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.

"Iris, you are the only daughter-in-law we acknowledge," Caroline said softly. "Now that Caiden's back, he should stay instead of working overseas again. It would give him a chance to take on more at the company and give the two of you a little more time together."

Thoughts of Caroline's recent heart surgery tugged at Iris. She didn't want to add any more stress to her mother-in-law's life.

So she simply said, "I understand."

Caroline accepted the words at face value.

A week slipped by before Caroline called again. "Caiden hasn't been home lately, has he?"

Caroline was right.

Most days, Iris even forgot Caiden was back in town at all.

"Maybe work's keeping him busy. I've been—" Iris started to explain about her packed surgery schedule, hoping to steer the conversation away from anything involving Caiden.

But Caroline didn't miss a beat. "I heard he's heading out to Brown Manor tonight with his friends. Since you've been putting in so many late nights at the hospital, why not take a break and spend some time with friends? I'll even cover your expenses."

It was classic Caroline—subtle, tactful, and sharp as ever. Years alongside her husband at the helm of Wells Group had given her a talent for saying exactly what needed to be said, without ever coming off as forceful.

She'd learned where Caiden would be, found out Iris wouldn't be working late, and cleverly suggested a relaxing evening out without asking Iris to bring Caiden home.

There was nothing left for Iris to do but agree. "Alright."

After ending the call, Iris sent Melody a quick message. "You free tonight?"

"Nothing planned. What's going on?"

"Come out with me. I'm heading to Brown Manor."

The place was a five-story building dressed up in vintage glamour.

It used to be the house of an official with the surname Brown.

Only the wealthy and powerful ever got through those doors. Word on the street was that blowing the price of a brand-new sports car here wasn't even unusual.

"I read somewhere that no one really knows who owns this place. I'd bet there's some mysterious heir from one of those old families pulling the strings. None of Slidrora's big shots would dare to cross whoever's behind it."

Upon arriving, the two women settled into a booth in the buzzing lobby on the ground floor.

A server came over and greeted them by name.

Iris raised her brows in surprise. "First time here, and you already know who we are?"

The young man smiled, all smooth charm. "Your reputation as the top cardiothoracic surgeon precedes you. And everyone in the city's heard about your friend's skill in obstetrics. We pride ourselves on keeping track of the best in the business."

With a mischievous flick of her eyeliner-accented gaze, Melody propped her chin in her palm. "How about you bring us three of your most expensive drinks? Two for us, and one for you."

The server flashed a grateful grin. "Thank you, Dr. Wells," he said before heading off.

Melody shook her head in amusement. "Brown Manor is on another level. Their staff must memorize every big name in Slidrora just to keep the service flawless—and to make sure they never step on the wrong toes."

Iris nodded. "I get the feeling that's exactly how they operate."

"No wonder they rake in so much money here. And did you notice that server? He's a real catch!"

While Iris hadn't gone for dramatic makeup, she'd let her hair down and let the soft waves frame her face, giving her a gentle air that contrasted her usual sharpness.

She couldn't help but tease, "Why not go for it?"

Melody just wagged her finger with a laugh. "I love to flirt with sweet, well-mannered guys, but for something serious, I want someone who knows how to take charge."

"You've got to stop reading those romance novels. They're starting to mess with your type." Iris rolled her eyes, scanning the lobby.

Although she was here, she had no intention of going to Caiden.

This whole night was about putting on a show for Caroline—nothing more.

Soon, the server came back, balancing two vibrant cocktails on a tray. "Ladies, please give them a taste and let me know what you think."

As he placed the glasses in front of them, he leaned close to Iris and murmured, "Mr. Wells is in the No. 1 VIP room on the second floor."

Iris could only stare, completely caught off guard by the server's whisper.

That level of personal attention was far from what she wanted—seeing Caiden was the last thing on her mind tonight.

Their conversation hadn't gone unnoticed, though.

Out of nowhere, a shrill voice rang out. "You pathetic old woman! What, you followed Caiden all the way here? You've been harassing him since you were kids..."

Before Ariana could finish, Melody's hand darted out and tossed her cocktail right into Ariana's face.

"An old woman? She's only 24! You think you can't live that long yourself? Oh, I forgot—mistresses don't usually make it to old age. However many years you've got, that's where your clock stops."

Ariana stood there, soaked and furious, sputtering as she tried to recover. "Did you just throw your drink at me? Do you realize how much Caiden spoils me? He bought me a diamond necklace worth thirty million just because I liked it. Who do you think you are? I could have Caiden ruin you both!"

She lunged for Melody, but a server quickly stepped in, holding her back.

Iris moved to stand between them, giving Ariana a calm, measured look. "Let her go. We're going to see Caiden. I'd love to see exactly how he plans to ruin us."

Ariana tossed her hair and sneered, "Fine, let's go! Whoever chickens out first is the real loser!"

Her heels clicked up the stairs, every step dripping with confidence. There was no doubt in her mind that Caiden would take her side.

How could he not? Just the other day, he'd dropped thirty million on a necklace for her without a second thought.

Caroline had claimed Ariana was sent away from Slidrora. Yet, here Ariana was, bold as ever. It dawned on Iris that Caiden must have brought her back.

Melody caught on quickly, worry and irritation written across her face. "Iris," she whispered, her voice low.

Iris offered a steady smile and walked upstairs without hesitation.

Inside, Brown Manor was a scene from another era. Soft jazz notes floated beneath gleaming chandeliers, and the air held the richness of cedar and whiskey, wrapping the room in warmth and history.

Without missing a beat, Iris pushed open the VIP room door.

Heads turned simultaneously to see who had entered.

She spotted Caiden instantly. He lounged on a plush sofa, cigarette burning lazily between his fingers, the ember casting fleeting shadows over his eyes.

There he was, looking every bit the untouchable playboy, detached and at ease, but Iris couldn't help but recall the nights they'd once shared—moments now blurred into something dreamlike and unreachable.

Ariana was perched at his feet, her voice lilting as she called for his attention.

Normally, Melody kept her distance from Caiden. Tonight, however, she'd had enough.

Marching right in, she didn't bother with pleasantries. "Caiden, it's been so long! When did you get back? Here, let's have a drink together."

She snatched a glass off the table, then "accidentally" let it tip straight onto Ariana. "Oh, sorry! Didn't see you there on the floor. For a second, I thought someone left their lapdog in here."

Ariana sprang to her feet, indignant.

Caiden ignored the chaos, not even glancing at Melody. He tapped his cigarette, eyes never leaving Iris. "Here to have some fun?"