Chapter 88

Iris

I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

Arthur just went on live television and told the entire world about us. He finally did the one thing I’ve been begging him to do since… forever.

My hand flies to my arm, pinching the skin there until it hurts. Nope. Not dreaming.

This is definitely real.

“We need to get you home,” Ezra says, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “Before people find out who you are and the paparazzi shows up.”

“But—coffee—” Alice gestures toward the cafe down the street.

“I’ll call you,” I promise, still dazed. “I need to… I need to deal with this.”

Alice nods, quickly climbing out of the car. She waves slightly, looking just as dumbfounded as I feel, and then Ezra is peeling away from the curb before I can blink. Miles looks up at me, confused.

“What’s happening, Mommy?”

I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it, little wolf. We’ll talk about it later.”

Ezra speeds through the city streets, occasionally checking his mirrors.

“Looks like no one is following us,” he says, seemingly satisfied. “Arthur didn’t mention your name, so we still have a small window of time before your identity gets out.”

“How long has he been planning this?” I ask.

Ezra’s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror again. “Since this morning.”

The revelation makes my heart flutter. So this wasn’t another one of his carefully orchestrated PR moves. Arthur made this decision spontaneously, from the heart.

By the time we reach my apartment, my phone is already buzzing non-stop with messages. Brian and Liam are frantically asking if I’ve seen the news. I ignore them for now, focusing on getting Miles inside safely.

Arthur is waiting for us in the apartment, pacing back and forth across my small living room. When we walk in, he stops abruptly, his eyes finding mine. I’m not surprised to see him here. If anything, I’m sort of relieved.

“You did it,” I say softly. “You actually did it.”

He takes a step toward me, then hesitates. “I did. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you, but I was afraid I’d talk myself out of it if I waited any longer.”

Miles runs to Arthur, who scoops him up automatically. “Daddy, you were on TV!”

“I was, buddy,” Arthur says, still looking at me. “I was telling everyone how much I love you and your mom.”

Ezra clears his throat. “I’ll be outside, making sure we don’t have any… unexpected visitors.”

Once the door closes, leaving just the three of us, Arthur sets Miles down gently. “Why don’t you go play in your room for a bit? I need to talk to Mommy.”

Miles nods and runs off to his room, leaving Arthur and me staring at each other across the living room.

“Why now?” I ask.

“Because you were right.” Arthur runs a hand through his hair, messing up his usually perfect style. “I was a coward. I told myself I was protecting you and Miles, but I was really protecting myself from the political fallout. From having to fight for what matters instead of just maintaining the status quo.”

He takes another step toward me. “And then yesterday, watching you at the orphanage, seeing how you connected with those kids, how you were willing to help without asking for anything in return… I realized I need to be worthy of you. Not just claim to love you, but actually show it.”

My heart pounds so hard I wonder if he can hear it. The fierceness in his eyes sends a shiver through me. I still think I might be dreaming, but I know I’m not.

“We need to talk about what happens next,” Arthur continues. “I didn’t mention your name in the statement, but it won’t take long for people to figure out who you are. You and Miles need to move back in with me where I can keep you safe.”

The request isn’t unexpected, but it still makes me hesitate. “But… Arthur, I just got the residency.” I gesture around us, at the apartment I worked so hard to get, the apartment I only just moved into with Miles. “I can’t just walk away from that. And I can’t keep moving Miles all over the place, uprooting him every five minutes.”

Arthur sighs, clearly trying to be patient. “Iris, once your identity gets out, reporters will be camped outside this building. Photographers will follow you everywhere. People will try to get to Miles just to get a picture of the Alpha President’s son. It won’t be safe for either of you.”

I know he’s right, but I still resist. “What about my residency? This is important to me.”

“You can still do your residency,” Arthur assures me. “I’ll have a security detail accompany you to and from the gallery every day. But please, Iris. I need to know you’re both safe when I’m not with you.”

His concern seems genuine, and I find my resistance wavering. But it’s all happening so fast. “I need time, Arthur. To think about us, about what happens next. This is… a lot.” I sink down onto the armchair behind me, dragging my hand over my braid.

“I understand,” he says, and I can see him trying to hide his disappointment. “We can take it as slow as you need. I’m not expecting us to just pick up where we left off five years ago. But the security issue isn’t negotiable, Iris. Not anymore. Let me at least assign you a security detail until you decide whether to move in with me or not.”

I nod slowly. The idea of having bodyguards watch my every move doesn’t exactly fill me with joy, but Arthur has already told me how low-key his security team is, so low-key that I’ve only ever seen Ezra follow us around. I know it’ll likely be the same with us, so Miles and I won’t have to feel uncomfortable. And I need Miles to be safe, too.

“Alright. I’ll accept the security detail. But I want to finish out the residency here, at least. Give Miles some stability before we make another big change.”

Arthur doesn’t look particularly happy about the compromise, but he nods. “Alright. But with round-the-clock security, and if there’s any hint of a threat, any at all, you move immediately. Deal?”

“Deal,” I agree, feeling even more dazed than before.

“And the custody case?” Arthur asks, taking a hesitant step forward. “I’ve done what you asked. I’ve acknowledged you publicly. Does that mean…?”

I take a deep breath, although it has a shuddering sound to it. I can’t believe what I’m about to agree to, but I know it’s the right thing to do. Arthur has met my demands. I feel like I can trust him more now. A lot more. “Yes. I’ll drop the custody case. You kept your word, so I’ll keep mine.”

The relief on Arthur’s face is palpable. He steps closer, close enough that I can smell his familiar scent. My body responds instinctively, leaning toward him before I catch myself.

“Thank you,” he says softly. “For giving me another chance.”

“Don’t make me regret it,” I warn him, but there’s no real heat in my voice. We’re standing impossibly close now, close enough that I could kiss him if I wanted to—and I do want to.

But I don’t just yet. Instead, I grin and throw my arms around him, so overwhelmed with joy that I just want nothing more than to feel him lift me from the ground.