I woke up with a throbbing headache. It was earlier than I wanted to wake up, but the pain wouldn't let me sleep. I got out of bed and took a painkiller from my dresser. As I swallowed it, I noticed Anne sobbing softly in her sleep.My heart went out to her. I knew she was still hurting from Gina's passing. I walked over to her bed and gently shook her shoulder."Anne, wake up. It's okay," I whispered.Anne's eyes fluttered open, filled with tears. I sat beside her and wrapped my arms around her."It's going to be okay," I repeated.Anne buried her face in my shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. I held her, letting her cry. We stayed like that for a while, the only sound Anne's quiet sobs.Eventually, I lay down beside her, closing my eyes. The painkiller started to work, and my headache faded slowly. Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.The next sound I heard was the ringing of the alarm, signaling the start of our day. Only this time, there was no yelling as everyone was mourning.
In our embrace, my stomach grumbled and I pulled away as I blushed in embarrassment."Are you hungry?" He smirked."I was on my way to the cafeteria anyway." I muttered."Do you want to eat with me? I can ask someone send something over." He asked awkwardly. He was inviting me over to his room and I was nervous as I didn't even know what to reply."Umm, maybe..." His phone rang, interrupting my words. He sighed as he saw the caller ID. It was Nicolas."You can go ahead if you have work to do." I said and he smiled."I'll see you later then." He kissed my forehead before turning away to leave. I blushed harder as I never expected that our relationship would blossom into something like this. If only I wasn't a low born, then maybe we could be free to love out in the open like a normal couple.A couple? I can't believe I just mentally referred to ourselves as one. I giggled uncontrollably at the thought that Leigh and I were actually a couple now. My tummy was doing back flips at this po
"What is going on again?" Anne asked, her brow furrowed."I don't know," I replied. "Let's check it out."The commotion was coming from the main house, and deep inside me, I was hoping it wasn't another attack. I know Anne was hoping for the same too. On our way, we encountered other curious servants who were attracted by all the noise."Maybe the Masters are up to something because I saw Miss Felice hurrying out." One said as we quickened our pace, curiosity getting the better of us.As we entered the main house, I spotted Eleanor, her face was extremely pale as she struggled with the guards. They didn't look like Troy soldiers. Maybe they were from the Rider pack because Travis seemed to be in charge as he stood beside her, with his expression stern."I won't leave, I'm staying here. I don't want to go back home." Eleanor insisted. "I demand to speak to Leigh."Travis's face darkened. "You will leave now, while they're still being nice," he warned. "Or I'll order them to drag you ba
"What kind of symptoms?" Travis asked as his brow furrowed."Dizziness, vomiting...and her appetite has been strange," I listed.Travis's expression darkened."Why didn't you say something earlier?" he demanded."I didn't think it was serious," I admitted. "And she made me promise not to tell anyone." I said and he looked back at her motionless body confused."Why would she do that? It makes no sense. If she was sick then she should have gotten treatment." He said confused. "When was the last time you noticed this?" He looked at me again."The day of the ball. She suddenly felt dizzy and threw up." I admitted."And she still attended in that state? She's so stubborn." He said angrily. "You should have said something to me." He hissed."She told me not to and you weren't exactly...." He looked back at me as the words got caught in my throat."Likable? seemed to care? approachable?" He listed. "Just say it. I already know what you are thinking." He sighed. "She's so stubborn. That's why
~ Leigh's POV ~I was happy. Happy that Iris and I had a talk. Happy that we could finally understand each other and happy that she had agreed to be with me. Now all I needed to do was get Eleanor out of the house to reassure Iris.Thankfully, her dumb brother Travis also wanted her back home and he already asked his guards over to drag her home.If I'm lucky, she would be out of my life before I return. I don't want to see her or her dramatic self for a second longer.Nicolas also called this morning that they have found some clues on the terrorist. That Archie guy was actually quite capable. His guys found traces of where the terrorist might have transferred the hostages to. Nicolas was already downstairs waiting for me.I stepped into his car, and was greeted by his nod."Ready to catch some leads?" he asked with a wide grin."More than ready," I replied.Our hunt for the kidnappers had been ongoing. But today, we had a breakthrough.Archie's tip led us to an abandoned warehouse in
Iris followed after me. She must have been worried for her to go over to Eleanor's room.In the hallway, I turned to her to inquire."How's Eleanor?" I asked and she frowned."I'm worried," she said with worry obvious in her tone. "She's been sick for days nows and I'm really hoping is not anything serious."But I chuckled. I have to admit that it was cute to see Iris being all worried about Eleanor even though Eleanor did horrible things to her. "She's just faking it, she's always such a drama queen and she probably doesn't want to leave just yet." I whispered into her ears.But she shook her head in disagreement. "No, I think it's serious," she insisted.My smile faded. "Don't worry, Iris," I said softly. I didn't want her to worry about this. She should only focus on the both of us. I was going to make sure that Eleanor is on her way out as soon as she regains consciousness from her fake faint. I also wanted to catch the culprits quickly so I could finally announce to everyone tha
