Chapter 378: Book 5: Returning Home At Last

Iris dumped the last of her belongings into a suitcase and zipped it up. She sighed for the umpteenth time as she watched Maddox pace the porch and talk to Declan over the phone. While she was bursting with curiosity after his last admission, he seemed totally unaware of her condition. Ever since he had dropped the bombshell, he had been busy on his phone.

His last words kept echoing in her head.

I was lying in a coma at O’Connor General Hospital for the last two years.

What did it mean? Why was he lying in a coma? What had happened to him? Before she could react, he received Declan’s call and walked away, leaving her hanging. From the few words she could overhear of their conversation, it was clear Maddox hadn’t returned home in the last two years.

“Yes, ask Deborah to clean and sanitize the house. I’m bringing my family home.” He sounded so excited that it made Iris smile. She felt a little foolish for jumping to her own conclusions and escaping from the man who cared for her the most.

Did he really plan to marry her?

Was Lucille’s claim fake?

Maybe she should have trusted Maddox more. Maybe that night, he would have rescued her.

If she hadn’t escaped that night, maybe her life would have been different.

“Mommy, I’ve packed my toys.” Esme rushed into her room, bursting with excitement.

Iris smiled at her enthusiasm. Of course, her reaction was natural. She had united with her dad for the first time. Iris felt guilty for keeping her away from Maddox. “That’s great, sweetie. I’m done with my packing. Let’s get you ready to go home.”

“Yay, Mommy! I’m so happy. This is the best day ever. Can we meet Mia before we leave? I want her to meet my dad!” Esme gave her mom a hopeful look. This meant the world to her.

“Sure, we can.” Iris ushered her out of the room to get her ready for the long trip.

“Yes, bro. Iris has agreed to return home with me.” Maddox’s voice echoed through the open main door as he paced the porch.

Iris didn’t miss the excitement in his tone either. She was now certain that she was doing the right thing. After Maddox’s admission, she didn’t want to live here alone anymore. She wanted to go home with her family.

“Yes, reopen Escapades and update me, bro. I’ll see you when I return.”

Iris gasped, realizing he had shut his business down as well.

“Mommy, can we go to Mia’s house now?” Esme tugged at her hand.

Iris rose to leave with her. “Fine, I’ll drop you at Mia’s house on my way to Mr. Murray’s office.”

Maddox walked in and gaped at them. “Were you two planning to escape again?” He chuckled at their groans and eye rolls. Both of them were so similar in every way – even in their reactions.

“No, Mommy is going to see her boss. And I’m going to Mia’s house. Do you wanna come with me, Dad? Mia’s dad comes to day-care every day, but you don’t.” She pouted at her father.

Maddox smiled and scooped her up in his arms. “Sure, princess. From now on, I’ll accompany you everywhere, promise.”

Iris smiled at their interaction, following them out. It was surprising to see Esme accept Maddox so readily into her life. It felt as if she had known him for a long time.

Maddox stopped suddenly, and she crashed into his back. He grinned and leaned toward her. “We’re going to your employer first.”

Iris gave him a suspicious look. “Why? Don’t you trust me?”

He shook his head with an infectious grin. “No, who would release someone as pretty as you?”

“Jesus! Stop flirting!” she muttered, but her flushed cheeks gave her away.

Maddox loved her reaction and walked alongside her towards her boss’s office. She hadn’t changed at all. He could still make her blush.

“I love this day, Dad. Do you know why?” Esme chirped, placing her arms around his neck lovingly.

Maddox feigned ignorance and shook his head. “Why?”

“Because I met you today.” She smacked her forehead dramatically.

Maddox grinned at her antics. “Oh, silly me. I love this day too.”

Satisfied, Esme wiggled down and ran ahead, leading the way. “Follow me.”

Maddox leaned towards Iris, placing an arm around her shoulders. “How about you, Iris? Do you love this day too?”

“Not yet.” She rolled her eyes, although her cheeks gave her away.

