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Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 39
Iris I stood there, frozen, staring at the mess on the floor. My hands trembled slightly as I bent down to pick up a few of the larger pieces.“I’m so sorry,” I stammered, my voice shaking. “I—I didn’t mean to. I’m so clumsy sometimes.”Orchard’s mother, Halle, turned toward me, and for a brief moment, I couldn’t read her expression. Her soft brown eyes landed on mine, and I braced myself for a sharp reprimand. Instead, she surprised me.“Oh, Iris, don’t worry about that!” she said, walking over and pulling me into a warm hug. Her arms were soft and smelled faintly of lavender, a comforting scent that eased my nerves almost instantly. “It’s just a vase. We were waiting for you to come home so we could have dinner together anyway.”The kindness in her tone caught me off guard. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, and a small, embarrassed smile crept onto my face.“Thank you,” I said softly.She patted my shoulder as she pulled back. “Now, go wash your hands. We’ll be wai
Last Updated : 2024-12-06Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 40
Iris Orchard turned to me with a soft smile and leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on my cheek. The touch of his lips lingered, and for a moment, I felt relief wash over me.I hesitated, then spoke. “Orchard, why didn’t you tell me your mum was coming? I would’ve been more prepared. I looked like a total idiot at the dinner table, I blew it off.”He chuckled lightly, running a hand through his hair. “That’s the surprise I told you about, remember?”I narrowed my eyes at him. “Surprise? Orchard, meeting your mother for the first time should’ve come with at least a little warning. Especially if she knows about… us.”He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I didn’t mean to catch you off guard, Iris. I thought you’d like meeting her without any preconceived expectations. She’s a big part of my life, and I wanted it to feel natural.”I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe. “And what about the whole ‘she-knows-about-the-arranged-marriage’ thing? Why didn’t you tell me that? I
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 41
Tiffany I was reeling in shock. Rejection did that to me. Never had I put my hands on Dave, and yet he didn’t want me. Far be it from me, I thought to myself, to let this weigh me down. But still, it caused me to recoil in shame. I stared at myself in the mirror the morning after, and even after splashing water on my face several times and taking a hot shower, I still felt disgusting. It was as though my skin had been pried open, and I was staring at a skinless version of myself. “Damn it,” I said, biting my lip. Of course, it was nothing to be worried about, I thought. Dave had problems here and there, but never this bad. “I need to talk to someone,” I mumbled to myself as I pulled out my phone from the pocket of my bathrobe and dialed Mom’s number. “Mom,” I barked into the phone, stifling a sob that suddenly rose from within. “What is it?” As usual, her question was straight to the point. The woman could stand unshaken, never missing a beat in her emotionlessness, but she a
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 42
IrisThe morning was still and quiet, the kind of peace that wrapped around you like a warm blanket. Orchard lay beside me, his broad shoulders rising and falling in a steady rhythm. His face was so calm and relaxed. Even in sleep, I was so assured he had my back.I moved as quietly as I could, slipping out from under the covers and letting my feet touch the cool wooden floor. A soft chill ran up my spine, but I didn’t mind it. The house had this way of reminding me where I was, of how different life had become since moving in with Orchard and being his wife.Reaching for my robe, I pulled it on, the silk gliding against my skin. I tied the sash loosely around my waist and walked over to the window, drawn by the faint sounds of life stirring outside. Pulling the curtain back just enough, I peered down at the street below.It was alive in that gentle, understated way mornings often are. A couple jogged by, their matching neon shoes flashing as they moved in sync. A man walked his dog,
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 43
Iris“No biggie.” That was the phrase Orchard's mom had used. It was such a phrase I would have expected coming out of the mouth of a 16- or 17-year-old or, heck, even one of my age mates—probably someone still living in the past of their teenage years. Not Orchard's mom. She had waved me off. "I barely even got attached to that vase in the first place," she said."Heaven knows how it got there. I'm guessing it was his father thinking it was a funny joke to suddenly bring it in. After all, it’s nothing but the color of puke. Honestly, it beats me as to why it's still here," she said, waving me off. "I don’t understand how Orchard can handle that puke-colored vase in his living room. But who am I anyway? It’s his house," she said. Now that one, I thought, was funny. I chuckled under my breath, somehow nervous about laughing out loud. She turned back to her son and did something that made him smile, before turning back to me and doing the same. "She thinks you’re beautiful," Orcha
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 44
IrisShe smiled, nodding at me. "It’s a company," she said. "Well, I bought it and decided that the best place to move it to was here. After looking at quite a lot of demographics, after looking at quite a lot of data, I decided here was the best bet. I’m not looking for so much," she said. "I’m not trying to make billions of dollars every year. I just want to be comfortable. And this is one of the places for that." “Yeah, only people who have so much money talk like that.” I thought to myself as Orchard’s mum spoke. Then I realized she had stopped talking and all eyes were now on me."The business, yes?" I jumped to my question. "We are an interior design company." I cocked my head to one side. "I know at least one other interior designs company," I said. "Their stocks are quite high." "Oh yes, I’m aware," she said. "But you see, we’ve already launched, and on our launch day, the other competition had their stocks blown out of the park," she said with a wide smile across her
