The officer said, "Did you see what happened clearly? This case—"

Iris cut him off, saying, "Excuse me, but does what Caiden did to them count as intentional harm?"

The officer hesitated before answering, "Technically, it's considered a mutual fight since they fought back too."

Iris continued, "So does what he did count as disorderly conduct?"

"Disorderly conduct usually needs to be intentional. In this case, it looks like both sides were drunk and acted without thinking, so we don't really call it disorderly conduct."

Iris refused to let up. "Isn't it immoral to flaunt an affair and hug the mistress in front of everyone? Can't something like that earn a few days in detention? Five? Or maybe ten?"

Suddenly, everyone there, even the officer, figured out that Iris was not trying to get Caiden out. She was looking for a reason to keep him in lockup.

People stared in disbelief. What a match made in hell.

While everyone else tried to process what was happening, Caiden leaned back in his chair, and the way he moved only made him look taller and more striking.

He spoke her name in a low, gravelly tone. "Iris."

There was nothing overtly threatening in his voice, but the chill that came with it was enough to unsettle anyone.

Ultimately, Iris gave in. With Wells Group's stock price on the line and memories of how kind Caiden's parents had always been to her, she finally agreed to settle the matter. She negotiated with the other side, handed over thirty thousand dollars, and secured Caiden's release.

Neither of them said a word during the drive home.

When they pulled up to the house, Iris lingered outside to park the car. By the time she stepped inside, Caiden had already disappeared into the bathroom, clothes in hand. She ended up washing her face in the guest room, then changed back into her nightgown.

Sprawled across her bed, Iris felt like all the energy had been drained out of her.

Tonight should have been quiet for once. No emergency calls from the hospital, no late-night surgeries waiting. She could have gotten a rare, peaceful night's sleep. Instead, the evening had been a disaster that left her running all over the place for two straight hours. All she could manage now was to steal a short nap before her next shift.

As her eyes finally started to close, a sudden movement startled her. The hem of her nightgown was pulled up, and a hand pressed between her legs.

Iris jerked awake, legs snapping shut as she shot him a wide-eyed glare.

Perched on the edge of the bed, Caiden sat in a loosely tied bathrobe. The robe barely covered him, leaving his chest and abs exposed beneath the warm light.

Realizing she was awake, he didn't hesitate to push further. His face stayed unreadable, but his hands grew bolder.

Iris could only interpret his actions as toying with her.

She shoved at his arm and exclaimed, "Caiden, have you lost your mind? Let go of me right now!"

His eyes, dark and unreadable, flashed with a hint of sarcasm. "I saw what you left behind in the bathroom. Is this what you do when I'm gone for months? Did your own hands ever satisfy you the way I do?"

A wave of realization hit Iris when she noticed what he had seen—the underwear she left behind in her rush was still out in the open.

Embarrassment flickered across her face, yet she stood her ground, pressing her palms firmly against his chest.

Caiden never forced himself on her. His position and reputation made it unthinkable. The moment she fought back, he lost interest, brushing her off as dramatic and dull, and released her without another word.

With an air of indifference, he reached for a wet wipe, wiping his hands clean. Iris clenched her teeth, refusing to meet his gaze. A faint smirk played at his lips, though any desire had faded away.

Turning her back to him, she caught sight of something she hadn't expected—his wedding ring glinting on his finger, a simple band of platinum.

For the longest time, she believed he had taken it off for good.

Her own ring had vanished from her finger ages ago.

After tossing the wipe and tying his robe tighter, Caiden stretched out on the bed. The space between them disappeared, and his familiar scent—woody, warm—hung in the air. Within moments, he was fast asleep.

Sleep eluded Iris completely.

For the first time in a year, her husband shared a bed with her, but she wished with everything in her that he had stayed away.

Not wanting to stay another second, Iris slipped from the bed and moved to the guest room, seeking even a shred of comfort.

Lying alone, she couldn't shake the thought that the past two years of marriage had been nothing but wasted time.

...

The next morning, Iris dressed quickly and made her way downstairs. Caiden was already waiting, looking flawless as ever at the table. There was no hint left of the chaos from the night before.

