Chapter 379: Book 5: A Heart-Touching Confession

Iris set her luggage in the room next to Maddox’s. Maybe she would share with Esme for now. This was a new place, and Esme might feel apprehensive on her own. Having managed her single-handedly since birth, her motherly instincts took over.

“What are you doing here?” Maddox strode in with Esme’s luggage.

“I’m sharing this room with Esme until she settles down in this new setup.” She gave him a hesitant look.

He gaped at her for a minute. His heart sank with disappointment. Did she care only about Esme? Didn’t he feature in her thoughts at all?

After two years, she hadn’t even kissed him after he had clarified with her. Didn’t he deserve a kiss even? Didn’t she realize what he had gone through only for her?

He hadn’t given up because he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He survived the trauma because he loved her.

But Iris had changed a lot in these last two years. She wasn’t the shy, innocent girl he had met but a mature, strong mother who had survived a storm single-handedly. Maybe somewhere down the line, she had forgotten her needs as a woman. Maybe she had forgotten what she felt for him.

“Yes, Mommy! This room is so big. I want you to stay with me.” Esme ran around to check.

Maddox came out of his reverie. “I’ll redo this room according to your liking, sweetie. We can get you pets as well. What would you like as a pet?” It was the only way to separate her from Iris.

Esme squealed with delight. “Can I get two pups, Dad? Pwetty please?”

Maddox smiled and ruffled her hair. “Of course.”

Iris frowned at him. “That will take a lot of time. Until then, I will sleep with Esme.”

Maddox had no say in the matter. He couldn’t argue or fight with Iris over this in front of Esme.

“I’ll get her room done right away.” He called the workers and discussed. He had to get it done in a day if he wanted Iris in his bed.

They were busy with one another, and he trudged back to his room. But his heart was heavy. He wanted Iris so badly.

After freshening up, he walked out to see Iris making dinner. She smiled at him, unaware of the storm raging inside him. “It’s so great to return home.”

Maddox nodded with a sad smile. “I’ll go to Escapades tonight after dinner if you don’t mind.” He didn’t add that his decision had changed because of her. He couldn’t sleep in an empty room all by himself. With Iris sleeping in the next room, he would go crazy.

“Oh, sure. You might have a lot of pending work.”

Maddox noticed how she accepted his decision so readily. Maybe she didn’t want to spend time with him.

“So, what do you want for dinner?”

Maddox shrugged, sitting at his laptop. How could he tell her how hungry he was for her? He didn’t need food. He was hungry for her kisses and her love. Didn’t she understand that?

“Dad, what do you want for dinner?” repeated Esme.

Maddox blinked and closed his laptop to focus on her. “Anything your mommy makes is fine.”

“Are you sad, Dad?” Esme seemed to understand him more.

He smiled, his glance going to Iris, who was busy with her dinner preparations. “A little, but don’t worry. It’s nothing.”

After dinner, Iris retired to her room with Esme. Maddox slipped away to Escapades to wrap up as much work as he could. It didn’t look like Iris would wake up and come over to his room at night.

He didn’t return home for four days, immersing himself in work. He would only return if Iris slept with him.

The workers completed Esme’s room in four days.

“Wow! I love my room!” Esme gasped as she walked into her newly furnished room.

It had been almost four days since they had come here.

Iris knew Maddox had to pick up where he had left off. He was immensely busy. Iris understood Maddox’s predicament. He had to handle his business first. Yet she missed him like a sore thumb.

She felt overwhelmed that he hadn’t forgotten his promise to her. He entrusted his chauffeur with escorting her to Laurier Advertising. Iris loved the ambiance of the office. But she had expected Maddox to be there for her on her first day. Instead, he messaged her.

I’m tied up at the moment. I’ll see you later. Please meet the GM, Andrew Harvey. All the best as the new CEO of Laurier Advertising! – Maddox.

She joined the workforce as the new CEO of Laurier Advertising. It was a trust she had to uphold – a huge responsibility indeed. She didn’t want to let Maddox and his father down.

