CHAPTER- 37

Iris POV:

Here I am, trying to enjoy my lunch in the quiet corner of the restaurant where all the staff hang out.

It's a little refuge, a spot where I can just breathe, away from the prying eyes and the constant buzz of the kitchen.

The familiar hum of chatter fills the air, blending with the clinking of cutlery and the soft whir of the ceiling fans above.

My plate of food is steaming, a simple meal that should be comforting, but my appetite is nowhere to be found.

I can feel their eyes on me—Jeremy and his buddies—watching me from across the room.

Their gaze is almost palpable, a heavy, unwelcome presence that makes the air around me feel thicker, more oppressive.

Clearly expecting me to look devastated or sad or desperate enough to try and talk to him.

But they’re wrong. Idiots.

I focus on my food, trying to ignore the knot of tension tightening in my stomach.

Gosh, can’t I work anywhere without being embarrassed?

It’s like no matter where I go, I can’t escape the feeling of