"Care to tell us how I got you pregnant?" I said with a grunt and her pupils were shaking already.Travis intervened as he stood between me and Eleanor and he grabbed my shirt roughly again."What are you trying to do Leigh? Do you want her to narrate to everyone here how you claimed her? Make her look like a slut in front of everyone? You are despicable." He spat."Claimed?" My eyes narrowed in disgust."Please let him go Travis." Eleanor pleaded with a voice that was making my ears bleed all the more."I'm not letting this scum go until he admits what he did to you." Travis growled at me while Eleanor kept up with her fake plea.I tilted my head to stare at Travis whose hands was still on my shirt. "Let go." I said and he sneered."Make me." He stared at me ferociously. With quick precision, I grabbed his hands as I waved him off from my sight causing him to crash on the ground in a loud thud. Eleanor gasped as I grabbed her hands roughly."You." I scorned. "Care to tell us now?" I
I woke up, feeling totally drained. The events of yesterday weighed heavily on my mind. Eleanor's pregnancy claim, my father's command to marry her, and the lingering guilt over Iris. I also knew that the Rider Pack would soon start pressuring me to finalize the mate bond between Eleanor and I, and that would be over my dead body.I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, plotting my next move. First things first, verify Eleanor's claim. I needed concrete evidence.I tossed around different ideas in my mind. Like demanding a medical report or insisting on a paternity test.I threw off the covers and headed for the shower. The warm water cleared my head, but my resolve remained.As I got out of shower, I heard my phone ringing. I went over and saw missed calls from Clarisse. I sighed. I would just call her back later. I went downstairs to see if I could get something to eat before going about my business. Downstairs, I encountered Travis in the hallway."You're lucky my sister still want
I floated in a void and it was hard to breathe. I struggled till I finally found my balance. "Here again?" I muttered to myself as I walked the familiar path and was met with the same woman that has been appearing in my dreams almost every night.I still couldn't understand what she was saying, but I knew it was something very important."Remember!" She whispered before a whirlwind blew me away and I woke up abruptly, panting heavily.I looked around and I found myself in the comfort of my own room. I sighed as I sat up and rubbed my eyelids with my palms. I tried to move, but I hissed in pain as I was still sore from last night's activity in the garden.I felt drained and tired, with my body still humming from the memories of last night's passion with Leigh. The sunlight streaming from the window seemed too bright, that I winced as I turned to look the other way. I stretched, yawned, and swung my legs over the side of the bed, with my feet dangling in the air.I went to the bathroom
It was probably 10pm or something. I wasn't exactly sure because I drifted off to sleep after Anne tucked me in and I hadn't gotten up since then. The vibration of my phone woke me up."Ugh," I sighed as my head began to throb. I reached for my phone and saw an incoming call from Leigh. Immediately, I sat up before picking up."Hello." I said carefully."Iris." He said in the calmest of voice and my previous anger and dissatisfaction with him watched away as if it was never there."Can we meet up?" He asked."Now?," I glanced over at Anne's side and she was tucked in with her earpods in, probably watching a movie. "Okay." I said as I climbed out of bed.My movement alerted Anne as she turned her attention to me. "Going somewhere?" She asked taking one bud out of her ear."Yeah. I'll be back shortly." I smiled as I put on something simple but nice. I headed to his mother's garden. He didn't have to tell me that that's where he'd be before I could go, because I could probably read his
I haven't seen or heard from Leigh all day. I was really worried and unhappy about this. I would be going back home tomorrow, so I had hoped I would be able to at least speak with him today. I sighed as I made my way back to my room. Since he isn't picking up his call, I should probably go finish packing up and sleep for a while. I headed down the corridor when someone pulled my arms to the side. Shocked and alarmed, I turned back with my fist in the air, it could be another attack, but I was surprised to see Miss Clarisse."You..!" I said shocked. "What do you want?"Her eyes scanned me as she stared as my fist. "Oh, sorry, I thought it was someone bad." I laughed awkwardly as I dropped my hands and stood properly.She just stared at me without saying anything which greatly surprised me. "Uh, do you need anything?" I asked just in case, but she was awfully quiet, but the next thing she did greatly shocked me. She started sniffing me."Hey!" I pushed her off as she grabbed my arms ho
