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Chapter 18
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“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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Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 19
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
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 20
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
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 21
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
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 22
The dining place was Isak's favorite place to take me to during the weekends when he was in the best of moods or at times when I had not offended him. The restaurant was situated on the outskirts of town, somewhat like a border between the city and the next town, and I would have loved it if I found it out myself or through someone else that wasn't Isak.The restaurant was classy and reasonably busy, with an ambience that made being by yourself all so soothing, and I would have taken work there several times with Tracy if I still had my job. My visits to the restaurant were mostly courtesy of threats Isak made me or calls he made to my parents, who would then cajole me into accompanying my husband to outings.The thought of it makes me cringe now. For the success of their business and for the beauty loyal customers bring, I hoped that I'd overcome the trauma and finally be able to visit the restaurant without having a panic attack or being too conscious.Just like I predicted, the nex
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 23
“Your note read that you were going to be away for two weeks. It's only nine days, and you're back home. Why?” I asked when I finally found my voice. He was drenched from head to toe and was shivering cold, but I was more concerned about his sudden appearance on the same day he gave his staff leave.“It's my home, isn't it?” He walked into the house and shut the door behind him. He walked over to a giant table and tried to pull it by himself.I moved over to the other end of the table and pushed while I pulled until it was stationed behind the door, keeping it from opening easily or by external force. “I'd get someone to have that checked by
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 24
Pulling my robe together and wiping the stray tears that had fallen with the back of a hand, I hastily resumed my journey back to my room. It was funny how differently I responded after being offered the one thing I clamored for on a platter of gold. I hurried through the hallway into my room, tears threatening to blind my sight. I needed to breathe properly. I needed air, and the house wasn't giving me any of it.I kept gasping for air and clutching onto my chest as I tried so hard to steady my breaths. The events of my life that lined up to the point I was currently at replayed in my mind, and I couldn't help but fault myself for how I had complicated things for myself.
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"You scared me!" I whispered, staring baffled at the chef.He was already down, grabbing the papers and apologizing over and over. The chills that had washed down my body were still there from thinking in those first split seconds that it was Ian standing in front of my door. Quickly, I gathered the rest of the papers and carefully took the others from the chef.His apology came again, and this time, I had to nod in his direction and ignore my impromptu-scared feelings for a while to smile at him and show him that it was fine. My racing heart had slowed, and I had the time to gather my breath again, but once again, the chef stopped me as I tried to m
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"So…" Brian filled his cheeks with the milky coffee and swallowed it down. He was avoiding my gaze, and he sure as hell knew why. He would only glance at me for a second and look back to Tracy or his cup of coffee while he tried to set a casual atmosphere.I had never felt more discomforted and paranoid in my whole life. Especially with Tracy. This was an entirely weird and opposite thing with us, but maybe it would do me good to start with not shifting the blame to Brian. It was all me.Our sitting position was a single couch for each of us in a close semi-circle, with the coffee table in the middle.
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Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 65
IrisI follow the route with a trembling hand as I drive quietly.He had asked me to follow this path, but at some point all I saw were trees; the canopy provided enough hiding spots for people.I could hear my heartbeat as I drove on, and at some point, the silence was more than threatening.“Mummy will get us out of this.” I started speaking just for some sort of motivation, because I was afraid!I was trembling despite knowing that I was not alone in this; my heart beat was enough to drum me out, but I kept driving. I kept talking to my daughter.“Your dad loves you so much... Isak. He was the one that stayed, the one that looked after you, so he’s your father.The one I’ll talk to you about when you grow up. You know, baby, mummy can’t wait to see you. I can’t wait for the day when I’ll hold you in my hands.The day that I’ll get to hear you for the first time... I stopped, then took a deep breath to calm my aching heart before continuing editing.I hope this journey will come to
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 64
Iris“I walked in to see his body still on the cold floor.” I started.I lay quietly on my bed after the interrogation with the police.The thought of it left me with a bitter taste in my guts, despite how much I fought my mind to forget.It was unfair to watch my life crumble before me. I had not believed Isak when he was telling me.I had trusted Ian more and had broken a perfect relationship.I swallowed a hard knot on my throat and just closed my eyes, wishing that everything would change the moment I reopened my eyes.But I was still faced with the truth the moment I reopened them.Isak was no more, and this was the most painful time of my life, just a few weeks after the birth of the baby. I rubbed my stomach slowly in pain and fear of what I'd face next.But then the door opened, and the last person I wanted to see was standing by the door.Are you okay? He asked as he made a step to walk towards me, but all the will to pretend in front of him was gone.“Why?! I muttered, subdu
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 63
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
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 62
IrisI wanted desperately to shout at his face, showing how brutal a liar he was. I had clear proof that, after he left, that’s when the camera stopped working.“But this will mean that he was behind my mom’s kidnapping!I choked on the thought as I grabbed a bottle of juice and gulped it down in one minute.This was too much for me to take in, and I know I have to be careful with how I make assumptions and if I am to provide any proof to the police.I’ll have to have enough proof to do that. And as I looked down at my note, where I had tossed it after writing,.Only for me to realize how scary the content in it was! I was getting closer to the truth, and it was scary!“It is very surprising for you to come and visit me, Iris.""He faked a smile as he sat, looked away, and focused his gaze on something, maybe in the air.I felt pain ripple through my chest, with my fist clenched tight in anger.“I’m sorry, Isak. I never want to do this! I waved my arms in the air.“What exactly, huh? H
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 61
IrisI stood and stared at the stack of books that I had left in months.I have lost the motivation to find out the truth. I had given up, but something about these recent issues made me want to reopen the boom.To find out those hidden things that I have left hidden.I traced my finger on the dusty books while sipping my coffee slowly. What will happen when I retake the case again?This time it was for Ian, but for my sanity. I had to know; there was a lot to find out.The police were still on my mother's case, and they haven’t found anything for weeks now, and there have not been any notes from the kidnappers.So whoever this person was doesn’t want money but something else.And that morning I found myself seated back on the table and going through all my notes that I have left in ages.All the places I had scribbled down notes were still there, and as I reread them, it just made perfect sense, and questions I'd never asked myself came to me.“Carlos couldn’t have everything planned
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 60
IrisI stopped to glare at my few clothes on the bed. I had returned to the hotel to gather my things, but I was still in shock.I sighed, then sat right back at my messy cloth. I still couldn’t get my head strong after what I had discovered.Was Ian behind my mom's kidnapping if that's that's what he stands to achieve?I covered my face with my palm and forced myself to think, and then the message beeping on my phone got my attention.I picked up my phone from the bed to check the message.“I’m back!” The message read that it came from no other person than Ian.He was here! He was here to take me with him. I should be happy. But why am I feeling this sadness?And as I dressed for dinner tonight with Ian, I felt a form of resistance in my heart; there was something happening.And I felt the need to ask him to clear up the doubts I’m having because I might be wrong. Maybe it was a clear misunderstanding from my side.And as I tried to clamp the hook of my necklace, I kept on failing du
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 59
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
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 58
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
Love Lost, Love Found Chapter 57
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
