Chapter 108
“So, Iris,” Catherine began as the first course was served, “how have
you been? It’s been too long since you visited.”
“I’ve been fine,” I replied, picking at my salad without enthusiasm.
“Iris has been doing amazing work at Crescent Design,” Noah offered,
clearly trying to help the conversation along. “Everyone in the design
community is talking about her contributions.”
I shot him a curious look. How would he know that?
“Oh yes,” Catherine gushed. “Our Iris has always been talented. That’s
something the Stone family has always recognized.”
I nearly choked on my water. The Stone family had never recognized
anything about me except my usefulness as a bargaining chip.
“Iris, you and Noah have been working on a project together at
Crescent Design, haven’t you?” Catherine asked, her eyes gleaming
with calculation.
Before I could answer, my phone rang loudly in my purse. I’d never
been so grateful for an interruption.
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“Excuse me,” I said, already standing up. “I need to take this.”
I stepped into the hallway, not bothering to check who was calling
before answering.
“Hello?”
“Iris? It’s Rachel. Just checking in to make sure you’re okay at the
Stone mansion. Any signs of drugged food yet?”
I smiled despite myself. “Not yet, but there’s been an interesting
development. Noah Phillips is here.”
“Noah? Your high school admirer? What’s he doing there?”
“Apparently being vetted as the Stone family’s next protector,” I
whispered, glancing back toward the dining room. “Catherine works
fast.”
When I returned to the table, I noticed something I’d missed before.
My uncle was looking at Noah with a warmth I rarely saw him direct
at anyone. He was nodding at something Noah had said, his
expression almost… paternal.
“Iris,” my uncle said as I sat down, “I hear you’ve been doing well at
Crescent Design. Marcus Foster has taken a special interest in your
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Chapter 108
work?”
I blinked in surprise. My uncle rarely spoke directly to me at family
gatherings.
“Yes,” I replied cautiously. “He’s been very supportive.”
“And how are you finding life in the human world?” he asked, his
voice holding genuine curiosity. “Are you managing well?”
“I’m doing fine,” I said, deliberately avoiding any mention of Sebastien. “Marcus has been especially helpful.”
Catherine seized the conversation again. “Iris, are you still
comfortable at Blue Harbor? Living alone isn’t very safe for a wolf, you know. Perhaps you should consider moving back home where we
can look after you.”
I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me. “I’m perfectly fine at Blue Harbor, thank you. The security measures there are excellent.” I took a sip of water before adding, “And I rather enjoy the privacy.
It’s… peaceful.”
Noah leaned forward slightly. “If you ever need anything at all, Iris,
please don’t hesitate to call me. Day or night.”
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I nodded politely. “That’s very kind of you, Noah.”
The dinner continued with Catherine making increasingly obvious
attempts to highlight Noah’s qualities and achievements. It was painfully clear what was happening–with my divorce from Sebastien
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