Iris's POV I have been sitting at my father's bedside for hours in a daze. I could only hear the sound of the monitor continuously beeping in the room. My mind was in turmoil thinking of what could happen if that monitor would flat line and stop beeping. No, no, no. I shouldn't be thinking like that at all. I know, but I just can't help it. The situation and the way things are at the moment, are just not helping. Could things get any worse than they are already? The company is going under, we are facing a mountain of debt, workers are unsettled and about to lose their jobs, investors are anxious and demanding answers, and on top of that, my father had a heart attack and needs to get surgery urgently. It's a total mess and I have never felt so helpless. It felt like the world was out to get our family. While i was lostin my thoughts, the door to the room opens. By the waft of sweet rose scent that hit my senses, I could already tell who it was. " Just sitting there all day won't
Iris's POV It's a few minutes of overthinking. I decided it was time to face the music. I went inside my father's room and I pretended I didn't just eavesdrop on his conversation with Mr Harrison. Very smooth. " Dad! You are awake!" I exclaimed and went over to hug him. He groaned but still let me hug him. Above all else, I was happy that he at least woke up. It's a big relief and a weight off my shoulders. " My dear daughter. How have you been?" he asks as soon as I pull away from him. I put on a smile. I take a look at him in the hospital gown, he looks less than his usual self. His face was pale, with dark circles around the eyes, and shallow cheekbones, and his lips chapped from lack of moisture. It looks like he's been through hell and back. It wasn't a usual sight of him but it seems it was a sight we'll just have to get used to. " I'm fine Dad. I was so worried about you." I turned to look at my mother who was seated on the couch looking bored. " Mom! Why didn't yo
Julian's POVI was in my father's office and he just dropped a bomb on me. " Dad. What did you just say?" I asked in disbelief. " You heard me son. You are going to marry Henry Hart's daughter. It has already been arranged." I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. How can he just casually say that as if it doesn't matter? When he called me to his office this afternoon saying he had food news, this was not what I was expecting to hear. Well, it started well when he told me he finally acquired Starlight Industrie but that quickly turned into bad news. " How could you agree to that Dad? You don't think to ask me before setting me up with some random girl I don't even know!" " What are you fussing about? I should have asked you before agreeing to the arrangement. I am your father. I know what is best for you. Iris is a good girl and she will be obedient and do whatever you want. No other affluent man would marry her after her family got ruined so she will be humble. Besides, a
Julian's POV I called Meghan to the penthouse. It's our meet-up place and love nest. This is our space where no one disturbs us. I bought it a few months after we started dating because my father couldn't respect my house. He just comes barging in there any time he like as if he owned the damn place. So the penthouse was a sweet solution. He doesn't know about it so I won't be seeing him unexpectedly, anytime soon. On my way there, I pondered over how to break the news of my marriage to Meghan. To tell the truth, the is no easy way to say this. It will break her heart nonetheless. I don't want to see her upset. Being the reason she ends up sad is the last thing I want. So I'm going to try to make it up to her after I tell her. To try and set the mood, I personally prepared dinner. I'm not the best cook but I try. The nanny taught me some of the basics. Tonight I prepared Meghan's favourite, smoked salmon and pasta with her favourite salad going with Pinot Noir white wine. She'll de
Meghan's POV I couldn't believe what I just heard. I seriously thought that I misheard him but his forlorn expression told me that I didn't " Baby, let me explain." Damn right, he better explain. How the hell can he be getting married? To who? I had so many questions but I held myself back to give him a chance to explain what he said. " Well, I am waiting?" I say to him on the verge of losing my patience. He scratches the back of his head while hesitating to talk. " The thing is, I have to get married but trust me. It's just business. I don't even know the woman or care about her." The is silence after he talks. I was waiting for him to continue but it seemed like he was done. " That's it?" I ask him. " Uh...yeah." I sigh and avert my gaze. I couldn't bring myself to be heartbroken. To be honest, I don't even care if he gets married or not. After all, I don't love him. But his marriage will surely become an obstacle in my plan. It seems my 2 years of plotting will go to waste
Iris's POV It's been a few gruesome days since the day my Dad asked me to get married to Julian Harrison. I agreed but for now, that was the least of my concerns. My father got heart surgery and it was the most nail-biting day of my life. I was worried about him. Even though the doctor had assured me that the procedure would be done quickly and it was not risky, I couldn't help but worry. You never know when things can go wrong. After waiting, my father's surgery went well and he was moved back into his ward. All that was left was for him to recover and get a clean bill of health. The worst was over but this we're far from over. We received notice that everything has been repossessed and we will need to move out of our house. It was a sad moment once again. It's not like it was a surprise but it was just so sad to be losing the home we had been living in for years. So now my mother and I were back at the house trying to pack up our things and move out. Luckily we still have our anc
