Breaking Free from the Ex-Husband novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“Oh, I see. Once you divorce me, you’ll be with Nathaniel and live happily ever after with him, won’t you? And then what? You’ll turn around and play the victim, claiming I abandoned you and our kids for Mel?”

Heriberto was raving like a lunatic, irrational and completely unreasonable. “I’m telling you now–don’t even think about it!”

With that, he hung up.

Listening to the flat, mechanical beeping, Iris smiled in disbelief.

They’d known each other for a decade and been married for three years. And this was how Heriberto had always seen her.

So it wasn’t him who was blind–it was her.

***

For the next few days, Iris stayed in her apartment, getting some rest and going over the client files. She didn’t step outside once.

Heriberto didn’t contact her again.

But Megan seemed concerned about the kids. She called a…ost every day, constantly suggesting that Iris move back into the Hale’s mansion so she’d be better looked after.

Only after Iris repeatedly promised to take good care of herself and the children did Megan finally drop the idea,

To make sure everything was progressing well, Iris went for another

0.00%

III

Chapter 26

prenatal checkup eight days after her last hospital visit.

The results were excellent. The babies were doing well, so she didn’t need to fuss over them anymore.

But of course, she couldn’t let her guard down.

Just as she stepped out of the hospital, her phone rang again.

As soon as she answered, Megan’s sharp, angry voice blared through the phone.

“Iris, you moved out of Rivera Bay? You’re pregnant. How could you just move out like that? And how could you keep it from me? No one told me a thing!”

That she only found out now proved how tight–lipped the maids, drivers, and bodyguards at Rivera Bay were.

“Megan, I’m staying with a friend now. I’m fine,” Iris replied calmly.

The two apartments at Bluehaven Estates–whether it was the one Nathaniel lived in or the one she was staying in now–had been bought under the name of Lumora Group.

Officially, Nathaniel was the owner of Lumora Group, so she was staying at his place in the eyes of the outsiders.

“You’re staying with a friend?” Megan was stunned and furious.

“You’re Heriberto’s wife, and you are carrying his childre How could you stay at another man’s place? If word gets out, we’ll be the laughingstock of this city.”

Megan believed what Iris had said.

The Aguilera family might have once been prominent, but by the time

11.23

Chapter 26

Iris married Heriberto, they were on the verge of bankruptcy.

245 ochers

They hadn’t contributed financially to Iris’s wedding. On top of that, they only managed to stay afloat for a couple more years thanks to the 50 million dollars Heriberto gave them–and the Hale family’s backing.

Iris’s grandmother Marie adored her, but she passed away when Iris was a child. Aside from a well–hidden shopping street, the assets she’d left to Iris had all been swindled or outright taken by Iris’s parents.

After graduating, Iris became a housewife, never holding a job.

She had no assets or savings, so it made perfect sense that she stayed at her friend’s place after moving out of Rivera Bay.

“Don’t worry, Megan. No one will find out,” Iris said.

Megan was fuming, but remembering Iris was having Heriberto’s babies, she forced herself to calm down. Her voice softened and even turned affectionate.

“Iris, sweetheart, that’s not what I meant.

“I just want you to know–I won’t allow Heriberto to divorce you. And I will never let Melanie set foot in our home. So don’t be so stubborn. You moved out just because of an argument. That only makes things easier for Melanie.”

Megan rarely spoke so softly to her, and Iris knew it was all because of the twins.

She smiled faintly. “Megan, Heriberto and I can’t stand each other anymore. Living under the same roof would only be bad for the kids.”

“Then come to stay with me. I’ll take care of you,” Megan said.

Iris refused again, just as she always did. “Thanks, Megan, but

11.23

Chapter 26

Heriberto won’t agree.”

Megan’s temper flared, a consequence of Iris’s repeated rejections. With no other options, she snapped, “I’m at Rivera Bay right now. If you don’t come back, I’ll just stay here and wait. It’s up to you.”

And with that, she hung up.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify