Chapter Twelve: Safe

Iris pov

The sounds coming from behind the door grew louder.

Mark got up from beside me, securing my wrist to bed with a handcuff me to the before slipping the the keys into his pocket.

“Fucking fools,” he muttered under his breath.

He moved towards the door to check on the commotion.

Reaching for the handle, he muttered, "what do they not understand? I don't want to be disturb—”

The door burst open, slamming Mark to the ground.

He cried out in pain.

I looked towards the figure emerging through the doorway.

"Mason.”

"Who the hell are you—ah!"

I heard Mark cry out again as Mason stepped on his fingers.

He walked towards him, his face neutral as usual. His eyes briefly fell on my hand still locked to the bed, and his eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"The keys are in his pocket.”

He nodded and went back to Mark, still nursing his injured fingers.

"You asshole! You broke my fing—ah!"

He let another cry of pain again as Mason stepped on his fingers again.

Completely unfazed, he reached into Mark's pocket and pulled out the keys to the handcuffs.

He crouched in front of me unlocking my wrist, his eyes focused on what he was doing.

I felt tears well up in my eyes.

If he had been a moment too late...

I heard the soft click as the lock came undone.

Mason lifted his eyes to mine.

Those blue eyes searched my face.

"It's okay, I've got you.”

He reached up, using his large hands to wipe the tears from my cheeks.

My heart pounded loudly in my chest.

Was he trying to comfort me?

The feeling was so foreign, yet somehow, it felt so nice.

I wanted more.

I noticed movements behind him and screamed

"Watch out!"

I pushed Mason away just as I felt an impact on my head.

My vision became blurry.

The last thing I saw was Mason punching Mark in the face as a group of men rushed into the room.

Mason crouched in front of me, saying something I couldn't make out.

Then everything went dark.

I woke up quite early the next morning, already exhausted from lying in bed with nothing to do.

It has been a week since the incident.

A week since I woke up in this enormous house.

And a week since I last spoke to any of my family.

Being placed on compulsory bed rest by the doctor didn't leave me with much to do, especially with staff constantly attending to me.

I had sustained a mild concussion from where Mark had hit me..

But I was already tired of lying in bed all day.

I might actually go crazy if I stayed in this room for another twenty-four hours.

You might be thinking, But Iris, you have your handsome husband with you.

Wrong.

My mind flashed back to the brief conversation I'd had with Mason after I regained consciousness.

"I'll be traveling back this evening,” he said in his usual cold and clipped voice.

I looked down to my hands, which were clenching the blanket.

I was so embarrassed that I'd caused him so much problems over the past few days.

I swallowed, still not meeting his eyes.

“Ok. You don't have to ask me for permission.”

I felt his eyes boring into me.

Then I heard the door close and his footsteps retreat.

Only then did I raise my head, finally able to breathe.

A knock sounded on the door.

It must be Jason, the butler.

He had been the one serving me breakfast since I'd been placed on bed rest.

He told me that "Mr. Kingston deemed it important to make sure you eat.”

“Enter,” I said as I tried to get out of bed.

Jason walked in.

"Good morning, madam.” He bowed.

I told him there was no need to do that but he just continued to do so..

He directed the maids into the room, instructing them on how to place my breakfast on the table beside me.

“Jason, I would like to take a tour around the house, please.”

"I don't think that would be wise. Mr.Kingston said I should make sure you don’t leave the bed and that you get plenty of rest.”

I almost rolled my eyes.

So even so far away, he was still controlling everything.

“Well, it is my body and I feel well rested. If I stay in this room for one more day, I'll get sick instead of better.”

He looked as though he wanted to oppose me, but eventually let out a sigh.

“Very well. But please take some of the maids with you. I don't want you passing out somewhere in the yard while you're alone.”

I gave him a huge smile.

“Thank you.”

He simply nodded his head in acknowledgement before leaving me to eat my breakfast.

I walked around the house.

It was even bigger and more elaborate than my family's home. But from the decorations, I could tell there was no personal touch.

It felt like no one actually lived here, except for the staff keeping it clean.

My heart ached as I thought about home.

I didn't even know if I could still call it that anymore, especially after everything that had happened.

I still couldn't stop thinking about what could have happened.

I didn't know how he did it, but if Mason hadn't found me the time he did Mark could have—

No.

I couldn't bring myself to finish that thought. I shuddered at the possibility.

"Ma’am.”

One of the maids called from behind me, her face twisted with worry.

“Yes?”

I turned to look at them.

I told them I needed some space, so they walked a few feet away from me while still keeping a reasonable distance in case I needed them.

I felt bad for telling them that. Knowing they were genuinely being kind, but I wasn't used to this kind of care.

I was so accustomed to doing everything myself that having people watching over me felt suffocating

"You were crying.”

I reached up and touched my cheeks.

They were wet.

I had indeed been crying without even realising it.

I used my hands to wipe my cheeks and gave them a big smile.

“It's nothing. I'm just tired, and I'd like to go inside now.”

They looked at each other, clearly not convinced, but nodded without bothering to ask further questions.

My days went on like that.

Bed rest.

Then going for walks around the property.

I had woken up unusually early, and was thinking of something to do.

Then I heard noises coming from beyond the door.

"Sir, no. Madam might still be sleeping."

I heard the maids' voices.

My heart skipped.

Mason's back?

My room door suddenly slammed open.

But it wasn't Mason standing there

"Who are you?"