LOGINIris POV
A car screeched to a halt in front of me. The door swung open, and there he was my savior, David. Without any hesitation, I ran inside. The moment I shut the door, he floored the accelerator. The car shot forward, cutting the air like smooth butter. David is the best in it.
He pulled into an underground parking area of a tall building, no one can suspect we were hiding here. David turned off the engine and stepped out, as I did a wide smile on his face as he came around to me.
He opened his arms for a hug, but I instinctively stepped back. He stopped patting the back of his head awkwardly.
“Sorry,” he mumbled. “I forgot you don’t like physical touch.”
I shook my head gently. “It’s okay.”
He nodded, then led me inside. The elevator hummed softly as it carried us upward. We stopped on one of the higher floors, where David pulled out a key from his pocket and unlocked the door of a neat apartment. He puts the key into my hand.
“This is yours for now,” he said, “But don’t you dare make a mess in here.”
I raised my hand on my head in a mock salute. “Okay, sir.”
He laughed. “There’s food in the kitchen, groceries stocked, and everything you’ll need. If you run out of anything, just call me.”
Then, lowering he added, “For you, I’m taking a big risk. My butt still hurts from the last time. Your father’s Hulk, like a bodyguard handprint, is still there. My girlfriend thought I was either cheating or secretly gay. She left me.”
I burst out laughing, “you ungrateful” he said as he pointed his figures towards me. “Stop laughing or I will throw you out of the window”.
“I am not laughing, look.” I said pointing towards myself I try to close my lips by force.
He rolled his eyes looking at my acting. “Bye I am going.” As he turned to go I called him.
“David."
He stops and moves towards me. “What.” He asked with irritation and love to irritate him. But for now I am really grateful to him for saving me, like always he does.
“Thank you so much, David. Really.”
I said from the bottom of my heart. He is my best friend. We have known each other since childhood. He has been there for me, always helping me.
His expression changed to a warm one as he smiled warmly. “There is no need for it, just find me a hot girlfriend.” He winked. I can't stop the smile formed on my face.
He headed for the door, and I yawned, exhaustion finally catching up to me
“Bye. Drive safe, and don’t drive like a maniac this time.
“As you wish, beautiful,” he teased before disappearing down the hall.
I stood in the quiet apartment, staring at everything but particularly at nothing. My eyes landed on the fridge and my stomach growled.
I shoved the thought aside, opening the fridge and grabbed something quick, and ate like I hadn’t had a meal in years.
My father and Xavier Bestreet probably thought I had fled the state or maybe even the country. But I knew they both wouldn’t bother searching here, in their own territory. The first and last rule of hiding is never try to hide. Try to manipulate.
After sometime that asshole will get over me, because I know those Bastart, they never stop at one.
I didn’t remember when my body collapsed onto the mattress. Sleep swallowed me whole.
In the morning I jolted awake with an unpleasant discovery. My clothes were stained with blood. My period had started overnight. And there is no pad . I look everywhere in the apartment.
I couldn’t ask David for help, he was probably still asleep. And besides, the thought of telling him made me feel… awkward.
I put my hair into a clutcher grabbing a hoodie and changing into, and slipped out of the apartment. The streets here were quiet, and to my dismay, there wasn’t a single shop nearby.
I stopped a girl walking past and asked where I could find one. She told me the nearest shop was a little far so I'd need to take a bus. So I waited at the bus stop…. A girl came here maybe ten-years old but the way she has a caring attitude she can shame any model.
She came and sat beside me. I tried to step out of my usual quiet personality, telling myself I should at least try to be a little extroverted with a child.
I held out my hand toward her. “Hey, cutie.”
She turned her head, eyes sharp for her age. “Hi. But don’t call me cutie,” she said, rolling her eyes.
I quickly pulled my hand back. Why do I have to embarrass myself like this? Staring down at my lap, I suddenly noticed a tiny fist appear in front of my eyes. Slowly, her fingers uncurled inside a piece of chocolate.
I blinked and looked up at her, surprised. “Is this for me?” I asked, needing to be sure.
“Do you see anyone else here?” she shot back.
She is something. I smiled at her while taking it. It’s usually old people who give chocolate to kids, but I am not that old. I can take the chocolate. I smiled looking at it.
“You’re so childish,” she said suddenly, breaking through my thoughts.
Childish? Me? Hell no. A child was actually calling me a child.
“I am not, and listen child, you are the one here who is a child.” She fixed her already fixed hair as she said, “Age doesn’t decide maturity. Personality does. And from what I see…….” She pushes, running her eyes up and down giving me my answer. Oh my God, this girl.
I know I was looking like a beggar in my clothes. My hair was a mess. Compared to her neat little dress, shining shoes, and look like a beggar beside royalty.
Even a little child is making fun of me. I tried to change the topic. “Where are your parents? You should be with your parents.”
“I am okay without your concern. I just came for a walk.” Saying that, she got up, put her glasses back on, and walked away.
I just looked at her back in shock. From where does she learn these things? She walked a little farther away from my gaze.
I looked at her back as she walked like a model on a runway. Her shoulder-length hair flapped as she moved, with elegance in every step speaking confidence. I turned my gaze toward the chocolate in my hand, and an unknown smile formed on my lips.
Again, when my attention turned toward the direction she had gone, as soon as I lifted my eyes, they got stuck. No… no… My legs ran on their own. My heartbeat was racing. Please, no.
