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Chapter 14
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2024-10-29 19:42:56The calming yet roguish scent of the room instantly welcomed me as soon as I entered, filling my senses and embracing my inner being.
Unable to resist the feeling it brought, I leaned myself back against the door and reveled in the feel of it with closed eyes.
God.
This felt extremely safe here.
Like times ten of Ian's presence.
The extremely safe, comforting feeling was very thick in the atmosphere, especially with the look of the room and the fact that I knew that I was in his own personal room.
My phone rang after I finally started to take a few more steps.
My father.
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The events from the previous night were still fresh in my mind's eye. I had gone about assuming things like I always do, and it boomeranged right back in my face. I thought we had become close enough to tell each other our deepest secrets and hurts; apparently, we were far from it, and try as hard as I could, I know I did a terrible job at hiding my disappointment. For one, I had thought of leaving for my place, except my apartment was razed down.I got out of bed slowly after tossing and turning on it for hours and sat up on the bed, fixing my gaze on my toenails and making a mental note to do a makeover for them. I slipped into my robe and made for the kitchen, where I hoped to get something to feed my rumbling stomach. I had been too ashamed to stay for dinner last night, so I had retired to my room earlier than usual. I remember hearing him knock on the door to my room several
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I couldn't tell what it was about him that made me want to find out everything about him, but I knew I was drawn to him. The excitement on his face was something I wanted to see every minute, but more than that, I wanted to know who or what it was that got him that way.I drained my cup of coffee that's now cold, and my tongue tasted the sugar at the bottom, forcing me to drop the cup quickly. I went in search of him, and I found him on the balcony in his bedroom, and the glass door that separated both rooms slid closed. It was my first time entering his room, so I was fascinated by its class and exquisiteness. I lingered in the room, taking in its beauty and stylishly trying to listen in on his conversation, but I could hear nothing. The glass door was either soundproof or he was speaking in hushed tones to keep me out.
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It had been two days since Ian's dining stunt in my room, and he had made sure to always come to my door, bearing mine and his meal, since I'd refused to dine with him in the dining room. And since I started looking into his family's case, our current dining room has been his study, just as it was today.We were seated on the bare floor Buddha style, with a big bowl of chicken bits in between us, and the floor was littered with different journals and newspapers.I clasped a journal shut after scanning through it for possible hints, and I scanned around the giant room, occupied with mahogany shelves and multiple artworks. At first glance, one would assume it's a museum with all the various artifacts gracing the study room, each one marked as a souvenir from every country visited.
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“Ian!” I called out nervously. “What are you doing at home at this time of the day?” I asked, pushing the journal into mine properly and keeping it out of sight.“It's almost six, Iris,” he responded, a wide smile on his lips. My eyes were still on him, and my brows creased in curiosity. “P.m.? It's evening, Iris.” He closed the distance between us in his usual gentlemanly gait and brushed strands of hair from my face. He tucked them behind my ear and tilted my face to look at him with his index finger as he examined me like a doctor would. “Have you been in here all day?”I forced a smile in response, and he shook his head in disapproval. “I want this case cracked, yes, but not like this, Iris. I can't believe you've been in here all day.&
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It was a dinner date on the rooftop of one of the best hotels in the city. Ian literally chauffeured me around from the house to the venue of our date, and just when I thought he'd let me be by myself, he carried me in his arms from the parking lot into the elevator until we arrived at the spot he had reserved for just the two of us.There was a violinist on standby, a chef, two waitresses who were scheduled to serve Ian and me for the night, and lots of food to choose from. The night had yet to begin, and I was already having a great time. The view from the rooftop was beyond beautiful. I could watch the city get busy with its activities and bask in the beauty of the people. The sun was setting, and its orange beauty added color to the many splashes of color in the city.I rubbed my hands on my bare skin
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Ian stopped suddenly to look at me as if he remembered something. He glanced at my feet, still clad in my stiletto heels, and with an apologetic smile, he swept me off the floor into his arms for the umpteenth time. We earned stares from onlookers, but we were undeterred as we both laughed loudly. We arrived in the car, and Ian placed me in it like a child. He hurried to the other side and got into the seat beside me, his eyes fixed on me.The driver waved his greeting to us, announcing his presence and spoiling our fun. Ian glanced at him and stifled a courteous smile, which vanished the same second it appeared. He returned his gaze to me and smiled gleefully. “Sam?” He called out to the driver, his eyes still fixed on me. “Go home and resume at the mansion by morning.”The driver
