IRIS: Fallen for him

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

That night, Iris stayed in a private room offered by the hospital for high-risk mothers with children. Kiato had arranged it quietly, without fuss. She sat by the window, Imani curled up on her chest, breathing steadily.

Her phone lit up.

Aziel.

She didn’t answer.

Then a message.

> “Where are you? Is Imani okay?”

She stared at it. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard… then slowly set the phone down.

Another message popped up Iris, reply my message, where the hell are you?

Iris read it again and she still didn't respond.

The next day

The clink of cutlery and soft jazz playing in the background was the only sound in the dining room that morning. Flora laughed far too loudly at her own jokes, tossing her hair back in exaggerated flair. Aziel sat across from her, mostly silent, pushing food around his plate. His mind was elsewhere.

Then the front door opened.

Iris stepped in, carrying the big Imani on her hip. Her face was composed, unreadable—but her eyes held a storm. Aziel rose from his chair immediately.

“Iris,” he breathed in relief—only for it to vanish the moment he saw Imani’s swollen lip, the dried trace of blood.

He rushed forward. “What happened to her?”

Imani didn't speak but Iris took a deliberate step back.

Aziel froze.

Iris didn’t look at him. Her gaze was fixed on Flora, whose fingers were still wrapped around a forkful of scrambled eggs.

“Why don’t you ask your Mistress?” Iris said quietly.

Aziel turned slowly to Flora. She didn’t blink, didn’t move. She simply popped the food in her mouth and chewed.

He looked back at Iris. “I didn’t know—she said nothing happened. That she just—”

“I’m not interested in what she said,” Iris cut in coldly.

I should have listened to her when she said she didn't want to return home, this isn't home its a torture ground

Imani whimpered again, sensing her mother’s tension. But Iris didn’t soothe her immediately. She just stared at Aziel like he was a stranger.

Then she walked past him, not even looking back. She didn’t even shush Imani. She was too disgusted. Too done.

---

After the Door Closed

Iris gave Imani her new ipad, gotten for her on her graduation by her great grandfather to keep her busy and kissed her bruised cheek. Then she checked her phone.

Ten missed calls.

Three from Marlene. One from Miguel. And several from the old man.

She called back the old man.

“Ah, Iris,” his voice came on calm, measured, full of power even in age. “I trust everything is fine?”

“I apologize for missing your calls. I was… at the hospital,” she replied without emotion.

A beat of silence.

“I see,” he said. “I won’t ask why. But this weekend, I expect you and Aziel at the Chancellor’s Gala. It’s important. Wear something sharp. The media will be there.”

Iris hesitated, her voice low. “Yes, Grandfather. We’ll be there.”

He grunted in approval and hung up.

At the Valen Towers

Aziel’s car pulled into the private underground parking of Valen Corporations. He took the executive elevator straight to the top floor, his face impassive. He was good at this: burying emotion, mastering control. No one ever saw him crack—not after his father’s death.

But as soon as the doors opened, there was a figure waiting in the hallway.

Aziel straightened. “Grandpa.”

“You’re late,” the old man said, glancing at his watch, but his voice carried no real annoyance. Only concern.

“I had… things to handle,” Aziel replied.

The old man nodded, walking slowly into Aziel’s office. Aziel followed, noticing the tremble in his grandfather’s hand as he reached for the back of the chair. He rushed forward without thinking.

“Are you alright?”

“Old age,” the old man chuckled softly. “And a lifetime of handling hard-headed heirs like you.”

Aziel didn’t smile.

The old man sat, adjusting his cane beside him. “Aziel. You’re a good man. But you’ve made a mess of your home.”

Aziel said nothing.

“Iris is not perfect,” the old man went on. “But she is ours. She is Valen. And more than that—she’s endured things I don’t even want to imagine.”

Aziel’s jaw flexed.

The old man leaned forward. “You’re going to the gala with her. You’ll go together. And if I ever hear you’re divorcing her, know that you’ll walk away from the Valen legacy with nothing.”

Aziel stiffened. “You already know about Flora.”

