章 12: Blood of the Earth

"I don't believe you. The fire chief personally informed me that everyone was evacuated. How could someone go in with a bomb without being noticed?" Iris fired at Tyler, who felt a headache coming.

"I have proof, you know," Tyler responded in a grave tone. "We both know you were the target, and I can't leave you at their mercy." He concluded.

"You sound like you know who did it." Iris probed. She didn't believe for a second that Malcolm and Mina had what it took to hire a suicide bomber. However, they were the only ones with something to gain from her death. As much as she didn't want to believe it, she also reminded herself that there was nothing a greedy person wouldn't do to achieve his aims.

"I have a theory," Tyler claimed, but didn't explain further. He watched as Iris went into a deep thought. Suddenly, her eyes shone with understanding.

"That damn old woman!" Iris blurted out in frustration. "They had a bigger plan when they started the fire." She commented, massaging the space between her brows.

"Your fiance is not that connected," Tyler spoke coldly, swallowing the bitter taste in his mouth.

Iris nodded in agreement, not bothering to ask how he knew so much about her. She already knew who Tyler Herper was, and what he could do. There was no way she was going to bother herself with his means. All she needed was results, which he already had.

"Who did it?" Iris probed once more, but for the second time, Tyler wasn't willing to speak.

"I'll tell you everything you want to know. But on one condition." Tyler declared, and before Iris could find a retort, he was already standing before her. She had a deep-rooted fear for the man before her, and just couldn't explain why. She wasn't like this around him earlier, and Iris didn't like the dreadful feeling he gave her.

"Wh…what do you want?" Iris spoke incoherently, her body suddenly heating up. She could still not explain what was happening. A certain emotion she couldn't quite fathom was threatening to consume her, and she felt scared.

However, the desires in Tyler's eyes could not be hidden. He wanted her, and she knew it.

Tyler reached for the back of her head and grabbed a fistful of hair, halting whatever it was that wanted to consume Iris.

'You won't defy me, Minerva. Iris Bowman is mine. And you are the last person to lay your treacherous hands on her. Watch me as I destroy your hold on her' He thought decisively.

"T…Tyler…" Iris called out carefully. She realized her mood had been on and off, and she was doing things she couldn't control. Even now, when Tyler got close to her, she felt scared and angry. Then he touched her. His touch was inexplicable. She enjoyed it and even wanted more.

"What are you doing?" Tyler's hands trailed her soft lips, and Iris felt an electrifying sensation consume her. She felt that with the way things were going, she may die at any point, but just didn't know when. After all, she didn't know how long she had to live again.

"I may die tomorrow or even in the next second. Let's just be frank with each other." Iris spoke without a second thought, causing Tyler to raise an eyebrow in question.

"Do you want to fuck me or not?" She added like an insatiable slut.

"I don't just want to fuck you, Iris. I want you to be mine. My woman. My wife. Only then…" Tyler began to lay his terms on the table, hoping with everything that he wouldn't require the use of force. If Iris agreed to be intimate with him on her own accord, things would be way smoother. He could easily get rid of Minerva and have his woman to himself.

"Deal. I'll be your woman. But you're not allowed to leave me." Iris declared once more, much to the shock of Tyler. He was expecting to use force or even a few tricks up his sleeve, but things were getting too easy. He couldn't even explain what she meant by dying at any moment.

He was beginning to wonder if it was truly Iris or Minerva was speaking through her. However, he was sure there was no way that old witch could escape his grasp.

"In this lifetime, only Iris Bowman would be my woman, and I would give my life to protect you. I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

Iris was shocked at his declaration. She didn't want him to feel indebted to her because she saved his life. However, she could tell that it would be too greedy of her to ask for too much.

'There are a lot of things I need to do. With a backer like Tyler Harper, Rachel would be in safe hands, even if I die today.' Iris was convinced that Tyler Harper, the man on top of the food chain was her blessing in this lifetime, and she would do anything to keep him at her side.

"Fine. I'll be your woman, Tyler Harper." Iris spoke decisively, and at that moment, she felt light. Tyler let go of her briefly and moved toward his drawer. This move surprised Iris, as she wondered if he was having second thoughts because she was too forthcoming.

"What the…" Iris' jaw hung loosely in shock. She couldn't believe her eyes.

There was an auction a few years ago, and every family with power booked a ticket to be there. The star of the night was supposed to be a blood-red diamond ring that could blind anyone with its brightness.

The diamond was so rare that some of the attendees only wanted to have a glimpse of it, as they could never afford it in this lifetime or the next. It was priceless.

However, the clamour died down when they called off the auction and shut down the auction house for procuring a fake diamond. The version they wanted to present to the public was fake, and everyone felt stupid for falling for their schemes.

Malcolm even attempted to rent the fake diamond for their wedding, which Iris never agreed to. He spent a lot of money just to impress his fiance but lost it in the end.

News going around was that the diamond was a rare gem from ancient times, and it was in the possession of an ancient family. The family felt insulted by the antics of the auction house and punished them for devaluing their priceless family relic.

"Blood of the earth." Iris, body trembled slightly when she felt the rare treasure on her finger. She admired it for a while before calling out the name. 'How could Tyler Harper get his hands on the real Blood of the Earth?'

She worked with ornaments and pieces of jewellery and could tell that this was the real deal. The priceless diamond that rich and powerful families could only glimpse at.

"Who are you, Tyler Harper?"