Chapter 249

Chapter 249
Iris's POV

I stood in the doorway of the Lowell mansion, staring at the unexpected sight before me. Bob was leaning against his car, looking like he'd been there all night. His clothes were rumpled, his hair disheveled, and dark circles shadowed his eyes. When he spotted Rachel and me, he straightened immediately, hope flickering across his tired face.

"Rachel, heading back now? Let me drive you," Bob said, his voice carrying a desperate edge. His gaze never left her, drinking in her presence like a man dying of thirst.

Rachel's body tensed beside me. She instinctively moved closer to me, her voice deliberately cold. "No thanks. I drove here myself."

I studied her reaction closely. Despite her dismissive tone, I caught the momentary hesitation in her eyes. It reminded me of how her expression had shifted last night when she talked about Bob—that wasn't the look of someone who felt nothing. It was the complicated pain of someone who cared too much.

"I should go," Rachel turned to me, purposefully avoiding Bob's gaze. "Thanks for everything, Iris."

I squeezed her hand gently. "Let me know how things develop," I whispered, giving her a meaningful look. I didn't need to spell it out—we both knew I was suggesting she give him and herself a chance to talk honestly.

Rachel nodded slightly before walking toward her car. Bob hesitated for a moment, then followed her. Though they were several feet apart, I noticed Rachel didn't explicitly reject his approach. Something about their body language, the tension and gravity between them, reminded me of how Sebastien and I had once circled each other—all wounded pride and unspoken feelings.

As I watched them leave, I silently wished Rachel would find her happiness, whatever form it might take. When I turned to go back inside, I found Sebastien standing in the doorway, quietly observing the scene.

"Doesn't that remind you of us?" he said with a slight smile, his eyes reflecting nostalgia and something deeper.

I walked to his side, looking up at his profile. "Really? I don't remember you being that persistent."

"That's exactly what I was like during our divorce cooling period," he replied, his voice tinged with regret. "You probably don't remember, but I had Daniel try to arrange meetings with you, sent flowers... all of which you rejected."

His words stirred something in me—guilt, perhaps. During that time, I'd been so immersed in my pain that I'd deliberately blocked anything related to him. I hadn't realized he'd made attempts to reach out.

"I was too heartbroken then," I admitted softly. "I felt like you'd deceived me, betrayed my trust."

Sebastien's hand settled gently on my shoulder, warmth spreading from his touch. "I know. I don't blame you. What matters is that we're together now."

Before I could respond, Ethan emerged from the house, a playful smirk on his face.

"If we're tallying accounts, you've done plenty to our Iris too..." Ethan raised an eyebrow at Sebastien, his protective brother stance making me smile despite myself.

I was about to intervene when Jack Lowell appeared behind him, descending the stairs. He gave both of us a meaningful look, then grabbed Ethan's arm firmly.

"Why are you out here interfering? Let them talk in peace," Jack scolded his son, then winked at me with a conspiratorial "I'm rescuing you" expression that warmed my heart.

Watching them retreat back into the house, I felt a wave of contentment. After years of losing family and feeling alone, these moments of belonging were precious. Standing in the morning sunlight, I took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of being loved and protected.

"I need to head back to Crescent," Sebastien said, checking his watch with a regretful expression. "There are some contracts that need my personal attention."

I nodded understandingly. "Go ahead. I'm planning to stay at the Lowell mansion for a couple days to spend time with Jack and my father."

"And the twins—" he began, but I was already finishing his thought.

"They're coming with me, of course. Dad and Grandfather have been begging to see more of them."

Sebastien smiled, gently squeezing my hand. "When I'm done with this busy period, let's take the kids on a vacation, just the four of us."

"I'd like that," I replied, my heart warming at the idea of a family trip. As I watched him leave, I turned and walked back inside, already planning the days ahead.

After lunch, I finally managed to put the twins down for a nap. Exhausted but satisfied, I opened my work email which I'd been neglecting. Since the twins' birth, I'd deliberately reduced my workload, but the designer in me still craved creative outlet.

My inbox was flooded with collaboration requests, but most didn't spark my interest. Just as I was about to close the page, an email from Ven caught my attention. Ven was a legendary name in international jewelry retail.

"Ms. Stone, I hope this message finds you well. My wife and I will be celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary, and I'd like to commission you to design a special pair of wedding rings for the occasion. I'm prepared to offer a two-million-dollar deposit, with complete creative freedom given to your inspiration..."

I stared at the screen, my fingers drumming lightly on the desk. This was the first truly challenging invitation I'd received since my return to work. After a moment's consideration, I replied accepting the commission and promising an initial design within a month.

The commitment energized me. I logged into my social media accounts, which had been quiet for months. Inspired, I uploaded several sketches I'd been working on during late-night feedings. The response was immediate—likes and comments flooding in within seconds.

"OMG! Aurora is back!"
"I've been waiting for this forever!"

A warm feeling spread through my chest as I scrolled through the responses.

My phone vibrated with a message from Dina: "Boss, Steven Underwood's trial happened today. The Wolf Council court accepted all our evidence. According to reporters present, he completely broke down, ended up collapsing on the floor."

I took a deep breath, feeling not the triumph I'd expected, but a sense of closure. Underwood would finally face justice for his actions, including his role in my father's death. This was the best memorial I could offer my father.

"Thank you for letting me know, Dina," I texted back. "And please pass my gratitude to Blake for the legal assistance."

I set down my phone and walked to the nursery. Looking at my sleeping twins, a wave of emotion washed over me. For so long, my life had been driven by the pursuit of revenge and justice. I'd sacrificed much, nearly lost myself at times. Now, with Underwood's crimes exposed, I could truly begin a new chapter—one focused on building rather than avenging.

As I gently stroked my daughter's cheek, I felt as though a weight had finally lifted. The past would always be part of me, but it no longer needed to define my future. For the first time in years, I felt completely free to move forward.