Chapter 23: Trust me, I’d press charges

IRIS

“What do you mean by you’re breaking off our engagement?” Collin had asked, barging into the living room, his eyes wide.

“Exactly what you think it meant,” I simply replied, looking up from my phone.

I’d been expecting him after I’d informed Scarlett that I was no longer proceeding with the engagement and she had left my room in a daze.

Although I’d thought it a necessary evil at the beginning, keeping up with the facade when I could barely tolerate my supposed love interest was killing me slowly.

“Iris, baby,” He came to the love seat where I was, his expression tight. “I love you and I want to be with you, what more do I need to do to convince you of that?”

“The problem is that I do not want to be with you,” I simply stated. “Feelings change and mine has. Especially with the recent turn of events.”

The expression on his face immediately changed, his face contorted to that of pure hatred. I knew that look, it was the look that came before he reduced me with his words. “Wait,” he snarled. “Is this because you believe yourself to be the CEO of Astor cosmetics?” He smirked. “You’re really considering taking over? You’d do that to your father’s legacy? Have you not been reading any of my text, I’m sure I sent you dozens on why that is a bad idea. You’ve always wanted out and sought for a quiet life with me,” he held my hand. “I’m willing to take this burden off your back. Let me, Iris. You’re not built to be corrupted by all this corporate drama.”

I shoved his hand away. “You really thought I’d settle for you?” I could barely hold back my anger. How could he talk to me like that? How did I become so much of a doormat that he felt it was okay to let me see how disgusted he looked at the mere thought of me being at the helm of Astor cosmetics. “You really thought I’d marry you? Me?” I huffed. “You must be really confident.”

He blinked at me, taken aback. “Iris,” it was a gasp. The hurt in his face this time, was not an act.

This was his biggest insecurity, our class difference. In the past, I tiptoed around it but this time, I couldn’t help the rancor festering in me whenever I remember what he’d put me through because of it. How he had made me feel small because he couldn’t stand the mere fact that I was the owner of everything he had.

“It’s the truth,” I forced out. “What exactly did you have that made you so confident?” I spat out.

“This is not the Iris I fell in love with,” he whispered. “You told me it didn’t matter to you. You told me you were in love with me!” He practically yelled, his veins were popping and his eyes were wild, unfocused and violent. His hands shook even as he lifted them to caress my cheeks.

My heart was racing in my chest.

I tightened my grip on my dress, trying to hide my fear.

He’d hit me. I just felt it, he’d snap and he’d hit me.

He’d never take this.

I’d end up in the ER.

What was I thinking?

My stomach clenched.

As if on cue, I noticed his mother from the corner of my eyes walking towards us. Her eyes were alarmed as she hurried with a platter of fruits.

For a minute I was confused, why did she look scared instead of joining in on the abuse?

And then I noticed she was wearing an apron. My heartbeat dulled as I fought to compose myself remembering who I was in this life.

I was Ms. Astor, one of the wealthiest women in New York and I had the power. She was not my mother in law yet. I wasn’t the woman she had treated like her personal target for verbal abuse.

She was the help after all and Collin was her son who was about to unmask his real personality in front of her prospective cash cow/daughter-in-law.

I tilted my head to meet his eyes. “What?” I asked. “Does it bother you so much that I’m telling the truth? What are you without me? What are your achievements? What gives you the right to tell me to hand you my father’s company?” I scoffed. “I must have given you the wrong impression with my attention all these years,” I told him even as his grip on my hair became tight, almost becoming uncomfortable but I couldn’t stop now. I never knew how much I’d wanted to hurt him as much as he had hurt me. “The truth, Collin, is that you were never worthy of me. I did you a favor.”

I fought for you when even dad was sure that I could do better.

I stopped talking to my friends.

I was ready to do anything to show my devotion for you.

And then you ruined everything because even though I gave and gave and gave, you were a void that could never be filled.

My eyes teared up as I stared at the monster of a man that I’d loved, that I’d pined and longed for. “I think I’m better suited to be the CEO of Astor cosmetics than the son of a mere driver,” he flinched and taking advantage, I firmly grabbed his hand and removed it from my hair then leaned my face closer to his.

“I do not appreciate your grip on me.” Then I looked at his mother as he lifted his hand again. “Trust me, I’d press charges. Don’t tempt me.”

His hands fell off and he shook his head at me before he walked out. His mother dropped the fruit platter and made to follow him.

“Margaret,” I stopped her in her tracks.

She turned to look at me, taken aback. I remember this period, this was post her true colors. I’d always attach a ma to her name but weeks to my wedding she’d asked me to call her mum and I’d obliged.

This was when she had showered me with so much pretentious and performative love. As our live-in housekeeper she’d been aware of my need for a mother in my life and she had taken advantage of it and milked it.

“I hate the plating. Redo it again.” I ordered, going back to my phone.

She didn’t move, stunned.

I looked up to meet her eyes coolly. I wasn’t this person, I didn’t enjoy doing this to her. I didn’t enjoy doing this to anybody.

But there was a need to put her and her son in their place.

My people pleasing was going to have to come to an end sooner than later, and today was as good as any day, especially since I was already unredeemable the moment I’d announced that I was breaking up with Collin.

“What are you waiting for?” I asked. “Take the plate, walk to the kitchen.”

“Iris?” She called out even as she bent to grab the plate.

“It’s Ms. Astor to you,” I informed her. “Hurry.”

She walked away in a daze.

“The strawberry is too tart,” I complained a moment later. “Replace it.”

“I don’t like the way the apples are cut. What is this? Do it all over again.”

When she returned the third time, I took a bite then frowned. “Take them away, I think I’ve lost my appetite.”

Then I stumbled to my room and cried. I didn’t want to lose myself just to prove a point.

Yet, ever since I stepped into this new world I was becoming more and more unsure of who I had to be to be worthy of the responsibility now thrust on me.

Nicholas had told me I was not enough.

Mr. Benedict had told me I’d potential and although it sounded exciting at the time, it also sounded damning. Potential to become what?