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 45
DaveGet up and grind. No shit, that was the name of the song I was listening to. I hated it. The song at least had some important lines: Money ain't going to make itself. And so, sitting around in my house wasn’t going to make much for me. Coupled with that, I had too limited a time to cough up Ivan’s money. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, my mind running amok as I genuinely tried to think of at least one solution. You needed money to make money, but where the fuck was I going to get money from? “Fuck,” I spat out as I drove towards Dad’s office. It was his call that woke me up. “Get over here now,” he said, and that was it. I hated it when he used that condescending tone with me, as though I was a child that needed to be told what to do. “Oh, fuck it,” I muttered as I drove into the underground parking lot of his office building. The place held too many bad memories for me, but who’s dad wasn’t a wicked piece of shit? I chuckled to myself as I stepped out of t
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 46
DaveThe Uncle Roger I remembered was big. He was larger than life. He seemed to fill up every space he walked into, which was probably why my mind believed him to be a fat man. My mind believed that he would have gorged himself on the excesses of life, spilling out in all areas, building himself on general lines. But here I was, shocked and surprised that even the mansion I had once imagined as a child was nothing more than an actual house. I hopped out of the car, clicking my tongue just slightly, feeling a little bit of disapproval rise up within me. *It’s not my money,* I told myself as I stepped further towards the house. Roger himself was seated on the front porch. The front porch was a large balcony-style area with even a small dining space, coupled with one of those benches that swung back and forth when you sat on it. I remembered sitting on those when I was a child. "The only reason why I’m looking at you here and not sending you away is because of the fond memories, b
Last Updated : 2024-12-10
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Orchard’s Pov“You know, you really are the most beautiful person to walk the earth.” I said to Iris, as she stood by the mirror brushing her hair. “You’re just saying that because I’m your wife,” she chuckled, her eyes lighting up the room and my heart as well. “What do you say, we try something different right now?”“Orchard! Your mum’s event is in a few hours, we should be getting ready.”“We have time.” I winked, earning a playful glare from her in return.I opened my lower drawer, retrieving a tool box from it, Iris eyes never left mine. I got close to her as her eyes followed my body, looking a bit presumptuous about every move I made. I took out from the toys I had brought, a blindfold. For some reason, I felt she looked very appealing in it. I was going to be gentle with her anyway. I just didn't want her eyes staring at me while I continued. I wanted her looking as hot as I wanted her to be. Not that she wasn’t already, I just needed to see her that way, in blindfolds.I s
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Tiffany “No,” she shook her head. “You wait,” she said, very firm. “You wait until everything is ready, and then you go change. I’m hoping that at least you’ll have things done before you come home.” She started to walk away from me. “Very good,” of course, that was her staple—walking away when she believed herself to be done with people or going to meet someone. So, after Mom left, I decided to go downstairs and simply get some hands-on experience. “Status?” I whispered to Bethany, Kimberly’s second. “We’re almost done with the table placement,” she said. “Of course, they’re also ready to cover the tables and set up the centerpieces. We’re having a few issues, though,” she said. “The guest list is quite muddled, and because we didn’t have a rehearsal dinner to figure out who’s sitting where, I hope the vegan table doesn’t get mixed up with the one for meat-eaters.” She widened her dark blue eyes. “This is a travesty,” she said, touching her forehead. “Shut up,” I mumbl
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Tiffany’s POVI stood in front of the mirror, carefully brushing out my hair. Last night’s argument with Dave lingered in my mind, he hadn’t been himself, but that didn’t make the pain any easier to bear.I set the brush down on the dresser with a soft clink and reached for the necklace I’d chosen, a simple gold chain with a small emerald pendant. I was fastening the necklace when I felt a pair of familiar arms wrapping around my waist. I hadn’t heard him come in, and the sudden warmth of his embrace startled me.“Tiff,” he said softly.I froze for a second, caught off guard, then let out a slow breath. “Dave,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.He tightened his hold on me, resting his chin lightly on my shoulder. His touch wasn’t demanding; it was tentative, almost apologetic. “I’m sorry,” he murmured.“For last night?” I asked, though I already knew.He nodded, “I was out of line, Tiff. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. It’s no excuse, but I was stressed, and…” He sighed, his breath
