‼️IMPORTANT‼️

Hey everyone,

I want to be honest with you all. Writing updates has been tough, especially when I set goals, and they don't get met. It's disappointing and heartbreaking. I put in a lot of effort to bring you updates, even when I said I wouldn't until my targets were reached.

I am still updated because I care about the story and my readers. If I was after fame, I'd just be writing "Smut chapters" because that's what gets all the attention. But I'm not here for that. I'm here to write something meaningful, something with heart, putting all my effort and brain into it.

And still, it feels like it's not enough. Hearing that I'm doing this for fame is..........!, because fame isn't the goal. If it were, I'd just follow the trend with no real plot & and a whole lot of smut. I want to create something that matters, but seeing the least effort from the other side is disappointing.

I'll keep updating, but I'm going to take a major step soon for the good of my book, even if some of you won't like it.

-Your Author

Flashback-

Xavier sat at his desk, staring blankly at the documents in front of him. His mind was far from his work, lost in the whirlwind of last night's events. He could still feel the weight of his father's words pressing down on him. The moment he confessed his love for Iris, the room had gone cold. His father's eyes, usually calm, had turned hard as steel.

The ultimatum had come swiftly, almost cruelly:

"Choose between her and the company." And for the first time in his life, Xavier was stunned by his father, but he chose Iris without a second thought.

It was the first real conflict he'd ever had with his father, and the sting of it still lingered.

He hoped his father would come to understand and would see that this wasn't some fleeting passion. Iris was his world, and nothing-not even the company-could compare to what he felt for her.

But the silence that followed had been deafening. Xavier wondered if he'd lost more than just a battle of wills last night. His father's approval had always meant everything to him, but now -

The door suddenly flew open with a loud crash, pulling Xavier from his thoughts. His father stormed in, face flushed with anger, a thick contract clutched in his hand. Without a word, he threw it onto the desk.

"Sign this," his father demanded, his voice tight with controlled fury.

As Xavier stared at the contract his father had just slammed onto the desk, a rush of emotions surged through him.

His father's words echoed in his mind,
"I hope you haven't forgotten what you chose last night." The weight of those words was immense, yet as Xavier's eyes lingered on the paper, he felt a strange calm.

The company was his pride, his dream realized-every late night, every sacrifice, all for this empire he had built from nothing.

He could sense the enormity of what he was about to lose, the legacy he had poured his soul into. But even as he faced that loss, the thought of Iris eclipsed everything.

The love he had for her was fierce, relentless, and it consumed every other emotion.

How could he not choose her?

The idea of life without her was unthinkable, a void he wasn't willing to face.

The company meant the world to him, but Iris was his world.

In that moment, Xavier realized he would sacrifice everything-his dreams, his future, even his own sense of self-just to keep her.

It was a decision that would shock anyone who knew him, but to Xavier, it wasn't something he needed to think for an answer. Iris was worth more than any empire he could ever build.

He looked at his father. He looked equally determined.

There was no regret in his heart, only a burning need. He knew what he was about to do, knew that his obsession with Iris ran deeper than anything else in his life.

He would do anything-absolutely anything-for her. His father's voice broke through the silence, sharp and cold.

"You chose her over the company, Xavier. Sign this. I won't let you ruin her or the company "

Xavier's eyes flicked up to meet his father's. The old man's face was staight, but his words were heavy with meaning.

But Xavier was beyond being swayed by anything other than his own desires. He needed Iris like he needed air to breathe. She was his obsession, his reason for everything, and nothing would stand in his way-not even his father's anger.

His hand hovered over the pen, and for a moment, he let the silence stretch. He knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn't just signing a contract; he was sealing his own fate, binding himself to the only thing that mattered.

Iris.

As Xavier watched his father take the signed contract, a wave of emotions washed over him. A small smirk came to his lips,The company had been his dream, something he'd built from the ground up with his own hands, pouring every ounce of his passion and ambition into it.

