Chapter 19 

Dean: 

Mariana got out of the car, not bothering to wait for the driver to open the door for her like she always did. It was something that in her mind, showed that she was superior. She didn’t know that those who were truly superior opened the door for themselves at times and didn’t need to show off a driver opening the door for them. 

The woman was not one who liked to take charge of anything that she could easily take care of as a person. Whether it was opening the doors or making coffee, a driver, maid, or butler had to be the ones doing it for her. It was something that she pretended to be used to when I knew what her life was before the two of us got married. If anything, I went to her apartment when the two of us first started ‘dating‘. It was a small one bedroom apartment that she was even embarrassed of inviting me into. I didn’t judge her for it, I knew not to do so, but it sickened me that she was forgetting that as she chose to act the way that she was, refusing to be humble. 

I had to admit, though I did expect her to at least help her family when we got married. I didn’t know who they were to begin with, and she never did bring them up. I did ask about them a few times, but I was quick to realize that her first name had been changed when she was legal age. Therefore, I chose not to hurt her with a past that she was trying to keep hidden, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t stir questions in me. 

She stopped by the front door and crossed her arms over her chest. She knew not to be stupid as to enter the house without me by her side. It was something that she didn’t want the family seeing as she feared them telling her off for marrying me to begin with. 

At this point, I wouldn’t have blamed them for telling her off. Mom did warn her about marrying me when she first came to the house after our engagement. I couldn’t believe that I got in an argument with her for it. The woman has been trying to protect me over the years, and yet, I chose to follow a fling and have lost a relationship that was 

beautiful between the two of us. 

I hated to admit that Mariana entering my life not only cost me a beautiful marriage, but it also cost me my mother, who I have lost as a best friend. The two of us were more than just a mother and her son, if anything, my mom knew almost everything that there was to know about me. I wasn’t one to keep secrets from her, and thankfully, she wasn’t one to do that to me. Sadly, all that changed when I married Mariana as she gave me the choice to give her up or lose her friendship. I chose Mariana over it, defending what I thought was ‘true love‘. 

I wrapped my arm around Mariana who put the best smile that she could muster before we both walked toward the door. My heart ached with each step that I took, recalling the moment when Iris and I walked into the house for the first time after our first date being engaged. Her parents were waiting for her in the house, wanting to pick her up, 

parents saw whether or not our first date went well. I cupped her cheeks a stupid tradition that we had as and k*ssed her in front of the door, ignoring the fact that I knew that both our parents were watching us from the 

window. 

I knocked on the door twice and a maid opened the door for me before taking a step back as mom approached us. She smiled at us, welcoming us inside and I smiled. I cupped her cheeks and k*ssed her forehead. She put her hand on my ch*st for a second before turning to face Mariana who tried approaching her to hug her. However, mom took a step back, not wanting her to touch her, and Mariana nodded, understanding the silent message. 

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Chapter 18 

“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 I 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…” 

Chapter 19 

Dean: 

Mariana got out of the car, not bothering to wait for the driver to open the door for her like she always did. It was something that in her mind, showed that she was superior. She didn’t know that those who were truly superior opened the door for themselves at times and didn’t need to show off a driver opening the door for them. 

The woman was not one who liked to take charge of anything that she could easily take care of as a person. Whether it was opening the doors or making coffee, a driver, maid, or butler had to be the ones doing it for her. It was something that she pretended to be used to when I knew what her life was before the two of us got married. If anything, I went to her apartment when the two of us first started ‘dating‘. It was a small one bedroom apartment that she was even embarrassed of inviting me into. I didn’t judge her for it, I knew not to do so, but it sickened me that she was forgetting that as she chose to act the way that she was, refusing to be humble. 

I had to admit, though I did expect her to at least help her family when we got married. I didn’t know who they were to begin with, and she never did bring them up. I did ask about them a few times, but I was quick to realize that her first name had been changed when she was legal age. Therefore, I chose not to hurt her with a past that she was trying to keep hidden, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t stir questions in me. 

She stopped by the front door and crossed her arms over her chest. She knew not to be stupid as to enter the house without me by her side. It was something that she didn’t want the family seeing as she feared them telling her off for marrying me to begin with. 

At this point, I wouldn’t have blamed them for telling her off. Mom did warn her about marrying me when she first came to the house after our engagement. I couldn’t believe that I got in an argument with her for it. The woman has been trying to protect me over the years, and yet, I chose to follow a fling and have lost a relationship that was beautiful between the two of us. 

