By the time Iris and Sienna arrived at the Blackwood mansion, the sun was beginning to dip behind the tall trees surrounding the estate.
Sienna stared out of the car window, taking in the enormous property.
"Okay," she said slowly. "You weren't exaggerating."
Iris laughed. "I never exaggerate."
Sienna turned to her.
"You absolutely do."
"Not about this."
The car came to a stop in front of the mansion.
Iris stepped out first, followed by Sienna.
They walked through the grand entrance together.
The moment they entered, Eleanor appeared from the sitting room.
"Iris."
Her face immediately brightened.
"You're back."
"I am." Iris smiled. "And I brought someone."
Sienna stepped forward politely.
"Mrs. Blackwood, it's lovely to meet you."
"Oh, please. Call me Eleanor."
Eleanor smiled warmly.
"And you must be Sienna."
Sienna looked at Iris.
"You've been talking about me?"
Iris shrugged.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
Eleanor laughed.
"Iris has mentioned you before."
Sienna smiled.
"Hopefully only good things."
"Mostly," Iris said.
Sienna lightly nudged her.
Before they could continue, a familiar voice came from behind them.
"Is this the famous best friend?"
Iris turned.
Theo was walking toward them with an easy smile.
"Theo."
He smiled at Iris.
"You're back."
"Obviously."
Theo looked at Sienna.
"And you must be Sienna."
Sienna smiled.
"I am."
He held out his hand.
"Theo Blackwood."
"Sienna Brooks."
They shook hands.
Theo looked at Iris.
"So this is the friend you've been talking about."
"Yes."
Sienna smiled.
"I've heard about you too."
Theo raised an eyebrow.
"Good things, I hope."
"Mostly."
Iris laughed.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Theo grinned.
"I like her already."
Sienna laughed.
"I'm beginning to understand why Iris likes you."
Iris looked between them.
"Okay, you two have known each other for approximately thirty seconds."
Theo shrugged.
"That's enough."
Sienna laughed again.
Theo gestured toward the house.
"Come on. I'll show you around."
Iris watched as Theo began showing Sienna around the mansion.
They passed through the sitting room, where Theo pointed out different areas of the house and casually explained some of the Blackwood family's traditions.
Sienna seemed genuinely interested.
Iris smiled.
Theo really was easy to talk to.
Eventually, they returned to the main room.
That was when Iris noticed Damien and Adrian standing near the bar area.
Both men had drinks in their hands.
Damien was leaning casually against the counter while Adrian stood beside him.
Iris walked over with Sienna.
Damien noticed them approaching.
His eyes briefly settled on Iris before moving to Sienna.
"I didn't know we were having guests."
Iris raised an eyebrow.
"Neither did I."
Damien took a slow sip from his drink.
Sienna smiled.
"Nice to see you again, Damien."
Damien nodded.
"You too."
She turned toward Adrian.
"And this is Adrian."
Sienna smiled.
"Nice to meet you."
Adrian studied her face for a moment.
Then his expression changed.
"Wait."
Sienna looked at him.
"What?"
"I know you."
Sienna frowned slightly.
"I don't think so."
Adrian smiled.
"You used to come to your father's firm."
Sienna's eyebrows lifted.
"You worked there?"
"I did my internship there."
Damien glanced at Adrian.
"What a coincidence."
He took another sip of his drink.
"Adrian did his internship at her father's firm."
Sienna looked at Adrian again.
"Oh."
Adrian laughed.
"I remember seeing you around the office."
"I honestly don't remember seeing you."
"That's fair. I was just an intern."
They began talking about the firm.
Iris stood beside Damien, listening for a moment.
Then she felt his gaze on her.
She looked up.
Damien was already looking at her.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them spoke.
For a brief moment, everything around them seemed quieter.
Then Damien took another sip of his drink.
Iris looked away.
She wasn't sure why that tiny moment suddenly felt so noticeable.
Before she could think about it, Eleanor spoke.
"Sienna, are you coming to the gala tonight?"
Sienna nodded.
"I'd love to."
Iris turned sharply.
"Gala?"
Eleanor looked at her.
"Yes."
Iris blinked.
"What gala?"
Eleanor's expression changed.
"You didn't know?"
"No."
Eleanor slowly turned toward Damien.
"Damien."
He looked at her.
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you tell Iris about the gala?"
Damien simply shrugged.
"I forgot."
Iris stared at him.
"You forgot?"
He took another sip.
"Yes."
"You forgot to tell your wife about a gala we're apparently attending tonight?"
