The gala was finally coming to an end.
Guests slowly made their way toward the grand entrance, saying their goodbyes as staff began clearing the tables inside the ballroom.
The once-lively room had become quieter, though Damien was still surrounded by people.
Everyone wanted to congratulate him.
"Congratulations, Damien."
"Well deserved."
"We look forward to working with you."
Damien accepted each congratulation with a polite nod, his expression calm and professional.
Iris stood a short distance away, watching him.
She smiled faintly.
She still couldn't quite believe it.
After a moment, Damien's eyes found hers.
He excused himself from the conversation and walked toward her.
"You're still here."
Iris raised an eyebrow.
"Obviously."
Damien glanced toward the entrance.
"I thought you'd already left."
"I was waiting to congratulate you."
He looked at her.
"Congratulations, Mr. CEO."
A small smile appeared on Damien's face.
"Thank you."
Iris crossed her arms.
"Don't get too excited. I'm not going to start calling you that all the time."
"I wasn't expecting you to."
"Good."
They stood there for a moment.
Then Iris smiled.
"Your speech was actually good."
Damien raised an eyebrow.
"Actually?"
Iris immediately regretted the wording.
"You know what I mean."
"No, no. Please continue."
She rolled her eyes.
"I was going to say your speech was good."
"But you said actually."
"Because I didn't want to make your ego any bigger."
Damien chuckled.
"Too late."
Iris shook her head.
"See? This is exactly why."
He smiled.
For a moment, the conversation felt strangely easy.
No arguing.
No pretending for cameras.
Just the two of them standing together after a long evening.
Iris looked toward the ballroom.
"You know..."
Damien waited.
"I really was proud of you."
His expression changed slightly.
"You were?"
Iris looked at him.
"Yes."
She shrugged.
"You worked hard for this. So... you deserved it."
Damien didn't respond immediately.
He simply looked at her.
"Thank you," he finally said.
His voice was quieter this time.
Iris gave him a small smile.
"Don't make it emotional."
"I wasn't."
"You were about to."
"I wasn't."
She laughed softly.
Before either of them could say anything else, several men approached Damien.
"Mr. Blackwood."
"Damien, congratulations again."
"We'd like to speak with you about a few things concerning the company."
Damien glanced at Iris.
She immediately understood.
"Go."
"You sure?"
"I'll be fine."
Damien hesitated.
"I won't be long."
Iris smiled.
"Damien, you're the CEO now. People are obviously going to want your attention."
He nodded.
"Alright."
Then he looked at her again.
"Are you going home?"
"Yes."
"You're not driving yourself."
Iris sighed.
"I know."
"And let me know when you get there."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Since when do you care when I get home?"
Damien gave her a look.
"Since you're my wife."
Iris's smile faded slightly.
"Right."
She looked away.
"For two years."
"I know."
There was a brief pause.
Neither of them said anything.
Then Iris pulled out her phone.
"I'll call the driver."
She stepped away and contacted the Blackwood family driver.
A few minutes later, the driver informed her that the car was waiting outside.
Iris slipped her phone back into her clutch.
"Well, I should go."
Damien nodded.
"Goodnight, Iris."
"Goodnight, Damien."
She turned toward the entrance.
Then she stopped.
Looking back at him, she smiled.
"And congratulations again."
Damien smiled back.
"Thank you."
Iris walked toward the exit.
Outside, the night air was cool and quiet compared to the noise of the gala.
The driver opened the back door of the waiting car for her.
Iris stepped inside and settled into the seat.
Before the door closed, she glanced back.
Damien was still standing near the entrance, surrounded by several guests waiting to speak with him.
Their eyes met one last time.
Then the door closed.
The car pulled away.
By the time Iris returned to the Blackwood mansion, the house was almost completely silent.
She stepped inside and handed her clutch to one of the staff members before heading upstairs.
Once she reached her room, she closed the door behind her.
Finally, alone.
She walked over to the mirror and looked at herself.
The wine-coloured gown still hugged her figure, the gold detailing catching the soft light from the room.
She carefully removed the gold necklace Damien had given her.
For a moment, she stared at it in her hand.
She remembered the note.
