Darling, Thanks For Stabbing Me

Chapter 13

Aiden could feel all the emotions coming back and he never felt so broken before when he was sure it was her and she is just few feet away.

Iris also could sense the pain in his voice and she was about to turn back and face him but it took every cell in her not to turn around at the mere mention of her name. She was taught this by her Psychologist.

She knew that it was the most common thing that helped people caught the one portraying someone else. When we are called out with our real name; people tends to turn around and look, giving away themselves.

The other thing that helps catch someone was being disturbed while sleeping. In this scenario one could find out the origin of a person.

She was trained well and not to forget that she was living as Sunny walker now and not Iris Reider so, she won this.

Aiden’s smile fell as he slowly approached her and touched her shoulder making her tense.

They felt the electricity jolting in their systems but decided to play it cool.

Iris turned to face him and stared for long.

“Do I know you?” She asked with confusion written all over her face.

‘Has she forgotten me so soon or she is playing with me? Or is it possible that she had lost her memory?’ Aiden wondered and was upset.

“Iris!” Aiden’s pleading voice made it sound like a prayer.

He was happy to finally see her but shocked that she looked so different than before. Her eyes showed no sign of recognition and he regretted.

“Sorry, I think you must be mistaken. Hi! I am Sunny.” Iris passed him a genuine smile and extended her hand which made him confused.

She didn’t feel like faking anything and it bothered him.

‘Is it true that I’ve really lost Iris?’ Aiden wondered and turned gloomy.

He shook her hand when he felt the same warmth and feeling from her palm.

“Iris…” He glanced from her hand to her face and back again.

To ease up the nervousness, Iris faked a laugh and quickly tried to stifle it.

“I am sorry but who is this Iris that has got you looks love-stricken puppy. You seemed to repeat her name from the last 15 minutes I guess. Has she ran away or betrayed you?” Iris smirked whereas inside she was dying.

She wanted to run away from him not being able to look at his face for longer. She wasn’t sure what she would do the next moment; slap him, cry on his shoulder, embrace him or kill him?

“I-I am sorry. Iris is my fiancée and she looks exactly like you so… I am really sorry to have bothered you.” He said before looking straight ahead but couldn’t help stealing glances from her.

‘Why does she look so familiar then? Her eyebrows are crunched just like Iris whenever she felt uncomfortable.’

“Uh-excuse me Mister, can you let go of my hand? I know I am beautiful but you still don’t have permission to hold them for so long.” She had a smug look.

He quickly pulled his hands away as she stood and turned to leave.

“I hope you find her soon.” She smiled and waved.

Aiden shook his head in pity but then his eyes fell on the purse that lay beside him. He hurriedly picked it up and called out for Sunny but she wasn’t there anymore.

He was about to run but another part of him said to check the contents.

Hesitatingly, he opened her purse and found the ID card that surely was issued under the name ‘Sunny Walker’; not only that but her driving license and ATM were issued under the same name. He sulked and traced his way back to find the look-alike of his Iris.

‘Why was that every time he was near her, his heart raced and he felt the same electricity that he felt with Iris?’ Aiden was lost in his monologue when he received a call from Derek.

He dreaded seeing it.

After that awful night, he followed Derek’s car to see him dump Iris’ body near the swamps and hid there to look out for her because he knew Derek was looking for him.

The nights’ events had mentally exhausted him and before the men could leave, he dozed off and when his eyes opened he woke up in the hospital after two days. Moreover, he rushed to the spot but found no sign of her body.

From that day, he hadn’t been in close connections with Derek like before but he couldn’t break off the ties easily as he wished to avenge her family’s death from him.

The nagging sound of his phone made him lose his patience as he swiped and barked at the caller.

“What is it?”

He heard a chuckle from the other end. “Easy boy, why do you have to be so irked up all the time?” Derek answered.

Aiden was about to hung up when Derek said something that made him see all the red.

“A little birdie told me that you found your Iris?” Derek asked calmly.

Aiden stiffened.

“Who told you that?” Aiden wasn’t going to give up easily.

“C’mon man, you seriously can’t be asking me this? Anyways, is this the reason you left for NY and roaming around the UB’s campus? For Iris?” Derek asked in a cold tone.

“Listen! We can have one-to-one talk about this.” Aiden gritted through his teeth.

“Ahaan… Now you are talking like a grown up. I will be waiting for you in another hour at Hudson Yards.” Derek called and hung up without waiting for the confirmation.

‘What the f**k was he doing here? Is he keeping tabs on me?’ Aiden was furious and he was ready to throw his cellphone when the air hit him sharp with the same familiar scent.

He was curious and stopped in his track.

He followed his heart and heard the same sweet voice that he had grown to love for so many years but there wasn’t the chirpiness as before.

He hid himself well and spotted the lilac colored hair girl whispering through her cellphone. She seemed worried about something. He walked out of his hiding place to catch on her conversation but she became aware of the footsteps behind her.