Damien shrugged again.
"It wasn't intentional."
Iris narrowed her eyes.
"That somehow makes it worse."
Theo chuckled.
Adrian tried to hide his smile.
Damien simply looked at Iris.
"You'll survive."
"I hate you."
"Noted."
Before Iris could respond, footsteps sounded from the entrance.
Everyone turned.
Sarah walked into the room with her mother beside her.
The moment Damien saw Sarah's mother, he immediately set his drink down.
"Uncle Theo, Grandma!" Sarah said, running towards them
Theo walked toward her and carried her up for a warm hug.
"Hey, kid."
"I missed you guys." She added
"We missed you too." Theo said.
"How is my little joy doing?" Eleanor said.
Sarah smiled.
Then, their attention shifted toward the woman standing beside her.
Lucy was a beautiful woman with long, honey-blonde hair that fell in soft waves around her shoulders. Her light blue eyes were warm and expressive, giving her an approachable quality despite the elegance that surrounded her. She had fair skin, delicate features, and a graceful, polished appearance that made it obvious she belonged in the Blackwood family.
She wore a cream-colored fitted dress with understated jewellery, looking elegant without seeming like she was trying too hard.
"Lucy." Eleanor smiled.
Lucy smiled.
"Hi, Eleanor."
They hugged warmly.
Theo immediately welcomed her, too.
"Lucy, it's wonderful to see you." he said
"It's good to be here." she said.
She looked at the bar, seeing Damien.
He walked towards her and gave her a tight hug.
They didn't say anything.
Then they pulled away, and she said,
"Hey Damien." She said.
He sighed
"It's been a long time." He said with a grin.
"And you kinda look old." He added.
She softly pushed him a way.
"Shut up." She laughed.
The entire atmosphere seemed to change with their arrival.
Iris watched quietly.
There was something about Lucy that made it obvious she wasn't simply a family friend.
She belonged here.
Eleanor eventually turned toward Iris.
"Iris, come meet Lucy properly."
Iris walked over.
"Lucy, this is Iris."
Lucy smiled warmly.
"So you're Iris."
Iris smiled.
"Yes."
Lucy looked her over for a moment before grinning.
"Finally."
Iris laughed softly.
"Finally?"
"I've been wanting to meet you."
Iris glanced toward Damien.
He looked away.
Lucy noticed.
"So this is the mysterious Mrs. Blackwood."
Damien sighed.
"Lucy."
"What?"
"Don't start."
"I haven't started anything."
Lucy looked at Iris.
"You two actually look good together."
Iris smiled awkwardly.
"Thank you."
Damien shook his head.
"You're enjoying this."
"Very much."
Theo laughed.
"I told you she'd like Iris."
Lucy smiled.
"I do."
She looked at Damien.
"She's much nicer than you."
Iris laughed.
Damien gave Lucy a look.
"I'm standing right here."
"I know."
Everyone laughed.
Later, while everyone settled into the sitting room, Iris quietly walked over to Theo.
"Theo."
He looked at her.
"Yeah?"
Iris glanced toward Lucy.
"Who is she exactly?"
Theo followed her gaze.
"Lucy?"
"Yes."
Theo's expression became more serious.
"You really don't know?"
"No."
He nodded.
"Lucy was married to our brother, Damien's twin brother."
Iris's eyes widened.
"Damien had a twin? You had another brother?"
Theo nodded.
"Yep, his name was Derek."
Iris looked toward Damien.
He was sitting with Sarah on his lap and Lucy beside them, listening to them.
"What happened to him?" she asked.
Theo's smile disappeared.
"He died..... 6 years ago."
Iris went quiet.
Theo continued.
"Lucy was already part of the family before that. After he died, she stayed close to everyone."
Iris looked at Sarah.
"And Sarah?"
"That's her daughter. Lucy found out she was pregnant 2 weeks after he died."
Iris nodded slowly.
"Im... im sorry for the questions. It must bring back memories."
He smiled faintly.
"It's fine. You deserve to know." He paused.
"Please give Damien time. Ever since Derek died..." Theo sighed. "Damien was never the same. No one was the same, but Damien was worse."
"I'm so sorry," Iris said softly.
Without thinking, she pulled Theo into a hug.
Theo was surprised for a moment before gently returning it.
Across the room, Damien caught a glimpse of them.
The small smile that had been on his face disappeared.
His expression hardened.
His eyes remained fixed on Iris and Theo.
And for reasons he couldn't quite explain, he didn't like what he was seeing.