Chapter 6

Iris’s POV

“I’m done with this,” Eric said flatly. “I agreed to play nice for a month, but I’m already regretting every second.”

Iris clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. “She’s your daughter.”

“I never asked for her.” He spat

The words struck her like a slap, and Iris flinched.

Eric continued. “All these never meant anything. You’re not my mate and we’re not a family. You were a mistake I tolerated. The only reason I played along was because you told me that after a month you would sign the divorce papers, and I would never have to see your faces again.”

She hadn’t realized Evie was right behind them until she heard the soft gasp.

Eric turned too, and his face drained of color when he saw his daughter standing there, wide-eyed and frozen, like someone had just slapped her.

“Evie—” Iris stepped forward, but it was too late.

She turned and ran.

“Evie!” Iris shouted, chasing after her.

They both ran after her, but she didn’t get far, she collapsed by a bench, and began shaking.

“Evie?” Iris dropped to her knees beside her, but her daughter was unresponsive. She was having a seizure.

“She’s seizing,” Iris whispered in horror. “Oh God, she’s seizing—Eric!”

Eric stood frozen.

“Pick her up!” Iris screamed. “We have to take her to the clinic—NOW!”

He moved then, grabbed her and rushed to the car. Iris sat in the back with Evie pressed to her chest, whispering her name over and over, trying to keep her eyes open.

Then Eric’s phone rang as he started driving.

It was Zara.

He picked it. “I can’t talk right now” he mumbled quickly.

It was on loudspeaker, so Iris could hear as Zara frantically spoke to Eric. “Tiffany fell down the stairs at the party. She’s bleeding and she won’t stop screaming. We need you now!”

Eric groaned under his breath, then he slammed the brakes.

Iris gasped in horror in disbelief. “No—no, no, no, Eric, drive! Evie is not breathing properly—”

“I have to go back,” he muttered. “Tiffany is hurt.”

“Are you insane?! Evie is DYING!”

“She’s faking it,” he snapped, turning the car around. “Like her mother always does. She’s trying to manipulate me, just because I told her to apologize.”

“You bastard!” Iris screamed, sobbing. “She’s not pretending! She’s barely breathing! Eric, please—don’t do this. If you ever cared for her, even a little—”

“Get out.” He snapped.

“What—”

“I said GET OUT! Take your little drama somewhere else. Tiffany is hurt, and I don’t have time for this.”

Her mouth fell open in shock.

Eric pulled over and unlocked the doors.

Iris couldn’t believe it.

Evie stirred weakly in her arms.

“Mommy…” her voice was barely a whisper. She was turning blue.

“I’m here,” Iris cried. “I’ve got you, baby.”

Eric drove off, leaving Iris screaming and shrieking as she tried to chase after him with Evie in her arms.

A soft hand touched Iris’s cheek. Evie’s hand trembled as she touched her mother’s cheek.

“It’s okay, Mommy…”

“Yes baby, it’s okay. You’ll be fine.” Iris tried to assure her.

Evie shook her head slowly. “I know Daddy doesn’t love me,” she whispered. “Not like he loves Tiffany.”

Iris sobbed harder. “Don’t say that—please don’t—”

“It’s okay,” she said quietly and calmly, and Iris’s heart bled even more. “I just… I wanted it to be true.”

Iris held her tightly, trying to keep her warm.

“I know I’m sick, Mommy. I always knew. But I didn’t want to say anything because… because you would be sad. I just wanted to see you smile more.”

Tears poured down Iris’s face at Evie’s words.

Evie’s voice got weaker.

“You have to promise me something…”

“Anything, baby” Iris choked.

“Promise me that you’ll be happy, like you used to be. Even if it means leaving him and moving on to a better person who loves you.”

Iris nodded, sobbing. “I promise, baby. I promise.”

Evie gave a weak smile, looking so much more mature than seven years. “Good…”

Then her eyes closed, and her body went still.

Iris froze. “No… no, no, no—EVIE!” She screamed.

She shook her daughter, begged her to wake up, cried until her throat was raw, and her voice cracked.

She tried reaching Eric through their mate link, but he had blocked her.

Iris carried Evie’s body in her arms, walking all the way to the clinic, barefoot, and shaking.

When she got there, the healers came running.

They tried.

They tried everything, but it was too late.

Evie was gone.