His Housewife Had Secret Identities novel Chapter 863

"I can't remember... have I ever properly thanked you?" Julian's question left Niamh stunned. "Did I do something that warranted thanking?" If she recalled correctly, she hadn't seen Julian in a very long time.

Julian smiled, a faint echo of the boy she'd first met. "I'm very happy now... and I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't met you... so..." As he spoke, he pulled something from his trouser pocket. It wasn't a jewelry box, but a small, exquisite paper bag about the size of his palm. Niamh looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion. "This is a thank-you gift for you... it's not valuable. I went to the church with my wife recently and got a cross for you."

Niamh accepted the cross, a warmth spreading through her chest. Truth be told, she had always felt she had treated Julian poorly. In her efforts to quash his feelings for her, she had always been cold, even cruel. "What did you just accept behind my back?" The moment Julian walked away, Jonathan sidled up to Niamh, his tone casual but pointed.

"What do you mean, 'behind your back'?" Niamh glanced at him. "What gifts I accept has nothing to do with you." "It doesn't... but tonight, I'm your bodyguard. I have to monitor your every move." Jonathan's point was valid; after all, he was the only one here who knew she was being targeted by Joker. In an emergency, if her guard wasn't close enough, he wouldn't be able to protect her in time. Niamh remembered how Jonathan had protected her the first time Joker had tried to snipe her.

"Do you think... Joker will really show up?" Niamh leaned close to Jonathan's ear and whispered. Jonathan was silent. Logically, this banquet was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Joker. But the party was well underway, and he hadn't heard a word from the bodyguards he had positioned. That meant no one had spotted Joker yet, and he hadn't managed to slip into the ballroom either. Before the party started, Jonathan had Preston provide a list of all the staff, complete with their personal information. He had memorized it after one look. And right now, there were no unfamiliar servers in the Jade Ballroom.

"You don't have to be so on edge. Maybe Joker won't come tonight at all..." "Mm," Jonathan nodded at Niamh. "I'll listen to you." He said those last few words lightly, but they sent a ripple across the calm surface of Niamh's heart. The Jonathan of today was so much more compliant than the man he used to be. Niamh couldn't help but picture a fierce wolf being tamed into a loyal house dog. "What are you smiling about?" Jonathan asked. "Nothing!" Niamh shook her head. "But I get the feeling you're bad-mouthing me in your head."

Just as Jonathan and Niamh were whispering, Michael strode over. "I heard you two haven't remarried yet. Why are you acting so intimate in public?" Niamh hadn't seen Michael in over two years, but he was still the same—adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, his smile a mix of scholarly elegance and foxy cunning. Niamh raised her champagne glass to Michael. "I haven't congratulated you yet! Happy marriage... but why wasn't I invited to your wedding?"