Burned Once, Never Again (Niamh and Castiel)

The moment the words left Renee's mouth, Niamh took a large step forward. Her petite figure. was shaking uncontrollably and exuding a chilling air.

It was the first time she had ever appeared so unsettling; it was hard to believe that such a small person could embody such ferocity.

"What are you doing?"

Before Castiel could finish his sentence, Niamh abruptly yanked his hand away, sending it crashing into the wall with a loud bang.

Castiel's eyes glinted dangerously. "Niamh!"

It was as though Niamh didn't hear him. She moved in front of Renee, who was taller than her. Normally, Niamh would have felt the weight of this height difference, but now she appeared extra menacing.

The hatred in her eyes seemed like a raging fire, and Renee couldn't help feeling taken aback by Niamh's sudden aggression. Stammering, she asked, "W-what are you doing?"

Was Niamh really going to hit her? How dare she!

Renee's temper flared again.

In the next moment, Niamh ripped the pendant from her neck and hurled it at Renee.

"Hey, you... Renee was so enraged she was at a loss for words.

Just as Castiel tried to step forward to stop Niamh, she asked, "Do you know what this is?"

Renee was bewildered. "What... what is it?"

Since two years ago, Niamh had always worn this seemingly ordinary pendant around her neck, which Renee had criticized several times as she believed such an ordinary item was beneath their status. Niamh said, "Do you not know? It contains your grandson's ashes."

Both Renee and Castiel were stunned into silence.

"You say I'm barren? Did you think about how your family would be left without descendants when you tampered with my prenatal vitamins?"

Her words were like a thunderclap that struck Castiel's heart. He whirled to look at Renee.

Renee's eyes flickered with guilt. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Is that so? Dr. Jerome Conrad from Silvergate Hospital is your high school classmate. Do you want me to bring his wife here to tell everyone about the time you went to Silvergate and got that medicine?" "You, you..." Renee stared at Niamh, unable to respond to her sharp and relentless accusations. Seeing Renee's reaction only-fueled Niamh's hatred. Chapter 13

Meanwhile, Castiel could hardly believe what Renee had done.

Tension hung in the air for a long time, until Castiel finally spoke, his voice trembling. "Niamh."

Despite having weathered many storms as the head of the Jamison family, Castiel was trembling like a leaf in the wind at that moment.

Niamh, however, didn't even spare Castiel a glance. She turned and headed upstairs.

As only Castiel and Renee remained in the living room, the tension grew even heavier.

Renee looked at him, panic setting in. "Castiel, I... I...

"Is it true?"

"Don't listen to her. I didn't do it!"

"Should we bring in the evidence to find out then?"

"What..."

Renee was rendered speechless as her impeccable facade was now exposed. She had thought her actions were foolproof, but Niamh, seemingly powerless, had discovered everything. Renee was flustered.

Castiel's gaze toward his mother was filled with disappointment and anguish. He had always hoped for a child after marrying Niamh, and when she was pregnant, he was overjoyed. Their years of love seemed to have finally borne fruit. But the child was lost, and Niamh was given a diagnosis of unlikely future pregnancies.

Since then, Niamh had been dealing with traditional medicine, and Castiel had watched her struggle with every dose of dark, grimy medicine.

And what had the Jamison family done during that time? They had used it as an excuse to push him and Niamh toward divorce.

"You may not accept her, but how could you do that to her?" Castiel bellowed while Renee broke down in tears.