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Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 54
Iris PovI assumed I didn’t need to be there. After all, I wasn’t her successor yet. The legal process had not been completed, and most importantly, it hadn’t been announced. So this little meeting was just for the sake of observation. Eventually, the room began to fill with more people, while Halle greeted each and every one of them with beaming smiles and small pats on the arm. By the time the entire room had settled, it was like the star of the show had arrived. Tiffany strutted into the room as though she owned the place, flowers cradled in her hand, just as I had expected, with my stepmom and Dave trailing behind her like lackeys. Unfortunately for them, they were about to experience an entirely different ball game. Tiffany smiled. Dave, on the other hand, pulled out his phone and began taking a video. What was he, a freaking Gen Z kid? I felt my lip curl at how unfortunately cringe his attitude was and forced myself to look back at Tiffany for the drama I knew was coming
Last Updated : 2024-12-14Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 55
Tiffany The limo ride back home was nothing short of chaos. At least, if chaos could come in some form of calm. Dad kept his eyes glued to the side of the road. His blues were mostly focused there, hardly considering the rest of us even worth a passing thought. Mom, on the other hand, had her hands in front of her face, going over her freshly done nails. She then raised a palm, as though she was trying to catch the nails in a new light, turned her knuckles towards herself, and clicked her tongue before running it over her teeth. She was angry, I thought. Mom only did that when she was pissed, and Lord help me, I knew Mom was stupid pissed. The last time she did it—or at least the last time I remembered—was when I brought Dave home with my arms locked over his bicep and my head pressed against his shoulder. Mom had taken just one look at me, then at Dave, and like clockwork, she raised her fingers to her face, inspecting her nails in an orderly fashion. Mom was silent, just like tha
Last Updated : 2024-12-14Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 56
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-15Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 57
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-15Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 58
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-16Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 59
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-16Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 60
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-16Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 61
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-16
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Let Me Go, Ex Husband! 168
OrchardIris made the most adorable pregnant woman ever. Maybe it was just my sentiment—I would always believe that. Maybe it was still my sentiment to want her to have another baby just because she made the most adorable pregnant woman ever. And perhaps those sentiments couldn’t be shared with her. But when it always came down to the delivery room, I found myself pacing. "It’s a normal reaction," the nurses said. "It’s normal," they said eventually. "Why don’t you come hold her hand?" the half-face-covered nurse stretched out a hand. "Are you okay?" I whispered in her ear. "Oh yeah, I’m amazing," she mumbled. "But sure, if we want to make this mountain out of a molehill, we can. Besides, I already requested an epidural," she rolled her eyes at me. "Maybe you’re just being dramatic," she waved me off. Maybe I was. Maybe I was just shy. After all, it wasn’t every day a man got to witness this perfect being born. "Okay, I feel something," she gripped my hand. The secon
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Orchard Nothing, except the mild silence of the humidifier beside my bed, the steady beeping of the heart monitor, and, of course, the gentle hum of the air conditioner, filled the room. Aside from having to convince my wife—well, I wasn’t sure what we were now, but we surely were something—convincing her to go home, take a shower, get dressed, and look prettier the day after was more than enough. The same could apply to Mom. Partly, it was because of the text message I had received from Dad. “Is it all right if I come see you?” he had texted earlier. “Me telling you no isn’t going to change your mind, so why bother?” I texted back. And, as they say, speak of the devil, and he shall appear. An hour later, Dad walked into my hospital room as though he owned the place—which was mildly accurate. He was one of those with the largest holdings in the hospital. Or, well, he had some of the largest holdings in the hospital. While he didn’t own it specifically, neither did I, but he d
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IrisHarold couldn’t be fast enough. Or maybe it was the fact that the speed limit was simply too slow, and Harold was dancing just at the edge. Either way, I kept pounding my heel against the floor of the car while biting my lips, and it seemed the buildings were moving apart too slowly. “I’m going as fast as I can, Mrs. Hector,” Harold said, and turned towards the rearview mirror, his eyes darting towards me. “I’m driving as fast as I can,” he said again, his eyes meeting mine this time. “We’ll be there soon.” His eyes crinkled at the edges, smiling at me. He offered little comfort, I thought to myself, as my face strangely cracked into a small smile. “Thank you,” I said, letting out a huff of air and pulling my fingers together, trying to calm them from the shaking earlier. Who’d have thought talking to the stepmother who effectively bullied you your whole life would cause some form of shakiness? Eventually, we reached the hospital in one piece—mostly. I bolted straight u