It was everything he had ever wanted. But now, as he felt the weight of what he was leaving behind, there wasn't a shred of regret in his heart. The love he had for Iris evaporated everything else.

She was worth any sacrifice, any loss, even the one thing he had thought he could never live without.

The realization was stark, surprising even to himself, but it was the truth-he would give up his entire world for her without a second thought. His love for Iris was all-consuming, and in that moment, he knew he would do it all over again if it meant keeping her by his side.

Alexander was about to walk away when he turned to look at his. His experience is harder than ever. He stood staight, now with the sighed contract in his hand looking directly in Xavier's eyes he asked -

"What are you thinking, Xavier? What's your intentions?"

Hearing his father, a chuckle left his mouth. A chuckled that wasn't meant to be funny but to show his father the heartfelt feeling he had for her.

"Here's the thing, Papa, the moment our eyes met, our fate sealed together. I became her till my last breath. Now I don't need any of this. I just need her"
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Xavier pov [Still flashback]

Adrian's eyes widened in disbelief as I broke the news. His face twisted with shock, brows furrowing deeply.

"What?!" he yelled, almost jumping out of his seat. "How can Uncle do that? This is insane, Xavier! You put everything into this company, and now he's forcing you to resign as CEO?" His voice trembled with anger, but I barely flinched.

All I could think about was Iris. What was she doing right now? Painting, maybe? Or was she lost in a book, like always?

"Xavier, are you even listening to me?" Adrian's frustration was growing. "How could you sign that paper? Uncle Alexander's being so cruel. Why can't he see how much you love her?"

I just gave him a sad smile, the kind that's more painful than tears.

Yes, why can't he understand?

Why can't he see that I'm not going to ruin Iris? I want to cherish her and give her everything she deserves. I'd give her my last breath, my heart-anything she wants, without hesitation.

Why can't anyone understand that being with her won't destroy her. It will complete her. If anything, it's me who might be ruined, but I don't care.

If losing everything is the only way to be with her, then I'll gladly ruin myself, over and over again.

"I signed those papers because I can," I said quietly, a small smile tugging at my lips.

"Because none of it matters to me. In front of her, my position, power, and all of it feels so small."

Adrian looked at me like I'd lost my mind, but he didn't get it. He couldn't.

My Iris is worth more than any title, more than all the power in the world. If only I could hide away in her arms, feel her warmth surround me.

If only I could pour out everything I've kept locked inside, let her see the depths of my heart.

If only she'd look into my eyes and give me that one smile that makes everything else fade away.

He walked over to me, his eyes carrying an emotion I couldn't quite place. As he sat down beside me, the anger that had been etched into his face seemed to vanish. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

He placed a hand on my shoulder, and though it caught my attention, I couldn't tear my gaze away from the pictures of Iris. I had seen them countless times, yet they still filled me with the same giddy excitement, the same deep peace.

I heard Adrian take a deep breath, breaking the silence and stirring something furious inside me.

"You're risking everything you've built, Xavier. The company-your future. You could have any other woman."

I finally looked at him, my expression hardening as I recalled the words that captured exactly what I felt. Without hesitation, I responded, my voice steady and filled with conviction:

"Any other women? You don't understand. She's not just any other woman. She's everything to me. She's the reason I wake up in the morning, the reason I breathe. She's the definition of my soul, the very essence of my world. Call it madness, call it love, call it obsession, but what I feel for her is beyond words. It's like an erupting volcano, a fire that consumes every part of me."

"My love for her is a force of nature, and I'm willingly captured by its power."

Adrian stared at me, stunned into silence. The weight of my words hung in the air between us, heavy and undeniable.

He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. I could see the struggle in his eyes, trying to find a way to argue, to make me see reason. But there was nothing he could say that would change my mind.

"She's not just a part of my life, Adrian," I continued, my voice soft but firm. It was almost like my heart was speaking

"She is my life. Every breath I take, every step I make-it's all for her. The company, the future you're talking about, it means nothing if she's not in it. I'd give it all up in a heartbeat just to see her smile, to know she's mine, safe and happy."

