Chapter 3

Iris felt her blood run cold. Slowly, she turned her head to look at Ethan, whose expression changed in an instant. He hastily snatched his phone back, stepped in front of Violet, and explained, "Vee didn't do it on purpose, Iris. She doesn't know any better. Please don't hold it against her…" Violet, however, tightened her grip around his arm and raised her innocent yet defiant face. "Ethy, the foie gras at that Isaline restaurant earlier was amazing. Let's go again next time, okay?" Her gaze deliberately swept over Iris before she said sweetly, "But next time… you have to feed me using this." Right after saying that, she tapped her lips with her finger. Iris remembered that Isaline restaurant all too well. It was where he had taken her after receiving his very first paycheck. The lights had been soft and hazy. He had clumsily fed her dessert, his eyes bright as stars. "This will be a memory that belongs only to us, Iris. From now on, I'll celebrate every anniversary here with you." It hit her then that promises that were meant to be exclusive could be shared so easily. Memories she once believed were sacred could be handed to someone else without a second thought. Iris loosened her grip and felt the last ripple of emotion inside her settle into numb stillness. Noticing how eerily quiet she was, Ethan felt an inexplicable unease. He stepped forward again and took her hand. His tone carried a desperation he wasn't even aware of as he consoled, "It's okay. It's all in the past. Get some rest tonight. "Your commendation ceremony is tomorrow. You need to be at your best to accept the honor that belongs to you." His touch made her fingers tremble for a moment before the numbness sank even deeper. … The following day, Iris carefully straightened her uniform, leaving the scars that time could never erase faintly visible at her collar and cuffs. These medals had been earned with her life. Ethan was already on stage, trophy in hand. When he looked at her, there was unmistakable happiness in his eyes and something she had once mistaken for pride. The illusion was shattered the moment she caught the glance he cast toward the backstage. The tenderness that appeared in his eyes in that split second was something she had never experienced. Violet smiled sweetly as she stood in that corner. Iris felt as if an ice spike had been driven straight through her heart, a dull pain spreading through her chest. Swallowing her bitterness, she straightened her back and walked toward him step by step. The massive screen began playing a video of her past achievements. Triumphant music filled the hall, but the image abruptly changed, and a shrill scream echoed through the venue. 18-year-old Iris was on the screen, her clothes in disarray, pinned beneath a shirtless, obese man whose face was twisted into a sickening grin. That man was her stepfather, Eric Grant. The man who had tried to force himself on her. The monster her mother had fought desperately to stop. It was her darkest, filthiest nightmare, a past she had spent her entire life attempting to bury. Even now, she still jolted awake in the middle of the night, drenched in cold sweat. The audience erupted. "Oh my god… is that Iris?" "She was assaulted when she was young?" "I can't believe it. She always seems so fearless…" The whispers slithered into her ears like venomous snakes. Iris went stiff in her seat, her blood rushing backward through her body. All of a sudden, she snapped her head toward the backstage area. Violet stood at the multimedia console, looking "panicky". "I'm so sorry! I pressed the wrong button. I had no idea there was something like this in that folder…" The wrong button? That folder was in the encrypted partition of Ethan's computer. Iris and Ethan were the only ones who knew the password. Unless… The thought of that possibility made Iris feel as if her heart had been stabbed straight through, cold air rushing into her chest. She rose from her seat and walked up to Violet, one step at a time. "Iris, I seriously didn't do it on purpose…" Violet shrank back, tears streaming down her cheeks in a heartbeat. Iris raised her hand. Ethan rushed over and caught her wrist. "Iris Whitman! What do you think you're doing?" "She's trying to destroy me. She knows exactly what photo is!" Iris' voice was shaking. "She already told you it was an accident." He lowered his voice. "Everyone's watching. Do you really want to make a scene here?" Iris laughed so hard that her tears almost spilled from her eyes. "I'm sure you know what that photo means to me, Ethan. You know how many years it took before I could sleep at night with the lights off, and you know why I fought so hard to become a federal agent—" It was because that helpless little girl had sworn to become so strong that no one could ever hurt her again. In reality, she had done it. Yet, he had ripped her scars open and put them on display for everyone to see. "It's just an old photo. You're overreacting." His brows knitted together. He continued, "Vee has already apologized. What more do you want? Why are you picking on someone younger than you? Does that make you feel good?"