“Iris, stay and work at the factory. Give up your spot for school to Esther, and I’ll marry you,” Wendel coldly stated.}
Iris agreed to Wendel’s request on the surface, but as soon as she turned around, she wrote a letter to her biological parents who lived far in the south, telling them she was willing to go with them to Nashville.
In her previous life, she had accidentally discovered the whereabouts of her birth parents. Yet, blinded by love for her adoptive brother, Wendel Lancaster, she had chosen to stay with her adoptive family and marry him instead.
For thirty years, Iris remained by his side–until tragedy struck.
Her biological parents passed away unexpectedly. And then, without warning, Wendel and his first love ran off to the south, completely vanishing from her life.”
Not only did they betray her, but they also took away her child, leaving her to suffer through a lonely and miserable old age.}
Now, given a second chance at life, Iris was determined to return to her real family and sever all ties with Wendel once and for all. When he learned the truth, Wendel scoffed, “Even if I lost a leg, I could still marry a woman a thousand times better than you. Who do you think you are?”
But within a year, he regretted his decision to the point of madness.
He chased her all the way to Nashville, his eyes red with desperation. “Please, come home with me, Iris.”}}
Iris only smiled. “Home? What home? This is my home.“>
<—0
“Iris, stay and work at the factory. Give up your spot for school to Esther, and I’ll marry you.”
Hearing that familiar sentence again, Iris felt her entire body tremble.
She looked around in shock.
She was standing outside a post office–one that hadn’t existed in decades. In her hand was a piece of letter paper. It suddenly hit her.
This was the summer of 1989.0
She was twenty years old.”
And today… today was the day she had made the worst decision of her life–giving up her education for Wendel’s first love.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down.
Seeing her silent, Wendel grew impatient and snapped at her. “I know you really want to study, but Esther is the daughter of my dad’s fallen comrade. Her father sacrificed his life to protect our Dad. We can’t turn our backs on her. You understand that, don’t you?“>
A numb, suffocating feeling spread through Iris‘ chest, but she only responded softly, “Alright.”{
Satisfied, Wendel’s voice softened. “Where did you go? Are you coming home for dinner tonight?“{
Iris knew he hated the idea of her contacting her birth parents. If he found out she was writing to them, he would never allow it.
So she lied. “I just went to the town market to buy some groceries. I’ll be back soon.”>
Wendel didn’t suspect a thing and hung up the phone.
Without wasting another second, Iris stepped into the post office and borrowed a pen and a fresh sheet of paper from the front desk.
The original letter she had planned to send contained only polite inquiries about her biological family’s well–being.
But now, she was going to write something entirely different.”
[Dad, Mom, I’ve made up my mind. I don’t want to marry Wendel Lancaster. Take me with you–I’m willing to go to Nashville.]}
She carefully wrote down her address, ensuring her parents would know where to find her.
Watching the postal worker take the sealed envelope away, she exhaled deeply.
For the first time in two lifetimes, she felt a weight lift off her chest.
By the time she got home, it was dinnertime.
Wendel was in the kitchen, cooking.
Meanwhile, her adoptive mother, Stella, sat on the heated brick bed, chatting with Esther–looking every bit like a warm, happy family.
The moment she stepped inside, Stella’s expression shifted. “Have you thought about school yet? Did Wendel ask you to work at the factory instead?“}
Before Iris could answer, Esther quickly intervened, looking up at her with wide, innocent eyes–like a frightened little rabbit.
“Sis, don’t listen to Mom. I would never dare take your spot at school!“}
Her adoptive mother immediately patted Esther’s hand, reassuringly.
“Nonsense. Your father saved our family’s lives. Helping you go to school is the least we can do.”}
Watching them, so close, so affectionate–like a real mother and daughter–Iris‘ lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.
