Chapter 181
Iris's POV
I parked my car in the visitor spot outside Crescent Design, taking a deep breath before stepping out. The morning air was crisp against my face as I smoothed down my loose-fitting blouse, acutely aware of the small but noticeable curve of my stomach beneath the fabric.
Walking through the glass doors of the building felt strange—familiar yet distant, like returning to a childhood home that no longer belonged to you. The receptionist's eyes immediately dropped to my midsection, her expression shifting from professional courtesy to barely concealed curiosity.
"Good morning," I said, unable to suppress a small smile at her poor attempt at subtlety. "I'm here to see Sebastien Grey. Daniel asked me to come."
"Oh! Ms. Stone!" The receptionist straightened in her chair, suddenly flustered. "Of course, yes. You can go right up. Mr. Grey is in his office."
As I walked toward the elevator, I could practically feel her eyes burning into my back. Seriously? The photos had been circulating for days now. Was my pregnancy still that shocking to everyone?
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside, positioning myself in the corner. As the floors ticked by, people entered and exited, some giving me curious glances before looking away. I leaned against the wall, thinking about Daniel's call. His voice had been urgent, almost desperate. What could be so important that Sebastien needed to see me immediately?
When the doors opened on the design department floor, Lisa rushed in, arms full of fabric samples and folders stacked precariously high. She didn't notice me at first, concentrating on keeping her balance as she squeezed between two executives.
One of the folders began to slip, and without thinking, I reached out to steady it. "Careful there."
Lisa looked up, gratitude in her eyes until she recognized me. "Iris?!"
"Hey," I said simply, helping her secure the stack. "Been a while."
"I—yes, it has." Her eyes flickered to my stomach before quickly darting away. "Thank you for... the catch."
"No problem. Maybe take fewer things next time?" I suggested gently. "That pile looks like it's about to stage a rebellion."
The elevator stopped at her floor, and I helped her balance everything as she stepped out. "Take care of yourself, Lisa."
Before the doors closed, I caught her staring at me with a mixture of confusion and something else—pity, maybe? I shook it off. I didn't need anyone's pity.
When the elevator opened on the design floor, my old department, I hesitated before stepping out. I hadn't planned to stop here, but some invisible force pulled me forward. The moment I appeared in the doorway, a hush fell over the room before erupting into excited chatter.
"Iris!"
"Oh my god, look who's here!"
A group of my former colleagues surrounded me, their faces lit with genuine smiles. Beth, the department head, emerged from her office and hurried over.
"It's been ages!" she exclaimed, clasping my hands warmly. "How are you doing? Are you adjusting well to everything?"
Another designer, Mike, grinned at Beth. "Look at you, acting like you haven't been stalking Iris's Instagram daily."
"I have not!" Beth protested, but her blush gave her away.
I couldn't help smiling. "I've been okay. Busy with new projects." I deliberately kept things vague, not wanting to discuss my personal life.
Everyone took turns updating me on office gossip and their own projects. I nodded and laughed at the right moments, but something felt off. There was a distance that hadn't been there before—an invisible wall between my old life and my new reality.
"So what brings you here?" Beth finally asked, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Are you rejoining the team? We'd love to have your designs back."
I noticed their hopeful expressions and felt a pang of regret. "Actually, I'm just here to see Grey about something quick. Daniel called me in."
Their faces fell slightly, and I felt guilty for disappointing them. After a few more minutes of catch-up, I excused myself and headed toward the executive floor.
As I approached Sebastien's office, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. I raised my hand to knock, but voices from inside made me pause.
"Seb," I heard Blake ask directly, "is it true? Is Iris pregnant?"
The room fell silent. I held my breath, frozen in place as I waited for Sebastien's response.
"Yes." Sebastien's voice was low but clear. "She is."
A collective gasp filled the room, followed by excited murmurs.
"Holy shit, man!" Blake exclaimed. "And you kept this from us? Since when?"
"I just found out recently," Sebastien replied, his tone measured. "I'm handling it."
"Handling it?" Alex's voice cut through. "Is that why you've been sending her flowers and meals? Making all these attempts to get back with her?"
"Not buying it, Sebastien," Blake continued skeptically. "This sudden change of heart after treating her like she didn't exist for two years. The entire pack is buzzing about you and Iris Stone having a cub together. Talk about bombshells. Since when do you keep secrets from your brothers?"
My breath caught in my throat. So everyone knew about the baby now. I found myself unable to move away, needing to hear his answer.
Alex spoke next, his voice calmer but probing. "So this sudden desire to reconcile with Iris... it's just about the baby? About securing a Grey heir?"
My hand hovered over the doorknob as I held my breath, waiting for Sebastien's answer.
"You guys seriously think I'm in love with her or something?" Sebastien's voice was cold, dismissive, with that Alpha arrogance I knew too well. "That I'm pining over her?"
The words hit me like a physical blow. I stepped back from the door, my hand dropping to my side.
Of course. What had I expected? That he actually cared? That all those flowers, those meals, those calls meant something? It had always been about the Grey bloodline, about having an heir. I was just the convenient vessel.
I turned away, my decision made. I wouldn't be used as a broodmare for the Grey family legacy.
"Mrs. Stone?"
I nearly jumped at Daniel's voice behind me. His expression shifted from surprise to understanding as he realized what I'd overheard.
"I was just coming to get you," he said carefully. "Alpha Grey is—"
"Discussing how he never actually cared about me?" I cut him off, my voice surprisingly steady despite the storm inside me. "Yes, I heard quite clearly."
Daniel's face fell. "Please, let me explain—"
"There's nothing to explain." I met his eyes squarely. "Thank you for calling me here today. It was... illuminating."
"Mrs. Stone, please—"
"If Grey wants his heir, he'll need to prepare for a fight," I said coldly. "This baby and I aren't property of the Grey pack."
I walked past Daniel toward the elevator, my steps quick and determined. As the doors opened and I stepped inside, I caught sight of Sebastien's office door swinging wide, revealing his tall figure in the doorway. For one breathless moment, our eyes locked—his filled with shock and something that looked like panic.
Then the elevator doors closed between us, and I exhaled slowly, leaning against the cool metal wall.
Inside my car, I finally allowed myself to feel. My hands trembled slightly on the steering wheel as I processed what I'd heard.
"It's just us now," I whispered, my hand resting protectively over my stomach. "And we don't need him."
My phone vibrated—Sebastien calling. I rejected it without hesitation.
"If you want this baby, Sebastien Grey," I said to the empty car, "you'll have to face me in front of the entire werewolf council."
I started the engine and drove away from Crescent Design, not looking back once.