Chapter 4

IRIS

"Your condition is worsening."

I sighed as I continued cleaning the table.

Today morning Asher took me for diagnosis and the doctors claimed that my condition is worsening and soon I will be needing an operation.

How easy it is for a doctor to say that everything will be alright, it is just the matter of a tiny operation.

But the only issue in having an operation is the expenses.

Who ever quoted the statement health is wealth must have been a fool because in today's world health needs wealth.

My expenses are already high with the therapies, diagnosis, psychiatric medicines, the other medicines, bills and food and I have only one job to sustain all needs then over it how can I have an operation?

Like hell I can afford it.

"Its all for today honey. You can go now."

Martha's cheerful voice broke my trail of thoughts. I looked back at her and nodded my head. I quickly made my way to the staff room, removed my apron and picked my bag to leave.

As soon as I got out of the cafe, I say a black Porsche standing at one corner. I decided to ignore it but the person who came out of the car made it difficult for me to ignore.

Soon my dearest ex-husband made his way to me dressed in all black. A smirk was plastered on his perfect red lips while he ran a hand through his jet black hair.

He stood in front of me towering my 5 feet 3 inch height.

"Good evening, my love.", he said softly while adoration was swimming in his blue eyes.

"Evening.", I said emotionlesly as I felt empty at that moment.

Depression is just like a black hole which sucks everything till nothing remains.

"Actually..", he started but I cut him off.

"See Mr. Knight it is about sunset and I need to the reach my home before it's dark.", I said softly as I looked at the disappearing sun.

Hades chuckled softly and cooed, "Aw, is my wife scared of dark."

"I am not your wife.", I snapped at him as exhaustion was taking over my body.

Tristan smile fell and I was sure that for a moment I could see hurt in his eyes but he masked it quickly.

"Well according to my knowledge, it will be dark in the next ten minutes whereas it will be a 20 minutes walk to your house.", Tristan said while rubbing his fingers on his razor sharp jaw, a thing he always does when he is thinking.

I sighed as I cursed internally for wasting my time with him.

"Then I guess I need to leave quickly.", I said as I turned in the other direction with an aim to jog to my home.

Yes if I move faster I will make it back home before dusk.

"Wait.", Tristan said has he grabbed my hand, his touch was enough to make me flinch. Those monsters have almost made me fear anyone's touch. It is like I am hypersensitive to it.

Tristan made an apologetic face though I knew questions were roaming in his thick skull.

I groaned and asked, "What?"

"Well I will drive you to your house as I have something to discuss with you.", he said politely.

Before I could deny his offer, he continued with a very serious face.

"Don't you think of denying because then I will throw you on my shoulder and throw you in my car."

Has he done that before?

Yes.

Can he do it again?

Yes

So after too yeses I had no option.

I sighed because I knew he was capable of doing this because he had done it in the past. Also the sun was fast disappearing so it was better to go with him in the the car.

I nodded my head and followed him to his Porsche.

He opened the door for me and I hopped in.

Chivalrous, my foot!

Soon he also got inside of the car. I put on my seatbelt and waited for him to bring the car to life.

Soon he started the car but after 5 minutes I noticed him going in the other direction.

"That's not the way to my home." I said quickly.

"Actually this way is better, we will face less jam. Also I get to spend more time with you. Just trust me.", He said in his deep velvety voice.

Trust...

"I have paid for trusting you once.", I said mostly to myself but somehow he managed to hear me.

"Mio fiore...", he started with regret etched on his perfectly sculpted face but I cut him off.

"Don't talk about the past as it brings bad memories to me.", I whispered as I shuddered in fear thinking about those monsters.

Soon the car came to a stop, I looked around to find he has stopped at an ice cream parlour.

"Ice cream.", he said giving his breath taking smile.

He knew it to well that ice cream is something I can never say no to.

Before I could say anything, he got down of his car and had already opened the door for me.

I got of the car and for the first time since I have shifted to New York, I was out in the dark.

I will be fine.

It's been too long.

I will be safe.

A chill breeze hit me and I wrapped my arms around myself.

Soon I felt a big jacket being draped over my shoulder. I looked at Tristan with a questioning look.

"Now, what kind of husband will I be if I left my mio fiore cold.", he said politely.

"We are divorced.", I reminded him as we went inside the parlour.

The jacket smelled like him, sweet smell of dew along with his masculine smell. I put my tiny hands in his large jacket trying to take as much warmth as I could after which I muttered a thank you to him.

I choose cookie dough flavour whereas he went for chocolate. Taking our ice creams we sat at an empty stop.

I could feel eyes of alot of girls on Tristan.

But Hades was just staring at me as if trying to figure out something.

Not caring an bit about the attention he was drawing.

"You never feared dark then why now?", Hades asked in a serious tone.

I shook my head as I was not able to form words.

How do I explain him that I don't fear darkness as darkness and oblivion are a bliss rather what I fear are the monsters that roam freely in the dark.

"Why are you still here, when you already know I have a boyfriend.", I said trying to change the topic.

"Really, a boyfriend.", Tristan said in a mocking tone.

Before I could say anything he continued.

"Asher Lockwoods, age 28, works in a publishing house, only family member is his mom, Samantha Lockwoods and is suprisingly... gay.", he said while intently looking in my eyes.

"Ho-ow do you?", I asked with my eyes wide.

"Don't forget baby I am now the richest billionaire and have my own resources.", Tristan said while smirking.

“But I really appreciate the effort he put to umm... protect you.", Tristan said.

“You were literally trying to kill him yesterday.", I accused him.

He kept mum as he had no justification for himself.

"What do you want?", I asked

I knew I wasn't getting any answer to my prior question so why try even.

"You.", Tristan said in such a husky voice that my cheeks turned crimson.

Why he has this effect on me still?

I tried to hide by blush from him by putting my face in my hands.

"Don't hide from me, you know I love it when you blush.", he said while chuckling.

I looked up at his face and the words he said to me that day echoed in my mind.

"You slut."

"Filthy woman."

"Get out."

Soon my face became emotionless and I stated the truth both for him and even for my pathetic self,

"I am not your wife anymore and we are already divorced. I want nothing to do with you so just leave me alone"

Tristan sighed but soon he looked at me with mischief in his eyes.

"I think it's time to make a deal."