Iris POV:
Ugh…
I sat up sleepily. Sleep. I want to sleep…
I heard Quinn clearing her throat, loudly.
Stand up peasant, make me my breakfast," Quinn said in her deep voice.
I stood up and went to make breakfast for her.
Wow, are you okay," she asked, worryingly.
I nod my head.
Okay," she said and sat on the table, scrolling through the phone.
I was standing in the kitchen wearing only shorts and a bra.
It's been 7 months and 30 days since we broke up. I hate this word.
So, it's been 1 year since I loved Ace.
I sighed and flipped the tortilla.
I already cut the vegetables at night so I will make breakfast for Quinn early.
Ace doesn't love me but I do. I still do.
He took my first kiss and he thought I could live with another man. Shameless.
I am not shameless like him. I will live as a widow my whole life rather than marry any other man.
I am tainted by him, by Ace.
I put the tortillas and salad on the plates.
I took it and put it on the table.
Quinn smelled the food like a dog.
Don't use your phone," I said, sitting beside her.
Fine Mom," she said, mockingly.
I am serious, Quinn if you don't," Quinn cut me off and said.
If you don't look at food while eating then what's the use of eating food, right," she said, sarcastically.
Why don't you go and sleep? The restaurant is closed today," she said.
I shook my head.
It's okay," I said, sighing.
I am serious Iris, you didn't sleep that much last night," She said, worryingly.
Ok," I said, hesitatingly.
I got up and went to the bedroom.
The bedroom was small. Two small beds and one tiny table.
Quinn was a jewelry maker and she made good money.
I work at a restaurant and I make a decent amount of money too.
We both were in Newark.
I lay down and felt sleep taking over me.
Author POV:
(FLASHBACK)
God, please help me.
I am lost, I lost every single person in my family in front of my eyes.
Isaac killed Mama and Papa.
I gulped and wiped my tears.
I turned around and started to walk towards the mansion.
I want to believe Ace didn't kill Isaac but at the same time, I couldn't.
Don't make any decisions Iris. Not now.
Anger decisions are not good.
I wiped the tears and saw someone getting inside the car and left.
But then I saw someone lying on the floor.
My steps started to speed up and ran towards the body lying in the road.
When I reached near I saw it was Ace.
He was beaten up badly.
My body froze. I couldn't breathe, my hands were trembling.
I knelt beside him and shook his head.
ACE! Wake up," I screamed.
Please, open your eyes," I shook him vigorously.
I reached out into my pocket and took out my phone.
I called Hudson, scaredly.
Ring… RIng… RIng…
Iris," Hudson said, huskily.
HUDSON! ACE IS INJURED HE IS NOT MOVING," I screamed in fear.
What," he asked.
Please help me, he's not moving," I said, gasping for air.
Okay, okay, where are you," he asked.
In front of the mansion but a little bit far," I said, hurriedly.
Ok, I am coming, breathe Iris," Hudson said.
The call ended.
I tried to move him but he was so heavy.
I cried out helplessly.
Save him, god. Please, take my life but save him.
I put my head against his chest and his heart was beating.
I stood up and searched for help.
But no one, no guards, no maids, no one was here for almost 6 minutes.
I searched everywhere but No one was present there.
I heard a screech and saw Hudson running out of the car.
Hudson!," I screamed.
Hudson looked at Ace, furiously.
Help him please," I said, relieved that he was here to help us.
I didn't come here for him," Hudson said coldly, looking at me.
Please Hudson help him. I know, I understand but please I beg you," I begged him, desperately.
Why are you begging for him, Iris," Hudson asked, furiously.
I fell to my knees and joined my hands.
Please he's bleeding Hudson, Help him," I said, crying out joining my hands in front of him.
He looked stunned.
He let out a frustrated sigh and picked him up.
Hudson put him in the back seat and I sat beside Ace checking his heartbeat every 5 seconds.
It took 5 minutes to reach the hospital.
Hudson filled out the procedures and Ace was admitted to the hospital successfully.
Thank you, god.
We both sat outside the room on the hospital bench.
Then I saw everyone. Aiden hugged me tightly when he saw me.
What the hell is happening," Felix asked, frowning.
I don't know, we-we had... Someone beat him and left on some car," I said, incoherently.
Hud, why did you help him, did you forget he's a betrayer," Leo said, coldly.
I know, I know, I called Hudson," I said, calming myself.
Iris, you're still staying with him," Susan asked, confused.
I nod my head. Alex came forward and put his coat over me, warming me.
I bowed to him, thankfully.
Why," Susan asked.
I can't just leave him like that, he's alone without you all," I said.
Alone my foot! He is a liar, a fucking liar," Susan said aloud.
I saw a doctor coming out of the Ace's room.
Doctor, is he okay?" I asked, desperately.
He lost so much blood, and his blood group is O negative which is rare too. We don't have bloodstock. Perhaps you could search from your side and we will also ask other hospitals," the doctor said.
Do you know someone with O negative blood group," I asked Hudson.
He sighed and looked at the others, troubled.
Who is it, Aiden is it you, SU, FELIX WHO THE HELL IS IT?," I screamed in agony.
Liam," Alex said, emotionlessly.
I went towards Liam.
Liam, please, you said if I want any help you would do it, right," I asked and sucked in a breath.
Help me now, give him blood please," I said, tears flowing down my eyes.
You love him don't you," he asked looking into my eyes.
I gulped and gasped for air.
Do I love him still…
Yes, I love him, please help him," I said.
He sighed and went towards the doctor.
The doctor took him away to prepare the procedures.
