Autumn could barely move, but she heard the shaky voice of Felicity making a call on speaker and she could recognize that nagging spoilt voice over the phone.
It was Iris. Autumn has many regrets all of a sudden she regrets ever meeting Ivan, she regrets ever marrying him and she regrets encouraging Iris bad behavior that eventually led to this. If she could go back she would make sure to undo everything even if it was three years back. Instantly Autumn numbness disappears, she gasps as her surroundings were still blur but she wasn't in the same position at the floor. She was at a party, not any party she was at her and Ivan's nine year anniversary party. Her eyes lingered at the huge banner, confusion washes over her as she tries to figure out if this was just her life flashing before her eyes. If it was, why this memory. This was the first time Ivan had propose a divorce and also the time Ivan introduced Iris as his mistress. She remembers it exactly, Ivan makes a toast and then hands her divorce papers in front of everyone. Back then she was a fool and refused even though Ivan had disrespected her in front of family and friends she still wanted to work on their marriage so instead she opted for an open marriage. She finally realizes her hand raised a wine glass absentmindedly high in the air. Everyone who did the same took a sip the moment the toast was done. Her heart skipped as the same events played right in front of her, him calling onto Iris as she smiled and walked up to him with her glass. "I'll also like to introduce the love of my life Iris, who's stood by me despite everything I've been through." Ivan bellows and as expected everyone was talking, solidifying the rumors that he's been having an affair. This was when she would walk up to Ivan and confront him, he would in turn humiliate her and ask her for a divorce. Autumn simply turns her back and walks away in the crowd of people. If this her life flashing before her eyes she would rather not watch this play out the second time, but then she pauses. This was a glimpse of her life, it would all soon end and she would finally move on to the after life. Not once has she ever reacted because she loved Ivan. Rage builds up in her as she turns her focus to the couple who ruined her life. This was just a memory, so if she was going to die, she was going to die with a memory of her standing up to herself. She walks up to the couple, her expression de void of emotion. "What's is it?" He asked in his usual baked cold expression. Ivan was expecting her to do the usual and cry and beg her but this time he was prepared for her, he was going to divorce her in front of everyone. Just as he was about to break to her the news of divorce she slapped him. The crowd watched in gasps, especially Ivan and Iris. Ivan could not believe it was Autumn standing right in front of him, she looked like Autumn but something felt different. "Twelve years, twelve fucking years and this was the anniversary gift I got. Well here's mine.." She flings the liquid of champagne at the both of them. Iris screamed while Ivan simply jerked trying to figure out where this part of Autumn came from. And they've been together for nine years not twelve, he was sure she must have had a hand in drugs. But for the first time, Autumn was thrilled she wished she never cried when Ivan did this in her past life and she now waited for everything to fade to black or whatever happens when your life flash before your eyes. 30 secs passed, a minute pass and then two minutes of complete silence envelope the room. Autumn was confused, did it take this long to die? She turns her back at Ivan but he grabbed on to her wrists pulling her towards him frame. He presses his lips against her earlobe and whispers; "If you truly meant what you said take off your ring." He mocked her faintly. Autumn wore her ring religiously, she has never taken it off since the day they were bounded in holy matrimony, she even wore it when she was killed. infuriated about her death, Autumn pushed him off her and immediately took off the ring, tossing it at him. Ivan's eyes widened, a chill went down his spine, it felt as if the world was about to end, his wife valued her wedding ring as much as she valued her vows. She never took them off, they were important to her as oxygen. "I want a divorce." Autumn requested and that alone earned an audible gasps from the entire room.The only person that could end the marriage between Autumn Dawson and Ivan Ashton was, Maverick Ashton, Ivan's biological father. The only reason he ordained their marriage was because of a scandal years back, the media had caught the two in bed and to save face, Maverick forced the two into a marriage of convenience. Maverick sat down in his seat as he watched his son over his desk. He had a cup of coffee in his grasps he eyes Ivan who had ignored eye contact during the entire meeting. His wife sat next to him visibly shaking. The cup parted away from his lips and in a swift motion he collided the cup against Ivan's head. Miriam, Ivan's mother sobbed as she watch her son sit in place. Blood seep slowly from Ivan's forehead but that was the least of what Maverick wanted to inflict on Ivan. "So how the fuck are you going to fix this huh? You damn bastard." Maverick hissed raising his voice. Ivan's silence pissed him even more. The least he could do was have balls and talk back afte
