Chapter 12

Josh's tone was completely respectful at the moment. His generation of Franklins all feared Thomas, not because he was the head of the family, but because they knew how violent he could get. And there was no telling what Thomas said, but Josh was left scowling and eventually said, "Okay." Then, he hung up and strode out of the room without a word. Iris' head was still muddled when someone opened the door. Her eyes were dewy and she was still shaking—she was confused why she hoped that guy would come and save her. Whenever she faced any danger in the past, she only thought of saving herself. Why? He had always hurt her and tormented her, and she hated him for it. But when she saw Thomas there, her tears started rolling down her cheeks. She felt aggrieved, and most importantly, she felt she was allowed to cry. He caught her wrist and then pinched her cheek. The pain brought her to her senses. "Urgh…" she murmured like a pure, coquettish fairy, her dewy eyes entrancing. Thomas gazed at her and told her in his alluring voice, "Don't bottle it up." His other hand started to reach for her as well, and she flinched in fright. However, he already had his hand around her waist, holding her in place as he kissed her earlobe and rasped, "You're in for it over the next three days if we don’t resolve the effect of the drug." "Thomas…" she murmured softly and tried to push him away but was unable to. - Iris woke up to find that it was already the next morning, and she was startled to find herself in Thomas' arms. She finally remembered—it was Thomas who saved her when Josh was about to have his way with her and forced Josh to leave with just a phone call. She moved so slightly, and he woke up right then, rubbing between his brows and rasping, "Are you uncomfortable?" Iris replied nothing but slid out of his arms to sit on the edge of his bed, looking flustered as she clutched the blanket, staring at him with dewy eyes while hiding half her face under the blanket. Last night had been memorable since he had kissed her and done other stuff—even if he never went fourth base, she could not quite forget that he was bullying her. Fixing his eyes on her, he said in a low voice, "Come here." She tugged nervously on the blanket. "Do you have other women?" "You don't get to ask about my personal affairs," Thomas said sternly. There was a flash of disappointment in Iris' eyes right then. "I don't want to be the other woman." Thomas simply reached out and pulled her firmly into his arms. He wrapped one arm around her waist as he leaned in, and he spoke beside her ear, "You want to be my woman?" Flustered, Iris shook her head, saying, "I don't like that stuff…" Even if he educated her last night, she still did not like it and found it strange. Thomas held her chin, staring at her fixedly—his question and her response were on completely different wavelengths. "Answer me!" Iris pursed her lips, blinking her thick curled eyelashes before lowering her gaze. "You can’t have other women when you have me." Thomas stared fixedly at her before releasing her. He then got out of bed and entered the bathroom. Iris had no idea what that response meant, and she checked around the room, but there were no clothes. She waited until Thomas came out and saw him making a call. Soon, there was a knock on the door. He answered it and returned with two bags of clothes. Iris took hers and got dressed under the blanket while Thomas put on his black suit. Sliding one hand into his pocket, he stood beside the bed and suddenly took her hand. Iris watched as he tied a bracelet around her wrist, with a white rabbit as its charm. "Thank you," she said quietly. Thomas seemed to pause for a moment before saying, "Go straight to Lunar Peak. Someone will explain your absence from Franklin Manor last night." Iris was relieved to hear that, though he pinched her cheek just then and said alluring, "Be good now." - An hour later, they arrived at Lunar Peak, and Iris stared blankly as the black Maybach sped into the distance. Fiona approached her from the back then. "Can't bear to be apart from Mr. Franklin, huh?" Iris looked back at her in surprise and was stunned. Fiona uttered, "Kenny just texted me, saying that for the next month, you're our most important guest." Iris blushed. She headed upstairs, just as she received a text from Ida. [Let's have lunch together, Iri.] Iris checked the address—it was an address near Ida's office. Ida arrived soon after she did, sitting opposite her and immediately taking notice of her clothes. Since Ida worked in fashion, she could tell that Iris' dress was from the flagship line of a famous brand and a limited edition one at that. "Who bought you that dress, Iri?" Iris' fingers twitched as she replied, "I bought it myself." Ida smiled right then. "Really? I guess you're finally willing to spend your money. Girls should always strive to look pretty, after all." "What would you like to order, Aunt Ida?" Iris asked, quickly changing the subject. Ida took the menu and made the order before saying, "Josh got in some trouble last night. He was rushed to the hospital with broken ribs and other injuries, and they're even saying that he almost died on the surgical table. And Thomas was even stopping Sue from visiting… I mean, Sue is infamous for her bad temper when it comes to her work, and she spoils Josh to no end…" Iris was actually surprised that Thomas went that far. Still, lunch was brief since Ida's lunch break was short. After Ida left, a familiar person alighted nearby, and Bobby Lambert was smiling darkly when he saw Iris. "I didn't think that we'd meet again, Iris Lynd." Iris' face paled when she saw him, and she quickly turned, running toward the nearest bus stop. A bus had just arrived, and Iris quickly got on without checking what it was going. However, Bobby followed her onto the bus. The sickening sensation in her stomach grew—Bobby had always disgusted her. Even though there were many passengers on the bus, her dainty form allowed her to move further to the back, and she dialed a number with shaking fingers. It was soon answered, and she tearfully looked up at the bus number and station number, sobbing as she begged for help again, "Thomas, someone is following me… I'm so scared! I'm on Bus 544, and I'll be arriving at Third River Avenue. Can you send someone over?" "Share your real-time location with me. Don't get off the bus unless I call you." Iris promptly did as she was told while staring nervously at Bobby, who kept squeezing his way through to her. The bus continued onward, passing five stations before Thomas' call came. "Get off now." Iris promptly alighted the instant the bus stopped. Unsurprisingly, Bobby followed her—but Thomas was already waiting at the bus stop, standing haughtily and looking sharp in his suit, sticking out like a sore thumb from the other passengers waiting to get on. Iris promptly threw herself into Thomas' arms, holding him firmly with her shaking arms!