Only You, In Every World

"Enjoy your dinner. I've got things to take care of at home, so I'm heading out."

Iris curled her lips into a smile and walked out of the private room, ignoring everyone's tension. After all, she had only come in to make them uncomfortable.

Mission accomplished. Every single one of them ate stiffly, like they were chewing cardboard.

Lionel couldn't sit still anymore. He ditched everyone and chased after Iris.

"Honey, listen to me…" he began.

Iris turned back with feigned surprise. "Hm? What's wrong? Isn't this a celebration dinner? You're not staying with your friends?"

Lionel stared at her, testing the waters. "You're not angry?"

She kept walking and smiled. "What would I be angry about?"

Lionel hurried to keep up. "Uh… Pamela sitting next to me was totally an accident. I only love you. I'd never betray you."

Iris sounded indifferent. "I know. There were other guys sitting next to her, too. I trust you."

She said those words slowly, her smile unreadable.

For a split second, Lionel felt like he didn't really know her anymore. Even so, he couldn't put his finger on why.

After a long pause, he asked carefully, "Really?"

"Really."

Hearing that, Lionel relaxed. Yet, an unexplainable irritation crept up inside him.

"Then wait for me. I'll say goodbye to them and go home with you."

Before she could refuse, he turned and went back into the room. Iris used the moment to hide the divorce papers in the car.

After that, Lionel stayed glued to her at home for two days straight.

Iris found it annoying. Thankfully, on the third day, the label for Lionel's other album called him in for a collaboration, and he went to the recording studio.

Two hours later, Lionel called her.

"Honey, there's a contract on the table in the media room. I forgot to grab it. Can you bring it over?"

Iris agreed. She drove over, handed it to him, and watched them sign it.

After the label reps left, Lionel glanced at his phone, the tips of his ears turning red. A moment later, he walked over and wrapped an arm around Iris's waist.

"Thanks, honey. But I need to re-record a track, so I can't go home with you."

He looked regretful. Iris quietly stepped back.

"It's fine. I can go back myself."

"Then I'll order your favorite croissants and a slice of cheesecake to be sent home."

As he spoke, he leaned in to kiss her forehead. Iris pretended not to notice and bent down to brush dust off her pant leg.

The moment she stepped out of the studio, she saw Pamela getting out of a car.

Pamela saw her as well, but didn't greet her.

Instead, she loosened her grip on the front of her trench coat and walked straight into the studio without looking sideways.

Iris raised an eyebrow. She caught a glimpse of pale skin beneath the coat, a black lace strap on her shoulder, and long white legs flashing as the hem swayed in the wind.

Under the trench coat, she was wearing nothing but lingerie.

A minute later, Iris turned back toward the studio.

Inside the control room, Pamela slipped off her coat the moment she entered.

Lionel gulped.

"Why did you come dressed like this?"

Pamela wrapped her arms around him.

"Didn't you send Iris away because you saw the photos I sent you? You ignored me for two days. You didn't even reply to my texts. I was scared that if I didn't tempt you, you'd forget about me. I didn't mean to mention the pregnancy in front of her that day. I just cared too much about you, and it slipped out. Please don't be angry, okay?"

Standing outside the door, Iris listened as Lionel's heavy breathing quickly filled the room, along with the creak of the desk scraping against the floor.

Pamela's trembling voice came out broken. "Lionel, slow down… I'm still pregnant…"

Lionel let out a deep breath, forcing restraint into his voice. "Okay… I'll slow down…"

Iris pressed stop on the recording without changing her expression and walked away calmly.