Chapter 97Heart Breaking Words"Iris.." Stella called starting a conversation making her jump a little.Iris quickly put her hands under the lap trying to hide the thoughts that seemed to be so loud that Iris felt that she'd heard them."Yes" Iris tried to be cheerful. She was glad that at least she started the conversation. ‘Maybe she'll come over it and be same friends again.’Iris was hopeful"You never told me how was Edwin?" she asked with a mischievous smirk in her eyes.Iris shifted on her place not knowing how to answer but thought of playing the fool "he looked good in the morning. Why?""No.. I am talking about" Stella now went nervous as she was phrasing the words.Iris's heart was now thrumming in the chest.Stella had a wide smile on her face as she continued asking "umm.. that night when you two.. umm. You guys slept."'What do I say? Hard core lies. Tell her it was good or .... Iris was debating in her headShe did not give her a chance and said "You know I love it wh
Chapter 98The ThreatIris struggled for a good while.But the men holding her captive were way strongerIris's heart sank to the boots.She tried to snuck out of window to ask for help but her mouth was tied with a cloth, making her dumb. She managed to see out of the glass window screen behind, Ben was following and he was running behind the car and was soon overtaken by a gypsy and went out of sight. Iris still fixed her eyes expecting a miracle and popping up of Ben and it wasn't in vain, Ben emerged on top of that gypsy climbing few more vehicles and reaching close to the van but the van now took a steep turn, moving out of the city highway taking a lone way towards their destination, Ben was lost in the stream of heavy traffic behind.Tears flowing mercilessly from Iris's eyes.What was more painful Edwin's word or the unknown destiny lying ahead?It was then Iris realised THREAT.She had a threat and those guys had finally made a move.Mr. Clark was right...It wasn't any fr
Chapter 99Fear & PrideIris body drained of its strength when she looked at Ben who was now held captive by the two men who brought her there; his hands and feet were tied. "Run Iris" he shouted before his mouth was also tied with a stray fabric.Iris was trying to analyse and understand the happenings around when three men stood together toasting with their glasses of beers looking at Iris with expressions which were fierce and evil.Aaron.. how could Aaron do all this?He was my friend all this while... I trusted him.. And didn't he say that he loved me, not once but ample number of times."She is so panic struck. I think she needs an explanation. After all she was my baby whore." Brent spoke making Iris grit her teeth.Iris walked to Aaron and hit a tight slap on his face only to be answered by two slaps back on her face right and left.They were so fierce, so harsh that her ears started ringing.Her eyes now gave away her strong demeanour and starting spilling tears which were f
Chapter 100Fear Of LosingWith horror in her eyes Iris witnessed her friend , her bodyguard slumping on the floor.Aaron now took another shot at Iris but was tumbled on the floor as the cops had taken him with their shot.Brent took a quick run Jamie however was successfully arrested by the cops.Iris's shrieks and cries to help Ben were ignored as Edwin who was also escorting the cops fussed over her safety.."EEEddddwwiiiiin Ben .. Ben... Help him. He is shot" Iris was in turmoil as she saw blood pouring endlessly from his body where the bullet was shot."Ben you gonna be alright" Iris said as she caressed his face trying to ease his pain. But the bullet had done more damage than it should have.Ben opened his mouth trying to speak but nothing came from his mouth.Iris could feel her name that he was trying to utter, his lips moving but he was so badly wounded that the words got lost within."You will be fine." Iris said in between sobs "then we will talk""You will be fine" Iri
Chapter 101 The Letter....It's been three weeks now and it seemed like it was yesterday, Today being Ben's funeral.The toughest day of my life!Had Iris not received that letter, things would have been different but Iris's life had too many hurricanes reserved for her.So many unanswered questions were answered.Till today she was in a state of hysteria, completely ignorant of the surroundings or she tried and manipulated herself to be oblivion of the happenings around.The story that Iris had heard in her childhood, an animal character—whenever a pigeon sees a cat approaching towards it, it shuts its eyes assuming that what is not seen is gone. Like that pigeon Iris too tried to shut herself from the world around but...Its only buts.. that reign. But the letter that Edwin handed Iris and shared moments with, filled her with revelations I am a different person now..Iris held the locket that Ben gave tight in her fists, Iris felt closer to him though there was nothing emotional
Chapter 102Support SystemIris read the letter, reread it again and again multiple number of times till her eyes went cloggy and her vision foggy due to the tears.Iris hugged that sheet of paper tightly; she did not mind it getting crumpled. It was like a ventilator support system to her.It was like a part of Ben was with her.Hugging her knees tightly, Iris sat on the floor of guest room; she was still at Edwin's place and cried her heart out.'Ben, he loved me so much that he did not want to confess his love till he was serving as my bodyguard" she hiccupped as she cried talking to nobody "because he felt incase I do not reciprocate he wont be able to guard me properly or I wont let him guard me. And once I am aware of his feelings, he won't be able to do his job properly..."Bless his commitment!Iris had no idea that if she knew about his feelings she'd accept his love or not..Most probably she would have denied. I cannot love anybody more than I love Edwin. Even if Edwin
