IRIS'S POV:
When I was eight years old, my parents had bought me a new toy. In the carton there was a man in a suit and a woman in a white dress. I had organized various types of weddings for them and I had joined my mother in watching soap operas in order to gain new ideas for weddings. I was literally an event planner for the dolls. So it stimulated my desire to become the most beautiful bride and have the most gorgeous and creative wedding in the world.
I had read of ladies who were dating men for over ten years and the man fails to propose, breaks up and dates another woman, and marries her in a span of months.
I hated that so much and it scared me for what the future held for me.
But it seemed like the heavens had whispered to me, I have nothing to worry about.
After college, I was young and I told my parents, I wanted to live by myself and enjoy the world. So I took a trip to the first country that came to my mind, Simia, and took a five hour flight excited for what the future and country held for me.
And taking that leap of faith was how I met the love of my life.
Two months after arriving in Simia, I took a job as a waitress and on a fateful night, unbeknownst to me, I was serving my fiancé, Gabriel's table, as he was there with his friends from high school having a good time.
I could never ever forget how his eyes burned through my delicate skin, and how he kept making sure our hands touched. He was and still is the most handsome man I had ever seen with dark blue eyes and the face and body of an actor, which I eventually found out he was.
Gabriel was my world and I loved him with my whole heart.
“I have nothing to be worried about, I am getting married to the love of my life.” I chanted to myself as I walked to the altar with the bouquet of flowers in my hands.
I had been waiting for over an hour, forty-five minutes waiting for Gabriel to arrive and a few minutes ago, the event planner had told me to just walk down the aisle and he would be arriving soon. So I did.
I had stared at myself in daze after the makeup artist and stylists were done making sure I looked good. My gown was a sleeveless hand gown with a deep V-neck cut which was as white as snow with beautiful embodiment, my natural long blonde hair was curled up and my veil was attached to my hair. I felt like a queen and most importantly, I felt like I was finally getting my perfect wedding which I had dreamt about, with the man who was made for me.
I was so happy, I was about to cry in joy.
But as I walked down the altar, unlike in soap opera, the groom wasn't standing by the right hand side waiting patiently for me with a huge smile on his face, and in addition to what had me stressed out was neither were the best men, except only one of them, Marcus, who looked as dumbfounded as I was but masked it up with a smile.
His parents and sisters didn't like me too much, and I wondered why. Maybe it was because we had gotten engaged in a span of only a year after knowing each other, or what could it be? Gabriel never provided an answer whatsoever. So it was no wonder they didn't seem to care too much as I walked down the altar with no groom and alone…without my parents present.
Nothing was going to ruin my day. I chanted, forcing a smile.
“Your groom will be here soon, child.” The minister said in an enthusiastic tone and looking behind, I saw the press standing both inside and outside taking pictures and some were outside as well.
Which I had totally expected, I was not only getting married to the most popular and handsome actor but the son of one of the most successful industries in the entire country, Thymes Industries.
“Can you call him? He must have slept off after the bachelor's night last night.” I whispered to Marcus, whose eyes were glued to his phone with a smile on his face and soon after I noticed the paparazzi running outside making me scrunch up my face confused. But seeing as the most popular media company in the entire country, which was called Deva, is still remaining, obviously streaming live.
It was getting so embarrassing, just picturing how the entire nation must be laughing at me especially after seeing a lady had pointed at me and laughed with another woman next to her and his mother chuckled as well. I pressed my nails on my thumb as it was a habit I had. I secretly thought to myself,
Gabriel, my love, where are you?
But turns out he wasn't too far away.
Marcus scoffed and laughed, “So he is really going through with this?”
“What's that?” I questioned, taking off my veil in order to see properly and it shattered my heart taking it off myself.
“You need to see this!” He handed me his phone in excitement and I glanced at the rest of the congregation who began laughing, looks of shock appeared on some others face and a look of pleasure appeared on Gabriel's mother as she looked at her tablet and soon proceeded to leave with her family.
What the hell is going on?
My heart was racing fast and loudly as I took the phone and saw Gabriel on the news in a black tuxedo and the headline was,
Actor Gabriel Thymes, addresses the media concerning his wedding scheduled for today.
“Are you saying Mr Gabriel, you're not getting married to your bride today?” A media personality questioned as he headed to the car and I couldn't help but notice he was just outside of this church.
Was he rescheduling the wedding?
“Why would I ever get married to that poor church rat who has nothing going on for herself? Just like my family and friends have pointed out, I was so blinded by love to see that she was a simple gold digger who is after my family's fortune. I am Gabriel Thymes and I deserve nothing but the best, don't you all think?” He flashed a signature smirk to the camera and a sad look followed afterwards and the look of disgust as he spoke about me, didn't go unmissed. A single tear rolled down my cheek as I was nothing but baffled and hurt by his words wondering where they were coming from.
