Darling, Thanks For Stabbing Me

Chapter 15

Iris reached her flat and without saying any words, she enclosed herself in her room. Erik and Linda exchanged meaningful glances before giving her some alone time. When they heard her sobbing, they couldn’t restrain themselves and started banging her door impatiently.

Iris tried to ignore till she couldn’t bear it anymore. On an autopilot mode, she rose from her bed wiping her tears and unlocked her room before smashing her body back in the mattress.

“What’s wrong babe?” Linda rubbed her back as she kept crying.

Erik was loss at words; he wasn't sure how to console her. All he knew was maybe he would be stopping this plan after all, seeing her go through pain all over again wasn't his agenda.

“Hey say something Sunny. You are scaring me. Did he harm you or said something—” Linda hoped nothing serious happened but it was worse.

“Evelyn is with him.” Iris sobbed feeling stabbed again.

“Evelyn? Who is Evelyn?” Erik asked.

“My sister! All these time I thought they killed her but she is alive and didn’t bother to find me. I-I saw her today eating my fiancé’s face out. She loves him! She betrayed me...” Iris whined like a four year old and Linda’s heart sank with the new fact.

Erik was stunned to hear it too. So, it wasn't just her cousin but her own sister who was involved with the plan. That was hard to believe; no wonder why she is so upset.

“Hush now babe, we are here with you. It’s okay!” Linda tried to push her own tears.

How cruel her sister could be to do that to her? She was meant to protect her little sister and not kill her. Sunny on the other hand was grieving thinking she has no family member alive but it was all a lie. What’s worse? She was planning to get together with her own sister’s fiancé? Shey!

“You’ll have to be stronger than this Sunny. You can’t break down so easily.” Linda cooed.

Iris pulled back and stared at her.

“Do you think I would still want to fight against them? Against my own sister?” Iris asked.

She could have but not anymore when her sister was involved.

“What do you mean by that? It wasn't just about you. It is about your family and most importantly about your parents and brother. You can’t let them have everything that rightfully belonged to you and your parents. Even that was your grandpa’s wish; have you forgotten all about it?” Linda tried to put some sense in her.

Iris was speechless, she could have forgotten everything but not the promise her grandpa asked her to fulfil when she was young.

He seemed paranoid back then. He asked her to promise and take his business to new heights. He asked her not to let his hard-work slip away or used by someone else who didn’t know the real values of his morals. Her grandfather was a man of his own words and that was what she inherited from him.

“Why do you have to pressurize her? If she isn’t willing to carry the plan ahead, let it be.” Erik was annoyed.

Linda gasped.

“You were supposed to help and not ruin Erik.” Linda refuted.

“Can’t you see how much hurt she already is? Who knows what she will have to bear through ahead.” Erik tugged his hair in frustration.

‘Such a simple thing, is it that hard to notice?’ Erik wondered.

“Guys, I’ll have to do it. I am sorry but don’t fight over me.” Iris pleaded.

Erik huffed and left while Linda smiled and embraced her.

“Next time you’re crying and I promise I will be out of this.” Erik voice boomed from the living area making Linda giggle.

***

Iris pulled near the police station and was ready to go inside when a familiar voice caught her attention. She peeked inside to see a young man with blonde hair in a heated argument with the officer.

She stopped the helper and asked him what was going on there.

“Nothing I could tell. This guy has been trying hard to find his best friend but the department isn’t taking any action so he always ends up fighting them. They have warned him several times but look like he hasn’t learnt his lesson. That’s a pity to be honest.” The helper rapidly took off when he heard the argument coming close.

Sure enough, the guy was strangled by two officers as he tried to fight them and they pushed him back. He landed butt-faced on the floor and tried to get up threatening them. Suddenly, another officer came and held him up from his collars before spitting something into his ears with pure venom.

The guy sneered at him and the officer punched him again this time leaving him on the floor. Iris was astonished to see such behaviour in a police department but she was warned by the helper that no one could help him. She rushed towards him and helped him to get up.

When he was standing on his own feet, she managed to look at his face and her eyes widened. She felt remorse.