Chapter 103ConfessionsEdwin watched Iris, his friend Iris, strong and determined...She had always been like this.When she needs to do something for her loved ones she'd enter into the Mother Mary mode taking the charge and fighting the odds.She said loud, clear and in a humbled tone.She lifted her hand in the air in a mode to stop them and then nodded her neck to get their attention "before you ask any questions please listen to me.... Thank you so much for your concern. Thanks for the love you have bestowed on me.."There were a lot of cheers from the crowd and Edwin felt really proud of her.She waited patiently for the cheers to stop and started. With the body language firm and confident she had all ears of the once upon a time violent crowd in front of her "I am going through tough times in life and I promise to disclose it all to you."Another applauding roar swayed over the place."But not now.. my friend" she choked on her voice and then masked her emotions immediately "
Chapter 104Live For The Moment..."I like you Iris. I do.” Edwin said and Iris felt nothing, she knew what his true feeling were for her and she waited patiently as he spoke “I respect you a lot. You are the only friend I have. I know I love Stella like I can never love anybody else and even for her I could never do that to you." he pressed her palms "I do not want you to have $ex for any thing other than love. I cannot push you for it for any other reasons than love. I am so sorry, so so sorry..." he couldn't help tears flowing with a faint hope that she understands and forgives."I AM sorry Edwin." Iris adjusted on her seat trying to hug him and he hugged her like it was a normal response "had I not been that naïve' and irresponsible that day, not over reacting to what you said; Ben would have been alive today..." and she cried loudly "Ben died because of me."Edwin knew she'd held it in her. She had to cry so he let her be. He let her pour out all her grief."How will I ever forgi
Chapter 121It is NormalIris always knew that she loved him truly but hearing him from Edwin simply was enigmatic, it was a kind of turn on."hence” edwin sighed as he put back her fray strands of hair behind her ears “I love you and I love each and every part of your body even your abdomen where Isabelle rested for nine months" he smiled and went back to her torso.His hands moved around her lower abdomen creating tiny crackers insides her body the soft harmless ones that erupted every where making her moan. Just when Iris got used to his magical touch, his fingers were replaced by his tongue, which raised the level of pleasures the tiny crackers increased on their intensity forcing her to make cries of moan.Iris closed her fist unable to control what was happening inside her when he bit exactly below her naval, the magnitude of pleasure reaching new heights and Iris closed her eyes."No do not close our eyes" he said commandingly as he looked at her. When her dark met his hazels
Chapter 120Beautiful Love "I am sorry Edwin." Iris said. "I did not trust your love, I was scared and disturbed of having $ex with you" she looked at her toes embarrassed of what she was saying. "It was unfair. I knew I hurt you. I feel very low of myself."He cupped her face in both his hands, his touch tender making her lean her face, giving up her strength and submitted to him breaking all her wallsIris looked back at him as he repeated the words "I am sorry" he said "I should have understood, I forced myself on you. I should have courted you first, showed my love, made you believe in love and win your trust first that I do love you.""Edwin" Iris called his name; his words so polite and sweet making her heart melt. Iris was not used to something like this and couldn't believe that this was happening. She wanted to stop him, so that it does not get washed away. "With all the hardships in my life somewhere I had accepted happiness is curse for me and I cannot have it and so" s
Chapter 119Picture PerfectIris turned around to see Edwin and a red blush embraced her face."Umm... I guess I am early." Iris said to cut the intense silence between them.Edwin complimented me. He said I look pretty.I am blushing!"No you are on time." He offered his hand for Iris to take and she did.He walked with her at the start of the first painting.He pressed her hand softly making her look at him.The innocent grin in his hazels made Iris lock her gaze at him. He raised his eyebrows gesticulating something. Iris was so lost in his handsome face that was full of love for her that she couldn't decipher his actions.He put both his hands on her shoulders and turned her around pushing towards the first painting from the row.The painting was covered with a netted curtain. Edwin lifted his neck asking her to undo the curtains.Iris looked around as if she was stealing from a departmental store. I mean who was she to unveil somebody else's property?But Edwin gave another
