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A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 53.
“Where have you been? What happened?” Ace was already on his feet and rushing towards her when she ran to her office but she made a beeline for the door, ignoring him and putting the lock in place before he could get to her.The slam of the door had startled Hailey who had been sitting in her office waiting for her. Hailey was on her feet and by her side in an instant when she saw the alarmed look and tears running down her face.“Jesus, Iris. What happened? Why do you look so pale?” Hailey had so many questions but Iris was still overwhelmed by what happened and she broke down in tears.“Oh my goodness” Hailey exclaimed as she watched her boss and friend break down but she still wrapped her hands around Iris to comfort her.“Iris!!” Ace’s worried voice came from behind the door as he pounded on it frantically “What happened? Did you get hurt?”Hailey opened her mouth to answer him but Iris shook her head and gave her a pleading look. Hailey sighed, exasperated but she answered “She
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“Iris”Iris was startled out of her mid-day thinking when Hailey shook her lightly. She quickly glanced around the room to see that pairs of curious eyes were focused on her and she flushed in embarrassment.They were in a meeting to discuss the final phase of the book in production, a meeting she should be heading but she had let guilt drag her mind somewhere while the employee in front of the room gave his presentation.“I’m sorry. Please continue” She announced after she quickly pulled herself together. The employees gave her another round of curious stares before they went back to listening to the man who had resumed his presentation.“What happened in there? You were lost in your head the entire meeting” Hailey commented as they walked back to her office.Iris glanced at Hailey and sighed but said nothing as they finally entered her office. Hailey was right. Iris could not focus on anything and it had been like this for a week now. A week since Jace kissed her and a week since sh
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Luca sat quietly while watching Jace and the clients he had brought over to discuss a business deal play poker in the VIP Lounge of Domino Bars which was owned by Ricardo play a game of pool.This wasn't his usual type of scene but the client had insisted they wanted to go to a bar and he had to call in a last-minute favour to Ricardo so he could allow him to make use of this premium VIP booth to satisfy the clients. They had finished the business deal signing and wanted to take advantage of the exquisite services the bar provided and Jace was all but willing to indulge them since Luca wasn’t one for games.Luca kept his eyes on his cousin while he played with the clients, laughing over jokes that Luca found not to be funny. He was still wondering why Jace had opted to help him with the clients today, claiming they were old friends which they were but that was not the issue. Jace had never wanted to help him so this was a suspicious development.He didn’t believe that his cousin was t
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Iris was not okay. It was past closing time and she had not heard a single word back from Luca. She was still in the office hoping that Luca would come back but he hadn’t showed and she had no idea whether he had gone home. Ace also told her he couldn’t get in touch with Maverick and it made her more anxious every minute.“We have to go. If he isn’t back by this time, maybe he is already at home but I doubt he would be coming back to the office” Ace sighed from his position where he was leaning on the door. They were the only ones left on her floor since everyone had gone home two hours earlier.“Have you tried reaching out to Maverick again? Luca’s phone is switched off and I am really worried” She asked again, not bothering to get up from her position on the couch in Luca’s office.“Yes, and it’s the same. It won’t go through. Let’s go home first and if he isn’t there then we can figure out what to do next. Please, Iris. You don’t look good and I’m getting worried here” Ace finally
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Iris ran out of the house and through the gates before anyone could stop her. She saw Ace’s confused expression as she ran past him but he could not stop her because her anger and her hurt were her driving force and they pumped her with enough adrenaline that she could not stop her legs as they took her far away from the house. It wasn’t until she collapsed beside a tree in an unknown environment that she took a breather. She looked around and she could barely recognize where she was because everywhere was dark and the only source of light was the street lights which weren’t of great help either. It was only when she saw that she was alone that she finally allowed herself to fall apart. She cried and gasped as the hurt tore through her venomously. Luca had shattered her and she didn’t think it was something that she could ever come back from. She shivered as a chilly wind blew and she wrapped her hands around herself because what she was wearing wasn’t suitable for the cold weather