Iris's POV It's been a week since that day. We packed all of our belongings and said goodbye to the mansion that had been our home for over 20 years. It was hard and sad and I had to pull my sobbing mother out of the house. She unfortunately cried her eyes out all the way to the ancestral mansion. And when we got there she refused to go inside for over an hour before it started pouring. Then she had no choice but to face her fears and come inside. I don't mean to make fun of my mother but she was hilarious. My mother was really spooked out. She would jump and shriek at any sound made in the house. I was just grateful that we had cleaners come clean the place or else it would have been a job that neither of us was up for. A few days after, my father was discharged and we brought him back to the mansion. When he got here, he got emotional. He started rambling about how he failed his father and how was sorry he had to come back home as a failure. I couldn't help but feel emotional too
Julian's POV Today was the day of the engagement dinner. I haven't seen or heard from Meghan in a week. After that day, she sent me a text telling me to give her space and time to think about things. I was scared that she would break up with me. I tried to call her so we could talk this out and I could explain things to her again if she was not assured but I stopped myself. I decided to respect her and give her the time and space she needed. I was going to push her into anything even though I didn't want her to leave me. It took every ounce in my body to make that decision. That day she didn't tell me how long she would need and I just but when a week went by, I was starting to get worried. I tried calling her several times but she wouldn't pick up her phone. I went to her place but she wasn't there. I went everywhere I thought she would be but I could find her and no one had seen or heard from her for a while. I was starting to regret telling her about this stupid marriage. I shou
Iris's POV From the moment my eyes met him, I felt I was zapped by lightning. I don't understand why. I've never felt like this before. It's strange. I saw his picture but it did him no justice. He looked hotter in person. Wait. What the hell am I thinking? That's not how I should be thinking. I can't fall for him at all. I ain't even know him, let alone that, falling in love is not part 0f the plan. Iris, get a grip on yourself. His voice sounded like music to my ears. He has the most deep velvety voice I had ever had in a man. I might sound like I am exaggerating but I guess it would be better to hear it yourself. Never mind falling for him. I'm totally gushing for him. I started to feel hot in my lower region making me cross my legs tightly. What the hell is this man doing to me. Damn it. I tried to act as normal as possible. Sure, this Julian guy is attractive and his voice sounds like that of a God but that's about it. I noticed that both eyes kept stealing glances at one an
Meghan's POV I felt like the happiest woman on earth right now. I was in bed lying on the chest of the man I love. After a night of wild and passionate sex, I was feeling satiated and I am sure he was too. He was sleeping and lightly snoring. I don't know what got to him but he wanted to sleep with me on his bed this time. He usually took me anywhere in the house but never in his room or on the bed. But the last few days, he has been acting different or should I say loving and affectionate. Not that I was complaining. In fact, I loved every minute of his attention. I had no time to think about Julian and his problems. It felt like I was in another dimension. Kaden is absolutely the man of my dreams. Since the moment I met him, I always knew that he was the one. I was always willing to do anything for him and that is how we got here. Call me crazy but I would kill or die for him. I know. It really sounds crazy how deep I have fallen for this man. It's like he is the Joker and I, his
Julian's POV Today was the day of the engagement dinner. I haven't seen or heard from Meghan in a week. After that day, she sent me a text telling me to give her space and time to think about things. I was scared that she would break up with me. I tried to call her so we could talk this out and I could explain things to her again if she was not assured but I stopped myself. I decided to respect her and give her the time and space she needed. I was going to push her into anything even though I didn't want her to leave me. It took every ounce in my body to make that decision. That day she didn't tell me how long she would need and I just but when a week went by, I was starting to get worried. I tried calling her several times but she wouldn't pick up her phone. I went to her place but she wasn't there. I went everywhere I thought she would be but I could find her and no one had seen or heard from her for a while. I was starting to regret telling her about this stupid marriage. I shou