Me? A gold digger?
IRIS'S POV:“I can't believe this….this has to be some sort of prank.” Hot tears ran down my cheeks as I carried up my gown running back to the dressing room.I could literally hear the laughter and amusement from the guests who I knew totally agreed with the unbelievable words which escaped Gabriel's lips. The security had pushed back the paparazzi who tried entering back into the church again enabling me to head back into the dressing room, but it was definitely easy for them to capture my face which was most definitely ruined by the tears which ran through my cheek unstoppably.“It's a prank. We were just fine yesterday, what could have gone wrong? Where was this even coming from.” My mind was racing, as I wiped my face as soon as I took off my wedding dress in a haste, but the tears still continued flowing as I had imagined Gabriel being the one taking this dress off.I threw on the most casual outfit I could find was a pink floral summer dress which I was meant to wear as we head
IRIS'S POV:“I need at least five more glasses pleasee.” I dragged out with a weak smile on my face and what anyone would describe as tipsy but I knew I wasn't. I adjusted myself on the stool I was seated on, taking the last drop of tequila in the shot glass.At this point, I want a whole bottle.After leaving the hotel embracing the looks of pity and amusement on the people's faces, and the flashing of camera's from guests devices, I hailed a taxi and requested to be driven to the best bar paparazzi free bar in the entire city and the driver duly obliged, looking at me with an emotion I couldn't read nor cared enough to through the rearview mirror.I was now seated in a cozy bar, after tipping the driver handsomely, which seemed so private and secluded as I wanted, but yet luxurious and aesthetically pleasing. An artist was singing and a group of others were playing a soft song, singing from her heart an heartbreak song almost made me break down crying yet again.But I was surrounded
IRIS'S POV:The bar also had various rooms on the top floors like a hotel, so he requested a room and led us into the elevator. The second the elevator closed, I attached my lips unto his and we kissed passionately, like we had been dying for it.His lips were definitely as soft as I imagined. The elevator doors opened, and he carried me up being that he was a tall, muscular man and I wrapped my legs around his torso, still kissing each other hungrily.He broke the kiss apart to open the doors while I kept leaving hickies on his neck, and he groaned in pleasure. As soon as we arrived into the room, he threw me on the bed making me take in the rosy scent of the room and I bit my lip seductively and hungrily, looking at him as he slowly took off his clothes like a male stripper. I also mirrored his actions and did the same and I was amazed seeing him standing before me in all his glory looking as handsome as the man women only dreamed about.He had to be getting paid for this.. He cam
3RD POV:THAT MORNING:“Beep…Beep…Beep.”Jonathan groaned, waking up to the sound of his phone buzzing repeatedly, he stretched his hand with his eyes shut closed and used his hand to search for the girl he had made love to and connected with physically and sexully the entire night but after a second, he felt her absence making him open his eyes widely and look around the room.“W….I didn't even get her name! Sweetheart!“ He muttered to himself then called out the nickname he had accorded to her, rising to his feet, searching for her in the bathroom and he turned around noticing her clothes which were littered on the floor were now gone.He scrunched up his face, and walked towards the bed stand noticing a stack of money with his phone next to it.“Did…Did she just leave me here? With some cash?” Anger rushed through his veins and he picked up the stack of money and in rage, threw it on the floor.He grabbed the landline,and dialed the number of the receptionist on the ground floor, p
3RD POV:TWO MONTHS LATER.After Iris's one night stand and being dumped publicly and humiliated, by noon, she had already purchased a ticket going back to her home in Kemela, and she broke down into tears as soon as she saw her parents at the airport waiting for her with opened arms stretched out to embrace her and welcome their only child back.They had been her comfort and support system as she dealt with the heartbreak and they had been doing everything to cheer her up and she had been dealing with it perfectly. They were good even the bad days but for the past week, she had been feeling strange.“Girl, I brought everything you might need.” Her best friend since they were kids, Mariana, arrived at home early this morning as requested by Iris.“Why did you bring this?” Iris questioned in irritation and fear, seeing a pregnancy test amongst other things like chocolate and stomach medicines.“Baby girl, you described to me in full detail how that gigolo had sex with you like you two
JONATHAN'S POV:A WEEK AFTER:“Everyone is so useless!” I snapped at the head of my security team, Roger, who repeated to me the same thing they had all been saying for the past two months.There was no sight of Iris.He apologized with his head down and all I did was dismiss him, leaning by the rim of the balcony of my parent's luxurious mansion, and looking at the sun slowly set with the most random thought crossing my mind.Isn't the sun tired of constantly rising and setting?The thought crossed my mind maybe because I knew how tired of showing up everyday I had been since the night with my goddess. After seeing the embarrassment and pain she had been through prior to our meeting, I just wanted to hold in my arms and adore her, then afterwards, teach her a lesson for leaving me that hell of a money assuming me for gigolo. I found it even more attractive, she had no idea I was among the top five chefs in the entire country of the Republic of Simia and the son of the most wealthy a
