Niamh glanced over at Elmer.
His eyes were brimming with tenderness, so clear and sincere it was almost overwhelming.
She nodded.
“Okay, I promise you.”
“But you have to promise me, too… No matter what I say or do, you’ll forgive me.”
“Alright, I pro… Wait—”
Niamh caught herself mid-sentence, suddenly suspicious. Was Elmer setting a trap for her?
She narrowed her bright, inquisitive eyes at him, studying his expression.
Elmer’s lips twisted into a wry smile, but there was a sly glint in his gaze.
“What did you do?” Niamh’s curiosity got the better of her.
They walked side by side out of the hospital as Elmer replied nonchalantly, “If I tell you the truth, will you be mad?”
“That depends on how good you are at making it up to me,” she teased.
Niamh guessed Elmer must’ve done something that could irritate her, but she trusted it was ultimately for her own good.
“I made it official…”
“Made what official?” Niamh’s eyes widened.
Elmer grinned, his happiness practically radiating from him. “I announced online that I’m your boyfriend.”
“…What?”
By now, they had reached the car. Elmer opened the door, reaching inside to pull out a book, which he handed to Niamh.
The debate online was fierce, the arguments more heated than anything between those actually involved.
But those were yesterday’s comments.
Now, the tide was turning in Niamh’s favor—and all because Elmer had publicly announced he was dating her.
Elmer had his own Twitter account, often linked with government projects. Alone, he might not have drawn much attention. But a young, handsome, sharp-dressed PhD who looked better than most celebrities? That was a different story.
The moment Elmer made it official, people started questioning the logic behind the accusations. Why would Niamh go to such extremes over Jonathan if she was already dating someone like Elmer?
Relaxed in the passenger seat, Niamh scrolled through the flood of online comments, a satisfied smile on her lips. Suddenly, her phone rang. The caller ID made her sit up, a spark of anticipation flickering in her eyes—
It was Michael.
Meanwhile, back in the hospital, Marina was hooked up to an IV, with Jonathan sitting anxiously at her side.
He was scrolling through his own phone, watching Elmer’s announcement blow up online, each new post stabbing at him like a needle to the eye.
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