“Oh, I see. Once you divorce me, you’ll be with Nathaniel and live happily ever after with him, won’t you? And then what? You’ll turn around and y the victim, iming I abandoned you and our kids for Mel?”

Heriberto was raving like a lunatic, irrational andpletely unreasonable. “I’m telling you now–don’t even think about it!”

With that, he hung up.

Listening to the t, mechanical beeping, Iris smiled in disbelief.

They’d known each other for a decade and been married for three years. And this was how Heriberto had always seen her.

So it wasn’t him who was blind–it was her.

***

For the next few days, Iris stayed in her apartment, getting some rest and going over the client files. She didn’t step outside once.

Heriberto didn’t contact her again.

But Megan seemed concerned about the kids. She called a…ost every day, constantly suggesting that Iris move back into the Hale’s mansion so she’d be better looked after.

Only after Iris repeatedly promised to take good care of herself and the children did Megan finally drop the idea,

To make sure everything was progressing well, Iris went for another

0.00%

III

prenatal checkup eight days after herst hospital visit.

The results were excellent. The babies were doing well, so she didn’t need to fuss over them anymore.

But of course, she couldn’t let her guard down.

Just as she stepped out of the hospital, her phone rang again.

As soon as she answered, Megan’s sharp, angry voice red through the phone.

“Iris, you moved out of Rivera Bay? You’re pregnant. How could you just move out like that? And how could you keep it from me? No one told me a thing!”

That she only found out now proved how tight–lipped the maids, drivers, and bodyguards at Rivera Bay were.

“Megan, I’m staying with a friend now. I’m fine,” Iris replied calmly.

The two apartments at Bluehaven Estates–whether it was the one Nathaniel lived in or the one she was staying in now–had been bought under the name of Lumora Group.

Officially, Nathaniel was the owner of Lumora Group, so she was staying at his ce in the eyes of the outsiders.

“You’re staying with a friend?” Megan was stunned and furious.

“You’re Heriberto’s wife, and you are carrying his childre How could you stay at another man’s ce? If word gets out, we’ll be theughingstock of this city.”

Megan believed what Iris had said.

The Aguilera family might have once been prominent, but by the time

11.23

Iris married Heriberto, they were on the verge of bankruptcy.

245 ochers

They hadn’t contributed financially to Iris’s wedding. On top of that, they only managed to stay afloat for a couple more years thanks to the 50 million dors Heriberto gave them–and the Hale family’s backing.

Iris’s grandmother Marie adored her, but she passed away when Iris was a child. Aside from a well–hidden shopping street, the assets she’d left to Iris had all been swindled or outright taken by Iris’s parents.

After graduating, Iris became a housewife, never holding a job.

She had no assets or savings, so it made perfect sense that she stayed at her friend’s ce after moving out of Rivera Bay.

“Don’t worry, Megan. No one will find out,” Iris said.

Megan was fuming, but remembering Iris was having Heriberto’s babies, she forced herself to calm down. Her voice softened and even turned affectionate.

“Iris, sweetheart, that’s not what I meant.

“I just want you to know–I won’t allow Heriberto to divorce you. And I will never let Mnie set foot in our home. So don’t be so stubborn. You moved out just because of an argument. That only makes things easier for Mnie.”

Megan rarely spoke so softly to her, and Iris knew it was all because of the twins.

She smiled faintly. “Megan, Heriberto and I can’t stand each other anymore. Living under the same roof would only be bad for the kids.”

“Thene to stay with me. I’ll take care of you,” Megan said.

Iris refused again, just as she always did. “Thanks, Megan, but

11.23

Heriberto won’t agree.”

Megan’s temper red, a consequence of Iris’s repeated rejections. With no other options, she snapped, “I’m at Rivera Bay right now. If you don’te back, I’ll just stay here and wait. It’s up to you.”

And with that, she hung up.

Iris knew she was truly angry this time.

Megan had always been a dominant woman.

Before her eldest son Julian died in an ident, she micromanaged every part of his life, pouring all her energy into turning him into the perfect heir. That left her with barely any time for her younger son, Heriberto. To focus even more on Julian’s growth, she eventually sent Heriberto off to live with Eleanor.

Even Eleanor couldn’t stand Megan’s overbearing nature and moved out of Hale’s mansion to Southdeer Manor after her husband Edwardo Hale passed away.

But it was undeniable–thanks to Megan, the Hale family expanded rapidly and rose to be the country’s leading powerhouse.

After Marie passed away, Eleanor took Iris in to protect her from the Aguilera family’s mistreatment.

To Iris, the Hale had always felt like her own.

she lived But the truth was, they weren’t. And during all the ye under their roof, she was always careful to stay in their good graces- especially Megan

Even now, she was still willing to y the dutiful daughter–inw.

She knew Megan wouldn’t give up until she showed up at Rivera Bay.

11:23

“Turn around and go to Rivera Bay,” she told the driver.

The driver, employed by Lumora Group, usually worked for Nathaniel.

“Okay, Ms. Aguilera.”

He didn’t know Iris was Lumora Group’s secret owner, but he treated her with respect.