IRIS'S POV:“IRIS LUCIA FLETCHER!”I heard my mother call me from the staircase by my full name, and footsteps approaching after. It was currently 11 a.m on a Saturday and my mother had sent about three maids to come get me but I just laid on my bed under the duvet, with the curtains still closed and just pictured various events since I had decided to KEEP THE BABY after Mariana had gone to the hospital to ensure that I was truly pregnant and to get doctor's approval.I pictured my baby's first steps, first time I was going to get called ‘mama’, I imagined how hard pushing out a child would be, especially after my Crazy friend, Mariana, had sent me a video of a woman pushing out twins, she had been out of state for the past two weeks, traveling to Simia, the country I had just came back from for a new case she was working on.Yeah…I know it's shocking that someone as unserious as my best friend was a Criminal defense lawyer.I watched the video in horror and disbelief, searching throu
IRIS POV:7 MONTHS LATER:The past few months have been exhausting and nerve-wrecking. My parents had played such a huge role in making sure I was alright, and my father could not stand the mid-night craving, so he got me a security guard who was not only to protect me but also meant to accept all calls I made to him even though it was in the middle of the night, and to run to any store to pick whatever snacks or food I crave.His name was Harry, and he always had a mean look on his face. My father told him it was to prepare him for when he had a pregnant wife which made us all cackle. He never complained or even looked tired, just said a few words such as ‘Are you feeling okay today, Miss?’ And ‘If you need anything else, Miss, don't hesitate to call.’ “You think he's cute?” Mariana inquired as we lay on my bed together, after she had just arrived back from work in a black tight-fitted skirt and a red button-down Versace shirt with her hair all curled up.After she was shot seven mo
IRIS'S POV:It was embarrassing and amusing and since reporters were there, they had captured it and the whole world had laughed and I was just grateful that I never had to worry that she would come back. Sophie had accompanied Mariana when she went to see Miguel after he was released from prison, earlier this year. He told her he had learnt his lesson and he apologized from the depth of his heart and travelled out of the country. We all toasted to that piece of information, and Sophie was just different now. She and Robert had a small wedding three years ago at my Island and the two had two kids in a span of a year, which we all found totally amusing. As soon as she gave birth to her first cute baby boy, Paul, in a span of three months, she was pregnant yet again and we couldn't help but wonder if that was healthy. She birthed another boy, Peter, and she had a load on her hand.“Why are you seated here looking like a creep?” Scarlet interrupted my thoughts and I chuckled.“Taking a
IRIS'S POV:“We are married, Jonathan, and I believe in marriages, people don't just jump up and leave. You are my partner and my other half, I trust and love you and we both are going to make sure our kids are safe. You can be the sole warrior of my safety.” I added the last sentence jokingly and he smiled, pulling me for a kiss.“I love you with everything in me, my Queen.” He looked deeply into my eyes as uttered those and I smiled shyly.“I love you too, baby.” And we stretched for another warm passionate kiss, above the kids’ heads and we broke apart when we heard in unison, “Ewwwww..” Which made us laugh and showered the kids with kisses and I told them, “ I love you my smart little babies.”When we got home, our parents had already thrown a Welcome Back Home Party with so many gifts from well wishers from all over the world and food from the best of the best in the entire country of Simia, Jonathan's restaurant.We all partied, had fun and a little too much fun, because that n
IRIS'S POV:A FEW DAYS LATER:We had headed towards Roland's family house, and it seemed all eight of us had the same thought in my mind with how careful and gentle we were being. I couldn't help but think even though it seems childish,What if they weren't pleased that we were recovering our kids and they tossed us to the basement and locked us in there like in the movies? What if the old man who directed us here, left in a haste because he feared them and not because of his animals? I had no fear anyways, the police came with us, as well as our security, we were protected and we came bearing gifts in appreciation. As soon as I knocked on the door, Mrs Roland opened the door with a bright, beautiful smile on her face.“Good afternoon, how may I help you?” She asked, looking into my eyes deeply, standing before us in a blue scrub and my heart dropped a bit at the sight of a blood stain on her shirt.Jonathan cleared his throat and wrapped his around my waist, and said, “We are the p