I hated to admit that Mariana entering my life not only cost me a beautiful marriage, but it also cost me my mother, who I have lost as a best friend. The two of us were more than just a mother and her son, if anything, my mom knew almost everything that there was to know about me. I wasn’t one to keep secrets from her, and thankfully, she wasn’t one to do that to me. Sadly, all that changed when I married Mariana as she gave me the choice to give her up or lose her friendship. I chose Mariana over it, defending what I thought was ‘true love‘. 

wrapped my arm around Mariana who put the best smile that she could muster before we both walked toward the door. My heart ached with each step that I took, recalling the moment when Iris and I walked into the house for the first time after our first date being engaged. Her parents were waiting for her in the house, wanting to pick her up, a stupid tradition that we had as our parents saw whether or not our first date went well. I cupped her cheeks and k*ssed her in front of the door, ignoring the fact that I knew that both our parents were watching us from the 

window. 

I knocked on the door twice and a maid opened the door for me before taking a step back as mom approached us. She smiled at us, welcoming us inside and I smiled, I cupped her cheeks and k*ssed her forehead. She put her hand on my ch*st for a second before turning to face Mariana who tried approaching her to hug her. However, mom took a step back, not wanting her to touch her, and Mariana nodded, understanding the silent message. 

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Chapter 10 

Mom wrapped her arm around me, pulling me inside the living room where quests were already seated. Most of them had their drinks in their hands and got up when they saw me entering the house, Mariana was a step behind us, walking alone. 

“Dean, how are you?” Alexander, one of my partners asked, smiling at me. I smiled and nodded in response. The man was one of my oldest partners, and though I know that a lot has happened, I was thankful that he was one of the few men who chose to stick around me long enough to support me through everything. 

“I am well, and you? How are you?” I asked, approaching the man to shake his hand. Mariana tried approaching to stand beside me, however, one look from mom told her to stop her tracks. She knew not to cross her limits when it came to mom and I knew for fact that it was only mom who would put her in place. Mariana looked at me, and I raised an eyebrow before turning my attention to Alexander once again, choosing to ignore her. 

I wasn’t here to cause trouble or problems, and the two of us were already having too much to deal with right now. The last thing I wanted or needed was to deal with more of her bullshit, and that was something that she knew well. She was often quiet after we got into an argument for a few days. She would avoid annoying me, and would ensure that I forgot that I was ever mad at her. However, It wasn’t like the two of us had anything to do with our marriage anymore. It was something that we both knew very well. 

“I am good. I heard the news about Ashton, and I was both surprised and sad about it. He was holding strong for a long while to the point where almost none of us knew that he was sick.” He said, and I nodded. I had to admit, it was something that even I was surprised about. The last thing that I expected to hear was the man being sick and when I did hear of it, I couldn’t help but grow worried. 

Iris was a woman who was attached to her father, and for known reasons. The man was her backbone and main supporter in this world. Though he did agree to our marriage, he did ensure that she would be happy through it. He made me promise that I would take care of his little jewel. It was me who broke my promise, and thus also lost him as a man who would have fought the world for my sake. 

The man even got into fights with my own father for me when he heard about a conflict between the two of us. The argument was one that I wouldn’t forget if I was paid to. However, I wasn’t one who appreciated it at the time, and even after the divorce when he knew that I was going through a rough patch with my parents, my stocks, and the 

y side. lash out of the media, he was the one who supported me enough to stand by my 

He did tell me that things would not be the same, and he was indeed right. Things between us were not the same again, but the man didn’t remove his investments and was still one of my greatest supporters. It was something that I couldn’t help but feel grateful for. 

“Yes, I was surprised when I heard about it. I planned on visiting him at the hospital, but I heard that they cleared him to go home. I will be passing by him in the next few days though. Regardless of everything, the man is still my partner” I said, and Alexander nodded in understanding. The doorbell rang and mom rushed to the door to greet whoever came as the maid opened the door. 

“I heard that his daughter Iris was the one taking care of things on his behalf.” He said, and Mariana tensed as she waited for my response. I was about to respond before heels clicked as a woman entered the house. I looked up from Alexander to find Iris standing in front of me. Her eyes met mine and she nodded in respect before looking at 

Chapter 19 

Mariana for a second 

“Yes, you have heard right, Alexander” I said, looking at the man whose eyes were fixed on her as he took in her beauty. It was an elegence that I missed seeing, and I had to admit, I couldn’t get my eyes off of her even if I tried “I am taking care of things on my father’s behalf ” 

i 

She turned to look at mom and dad who had their eyes on her and I could swear that I saw a small smile forming on mom’s lips as she took in her beauty and my expression. The woman looked like an angel coming from the sky I had no other way to explain it, and though she didn’t bother to look at me, I wasn’t stupid as not to know that she had my complete attention 

I 

“Viktor, Nikita, I am sorry for coming without giving you a notice beforehand She said looking at mom whose 

eyes brightened. She looked at me for a second before smiling her smile mischievous as she knew that my ex had caught my attention in ways that the shouldn’t 

“Not a problem, Iris Mom said, turning to face her “You of all people are always welcome here.”