I Owe the Tyrant Four Little Heirs novel Chapter 101

Niamh, however, scrambled back to her feet and began bouncing on the bed. “Wow, this is so soft and comfy! And so springy! It’s like a trampoline!”

Jareth watched her, a wave of regret washing over him. If he’d known the damn woman was this obnoxious when drunk, he’d have died before letting her have a single sip. From now on, if she ever dared to drink again, he’d break her legs.

She alternated between the bed and the sofa for at least half an hour, a whirlwind of manic energy, before she finally collapsed, blessedly silent.

Jareth had been standing by the window the whole time, recording her antics with his phone while shaking his head in weary disbelief. In his twenty-nine years, he had never seen anyone, let alone a woman, go this wild when drunk. It was a real eye-opener.

Once silence finally fell, Jareth headed for the bathroom. He felt disgusting, reeking of vomit after she’d thrown up all over him.

When he emerged from the shower, he found Niamh sprawled starfish-style on the bed, her gown a filthy mess.

He decided to help her out of it, rolling her onto her stomach to get to the zipper on her back. He might have pulled a bit too hard, because a small cry escaped her lips.

“Ow!”

The sound struck a chord deep within him, a jarring echo of another night five years ago. That woman, just like Niamh, had cried out in pain.

“Damn it,” he thought. “In all my life, I’ve never had to take care of a woman like this. Niamh, you’re the first.”

As he gently wiped the vomit from her face, a storm of resentment brewed within him. Yet, beneath it all, a strange, quiet flicker of joy warmed his chest—a feeling he’d never experienced before. Not even yesterday, when he’d closed that three-hundred-million-dollar deal, had he felt this sense of contentment. For him, making money had become as routine as eating, devoid of any real thrill.

After cleaning her up, Jareth started to leave, but Niamh’s hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.

“Don’t go,” she pleaded in a small voice. “I’m scared.”