He wore a tailored black suit, every line crisp, a matching tie, cufflinks gleaming, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. In no time, he had become the perfect image of the Wells family heir, exuding privilege and composure.

As Iris entered the dining room, Caiden stayed focused on his phone, not even sparing her a glance. He made no mention of her absence from their bed last night.

He spooned porridge into his mouth, the cuff of his dress shirt brushing against a watch with a deep blue face—a quiet symbol of his elegance and mystery.

The housekeeper, Cecily Douglas, appeared with a plate in hand. "Mrs. Wells, your breakfast is ready."

With a gentle nod, Iris thanked her, then turned her attention to Caiden. "I covered your settlement last night. That was thirty thousand dollars. Please give it back to me."

Behind clear, thin glasses, Caiden's eyes flicked up, his voice steady. "Didn't I already give you enough money?"

Iris remained composed. "You can check the account if you'd like. Not once have I touched your money since we got married."

Both families had plenty of wealth. Iris never needed to rely on him for financial support.

Without further argument, Caiden grabbed his phone and sent the exact amount to her. He added nothing extra.

Breakfast passed in near silence, broken only when his secretary arrived to escort him to work.

As he rose to leave, Iris put her spoon down and told him, "Since you've come back, let's settle our divorce."

Caiden paused, eyebrows raised, and then he glanced back at her with a faintly amused smile. "Come again?"

Her tone didn't waver. "First, the one living on the Autumn Avenue, and then, the woman from last night. There's no point in dragging this out. Let's end it."

Cecily and the secretary excused themselves, closing the door behind them to give the couple privacy.

Leaning back in his chair, Caiden's eyes drifted over her before he folded one leg over the other. "Alright. Tell me your terms for the divorce."

Iris gave a small shake of her head. "I want nothing. We've barely lived as a real couple, other than sleeping in the same bed. Whatever belongs to you stays with you, and I'll take what's mine. I'll move out once the paperwork is done. That's all."

Any thoughts of splitting his wealth never even crossed her mind.

Caiden maintained a mask of politeness, but everyone who knew him understood there was much more beneath the surface. He might have seemed like a spoiled heir on the outside, but in reality, he was cold and calculated—a man with a reputation for playing by his own rules.

When Caiden had first stepped into the family business, his father had put him in charge of a struggling subsidiary. The entertainment arm had been losing money for years.

Caiden had cut jobs and overhauled the entire operation. He'd ignored every plea for leniency. Even the old-timers who'd built the company from the ground up hadn't been spared. Most people had thought he was reckless.

Instead of playing it safe, he'd thrown the company's money into film, TV, and new talent shows. He'd launched a fresh wave of stars, turned profits around, and the company's fortunes had soared.

That division was now a crown jewel of Wells Group, and the artists he had discovered were now among the industry's brightest.

There was nothing simple or innocent about Caiden. Iris had no intention of getting tangled up in his world. She just wanted a clean break.

In a smooth, almost gentle tone, Caiden replied, "That arrangement won't work for me. After all this time together, I think some compensation is in order."

For a second, Iris thought he was talking about making things easier for her, and the sudden courtesy threw her off.

She looked up and answered, "That really isn't necessary. If you're willing, I'll get in touch with the lawyer today—"

"You misunderstood. I meant you owe me compensation."

Iris froze, caught off guard.

A slow, cold smile spread across Caiden's face as he leaned back in his chair. "It hasn't even been a year, Iris. Have you forgotten you owe me a baby?"

Caiden's reminder sent Iris straight back to that bitter argument from the year before—a fight that had stripped away any sense of pride and left both of them exposed.

"You'll get your divorce after you give me a child. Until then, the score isn't settled." Caiden paused to push his glasses up, a half-smile curling on his lips as if he was teasing her. "Iris, if you think you can walk away from this, you're just fooling yourself."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked out.

Iris leaned against her chair, feeling her chest tighten with anxiety.

She thought back to the woman's words last night—Caiden had exploded after hearing that joke about how the woman had been secretly pregnant and lost it.

