Burned Once, Never Again (Niamh and Castiel)

Chapter 15

Arnold glanced nervously at Niamh. For days, the top trending searches were filled with hateful comments about her, and the entire Jamison family had been thrust into the spotlight. As a result, everyone in Maplewood had been treading lightly and were careful not to upset the delicate situation.

But even with that caution, he hadn't expected things to escalate like this. The online attackers had crossed the line by sending such horrifying packages. It was clear that Niamh had been doxxed. "Mrs. Jamison, what should we do now?"

Arnold and the housekeepers looked at Niamh with concern as she remained silent.

Niamh placed her cutlery down and wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. Her movements were as graceful as ever, and her elegance was unblemished despite the dire circumstances. Yet, her calmness was alarming.

"Call the police."

"Call the police?"

"What else?" Niamh's gaze was sharp, and her tone was devoid of warmth.

"But these are just people from the internet. Reporting them might not be very effective..." Arnold trailed off, implying that online harassment was difficult to manage effectively. "The internet is not a lawless place," Niamh said coldly.

She knew that these attacks were orchestrated by Macy. After all, Macy was not a public figure with a cult of fans, and thus these acts were unlikely to be carried out by random people. Castiel had been gone for days.

The attackers had miscalculated, thinking that Niamh would be broken by now. They were wrong. While she might still rely on Castiel in this lifetime, she would fight back in her own way. "Very well," Arnold said, dialing the police on the landline.

Throughout the day, Niamh received dozens of packages. The hall was now filled with animal carcasses, funeral money, and even blades. The smell was unbearable.

These gruesome deliveries had once terrified her into sleepless nights. Now, she was unfazed.

Arnold and Tilda stood together, observing Niamh sitting on the couch, holding Ginger.

Tilda asked worriedly, "Mrs. Jamison, should we just dispose of them?"

She didn't think there was a point in keeping them around.

Niamh brushed her hand gently over Ginger's fur. There's no rush." Chapter 15

27

"Perhaps you should call Mr. Jamison? Tilda suggested.

Castiel had yet to return. If he were here, he would undoubtedly be furious at the situation.

Despite rumors of his affair with Macy, those who worked in Maplewood knew he cared deeply for Niamh. Even though the couple were having issues, Castiel would never tolerate such harassment toward his wife. Niamh closed her eyes.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Billie.

She answered, "Hey, Billie."

"Niamh, I've submitted the lawsuit application. Do you want to review the terms related to you?" "No need, I trust you to handle it."

Niamh was sure that Billie, who loathed Castiel, would ensure that all her rights were protected. Billie hesitated. "What about Castiel?"

"He hasn't come back."

There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line. A moment later, Billie's voice cracked with anger. "With everything that's happened, he hasn't gone home even once?" "Yep."

That was how it was now.

Previously, no matter what happened to Niamh, Castiel would always be there first to protect her. But now, with the entire Greenburg focused on her and online harassment closing in, he hadn't shown up. With every passing moment, Niamh had been waiting.

If Castiel had come back and faced the situation with her, confronting the online attacks and defending her fiercely, she might have been willing to give him another chance.

But he hadn't returned.

Niamh was thrust into the center of public outrage, surrounded by relentless online abuse, and he

was absent. He no longer stood in front of her and shielded her from harm.

In this life, just as in the last, their relationship was destined to unravel.