Iris Sooner, rather than later, I was in the office, yawning again. Luckily, this time, I had a cup of coffee in my hand as I strolled toward Halle’s office. The news was that she was fine overnight and the doctor had deemed her fit to be discharged. Of course, when Orchard found out about this in the car that morning, he didn’t take too kindly to it. "Keep an eye on her," he'd told me before I stepped out of the car. By the time I opened her office door, I found her bent over her desk, her hands moving quickly over the notepad in front of her. Finally, she looked up as I took about five steps into the room. I held up the second coffee. "I don’t even care what flavor that is—it's coffee. Give it here," she said, reaching for it. By the time she collected the cup, she had downed what I guessed was half of it in one go. "Ice cold Americano. Beautiful," she said, setting the cup down. "Sit," she added, pointing at one of the chairs opposite her desk. "I wanted to run this
Tiffany. One would have thought that with everything my mum and I, experienced over the years, she’d be better at handling things. But it was the exact opposite.“Your father is angry,” she said. “I’m sure you could tell. It was quite tense in the car. You managed to pull your father from the comfort of his office, from the comfort of his personal space, and you took him to that place only for him to get disgraced. That is not what I taught you to do.” “Mom,” I cut her off, shaking my head and interrupting her. “With all due respect, it was in regards to Father,” I said, emphasizing the word. “He hardly did teach me much—more like some things wrong and some things about—but you’re blaming this on me? That I somehow knew that she had an allergy? That’s just wrong.” I jutted my chin out and took a step backward away from her. “If you’re not going to tell me any other thing, then that’s fine. If that’s all you wish to say, then that’s also fine. I’m going to get back to work,” I s
Orchard’s PovI was gripping the steering wheel too tightly, my knuckles white as I sped toward Richard’s house. I could barely think straight. The thought of my mother lying in a hospital bed, alone, while my father did God-knows-what with his mistress… it boiled my blood. The man had crossed too many lines, but this time, he’d gone too far.When I pulled into Richard’s driveway, I saw his car parked neatly in front, alongside his wife’s little hatchback. Their home was as warm and welcoming as always—a small, brick house with ivy climbing up one side and flower beds blooming brightly. It was the kind of place that made you forget your troubles, at least for a little while.I rang the doorbell, and a few moments later, Richard’s wife, Clara, answered the door. She was in her usual comfy clothes, a simple sweater and leggings, with a kitchen towel slung over her shoulder. Her face lit up when she saw me.“Orchard!” she said, pulling me into a hug. “It’s been too long.”Before I could
Iris Pov “Mum,” I had muttered, almost to myself. Halle, who had been standing beside me, glanced over. “Huh?” I froze for a moment, then quickly shook my head. “Sorry,” I said, forcing a smile. “I meant my step mum.” I said to her. Leaving the part where she magically appeared in the same store we were. I mean, not that it was surprising, with an event like that coming up, she would certainly want to make an impression. I just didn’t want to bump into my step mum while I was out shopping with my mother-in-law whom she was yet to know about. “Iris, are you alright?” Halle asked, pulling me away from my thoughts. It was then I realized I had zoned out. “Yea, uhmm… yes.” I replied. “You know, when I said step mum, I meant she’s here.” “Oh.” Understanding dawned in her eyes, and she tilted her head slightly. “Tiffany’s mum?” I nodded, feeling my cheeks flush. I couldn’t exactly tell her I didn’t want Karen to know she was my mother-in-law yet, and despite how much of a bitch she
Orchard’s POV The evening air was cool as I climbed the steps to the rooftop. My body felt heavy, like each movement required more effort than it should. The door creaked as I pushed it open, revealing the quiet sanctuary that had always been my retreat. The rooftop wasn’t much to look at, it was a simple flat space bordered by a rusty railing. A few old chairs sat scattered around, one missing a leg, the other barely standing. The city stretched out in front of me, endless and alive. I stepped toward the edge, my boots scuffing against the uneven surface, and sank to the ground with my back against the railing. Reaching into my jacket pocket, I pulled out a half-empty bottle of whiskey. It clinked softly against the metal railing as I set it down beside me, and for a moment, I just stared at it. My fingers tightened around the glass. I unscrewed the cap and raised the bottle to my lips, the first sip burning as it slid down my throat. The whiskey was old and sharp, but it did the
Tiffany’s POVI stood in front of the mirror, carefully brushing out my hair. Last night’s argument with Dave lingered in my mind, he hadn’t been himself, but that didn’t make the pain any easier to bear.I set the brush down on the dresser with a soft clink and reached for the necklace I’d chosen, a simple gold chain with a small emerald pendant. I was fastening the necklace when I felt a pair of familiar arms wrapping around my waist. I hadn’t heard him come in, and the sudden warmth of his embrace startled me.“Tiff,” he said softly.I froze for a second, caught off guard, then let out a slow breath. “Dave,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.He tightened his hold on me, resting his chin lightly on my shoulder. His touch wasn’t demanding; it was tentative, almost apologetic. “I’m sorry,” he murmured.“For last night?” I asked, though I already knew.He nodded, “I was out of line, Tiff. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. It’s no excuse, but I was stressed, and…” He sighed, his breath
