IRIS’ POV.As I looked around the place, I couldn’t help but smile at myself proudly. I tucked my hair behind my ear as I shifted the table a little to the left.“Better here, Miss?” One of the workers called out to me and I turned.I licked my lips as I bent my head to the side. “A little higher, please. He’s tall, so he might bump into them.” I told him and he nodded as he adjusted it like I’d asked.“Perfect.” I muttered as I smiled.I rushed back to the kitchen as I continued with the cake I was baking. I really hoped Dave would like all of this. I had put in so much effort, even baking the cake myself so that he could hopefully feel all the love I had for him as he hated it.I tucked my hair behind my ear as I grabbed the icing, blushing as I boldly wrote his name on the cake with a happy birthday and a flirty heart and kiss indicating that after the party, we would have a spicy night after.I could feel the shivers travel down my spine as I thought of this, biting my lips.“Some
IRIS’ POV.Divorce papers? No! This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t believe this.“Open this car now!” I yelled at the driver as I tried to open the door as I tried to scoot over to the front, but he ignored me as he ignited the car.“Sit tight, Ma’am,” he instructed as he continued to drive.I gasped as I turned, to see Dave still on the call, unbothered. What on earth was going on? Was I just imagining things? Could all of this just be effects of all the wine I had last night?I ran my fingers through my hair as I sat back in the car, trying to be strong. This was all a joke. It couldn’t be real. He couldn’t want to divorce me. We had been through so much together, so, it was impossible that he would want to throw it all away like this.I stared at my ring as I caressed it. I needed to have hope in my marriage and my love for him. Maybe it was all just a misunderstanding.I had been so lost in my thoughts the whole ride that I didn’t realize when we got home.“We’re here now, Ma’a
ORCHARD’s POV.“It didn’t go well.” I could recall telling my father for what felt like the millionth time.I adjusted my tie as I ran my fingers through my hair, pondering on how awful of a day I had. I was frustrated, to say the least. Everything about my life was passing me off and nothing seemed to be going right. Not right now, at least.I was trying my best to remain positive as I hoped it would all come to an end, but it just seemed to get worse as time passed.At first, I thought that if I attended just a few blind dates and they didn’t work out, my father would let me be, but I was wrong. Attending the first blind date just gave him more leverage on me and I was forced to attend more till I could no longer take it.I had just gotten back from yet another failed blind date. She wasn’t worth it. None of the ladies were. They all seemed to be the same. Rich spoilt brats that knew nothing but how to spend “daddy’s money.” While I didn’t have a problem with spending on my woman if
IRIS’ POV.“Dinner at the restaurant tonight?” I chuckled as I nodded, putting the documents aside before taking a deep breathe as I shut the laptop.“Yes, husband.” Orchard extended his hand, letting me take it in mine as I smiled at him before we walked out of my office together.Four years had passed since the night Orchard and I first met and we’d been “married” for around the same time.A lot had happened in all this time and I was surprised to see that almost everything that had happened was good.Orchard was the best thing to have ever happened to me after I lost everything and I could never stop being grateful for his existence in my life.But, it was nothing but a marriage of convenience.“I’m so grateful to have you in my life, Orchard. Trust me, I could never show it enough, so, at least let me say it.” I would usually tell him at the most random moment when thoughts of how lucky I was to have him came to mind.“I’m even more lucky to have you, Iris. I mean, look at everyth
IRIS’ POV“Let’s cheer for having a wonderful fundraiser this year,” the MC cheered and as we clinked glasses, there were rounds of applause.“My wife, Iris.” I smiled as I shook hands with the man.There were so many people who wanted to meet me at this event and I couldn’t say I was surprised. I mean, Orchard was a hot name, so, everyone wanted to meet him and his wife who he always talked about and always shouted out to in his speeches whenever he won awards.“Shall we steal your wife for a moment, Mr. Hector? Your business talks seem to bore her.”One of the businessmen’s wives asked as she slowly gilded me away.Orchard raised his brow, trying to confirm from me and when I nodded, indicating I’d be fine, he agreed to let me go. I wasn’t sure about being away from him, but I was actually starting to get bored with what the other businessmen were saying. They weren’t even having business talks.“Hello, everyone. Introducing Iris, Orchard Hector’s beautiful wife. We all have to admi
Iris's POVI sighed, liking the ease in the tension I felt as my aching muscles were massaged by the hot water in the tub. It had been nothing short of a roller coaster coming back home from the fundraiser. The fundraiser was a capital disappointment. Aside from the couple of unpleasant faces and nothing short of a debacle that had happened right in front of me, I'd say it was a failure I was expecting to see on the news or some backwater gossip column. "Oh God," I mumbled under my breath as I sank deeper into the tub. "Are you going to stay there until the water turns cold?" My eyes found Orchard, dressed in nothing but a towel, as he entered the bathroom. "I'm going to the hotel," he said. "I have a few meetings here and there. Don’t wait up," he added, shooting me a small smile. My eyes followed him as he left the bathroom, his questions still weighing heavily on my mind. Answers I never gave. Was I a bad person?” I asked myself. I waited for about 10 more minutes until I