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IrisPerhaps it was not just me but the entire court, but everyone seemed to let out a breath of relief. I caught sight of Karen sitting somewhere at the back of the room.Simply, I got sight of her because I was jittery, my eyes darting all over the place.Perhaps I was so eager to keep my eyes off Dave that I simply couldn’t look at the person—the wicked person—he had become. He was so unrecognizable.He was not the man I had known all my life; he was not the man I had fallen in love with. No. Buried far from those things were the sweet smiles he had given me when I was younger and the messages of conviction. *"You’re the only woman I could ever marry,"* he had said. Well, perhaps that part was true. I was the only one he married—but probably not the only one he could love. No. His love went to other places; his love had a knack for doing that, going to various places. But none of that mattered for the children. At least that chapter was closed. I raised my eyes to the prose
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Iris’ Pov I got the call from the police station. They told me Dave wanted to see me. I didn’t want to go. After everything he’d done, why would I? But then, Orchard’s mum, Halle, said she’d come with me. I needed her support, so I agreed.When we got to the station, my hands were shaking. Halle held my arm gently, and we walked in together. They led us to the room where Dave was sitting. “Iris,” he said, “you came.”I didn’t sit down. I just looked at him, feeling all the anger rise inside me. “You better pray Orchard wakes up,” I said, “if she doesn’t, you’ll regret ever knowing me.”Dave smirked. “I don’t care what happens to me. If Orchard dies, I’m justified.”I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Justified? For what? Before I could say anything else, Halle held me.“There’s no use talking to a man like him,” he’s lost his mind. Let’s go, Iris.”Just as we turned to leave, a cop walked into the room. He had a file in his hand and a serious look on his face.“We found new evide
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Iris’ PovI sat in the cold, hard chair outside the operating room, my breaths were shallow and uneven. It felt like I had been holding my breath the entire time.Orchard was in there, fighting for his life. The doctors had rushed him in as soon as we arrived at the hospital, I wanted to believe he would make it, but the blood, there had been so much blood. I couldn’t stop seeing it.My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. I joined them together, pressing them tightly against my lap, trying to steady them, but it didn’t work. My clothes still smelled like blood and sweat, and I hated it.“Iris,” a soft voice said beside me.I looked up to see Orchard’s mother. I had called her as soon as I arrived. She placed a hand on my shoulder.“He’s strong,” she said, though her voice cracked. “He’s going to make it.”I nodded, but I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t find any words.The hallway was too quiet, the kind of silence that only made things worse. Every time the doors to the operating room swung open,
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Dave’s PovThe sound of the gunshot still rang in my ears as I stumbled back, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The scene before me felt surreal, like something out of a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. Orchard was on the floor, blood spreading around him like a dark, growing shadow. Iris knelt beside him, screaming his name, her hands pressed desperately against his chest as if she could stop the life from slipping out of him.“Orchard! Stay with me! Please!” she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. Her voice was filled with panic, raw and heart-wrenching.And I just stood there, frozen. My hand was still gripping the gun, my knuckles white. I couldn’t move, couldn’t think. All I could do was stare at the chaos I had caused.What have I done?The question repeated over and over in my mind, but I couldn’t find an answer. I hadn’t planned for this to happen, not like this. I just wanted to scare them, to make them pay attention, to make her listen to me. But now… now it was
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Iris’ Pov The gun pressed against my head was a constant reminder of how close I was to disaster. I could see the anger in Dave’s eyes, the wild, unpredictable rage that told me he wasn’t bluffing. He was mad enough to do anything. The memory of the day he shot my stepsister, suddenly hit me. The look on his face then was the same as now. No hesitation, no regret. Just pure fury.I knew better than to argue with him. If I made one wrong move, one wrong word, this could end horribly. I forced myself to take a shaky breath, trying to calm the panic that threatened to overwhelm me.“Dave,”please, let’s not do this. Name your price. Whatever you want, we’ll do it. Just… just let us go.”For a moment, he didn’t say anything. He just stared at me, his grip on the gun tightening and loosening, like he was considering his options.Then he laughed, a bitter, hollow sound that made my stomach twist. “Name my price?” he said mockingly. “It’s too late for that, Iris. Don’t you get it? There’s n
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Iris’ Pov My body stirred, waking me from a restless dream. At first, I didn’t understand why I woke up, but then I felt a familiar discomfort in my stomach.I sighed quietly and got out of bed, careful not to wake Orchard. The room was dark, lit only by the faint light of the moon that filtered through the curtains. I paused for a moment, listening to his steady breathing, and then padded softly toward the bathroom.The bathroom tiles were cold under my bare feet, and I shivered slightly as I finished and washed my hands. I thought I would just crawl back into bed and try to sleep again, but as I stepped out of the bathroom, I realized how dry my throat felt. My mouth felt like sandpaper, and my lips were cracked.“I need some water,” I murmured to myself, my voice barely above a whisper.The thought of going downstairs in the middle of the night wasn’t appealing, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I didn’t quench my thirst. So, I turned toward the stairs, walking as quietly
