CHAPTER 69: 69-WE PLAN A TRIP TOGETHER.

Iris:

"Iris, is your mother a danger to my children or to you?" he pressed.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up. As much as I wanted to tell him the truth, I couldn’t.

The reason was simple, he was still going to marry Lara. And when two people form a bond, they share their secrets.

If he ever told Lara what I said about my mother, it could be dangerous.

I knew how he used to be with me. I knew all his business secrets and the details about his enemies.

Though he never shared anything about his sister or mother, which I respected him for, I wasn’t sure he’d protect my secrets the same way.

Lara wasn’t me, she’d probably pry the truth out of him.

Before I could respond, his phone started beeping on the dashboard.

It was Lara calling.

He awkwardly reached out and grabbed it. He tried to cancel the call but she started calling him back repeatedly.

Finally, he decided to give up.

"Hello?" he answered, glancing at me. I now sat there like a third wheel.

A few years ago, he was all mine. Or I thought he was. But now he could speak to Lara and I did not even have the right to question him.

"What?" he replied, stealing another look. "I took her with me to show her a possible site for the next shoot."

I already knew Lara was bombarding him with questions about our sudden departure. This was exactly what I had feared.

Now that he had Lara, I couldn’t confide in him without putting my son’s life in danger.

"But you were sleeping, and I thought I’d first check the location, finalize it, and then show you." This time, there was a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"Fine. There’s no location for the shoot. I’ve found a cave with healing herbs. Happy now?"

As he gave in, I turned my head away, realizing he would never keep secrets from her. I was relieved I hadn’t said anything that could upset my mother.

I started scrolling through my phone and noticed something on the camera. My mother was talking to Luca.

The two sat on a couch, engaged in a serious conversation. Of course, I couldn’t hear them because she had disabled the audio.

That was the only mercy she ever gave me, and if I dared to ask for sound, she would throw a tantrum and wake her son just to torment mine.

"Come on, Lara, you can’t go everywhere with me," Kash’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts, making me look up at him.

"Just let me handle this matter, and we’ll talk then." He finally hung up and rubbed his face with both hands before turning toward me.

"I’m still waiting for an answer," he insisted.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for another lie.

"There’s nothing to talk about. I’m very happy with my life," I told him, but he shook his head.

I didn’t understand why he so desperately wanted to believe I was living a troubled life.

"Everything’s fine. Just turn around and take me to my kids. Besides, if they find out I left without them, they’ll think it’s a vacation, a little trip to the mountains, and they’ll be upset." It was the best excuse I could think of, and it seemed to work because his expression slowly softened.

"Fine. We’ll go back and take the kids. It’s actually a better idea," he replied. I sometimes felt he was stubborn.

Finally, he agreed, and I sat quietly in the car, waiting for home to appear so I could take my children and step away from the toxic world my mother had created.

"Try to be quick," Kash advised as I got out of the car and rushed back into the guest house.

I didn’t know what he meant until I entered the living room and saw my mother sitting there, watching TV.

"So, what’s the urgent work about? He took you quite in haste," my mother asked.

I was still power-walking toward the kids’ room.

"Actually, we did a little work first, and then Kash planned for us to head to this location in the mountains," I replied, trying to be brief.

My mother clicked her tongue and got up, letting me know she wasn’t going to let it slide, she noticed how urgently I was trying to get away.

"So you’re heading out with him?" she asked. "For how long?" She briskly followed me as I entered the kids’ room.

"Mommy, you’re back! Look what we built!" Colin exclaimed, showing me his Lego house.

"Yeah, just a day or two," I replied, stealing a glance at my mother and she smirked. "Then we’ll come with you."

The minute she said that, my heart thumped in my chest.

"What? At the workplace?" I asked. "Mom, it’ll be a little too much, don’t you think?"

She chuckled.

"Not really. I’m not a child who will ruin your workplace. If you can take your kids with you, why can’t I come too?" Her arms folded over her chest, and a very naughty look spread across her face.

Even Scarlett was watching our interaction a little too intently.

"We’re going somewhere?" Amy asked excitedly.

"Yeah, it’s a work trip," I said.

"Is Daddy coming?" Amy jumped off the bed, hugging my feet and looking up with her big, beautiful eyes, asking questions my mother already knew the answers to.

"Yeah, we’re headed to a cabin in the mountains, for work. But your daddy said he wants to spend time with you," I explained, keeping my eyes on my mother.

"Great, then. I’m packing my bag. Luca will pack his too," my mother announced, making me stare at her in disbelief.

"Are you serious?" I asked.

"I’m serious. Why would you want to go alone with him?" my mother asked, tapping her foot on the ground.

"Wouldn’t that be odd? Wouldn’t that make him suspicious?" I questioned my mother.

She acted like she had great plans and here she was, making it suspicious by coming with us.

"Come with me to the living room. Scarlett will pack their bags while you tell me exactly where you’re headed," she hissed, finally dropping the fake smile and demanding the truth.

I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. Of course, she wasn’t a fool.

I tiredly paced after her to the living room and, in the next five minutes, explained everything about the healing herbs.

Although she didn’t look completely satisfied or convinced, I could tell she was a little hopeful.

"Fine. I really hope there’s a healing herb," she said. "But in any case, you have to take Luca with you. And before you start arguing, know that I won’t change my mind."

At this point, I didn’t really care about Luca. Kash would be there, the kids would be there, and if I could get my hands on this herb, it was a win-win situation.

It wasn’t like my mother didn’t want the medicine, she wanted it even more than I did.

A few minutes later, she informed Luca, who was already in the bedroom, watching a movie on his phone.

He got up and packed his bag, becoming an uninvited guest I would have to tolerate.

"Wow! I’m so excited for this trip. I’ve never been out with a girlfriend to such exciting places!"

As expected of Luca, the minute he walked out of the room with his belongings, he was already being very cocky.

Now that he was here, the kids were ready with their bags. I began to feel a little anxious.

Even Scarlett was coming in a separate car to take care of the children while we were busy tomorrow.

"This is going to be our first ever picnic with our daddy and mother together," I heard Amy say to Colin.

The little excitement in her voice made her sound like a chipmunk.

"I am so happy," Colin added, melting my heart. I didn’t know they had such little desires and I had been sleeping on them.

Or maybe, I had been forced and manipulated into depriving them from such little joys of life.

But the problem was Luca. I was slightly concerned that his arrival might upset Kash.

I wanted Kash to focus entirely on finding the cure, and with Luca behaving the way he did, I worried it could ruin our peace.

"Don’t forget you’re supposed to not piss Kash off," I said to Luca as we walked out of the guesthouse.

"Why are you so worried about what your ex-husband will think when he sees you with me? Didn’t he already divorce you, cheat on you, and pick his ex over you? Why do you care?"

His words stung, but I swallowed hard and forced myself to stay calm in front of the children.

They wouldn’t immediately react, but I knew that eventually, they would start noticing things, and I was afraid they might get hurt.

"Daddy has divorced you, mommy?" Colin asked and my heart sank in my chest.