Adrian finally looked away, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He knew he couldn't fight this-my love for Iris was something he could never compete with.

"I get it," he said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. "I just hope you know what you're doing, Xavier."

I nodded, turning back to the pictures of Iris, my heart swelling with a love so fierce it almost hurt. "I do," I whispered back.

"And I'd do it all again a thousand times over if it means being with her."

Adrian stood up, his hand slipping off my shoulder as he walked away. The room fell silent, but inside, I felt more certain than ever.

This wasn't just love-it was my destiny. And nothing, not even the world crumbling around me, could take Iris away from me.

As Adrian left, I stayed where I was, staring at her picture. Everything else faded away, and all I could see was Iris-her smile, her eyes, every part of her that I loved. I reached out and traced her face with my fingers, feeling the strong pull of my obsession.

She wasn't just in my mind; she was a fire burning inside me, a need so strong it felt almost crazy. And as I looked at her, I knew nothing could ever put out the flame she had started in me.

Flashback ends.
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Present time.

As Xavier stood in the midst of the party, the music and laughter around him faded into a distant hum. His mind was entirely focused on one thing-finding Iris.

He barely noticed the concerned faces trying to engage him, his heart pounding with a sense of urgency. Then, his phone buzzed in his pocket, a sharp vibration that cut through the noise like a knife. He pulled it out, expecting a routine message, but as soon as he read the words on the screen, a cold fury settled deep in his veins:

"Your precious is trembling."

The words were a brutal jolt, a punch that knocked the wind out of me. My heart dropped, replaced by a furious, uncontrollable rage that surged through me like wildfire.

I could barely process it at first-my Iris, taken from me, alone, terrified, and surrounded by other men who can do anything to her.The thought was like a knife twisting in my gut. At that moment, all I felt was pure, unfiltered anger. My vision narrowed, everything else blurring into insignificance.

I felt a hot, tight knot of rage in my chest, burning brighter with each passing second. The calm I usually maintained was gone, replaced by a frantic energy that made my hands tremble.

How dare anyone lay a hand on her?

How could someone be so audacious that they lay their dirty hand on my Iris.

I could hardly breathe, my chest heaving with the force of my emotions. My mind raced, but all I could think about was the burning need to act.

I grabbed my phone, my grip so tight it almost cracked the screen, and dialed the number of my most trusted aide. My voice was rough, barely contained.

"Get the car ready. My Iris is kidnapped. I want every resource we have mobilized. No stone left unturned. Find out who did this and where they are."

I didn't wait for a response. I couldn't. I was already moving, my anger propelling me forward. I stormed through the house, the absence of Iris hitting me like a physical blow.

The silence around me felt deafening, a stark contrast to the chaotic storm raging inside. I needed to get her back. Every second she was gone was a second too long.

I could feel my heart pounding in my ears, each beat echoing the urgency of the situation. I struggled to focus, to push through the overwhelming tide of emotions that threatened to drown me.

The thought of Iris being taken, of her being in danger, was unbearable. It felt like a part of me had been ripped away, leaving a gaping void where only she belonged.

I again grabbed my cell, dialing the other number. It was Adrian on the other side.

"Get the team together. Iris has been kidnapped. I want everyone out looking for her right now. I don't care what it takes. Find her."

Before he could ask anything, I again said. I barely have any patience in me left.

"I need every lead, every bit of information, no matter how small. Check every location and interview every possible witness. Don't stop until you find something."

I called my father, my anger spilling out in a torrent.

"They've taken Iris. I'm heading out to find her. Get everyone on alert. We need all hands on deck."

My voice was sharp, filled with the intensity of my emotions. I could barely keep the tremor out of my tone. I walked away before he could ask further.

My rage was a driving force, pushing me to do whatever it took to bring her back. I knew I had to act quickly, decisively. I couldn't afford to be anything but ruthless at this moment.

