Eleanor has bitten more than she can chew. She needed to be out of here, but first, I needed to go see Iris.I had heard from the guards that those that escaped were also seriously hurt last night including Iris. She had fought with the criminals last night and ended up in a bad state. This made me all the more annoyed with that damned Eleanor.I couldn't even protect the woman I claimed to love, and I was busy dozing off over whatever Eleanor had drugged me with. She also seemed pretty pissed off at me when she was meeting with father earlier. I needed to know why she was mad at me, and what I had done. If anything, I should be mad. She left just like that, after we shared such a passionate moment, but that was not the main problem for now.I do not know if she is already aware of her sisters mate condition or not. She was also really worried about the missing girls and I needed to assure her that all would be fine.So, I went to her quarters to wait for her. A few servants walked pa
I could feel that our hearts were the same. Two people denied of love and scared to fall in love. She was definitely afraid. She has known betrayal, and she was uncertain about me. But I was absolutely sure that I loved this woman and wanted to be with her. If I could carve my heart out, I would hand it over to her without a second thought."I am worthless without you." Right now, I was expressing my all but Nicolas just had to come ruin it with his stupid face."Leigh!" He called out to me and I was furious. Iris backed away upon hearing his voice and she was completely flushed."Sorry to interrupt your lovey dovey moment but we have work to do. Clarrise also just called." He informed in a formal tone. He was probably still a little upset about the whole Eleanor stuff and him seeing me with Iris now would definitely get him confused. I seriously need to explain things to him as soon as possible. He was the only one I could talk to and I didn't want him to see me as a failure just lik
As we walked out of the crazy woman's room, I couldn't shake off the irritation. Her tantrum was just another reminder of her manipulative nature. Always seeking attention and doing degrading things.Nicolas's concerned gaze met mine. "You okay?" He asked and I'm nodded, my expression neutral.But Nicolas wasn't convinced. "What did you mean back there?" he asked, his voice low.I raised an eyebrow, curious."When you talked about Eleanor's honour," Nicolas clarified. "You seemed... angry." He said.I sighed, the tension building inside me."Let's get out of here," I said, gesturing towards my room.Nicolas followed, his eyes never leaving mine.As we entered my room, I shut the door behind us, ensuring our privacy."Sit," I said, nodding towards the couch.Nicolas complied, with his eyes still fixed on me."I'll tell you everything," I said running my hands through my loose strands. "But I'm a bit embarrassed to share." I confessed honestly."You know you can tell me everything right
~ Iris POV ~"Iris, if I choose you over everything else, would you choose me too?"When Leigh asked me this question, I honestly did not know how to respond. I couldn't help but wonder if he was serious or not. Choosing me would be denying his birthright. It would mean going against everything and everyone."Will you really choose me above everything else?" I asked because I wanted to know if he understood the gravity of the words that he was saying."I am worthless without you." He said and for once, I wanted to be greedy. To ignore all the voices screaming in my head that this only spells trouble. I was going to choose him. I have always chosen him from the start. This wasn't a choice, it was only me admitting it. That I felt more than I should feel. Even more than I had felt for Archie in the past."Leigh I..""Leigh!" Another voice interrupted my own. I glanced over Leigh's shoulders to see Nicolas approaching. I backed away as I was completely flushed right now."Sorry to interr
I stood in the hallway, phone pressed to my ear, as Amelia's panicked voice pierced through the line."Oh, Amelia, I'm so sorry," I said, trying to keep my own voice steady."They are going to kill him. Oh goddess, they are going to kill him." She wailed."Don't even think about that," I interrupted, firmness creeping into my tone. "The Troy Pack will handle this. They won't let anything happen to him or the others. We have to trust them." I said with the complete faith I had in Leigh's words.Amelia's sobs intensified."I feel so helpless," she whispered."You're not alone," I said, pacing down the hallway. "We're all in this together. We'll get through this as a team. We just have to be patient and wait. He will definitely be rescued."I paced back and forth as I spoke until I came to a halt."Amelia, listen to me," I said, my voice calm and reassuring. "The Troy has the best trackers and fighters working on this. We'll find him and bring him home."Amelia's breathing slowed, and I
With tears streaming down my face. Chad's words echoed in my mind, but I refused to believe them."Gina can't be gone," I whispered, shaking my head.Chad knelt beside me, his hands on my shoulders."Iris, I'm so sorry," he said softly. "It's true. Gina didn't make it."I pushed his hands away, standing up."No, no, no," I repeated, pacing around the room. "This can't be happening."Chad followed me, his voice calm and soothing."Iris, please sit down. You're shaking."I collapsed onto the couch, burying my face in my hands."How?" I asked, my voice muffled.Chad sat beside me, his expression gentle."Gina's head injury caused internal bleeding," he explained. "A blood clot formed in her brain, putting pressure on vital tissues."I lifted my head, confusion etched on my face."A blood clot?" I repeated.Chad nodded."It's like a bubble of blood that forms when vessels are damaged," he said. "In Gina's case, it compressed her brain stem, cutting off vital functions."I felt a wave of g
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
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