That old wound hadn't healed at all. If anything, the grudge had festered.

Almost unconsciously, her hand drifted to her stomach.

A child—he still believed she owed him that.

The irony wasn't lost on her. Caiden was so good at casting himself as the victim when, in truth, he was obviously the culprit.

...

Today, Iris had an outpatient rotation.

At Unity Hospital, she was a chief physician at the cardiothoracic surgery department.

People didn't usually expect someone as young as her to hold such a prestigious title, but her skill left no room for doubt.

After graduating from a world-renowned medical school, she had been sought out by the hospital's director, who offered her an impressive salary to bring her back home.

Her years at Unity Hospital had only solidified her reputation. Staff and patients alike called her the finest cardiothoracic surgeon in the field.

Every doctor was assigned a private consultation room. Settling into her own space, Iris pressed the call button, signaling the start of her appointments.

She pulled up the next patient's information on her screen, preparing herself for the day ahead. The door opened, and a young woman stepped inside.

Looking up, Iris felt as though she'd seen this woman somewhere before.

"I don't see any previous records for you. Is this your first time here? What brings you in today?" she asked.

The woman couldn't have been more than twenty. She wore a deep V-neck dress that looked far too mature for her age, carrying herself with a confidence that bordered on arrogance as she sat down across from Iris.

Iris asked again, "What brings you here today?"

For a moment, the young woman simply studied her. Then she let out a sly grin. "I'm pregnant."

The answer caught Iris off guard.

A heartbeat later, the woman continued, "The baby's Caiden's."

Suddenly, everything fell into place for Iris.

No wonder she found the young woman's face so familiar.

She finally placed her—this was the same woman from the bar's security footage, the one practically glued to Caiden's side that night.

The girl wore a heavy makeup last night. Without it, Iris failed to recognize her.

Refusing to let her expression falter, Iris kept her voice even. "You'll need to head over to OB-GYN if you're pregnant. This is the cardiology wing. You've just wasted an appointment slot for someone who actually needs it."

The woman let out a mocking laugh. "Drop the act. I'm carrying Caiden's child. Shouldn't you be getting ready to step aside?"

Step aside? That was a new one.

Iris absentmindedly twirled her pen. The woman Caiden kept on the Autumn Avenue for years had never dared to speak to her like this. This newcomer had nerves of steel.

Clearly, Caiden had filled her with enough arrogance to feel untouchable.

Rather than argue, Iris picked up the office phone. "Dr. Fletcher, can you book a new slot for me? Schedule a painless abortion for a patient named Ariana Watson."

Ariana shot out of her chair, her face going pale. "Are you insane? You can't just get rid of my baby! If you try anything, Caiden will come after you!"

"I need two nurses here—this patient is resisting care."

As she hung up, two sturdy nurses entered the office. "Dr. Wells, you called?"

Realizing Iris meant business, Ariana's bravado turned to panic. She stamped her foot in outrage. "You're unbelievable! Everyone knows you schemed your way into marrying Caiden. You're nothing but a heartless manipulator!"

Iris pointed to her white coat, the emblem of her profession. "Explain to me how I'm the villain here."

Ariana's anger boiled over. "You only landed Caiden because your mother was close to his. The whole thing makes me sick. If it hadn't been for his mother pushing for it, Caiden would never have looked twice at you. You're just bad luck—you even caused your parents' deaths. You've kept Caiden away from everyone else long enough. It's time you let go!"

Iris took a sip of water, completely unbothered, as though she were listening to a story about strangers. She set her glass down and nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like you've done your homework. Did Caiden tell you all this?"

Ariana's eyes flashed. "I'm not about to let you keep hurting him!"

Letting her gaze drift to Ariana's stomach, Iris suddenly had an idea. "You care about him that much? Then let me help you out."

Ariana narrowed her eyes, suspicion clear in her voice. "What are you talking about?"

Iris turned to the nurses. "Please escort her through the back to OB-GYN. Dr. Fletcher will be waiting. She knows exactly what needs to be done."