I moved with a sense of purpose, and my mind focused entirely on the task at hand. I ordered my security team, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside.

"Prepare the Cars. We're going to cover every possible location. I want updates every minute. We're not stopping until we find her."

As I gave the orders, the reality of the situation settled in again, mixing with my anger. The emptiness left by Iris's absence was overwhelming, but it was the anger and urgency that drove me.

I had to find her. I had to get her back. The thought of her being out there, in danger, was unbearable. Whoever thought they could take her from me would face the full force of my wrath.

He'll get the most painful death ever. I'll myself make sure he does.

Every step I took was fueled by a desperate need to protect her, to ensure her safety. The world around me was a blur of movement and noise, but all I could focus on was Iris. The anger, the frustration, the determination-they all melded into a single, relentless drive to bring her home.

I would do whatever it took. Nothing else mattered but got her back where she belonged. In my arms.

I quickly climbed back into my car, my hand gripping the gun on the dashboard. It shook slightly with the raw anger and urgency coursing through me. The cars I had ordered were lined up, a dark parade ready to tear through the city. I stood in front of them, feeling the weight of the moment.

"We're moving immediately. I want every resource at our disposal. Search every corner of the city, every dark alley, every abandoned warehouse. We need to find her now."

My voice was low and harsh, laced with a fierce determination. There was no room for hesitation. I needed everyone to act as if their lives depended on it because mine did.

My heart was pounding in my chest, each beat a reminder of how much was at stake.

I jumped into the first car, the engine roaring to life. My eyes were locked on the street ahead, scanning every corner, every shadow, every flicker of movement. The convoy of cars moved as one, lights flashing, tires screeching as we sped through the city.

The minutes stretched into hours. My mind raced, every possible location where Iris might be running through my head. The city seemed endless, its dark corners and hidden places feeling more like a labyrinth with each passing moment.

My frustration grew with every empty street, every dead end. The urgency was unbearable. I needed to find her, and I needed to find her fast.

"Keep moving!" I shouted through the radio, my voice barely controlled. "Don't miss a single spot. I want updates every fifteen minutes. If you find anything, no matter how small, report it immediately."

The city was a blur of lights and shadows as we continued our relentless search. The feeling of desperation was overwhelming.

I was powerful, I had resources, but right now, none of that seemed enough. The thought of Iris being out there, scared and alone, with I don't know whom tore at me. I couldn't shake the worry that something terrible might have happened to her.

They might hurt my Iris.

She must be crying.

Hours dragged on, and the first light of dawn began to break through the darkness. The city was waking up, but our search was still in full force. My eyes were bloodshot, my body aching from the relentless effort.

I was desperate, pushing myself and my team to the limit. We needed to find Iris. I couldn't afford to stop, not until she was safe, not until she's in my arms back.

Every new lead that turned out empty added to my frustration. I could feel the weight of helplessness pressing down on me. Despite all the power and resources at my disposal, I felt powerless in this moment. The thought of Iris in danger, her crying, unable to protect herself, was unbearable.

"Where are you, kitten?" I muttered to myself, gripping the steering wheel tightly. My heart ached with every passing second, each moment without finding her making the desperation grow. My eyes begging to have a look at her.

I can't! I can't process without her.

I needed to find her. I needed to bring her back. The search continued, driven by my love for her and the overwhelming need to protect her, but the sense of helplessness was a constant, painful reminder of the uncertainty and fear I was facing.

Xavier stumbled into the house, his face pale and worn from hours of searching. His mother's anxious voice broke through his thoughts.

"Where is Iris? Where is my daughter?"

He couldn't find the words. His throat was too tight, and he didn't even look at his mother, unable to say anything. His father and brother stood nearby, their faces etched with worry. His brother's voice was filled with concern.

"Have you found any trace of her? Anything at all?"

Xavier couldn't even shake his head. The search had turned up nothing, and he felt completely lost. Ignoring their worried looks, he walked past them, heading straight to their room.