“Liar!” he muttered under his breath. Yet he didn’t remove his arm.

“You were telling me about yourself. Why were you in a hospital in a coma?” She gave him a discreet glance only to see him staring at her. From the hooded look on his face, it was difficult to understand his mood.

“Why do you care? You didn’t come over to meet me. Maybe you didn’t want me to survive.” He looked away, released her, and trudged alongside dejectedly.

Iris gasped at the allegations. “I wasn’t aware. How am I supposed to know?”

Maddox frowned at her. Why was she lying? “Didn’t the twins inform you? Declan had met them, begging them for help.”

Iris gasped as realization dawned on her. So that was why the twins were calling her! “They called me repeatedly, but I switched my phone off to avoid them. I thought they would force me to accompany them to Lake Tahoe.” She gave him a guilty look. “I genuinely didn’t know, Maddox. Or I would have rushed to see you.”

Maddox stopped and stared at her. “Why? Don’t you hate me?”

She smiled shyly and shook her head. “I can never hate you.”

He smiled and caught her hand. They walked hand in hand like a couple in love, following a skipping and jumping Esme. “Neither can I. You shouldn’t have disappeared on me, Iris. I was coming down to Stanford to see you when I had an accident. It was a planned murder. Everett Drexel, my adoptive mother’s brother, tried to kill me. He was the same person who stalked you that night in a white BMW.”

Iris gasped in surprise. “Oh! I was right. He wanted to kill me as well.”

Maddox sighed and gripped her hand tightly. “Yes, he wanted the family business. But he’s serving a prison term now. I’m glad he couldn’t harm us.”

“Yes, I’m glad it’s all over. I wouldn’t have wanted Esme to grow up in such an atmosphere.”

They saw Mr. Murray standing in front of his office, and Iris spoke to him. He released Iris willingly to her immense satisfaction. They left for LA after a brief visit to Esme’s best friend, Mia.

“Are we there yet, Dad?” Esme kept on harping every ten minutes.

Iris watched the familiar scenes flitting by. She had wanted to thank the twins, but it had escaped her mind. Maybe she would later.

“So you must be in your fifth semester at college, right?” Maddox noticed the lost look on her face.

“No, um, I didn’t find the time to continue the course. I lost interest in culinary school. Looking after Esme and working at the farm took up all my time.” She looked so lost that Maddox’s heart went out to her.

“I understand, sweetheart. You can choose your stream now that there’s no compulsion to earn. Would you like to look into Laurier Advertising, my dad’s media and advertising firm? They do diverse, creative work, but I have no time to get into that.”

Iris gaped at him in disbelief. “Wow! I’d love to. But what about Camille? Would she mind if I looked into the business?”

Maddox gave her a sad smile. “Camille is a successful international fashion designer, based in Paris. She comes down to see me sometimes, but she shuttles between London and Paris all year round. I don’t think she has time for this. Anyway, no one has heard of her in the last two years. She has just disappeared.”

“Oh, you can reach out to her now that you’ve recovered. We can go to Paris to see her.” Iris felt guilty for not taking an update on him in the last two years. He had always looked out for her. But she hadn’t been there for him when he needed her the most.

Maddox smiled at her, giving a glance full of gratitude. “Will you accompany me?”

“Yes, why not?”

“Are we there yet, Dad?” Esme yawned and looked around.

Maddox smiled and nodded this time. “Yes, we’ve reached.” He swerved the car through the gates of his sprawling property.

“Wow! Is this where you live, Dad?” gasped Esme, looking around her.

“Yes, sweetie. This is our home. Do you see that corner of the garden? I’ll build a park for you. Would you like that?”

“Yes, Dad! You’re the bestest!”

They alighted, and Maddox picked Esme and carried her to the corner of the garden. They animatedly discussed the park while Iris watched them from afar.

She inhaled the warm, familiar scent of her home. She had missed it so much. Nothing in the world could compare to the happiness she felt now. She was home, where she belonged, with the man she loved.