It was 1 in the morning.
They were all sitting outside the room, emotionlessly.
I was standing in front of the door, impatiently.
I could see him from a transparent hole that was designed in the middle of the door.
But I had to stand on my toes. It was painful but it's worth it.
Iris, he's not going to wake up for now," Alex said, growling.
I know," I said, my eyes not leaving Ace's injured face.
He did it purposely," Liam said suddenly.
What," Su said, boringly.
Iris said there were no people in the house, only Ivan, Isaac, and Ace when she got to the mansion," Liam paused, and frowned.
Ace is not that weak to fight back but this time he didn't, why?" Liam exclaimed.
He was planning to die tonight," Aiden said, confused.
It must be the only reason, he could fight back but he didn't, he sent away all the guards and maids," Aiden stood up in a daze.
Iris, what happened there," Felix asked me.
I sucked in a breath and told them the story.
By the end, everyone looked at me sympathetically.
If I can believe him then you can too," I said suddenly.
Ace told me Ivan was the one who killed Isaac, I believe his words," I said looking at everyone.
You all have been with him for years, ages and you all left him, alone without even trying to know why he did that. If I could believe him, then you all can too" I said.
I don't know what happened between Ace and Hudson's father but he's your friend. You should trust each other at hard times instead of going away," I said looking at Hudson.
If I could believe him even when I saw him holding the gun and my brother's body on the floor. So, why can't you all," I asked.
Silence.
Iris POV:
"IRIS"
My eyes cracked open, afraidly.
I saw Quinn, holding a beer in her hand and tapping on my cheeks.
What," I asked, sleepily.
Your boyfriend is here," Quinn said and slumped on her bed watching a movie on the phone.
He's not my boyfriend," I said, irritatingly.
She rolled her eyes.
I got up and put on my shirt.
Don't tell me you're going out of this room like that," she said.
You look like a Victorian child who will not make it through this winter," she said, laughing.
Then it's good, he will break up with me," I said, coldly.
I opened the bedroom door and saw Jeremy sitting on a chair, with flowers.
I feel guilty.
He proposed to me and I couldn't say No because his friends were cheering him on and many people were looking at him outside the restaurant.
If any other girl they could say NO.
But I couldn't, It can break his heart and it will be so embarrassing for him in front of thousands of people who stare at us ignoring their business.
Iris," Jeremy stood up enthusiastically.
I gave him a tight smile.
He came forward to hug me.
Ahh!, I didn't brush or shower," I said, hurriedly.
Come on, we have been in a relationship for like 1 month, not even a hug," he said, pouting mockingly.
And I know the struggle to keep him away from me. He's so I don't know touchy.
Oh god, I am a horrible person.
Jeremy, what are you doing here," I asked.
I know he is disgusted by my attire and hygiene.
But he put it away and talked.
Well, we are going on a date tonight, remember? So I just came here to remind you," he said, smiling wide.
I nod my head, guilty.
Maybe I could embarrass him at the cafe then he will break up with me because of how disgusting I am.
Then he will not be embarrassed and heartbroken.
Yeah, fantastic plan.
He came forward and leaned down.
I widened my eyes and backed away, afraidly.
He frowned and mumbled some incoherently.
Bye," He said and left.
I sighed and closed my eyes.
He's not good," Quinn said, leaning on the door.
What," I said, frowning.
You're not a horrible person, Iris," She said, stuffing her mouth with Cheetos.
I am a horrible person and he's a good man who wanted love from a girl," I said, sorrowfully.
He's using you, Iris," she said and the room fell silent.
I am not an expert in relationships but he doesn't look at you with love it's just lust," she said.
Lust," I said, frowning.
Gosh, you're stupid! Lust means he wants to fuc… he wants to have S word with you. JUST THE S WORD," she said in a deep voice.
I widened my eyes.
No, I had the S word with Ace.
I will never do it with someone else.
Hey! Do you know the meaning of the S word," she asked suddenly, frowning.
No, but I know that only married people do that," I said sitting beside her.
I can't believe how you survived in this world being this naive," she exclaimed.
I leaned back and stared ahead.
Did Ace think about me?
What if he had a new girlfriend?
If he got a girlfriend she must be ethereal, rich, mature, and more experienced.
The only thing I have of him is his shirt. Grey shirt.
God, my life is a mess.
You know I saw one of his friends staring at you," Quinn said.
But I was in agony.
Gosh, why do you always get boys who are bad and sexy," she said and huffed.
You want good boys and I want bad boys but we got the opposite of it. Fucking hell," she said, candidly.
I also want some stress relief. Maybe I can go to one of my ex's houses," she said deadpan.
I looked at Quinn, raising my eyebrows.
WHAT!," she said.
She's shameless but she's a good friend.
She gave me a roof to stay and food to eat when I had no one.
Well, the only condition was that I had to make her food whenever she asked me and it must be delicious.
If I didn't buy a pendant and give it to some jeweler to make some changes to it. I would be alone by now.
It was Quinn. She makes brilliant jewelry and art but not enough money to establish her extraordinary skills.
If not her I must be on some road, starving, begging.
Well, still I am giving her money in installments for the pendant.
When I asked her, "Why are you helping me?"
She said she didn't have any friends and roommates so she accepted me as her friend.
Well, I am not surprised either.
Because if someone saw Quinn for the first time they would stare at her like she's odd.
She's tall, a little bit muscular, boy cut, so yeah not so friendly.
And her habits are odd too.
But I like her even if she's shameless.
I smiled at the thought that I had someone for now…