Tiffany “No,” she shook her head. “You wait,” she said, very firm. “You wait until everything is ready, and then you go change. I’m hoping that at least you’ll have things done before you come home.” She started to walk away from me. “Very good,” of course, that was her staple—walking away when she believed herself to be done with people or going to meet someone. So, after Mom left, I decided to go downstairs and simply get some hands-on experience. “Status?” I whispered to Bethany, Kimberly’s second. “We’re almost done with the table placement,” she said. “Of course, they’re also ready to cover the tables and set up the centerpieces. We’re having a few issues, though,” she said. “The guest list is quite muddled, and because we didn’t have a rehearsal dinner to figure out who’s sitting where, I hope the vegan table doesn’t get mixed up with the one for meat-eaters.” She widened her dark blue eyes. “This is a travesty,” she said, touching her forehead. “Shut up,” I mumbl
Orchard’s Pov“You know, you really are the most beautiful person to walk the earth.” I said to Iris, as she stood by the mirror brushing her hair. “You’re just saying that because I’m your wife,” she chuckled, her eyes lighting up the room and my heart as well. “What do you say, we try something different right now?”“Orchard! Your mum’s event is in a few hours, we should be getting ready.”“We have time.” I winked, earning a playful glare from her in return.I opened my lower drawer, retrieving a tool box from it, Iris eyes never left mine. I got close to her as her eyes followed my body, looking a bit presumptuous about every move I made. I took out from the toys I had brought, a blindfold. For some reason, I felt she looked very appealing in it. I was going to be gentle with her anyway. I just didn't want her eyes staring at me while I continued. I wanted her looking as hot as I wanted her to be. Not that she wasn’t already, I just needed to see her that way, in blindfolds.I s
Tiffany The fire alarm blared through the building like a beast, its shrill sound cutting through the air, pulling me from whatever daze I was in. My heart hammered in my chest as I ran down the hallway, ignoring the crowd of panicked employees rushing for the exits. I needed to find my mum and Dave.The hall felt endless, each step heavier than the last, my mind racing with dread. What was happening? Why was the fire alarm going off? I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.When I reached the last place I had seen my mum, the door was open, but it was empty. Panic surged through me again, and I rushed inside.“Mum!” I called, my voice cracking.She was standing by the window, looking out at the sky. Her face turned toward me when she heard my voice, relief flashing across her features.“There you are,” she said, pulling me into a hug. “Thank God you’re safe.”I held onto her, grateful to feel her warmth, but then something caught my eye.In the hallway, stan
Iris"I know where the conference room is, thank you," I mumbled as I walked away. Suddenly, I stopped and turned around, noticing that Sophie had already lowered herself into her chair, rolled her eyes, and leaned back before hopping out of breath and rolling her eyes again. "Aren’t you supposed to bring me a report? At least show me what I’m supposed to be working with. Tell the heads of the departments to come see me." Sophie leaned forward in her chair but otherwise made no move to stand. "Yeah," she said, swiping her hand over her white table. "I’ll do that. No worries." She gave a wide but clearly fixed smile. I had seen that kind of smile countless times. It was the pandering kind—the kind that many use when they try to put you at ease and tell you that you had nothing to worry about. Just trust her, a small part of me that genuinely didn’t want to stress said. She’ll get it done. I gave her another smile of my own and turned around, heading towards the conference
Iris As Orchard and I ran downstairs, the sound of chatter grew louder. When we reached the living room, we saw Halle, standing by the doorway with a girl who looked no older than 20. The girl’s face was bright with excitement, her gaze fixed on Orchard.I slowed my steps, my eyes narrowing as I tried to piece together what was happening. Who was this girl? The way she beamed at Orchard and then suddenly ran to hug him caught me off guard.A ridiculous thought crossed my mind—what if Halle had brought a bride for Orchard? My chest tightened at the absurd idea, and I quickly shook it off, embarrassed with myself for even thinking that way. Still, the strange sensation lingered as I stood frozen near the staircase.“This is Iris,” Orchard introduced me to the girl after breaking from her hug.The girl’s eyes lit up even more as she turned to me. “Hi, Iris! I’m Eva. I’ve been dying to meet you!”“Dying to meet me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, unsure of where this sudden enthusiasm was
