Lachlan Wyatt never thought he could be in such a defeated position. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

From the very beginning of his confrontations with Iris Crawford to the current state of complete defeat, Lachlan always believed he was the one controlling the situation, unaware that feelings have always been beyond control.

Perhaps, long ago, amidst all those interactions with Iris, he had already fallen for her.

However, back then, that affection was veiled with a layer called "mutual exploitation." He couldn’t see it clearly and thought it was his own unilateral and unscrupulous desire to possess—yet if there were no feelings, why would there be a desire to possess?

Iris Crawford, from the moment I wanted to possess you, I had already surrendered to you.

Realizing that these feelings had long been exhausted, Lachlan chased the car a few steps, stood still, and watched as Iris and Steven Rhodes disappeared. It was as if his strength had been drained, and he staggered backward a step, only to find Dane Rivers approaching from behind.

A few brothers were following him. Dane Rivers grabbed Lachlan Wyatt by the arm, "Where’s Iris Crawford?"

Lachlan Wyatt seemed lost, replying, "Iris Crawford is gone."

"Gone?"

Dane Rivers was startled, "What do you mean, gone? Didn’t you stop her? Did she leave with that assistant of hers?"

Lachlan couldn’t utter the words of admission, as it would be like slapping himself in the face.

"How could you just let Iris Crawford go like that!"

Dane Rivers was anxious, "Tell Iris your thoughts! Tell her you’ve been waiting all these years, waiting continually—"

Yes, Lachlan has been waiting.

Waiting since Iris’s first marriage, waiting for her to divorce.

But even after the divorce, there was no place for him in Iris’s second marriage.

He once shouted at Iris in anguish within The Kingdom of L’s Royal Palace, "I can’t marry you? I’m also a Prince!"

He mistakenly believed Iris was after fame and fortune, yet he hadn’t realized Iris had carried a heavy love through five years of—her second imprisonment.

Lachlan waited from Iris’s first marriage until her second marriage ended, but throughout Iris’s life’s journey, there was never a place for Lachlan’s name.

Lachlan grabbed a handful of his own hair and pushed Dane Rivers away, "Let me be alone for a while."

Dane Rivers watched Lachlan worriedly, instinctively saying, "You need someone with you now..."

The one he needed the most was gone, so it wouldn’t matter if anyone else was with him.

But Dane Rivers felt Lachlan’s current state was terrifying, as if he had lost everything and could just die at any moment...

"Lachlan Wyatt, why don’t we stay at your place for a while?"

Faced with career obstacles, being kicked out of the family, and abandoned by Iris—who could bear such blows?

Yet, if not for the fatal blow Iris delivered at the end, the preceding career setbacks would have been minor issues for Lachlan.

Lachlan shook his head and walked away alone, his departing figure so lonely it even made Hector Sutton’s heart ache.

Originally, they had planned to take Lachlan out to lift his spirits today, but it seemed he had gotten hurt more severely this time.

After returning home alone, Lachlan opened his phone’s album to find a secret photo he’d taken of Iris long ago.

Way back five years ago, he had hesitated whether to delete it. When he hesitated, he ultimately kept it until now.

Iris Crawford.

You can abandon so many things—kindness, conscience, compassion, and me—for you have mercilessly discarded me.

Guided by some mysterious force, Lachlan dialed Iris’s number. He felt dazed, so much so that when she answered, he hadn’t quite gathered his thoughts. Iris said, "Lachlan, what kind of trick are you up to now? Wasn’t what I just said clear enough?"

"I..." Lachlan lay on the bed as his throat moved, signaling that saying a full sentence like ’I love you’ could be lethal to him. Loving someone has indeed taken half of Lachlan’s life...

"I miss you."

"I don’t." Iris’s voice remained cold as ever; for how long had it been since he’d seen her warm?

"Will you be with me?" Lachlan’s voice grew fainter, as if whispering an unrealistic dream, "I can make it up to you for everything."

"I won’t give you the chance to make it up." Iris laughed, but why did her own laughter bring tears to her eyes?

What she uttered next were words like knives, not only injuring Lachlan but also reddening Iris’s eyes, "Lachlan, you can claim you never received affection as a child or explain your twisted personality by any means or reasons, but you cannot use these as excuses to harm or degrade me. I was foolish in the past, I wanted to save you, I wanted to heal you. You cursed me and devised schemes to make me leave. I understand now; I have no obligation to understand you. Finally, I have no interest whatsoever in the hardships you’ve endured."