“I know about everything. Don’t forget who built this empire. I see all. And I raised you to despise betrayal.”

Aziel looked down at the desk. “I didn’t expect Iris to come home.”

“Yet she did. And she’s still choosing you. She still showed up.”

The old man stood up, slower this time. “Make her your priority son… or don’t bother coming to the next board meeting.”

Aziel’s chest tightened, but he nodded once.

As the old man turned to leave, Aziel spoke again, more softly. “Your hand… is it really just age?”

The old man paused. “There’s a reason I’m passing things to you now, Aziel. I don’t have forever. So don’t waste time. Earn what you’ve been given.”

Urgency at Valen Tower

Aziel had just ended a call with one of the board members when Julian and Alex stormed into his office. Their faces were drawn—serious, tight-lipped, laced with the tension of withheld bad news.

Aziel looked up sharply. “What is it?”

Julian closed the door. “We have a situation in Zurich.”

“Zurich?” Aziel stood slowly. “What kind of situation?”

Alex was already pulling up data on the conference screen. “It started three days ago. One of our subsidiaries, Lantex Holdings, flagged suspicious data traffic. We thought it was just a minor breach—IT neutralized it temporarily.”

“Temporarily?” Aziel’s tone hardened.

Julian nodded grimly. “Last night… everything crashed. Financial systems were hit. Client data—lost. Forty-two million gone in hours. Someone is playing dirty. We suspect internal leaks combined with outside hackers.”

Aziel’s jaw tightened. “And you’re only telling me now?”

Alex stepped forward quickly. “We suppressed it as long as we could. We didn’t want to alert investors until we were sure it wasn’t sabotage. But it’s spreading, Aziel. If we don’t get there in person, Lantex will collapse. And if that goes down, the Swiss alliance will follow.”

Aziel said nothing for a full ten seconds. Then he turned to Julian. “Book the jet. I’m leaving in an hour.”

“Should we inform home?” Julian asked, already typing on his phone.

“No.” Aziel’s voice was curt. “I’ll deal with it later.”

He didn't look back.

---

The Explosion at Home

Meanwhile, at the Valen estate, thunder rolled low over the sky as grey clouds gathered. Inside the mansion, the temperature was rising—not from the weather, but from rage.

Iris was quietly feeding Imani when Flora strutted in, dressed in silk shorts and one of Aziel’s white shirts—clearly to provoke.

“Didn’t think you’d last a week,” Flora sneered. “But I guess even stray dogs know how to cling to scraps.”

Iris didn’t flinch.

Flora tilted her head. “What’s wrong? Silent again? Just like your pitiful family. No backbone. Your sick and dying uncle . Your aunt’s a leech, sucking money like a money demon. And that sharp tongue daughter of yours…” She laughed dryly. “since she hit her mouth she's been quiet it wont be bad cutting her tongue”

That's it.

Iris stood up, slowly placing Imani on the couch Her fingers trembled—not with fear, but with restraint.

Flora smirked. “What? Gonna cry? Or call your precious Aziel? Newsflash: he’s not home, sweetheart. Probably with me—”

Iris moved like lightning. A slap cracked through the room. Then another.

Flora gasped, stumbling back. “You b***h! You hit me?”

Iris grabbed her by the hair. “You insulted my child.”

“What are you gonna do—throw me out?”

“Yes,” Iris hissed. “Watch me.”

She dragged a shrieking Flora through the hallway, down the stairs, and flung open the front door. The sky had opened up. Rain poured hard. Cold and merciless.

Flora tried to fight back, but Iris shoved her out with a strength that came from years of swallowed rage.

The door slammed shut.

Flora stood in the downpour—barefoot, her silk shirt soaked and clinging to her skin. Her phone? Inside. Her pride? Drenched.

She tried ringing the bell. Then banging. Then screaming.

But Iris didn’t answer.

So she curled up in the car yard, furious and wet, until her fingers trembled from the cold. Her final act of revenge?ç

Call Aziel.

But he didn’t pick up.

Again.

And again.

And again.