Chapter 17

I’ll be back before Ryan gets home.”Sarah looked slightly worried but didn’t press the matter. “Just let me know if you need anything, ma’am.” After breakfast, Iris dressed casually in jeans and a simple top.

She didn’t want to raise any suspicions, especially not with her mother. As she stepped out of the mansion, the cool morning air felt refreshing. She stopped a cab and gave the driver her mother’s address.

The familiar sights of her old neighborhood brought a sense of comfort. The modest houses, the friendly faces, it was a stark contrast to the grandeur and isolation of her current life.

When the cab pulled up in front of her mother’s house, Iris felt a pang of remorse .She knocked on the door, and it was opened by her best friend, Skylar , who still lived nearby and often helped out with her mother.

“Iris! It’s so good to see you!” Skylar exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug.“It’s good to see you too, Skylar ,” Iris replied, smiling genuinely for the first time that day.

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