The room were they kissed just the previous night.

Once inside, he dropped onto the floor beside the bed. His heart felt heavy as he reached for a framed photo of Iris on the nightstand. The picture showed her smiling, full of life and love. Seeing her like this, while knowing she was out there, possibly in danger, tore at him.

The house felt too quiet, too empty without her. He could see her in every corner, her laughter, her presence, a stark contrast to the cold silence that now dominated.

Tears began to roll down his cheeks as he held the photo close. The memories of their time together flooded back-her laughter, her gentle touch, and the way she had always been there for him.

He remembered their promises, how she'd always told him she would never leave him. Now, with her gone, everything felt empty and hollow.

Xavier's body shook with silent sobs. He felt the weight of his helplessness pressing down on him.

The powerful man who was used to controlling everything was now overwhelmed by his own emotions.

He couldn't stop thinking about what might be happening to Iris, the fear and pain gripping him tightly.

His brother's voice from outside the room was a distant murmur now. Xavier tried to push aside the worry that was consuming him, but it was impossible. The love he had for Iris was so strong, and her absence was unbearable.

He clung to the photo, his tears soaking the frame, as he let himself feel every bit of the pain and fear that was inside him.

Every moment they had shared seemed to replay in his mind, each memory a sharp reminder of what he was losing. The room felt colder without her, and the silence was deafening.

In that quiet space, he let his emotions run free. The fear, the anger, and the helplessness were all too much. He could do nothing but cry, missing her more than words could ever express.

The room felt like a cage, holding him back from doing anything more. He felt a crushing sense of helplessness. His powerful exterior was gone, replaced by a man who was broken and scared. The fear of what might be happening to Iris, what if they hurt her? What they were doing with her was overwhelming.The tears came harder now.

He let them flow, not caring about hiding his emotions. The thought of Iris being hurt or in danger consumed him. He needed her back, more than anything.

The room was filled with the echo of her absence, and he felt like he couldn't breathe. His world was falling apart, and all he could do was hold onto the faint memories of her, hoping beyond hope that nothing happened to her.

As Xavier sat on the floor beside the bed, clutching the photo of Iris, his tears fell freely. In his anguish, he found himself on his knees, his heart breaking with every sob.

He looked up at the ceiling as if pleading with the very heavens. "Please, God," he whispered through his tears, "keep her safe. Protect her until I find her. I need her back so badly. I can't bear the thought of anything happening to her."

His voice laced with desperation.

"Please God, I beg you. I beg you, I beg you, please keep my Iris safe."

His voice broke as he spoke, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He felt a deep desperation that he had never known before.

"I promise I'll do whatever it takes," he continued, his hands gripping the photo tightly.

"I'll move heaven and earth to get her back. Just keep her safe. Please."

Xavier's determination was fierce, despite the overwhelming sadness. He knew he would stop at nothing to bring her back, his love for her driving him with a force he had never felt before.

The thought of her in danger fueled his resolve. He wouldn't rest until she was back in his arms. He clung to that promise, to the hope that somehow, she was safe and would be with him again.

"Please, God ! Take my life but not a scratch on her. I'll die without her. I c-cant, I can't live without her. "

His breath came as pants. His voice trembled. The thought of not having any trace where his wife is. The thought of not knowing what is happening to her made him fear for her.

Xavier's phone pinged, jolting him out of his desperate prayer. His heart raced, hoping it was news about Iris. He quickly grabbed the phone, his hands still shaking. With a swift, urgent motion, he opened the message.

But as he opened the message, his heart shattered. The photo was of a girl covered in blood laying lifeless, wearing the same red dress Iris had on. The face wasn't visible, but the sight was enough to make his world crumble, to make his blood run cold.

His breath stopped for a second, and then his eyes just looked at the picture. His heart stopped beating for a second, and the world seems to blur.

"No, no, no, no, no," Xavier whispered frantically, his voice cracking.

"It's not her. It's not her. It's not her." His mouth left without him knowing, it was raw, his mind refusing to even store this information.