Orchard As I opened my eyes, the faint glow of morning sun filtered through the curtains. I felt a twinge of excitement and nervousness coursing through me as I turned to look at her. Iris was still asleep, her chest rising and falling steadily under the thin duvet. The sight of her like this, so peaceful, made my heart flutter in ways I hadn’t expected.Last night, I had done something bold. I told her I loved her. It had taken me weeks—no, months—to work up the courage to say those words. But the moment I said them, fear crept in. What if she didn’t feel the same way? What if I had rushed it? I didn’t even give her a chance to respond. Instead, I panicked and said, “You don’t have to say anything back. I just… wanted you to know.”And then, as if to taunt me, she had fallen asleep. Just like that, with no reaction, no answer.I let out a soft sigh, brushing a hand through my hair. Despite the uncertainty gnawing at me, I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. Looking at her now, I k
IrisAs soon as his tongue touched my clit, I lost my mind. It was as though the world had exploded between my thighs.I bit down on my lower lip as I reached downwards for his dark head of hair and grab it as the mad husband of mine began to flick his tongue over my clit over and over again in the sweetest torture ever known to me. “Oh god.” My eyes rolled to the back of my head as my hips began to move nearly in a rhythmic manner as his tongue slowly explored my clit. “Ah, yes. Right there.” I shudder as one of his fingers boldly toyed around the entrance to my pussy. Suddenly without warning, his finger pushed in, filling me up instantly. Once more, I felt my eyes roll to the back of my head. Oh God, I thought, If jealousy was his reason for being so harshly intense about killing me with pleasure and perhaps it would be a good idea if I made them jealous every now and then. It was all so he would offer me this beastly side of him.Just as his finger probed inside me, he found m
Orchard’s PovThe limo that brought us had been promptly waiting outside with Harold. “Was it wrong of me to assume the worst, sir?” he asked just as I entered the car. “No,” I shook my head and offered him a smile. “It only means you're probably due for a raise. Don’t worry. Thank you. We're fine.” I patted him on the shoulder and then entered the car. Needless to say, the ride back home was heavy.I kept my eyes on the road, refusing to look at her. Why? Well, the reason was simple enough. When I looked at her, I saw his hands on her. Did I like the sight? Fuck no. The memory made me want to rip off my own skin. When we reached the house, she grabbed me by the arm. “Now you’re just being weird,” she said. “I bet Mom noticed it too. Can you tell me what is wrong?” I fought the urge to wrench my arm out of her grasp. Instead, I settled on the most civil thing I could think of—picking her hand off softly, slowly unclenching her fingers, and then heading to the bathroom, whe
Tiffany’s PovThe night was supposed to be mine. Everything was supposed to go smoothly, and I was certain that I’d leave the event with a stronger grip on the future. But now, everything had flipped upside down, and I felt like I’d been struck by lightning.It all began when Halle stepped onto the stage. The room, which had been filled with the low hum of conversations, quieted instantly. Everyone turned to look at her. She was a commanding presence, dressed in an emerald dress that screamed elegance and authority. The stage lights glinted off her jewelry, making her look even more powerful. She was a woman who commanded respect with just a glance.I was standing with a group of businessmen, politely laughing at a joke I didn’t find funny, when Halle started to speak.“Good evening, everyone,” she began. “Thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate a new chapter in our journey. This evening is about more than just marking the move of our company to San Francisco. It’s also about t
IrisThe hall descended into chaos in an instant. What had been an event full of laughter and conversation now felt like a nightmare. Screams and shouts replaced the gentle hum of chatter.My heels clicked sharply on the floor as I dodged the panicked crowd rushing toward the exits. My first thought was Orchard. I needed to find him.But as I scanned the room, my eyes landed on a small figure crouched under a table near the far wall. A little girl. She couldn’t have been more than six years old, her tiny frame trembling as she clung to the tablecloth. Her tear-streaked face peeked out for a moment before retreating underneath the table.Pushing through the crowd, I made my way to her, crouching down so I could see her better. She flinched when she noticed me.“Hey, sweetheart,” I said softly, “it’s okay. I’m here to help you.”She didn’t move, her small hands gripped the table leg like it was her lifeline.“What’s your name?” I asked gently, inching closer.Her voice was barely above
Orchard’s PovThe applause still echoed in my ears as Iris and I stepped off the stage. Her hand was warm in mine, and the glow of the spotlight seemed to linger on her face even as we moved back into the crowd.She was smiling, no, beaming. I couldn’t stop looking at her. This wasn’t just her moment; it was our moment. I felt like the proudest husband alive.I stayed close to her, my hand never leaving hers, even as people swarmed around us with congratulations. Every handshake and pat on the back was for her, but I took just as much pride in it. Watching her shine was my greatest joy. She deserved all of this and more.“You were amazing up there,” I whispered to her as we finally found a quieter corner of the room. “Your speech was heartfelt, I could tell.”She laughed softly, the sound like music to my ears. “I was so nervous, Orchard. My hands were shaking. I forgot the anxiety that comes with going on stage.”“Nobody noticed,” I assured her. “You were perfect.”The room was alive