I'm terrified she's going to wake up and tell me to get out. Why wouldn't she? I wasn't there when she needed me. I wasn't there for her birthdays or her graduation or when she scraped her knee. I'm just a stranger with a lot of money who failed her mother.
I squeeze her hand, hoping she can feel I'm here.
"Please," I whisper. "Please don't hate me. I know I screwed up. I know I wasn't there. But just give me a chance to fix it."
I lean my forehead against our hands. "I promise I'll do right by you, Iris. I'm going to be the dad you should have had from the beginning. I'm not going anywhere."
Chapter 26
?
IRIS
When I open my eyes, my body feels like a ruin of what it used to be. My face throbs with a dull, persistent ache, my ribs protest every shallow breath I take, and my head feels stuffed with cotton, leaving me disoriented in a room with walls that have soft cream paneling, tall and elegant, fading into the shadowed corners.
I blink slowly, trying to piece together where I am. The bed beneath me is large, dressed in crisp, pale sheets that smell faintly of detergent. A bedside table stands close, a glass vase with flowers catching the morning light and grounding me in the strange reality of this mansion. An empty chair sits in the corner, angled toward me as though someone had been watching over me and only just left.
Across from the bed, I notice three doors. Another connects to the adjoining guest room, likely where someone else is resting or watching. The third, a narrow paneled door, hides a bathroom, while beyond that, a smaller closet door is tucked neatly into the far wall.
The air conditioning hums quietly through vents in the ceiling, keeping the space comfortably cool, almost clinical. I blink slowly, focusing on the unfamiliar ceiling positioned directly above me. This location is neither my apartment nor is it the residence of Ilay. A sudden wave of panic commences within my chest. I question my current location.
I emit a soft groan, attempting to sit upright, but a sharp pain shoots through my entire body, compelling me to return tothe prone position. I wince, delicately touching my cheek. It is noticeably swollen and sore.
I'm lying there groaning when I hear movement across the room. A woman appears beside the bed. She looks late middle aged, with kind eyes and soft features. She'd been arranging flowers on the windowsill.
"Miss," she says gently, walking towards me. "You're awake. Thank God. The masters will be so happy to know you're awake."
Masters?
I frown, confusion clouding my thoughts. "Masters?" My voice comes out hoarse.
"Yes, miss. Your father and your brothers. They've been so worried about you. Waiting for you to wake up. I'll go get them right now."
"No," I say quickly, sharper than I meant. "Don't call anyone. Don't tell anyone I'm awake."
She hesitates, wringing her hands. "Miss, I have to. It's my job. They've been so worried about you."
"Don't tell anyone," I say again, my voice cracking. "Just leave me alone. Please. My head hurts too much."
She looks torn but nods. "As you wish, miss."
She leaves quietly, closing the door behind her.
I lie there staring at the ceiling, trying to process what she just said. My father. My brothers. I don't understand what's happening.
After a few minutes, I decide I can't just lie here. I need to move. I need to find Tessa and see if she’s okay.
I push the covers off and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. My body fights me, every muscle screaming, but I force myself to stand. I need to get to the bathroom first though.
One step. Two steps. Then my legs give out completely.
I groan, trying to push myself up, but I am too weak. Then, the door opens, and the air immediately thickens.
Roman and Kirill. The sight of them sends a lightning bolt of sheer terror through me.
I scramble back, reaching blindly for nightstand where a vase of flowers sits. I grab it, knocking the flowers to the floor, and hold it up, a shaky defense.
"Don't come any closer!" I shout, my voice shaking. "I swear to God, if you come near me, I'll hurt you."
