Chapter 24
When Iris arrived at Coffee Corner at 2:00 pm, the people inside had already been waiting for a long time.
Melinda and Philip were so nervous that they could barely sit still. Their coffees had gone cold, but they’d yet to take a sip.
Roland sat with them silently, his fists clenched and his palms clammy with sweat. Jordan had already glanced at the door countless times.
The four shot to their feet agitatedly when they saw Iris and her entourage arrive. They couldn’t control their tears.
“Is it really you, Ro? We’ve missed you so much! We were wrong to treat you like that in the past, but Jasmine has already been punished, and we’ve experienced the suffering you went through, too. Can you please forgive us?” Melinda held Iris‘ hands tightly as she sobbed.
She was so agitated that she sounded like she wanted to use one sentence to express everything she’d kept bottled up for the past three years.
Philip and Roland had no idea what to say. They could only nod in agreement.
Jordan pulled out a ring from his breast pocket, his actions clumsy because of how anxious he was. Then, he got on one knee before Iris. “I didn’t marry Jasmine, Ro. Come back to me and marry me. We’ll never be apart again!”
Iris smiled indifferently at their words and actions. She didn’t look moved at all. Her gaze merely paused on Melinda’s and Philip’s aged faces for a second before she looked away.
“Sorry, but allow me to introduce myself. My name is Iris Newton. Your daughter, sister, and fiancée, Rowena Shore, died in that fire three years ago. Anyway, she no longer has anything to do with you. I don’t need to forgive anyone, and I don’t think Rowena does, either.
“Don’t come to me anymore. I have family and friends who love me, so I no longer need you. The parental termination agreement and engagement annulment letter should’ve been more than enough to make that clear.”
She turned to look at the people behind her with a bright smile. They were all people who’d appeared on TV, in newspapers, and in books, yet they all looked at Iris indulgently. It was as if she was their most treasured family member.
Francis stood behind her protectively, but it was clear from his stance that he was ready to protect her and draw the line between her and the Shores and Jordan.
He said, “Iris is my daughter now; she has nothing to do with you. If you use seeking Rowena as an excuse to harass her again, Figlia may no longer welcome you here.”
The Shores and Jordan stared dazedly at them. They knew Francis could make good on his threat if he wanted.
“Don’t be like this, Ro. Please! We love you, and we’ll do anything you want. You don’t like Jasmine, right? We’ve already had her thrown behind bars! Look, this is what she looks like now! Everyone who’s ever hurt you has been punished, including us!” Melinda pulled out her phone as she spoke.
She showed Iris some surveillance footage and even rolled up her sleeves to reveal her scarred arms.
Iris glanced at her, her eyes widening a fraction at what she saw. However, she regained her composure a second later.
“That’s enough!” she said coldly. “This ends here, I don’t like seeing these things, and I don’t need you to repent for your sins. I don’t need your apologies, and I don’t want to return to how things used to be. Am I being clear enough? Do you get me now?
“You’ll never make up for the hurt your actions have caused me. The scars you’ve left on my heart will always be there–how do you expect a broken heart to heal? You guys were already prepared to abandon Rowena when you decided to adopt Jasmine as a stand–in, right?”
Melinda and Philip turned ashen at her words. They were so hurt that they swayed on their feet.
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