Iris’ PovThe drive to the hotel admin building was very quick from the apartment. Either the driver was flying, or I was simply too absorbed in my thoughts to notice by the time we got there.I was nervous throughout the elevator ride up to Orchard’s office, easily bypassing his PA and opening his office door. He was standing with his back towards me, facing the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the city of San Jose.I cleared my throat, drawing his attention."I heard you were coming," he said. He turned around and ate up the distance between us with his long strides."I had no choice," I said. “I didn’t know when you’d come back home, so I decided to meet up with you.”As the word “home” left my lips, a strange feeling welled up inside me. Perhaps it’s about the word, or perhaps it is the weight it carries.With Dave, I had no idea about what I had, but with Orchard, it was clear I had a home.“Uhmmm…” Orchard’s low murmur pierced through my thoughts, making me realize I had z
Iris’s Pov.My mind probably never played tricks on me, so I doubted it was truly Dave standing not so far behind me."Isn't this interesting," he smiled, playing with something in his hand and his pocket, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "So the rumors were true. You really are like that, huh? You are nothing more than the simple, subtle bitch drifting from one rich dick to the other."At the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Orchard squeezing his large hand into a fist, causing the bold veins to bulge. "Clearly, someone has never heard of manners in his entire life," he said, raising his eyes towards Dave.I turned around to find Dave slowly running his eyes over Orchard. "You really did get married," he said. "And to this the guy? Really? This is the best you could come up with?"He chuckled with a slight shake of his head. Condescending, I thought. A little too much."What the fuck?" I heard Orchard say in a growl. "You don’t think you’re going to talk to my wife t
OrchardMy hand hung limp in hers. I suddenly felt so cold that I took a step back.“I feel... I don’t know, somehow I’m just jobless,” she nervously chuckled and looked away. “But it’s not your fault. I’m just—I guess—overly critical about things that I shouldn’t be.” She lifted a hand to tuck a stray tendril of dark hair behind her ear. Suddenly, she looked down at her phone.“So, is the dinner with your father still going to happen? I mean, I don’t know. Maybe you should talk to him or something. He didn’t exactly seem too happy after the whole incident. But only if you want to talk about it,” she said. “I’m not trying to insert myself.”“It’s fine,” I said. “I do want to see Dad. I have a few things I want to tell him.”“It’s only if you want to,” I added, reaching for her hand once more. Instead, she took a step forward, walking ahead of me.“Then let’s go get ready,” she said, briefly turning back towards me with a smile. The woman didn’t know what she was doing, I thought to m
OrchardFlashing lights may cause epileptic seizures, and "all that jazz" could best describe the exact thing I was currently facing. Flashing lights, over and over again from nearly a hundred cameras in front of me in one of the conference rooms of my hotel, nearly blinded me. I shut my eyes briefly, turning my head and finding Iris not so far off to the side. Her eyes were on me, brimming with support of some sort. If only she could come closer, I thought to myself as I shot her a small smile."Remember," I felt a hand on my shoulder and my uncle’s voice in my ear."Offer an apology, tell them...""I know what to say. I'm not a kid, you know." I shrugged his hand off my shoulder and turned once more to the flashing lights. I snapped my fingers in front of the nearest microphone, causing the flashes to momentarily stop."My name is Orchard Hector." I cast my eyes briefly towards the crowd of vigorously typing reporters. "A few things have come to light recently," I said. "A few vid
Iris….I was left alone in the passenger seat, tapping my fingers against my thigh, counting the seconds as they ticked by. The silence wasn’t terrible, just… dull. I let out a sigh, glancing at my reflection in the side mirror. My face looked tired, and a little boredom stretched across my features.“I’ll just take a quick look around,” I muttered to myself, pushing open the car door. My curiosity was getting the better of me. Besides, staying cooped up in that car wasn’t doing me any favors. I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my muscles ease as I stepped out. The surroundings were simple but lovely—greenery lined the paths, and a few birds chirped here and there, flitting between the trees. It felt peaceful.I wandered along the path, admiring a bed of bright flowers, bending to examine them closely. Nature always had a way of calming me down. The fresh air, the soft rustling of leaves—it was like a gentle lullaby.But soon, I started to feel tired, my legs ached from the walk.
