Chapter 407: To let go [3]

Eloise waited for the workers to leave the room and stepped inside to help Iris put on the dress.

"Your mother is outside causing a disturbance. I sent Olivia to tell my guards not to trouble her, since I know you want to speak. We need to get you dressed so you don’t miss this chance," Eloise said, her fingers trembling slightly as she moved.

Iris tried to turn around to face Eloise. "Why would you allow Olivia to be in my mother’s presence? What if her behaviour turns Olivia away from me? It was all going so well for me."

"She has shared that she met your mother. I do not know what was said, as we didn’t have the time to discuss it. We both assumed that your mother would hear the news and might seek you out. We were right," Eloise said, troubled by Iris’s wounded look.

"I must go out there," Iris said, moving despite her dress falling off her shoulders.

Eloise tried to keep up with Iris to tighten the dress so it wouldn’t fall. "It is done," she said, relieved. "You should send Olivia back inside. I will do my best not to let the guards react."

"No. You mustn’t come outside, Eloise. We promised Damien your safety, and if my mother sees you, she shall direct her attention to you. Stay inside," Iris instructed Eloise. "I would not like for you to be harmed."

"I am staying inside. I am letting Olivia speak to my guards. You must go," Eloise said as Agatha was becoming restless.

Iris walked towards the door and opened it. "Mother," was the first word she said.

Agatha looked to Iris, thrilled to see her daughter. "There she is. I said she would want to speak to me. Get out of the way."

"I shall take it from here. Mrs Bailey, you may return inside with Eloise," Iris said, unable to look Olivia in the eye.

"Very well," Olivia replied.

Iris grabbed hold of Agatha’s hand and led her away from where the guards stood. "That was not very bright of you," she said.

"Well, it is what I must do to get your attention. I cannot write to you, as I am certain it wouldn’t reach your hands. You are getting married, yet you didn’t think to inform me," Agatha said, disappointed.

"Where was I to send the news? You only spoke to Reece-"

"Because I knew where my son was!" Agatha snapped. "You ran off and didn’t think to inform me of your whereabouts. Did it please you to live on an estate?"

"I didn’t run off to the estate. That is not how I got there, and it doesn’t matter. I ran off because I could no longer go through with what you wanted. I was so ready to marry a man I would never love, all for your sake, and you didn’t care about me," Iris said, hurt surfacing in her voice.

"I cared about saving our home," Agatha said, giving her reasoning.

"The very home you destroyed? That couldn’t have been a home you cared about, so don’t lie to me now," Iris said, turning her back to Agatha.

"Look at you. Turning your back on me again. You don’t understand that I had to do my best to pick up the pieces your father created. It wasn’t only you whom I set a marriage up for. I had one for Reece, but he had already disappointed me," Agatha said.

Iris slowly turned to face Agatha. "Do you not care for our happiness? I understand the pressure of paying the debts, but I was ready to work to help you pay them off. Reece has a family. Doesn’t that bring you any happiness?"

"You were not the one going to the door to be hounded by those men. I wish for you both to have families and marry someone you loved, but that was not our reality. If I could have saved us with another marriage, I would have," Agatha said proudly.

Iris raked her fingers through her hair. "You made the decisions alone. Did you not hear me say that I was willing to marry to save us? I had been ready to do it for the sake of the family, but I realised that no matter how much I gave, it wouldn’t have been enough."

"That would have been enough. It would have been enough to help us with the debt and place us in a good position around the town. He might not be a lord, but he was a man-"

"You must stop trying to have me compete with Eloise!" Iris exclaimed, getting the attention of passing couples.

" That was always your mistake, and I should have spoken up about it from the time she arrived. I am not like you and do not care to compete with family. We can’t go on like this," Iris said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Indeed, we cannot. It is time that we be at each other’s side. I have always wanted to take part in the details of your wedding. It is only right that you welcome me," Agatha said.

Iris lowered her hand to her side. "If you had realised your mistakes, I would have entertained the idea of us seeing each other, but you have not changed. You still think only of yourself and only show interest because of who I am marrying."

"Stay away from Zayne’s family. If you cannot, then I would end this engagement so you truly don’t have a reason to go to them," Iris said tearfully, her vision blurring with unshed tears.

Agatha stared at Iris, unable to accept that her daughter would be so foolish. "You would throw away all that you have now if I go to them? How could that make any sense to you? This is what you always wanted. What I said you could achieve."

"Yes, it is, but not because of his wealth. Your greediness would spoil it for me, and I would not subject him to your ways all because we are married. I would protect him from being around the likes of you," Iris said, the decision leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

"You insult me," Agatha said, a pain forming in her chest.

"It is the truth. This is who you are, and there are nights when I am troubled by the thought that I might one day become just like you. It pains me that you wouldn’t better yourself for the sake of your children," Iris said, her voice wavering despite her efforts to remain strong.

Iris continued, "Could you not love me more than you care about wealth or status? Or to beat Eloise at a game only you are playing?"