Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Liam Parker

I was working on the latest merger deal when my phone started ringing. It was already thirty past two, who could possibly be calling me at this ungodly hour?

'Andrea'

I immediately picked it up. Andrea was with Iris right now. Actually, the reason why I was still up was because I was waiting for her to get home. I didn't realize that it's already almost three because I was too engrossed with my documents.

I mentally cursed at my carelessness. How could I get so deep into my work when Iris wasn't home at two in the morning?

"Hello?" I answered. Right away, I hear the loud music from the back. No freakin way.

"Hey Liam! It's Andrea." she starts, but she sounded nervous. "You might need to come pick your wife up... She's had one drink too many." she says.

Well, shi*.

"Where are you guys?"

-----

I arrived at the bar in less than 20 minutes while I broke all driving rules there were. I had to get there fast. I hated it when Iris got drunk and I wasn't there. She knew what happened to her every time she got drunk.

I admit, I was feeling a bit pissed that she got herself drunk, but then again I couldn't blame her.

Parking in front, I went inside. The place didn't even seem like a bar, it was almost like a club with how lively and crowded it was. Again, I started cursing. There were too many men around here.

For a while, I searched the place and finally, I found the four at some booth. They were laughing happily when I got there and I frowned even more when I saw Iris take a sip of what seems to be an alcoholic drink.

It didn't take too long for them to notice me and when they did, Xenia nudged at Iris and pointed at me. Her chocolate eyes met mine and she right away smiled. Damn, she looked beautiful.

Iris stood up and walked towards me swayingly. I met her halfway and when she was a step away, she almost fell.

Luckily, I caught her fast.

"Watch it." I said. But she didn't freakin mind. She looked up to me, her face so close that I was almost tempted to kiss her again, but I restrained myself. She smiled again and she started laughing.

She took a look back to her friends who were starting to gather her stuff. "Guys, look. Liam's here too!" But her friends paid little attention to her. Iris looked back to me and to my surprise, she embraced me around my waist.

I mean, I don't mind.

I could smell the heavy reek of alcohol from her. "What are you doing here? Looking for another girl to fool?" she asks comedically. But that was like an uppercut in the stomach.

This was one of the reason why I couldn't have her back in my life. I hurt her too much. She deserved better than this. She deserved better than me.

I ignored her comment.

"What were you thinking, getting drunk like this?" I mutter near her ear to make sure she hears me. "And without me, at that."

She chuckles softly, hugging me tighter. Goodness, she was doing this on purpose. This was step one to drunk Iris. She became flirty. "Oh right, you made that stupid rule. Not getting drunk without you, right?" she says and laughs. That rule is not stupid.

The other three neared us.

"Alright, you lovebirds. We're leaving now." Cassie says. Her speech was a bit slurred, she was also a bit drunk.

"Here are Iris' stuff." Xenia says. Although she seemed fine, her cheeks were red, a sign that she was also drunk.

"I swear, we warned her not to drink too much." Andrea says and shakes her head. I tried my best to smile at them, ignoring the fact that Iris' arms worked their way up to and wrapped it around my neck.

Only one move and I could claim her soft lips. But to my surprise, I felt her lips nipping at my neck. I bolted upright and felt a shudder through all of me. I swear she's driving me crazy.

This is why I made that rule that she calls stupid. Because she could do this to any man who approached her.

"Thanks, she's just stubborn." I said and unfortunately broke Iris' hold. "Are you all fine going home though?" I ask.

Andrea lifted her car keys. "Designated driver. Don't worry about us. Take her home now." she says. I nod and I was about to walk away when Andrea called me. I turned around. "Don't hurt her this time, please."

I didn't know how to answer that so I just nodded.

I'll try my best.

-----

The way home was a bit easy because Iris just slept in the car. However, when I was guiding her back to our room, that was the hard part because she kept rejecting my help.

Right out from the car, she took off her short heels and started walking swayingly. I immediately went by her side to guide her but she pushed me away.

"Let me help you." I said, trying to sound patient enough. However, she snaps her head at me and glares at me.

"Don't touch me."

Drunk Iris step two. She became mean or violent. Another reason why I didn't want her getting drunk whenever I wasn't around. She could seriously hurt somebody. No jokes.

There was one time when she slapped me and the mark was there for days.

I sighed and didn't listen to her anyways. I stayed by her side and guided her up the stairs although she kept pushing me away, slapping and hitting me.

She was headed to the triplets' room when I quickly blocked the door. She glared at me and if looks could kill, I would've been dead already.

"They're asleep." I say.

"I want to see them!" she whines like a child and even pouts.

"Tomorrow." I promised softly and drag her out towards our room. However, as I was doing so, she starts tearing up.

Step three. Emotional.

I personally hated this stage the most because I hated seeing her cry. And most of the time, she cried because of me.

For a while, she wasn't saying anything until we reached our room. I turned to her and saw the tears that were already streaming down her face.

I lost count of the times she cried ever since we've reunited a month ago, but all I knew was that it was all because of me.

I hated myself a little bit more each time.

And so I did the only thing that I could do, wipe her tears. "Shh, don't cry." I tell her, but her tears kept coming.

"Why, Liam? Why would you do that? You could've just taken the company and everything that we had. Why did you have to use me? Why did you have to marry me?!" she sounded angry as she finished talking. I couldn't stop her tears. I couldn't take away her pain.

Try as I might, I can never remove the pain that I caused. I can't be both the inflictor and healer of her suffering. All I'll ever be is the one who ruined her life.

A familiar warm tugging hit my chest. Seeing her like this made me angry at myself. This wasn't her fault. She was just a victim.

"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" She pounded at my chest weakly as she repeated that. She was too tired to stand on her own at this point so she leaned her body against me.

I accepted her anger. I deserved that and so much more.

"Believe me, babe. I hate myself more." I say lowly and ashamed.

I'm not sure if she even heard, but if she did, she chose to ignore it.

She laced her arms around my waist again and pulled me closer to her.

"I'm lying. I don't hate you." she looked up to me. She had already stopped crying and I knew step three was done. "How could I ever hate you?"

And with that, she tiptoed so she could press those soft lips against mine.

Step freakin four.

Provocative.

——-

Stay tuned for next chapter and see how Liam handles drunk Iris and her drunk behaviours!!

I will be updating tomorrow!

Hope you liked this chapter!

Don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT, SHARE!

"today's a good day"

-sky 💕