My hands trembled as I ran as fast as I could, but that masked man put a cloth on her mouth and nose, grabbing her from behind. A smirk formed on his lips as his eyes caught me running towards them. She was trying hard to get out of his hold, her body shaking in that man’s grip.
I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, desperation burning in my chest. My foot tangled on the rough road and I crashed hard against the ground. Pain came from the scrape, sharp and immediate, but I couldn’t stop now. I pushed myself up, forcing my body forward.
I had to save her. I couldn’t let this happen.
I pushed harder, closing the distance,I was almost close enough to reach them when they shoved her into the car. A truck roared past, blocking my view for a heartbeat and by the time it cleared, the car was gone.
Author's POV Iris sat comfortably on the hilltop, watching the sun slowly disappear beneath the clouds. Its warm rays brushed against her skin, making her lean closer to Xavier. They sat in silence for a while. It was the kind of silence that felt comforting rather than empty."How's your arm now?" Iris asked, glancing at him.Xavier took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss against her knuckles."It's fine." It had been a week since his injury, and things were slowly getting back to normal.He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer."What is my princess doing?" he murmured, his gaze dropping toward her stomach.He leaned down and gently rested his hand over her growing belly."Your obsession with thinking it's a girl is getting a little too much," Iris teased.Xavier looked up at her, completely serious."What do you mean?""It's a girl." Xavier said.Iris laughed softly. "You two are already fighting over a baby who hasn't even been b
Author's POV Iris walked into the house, uneasiness settling deep in her chest. She nervously bit her nails as she glanced toward the door again."Mom, this water is for you." Arlo stood in front of her, holding out a glass of water with both hands.He was seven now, Iris looked at her little boy and managed a smile as she took the glass from him. "Thank you, sweetheart."She took a small sip before placing the glass on the table.As her eyes immediately returned to the door.It was past one in the morning, Xavier still wasn't home worse, he wasn't answering her calls either…. a strange fear tightened around her heart."Mom, sit down," Arlo said softly. "Your feet must be hurting." Iris looked down at him.The concern in his little face made her heart filled with gratitude."I'm okay, baby," she whispered, but she wasn't, something felt wrong, she forced herself to smile for Arlo, even as her fingers tightened around the phone in her hand.She called Xavier again, the call went unans
“Dad, pick me up!” The little boy's tiny voice echoed through the room, the words still slightly slurred as he struggled to form them properly, Xavier looked down at him, his expression instantly softened.A small smile tugged at his lips as he bent down and lifted his son into his arms.“There you go, little man.” The boy wrapped his tiny arms around his father's neck, resting his head against his shoulder."Did you put everything inside the car?" Iris's voice came from behind as she hurried out of the house.Her steps were quick, almost rushed.Xavier looked up at her, and the moment she noticed the worried expression on his face, her own expression turned serious."Xavier, we can't be late on the first day.""I'll look into it," he assured her.Iris quickly picked up a small outfit and placed it on the chair.“ We need to get Arlo in these clothes."“ I will look outside to take him Iru." Xavier said with, stupid smile thinking it will save him from her anger. For a second, Iris ne
Iris’s POVLife had given me so many wounds that I didn't even know where to begin counting them. It had brought me to my knees more times than I could remember. And every time I thought I had finally found something worth holding on to, life found a way to take it from me, I had lost so much… slowly… painfully.Until there was almost nothing left."Iris..." A faint voice pulled me from my thoughts.My fingers tightened around the rough hand in mine as I felt it slowly slipping away from me."Please, rest for a little while. You need it."I turned toward Xavier, He had been sitting beside me the entire time, never leaving my side."No." My voice trembled. "I can't." I shook my head, tears gathering in my eyes."What if Dad wakes up and I'm not there?"My breath caught as the emotions I'd been holding inside finally began spilling over."He'll be sad…” my voice broke."I don't want him to wake up alone." I could feel myself losing control, the fear, pain, and exhaustion crashing over me
Author's POV "Are you going to say something, or are we going to have to drag it out of you?" Declan's voice echoed through the room as he walked toward the man kneeling on the floor.The man was barely holding himself upright. Blood covered his clothes, and several wounds marked his body, making it obvious that he had already been brutally beaten."Who are you?" Declan asked, beside him, Xavier tightened his grip around his gun.He didn't want another pointless interrogation. He wanted to tear the man apart, make him pay for everything he had done, but he forced himself to stay silent and let Declan handle it.Ethan, meanwhile, looked completely bored by the conversation. He walked over to the couch, dropped onto it, picked up an apple, and took a leisurely bite."Dad, you're doing it wrong," Ethan said mockingly. "He should be properly interrogated. You know, give him a little motivation, and then you two can have tea and talk things out. I'm sure he'll tell you everything."Declan
Author's POV "It's a boy!"The announcement echoed through the hall.Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone jumped to their feet, cheering and clapping. Xavier stood beside Iris, his arm immediately tightening around her as the celebration erupted around them.A series of celebratory gunshots rang through the air, making Iris flinch slightly. Xavier instinctively pulled her closer, shielding her with his body, laughter, cheers, and applause filled the hall as everyone celebrated the news.After the gender reveal ceremony, Xavier and Iris finally stepped outside for some fresh air.They walked slowly along the green garden, away from the noise and excitement.Iris suddenly looked up at him."Are you happy?" she asked softly."Yes. More than anything," he answered, his fingers gently intertwining with hers.Then he looked at her."Are you?""I don't know," Iris admitted.Xavier's steps slowed."Everything is happening so fast..." she continued, her voice soft. "Our past holds so