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Iris woke up feeling aches all over her body. She had cried herself to sleep on Hailey’s couch and it was such an uncomfortable position. She curled around herself, not having the motivation to get up.“Hey, how do you feel?” Iris lifted her head a little and saw Hailey. She sat beside her on the couch and Iris was forced to sit up.“What’s the time?” She asked instead of answering the question. If she did, she would be tempted to say she was fine and she was far from fine.“It’s just past ten. I’m glad you were able to get some sleep. Here, take this, I’m sure you must have a headache after all those tears” Hailey handed her an aspirin and a glass of water which she took. Her head was pounding just like Hailey expected.“Aren’t you going to work today?” She asked when she finally dropped the cup on the table and turned back to her friend.“Not when you are like this. I already called to tell them I won’t be coming to work today. What are you going to do now?”Iris sighed and lay back
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Iris and Luca stood silently staring at each other in the middle of the room, their expressions different but a mirror of the turmoil they both felt on the inside. Iris had her head hanging low trying not to cry from the words Luca had poured out so honestly to her.The tension in the air was thick and the only thing you could hear was the sound of their breathing. Luca's heart pounded in his chest in a nervous anticipation. He didn't care what her reply was going to be, he would never let go of her.Iris couldn't take it anymore and threw every worry to the wind. She fell into Luca’s arms as a miserable cry tore from her lips and he wrapped his hands around her tightly with a relieved sigh. He presses his mouth to the side of her head in a kiss.“Thank you, princess” Luca said into her hair and she only sniffed in reply as she burrowed further into the hug. It may have just been a day but she had missed him like crazy.Since she left the house, she felt like she was only half of hers
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Iris felt like a fire spark as she glared down at Helen who was struggling to get up on her feet when she landed after Iris’s brutal hit. “How dare you hit me?” Helen screeched finally on her feet and she wanted to hit Iris but Iris caught the hand and shoved her without mercy but Helen caught herself before she would fall. “How dare me?” Iris growled. Words couldn’t explain how angry she felt “No, Helen. How dare you think you had the right to sit in MY house and say shit about my mother and think I will let you be?” She scoffed. “I said the truth, didn’t I? if you are so hurt about the words I said, you shouldn’t have been born of that whore and should have stayed out of Luca’s and my life” Iris was trying to hold back but Helen didn’t want to. She didn’t know when she pulled Helen to her and smacked her again so hard that her hand was ringing after the hit. “I swear I will tear your face open before you leave this house” Iris snarled and pushed Helen. She landed on the floor ag
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A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire EPILOGUE
Iris was still on her bed when she heard the bedroom door open. She didn't want to wake up yet because it was her birthday and she wanted to sleep in for once while Luca did what he did best, spoiling their children. They had three kids now. Autumn was seven now and was the exact copy of her mother. Sometimes, Iris would find herself lost in her thoughts, staring at her until she was called. Their boys, Axel and Kai were 4 and 1 respectively and perfect carbon copies of their father. Iris felt like a stranger in their house and even Autumn behaved just like Luca, it was scary sometimes. "Princess?" Luca called, climbing onto the bed. She stretched and felt her bones crack before turning to see him. A smile graced her face when she saw their youngest in his arms. Kai's eyes widened and a smile wider than Iris's own graced his face and he giggled while stretching his arms for her so she could take him. She pulled herself up and reached out to take him, wincing when his fingers cur
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Iris was so comfortable laying on Luca’s chest while his breath fanned her face and his hands traced meaningless patterns on her back which made her shiver every two seconds.She didn’t want to move because that was why bliss and perfection were to her. Luca had fucked her into oblivion that even when she woke up, her legs were still shaking even though she had yet to stand up.She didn’t hate it though. It was the best way for her to wake up but Luca had other plans. He said he had something she needed to see so they couldn’t stay in bed longer as she would have liked instead of being in the back seat of the car as they drove to their destination which he also wouldn’t tell her.“Are you sure you don’t want to tell me where we are going?” She asked again and Luca rolled his eyes, taking them off his phone to stare at her again.That was also part of the reason why she was mildly irritated. He had forced her out of his arms and still wouldn't give her any attention.“Sorry, Princess.
