Chapter 99: Lucas: mories and secrets
LEAVING IRIS with Williams in my study felt like abandoning my beloved wife in the care of another man because I was incompetent.
She looked worried and I had to kiss her several tis to calm her. At least he allowed her to brush her teeth and wear sothing cozy and warm. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let him take her away from .
Paul and Tim left a while ago so they could buy so ingredients for the nearly empty pantry. The staff here prepares als for themselves which leaves the pantry inside the house empty until we visit the villa at random tis like these.
Taking the lone ti I have to myself, I walk around the place. The cleaners are doing a good job maintaining the grounds. Even the maintenance departnt outside has done a good job keeping the herbs and trees in good condition.
It looks exactly like it did the last ti I visited the place last year. Not to ntion the irresistible scents mingling in the air like spices. Everything is just right. It brings back mories of when my parents and I would visit the villa to ditate with my mother and her yoga specialist.
I used to dread those days. Being stuck in the mountains with no computer and gaming equipnt whilst my friends played Fortnite and gave
updates about their victories made
mad at my parents. Little did I know I would lose my mother sooner. I would have spent all the ti I could with her back then instead of staying all day closed in my room because I was mad at her.
Fuck. All this reminiscing is making
sad.
I take out my phone and sit on the bench inside the greenhouse filled with all kinds of flowers. Another one of my mother’s passions—ho gardening. It’s well-designed like the rest of the spaces surrounding the villa.
I don’t know how vast her knowledge of plant life was but she grouped the flowers well. The ones that grow on vines are in their own section whilst the ones in pots are grouped around the room in a mismatched color order.
The lavender flowers are the ones that catch my attention the most. She used to cut and take them back ho after our mini-holiday was over. I can’t believe I’m thinking about doing the sa now that I’m all grown up.
Shaking my head and turning my attention to my phone, I scoff at the poor wifi connection I’m receiving in here. Although that’s to be expected. I never changed a thing once this house was given to
and since my mother didn’t like people using their phones in her tranquil heaven, she made sure to cut the wifi connection in places where her ditation would be at its peak.
Either way, the wifi is capable of sending ssages but that’s only short-lived based on the wave’s strength. I should take this as my sign to stop trying to check my social dia, but I can’t help myself. I want to see if Bella has pulled another stunt or if she has finally yielded and apologized after seeing
hold Iris’ hand on cara yesterday.
With how things are it wouldn’t surprise
if Iris, , and Bella are today’s hot topics. I’m getting used to being the center of attention bit by bit now, but I don’t think it’s good for Iris. All the negativity and prying eyes could soon backfire once they discover her dark past.
Running my fingers in my hair and pulling it I let out a deep breath. All I wanted was for the magazine to beco number one whilst enjoying my newfound relationship with Iris. It hadn’t even been a day of us celebrating before this disaster struck us.
Is being happy so bad that people have to suffer this much for such a simple emotion?
The glass doors swing open drawing my focus as I sit up straight.
"We’re back, Lucas," Paul struts inside doing his military posture as he stands next to . "And we have a visitor for you. I tried telling her you needed your peace at the mont but she threatened to follow us with her car and run down the front gate. I had no choice but to bring her with ."
My imdiate guess is Bella. She’s the only asshole who’s been trying her best to ruin my and Iris’ relationship for the past few days.
"Tell her to fuck off! I don’t want to see anyone at the mont."
"Don’t give
that shit after almost crying last night on that video call. Who do you think you’re talking to?"
Mary.
"Wait, it’s you?"
She rolls her eyes at , her upper lip curling as if she’s about to bite the hell out of . "Devour feculence you Andrews," she curses even though her legs move toward my direction and she spins around to sit next to .
It feels like ages since I last saw her at the event, the day when it all started. If only I hadn’t confessed to Iris on that day, maybe Bella wouldn’t be annoying us right now. Maybe she’s mad at
for dumping her on such a special day like that.
I an if that was
and soone decided to dump
before confessing to another, I’d go wild too.
Mary clears her throat, grabbing my attention without even trying too much. "How is Iris?"
I ruffle my hair. "Not so good. The doctors told
she was having PTSD attacks. I don’t know what to do even though I’m the reason she’s struggling so much."
"You’re not the reason why she’s suffering Lucas," Mary tries to convince
but I shake my head in denial.
"I’m the one who pushed her to visit the gym with . If we had stuck with her idea to use the gym at my place none of this would have happened."
"You’re right about that, but not about the PTSD. That’s a whole different topic that I wanted to discuss with you in private. It’s the reason why I almost fought with Mr. Muscle over here when he ca by to ask for Iris’ clothing."
Giving Paul a suggestive glance, he turns on his heel and leaves us alone. Once we have the privacy she requested, I turn back to Mary.
"So what is this secret that you wanted to tell
so badly?"
She looks around the greenhouse suspiciously and once she’s sure we’re alone, Mary scoots close to
and pulls my ear.
"I heard from grandma yesterday that her Dad ca by yesterday morning and left an envelope full of hundred dollar bills and a note."
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