Chapter 41GradelIt was for the best. Ending things between us like that was better than a public rejection. She didn't deserve to be treated in such a manner ever again."You have to understand me, Iris. You can't be with a man who has so much baggage. A man who doesn't even know how to love a woman. Do you enjoy suffering?" I asked her.She sniffed, fighting hard to keep her tears from falling and it broke my heart because I didn't want her to cry because of me. I wished I could make it easier for her."So you are rejecting me just like your brother did?" She hiccuped.I tilted her face upward and held her hands. "I'm not rejecting you. I know the pain that comes with being rejected and I can't put you through that. This decision should make you happy. Think of all the benefits that come with living your life the way you want."She shook her head vehemently and snatched her hands from mine. "Are you listening to yourself? I'm wearing your scent like a second skin and you think that

Chapter 43IrisTwo days later, I still felt like life had been snuffed out of me and even Gradel couldn't cheer me up no matter how he tried. I'd pushed him away because I feared that he might find out the truth.I would tell him everything, I just needed to find the right time.Still sprawled on the bed, he came inside with a tray in his hands, his face thick with concern."You shouldn't have bothered," I sighed and turned to the side, evading his piercing gaze.If he probed too deeply, he might discover my darkest secrets."You are my friend, why shouldn't I care for you?" He sank onto the bed and dropped the tray on my thighs.The word 'friend' caused my heart to plummet. If he discovered the truth, he wouldn't even consider me an enemy. I should have stayed away from him before things got this complicated."And friends know when to give each other some privacy. How many times do you want me to tell you that I need privacy?" I quickly sprang up from the bed, forgetting that there

Chapter 45IrisSongs blared from the speaker as Hazel and I made our way into the club. If someone had told me that I'd be here tonight, I would have accused the person of lying, but here I was, ready to party and get drunk.After witnessing such a heart-wrenching scene, I rushed down to Hazel's house. Thankfully, her parents weren't home so I informed her that I'd changed my mind.Just like I hoped, she didn't ask any questions even though she kept throwing interrogative glances at me at intervals. We were almost the same size, so it wasn't hard to fit into the slutty body-con dress she'd laid out for me to wear.I tucked my hair underneath a blonde wig and she helped conceal my face with a smoky makeover. It wasn't enough to hide my identity, but no one would realize I was the one at a glance.We navigated through the sweaty bodies and stopped at the counter. I took a cursory glance around, surprised at how jammed the club was during this time."Have you ever been here before?" I y

Chapter 47GradelMy head went blank immediately as confusion seared through me. I racked my brain, trying hard to remember when I spoke to another woman or even going further to bring her home but nothing came to my mind.Instinctively, I checked her pulse to be sure she was running a temperature and immediately she swatted my hand away, maintaining her death scowl."So now you think I'm making things up, huh? You think I'm sick?" She gritted and I shrugged, unsure of what to say.Nothing made sense to me. Iris might have betrayed my trust before but being with her for some time made me realize that she wasn't a liar.If she said I slept with someone, then it meant that something happened while I was away and I wasn't aware of it. Come to think of it, there was only one person who had access to my room and could impersonate me if he tried.Devin.It was no one else but him. But what could be his motive?"I can explain, Iris. Just listen to me," I persisted, my voice soft and shaky.A

Chapter 49IrisMy heart plummeted, but it wasn't out of fear, instead, I was thrilled to learn the lessons he had to teach."What kind of lessons do you offer?" I gulped and sunk my teeth into my lower lip when he led me to the wooden chair by the pond and made me sit.He hovered over me, his warm spicy scent creating a fog in my brain that left me dazed. He hadn't even touched me yet and I was already jittery.I recalled the times we were intimate and realized that we hadn't done anything serious asides from kissing, and the blowjob I gave to him when I wanted him to heal faster.But that was all.His hands landed on my thighs which he caressed softly, locking my gaze against his. "Many of them, but tonight, I'm going to show you what my mouth does aside from talking. You're going to feel the pleasure that comes from having my finger inside of you, stroking you till your mind becomes numb and the only thing you'll yearn for is a release that you wouldn't get except I command it." He