Chapter 4

IRIS LOU POV

As I wait for the Devison family to arrive, time has passed and I am now in the palace's grandest Hall.

The Devinson family arrived from Italy, where they reside and are well-respected for having ties to our family, the Ephraim family, which is also one of their neighbors.

Since I'm not used to wearing a white dress and a small crown on my head, I'm just sitting here. However, I am helpless because I was born a blue blood who comes from the largest Family in Greece, so I have no choice but to accept my fate.

And throughout our relationship, neither the Hamilton family nor Eliot were aware that I was from Greece. In fact, when we first met, I pretended to be poor and to have grown up in the province.

"The Devinson family has arrived." One of the slaves announced, they do not speak Tagalog. because they were raised in Greece, In order to welcome them, Dad and I both got up and moved toward the palace door at the same time. As we waited for them to assess our location, we stood by the door.

“(Benvenuto) Welcome.” They could understand us, so Dad and I said hello to them in Italian. Like his aunt, Carmine Beniamino Devison, Uncle Federico Nicholas Devison does not speak Filipino, but unlike the cleopard, who is fluent in both English and Filipino, he is also proficient in other languages, including Greek.

Dad was greeted by uncle Federico, who shook his hand and said, "Long time no see my friend." The length of their friendship indicates how close they are. Cleopard was staring at me, but I chose to ignore him and focus on Aunt Carmine's conversation instead.

She instantly approached me and grabbed me, saying, "Hija it's been a year since you vanished and finally your here." I let go of her grip and grinned at her, thinking, "It's not really new to aunt she's still as happy as before."

"Let's sit on the sofa aunt before we talk." We walked to the big sofa and sat down. Dad then joined us, so we were all seated here. She nodded because she could understand English, which made it easier for me to speak Italian.

"So how have things been going for you while you've been in the Philippines?" Auntie asked me with a smile, Dad, uncle Federico, and Cleopard all turned to look at us.

"What do you mean carmine? You have known for years that my daughter is in the Philippines, but you haven't bothered to let me know." My dad asked in disbelief to aunt carmine I restrained myself from smiling and said, Yes, Aunt Carmine is aware that I have been living in the Philippines for the past few years.

In response to dad's question, Aunt Carmine stated, "You didn't even ask me, which is why I didn't tell you because I felt you already knew."

"Federico , are you aware of this as well?" Dad asked Uncle Federico, and notice that Cleopard was silently gazing at me earlier, and I caught that.

"Don't accuse me; I just just find out right now that my wife knows iris is in the Philippines for a long time." Uncle Federico said in response to the my father's query.

I remained silent as Dad continued, "Fine, let's forget about that and speak about how they're setting up marriages."

Dad continued, and after I exhaled, I looked at Cleopard and noticed that he was also looking at me. I then turned my head away and looked at dad and uncle Federico.

"Can I speak with Cleopard before making a decision?" I signaled for the cleopard to join me as I rose up after they nodded in response to my question.

I sensed his presence as I made my way to the Garden's back entrance, so I knew he had followed me.

When we arrived in the garden, I was seated in Bermuda itself where the Sun was unable to view me due to a large tree that had turned us in half. He remained by my side.

I told him to sit down. He then took a seat next to me.

"Say something" I told him as I watched the Roses around.

"How are you? It's been a year since I last saw you" He asked and i knew he was smiling even though I'm not looking at him.

"I'm okay" I replied to him.

“Why did you suddenly come back Iris? Did something happen?" he asked and I stopped there.

"Would you still going to marry me after you find out I'm pregnant." I answered him while continuing to observe the flowers around us, He kept quiet for a while, so I just laughed.

"I know you don't want to accept what others have touched." I said, almost crying from my naivety,

"Who says that I won't accept you?" He abruptly asked, I turned to face him, I noticed that he was smiling and was looking at me.

“P-pards-s .....” I addressed him by the name I had been using since that time. Because of what he said, tears started to fall down my cheeks.

"Stop crying, my hope. I've never rejected you. I hope you've always known I've always been at your side. You've never heard me make you feel awful. I really loved you and I didn't push you to love me back." He said and brushed away my tears using his tumb.

"I- I'm S-sorry ..." I said softly and bowed before sniffing but he suddenly grabbed my chin and lifted it so I could see him.

"You don't have to be sorry, no one is at fault, nor is it your fault to teach the heart to Love the person you don't want, I don't want to force you to do anything, so I'm giving you the chance to leave the marriage while there is still time." He said.

I gave what he said some thought. He was hurt, and I knew it. He didn't just smile at me, so I assumed we could just carry on with the wedding. I'd like to devote my time to him.

"I'm not backing down from the wedding." I was direct and stated, He was shocked when he heard what I just said, which is why he gave me an immediate embrace.

"Are you really not joking ?!" he said in shock and let go letting me go in his hug before touching My two shoulders.

"Yes I'm not joking and don't touch me okay. " I said So he let me go before he stood up So I was surprised.

“YES FINALLY THE GIRL THAT I LOVE IS NOW BECOMING MY WIFE !!!!” He shouted with all his might in the garden so I pulled him back to where he was sitting before.

"Stop being embarrassed, maybe someone heard" I told him blushing.

"No one can heard us it's just the two of us here in the garden" He said and came up to me and touched my tummy and he caressed it.

"Hi baby I'm your daddy Pardss" He said happily and I looked at him and remembered Eliot The person I loved so much but just cheated on me.

FLASHBACK

"Honey how many child do you want us to have." I asked him while we were lying on his bed and my head was on his chest.

"I want a dozen children so I can hear a lot of noise when I'm done building our own house" He said and stroked my hair so I just laughed and beat him with his chest.

"Honey, I'm not a pig" I told him.

"I'm just kidding honey it's still up to you and it's okay with me As long as we can just have a family" He said to me So I looked up at him.

"Really?" I said to him while looking up at him.

"Yes." He said before he kissed my Forehead.

END OF FLASHBACK

I came back in reality because of a hand waving in front of me and I saw it was just a cleopard.

"Hey earth to Iris!?" he said to me but I just shook my head and smiled at him.