Autumn puts her phone down. She put her phone on silent to ignore Ivan's calls. She was shocked he even called her in the first place it's something he has never done in her past life. She continued looking around the mansion her father in-law got for her and Ivan. She looked at the floor she laid on when she died. "Was this a second chance?" She gasps to herself. So she did really die. And somehow she went back three years in the past. Then her mind went back to the person who instigated her death, Iris. Her hands went straight to her stomach. The cold empty void then overwhelmed her, she had lost her baby in her past life. Once again anger washed over her and a single tear stream down her cheek. "Miss Autumn, your lunch is ready." she suddenly got flashbacks from Felicity poisoning me. Autumn froze, her face went white and her cheeks blushed, filling a bit of color in her face. Her heart raced as she my voice trembled. "Miss Autumn are you okay?" The maid asked. Autumn looked o
Ivan's eyes widened, his face was written shocked all over it, his palm ball into a fist as anger surge through him."Who is he?" He asked in a calm voice."Who is the fucking bastard you're opening your legs to." Autumn wasn't shocked by the slightest, this was the same man who accused her of an affair and didn't believe their child was theirs.Autumn tried to turn away, but Ivan's grip was unyielding. He grasped her arm, his fingers digging into her skin as he forced her to face him. His eyes, once warm and loving, now burned with a desperate intensity."Baby, please," he whispered, his voice laced with a hint of desperation.Autumn's eyes widened in shock, but her primary focus was on escaping Ivan's suffocating hold. She tried to wriggle free, but he refused to release her."I-I'm sorry, Autumn," Ivan stammered, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Please, give me another chance. You don't need to lie to me about your affair."Autumn's gaze narrowed, her eyes squinting as if asking
Iris stood at the edge of her hospital bed as the nurse ties up her patient gown from the back. The nurse finished adjusting her gown and goes straight to attending to the monitor before returning to Iris who was already in the hospital bed. The nurse stretch out her hand requesting for Iris to give her hand so she can attach the hypodermic needle to her veins.Iris locks eyes with the nurse and yawns."I don't need that, your job is done here." Iris said not wanting to feel the painful prick of a needle in her veins."But I'm ordered to.." before the nurse could finish her words Iris glares at her, shutting her up."I said your job is fucking done, listen to me if you still want to keep it." Iris threatens as the door Opens almost immediately revealing doctor Dexter.Her eyes widened, and tears sprang to them at once. Dexter, alerted to her distress, stepped forward and gently took her face in his hands, his gaze fixed on the trembling line of her lips."What happened?" Dexter's att
Guilt washed over Ivan the moment his eyes registered the patient gown Iris wore. He should never had ignored her calls and because of him she was in this state once again. His eyes meets with her doctor Dexter, they were always simmered with intense hatred but he never understood why. If it wasn't for Autumn, Iris would not have been here and he wouldn't have grown accustomed to seeing the doctor's face. "Leave us." Ivan ordered. The silence that followed was loud and clear. Ben and Dexter sought to stay but Sydney being the peace make convinced the two to give the couple alone time. Ben looked at his daughter, he doesn't know how long she would hold on to Ivan and he felt bad for her. He felt his wife's warm pat, hovering over her back. "They'll be fine, let's respect their wishes." Sydney reassured her husband who just gave up but Dexter took a while before he was successfully evacuated. The two were finally alone, Ivan searched for Iris face but she avoided his gaze. He walke
As Ivan relished Iris in bed, Autumn had witnessed her husband's love for Iris, the second time. She hated it but tears swarmed her eyes and clouded her vision. It was always Iris and never her. Her own parents even chose Iris without no second thinking, there was never a time she was the first choice. When was she finally going to be someone's first choice? She wiped her entire face, smearing the little makeup she had done. A handkerchief hang in the air, hovering across her face. Her eyes trail to the person pushing it towards her. A chill went down her spine, she has never confronted him since her previous life and she never thought she would see him so quickly. Memories of how he claimed her child was stillborn flooded there thoughts. He must have had a hand in killing her because of his affair with Iris. That meant he killed her unborn baby too. The thing that disgusted her the most was her father's younger step brother was having an affair with his niece, it made h