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Orchard’s POV The evening air was cool as I climbed the steps to the rooftop. My body felt heavy, like each movement required more effort than it should. The door creaked as I pushed it open, revealing the quiet sanctuary that had always been my retreat. The rooftop wasn’t much to look at, it was a simple flat space bordered by a rusty railing. A few old chairs sat scattered around, one missing a leg, the other barely standing. The city stretched out in front of me, endless and alive. I stepped toward the edge, my boots scuffing against the uneven surface, and sank to the ground with my back against the railing. Reaching into my jacket pocket, I pulled out a half-empty bottle of whiskey. It clinked softly against the metal railing as I set it down beside me, and for a moment, I just stared at it. My fingers tightened around the glass. I unscrewed the cap and raised the bottle to my lips, the first sip burning as it slid down my throat. The whiskey was old and sharp, but it did the
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Iris Pov “Mum,” I had muttered, almost to myself. Halle, who had been standing beside me, glanced over. “Huh?” I froze for a moment, then quickly shook my head. “Sorry,” I said, forcing a smile. “I meant my step mum.” I said to her. Leaving the part where she magically appeared in the same store we were. I mean, not that it was surprising, with an event like that coming up, she would certainly want to make an impression. I just didn’t want to bump into my step mum while I was out shopping with my mother-in-law whom she was yet to know about. “Iris, are you alright?” Halle asked, pulling me away from my thoughts. It was then I realized I had zoned out. “Yea, uhmm… yes.” I replied. “You know, when I said step mum, I meant she’s here.” “Oh.” Understanding dawned in her eyes, and she tilted her head slightly. “Tiffany’s mum?” I nodded, feeling my cheeks flush. I couldn’t exactly tell her I didn’t want Karen to know she was my mother-in-law yet, and despite how much of a bitch she
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Orchard’s PovI was gripping the steering wheel too tightly, my knuckles white as I sped toward Richard’s house. I could barely think straight. The thought of my mother lying in a hospital bed, alone, while my father did God-knows-what with his mistress… it boiled my blood. The man had crossed too many lines, but this time, he’d gone too far.When I pulled into Richard’s driveway, I saw his car parked neatly in front, alongside his wife’s little hatchback. Their home was as warm and welcoming as always—a small, brick house with ivy climbing up one side and flower beds blooming brightly. It was the kind of place that made you forget your troubles, at least for a little while.I rang the doorbell, and a few moments later, Richard’s wife, Clara, answered the door. She was in her usual comfy clothes, a simple sweater and leggings, with a kitchen towel slung over her shoulder. Her face lit up when she saw me.“Orchard!” she said, pulling me into a hug. “It’s been too long.”Before I could
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Tiffany. One would have thought that with everything my mum and I, experienced over the years, she’d be better at handling things. But it was the exact opposite.“Your father is angry,” she said. “I’m sure you could tell. It was quite tense in the car. You managed to pull your father from the comfort of his office, from the comfort of his personal space, and you took him to that place only for him to get disgraced. That is not what I taught you to do.” “Mom,” I cut her off, shaking my head and interrupting her. “With all due respect, it was in regards to Father,” I said, emphasizing the word. “He hardly did teach me much—more like some things wrong and some things about—but you’re blaming this on me? That I somehow knew that she had an allergy? That’s just wrong.” I jutted my chin out and took a step backward away from her. “If you’re not going to tell me any other thing, then that’s fine. If that’s all you wish to say, then that’s also fine. I’m going to get back to work,” I s
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Iris Sooner, rather than later, I was in the office, yawning again. Luckily, this time, I had a cup of coffee in my hand as I strolled toward Halle’s office. The news was that she was fine overnight and the doctor had deemed her fit to be discharged. Of course, when Orchard found out about this in the car that morning, he didn’t take too kindly to it. "Keep an eye on her," he'd told me before I stepped out of the car. By the time I opened her office door, I found her bent over her desk, her hands moving quickly over the notepad in front of her. Finally, she looked up as I took about five steps into the room. I held up the second coffee. "I don’t even care what flavor that is—it's coffee. Give it here," she said, reaching for it. By the time she collected the cup, she had downed what I guessed was half of it in one go. "Ice cold Americano. Beautiful," she said, setting the cup down. "Sit," she added, pointing at one of the chairs opposite her desk. "I wanted to run this
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Iris Victory tasted sweet. Of course, it wasn't 100% sweet given the fact that I had to accompany my mother-in-law to the hospital, get her checked in, and practically stay by her bed for most of the night until Orchard showed up, looking grumbly yet relaxed in grey sweatpants and a grey hoodie halfway pulled across his head. In his hands, he bore gifts of snacks, chocolate, and the likes—of course, all things Mom on his end was supposed to stay away from. But knowing Halle, I had a feeling those were the exact things she would want. And Orchard, well, be really knew his mum well, if anything the meeting proved, it was that.Despite how much Halle complained or glared, he simply stuck out his tongue at her and grabbed me by the arm, leading me to one of the private lounges in the VIP hospital wing. Without warning, he pulled up my feet, placing them on his lap, turned toward me with a goofy smile, and then pulled off my shoes. “What are you doing?” I reached for my feet with wi