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Iris kept turning. It was very late and yet she couldn’t get herself to fall asleep. The sleeping pills Jasmine had given her did nothing to help and she was certain that it kept her awake instead of doing its job.Her eyes watched the moon and followed the owl that flew past it. She had left the window blinds open, hoping the calming view would make her fall asleep but all she had done was count the number of stars she could see and try to trace outlines with them.At the back of her mind, something nudged her. She knew what was keeping her awake and what she needed to do but something was holding her back, pinning her so she wouldn’t move towards what her body craved.She crossed her heart and made up her mind, sitting up and flinging the covers which felt heavy instead of comforting against her skin and threw her legs off the side of the bed, getting on her feet and making her way out of the room.She was sure her guts were strong but they failed her as she stood in front of their
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Iris laid her head against the window, mind fuzzy as the car raced towards the Taylor’s mansion. The loud blaring of the sirens from the police cars trailing behind and in front of their car prevented her from thinking. She thought she knew what exhaustion was but she didn’t until now. The past few days had been hectic with compiling all the evidence Selene had against Vera and pulling strings to make sure her arrest was sure and nothing would be done by anyone wanting to interfere.Since she couldn’t bury herself in her thoughts, she was aware of the heat teasing her fingers as they tingled in anticipation of touching Luca’s hands lying in the space between them.He was on the phone, typing away furiously and Iris wondered if she should just use the opportunity to brush her fingers across his hands while pretending it was a mistake.Her decision was made for her when Luca absentmindedly lifted his hand to trace his fingers lightly over her hands and she flinched away from his touch
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Iris sat in front of the mirror in her hotel room in a pensive mood. They had arrived in New York yesterday with Selene and were staying at the penthouse in the Rutherford’s latest hotel and it was a beauty to behold. It was a four-bedroom penthouse which Iris knew would cost a fortune for a night.A knock came on the door and she softly told the person to come in. Ace peeked his head through the tiny hole.“Are you ready? We have to leave soon. Luca is waiting for you” He told her before disappearing, closing the bedroom door behind him.Iris sighed again. Luca had given her the master suite while he took the bedroom opposite much to her disappointment. She knew he did it because of their recent sleeping arrangement but he should have asked her if she wanted to stay with him but he went ahead to softly tell her to get a good sleep while gesturing at the bedroom before he disappeared into the opposite room.Since they started sharing a bed, it was the first time she had slept in a new
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“Princess” Iris heard Luca call from behind her closed door. She peeked above her computer where she stayed working on some manuscripts that the new assistant had sent her. Iris had not yet gotten used to working with Lucy who took over Hailey’s position.To her, it felt weird seeing her instead of Hailey, but the girl was nice and knew how to give her space, space that Hailey had no problem invading. Iris missed Hailey sticking her nose in her every business but now, it was so quiet in the office because Hailey had been her only friend there.“Princess? Are you sleeping?” Iris hated the uncertainty in his voice but there was nothing she could do. Something was holding her back from telling him she wasn’t angry at him and just needed time to sort out her feelings.“There is someone you need to meet. I know you don’t want to see or talk to me at the moment, but you would really like to meet her” He spoke, this time grasping her interest.She frowned in surprise and racked her head to s
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“Are you okay?” Alanna asked from where she sat beside her while Luca sat opposite her. She could feel his eyes on her the past twenty minutes they had been sitting in the court’s waiting room but she kept her gaze on the floor, adamant not to meet his lingering eyes.She snapped her head up to meet Alanna’s worried gaze and she gave her a reassuring smile “As okay as my nerves would allow me to” She replied and dared to cast a glance towards Luca’s direction where she saw him looking at her as expected and she quickly looked away to meet Alanna’s knowing gaze.“You don’t have to do it if you are not okay with it. They can’t force you to testify and it won’t stop Helen from being locked up forever. They have solid proof against her” Alanna said, holding onto her arms.Iris shook her head in refusal “No, I have to. It’s going to be some sort of closure for me” Iris replied, her voice thick with so much emotion but she was glad the tears didn’t appear.She had finally been able to get a
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Iris never meant to keep standing by the door with her ears pressed against them after she disappeared behind them before Luca could get to her.She couldn’t find the courage to face him. She had not been able to sort out her emotions. They were conflicting and dangerous and it messed with her head and her thoughts.When she moved out of Luca’s room, she had hoped it would give her the room to fix her thoughts and decide where her head was.Iris wanted to leave the house altogether but she wasn’t stupid enough to think it would be possible.Luca may think she didn’t notice but she had. There was an increase in the guards around the house; sometimes she could hear footsteps parade the hallway in front of the room.She knew when Luca left, the familiar heavy steps fading away into the hallway and Ace’s own which never left.She sighed in defeat and removed the black dress she was wearing. She had said her final but was reluctant to one of her best friends today so her head was a mess.I
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The ride home was stifling. Iris kept her gaze on the road the entire ride and when the car rolled to a stop in front of the house, she was out of the car before anyone could say a word.Luca ran after her but her legs were faster. He hurried up the stairs just as she entered the hallway and opened the door.“Princess” Luca tried to stop her before she disappeared into the guest bedroom but failed. Maverick and Ace gave him that pitiful glance that he had come to hate but he waved them off.“Is she close?” He asked Maverick before the bulky man could step out of the room with Ace.“Yes. She should be here in a few minutes” Maverick replied and gave him a nod before they disappeared.Luca leaned on the wall across the guest bedroom and folded his hands over his chest as he stared at the closed doors.She was particularly more sensitive today since it was Hailey’s burial ceremony and he understood so he would give her the space she needed no matter how much it killed him to see her in
