Iris:
I kept looking him in the eye confidently, but tears kept falling from mine.
He took a step back, and almost as if trying to steady his breath, he looked away, closed his eyes, and heaved before turning to face me again.
"Yes, you starved and locked up your pregnant wife just to have fun with your ex," I reminded him.
As I spoke, he raised his palm, maybe to silence me, to stop me from saying something that was clearly troubling him.
"Well, I didn't know," he uttered. It was the first time in so long that he sounded guilty.
"Then you shouldn't have locked me in the pantry or cheated on me. Or maybe you were just worried because your kids were involved. I understand that. Some men only love their children because they share their blood," I hissed.
I noticed he stared at my face for a little too long again.
"Anyway, I'm going to take my babies and leave," I told him, straightening my back, reminding him that I wasn't going to let him keep my babies when he didn't deserve them.
"You cannot do that," he hissed, his attitude shifting, his tone turning harsh again.
"And give me one good reason why I can't do that," I shot back, hissing at him. I bet he could sense the annoyance in my body language, but he didn't seem to care.
"Because they're my children too," he muttered, pointing at his chest and stepping closer.
I noticed his eyes linger on my face before falling to my lips, making me feel uncomfortable.
I guess he realized it because he quickly straightened his back and looked away again.
"Well, you're getting married to that woman who once broke your heart. And as for your family, I don't feel comfortable leaving my children with your mother or your sister," I snapped, watching him tilt his head and frown at me.
"So you leave and suddenly your perception changes about everyone? Even the people who kept you close and cared for you?" he growled, unaware of the kind of torture his family had put me through.
"I'm not going to sit here and tell you what I've been through. I'm just giving you my decision. I'm not leaving without my kids, and you're never seeing them again," I said firmly.
That's when I noticed my baby starting to wake up.
"Mommy? What is this place? And who is this man?" Colin, being the cutest child ever, started fixing his hair. But then he frowned and pointed at Kash.
Before I could say a word or move toward them, Kash hurried to the bed and sat down in front of him. The way he hunched and gently pinched my son's chin between his large fingers made my heart tremble.
"I am your father," Kash said.
His words made me gasp. Colin's eyes widened as he stared at his face. He pulled back and looked at me.
Raw emotions flooded my eyes with anger among them. But I guess nothing could have stopped Kash from telling my kids the truth.
"But Mommy said our father is dead."
As Colin said that, Kash snapped his head toward me.
I rushed over and grabbed my son, holding him in my arms. Kash got up from the bed and stepped closer, then snatched the baby from me a little too roughly.
"Stop it!" I cried, trying to get him back, but Kash held my hand and shoved me away from the bed.
"I told you! You stole my babies from me once. You deprived them of their father. And then you had the nerve to tell them I was dead!" he shouted.
That's when Colin started to cry. Amy woke up, having no idea what was happening. But when she saw her brother crying, she began to cry too.
Chaos turned into a mess. While my kids cried, I tried to grab Colin back from Kash, but he wouldn't let me. Every attempt failed, he was much stronger and taller than me.
He finally put my baby back and grabbed my arm, dragging me out of the room.
"No!" I screamed, desperate to stay with my babies. I wasn't going to leave without them.
Once we were outside, he locked the door, then turned to me, pushing me against the wall and placing his hands on the wall, caging me in between his arms. His legs were back from the wall so he could hunch down to my level.
"You don't trust my family. You don't trust me. Then why don't you come and stay here?" As soon as he said that, all the fight in me went silent.
"What?" I whispered, so lost and confused.
"You're still married to me. If you want to see the babies again, you'll have to come and live here with them."
I couldn't tell if he was serious or just angry, but all I could do was stare at him in disbelief.
"Now it depends on you—how much you care about these children. Are you willing to leave your life behind and stay here for their sake? Or is this motherly act just a lie to punish me?" he continued, his bitterness visible from his voice.
I knew how cruel he could be, but I guess back then I was like many women–thinking the bad guy is only bad to others, not to you.
"I'm not going to come here and live the life you chose for me four years ago. I left for a reason. I'm never going to be your side piece," I hissed.
He chuckled and shook his head.
"Who told you I'd accept you as my wife? You'll just live here as their mother—in the guest room. Because, Iris, one thing's for sure, I'm not leaving my kids with you again. And you should be grateful I'm even letting you stay here. Otherwise, I could just take my kids and throw you out. Now it's up to you. Get out before I call the guards and have them throw you out. Come back once you've made your decision," he said, gesturing for me to leave.
I refused. I lunged at the door, twisting the knob. I could hear my children crying inside, but that heartless man didn't listen.
Eventually, Walkin came in with the warriors. Kash stood by the door, arms folded, his back against the wall, watching me suffer like it was entertainment to him.
"Walkin, call her mother and tell her that her daughter has gone crazy. Tell her to come here and take her away before we call the council and she loses custody of her children forever," Kash ordered.
As his warriors grabbed my arms and pulled me back, Kash adjusted his shirt, opened the door, and walked back into his room. While he was closing the door, I noticed his eyes. and that smirk on his lips. It told me he had won, and I was exactly where I never wanted to be.