Iris's POV It's been a week since that day. We packed all of our belongings and said goodbye to the mansion that had been our home for over 20 years. It was hard and sad and I had to pull my sobbing mother out of the house. She unfortunately cried her eyes out all the way to the ancestral mansion. And when we got there she refused to go inside for over an hour before it started pouring. Then she had no choice but to face her fears and come inside. I don't mean to make fun of my mother but she was hilarious. My mother was really spooked out. She would jump and shriek at any sound made in the house. I was just grateful that we had cleaners come clean the place or else it would have been a job that neither of us was up for. A few days after, my father was discharged and we brought him back to the mansion. When he got here, he got emotional. He started rambling about how he failed his father and how was sorry he had to come back home as a failure. I couldn't help but feel emotional too
Iris's POV It's been a few gruesome days since the day my Dad asked me to get married to Julian Harrison. I agreed but for now, that was the least of my concerns. My father got heart surgery and it was the most nail-biting day of my life. I was worried about him. Even though the doctor had assured me that the procedure would be done quickly and it was not risky, I couldn't help but worry. You never know when things can go wrong. After waiting, my father's surgery went well and he was moved back into his ward. All that was left was for him to recover and get a clean bill of health. The worst was over but this we're far from over. We received notice that everything has been repossessed and we will need to move out of our house. It was a sad moment once again. It's not like it was a surprise but it was just so sad to be losing the home we had been living in for years. So now my mother and I were back at the house trying to pack up our things and move out. Luckily we still have our anc
Meghan's POV I couldn't believe what I just heard. I seriously thought that I misheard him but his forlorn expression told me that I didn't " Baby, let me explain." Damn right, he better explain. How the hell can he be getting married? To who? I had so many questions but I held myself back to give him a chance to explain what he said. " Well, I am waiting?" I say to him on the verge of losing my patience. He scratches the back of his head while hesitating to talk. " The thing is, I have to get married but trust me. It's just business. I don't even know the woman or care about her." The is silence after he talks. I was waiting for him to continue but it seemed like he was done. " That's it?" I ask him. " Uh...yeah." I sigh and avert my gaze. I couldn't bring myself to be heartbroken. To be honest, I don't even care if he gets married or not. After all, I don't love him. But his marriage will surely become an obstacle in my plan. It seems my 2 years of plotting will go to waste
Julian's POV I called Meghan to the penthouse. It's our meet-up place and love nest. This is our space where no one disturbs us. I bought it a few months after we started dating because my father couldn't respect my house. He just comes barging in there any time he like as if he owned the damn place. So the penthouse was a sweet solution. He doesn't know about it so I won't be seeing him unexpectedly, anytime soon. On my way there, I pondered over how to break the news of my marriage to Meghan. To tell the truth, the is no easy way to say this. It will break her heart nonetheless. I don't want to see her upset. Being the reason she ends up sad is the last thing I want. So I'm going to try to make it up to her after I tell her. To try and set the mood, I personally prepared dinner. I'm not the best cook but I try. The nanny taught me some of the basics. Tonight I prepared Meghan's favourite, smoked salmon and pasta with her favourite salad going with Pinot Noir white wine. She'll de
Julian's POVI was in my father's office and he just dropped a bomb on me. " Dad. What did you just say?" I asked in disbelief. " You heard me son. You are going to marry Henry Hart's daughter. It has already been arranged." I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. How can he just casually say that as if it doesn't matter? When he called me to his office this afternoon saying he had food news, this was not what I was expecting to hear. Well, it started well when he told me he finally acquired Starlight Industrie but that quickly turned into bad news. " How could you agree to that Dad? You don't think to ask me before setting me up with some random girl I don't even know!" " What are you fussing about? I should have asked you before agreeing to the arrangement. I am your father. I know what is best for you. Iris is a good girl and she will be obedient and do whatever you want. No other affluent man would marry her after her family got ruined so she will be humble. Besides, a
Iris's POV It's a few minutes of overthinking. I decided it was time to face the music. I went inside my father's room and I pretended I didn't just eavesdrop on his conversation with Mr Harrison. Very smooth. " Dad! You are awake!" I exclaimed and went over to hug him. He groaned but still let me hug him. Above all else, I was happy that he at least woke up. It's a big relief and a weight off my shoulders. " My dear daughter. How have you been?" he asks as soon as I pull away from him. I put on a smile. I take a look at him in the hospital gown, he looks less than his usual self. His face was pale, with dark circles around the eyes, and shallow cheekbones, and his lips chapped from lack of moisture. It looks like he's been through hell and back. It wasn't a usual sight of him but it seems it was a sight we'll just have to get used to. " I'm fine Dad. I was so worried about you." I turned to look at my mother who was seated on the couch looking bored. " Mom! Why didn't yo