Derek Ashton didn't want anything to do with Autumn, he just said that he did because he wanted to piss off his nephew. For a long time He saw her as nothing but his nephew's puppet. She did what was told and never went against her husband disrespect. Everyone dragged her name to the mud any chance they got. Although he despises his nephew and the rest of his family, he could not help but feel bad for her. She was a mirror of his own past, no matter how much he tried to rid of such thoughts he could not extend the hate he had for his family to her.A smile spread on his lips as he watched Ivan hold on to Autumn tightly, Autumn looked visibly confused as Derek chuckles lightly."My apologies Ivan, I'm not trying to take your wife away from you." Derek paused glancing quickly at Autumn who's lips were a bit parted. He immediately averts his gaze back to his nephew. "But if you're this scared to lose your wife, maybe you should start focusing on her, she might just catch someone else's
Before anyone could react Autumn immediately takes her leave to the nearest exit. She didn't take note of Derek trailing behind her. When she was finally outside, she shortly glanced at Derek."Are you serious about divorcing Ivan?" Derek asked as Autumn nods."I am, but unfortunately I can't. My father in law would rather die than let us split. But in the meantime Ivan suggests we open our marriage so he can legally sleep with my sister as he wishes." Autumn mutters as if she was to cry but she couldn't, she didn't see the need to cry anymore for something so vain."An open marriage?" Derek echoes scratching below his chin."You think I'm pathetic don't you?" Autumn asked Derek who shakes his head."Of course not." He paused. "Will you be taking a lover for yourself then?" Derek asked which made Autumn a bit stunned."My husband refuses that I take one for myself, he believes I should perform my duties as a perfect wife. I can only endure such tribulations until the perfect time com
Autumn froze at Derek's question. Her mind raced for an answer, but nothing coherent came to her. "We should take this inside, Autumn," Ethan suggested gently, watching the tension in her posture. Autumn shook her head, her resolve hardening. "No. Derek needs to hear this," she muttered with quiet determination, glancing at Derek, whose concerned gaze lingered on her. His expression wavered, confused and uneasy. "If I tell you the truth, Derek," Autumn began hesitantly, her voice low but steady, "you might hate me. Or worse, you'll think I'm crazy." Derek stepped closer, his brow furrowed deeply. "Will the truth make me hate you?" Autumn hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes before her expression turned cold. "That depends on you," she replied flatly. Derek took a steadying breath, the weight of her words settling uncomfortably in his chest. "So... who’s back?" "Charlie Fraser," she answered bluntly. Derek blinked, his brows knitting together. "The Charlie Fras
Derek took the manual from Autumn, carefully examining the safety latch instructions. Without hesitation, he began rolling up his sleeves. Then, in one smooth motion, he folded his shirt and placed it neatly on a nearby chair. Autumn coughed awkwardly, her gaze darting to the far end of the room. Heat crept up her neck as she felt her face flush. She quickly backed away, giving him space. “I’m going to make lunch,” she mumbled, fleeing before Derek could reply. As she entered the kitchen, her heart pounded in her chest. She leaned on the counter, trying to calm herself. “He’s just here to help with the crib. Get a hold of yourself, Autumn,” she muttered under her breath. Determined to distract herself, she busied herself preparing lunch. Soon, the kitchen filled with the warm aroma of broth. Humming softly, Autumn ladled the soup into two bowls, placing them on a tray. A small frown crossed her face as she glanced at the portions. Will this be enough? she wondered, recalli
D.O.N Corps felt as if Derek had never left. Although his memories were gone, Derek returned as the ruthless CEO everyone knew and feared. The moment his presence graced the scene, indistinct chatter echoed through the halls like ripples in water. On his first day back, he wasted no time, calling back-to-back board meetings. Yet, to his surprise, the company wasn’t in disarray. Every issue he planned to address had already been resolved—Autumn had taken care of it all. For once, there was little for him to do. This unusual reprieve left the employees of D.O.N Corps grateful to Autumn, despite the grueling meetings she had subjected them to in his absence. As they filed out of the latest board meeting, whispers of appreciation filled the air. Evette, however, hurried to her office, keen to avoid Derek’s scrutiny. “Miss Evette,” Derek’s voice cut through the chatter. His stride, usually commanding, carried a hint of hesitation. Evette froze, her bag half-slung over her shoulder.