She changed her conversation to exam related. Erik who was on the other end of the call was confused for a bit but then realized that there must be someone and maybe it was Aiden so he took the flow and carried on with it till she asked him to call later.

“Do you have a habit of stalking people?” Iris called out loudly but regretted.

Aiden’s eyes widened at her statement. “How did you know I was here?”

“It’s common sense mister, your shadow told me.” Iris covered it up and made a face like ‘Duh’.

Aiden relaxed not knowing that his cologne was enough to let her know his presence.

“I just wanted to hand you this. I called out your name but you just disappeared.” He handed her purse and stood there in silent.

After a while, he sighed loudly.

“Aiden Johnson, you can call me Aiden and not Mister.” He smiled to which she raised an eyebrow and nodded.

“Thanks Aiden, nice to meet you.” Iris shook his hand for the final time and was ready to leave.

“Hey, can we meet sometime laters?” Aiden couldn’t stop himself.

How could he? He had found Iris maybe not her but someone that looks exactly like her. He wasn’t ready to leave this opportunity anyhow.

Iris was disturbed inside. She had been fighting internally with herself and it looks like he wasn’t ready to let her go.

“Why is it so? Don’t tell me you want me to be your fiancée?” She giggled and it sounded hollow to her.

Aiden noticed the awkwardness too.

“No, that wasn’t my intention. Trust me. I just wanted to… Leave it!” Aiden found it was difficult to strike a conversation with another girl.

“Oh it is okay. I was kidding anyway. If you want, why don’t we hang out tonight?” Iris toyed.

“That would be great. Can I have your number?” Aiden passed her mobile and realized it was too early but before he could have hold himself back, Iris was quick to take it.

Out of habit, she entered his pass code which opened the screen and was quick to feed her number and her name. She handed his phone back and smiled.

“I will let you know where to meet and at what time.” Iris instructed and he found himself nodding to it.

“Sure, have a good day ahead.” Aiden replied and saw her leave.

He stared at his phone and realized that it was supposed to be locked then how was she able to unlock it?

He redialed her number and his heart raced with each action. He was already running after her and Iris was unaware of it. She was determined to escape for now and vent out all her anger and sadness somewhere alone.

As she was passing the corridors, someone pulled her back.

She was terrified and the past images of being attacked flashed across her mind.

She quickly went into her self-defense mode only to see Aiden watching her unknown emotions.

She eased up as he came closer to her and tears streamed in his eyes. He saw the same painful look on her face that has been haunting him since that night. He couldn’t be mistaken with that. Although it was only for a mere second but he could swear on the love of gods, that it was the same look.

He cupped her face and stared intently in her eyes. The touch chocked Iris on her emotions. Tears ready to escape at this moment but she couldn’t bring herself to ruin everything all at once. She gave him a confused look.

It wasn’t easy for her to understand what had made him behave this way.

“It’s really you, Iris!” Aiden whispered close to her making her shudder inwardly.

“Am sorry but I guess we had already talked about this.” Iris pulled his hands away from her cheeks as he stared her keenly.

“I know it’s you, are you trying to fool me?” Aiden asked irritatingly.

“Excuse me but I guess you have lost your mind. Now if you may allow me to go, I really have urgent things than this.” Iris pulled back and lowered her head in order to calm herself breathing deeply.

“Oh! Really? How did you know my pass code then?” Aiden sneered at her.

Her eyes were ready to pop out. Aiden smirked at her expression but his face fell with the next words.

“I can’t believe this man. You handed me an unlocked phone and now you are delusional that it was me who happened to have unlocked it. How could you…?” She felt frustrated.

In reality she was frustrated at herself, how could she have been so stupid but she wasn’t ready to blow her cover so soon.

Seeing her act so naturally, Aiden tensed up. He felt he committed a grave mistake and now probably he had messed up the hang out plan with her.

“I-I am sorry. Let’s just pretend it never happened. Are we still on with the plan for tonight?” he asked nervously.

She gave him a grimace look and nodded faintly.

“Okay we can but let me be honest, next time I wouldn’t want to be compared with someone else and that’s final.” She stomped and left.

Aiden was about to call her again when he saw another petite blonde woman coming towards him. She had the blue colored eyes and the most beautiful face and figure like a straight model. She managed to catch everyone’s attention easily but not Aiden’s.

There was another reason why he hated her.

“What are you doing here now? Did Derek send you here after me?” Aiden asked her in cold tone.

She seemed to behave like he was her lover as she neglected him and hooked her arms around his and leaned into him.

“I am so glad you came here. Common let’s get going now.” She placed a chaste kiss on his cheek and Aiden was ready to push her away but she was quick to haul him.

Iris was hidden behind the pillar at the corner and when the couple walked from there, her heart sank. They looked so in love with each other. She felt her devastated heart shattering even more. She ran to the other side of the garden and cried her heart out.

‘How could he do that to me? Did he kill me because he was already cheating on me?’ She wondered and sobbed till someone embraced her.

“It’s okay Sunny, he is gone now.” Erik soothed her as she hugged him back.