Ignoring the outburst of protests and insults from Ariana, Iris reached for her phone and called Caiden.

He declined the first call.

Undeterred, she dialed again.

This time, he picked up, his voice flat and brisk. "I'm in the middle of something. You've got three minutes."

"I'd appreciate it if you could come collect your latest girlfriend. She's made a scene at the hospital and gotten in the way of my work. If you leave her here, I won't be responsible for what happens next," Iris remarked, ending the call before a full minute had passed.

Caiden showed up not long after his meeting wrapped up. By then, Iris had finished seeing her last morning patient.

His suit was the same crisp black from that morning, but he had loosened his tie and left the top two buttons undone.

The way he carried himself—part elegant, part careless—stood out more than ever.

She instinctively leaned back, creating a buffer between them before speaking up. "Your girlfriend says she's carrying your child."

Caiden's expression stayed unreadable behind the thin frames of his glasses. Not a flicker of emotion gave him away, so Iris couldn't guess if this was news to him.

"I have her in my custody," she added.

That finally elicited a reaction from him. "You locked her up? You have quite the audacity."

If this was what he called audacity, Iris thought he was overreacting.

"I want to strike a bargain," she said, her tone steady.

Caiden let out a short laugh. "Do you have any idea how much the deal I just closed is worth?"

Iris met his gaze, voice flat. "This is just as valuable. I can keep Ariana's child. If you want, I'll say it's mine—no illegitimate child for the family to fuss over. With the right story, your parents will accept it. This way, I won't owe you a child anymore. And we can finally divorce."

Caiden arched a brow, the light in his eyes shifting behind those gold-rimmed glasses. "I have to admit, you've got quite a talent for negotiation."

Iris wasn't interested in deciphering whether he meant it as a compliment or a jab. She tapped the face of her watch. "Take your time, but not too much. Ariana is in pre-op right now. The baby's fate is in your hands."

Caiden sprang to his feet and locked the door to Iris' office.

Anxiety gripped Iris. "What are you doing?"

"You really are a generous wife." Caiden's voice was smooth but unreadable. He strode closer with a cool, unreadable look, taking off his watch unhurriedly.

Iris stood up abruptly and yanked her chair forward, putting it between them. "There are cameras everywhere. Do you seriously want your face plastered all over the news for causing trouble again, right after your little run-in at the police station?"

Caiden took his time studying her, eyes lingering on the plain white coat she wore. It was standard-issue, nothing flattering, but the way she carried herself made even that simple uniform seem striking.

"We're married, Iris. Worst case, someone sends out a memo about a certain doctor needing to keep things professional. No one's getting on the news for this."

That was when Iris realized something was off and made a break for the door, but she never stood a chance.

He moved fast, catching her wrist and steering her into the lounge, where the small bed she used for her afternoon naps waited.

She landed hard on the bed and winced. The sharp pain in her shoulder stunned her, and her chance of escape disappeared.

Caiden joined her on the bed, one knee pressing down for balance as he pinned her hands above her head.

When he looked her in the eye, his eyes gave off the warmth of someone utterly in love. Yet, as he lowered his eyes, there was nothing behind his gaze but chilling detachment.

"You might be good at scheming, but I have no interest in settling for trades like this. Iris, I only want a baby when you're the mother."

Caiden drew out the word "only" so she would hear the finality in it.

Despite her urge to fight back, he held her firmly. The way he leaned in surrounded her with his scent—a strange mix of comfort and distance.

"Why bother running away?" he asked. "I made myself clear. Once the baby's born, we'll go our separate ways. But if you keep talking about divorce, I'll just assume you're asking for another night with me."

Iris kept her lips pressed together.

He shrugged, letting arrogance slip into his tone. "Even if you ask for it, I might not oblige. So try to keep your head down and maybe you'll catch me in a decent mood."

Her silence said everything her glare could not.

He clearly had no patience left, moving on with a flat expression as he picked up something from beneath her—a velvet ring box.

Popping it open with a single hand, Caiden revealed her wedding ring inside.

