Chapter 4

Iris POV

It was nearly midnight by the time I got home.

The living room was lit only by a dim floor lamp. Charles had just come out of the guest room and was carefully closing the door behind him.

When he saw me, his first words were: "Did you sign the contract?"

I stood at the door, looking at him.

He didn't ask if I was hurt. Didn't ask if Frank had done anything to me. Just the contract.

"Iris?" He came over. "What did Mr. Jones say?"

I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

Charles's head snapped to the side. It took him two seconds to register what had happened.

"I—" He opened his mouth, seeming to realize he'd said the wrong thing. "I'm sorry, Iris, I didn't mean it like that. I was just worried about pack assets..."

I ignored him and walked straight upstairs to the master bedroom.

Charles came to the door and knocked. I didn't answer.

He was quiet for a moment, then said softly, "I'm sorry."

I stood at the window, letting the tears run down my face.

Iris, you're so stupid.

Three years of marriage.

And I couldn't even see what he really was.

The next morning, I'd just come downstairs when Charles grabbed my wrist.

His grip was iron. He dragged me to the living room.

Lily was on the couch sobbing into a tissue, her eyes red and swollen.

"Apologize." Charles pressed down on my shoulders, forcing me down in front of Lily.

I looked up at him.

"Look what you did last night!" His face was livid. "Frank called this morning and canceled the deal. Do you have any idea how long Lily worked on this project? You ruined everything!"

I tried to stand up. He slapped me across the face.

I turned my head, blood seeping from the corner of my mouth.

"Charles!" Lily gasped and stood up. "Don't blame Iris. It's my fault. I shouldn't have left something so important to her..."

She started to walk out, but Charles stopped her.

"You're not going anywhere." He pushed her back onto the couch and turned to me.

His eyes were complicated—guilt, reluctance, but mostly resolve.

"Your parents bought you three villas back then." His voice was flat. "Transfer them to Lily. Consider it making up for her loss."

I was stunned. "What did you just say?"

Charles's throat moved. He looked away. "The damage you caused last night was massive. Even selling those three villas would only bring in two hundred million. It's not even enough."

"Fine," I cut him off.

Charles froze and looked back at me.

I stood up, wiped the blood from my mouth, and turned to go upstairs.

I walked steadily, one step at a time, my back perfectly straight.

Back in my room, I shut the door and pulled out my phone to make a call.

It picked up almost immediately. A low voice: "What is it?"

"Hey," I said, leaning against the door. "I can't keep those three villas. Initiate the asset protection protocol."

The other end was silent for a couple of seconds. "Did he hit you?"

I didn't answer.

"Got it." His voice went cold. "All paperwork will be done within three days. Iris, how many more days until you come back?"

"Five."

"Okay." A pause. "I'll be waiting."

Lily's crying and Charles's low murmurs of comfort drifted up from below, fragmented and muffled through the door.

I looked out at the sycamore tree outside. It had been there when I first came to Shadowmoon Pack at eighteen.

Over these three years of marriage, it wasn't that I hadn't noticed him changing.

I just never imagined a person could go bad this cleanly, this quickly, this completely.

I dug out the three property transfer contracts and left them on the cabinet by the door. Then I went back to the bedroom.

Soon there were footsteps coming up. They paused at the door for a few seconds, like he was checking the contracts.

Then footsteps going back downstairs.

Five more days.

And then I could leave him.