Chapter 118Date NightEdwin...Iris sighed... She was behaving like a teenager in cliché' love.After the day she let her fears out to Edwin, he'd been distant. He never shouted or lost temper.He'd even polite and normal with Isa and her too.Sometimes Iris wondered if she had kept her mouth shut the other day, things would have been different.I should have tried on my own, I shouldn't have bothered him. I could have made excuses but I couldn't lie to him direct on the face..Again the way he asked, it felt that he cared and so Iris let the doors of her insecurities wide open in front of him.For better or worse... it's yet to decipherOtherwise she believed he would have easily guessed it out. Exactly like he guessed that something was seriously wrong within Iris and their relationship.Probably Iris's confession the other day made him realize what she was earlier and now What if he loathed me, felt disgusted with the thoughts of having $ex repeatedly with a prostitute.' Negati
Chapter 117I Am Not A Virgin"You are in love." Twain couldn’t be happier, he was smiling from ear to ear."I do?' Edwin spoke for himself "I don't know how but every time I shout at Iris with an attempt to hurt her so that she despises me and walks out of my life, I feel the pain, ." He shuddered at the memory "Her eyes that'd turn glassy for a fraction of a second and jump back to normal again hurts deep in my heart.I cannot hurt her. Ever""You two good now?" Twain could see the answer on Edwin's face but still he asked "She looked so pretty in the morning when she was showering all her love on Isabelle, the way she looked at Isabelle, helped with her tiny feet to wear those shoes, the patience she was portraying when Isa was showing her tantrum throwing her shoes away every time she tried to put them on her. My heart constricted with a strong feeling for her." Edwin smiled faintly "That feeling made me realize that I was doing what Stella wanted to do. I was falling for her but
Chapter 116Can We Fall In Love Twice?Edwin held her from shoulders, his grip tight enough to hurt as he pulled Iris making her look at his eyes which were not furious; they were confused."Hate you... tell me how do I hate you Iris? Tell me? I tried to hate you. I told myself Stella didn't fight her disease because she had YOU.' He stressed on the last word and then loosened the painful grip. Iris's hands brushed the place he held tight to rub away the pain.But her eyes and ears focused on the man who was her legally wedded husband.For the first time the authority of his voice made her realize he was her husband"I want to hate you because you agreed to sleep with me. I want to hate you because you loved me even when you knew I was married and you could never have me. I tried to hate you." His voice soft now and his hands closed to her, his fingers brushing her cheeks for a second and then he moved the strand hair on the face behind her ears.He moved closer giving a short peck o
Chapter 115Hate Me Like You DoIsabelle turned one year and six months today. She was the sweetest child Iris had ever seen, not that she had seen much of children in her life but still Isabelle was the best and she loved every bit of her. She gave meaning to her existence, she was heir to my unconditional maternal love, and she was her world.Today when it was time for Edwin to take Isabelle for a morning stroll, Iris was playing with her trying with the new jumpsuit and shoes that she had brought for her especially for a morning walk.Edwin saw Iris with her and cringed; he was getting restless to take Isabelle in his arms. He got so impulsive that he shouted at Iris that even Isabelle got scared and leaned her shivering body close to her.She was so scared that she hid behind Iris peeping at Edwin's figure in dismay"Its okay baby." Iris kissed her forehead and handed her to Edwin.Edwin had a grimaced look on his face, completely disappointed at the fact that Isabelle was scar
Chapter 114Time & PatienceVoices of playful Isabelle gurgling, laughing and Edwin's soft honeydew laughter woke Iris up in the morning as she lifted the covers put on me while I was asleep.Iris knew who the one behind it is and her lips curved to a smile....Antonym of emotions seared in Iris.She felt guilty, ashamed and terrible about herselfHow can a mother sleep when her child is in danger? Or was it all a dream?Iris opened her eyes to shut them again.The bright sunlight emanating from the windows made het squint as she reopened them, her heart pounding with fear. Iris was jerked back into the past when she was surprised waking up in a complete different ambience.Isabelle crying, her abdominal pain and then Dr.Simpson uttered those words 'Isabelle is critical', Iris went out of control.Oh shit! I even slapped the doctor.Iris behaved like a possessed screaming, shouting and cursing when the staff and the nurses held her tightly making her wince with her inner pain and sh
Chapter 113Cruel Words With pounding heart Iris reached Stella's room She panicked when she found Stella lying on the floor straight, her face reflecting pain and Isabelle in her arms.Stella looked at Isabelle with concern and as Iris scanned the room.Iris could judge with Isabelle's crib half fallen and Stella's leap to save her falling from that cot of hers.Quickly Iris picked Isabelle who was shell shocked at her happening, Stella's pained face doing no good to calm her down.Lulling her for a second Iris nestled her on the bed and still she sat straight at an instant, fear lined on her face as Stella stayed on the floor with helplessness, small moans of pain escaping her mouth.Being a healthy baby of almost 11months Isabelle tried to reach Stella.Stopping her with a stern 'Sit" gesture Iris attended Stella. Iris tried to lift her off the floor but with the pain she was bearing, lack of cooperation on her part did not help."Stella please try." Iris begged."Isabelle" Stel