abroad.

Kenny and Opal stared at her in shock, caught off guard by the news. "Why so sudden?"

"Because of the recent changes in the company, we actually started preparing half a year ago. We only confirmed the move recently. My parents asked me to come tell you in person," Sinead said.

Kenny and Opal were sad to see their long-time friends go. Their voices were full of reluctance as they asked, "Will you come back in the future?"

Sinead smiled, and in the quiet living room, her voice sounded especially clear. "We won't be coming back once we leave."

Just then, Nelson came home and pushed the door open, frowning as he looked over. "Who's not coming back?"