Chapter 11

Iris did not move at all lest someone could tell that she was tipsy. She reached into her bag and texted Ida with her shaking fingers: [When are you coming, Aunt Ida?] Meanwhile, someone poured her another glass of wine. Iris blinked and saw that it was Sean. "I can't drink anymore," she told him. "Are you feeling ill, Iri?" Sean asked mildly. "Your face is a little red." Iris dug her nails into her own palm as she said with a quivering voice, "I'm feeling a little sick, Uncle Sean. Could you ask the girl with Luke to take me home?" She had been looking at the other girl for a while and thought she was around Luke's age. At her request, Sean approached Layla Gooding and Luke, saying, "Iris is feeling a little sick. Do you two mind sending her back to Franklin Manor?" Layla was surprised to be asked directly and turned to look at the beautiful girl that was Iris as she sat nearby. She turned to Luke, who nodded. "Sure." They walked over to Iris, who heaved a sigh of relief. She worked hard to stay sober, but her body was shuddering feebly, and she almost lost her footing—Layla managed to catch her in time and asked, "Are you really alright? Shouldn't we get you to the hospital?" "Yeah. I can take you there in that case," Sean said worriedly. Iris smiled faintly and shook her head. "It's alright. It's a girl issue—I'll talk to the girl later myself." "Okay," Sean replied and told Layla, "Please take care of her for me, Layla." "Yes, Uncle Sean." Nonetheless, just as they stepped out into the hallway, Josh called out to them. "Luke, I'm just about to leave. Weren't you drinking? I haven't had a sip—I can take Iris home." Iris' face paled. She promptly hid behind Layla and cried for help softly, her voice shaking with fear. "Please help me, Layla. Something was wrong with the drink I had tonight…" Layla could see Iris was clenching her fists so hard that her palm was wounded, and she had certainly heard of Josh's history of womanizing that circulated throughout Silverton. Luke heard Iris and turned toward the other man, saying coolly, "Josh…" "She's not family, Luke," Josh replied nonchalantly. With that, he tried to grab Iris. Iris suddenly shouted behind Josh, "Uncle Sean!" Josh turned, and Iris fled right then—it was clear that even Luke was siding with Josh, given how he did not stop Josh when Josh reached for her. It was likely that even if something happened, even Sean would not be on her side! Even in the eyes of the refined and gentle Luke, they treated her as nothing more than a plaything! All three of them were left stunned as they watched Iris run away. Still, Luke and Josh were soon glowering and gave chase as if in sync. However, they searched the entire floor but found no trace of Iris, so Josh quickly called the clubhouse's management and told them to check the security footage. Meanwhile, Layla looked on as if she was just enjoying the show—Iris had certainly made a mistake in asking her for help. Iris had hidden herself in the closet of an empty room, curling up into a ball and shaking. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, but she kept silent, telling herself that it would be fine once this was over. Somehow, memories of her childhood—the voices from the next room when her mother received guests—flooded her mind right then, leaving her sickened. Still, she stiffened as she heard footsteps before long. "Are you sure this is the place?" "Yes. The cameras showed her coming in, but not out." Josh then told the other man, "Tell Luke that she left the clubhouse." "Yes, Mr. Franklin." Iris heard the door close, and Josh soon said, "Time to come out, b*tch. I hate playing hide-and-seek, but you had to make me look everywhere. You'll be punished for that when I get you." Iris remained silent, but she was just stunned to see someone appear in her mind. Why would she think of asking Thomas for help but not Sean? She quickly sent a text and heard Josh's footsteps searching the room, getting ever closer. She clenched on her little knife, her gaze became determined when the door opened, and she did not hesitate to stab him. Josh reacted quickly and dodged aside, but the knife cut his handsome face anyway, leaving a gruesome wound. Incensed, he promptly caught Iris' wrist, dragged her out of the closet, and threw her! She slammed into a chair and dropped her knife from the pain in her back, though her head cleared. She quickly reached for her knife, but Josh stepped on it. He sneered as his left cheek was bleeding. Iris tried to get as far from him as she could even as she shuddered, glaring at him warily. Even so, he slowly walked toward her while unbuttoning his shirt as he prepared to quench his lust. "You made me bleed… I guess I have to give you some proper loving!" However, he had just undone the last button when his phone started ringing. His face had been contorted with rage and libido, and he fished out his phone furiously. However, when he saw who was calling, he picked it up and uttered respectfully, "Yes, Uncle Thomas?"