Orchard…The drive to the restaurant was quiet, a tense silence settling between Iris and me. I kept my eyes on the road, watching the streetlights slide past in a blur of light and shadow. Iris fixed her gaze outside the window, neither of us said a word, but the unspoken tension filled the car, like a storm gathering in the distance.When we arrived at the restaurant, I spotted Dave, Tiffany, and her mother already seated by the large windows, their silhouettes framed by the glow of the chandeliers above. I turned to Iris as I unbuckled my seatbelt. “Will you be okay here on your own for a bit?”“I’ll be fine,” she replied, offering me a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.I gave a nod, reaching out to squeeze her hand briefly before getting out of the car. I knew she could handle herself, but I still felt reluctant to leave her alone in this tense atmosphere. As I made my way inside, I caught sight of my uncle, sitting at the far end of a private room, his eyes immediat
Orchard…The drive to the restaurant was quiet, a tense silence settling between Iris and me. I kept my eyes on the road, watching the streetlights slide past in a blur of light and shadow. Iris fixed her gaze outside the window, neither of us said a word, but the unspoken tension filled the car, like a storm gathering in the distance.When we arrived at the restaurant, I spotted Dave, Tiffany, and her mother already seated by the large windows, their silhouettes framed by the glow of the chandeliers above. I turned to Iris as I unbuckled my seatbelt. “Will you be okay here on your own for a bit?”“I’ll be fine,” she replied, offering me a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.I gave a nod, reaching out to squeeze her hand briefly before getting out of the car. I knew she could handle herself, but I still felt reluctant to leave her alone in this tense atmosphere. As I made my way inside, I caught sight of my uncle, sitting at the far end of a private room, his eyes immediat
Iris’ Pov I stood on our room’s balcony, inhaling and exhaling, as I soaked in the evening breeze. Outside, a few stars were visible, twinkling softly. Orchard had excused himself to make a call in his study, and as much as I respected his privacy, I couldn’t help the worry that gnawed at me. He had been tensed since we arrived home, which was a few hours ago. He was silent even at the dinner table, and barely said a word to me when we came back our room. I may not know him too well, but I knew something was troubling him, and it bothered me that he wouldn’t share it with me.I sat in silence, listening to the distant murmur of his footsteps as he headed down the hallway. After a few minutes, I couldn’t resist. I was curious to know what was going on. I got of bed as quietly as I could, I tiptoed down the hall to his study. I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t stand the thought of him bearing a burden alone.When I reached his study, I saw that the door was left slight
OrchardI rarely ever regretted things in my life. Most of my actions were done with careful deliberation. But for the first time—well, one of the first times, save for dating that girl called Cindy Crawford in high school—I regretted my actions.I regretted not punching Dave hard enough. I regretted not knocking the living daylights out of him until he begged me to stop. Maybe if I had done it well enough, he wouldn’t be so proud as to go and call the damn police on me.My eyes found her parents and then Iris. “Is this true?” Iris’s father said, rising to his feet.I should have hit him harder than that, humbled him, I thought, only within earshot of Iris herself. She, in turn, pinched me slightly on the thigh, sending jolts through my brain—not the kind that would be best discussed on a family-friendly channel, to say the least. Iris stood to her feet.“It was all for good reason,” she said. “He tried to assault me, and my husband was defending me. Last time I checked, none of that
Iris"Oh God," I mumbled out loud, stopping dead in my tracks, as I took in the sight before me."You good?" Orchard bent to look at me, his worried eyes filling my line of sight. "You’re going to be fine," he said. "Besides, we've got some things now, don't we?" I wanted to say "yeah," but I knew my father. I knew he wouldn't understand things like this, but still, I’d give him the benefit of the doubt. I followed as Orchard led me into Tiffany's office. Tiffany initially began to smirk, but as soon as her eyes landed on Orchard behind me, her smirk fell just as quickly as it had appeared. My father turned with surprise on his face. My stepmother’s reaction was quite comical, too; it was truly a day of comical moments. In their defense, I was surprised as well, I totally hadn’t expected Orchard to show up out of the blue, beat Dave up and request for a family meeting. There had been a crazy turn of events and I still wasn’t sure what the meeting was about."What are you doing here
IrisI didn’t care that my dad was standing there, I was more focused on how my words affected Tiffany, and briefly glancing at her, I found her face completely pink.Oh, it was a perfect sight, I thought to myself: Tiffany’s face, utterly embarrassed. Even if I was practically calling a bluff, it was a good bluff nonetheless.By the time I was leaving the building, I simply couldn't help the giddy smile on my face, even to the point where the receptionist I'd encountered before cocked her head at me. It felt good to be on the winning side at least once in a while, I thought as I pushed the door open.Just as I was stepping out onto the street to find my chivalrous driver, I thought to myself that I couldn’t have a worse fate than the one I had now—right as a red Ferrari pulled up in front of the building, and none other than my ex slid out of the door as if he were the main character of some romantic comedy.Surely he knew exactly what he was doing, I thought, rolling my eyes at the