A Wild Marriage: From Contract to Craving

Iris's POVThree years had passed, but every single day felt like a quiet battle to stay standing.I stood near the window of my classroom at St. Jude Academy, my hands carefully arranging the small plastic chairs for the new school term. My face naturally settled into that sweet, calm smile I had perfected over the last three years.It was a mask, strong and flawless, hiding the dark memories of my past and the strange, sudden panic attacks that made my heart race whenever I saw anything bright red.My phone was pressed tightly against my ear, breaking the quiet hum of the empty classroom.“She’s refusing to eat her green vegetables again, Iris,” Chloe’s voice came through the speaker, full of easy warmth. “I told her that if she doesn't eat, her tummy will make funny noises all night, but she just gave me that big blue-eyed look you always give people.”I laughed softly, a small, genuine sound that reached my eyes. Chloe was the only member of our family who had refused to turn her

Iris's POV "Iris, please just stay in bed today," Chloe pleaded, leaning her shoulder against the kitchen doorway as I pulled my blonde hair back into a neat, professional tie. "Look at your face. You're pale, your hands are still shaking, and you almost got run over in the middle of a storm last night. You don't need to push yourself to go to work today." "The rent won’t pay itself, Chloe," I said quietly, keeping my back to her for a second while I smoothed down the front of my light sweater. I turned around and offered her a faint, reassuring smile. "If I take even a single day off, the school deducts it straight from my small check. I can't afford to lose a dime right now." "Let me help you." Chloe stepped into the small kitchen, her brown eyes full of genuine worry. She reached out, placing a warm hand on my arm. "I can lend you some money for this month's rent. You don't have to carry the whole world on your shoulders like this all the time." I stopped, looking down at her

Iris's POVFolding the last of Hope’s small shirts into my battered suitcase, I felt a strange weight settling in the pit of my stomach. This small apartment had been our sanctuary for three years. It was cramped, the hot water barely worked, and the noisy street below kept us awake half the night, but it was safe. It was ours. Now, in a matter of hours, we were packing up our few belongings to move into a world that felt completely alien to me.Chloe sat on the edge of my stripped mattress, watching me with her arms folded tight over her chest. Worry was etched deep into her face."Iris, please tell me you know what you're doing," Chloe said quietly, her voice laced with hesitation. "Men like Vladimir Vasily don't just offer protection out of the goodness of their hearts. He is dangerous, Iris. He has money, power, and resources that can swallow a person whole."I paused, holding a faded sweater in my hands before smoothing it down and placing it into the bag. I turned to look at h

Iris's POVBy the time Friday arrived, the quiet routine I had spent three years building felt completely dismantled. It started on Wednesday morning with two extra men in dark suits trailing my car to St. Jude Academy. By Thursday, there were four. They stood near the gates during recess, watched the parking lot, and followed every move I made with my daughter.I felt like an animal trapped in a cage. Every time I looked out the window of my classroom, I saw those men standing near the fence. It was suffocating.After cooking dinner and tucking Hope and Lily into bed, I waited until the apartment went still before I marched down the wide hallway toward Vladimir's private study, my chest tight with frustration. I knocked once on the door and pushed it open without waiting for an answer.Vladimir sat behind his desk, looking through a stack of paper. He lifted his dark gaze as I stepped into the room, showing zero surprise at my sudden entrance."We need to talk," I said, my voice s