“I wouldn’t let them go that easily.” He was still grumbling and his words chocked when he turned to appreciate her help.

“Iris, you?” He couldn’t believe his eyes.

He was fighting with the officials for her and she is standing here in front of her. He stared at her with happiness, sadness, pity, sympathy and anger. He didn’t trust himself which one will dominate when he would speak next.

“So, you are here already?” Aiden’s voice interrupted them.

Aiden was suspicious seeing the two together. He had always felt that way.

“Hey? I thought I know how to handle my own matters?” Iris tried to fake her enthusiasm of seeing him.

Her thoughts were stuck on her best friend, her childhood friend; Dylan who had been through thick and thins of her life. He looked pale and grumpy unlike him. His oh-so perfect hair looked messy and his finely crisped clothes were disheveled.

She was an i***t not to think about him all these months. How could she have forgotten him knowing he wouldn’t let her survive even after her death?

She felt weak but then breathed deeply before facing him again.

“Are you alright? Do you need some help?” She pretended with her act.

Dylan stood with incredulity. His eyes must be tricking him. He can see his friend but not like she used to be. He laughed lightly; surely this must be a joke.

“I think he is alright. Let’s get going.” Aiden gritted through his teeth.

“No, I think we should help him. His face is bruised badly.” Iris couldn’t help the worry seeing her best friend.

The glistened eyes and the quivering lips revealed her identity to Dylan but he was adamant to know what she was upto.

“Yeah I could do with some help. Would you mind taking me to a nearest clinic?” He tried to act casual.

Aiden was about to knock him off when Iris interfered.

“Sure, why not? Aiden can you please file a complaint regarding my missing documents, I would be make it quick.” She suggested and Aiden gave her a straight face.

“I don’t think that’s required.” He was ready to hand her documents back.

“Oh I won’t be long. We can talk about it later.” She was quick to leave him behind as his lips tightened.

When they were seated in her car and she was already pulling out of the parking lot; she screamed at him.

“You i***t! How dare you fight off the officials? They could have shot you in your head.” She was furious now.

“Do I look bothered about it or did I ask you to worry about me?” Dylan yelled back.

“I thought I lost you, then you appear all of a sudden with the man I could have least expected.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Iris stopped the car in the middle and turned to face him.

“I want to punch your face repeatedly.” She breathed to which Dylan just huffed.

Without wasting any more time, she side parked the car and dragged him outside. When she was satisfied seeing him get treatment, she relaxed a little and both sat in comfortable silent.

She left a quick text to Aiden letting him know where she would meet him and decided to drop Dylan home.

They didn’t utter a single word through that fifteen minute journey. When they finally made it to his house, they chuckled together which turned into laughter.

They laughed till tears rolled from their cheek. Dylan embraced her and kissed her forehead.

They needn’t share a word to understand each other. They both know they were grieving her over her family. Dylan was happy to have her in his arms where he could take her care. Iris felt real in front of him where she doesn’t have to fake anymore or hide her emotions.

“Evelyn betrayed me Dylan.” She cried her heart out.

She cried telling him everything she had been through repeating things she had already done like for five times. Dylan was patient with her, he knew her too well and that she would be fine soon. Only thing that hurt him was she had grown too weak. She was weak but an emerging fighter and he was ready to help her in every possible way.

When her sobs died, he finally spoke up. “There is someone waiting for you badly.”

Iris pulled back from him with confusion evident on her flushed face. He saw her clumped eyelashes and red nose.

“Who is it?” Her stuffed nose made her sound like a mice.

He wanted to laugh but controlled. He guided her inside and when she was already near the couch, she heard a familiar bark.

Her head snapped towards its direction as her beagle Bravo came yelping and jumped over her. She was overwhelmed to see him and kissed him as he licked her face all over.

“Bravo!” she cried hugging him. “I thought I wouldn’t ever see you again.”

Bravo conveyed his love with his licks and pressing himself against her.

“Your uncle and aunt drugged him and left him on the highway. Luckily, Jude saw him there and rushed him to a vet.” Dylan sat beside them and patted Bravo.

“I am glad you are back!” he finally spoke and saw her.

She smiled and updated him about everything she was up to.