Chapter 162
"Wait." Niamh was a little confused. "What kind of person could be my sister-in-law? And doesn't my brother not like women?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she got smacked on the head.
Hayden pulled his hand back, exasperated. "What nonsense are you spouting? Your brother is perfectly normal. Say that again and I'll smack you harder!"
Niamh clutched her head, looking aggrieved. "But it's true…"
Hayden glared at her. "When she gets here, you'd better be polite. You hear me?"
Then he turned to the butler. "Are the gifts ready?"
The butler nodded immediately. "Everything's prepared—jewelry, property deeds, share transfer documents. All of it."
Hayden nodded in satisfaction. "The moment she arrives, deliver them."
Niamh was stunned. "What?"
She was completely floored.
In the past, whenever she came home, Hayden would practically lay the entire world at her feet.
But now? Gifts prepared in advance. Meals prepared in advance. The entire household revolving around that woman.
Niamh suddenly felt sour inside, like her favorite toy had been snatched away.
She couldn't help muttering under her breath, "What kind of person even is she…?"
To have both her brother and her father wrapped around her finger.
At that thought, Niamh felt even more miserable.
Because she'd originally had a perfect plan.
She'd wanted to introduce her master to her brother. Sure, she always thought her brother wasn't the brightest sometimes, his temper was so-so, he had some money—barely—and his looks were passable. Overall, he was kind of beneath her master.
But aside from her brother, she couldn't think of anyone else worthy of her master.
If her master married her brother, she'd become her sister-in-law. Then she and her brother could protect her master together. One happy family. How perfect!
But now? Her brother already had a fiancée!
At that thought, Niamh's face grew darker and darker. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She even started condemning Reginald internally.
Scumbag! Total scumbag!
Her master was so wonderful, and he was sneaking around with some other woman behind her back!
Niamh mentally added a huge black mark against Reginald's name. "No way!"
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She puffed up and turned around. "I'm not eating!"
With that, she turned to leave.
Seeing this, Hayden quickly called out, "Stop right there!"
Niamh didn't stop. Hayden frowned. "Your brother and the others will be here any minute. Where are you going?"
Niamh didn't look back. "To my room! I don't want to see her!"
Hayden laughed in exasperation. "You haven't even met her. What are you throwing a tantrum for?"
Niamh spun around, her pretty little face puffed with indignation. "I just don't like her! She's probably some arranged marriage partner. Dad, did you set this up? There's no way my brother would actually like those delicate, pampered heiresses!"
"You have no idea—I already had a sister-in-law picked out for him! Now it's all ruined!"
Hayden had been about to placate her, but hearing this, his expression changed instantly. "Stop right there!"
Niamh froze. Hayden's face was more serious than she'd ever seen. "Put those ideas away right now. Your brother's current girlfriend is the best there is. No one compares. Don't you dare mention introducing anyone ever again."
At that, Niamh was completely dumbfounded.
Her whole life, Hayden had almost never spoken harshly to her, let alone this seriously.
But now, he was scolding her over some woman she hadn't even met.
Niamh's eyes instantly reddened. She felt even more wronged. "Fine. I won't say anything. You all like her anyway. I'm the outsider."
With that, she turned and ran.
The door slammed shut. The hallway fell silent again.
Hayden stood in place, rubbing his temples.
This was a headache. A real headache.
The butler quickly consoled him. "Mr. Lancaster, Ms. Lancaster just hasn't met Ms. Wipere yet. Once she does, everything will be fine."
Hayden let out a long sigh, looking toward the door. "I hope so."
Still, thinking of his precious daughter's puffed-up expression just now, Hayden felt a little worried.
When the two of them met later, he just hoped nothing embarrassing would happen.
Meanwhile, inside her room, Niamh sat on her bed clutching a pillow. The more she thought about it, the angrier and more wronged she felt.
She'd already decided—no matter who this future sister-in-law was, she wouldn't accept her easily.
Unless that person was even more amazing than her master!
But the moment that thought surfaced, Niamh shook her head.
How was that even possible?
Where in the world could there be anyone more amazing than her master?
On the other side, the plane landed in the evening.
Lucinda and Reginald walked out side by side. Just as they exited the VIP passage, Lucinda's phone buzzed in her pocket.
She glanced down, and the corner of her lips curved slightly.
Reginald noticed her expression. "Who is it?"
Lucinda waved her phone. "A little friend."
Reginald raised an eyebrow. He didn't need to ask to know who it was.
Sure enough, when she opened the chat, Niamh's messages had already piled up.
[Master! I can't stay in this house anymore! Not at all!]
Lucinda smiled faintly and typed a reply: [What happened?]
The response came almost instantly: [I finally came home, and no one loves me anymore. The kitchen made a huge table of food, and barely any of it is what I like.]
[And my dad prepared a bunch of gifts, but they're not for me either. They're all for my future sister-in-law. Don't you think that's infuriating?]
Lucinda looked at the messages, her smile deepening.
Reginald glanced over and caught the gist. The corner of his mouth lifted as well.
Lucinda continued typing: [So who is your brother's girlfriend?]
Niamh sent back an angry emoji: [I don't know, and I don't want to know. She's definitely not one ten-thousandth as good as you!]
Lucinda fell silent.
She was suddenly looking forward to the upcoming meeting.
The messages kept coming: [I was going to introduce you to my brother, but he secretly got himself a fiancée! Scumbag! Total scumbag! I've decided to temporarily ignore him!]
Lucinda finally couldn't hold back a laugh.
Reginald was silent.
His temple twitched slightly. "She's cursing me out?"
Lucinda put away her phone and nodded seriously. "Yep."
Reginald was silent.
He suddenly felt a headache coming on.
When his sister found out the truth, she'd probably want to crawl into a hole.
Meanwhile, Niamh's messages continued. [Master, I'm so annoyed. I kind of want to run away from home.]
Lucinda's expression grew a bit more serious. [Why run away?]
[Because there's no place for me in this house anymore. All they think about now is my future sister-in-law. They don't love me at all. I'm heartbroken. I'm planning to go wander the streets.]
Lucinda shook her head helplessly.
This girl was still the same as always—her thought process forever one-of-a-kind.
She replied: [That's your home.]
After the message was sent, there was silence for a while.
Half a minute later, Niamh sent back: [You're right. Why should I leave? If anyone's leaving, it should be someone else.]
Lucinda was silent.
That interpretation was… on brand.
Then a new message popped up: [Don't worry, I'm not running away anymore. I'm going to guard my territory.]
Lucinda finally felt fully reassured: [Good girl. Stay home and wait. Don't run off.]
[Got it.]
The chat ended. Lucinda put away her phone, a lingering smile still in her eyes.
Reginald glanced at her. "Done chatting?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
Lucinda deliberately looked at him. "She said you're a scumbag."
Reginald was silent.
Up ahead, Elijah nearly burst out laughing, then forcibly held it back.