His breaths came in ragged gasps as he stared at the image, his heart racing with fear and anguish.

A loud, gut-wrenching sob escaped his lips. In a surge of despair, he threw the phone across the room. He kicked his leg away, which unknowingly kicked the table beside it, causing to smash a few flower pots, sending shards of glass scattered.

He sank to the corner, trying to distsnt himself from the phone, his body shaking with the force of his cries.

"No! It's not her! It's not her!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the empty mansion. Xavier eyes were wide open, but they were filled with fear.

The unknown fear he couldn't even think about.

Hearing his anguished screams, his family rushed in, their faces etched with worry and sorrow. His mother was the first to reach him. Eva's eyes widen, looking at her son's condition. She has never seen Xavier this vulnerable. A sob left her mouth as she walked to him quickly.

She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. Xavier clung to her, his tears soaking her clothes. He was no longer the powerful man they knew; he was a broken shell, crumbling under the weight of her absence and the now the fear settling deep.

His family stood around him, their expressions a mix of shock and helplessness. The mansion, once a symbol of control and strength, felt cold and oppressive now.

Xavier's sobs filled the room, and his vulnerability laid bare for everyone to see. The sight of him, normally so strong and unshakable, reduced to a trembling figure of despair, was heart-wrenching. His father who stood their looking at his son, the same son who wouldn't scare away even when he was a child after seeing blood.

He was now so vulnerable that he was hiding under his mothers embrace. His cries and the whisper of Eva were the only sound in the whole room, a painful reminder of the uncertainty and fear consuming him.

Xavier was on his knees, still in his mother's embrace, unknowingly tears streaming down his face, his voice breaking with raw emotion.

"Please, please, please, I beg you!T beg
you! not her, please, not her. I'll die,
please, not her."

He repeated over and over, each plea more desperate than the last. His eyes now up at the ceiling again, like he can see the God and was convincing him. His cries filled the room, the pain in his voice cutting through the silence.

His brother Ace rushed forward, grabbing the phone from the floor and staring at the image in shock.

He was frozen, unable to process what he saw. He handed the phone to Alexander, their father, who quickly scanned the photo before sending it to someone else for confirmation.

Alexander's face tightened with concern as he saw his son's broken state. He moved to Xavier, his own heart aching with each of Xavier's sobs.

Kneeling beside him, Alexander placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Xavier," his voice was firm yet soothing,

"It's not her. Control yourself, son. It's not her."

Despite his own grief, Alexander wrapped his arms around Xavier, trying to offer the solace he so desperately needed.

"We will find her," he whispered gently, "we will get through this." As he held his son, Alexander felt the crushing weight of Xavier's pain and the enormity of the situation, struggling to be the rock his son needed in this moment of despair.

The room was heavy with silence, broken only by Xavier's ragged breathing and the sound of his muffled sobs.

The cell phone rang again, its tone piercing through the tense atmosphere. Xavier made no move to answer it. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, his heart still shaking by the image of the girl who looked so much like Iris.

The phone stopped ringing, only to start again moments later. Ace, sensing the urgency, picked up the call. His face went ashen as he listened. The words from the other end were too chilling, too final.

"Ace? Who was it?" Alexander's voice was laced with concern, his eyes shifting between his sons. He could see the distress etched on their faces, sensing that something was terribly wrong.

Ace's throat tightened as he turned to his brother, his gaze filled with the weight of the news he was about to deliver.

He knew that whatever he said next would be devastating. He tried to find the right words, but they seemed to stick in his throat. He swallowed hard, his face pale and his voice barely above a whisper. Ace finally managed to say, his words hanging heavy in the air.

"They have found a b-body,"

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How was the chapter? Hope you'll
like.
IS IRIS DEAD?

Emotional? I cried while writing this one.*Sniff*

And yeahChapter 75 of XAVIER'S WIFE is already uploaded on scrollstack. Go and read. Don't forget to give your review.

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