Iris had spent days searching for that ring, half-convinced she had tossed it out. It turned out she had left it here.

Nothing in Caiden's voice gave away what he was thinking. "You make it obvious just how much you want out of this marriage."

Iris opened her mouth to say something, but he had already let go of her hand. The ring box found its place on the cabinet in plain view. Next, he took his watch from his pocket and fastened it around his wrist, turning away with no glance at her, as if she no longer existed.

Out of nowhere, Iris asked, "You refuse to accept Ariana's child, but what about the one from that woman on the Autumn Avenue? Is that baby never going to be part of your family?"

Caiden stopped in his tracks, pausing for a heartbeat.

Iris' voice softened as she spoke from the heart. "I'm sorry, Caiden. I grew up starved for affection. When you were kind to me, I thought you had feelings for me. So when your mom suggested marriage, I agreed. If I'd realized sooner that I meant nothing special, I would have never stepped into your life. I would've let you chase after what you truly wanted without interfering."

Not a word came from Caiden, but the silence between them felt icy.

No one could blame him. Dredging up their history only added to the bitterness, and she knew it.

Still, Iris continued, "I just want to fix my mistakes and let you go. If you agree to divorce, you'll have the freedom to pursue real happiness and start your own family right away. Why are you hanging onto this just to hurt me?"

Caiden's parting words were colder than the silence. "You think I'm clinging to this marriage out of spite? Don't flatter yourself. I'm not ending things just because I hate losing. When things are even between us, then we'll both walk away."

Caiden left Iris there, and she sank onto the bed, not ready to move or face the world.

Every part of her ached with weariness, body and soul.

Her phone lit up on the nightstand, and she answered without much energy. "Hey, Melody."

Melody Fletcher, the obstetrician Iris had sent Ariana to, whispered into the phone, "You wouldn't believe the scene in my office just now. That woman was practically shrieking. Half the hospital probably thought I was trying to remove her uterus for your sake."

"You need to stop reading those wild romance novels," Iris replied, sitting up. "So... is she pregnant?"

"Not even close. I did an ultrasound—she's on her period right now."

Iris chuckled. "Then let her go."

Since middle school, Melody had always had her back. Today was no different—even if she was baffled by the strange request for an abortion appointment, she still played along.

Before sending the woman on her way, Melody lowered her voice. "So, who is she to you?"

"She's the woman Caiden's seeing right now."

A beat passed before Melody let out a wicked cackle. "Maybe I should've removed her uterus."

Rolling her eyes, Iris replied, "If you mess with her, Caiden will come after you. Don't give him a reason."

Caiden had always been waiting for Melody to slip up, and targeting Ariana would be all the ammunition he needed.

Melody was never one to hold her tongue. "If he wants a fight, tell him to come back from abroad first."

Iris' voice was ice-cold. "He's already back in town."

A heavy pause hung between them before Melody said, "Okay, forget I said anything."

After a moment, her tone softened. "So, are you actually planning to divorce him?"

Rising to her feet, Iris let her gaze rest on the ring box. "He said I owed him a child—the one I lost."

Melody's voice rose, sharp with disbelief. "You mean the one I helped you abort last year?"

"That's right."

Memories of that day stirred fresh outrage in Melody. She launched into a fierce, thirty-minute rant about Caiden's heartlessness, not holding back for a second.

With every sharp word from her friend, Iris felt her mood lift a little. When the call ended, a new message popped up from Caiden's mother, inviting her to dinner in honor of his return.

Iris accepted without much thought.

That evening, Iris reached the Wells Mansion but didn't see Caiden.

His secretary said he was busy and wouldn't make it.

That left only Iris and Caiden's parents seated around the table.

Caiden's mother, Caroline Wells, said to Iris, "Ariana Watson has left the city. I made sure of it."

For a moment, Iris froze, glancing at her mother-in-law. "So you were aware?"

A weary sigh escaped Caroline. "Caiden hurt you again."

The way she lingered on the word "again" told Iris everything—Caiden's parents knew about the woman living on the Autumn Avenue but had chosen not to interfere.