IRIS'S POV:THE NEXT MORNING:Jonathan's arm was wrapped with a band and I was seated with him in the back seat of the black SUV headed to search for the kids with our friends driving in their respective cars, and my head rested on Jonathan's shoulder as he vividly described what happened last night.“We arrived at the house they had pinpointed was the location where the kids were around ten p.m, leaving two hours till when Emily was supposed to call me for the exchange. The cops quietly surrounded the building and from afar I watched them count down before bursting in. Everyone had given me strict warnings to not go in, and stay calm, so I obeyed….”Flashback:“There are two children's lives at stake, be cautious.” Jonathan's uncle reminded his men and they chorused, “Yes sir!”The cops barged into the house and Emily and Gabriel who were now trying to apologize to one another for blaming each other and insulting one another, were kissing in the bedroom, while Emily pictured Gabriel
IRIS'S POV:That same night:“No! No! NOOOOO!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, and the next thing I knew I was met with a pitch black surroundings.I shot up from the bed panting heavily, my chest rising and falling, and my hands shaking so much.It was just a dream….just a very bad dream.“Iris, what's going on? Come here Sweetheart.” Mrs Knight switched on the light of the room, and hurriedly embraced me with so much motherly affection and I slowly relaxed, feeling my head pounding and my hand hurting.My mum really gave me those pills.“Where's everyone? How long have I been asleep for? Did they find the twins? Where are my dad and my husband…?” I inquired, stammering out and she patted my back.“I need you to take deep breaths Iris, please. Alright? Inhale.” She instructed and I obliged, inhaling the warm air of the surroundings which smelt like the bouquet of flowers Carl brought earlier to cheer me up and she asked for me to exhale and I did just that.I did three more times an
3RD POV:TWO NIGHTS LATER:“Breaking news! It has been reported, two days ago at a country club popular with the elites and most importantly, the Knights. On a Sunny afternoon, Jonathan and Iris Knight's twin, Jamie and Jason Knight, were kidnapped and in the footage about to be displayed on your screen, we have two men who were hired to carry out to abduction process, handed the two children in a sack to the alleged mastermind behind this attack, Emily Let, a public figure and fashion designer as well as popular actor, Gabriel Thymes, who had dated Mrs Iris Knight in the past as well as former CEO of Chocolate Company, who alleged stole and embezzled millions, Ezekial L. The two men who are now in police custody also confirmed their identities.” Their pictures were displayed on the screen then the footage capturing their faces in a van was displayed, taking aback millions of people who were tuned in.After the footage had come to an end, the elegant TV host added, “The Knight's famil
IRIS'S POV:“That stupid whore!” Mariana and I said in unison and I kissed my teeth sharply.I loved her like a sister and taking Miguel away wasn't enough for her, she needed to hurt us more? Well, she almost thought she was smart but she wasn't, which was her Achilles heel. Everyone around her was always two steps ahead for her, but she never was in the loop.“Let's head to the Gabriel Thymes Residence.” Jonathan kissed my forehead and wiped my tears, while I ignored my phone ringing seeing it was my mother calling for progress.Which did not exist.*********LATER THAT NIGHT:3RD POV:“I know damn well…you didn't just break my phone.” The anger in Ezekial's eyes was flaming, and they were the only ones seated in the dining area whereas Gabriel was passed out on the couch from drinking and smoking in the living room.“And I know damn well, you just saw me break it. What? What are you going to do? Huh?” She spoke smartly and with her chest rising, coming closer to him, unaware of the
THAT NIGHT:IRIS'S POV:“I have been calling him but he is not answering. I'm getting worried.” Scarlet told us for about the twentieth time in two hours since we all have been here.Two hours ago, Jonathan, Tristan, Robert, Mariana and I along with the police force parked around the premises where Scarlet was to meet with Ezekial. The five of us were seated in Jonathan's customized SUV, watching the entrance of the Luisser Restaurant which was in the middle of town, in an area I had never been to. It was loud and packed, given the amount of cars parked on the street and the amount of people we'd seen going inside. Was it a bar or restaurant? I didn't know neither did I care but given that I had been unable to eat all day, the hope that we were close to getting my babies back, had me giving Robert my order and this was about an hour and thirty minutes ago. We had all eaten and Tristan had found a way to make Jonathan and I laugh, sharing things the twins had done when they spent time
3RD POV:A MINUTE AFTER:An uproar of laughter filled the room at Jason's hopeful question, Ezekial, who was the third person standing before them, looked at the faces of the innocent children after taking a seat on one of the wooden chairs, and he felt his heart drop for some weird reason when the look of fear and uncertain rested on the two kid's faces “Jason, your parents and fans will be totally disappointed to find out you were this dumb. Before I tell you, can you go for another guess? Jamie, this time.” Emily instructed folding her arms across her chest.“Don't call my brother dumb! And I advise you to get us back to our parents or else….” Jamie spoke smartly and before she could complete her word, Emily wrapped her hand around Jamie's little neck, and squeezed.“Or else what?” Emily asked, the evil in her eyes were glimmering and Jamie still found a way to say, “You're going to get into real trouble.” This made Emily squeeze even harder and Jamie looked into Emily's eyes with