Chapter 6

Thomas was simply despicable! Before Iris could speak, however, he forced-fed her with his mouth again and kept repeating it. In the end, she was numb to it. However, her belly felt better, and he released her when the whole bowl was finished. He picked up a tissue from the table and wiped her lips, smiling as he asked, "Let's do this again tomorrow?" Tears rolled down her cheeks as she choked out a question. "When are you going to let me go?" Thomas said nothing and simply left. - Since then, Iris ended up being confined for over a week. There were people bringing food in every day, and she no longer starved herself because the pain before was pure agony. Moreover, she refused to let Thomas force-feed her with his mouth again. Eventually, a waitress entered with a new set of clothes, announcing, "You may leave now, Ms. Lynd." - Iris returned to Franklin Manor and immediately found Ida waiting. Iris had bracelets covering her wrist so that Ida would not see her scars. "Aunt Ida," Iris said, greeting Ida. Ida smiled softly in turn. "Hey. Sorry I was away for so long, and Mrs. Taylor told me you were working?" Mrs. Taylor stood calmly nearby—the Franklin servants were all told to keep quiet although Iris had been gone for over a week. "Yeah, it's a good part-time job," Iris replied. Ida uttered smilingly, "Mm-hmm, it's good to train yourself, but remember not to let it affect your studies. You love art, and you have more time during your summer break. Take time off work and get used to the art studio on the third floor, and Sean could give you some pointers." Iris lowered her head to hide her misery while she clenched her own skirt. "I'm doing well at my job, Aunt Ida." She was too terrified to challenge Thomas considering his savagery, and he clearly said that she had to stay away from Sean too. Half an hour later, she returned to her room with Ida's gifts and stiffened when she saw the towering man on the balcony. Thomas had one hand in his pocket and the other holding a cigarette. He snuffed it out and strode inside her room. Iris stood stiffly watching him as he picked up something from the pile of gifts and threw it straight into the trash can. Iris quickly moved to pick it up, only to hear him growl coolly, "Go on. Pick it up." Iris' eyes went red—it was a watch from Sean. Somehow, he knew. "Is my face the reason?" she demanded. Was her face the reason he treated her like this? She knew she resembled her mother very much, be it in her face or her presence. That night, in the hallway, he had mentioned her mother too. Thomas brushed his fingers over her cheek and then on the mole at the corner of her eye. "Come over tonight," he threatened icily. Iris felt like she could suffocate, just as she shook with rage. He had threatened her at that nightclub, and he was doing it again now. She snapped, "Thomas—" Before she could finish, he whispered into her ears nonchalantly, "Consider Ida…" "Fine." So he would stop at nothing to torment her, even threatening her with her aunt. His arm reached to her nape and grasped firmly, forcing her to look up. He kissed her violently—it would even be more appropriate to call it a bestial bite, tearing into her tongue and leaving her with agonizing pain. She tried to push him away, but he picked her up and slammed her heavily against the door, making her unable to move. Iris' face contorted in pain, whereas his tongue viciously reached into her mouth. She sobbed miserably—his kiss was violent, invasive, and bloodthirsty. She felt if she were smaller, he would have devoured her whole, mincing her and assimilating her into his flesh and blood. Suddenly, a voice spoke outside. "Iri? I forgot to give you something." It was Ida. Iris stopped crying right then, but Thomas was only getting more violent. Ida kept calling for her but thought Iris was not in her room since she did not respond and left. Hearing her footsteps fade into the distance, Thomas finally stopped. Iris was left with lingering fear, suffocation, and pale cheeks, while his eyes flashed in crimson. He put his thumb on Iris' lips and wiped away the bloodstains, growling threateningly again, "Let me see you talk to Sean or accept his gifts. Try it!" With that, he left her room, while she slumped limply to the floor. She curled up into a ball as she stared tearfully at the expensive watch in the trash can. She wanted to pick it up and return it to her aunt. However, she had not guts to do it. There was still blood in her mouth, reminding her that it would not do her any good to upset Thomas and that the ensuing punishment would be worse. - At 10 PM, despite her legs trembling, Iris