Chapter 99: Lucas: Memories 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 times to calm her. At least he allowed her to brush her teeth and wear something cozy and warm. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let him take her away from me.

Paul and Tim left a while ago so they could buy some ingredients for the nearly empty pantry. The staff here prepares meals for themselves which leaves the pantry inside the house empty until we visit the villa at random times like these.

Taking the lone time I have to myself, I walk around the place. The cleaners are doing a good job maintaining the grounds. Even the maintenance department outside has done a good job keeping the herbs and trees in good condition.

It looks exactly like it did the last time I visited the place last year. Not to mention the irresistible scents mingling in the air like spices. Everything is just right. It brings back memories of when my parents and I would visit the villa to meditate with my mother and her yoga specialist.

I used to dread those days. Being stuck in the mountains with no computer and gaming equipment whilst my friends played Fortnite and gave me updates about their victories made me mad at my parents. Little did I know I would lose my mother sooner. I would have spent all the time 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 me 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—home 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 home after our mini-holiday was over. I can’t believe I’m thinking about doing the same 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 me 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 meditation would be at its peak.

Either way, the wifi is capable of sending messages 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 media, 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 me hold Iris’ hand on camera yesterday.

With how things are it wouldn’t surprise me if Iris, me, 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 become 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 me. "And we have a visitor for you. I tried telling her you needed your peace at the moment but she threatened to follow us with her car and run down the front gate. I had no choice but to bring her with me."

My immediate 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 moment."

"Don’t give me 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 me, her upper lip curling as if she’s about to bite the hell out of me. "Devour feculence you Andrews," she curses even though her legs move toward my direction and she spins around to sit next to me.

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 me for dumping her on such a special day like that.

I mean if that was me and someone decided to dump me 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 me 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 me but I shake my head in denial.

"I’m the one who pushed her to visit the gym with me. 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 came 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 me so badly?"

She looks around the greenhouse suspiciously and once she’s sure we’re alone, Mary scoots close to me and pulls my ear.

"I heard from grandma yesterday that her Dad came by yesterday morning and left an envelope full of hundred dollar bills and a note."

★★★★★

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read