Rewind of our Romance

The new neighbor

Life is going well for Iris and her son. It's been a month since the divorce was finalized. Iris cut off everything that connected her to her life back in Sunrise Country. She hired someone to sell all the properties left there and plans to invest in new properties in the capital where the value might multiple in a few years. She doesn't plan return there and all the properties she got from martin have left nothing but trauma to her.

Most of the pictures she got from the PA were from some of those properties. Martin called her a week ago through her lawyer about the possibility of buying her out of his company. She accepted as long as he paid the market price for them. She wasn't an i***t, the reason why she could help him with his business was because he had given her shares.

Passing the shares to blaze is out of the question. She doesn't want him to have anything to do with that man if she can help it. Blaze has her and she wants him to be independent and not rely on others for success. Her 1st sister in law Cami has been calling her none stop since she arrived here and she has no mood to care about her. She has past experience from when she was staying at home in her college days.

Matilda was pregnant with her eldest niece. That woman wanted to be served as if she was carrying a prince. That is one of the reasons why she chose a college in Sunrise Country. Far from home. She knows that nothing good comes out of her phone calls. Thank god this is a gated community or else that woman would have forced herself in there if the security was lax.

" Hey sis, we are on our way to your place for a while. You know who keeps coming to our place recently and your sister in-law can't take much stress these days. I have a to go overseas for a while and i can't leave her alone. We've decided to tell everyone about her pregnancy once it becomes stable." Harlow said.

" Just tell them before disappearing. You know the extent that woman would go to to get what she wants. It's better to let dad know if you don't want the others know. He is the only one who can stop them. I'll tidy up your room and tell me what sister in law wants to eat so i can prepare it for her. " Iris said.

" Okay. We will be there shortly." He said before hanging up.

Blaze is in school and a driver s***h bodyguard will fetch him. This is what she learnt from her marriage with Martin plus this city has been nothing but pain to her. The man is a retired special forces soldier. A good man, she interviewed him when she got here and hired him along with a maid who comes in three times a week to clean. She doesn't like having many people around her.

She was about to go arrange the room when she noticed movements from the house next door. Although the houses are a little far apart , she can see the backyard of the house in her bedroom. The house was vacant. Her brother was just talking about buying it after seeing how tight the security was. She shrugged her shoulders. These houses are sound proofed anyway.

She went inside to clean the guest room and went to her office afterwards while waiting for her brother and sister in law to arrive. Blaze will be back from school soon so she will make a quick snack for him. She packed all the informations about law firms wanting to work with her and placed them aside. She will look at them later after investigating each one of them.

She went to the kitchen to prepare lunch for her brother in sister in law and a few snacks for blaze. She doesn't like it when he eats junk food and so does he which is why she makes them at home. She considering hiring a cook later on if she gets busy again in the future to help with the meals. Living with Martin did rub on her a little bit despite the lack of time he spent at home. Her cellphone rang and she went to answer it.

" Hello" She answered with her hands continuously chopping onions.

" Good afternoon Iris" A deep voice sounded through the phone.

" Father" She said.

" When are you coming home? " He asked.

" I am home. " She replied.

" When are you going to forgive me ?" The man said in a heavy tone.

" I did forgive you a long time ago. I just never forgot and i have major trauma when it comes to that house. There is no one in that house i would rather see. " She said.

" Your mom misses you" The man said after a brief moment. She could hear the deep regret in his voice.

" I have no mother , she is Jacob's mother not mine. I have already asked you and the others to never mention her name towards me again. You've made it clear that she is your wife and i respect that. I hope you respect my choice. " She said with a sigh.

" You've found out?" The man quickly asked.

" I've always known. You can choose to help her in her wrongdoings but no one is obligated to go along with you. Me not pressing charges was the p*****t for raising me. I even asked grandpa to remove me from the family registry. If you check it, you will see what that my name is written under grandpa and grandma. I no longer have any relations to her. I sent blaze to Harlow and his wife when she chose to abduct him.

