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.”

I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. “She’s your daughter.”

“I never asked for her.” He spat.

The words struck me like a slap, and I 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.”

I hadn’t realized Evie was right behind us until I 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—” I stepped forward, but it was too late.

She turned and ran.

“Evie!” I shouted, chasing after her.

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

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

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

Eric stood frozen.

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

He moved then, grabbed her and rushed to the car. I sat in the back with Evie pressed to my 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 up. “I can’t talk right now,” he mumbled quickly.

It was on loudspeaker, so I 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.

I 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!” I 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.”

My mouth fell open in shock.

Eric pulled over and unlocked the doors.

I couldn’t believe it.

Evie stirred weakly in my arms.

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

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

Eric drove off, leaving me screaming and shrieking as I tried to chase after him with Evie in my arms.

A soft hand touched my cheek. Evie’s hand trembled as she touched my cheek.

“It’s okay, Mommy…”

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

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

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

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

I 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 my face at Evie’s words.

Evie’s voice got weaker.

“You have to promise me something…”

“Anything, baby,” I 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.”

I 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.

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

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

I tried reaching Eric through our mate link, but he had blocked me.

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

When I got there, the healers came running.

They tried.

They tried everything, but it was too late.

Evie was gone.