mustered her courage to head next door. Thomas, who just had a bath, was wearing a black bathrobe and reading a paperback book. He seemed to be waiting for her on the single-seat couch. When she arrived, he closed it and threw the book aside, saying in a low voice, "Come here." Iris walked over but stopped just in front of him. "Sit!" His demand left her flinching. He grinned as if reading her mind, saying, "Or do you want me to repeat myself?' Iris gingerly sat on his lap, trembling as she spoke, "I'm worried Aunt Ida will come looking for me…" Thomas merely brushed his finger behind her ear, pausing on her neck. Her skin was delicate and smooth. Her neck was so thin, and it was as if he could snap it if he held it too tight. "Should I tell you what a man and a woman would do at night?" His alluring voice was filled with malice. Iris gaped at him. "You're despicable." Thomas simply leaned toward her and whispered into her ear," You're here to warm my bed, Iris Lynd." Her eyes betrayed her terror, and her soft voice shuddered when she said, "I'd rather die than let you bed me!" She suddenly took out a pair of scissors she used for art and aimed it at his chest. Thomas' eyes flashed violently as he growled icily, "Should I help you?" He grabbed Iris' wrist right then and pulled her hands toward him! Iris loosened her grip in shock, and the scissors dropped to the floor with a thud. Thomas snorted coldly, picked her up, and threw her to the bed before moving on top of her. Despair could be seen in her eyes as she uttered, "No, please…" "I'd rather die than let you go!" Thomas snapped savagely. "It's sick if you do it with someone you don't love…" Thomas was going to lean in for a kiss when he froze. Somehow, her words stung him, and he promptly straightened himself. However, his visage was no less savage as he growled sinisterly, "I'm coming back at one. The bed must be warm by then." With that, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door loudly as he left. Iris was left panting, her tears flowing uncontrollably and wetting the bed sheets. She had three hours, but she was too drowsy and fell asleep. She worked hard to wake herself. Seeing that she still had time, she kept sleeping until the alarm clock rang. Jolted awake, she had just pushed herself out of bed when the door was pushed open. Then, Thomas strode inside, his presence icy as ever. Iris' tearful eyes were quickly filled with fear, and she said meekly, "The bed is warm." Thomas pointed at the couch and barked, "Sit there and watch me sleep." While Iris was taken aback, he snapped sternly, "What, do you want to sleep with me?" Iris promptly moved to the couch. Thomas got onto the bed, leaving just a dim bed lamp on. Iris was too sleepy and fell asleep on the single-seat couch. It was the next day when she woke up, and Thomas had already left. She got up feeling sore all over, making the bed and cleaning the room before returning to hers. She slept in an uncomfortable posture, which added to her discomfort—but it was still better than sleeping on his bed. At noon, she headed over to Lunar Peak. Fiona smiled at her. "You don't have to wash the dishes. Just clean the vacant private rooms." Iris appeared surprised, and she nodded. She changed into her uniform before heading to the private room—there was a girl working with her, who said sarcastically when she was inside, "You're quite something, dishwasher one moment and now table cleaner next? Tell me, who was the one you flirted with?" Iris scowled but did not respond. The girl continued, "Come on, tell me. I even heard that Fiona fired that young chef Sammy because he was caught staring at you a little too much. If this goes on, every man in Lunar Peak will fall for you." Iris was actually stunned to hear that, and the girl promptly scoffed for finally seeing a reaction from her. "What a wh*re!" With that, she kicked the bucket of dirty water, splashing everything on Iris' pants and leaving her shuddering right then. Seeing her wretched state, the girl sneered. "It's not my fault. Go on, clean up everything." She then threw her tablecloth at Iris and left the room. - At the CEO's office at Franklin Corp, Thomas was staring at his computer screen when Iris dropped to a crouch and wiped the dirty water off the floor all by herself. Kenny was briefing him about work matters, but Thomas ignored everything as he stared murderously at the screen before saying icily, "Go to Lunar Peak personally and sort that out." Kenny didn’t catch on in time as he uttered, "But sir, I should be assisting you at the international conference later…" "Shut up and go," Thomas snapped coolly.