Bound By Vows, Sealed In Love

The officer said, "Did you see what happened clearly? This case—"

Iris cut him off, saying, "Excuse me, but does what Caiden did to them count as intentional harm?"

The officer hesitated before answering, "Technically, it's considered a mutual fight since they fought back too."

Iris continued, "So does what he did count as disorderly conduct?"

"Disorderly conduct usually needs to be intentional. In this case, it looks like both sides were drunk and acted without thinking, so we don't really call it disorderly conduct."

Iris refused to let up. "Isn't it immoral to flaunt an affair and hug the mistress in front of everyone? Can't something like that earn a few days in detention? Five? Or maybe ten?"

Suddenly, everyone there, even the officer, figured out that Iris was not trying to get Caiden out. She was looking for a reason to keep him in lockup.

People stared in disbelief. What a match made in hell.

While everyone else tried to process what was happening, Caiden leaned back in his chair, and the way he moved only made him look taller and more striking.

He spoke her name in a low, gravelly tone. "Iris."

There was nothing overtly threatening in his voice, but the chill that came with it was enough to unsettle anyone.

Ultimately, Iris gave in. With Wells Group's stock price on the line and memories of how kind Caiden's parents had always been to her, she finally agreed to settle the matter. She negotiated with the other side, handed over thirty thousand dollars, and secured Caiden's release.

Neither of them said a word during the drive home.

When they pulled up to the house, Iris lingered outside to park the car. By the time she stepped inside, Caiden had already disappeared into the bathroom, clothes in hand. She ended up washing her face in the guest room, then changed back into her nightgown.

Sprawled across her bed, Iris felt like all the energy had been drained out of her.

Tonight should have been quiet for once. No emergency calls from the hospital, no late-night surgeries waiting. She could have gotten a rare, peaceful night's sleep. Instead, the evening had been a disaster that left her running all over the place for two straight hours. All she could manage now was to steal a short nap before her next shift.

As her eyes finally started to close, a sudden movement startled her. The hem of her nightgown was pulled up, and a hand pressed between her legs.

Iris jerked awake, legs snapping shut as she shot him a wide-eyed glare.

Perched on the edge of the bed, Caiden sat in a loosely tied bathrobe. The robe barely covered him, leaving his chest and abs exposed beneath the warm light.

Realizing she was awake, he didn't hesitate to push further. His face stayed unreadable, but his hands grew bolder.

Iris could only interpret his actions as toying with her.

She shoved at his arm and exclaimed, "Caiden, have you lost your mind? Let go of me right now!"

His eyes, dark and unreadable, flashed with a hint of sarcasm. "I saw what you left behind in the bathroom. Is this what you do when I'm gone for months? Did your own hands ever satisfy you the way I do?"

A wave of realization hit Iris when she noticed what he had seen—the underwear she left behind in her rush was still out in the open.

Embarrassment flickered across her face, yet she stood her ground, pressing her palms firmly against his chest.

Caiden never forced himself on her. His position and reputation made it unthinkable. The moment she fought back, he lost interest, brushing her off as dramatic and dull, and released her without another word.

With an air of indifference, he reached for a wet wipe, wiping his hands clean. Iris clenched her teeth, refusing to meet his gaze. A faint smirk played at his lips, though any desire had faded away.

Turning her back to him, she caught sight of something she hadn't expected—his wedding ring glinting on his finger, a simple band of platinum.

For the longest time, she believed he had taken it off for good.

Her own ring had vanished from her finger ages ago.

After tossing the wipe and tying his robe tighter, Caiden stretched out on the bed. The space between them disappeared, and his familiar scent—woody, warm—hung in the air. Within moments, he was fast asleep.

Sleep eluded Iris completely.

For the first time in a year, her husband shared a bed with her, but she wished with everything in her that he had stayed away.

Not wanting to stay another second, Iris slipped from the bed and moved to the guest room, seeking even a shred of comfort.

Lying alone, she couldn't shake the thought that the past two years of marriage had been nothing but wasted time.

...

The next morning, Iris dressed quickly and made her way downstairs. Caiden was already waiting, looking flawless as ever at the table. There was no hint left of the chaos from the night before.

He wore a tailored black suit, every line crisp, a matching tie, cufflinks gleaming, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. In no time, he had become the perfect image of the Wells family heir, exuding privilege and composure.

As Iris entered the dining room, Caiden stayed focused on his phone, not even sparing her a glance. He made no mention of her absence from their bed last night.

He spooned porridge into his mouth, the cuff of his dress shirt brushing against a watch with a deep blue face—a quiet symbol of his elegance and mystery.

The housekeeper, Cecily Douglas, appeared with a plate in hand. "Mrs. Wells, your breakfast is ready."

With a gentle nod, Iris thanked her, then turned her attention to Caiden. "I covered your settlement last night. That was thirty thousand dollars. Please give it back to me."

Behind clear, thin glasses, Caiden's eyes flicked up, his voice steady. "Didn't I already give you enough money?"

Iris remained composed. "You can check the account if you'd like. Not once have I touched your money since we got married."

Both families had plenty of wealth. Iris never needed to rely on him for financial support.

Without further argument, Caiden grabbed his phone and sent the exact amount to her. He added nothing extra.

Breakfast passed in near silence, broken only when his secretary arrived to escort him to work.

As he rose to leave, Iris put her spoon down and told him, "Since you've come back, let's settle our divorce."

Caiden paused, eyebrows raised, and then he glanced back at her with a faintly amused smile. "Come again?"

Her tone didn't waver. "First, the one living on the Autumn Avenue, and then, the woman from last night. There's no point in dragging this out. Let's end it."

Cecily and the secretary excused themselves, closing the door behind them to give the couple privacy.

Leaning back in his chair, Caiden's eyes drifted over her before he folded one leg over the other. "Alright. Tell me your terms for the divorce."

Iris gave a small shake of her head. "I want nothing. We've barely lived as a real couple, other than sleeping in the same bed. Whatever belongs to you stays with you, and I'll take what's mine. I'll move out once the paperwork is done. That's all."

Any thoughts of splitting his wealth never even crossed her mind.

Caiden maintained a mask of politeness, but everyone who knew him understood there was much more beneath the surface. He might have seemed like a spoiled heir on the outside, but in reality, he was cold and calculated—a man with a reputation for playing by his own rules.

When Caiden had first stepped into the family business, his father had put him in charge of a struggling subsidiary. The entertainment arm had been losing money for years.

Caiden had cut jobs and overhauled the entire operation. He'd ignored every plea for leniency. Even the old-timers who'd built the company from the ground up hadn't been spared. Most people had thought he was reckless.

Instead of playing it safe, he'd thrown the company's money into film, TV, and new talent shows. He'd launched a fresh wave of stars, turned profits around, and the company's fortunes had soared.

That division was now a crown jewel of Wells Group, and the artists he had discovered were now among the industry's brightest.

There was nothing simple or innocent about Caiden. Iris had no intention of getting tangled up in his world. She just wanted a clean break.

In a smooth, almost gentle tone, Caiden replied, "That arrangement won't work for me. After all this time together, I think some compensation is in order."

For a second, Iris thought he was talking about making things easier for her, and the sudden courtesy threw her off.

She looked up and answered, "That really isn't necessary. If you're willing, I'll get in touch with the lawyer today—"

"You misunderstood. I meant you owe me compensation."

Iris froze, caught off guard.

A slow, cold smile spread across Caiden's face as he leaned back in his chair. "It hasn't even been a year, Iris. Have you forgotten you owe me a baby?"