I didn't say anything because grandpa was there to look after him and now that he's no longer there, my son won't step a foot inside that house. Father, no one aside from Jacob is willing to go home or talk to you guys. Have you ever stopped to ask why ? Please don't call me again." She said before ending the call.

In the black residence

Curtis Black look at his cellphone with regrets in his eyes. Although he doesn't want to believe it, his daughter 's tone was emotionless. He lost her, his Iris used to chase him around calling him dad all the time no longer wanted to have any contact with him. He loves his wife but his wife 's decisions led to all of their kids estranged from them. All for the sake of the eldest son.

He was too busy focused on work that he didn't see what was going on around him. By the time he did , his daughter and son had paid dearly. His wife became worse as she ages. He remembered blaze who was a mirror image of his only daughter and sighed. He was hoping to see his first grandson soon but from the looks of it, as long as his father isn't around, Iris would never let him visit them. Her level of distrust towards them is evident.

" Dad , What did she say? " Jacob who heard about the amount of assets iris won in her divorce asked. He embezzled a large amount of money and was hoping that she can cover it up for him. He also needs investments for his new business ventures so he encouraged his father to call her home.

" She won't come back." Curtis said.

" That ingrate. She is divorced and has to come home. What else is she doing outside? " Melissa, Curtis 's wife said.

" Why wont she come home?" Jacob asked.

" She knows" Curtis replied.

" The truth about what happened 8 years ago. Apparently everyone else knows. She just asked me to tell you that the reason why she didn't send you guys to jail is her act as your daughter Melissa. She transfered her residence to the old house. No wonder the old man looked at me weirdly when i told him that Iris is coming back home. The distance, the less and less visits. Tell me, what else did you do to the other kids in favor of Jacob , Melissa?" Curtis asked.

" What do you mean she knows!" Melissa asked looking scared.

" Everything you did. She had people quietly investigate and collect evidence of that incident. So right now she hates the both of us to death. She severed all ties with us and she won't allow blaze to have anything to do with our family. Why didn't i know that blaze was sent to Harlow 's wife during her divorce proceedings and that you took him from her without a word?" He asked calmly.

" Dad, i need her help with investments. Can I talk to her about it? Do you know where she lives?" Jacob asked.

" You do know that your wife is the main reason why your mother did what she did? Carlton, what did I tell you when i handed the family business to you?" He asked.

" To decide whether i want to handle it on my own or share it with my siblings. " Jacob said.

" And?" Curtis asked.

" If i don't share, don't expect the others to help me when i need them. The business is mine and their business is theirs. " Jacob who was frozen replied.

" Correct, You are all grown up now. Everyone has their own lives and we as parents can't interfere. Knowing Iris, the person she hates the most is probably you. And rightfully so. You and your mother should stay away from her, don't forget that she has more connections than you and she can make you and your mother suffer. Iris, Harlow and Carlton owe you nothing since you didn't contribute a thing to them and inherited the business and this house. That also includes your older sister." Curtis said.

" She is his younger sister, she has an obligation to help him." Melissa said.

" Not when the brother is the main reason why she lived a miserable married life. My late mother and father are the ones who raised her not you. You can go after her if you want. Just leave me out of it. You reap what you sow after all. Melissa, i am tired and it is too embarrassing to ask for divorce at our age. I have transferred this house in Jacob 's name just like you had asked before.

I had the maids to move most of my things to a villa in a retirement village. You can stay here all you want but i need a break from you. Your beloved son will take care of you. Oh by the way, Harlow called to ask me to tell you to back of on calling his wife. She is pregnant and her pregnancy isn't stable yet. He took her away for a little while. Don't forget that Iris has evidence in her hands and as long as you don't push her, she won't take drastic measures on count of the old man." Curtis said.

" You can't leave!!" Melissa yelled.

" This house has gotten too toxic recently and it's not good for my health. I also need a break from Cami's tantrums." the old man said as he left with an overnight back that was packed months ago.