Esme stayed at home with Deborah and her new nanny, Lucy Anderson. Maddox bought home two golden retriever pups for her to play with – Milo and Coco. With a newly built nook for Esme in the backyard, she couldn’t have asked for more.

Iris worked hard to please Maddox. She wanted to make it up to him. Yet, the magic they used to share seemed to have diminished. Maddox had no time for her. He stayed over at Escapades.

Was he avoiding her? Was he waiting for something? Or was he really busy?

She tried hard to remain calm and give him some space. It wasn’t easy to manage such an enormous business empire. Maybe he really needed the time to cope with the pending work. Yet the nagging feeling in her mind persisted. She wanted to confess her feelings to him. She wanted to connect with him the way she had before.

“Mommy, Milo tore my drawing!” wailed Esme, bringing a torn sheet of paper to her.

“Oh, why don’t you use a drawing book, honey? Keep it away from him.”

“Yes, Mommy. Won’t you scold Milo? He’s growing naughty.” Esme shoved him towards her mom.

Iris gave him a mock glare. “Mind your own business, Milo. Don’t touch Esme’s belongings. Do you hear me?” She scolded a clueless Milo, who jumped happily at the sight of her.

“He doesn’t even get it,” giggled Esme. Then she sobered and looked at her. “Mommy, will Dad come home tonight?”

Iris shrugged and took out her phone. “I’ll call him.” She had waited enough. Now she had to find out what was keeping him from returning home.

After the third time, he accepted her call. “Where are you, Maddox?” She didn’t care if she sounded upset.

“At the office. Why do you ask?” he sounded tired.

“When will you come home?”

“Do you want me to? I hope you’re enjoying yourselves without me.” He couldn’t control the jealousy this time.

Iris frowned, her suspicions having proved right. “How can we enjoy ourselves without you, Maddox? We want to spend time with you. Esme has been asking after you.”

“What about you?” he whispered, but she heard him distinctly. “Do you want me?”

Iris blushed and nodded. “Yes, very much. I have missed you every single second in the last two years, Maddox. Now, I’m missing you more. Please come home.”

There was silence at the other end, and Iris frowned. She could hear his erratic breathing. Why wasn’t he responding? “Maddox?”

“Yes. I’m listening.”

Iris took a deep breath. “Then come home. I’m waiting for you.”

“Why are you waiting for me? I thought you didn’t need me in your life.” He sounded upset, and Iris sighed.

She needed to clarify things with him as soon as possible, but not over a phone call. “I’m waiting for you because I need you in my life.”

“Lies. You moved in with Esme. I don’t feature anywhere in your life. I can’t sleep alone in that house without you, Iris.” His agitated voice left her gaping. So that was why he had been avoiding her.

She didn’t want to confess her feelings over a phone call, but Maddox left her with no choice. “You have misunderstood me, Maddox. I was just looking out for a baby trying to adjust herself to a new environment. That doesn’t reduce my love for you. It remains the same as before, but is more intense now. So come home, and I’ll tell you how much I love you. Hmm?”

There was silence on the other side. “You love me?” he whispered in disbelief.

“Yes, Maddox.” She closed her eyes in relief. The truth was out now. She had confessed her feelings.

The phone disconnected abruptly, and she frowned at it. Why did he disconnect the call? He could have confessed his feelings as well. She was sure he loved her back. Then why didn’t he say it?

She trudged back to the living room to see Esme watching television. Her nanny and Deborah had left, and the pups lay exhausted on their rugs. She looked up at her mom.

“Mommy, I’m hungry.” She rubbed her eyes to drive the sleep away.

“Yes, honey, I’ll serve you your dinner. Come on, three of you.”

Esme and the pups were too tired to enjoy their dinner. “Is Dad coming home?” She asked for the umpteenth time.

“I’m already home,” came Maddox’s reply, and Iris’s heart skipped a beat.