Cameras flashed from every corner as Iris dropped to her knees, the sound of the clicking shutters filling the air like a swarm of locusts. She wore a sleek black gown that clung to her curves. A black fascinator perched on her head, its delicate veil casting a shadow across her tear-streaked face, partly obscuring her features but not her pain.The moment she arrived at the police station, the paparazzi had swarmed her, hurling questions like stones about Elliot's arrest. Iris forced her chest to rise and fall dramatically, her breathing labored as her mascara streaked down her cheeks in inky trails. Her trembling hands clutched at the folds of her dress, the fabric twisting under her grip as she knelt on the cold pavement. To any passerby, she looked like a woman shattered by grief, you could as well liken her to a victim.But inside, Iris felt none of that. She felt alive.For once, the people of Havenport were paying attention—not to her, exactly, but to Charlie. And that was cl
Instead, he turned to Autumn, his features softening slightly. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, concern evident in his voice. Autumn barely acknowledged him, giving a small nod before turning to walk away. But Derek wasn’t done. He grabbed her hand, halting her in her tracks. Behind them, Ben was still ranting, his voice shrill like a barking dog. Derek turned, his glare silencing the man instantly. With a sharp order, he instructed the security to remove Ben. "I’ll handle her," Derek said calmly. The guards nodded, dragging a still-sputtering Ben away. With the commotion gone, Derek turned his attention back to Autumn. His hand still gripped hers as he leered closer, his other hand landing firmly on her shoulder. "Is that the father of the child?" Derek asked, his voice low but laced with an accusatory edge. "Why would you let that old prick knock you up? Were you driven by his wealth and decided to sleep with him?" Autumn’s head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowin
"It's just stress. Your baby is still kicking and healthy," the doctor informed Autumn, and the pent-up stress she had been feeling slightly eased. It had been three days since she discovered Iris was still alive and had gotten plastic surgery to look exactly like Charlie. Because of this, Autumn had a growing fear—more of a crisis—that any single person she encountered could be Iris. Even though Iris hadn't caught on that she was aware, Autumn was clearly still in danger, given Iris's alliance with Elliot. "Is it possible for me to travel a month from now?" Autumn asked as the doctor glared at her, judgment in her eyes. "No, you're in your third trimester. Any moment now, you could go into labor," the doctor said, concern written all over her face. "It's urgent. Can't you just write me a doctor's note and pardon me?" Autumn's tone was desperate. "So I can have my license revoked? I think not. You can't even travel until a month or two after giving birth," the doctor said, st
"You've been busy." Elliot's frame leaned against the white tile of the hospital's restroom. Iris was busy fixing her make up, dabbing a pint of gloss across her lips as she pouts her lips. She shrugged satisfied with the glossiness of her plump lips, she had to give it to Charlie for at least being so pretty. She didn't understand why Charlie didn't just seduce Derek from the beginning she was beautiful and now Iris had her face.She turned to Elliot who she finally noticed taking a space in the room."This is the lady's restroom." Iris smudge her index finger across her lips as she tried to set down the rest of her gloss."What are you doing?" Elliot asked, leaned back even more relaxed even though he was more stressed than ever."I'm fixing my make up? What does it look like I'm doing?" Iris said as Elliot groaned, his palm retreats to his face in frustration."You know what I'm talking about Iris. What business do you have with Derek Ashton? Are you reconsidering our alliance?" El
"It's best you don't tell Derek the baby belongs to him." Iris said as Autumn rose from her seat. It's been two weeks since she came disguised as Charlie and Autumn was sick of it. She was now eight months pregnant and was nearing delivery while her supposed babydaddy was coddling up to the two faced bitch that stood before her.Iris uttered the suggestion in the cafeteria and Autumn stood up with her protruding tummy sticking out like a sore thumb. Everyone in the cafeteria, mostly nurses feared she might give birth right at that moment. Autumn sucked in her breath wary of the eyes that summerged her. "And what should I do with his child? Hide it's existence from the father?" Autumn gloated reaching for her paper cup."Abort it." Autumn paused gripping tightly to her cup at the utter mention of abortion. "Excuse me?" Autumn questioned looking avertly at Iris smug face.She was due to delivery and Charlie had the guts to recommend an abortion?"You did it with your first child with
"He has amnesia," the doctor said to Autumn, her voice calm but heavy with implication. Autumn bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears until they spilled over, streaming down her cheeks. Evette, who stood beside her, immediately pulled a napkin from her bag and handed it to her friend. Evette couldn't hide her surprise. This was the first time she had ever seen Autumn break down. At work, Autumn was known for her ruthlessness and unyielding demeanor. The sight of her crying now made Evette's chest ache. She must really love Derek, she thought. "How long will this last?" Autumn asked, her voice now firm as she quickly wiped her face. The moment of vulnerability was gone, replaced by her usual composed, no-nonsense expression. The doctor sighed softly. "It could last weeks, months, maybe even years. It depends on his recovery process, Autumn," she explained in a measured, comforting tone. But to Autumn, the words were anything but comforting. Autumn’s brow furrowed in frustration.