I hope you like it.
She placed the necklace on her vanity.
Then, she removed her earrings and slipped off her heels before slowly removing her makeup.
She slipped into the bathroom to take a shower.
Afterwards, she changed into her pyjamas and climbed back into bed.
As she settled beneath the covers, her mind wandered back to the evening.
The cameras.
Damien's hand around her waist.
The kiss.
His speech.
The way he had looked at her when she told him she was proud of him.
Iris frowned slightly.
"Why am I thinking about all of this?" she murmured.
It was just one evening.
It was just part of the agreement.
Nothing more.
She pulled the blankets over herself.
Her eyes slowly closed.
But one thought remained.
Two years.
That had been the agreement from the beginning.
Two years, and then they would go their separate ways.
Yet, for the first time, Iris wondered if two years might be longer than she had originally thought.
A few hours later, Iris slowly woke up.
The room was dark except for the soft glow of the bedside lamp.
Still half-asleep, she reached for her phone and checked the time.
11:43 p.m.
She blinked at the screen.
"Wow," she whispered.
She placed her phone back on the nightstand and settled beneath the covers.
Then she heard it.
The faint sound of a car pulling up outside.
Iris immediately recognized it.
Damien.
She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
A few moments later, the bedroom door opened.
Damien stepped inside, his coat hanging loosely from one hand.
He glanced toward the bed.
Iris kept her breathing slow and steady, careful not to move.
Damien walked quietly across the room and disappeared into the bathroom.
A few minutes later, the sound of the shower stopped.
The bathroom door opened.
Damien stepped out wearing his pyjamas, his hair slightly damp.
Iris remained perfectly still.
He walked toward the bed, probably assuming she was asleep.
He glanced at her before reaching for the pillow and blanket he had used the previous night.
Just as he was about to pick them up, Iris finally spoke.
"You know the bed is big enough for the both of us, right?"
Damien froze.
He slowly turned toward her.
"So you're awake."
Iris opened her eyes.
"Unfortunately."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You were pretending to sleep?"
"Maybe."
"For how long?"
"Long enough."
Damien stared at her for a moment.
Then he looked down at the pillow and blanket in his hands.
"You could've said something earlier."
"I wanted to see if you'd automatically choose the couch again."
"And?"
"You did."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Habit."
Iris pushed herself slightly higher against the pillows.
"Well, you don't have to sleep on the couch."
Damien looked at the bed.
Then back at her.
"You're sure?"
Iris shrugged.
"It's a bed, Damien. Not a battlefield."
He gave her a skeptical look.
"With you, I'm not entirely convinced."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Then sleep on the couch."
He almost smiled.
"Fine."
He placed the pillow back on the bed.
Iris watched him.
"Wait."
Damien looked at her.
"What?"
"You're actually going to sleep on the couch after I just told you not to?"
He shrugged.
"You told me the bed was big enough. You didn't exactly invite me."
Iris stared at him.
"You're impossible."
"So I've been told."
She sighed and moved slightly toward her side of the bed, leaving plenty of space between them.
"There. Happy?"
Damien looked at the empty space.
"Very."
He placed his pillow on the opposite side and climbed into bed.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
The room became quiet again.
Iris stared at the ceiling.
"So..."
Damien turned his head slightly.
"Hmm?"
"Big day."
"It was."
"You finally got your company."
"My company?"
She glanced at him.
"Don't tell me you're going to correct me at midnight."
"It isn't technically my company."
Iris smiled.
"Okay, Mr. CEO."
Damien let out a quiet laugh.
"Better."
She smiled to herself.
Then the room fell quiet once more.
But this time, Damien wasn't sleeping on the couch.
And somehow, Iris found herself much more aware of the fact than she wanted to be.
Iris stared at the ceiling, suddenly very aware that Damien was lying only a few feet away from her.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Then Damien glanced toward her.
"Get some sleep."
Iris turned her head slightly.
"You too."
He settled back against his pillow.
"Goodnight, Iris."
She paused for a moment before a small smile appeared on her face.
"Goodnight, Damien."
The room fell silent once more.
And for the first time since their marriage began, they fell asleep in the same bed.