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The sound of my phone ringing woke me up with a start, accompanied by a splitting ache in my head. Sleepily, my hand tried to reach for my phone, which lay in my bedside drawer. The search took a while before I was able to lay hold of it, just in time before it rang off. Without glancing at the screen, I placed the phone in my ear and listened to whoever was on the other end. Brian's husky voice wasn't one to miss, so I was able to deduce it was him the moment he said the first word. “You should consider returning to the center so you won't be in bed at half past nine in the morning, Iris.” I yawned loudly into the phone and stretched my hand over my head as I shook the sleep off. “I had a long night, Brian.” “Obviously. Anyway, I've got something else for you, but it can't be said over the phone. See you in an hour at an address I'll text to you in a jiffy." I sat up straight on the bed and rubbed my sleepy eyes. “Of course. Sure.” I hurriedly got out of bed and ran into the rest
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Iris“Are you okay? He took a step toward me, and I instantly backed away until my back was pressing against the car.“Iris! He reached and touched my face softly. I felt the urge to take to my heels, but my feet seemed to be rooted at the spot.“I’m… I’m good” I stuttered as a bead of sweat slid down from my forehead.We stood outside until two policemen stopped by in front of the house.I just stopped myself from yelling, “Danger! I gripped my sweatshirt tightly and kept muttering different prayers.“Did you see anyone walk in or anything? The female policewoman asked while his colleagues went straight into the house to investigate.“No, I just drove my fiancée back only to find the door open.”I swallowed at the mention of “fiancée.” I felt a sudden tightening in my chest as tears welled up in my eyes. How could he? Does that mean...?I couldn’t answer any of the questions that jammed up in my head.“You live together? The policewoman, with her eyes still focused on her book,.I wa
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IsakI pushed my weight firm against the door, but it suddenly unlocked, and I stood aside as she pulled the door open.“Are you okay? I tried to hold her, but she took a step back from me with a bloodshot eye.“Iris! I called and am now worried as hell! What had happened to her? I had heard her scream, and I thought maybe she had fallen or something.“Is the baby okay? I bent over to examine her stomach, but she just stood there in tears without saying a word.“Please, talk to me. What happened? I stared at her and waited for an answer, but she wasn’t ready to speak.I rushed into the bathroom to check what was wrong, but I just saw her laptop on top of the toilet seat!“Iris! Please talk to me. What’s wrong? I asked, emerging from the bathroom, to see her still standing there in tears and staring into space.“I’ll get hold of the doctor,” I said, rushing over to the bed to grab my cellphone, but her voice stopped me midway from dialing the number.“How…could you?! Her voice broke as
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IrisI clicked on the picture that popped into my phone and almost shouted out loud when I saw my mom’s blindfolded pictures.“Isak! I called out before the message came in.“Don’t tell anyone unless she dies!”I felt my heart beat while I clamped my mouth shut! This cannot be real!“Who are you, and what have you done to my mom?The text was left unanswered for seconds, and I felt my heart sink to my stomach in fear.I realized that I was panicking badly, then I started paving the floor. Why had they informed me not to tell anyone?Another message popped up, and it was the name of a restaurant! What would I use this information for? Was she there?“Come alone by 2:00 p.m., and I’ll know if you tell anyone.”I felt my mouth dry completely as I held the phone in my hand. What just happened now? Who was this, and why had he asked me to come alone?I felt the heaviness of my stomach as a reminder that I was carrying another human ab sank to the seat behind me.“You called me! Isak came i
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IrisMy hand trembled violently while I gripped the counter and tried to steady myself against falling. He wouldn’t do that to me!My chest tightened, and I struggled to breathe. Was that a sort of way to pay me back since I didn’t go back to him?Whatever happens, I won't allow my relationship to ruin it!“Iris! My head snapped up to see my mom standing on the stairs. Thank God! Ian has left. I sighed in relief as my eyes averted to the door, then back at him.“What was that noise? She asked as she walked down. I rubbed my hands together just to force them to be steady as I walked over to meet her.“Nothing! I blurted out, hoping that my fear was not visible for her to see, but there was doubt in her eyes as I responded.“It was nothing; I was just talking to myself.” She walked into the kitchen to see the wet floor, then turned curiously and looked at me.“How did this happen?“Ummm… yeah… I thought I had a noise outside, and when I opened it to check what the rattling was all abou