Who could this important guest be? I started on my way and followed the other servants to the entrance, curiosity got the better of me. Who was this important guest that had everyone scrambling?Upon arrival, we formed two precise single file lines, with guards at the front and Miss Felice leading the way."Who is the guest?" I asked the girl besides me."I don't know exactly, I just followed the others here. But it seems like someone important." She said."By the look of things, this guest would probably stay here since we have been asked to come welcome them." The other one by my side whispered."Yeah, true. This was also how we welcomed that snake Miss Eleanor." One said."Hey, don't call her that." I shot at her.She hissed in displeasure. "I can say what I want. And stop acting so noble." She spat.I turned from her because it was clear she only wanted trouble."Is it male or female? I just want to know." Another whispered and thus the gossips started."What if it's a woman? May
I felt myself floating in an endless void, I felt disoriented and I didn't know what I was doing here, or how I got to this place. My feet landed on the ground and my footing balanced."Hello?" I called out looking around, but my voice echoed back.I moved forward, searching for a reference point, but there was nothing, only emptiness. Suddenly, a figure materialized in the distance. A woman stood at the center, with her back to me."Excuse me," I said, approaching her. "Where am I?"She didn't turn it speak to me, but just stood with her back to me.I paused before going forward. "Sorry to bother you, I just want to know where I am. I am lost." I said to her while still approaching her.The woman turned to me suddenly. Our eyes met and familiarity struck me instantly, but I knew we had never met before."Who are you?" I asked as I was having this strange feeling.In a flash, the woman stood inches from me, but I could swear she was standing far away a few seconds ago.Her skin trans
Finally, me and the girls were done. It was a total mess in here. I couldn't help but wonder what sort of grown adult would mess with books and leave them scattered everywhere."I'm hungry, let's go find something to eat." One of the girls suggested and the other supported with a nod."I'll go handle something first before joining you guys." I said and they made fun of me thinking I was going back to talk to Leigh, but I was actually going back to find Miss Felice.I stepped out of the library, with my resignation letter clutched in my hand. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. I did tell her that I had nothing to say before, but now, Leigh thinks it's a good idea to stop working here.I headed straight to her office, hopefully she was in. I knocked softly and let myself in when I heard her say 'come in' from inside."Ah! Iris, what brings you here?" She said lifting her head from a pile of paper work in front of her. She was busy calculating all the expen
As I walked away, a force pulled me back in place. I spun around, startled for a brief second before I got my composure. Leigh stood before me, his eyes blazing anger."Shit!" I whispered to myself. For a moment, I wondered if he had seen me hug Chad. A misunderstanding was the last thing I wanted right now between us."Leigh, what's wrong?" I asked carefully, trying to sound calm."Are you still seeing him?" he demanded, his tone rough and my yes shone."What do you mean?" I backed up a little.He moved closer in an intimidating way. "I am asking if you are still going in between Chad and I?" He scowled and I bristled."How dare you," I snapped at him. "You have no right to say that to me. Do I look like some cheap harlot that double dates? Hell, we aren't even in a relationship." I shot at him immediately and his expression changed as he realized he just fucked up."Look I..." "If you are going to keep talking to me this way then you better leave." I cut him off. Why does he always
I should really stop entertaining this kind of conversations and exchanges to not give anyone a wrong impression or false hope. I do not know if he's serious about his advances or not, but I have to avoid him too."Iris," Miss Felice called out to me and I hurried to meet up with her."Madam?" I said and she had this look on her face that was hard to put into words. She just stared at me for a quick second before opening her mouth to speak."You are one lucky girl Iris." She said in a rather fond tone which greatly amazed me."Ah!" Was all I could say because I didn't know how to react. She moved closer to me and placed her hands on my shoulder."Leigh is a child I watch grow up. He knows nothing about love, but since he has chosen to love you, and the goddess also seems to be in your favour, I hope you do not disappoint him." She smiled softly and I nodded."Oh, I remember you said you had something to tell me. You can say it now." She said and the words got stuck in my throat. I did
"Okay father. But I have to process my resignation. I cannot just up and leave." I said trying to sound reasonable and thankfully he listened to me."Okay." He sighed. "In two days time, I will come to pick you up. By then, everything should have been sorted out right?" He asked and I nodded."Okay dear, I will return to the hospital now. Please stay away from trouble my dear child." He patted my head and I smiled as I hugged him tightly."Bye dad." I said and he hugged me back before going his way. As I watched him leave, I clenched the resignation letter I already had prepared in my pocket. I had wanted to leave because I thought I had lost Leigh forever, but that wasn't the case now. I wanted to stay. I finally have a chance. But now, father wants me back home. What was I going to do now?"Iris!" Anne called me as she rushed towards me. "Are you okay? I heard that you were involved in a fist fight? I hope you won? Is it true that Eleanor wasn't carrying Leigh's child? So no more U