Chapter 18
Iris:
“Mommy, can’t I come with you?” Lillian asked, pouting her lips, making my heart swell at the innocence of her action. It was one that I grew to love, especially since it reminded me of myself when I was a child. I would often pout when i didn’t get what I wanted, and though it rarely ever worked, I could tell that my daughter got it from me.
I smiled and shook my head at my little princess as I got ready. I wore a royal blue dress which exposed just enough of my breasts despite it being strapless, it wasn’t too revealing. The slit that was on my left leg reached my thigh giving me an easier maneuver to walk. The dress was somewhat tight around the waist and would loosen around my hips, giving it a princess style.
I had silver heels on and jewels to match. The diamond earring, ring, necklace, and bracelet were ones that my dad gave me as a present on my birthday two years ago. I chose to wear them tonight as a reminder that I was doing
this for him..
The fact that I knew that Dean would be there didn’t escape my mind, and if anything, it hurt me to admit that I didn’t want to think of the outcome of this if he was. I was scared of how his reaction would be when he saw me, and more importantly, I knew that he would have questions.
I got on my knee in front of my daughter and cupped her cheeks, running my finger over it gently. I was getting ready at my parents‘ place considering that they would be taking care of Lillian, and that I would be spending the night here. Both my parents knew that I might not be okay after the gathering and told me to stay at their place tonight. And though I did assure them that I would be okay, and that there was no need for it, they both insisted that I came back to their place.
“No, baby girl. You are going to be staying with nana and grandpa. I won’t be too long, but I don’t want you staying up late or giving them a fuss. Nanny Juliet would be here as well, and I want you to be good with her. Can you promise me that?” I asked gently. She looked down at her feet, avoiding my eyes before she smiled and nodded. “Mommy is going to be with adults, and you know that you don’t like being with them when no kids are around. When you are a bit older, you would be coming with mommy.”
“Promise?” She asked, and I smiled. I didn’t know how to explain to her that I didn’t even want to be where I was going today, and needless to say, she was going to be attending so many events with me that she would eventually just want to stay at home and relax instead.
“Yes, I promise you that you would be coming to all gatherings with me when you are older. Eventually, you are going to ask me not to keep coming.” I said, and she laughed. She wrapped her arms around me and k*ssed my cheek, making me smile. I knew that she didn’t process what I was saying nor did she understand what I was talking about, but I knew that she would eventually, my little princess would grow to understand what I was referring to when she grew a little older.
I got up from my knee when she took a step back and twirled around to have her see my dress. It was something that I often did when I went to gatherings. I always wanted her to be the first critique of my outfits. My little beauty never failed to amaze me with the kind compliments that she gave me whenever she saw my outfit, and when I
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was well dressed, she always made me feel like I was the most beautiful princess.
“How do I look?” I asked, and she smiled as her eyes lit up. She walked around me and fixed the slit of my dress, straightening it gently before she smiled and clapped her hands when she looked at me. I knew that she didn’t understand why my dress had a cut on it, but she didn’t really bother asking, it was one time that she asked why my dress didn’t have sleeves, and after explaining to her that it was a ‘big girl‘ dress, she didn’t ask again.
“You look like a princess.” She said, and my cheeks reddened at her genuine compliment. In her eyes, princesses were the most beautiful creatures on Earth. It was how she saw them; therefore, whenever she told me that she believed that I looked like a princess, I knew that she meant that I looked beautiful. “You are going to be enchanting all the princes that see you.”
I laughed and cupped her cheek before k*ssing it gently. She giggled as I wiped my lipstick off her cheek, making me smile. She had her way of captivating my heart, I had to admit that much, and the fact that she didn’t even understand how much I loved her was something that I couldn’t help but cherish.
“There would be no princes where I am going, my little one.” I said as I rose to my feet properly. I took her hand in mine and took her toward the living room where my parents were sitting. Dad was cleared out of the hospital since he chose to carry on with the medication. The last thing that I wanted from him was to give up on his b*dy. The man was stronger than that, and I knew that he could fight it off. He just needed a push, and me being here for him was going to be that push.
I didn’t understand how mom had allowed him to choose to stop his treatment. Maybe she tried to convince him but he chose not to listen. Either way, I didn’t like what I saw when I did, and that wasn’t something that I was going to let go of. If anything, I was going to fight everything to ensure that he got better.
“You look beautiful, Iris.” Mom said, smiling at me. I nodded in response, giving her a small smile before looking at dad whose eyes were fixed on me like I was the only thing that he could see. I knew that he was proud of the woman that I became, and that he regretted a lot of what happened to me.
I was a virgin when I first married Dean. The man’s mother heard of my dedication and ‘purity and insisted that I married her son. I was not a woman who ever dedicated myself to a man. If anything, I often chose to take care of my studies and work. I was a spotlight of the media who often wanted to know who I was ‘dating‘, but I never was. It was the thing that caught his parents‘ attention when choosing a bride for their son.
Dean himself was curious about me. He was my first k*ss, my first time, and even my first love. Our marriage may have been arranged, and the two of us weren’t even in love when we got married. I didn’t know him properly wedding night.
on our
But our first year was heavenly and I knew that he was happy during that year. I could see it in his eyes. However, that quickly changed in the second year where he drifted off with work. I didn’t mind though, I was busy with my own thing. Little did I know that he drifted off because of a woman, and it didn’t work.
However, even after finding out, I didn’t make a fuss about it. If anything, I was quiet and didn’t argue, keeping my pain in. It wasn’t until Dean chose to tell me that he wanted a divorce that I snapped.
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“You look gorgeous, Iris.” Dad said, shaking his head at me as his eyes teared up. I smiled and walked toward him, his eyes softened as I took both his hands in mine, gently k*ssing his knuckles. He didn’t even know how thankful I was that he was here and safe. The man was my backbone and security in this world. The idea of anything happening to him broke my heart, and I knew that he was well aware.
“Welcome home, dad.” I said gently and he smiled, cupping my cheeks. He k*ssed my forehead, letting his lips linger there for a few seconds before pulling away to look me in the eye. I knew that he was thankful for the fact that I agreed to go to the gathering, choosing to be an adult in a painful situation like this one was something that! didn’t expect from myself. To say the least, I was even surprised that I agreed to do this.
“It feels good to be home. Though I know that I am going to have nurses over my head for around an hour…”
“Daddy…” I said, stopping him, playfully glaring at him, making him chuckle. He ran his finger over my cheek gently before giving me a gentle nod. I could tell that he was proud of me, and that alone meant the world to me despite everything that went on. I hadn’t told him that mom withdrew her shares, but I was quick to buy them and now, I was the owner of the bigger shares in the company. It was something that even mom was surprised about when she heard of it happening.
“Don’t worry, I will not drive them too crazy.” He said, and I laughed, shaking my head. “Just be safe tonight, and I am a call away if you need anything.”
I smiled and nodded. I knew that he was well aware that I wouldn’t call him. The last thing that I wanted or needed
was for him to grow nervous about something that I could easily take care of.
I have been raising my daughter alone since the day she was born. Dealing with Dean was easy in comparison to
that
“I will be, daddy. Don’t worry, it won’t be too long.” I said, assuring him.
“You are my daughter, Iris, and I am going to worry about you whether or not you assure me not to.” He said, and I smiled. “Just try having fun, and we will be here waiting for you when you are back…”
