Chapter 5

Iris Williams

Haley helped me get to the sofa and guided me to sit down. We just arrived in her house after hours of staying in the store. They didn't find him, no, they didn't find my Jace. The police said that they'll contact me when they get some news and sent me home to rest. Remembering all that happened, I couldn't help but cry again. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have taken my eyes off of them. I shouldn't have let him too far from me. If not, he would still be here. By my side, playing with his brothers.

I cupped my face with both of my hands trying to wipe away the tears, but they kept falling down. I felt the sofa beside me sinking and Haleys arms embraced me. It was supposed to calm me down, but it made me cry harder. Haley said nothing, as if she understood what I was feeling at the moment.

"Shh, we will find him, don't worry." she said, but even I could hear that she was worried herself. Soon, I felt Jamie's and Jacob's arm around me also and that's when I let go of Haley to hug my two other kids. They didn't cry, I know they wanted to cry but they haven't cried a single tear since Jace disappeared. I understood that it was because they wanted to appear brave for me, they were worried for me. I hugged them tight till Jacob complained that he couldn't breathe.

Miraculously, the tears stopped and I wiped my face with the back of my hands. I tried to smile at them. They were being so brave for me, how come I can't do the same for them?

"I'm so sorry." I whispered to the two of them and kissed them. I remembered that I had to be strong for not only Jace, but also Jamie and Jacob. I need to protect them even more now while searching for Jace. "Don't worry... mommy will find Jace. I will definitely find him... even if, even if I have to ask his help." I whispered to them and hugged them once again. They both looked up to me with curious looks.

"Who mommy?" Jamie asked grabbing a lock of my golden hair and patting it. I tried to smile to show a sign of hope, but I'm not sure what kind of face I did.

"You'll see, baby boy." I whispered and pulled the two of them in a protective hug.

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I started with a hot bath to freshen myself up and tried not to think about anything. I wanted to think that Jace was just playing downstairs with Jacob and Jamie. I didn't want to think about where I'm headed to. I wanted to forget everything for just a short period of time, but as soon as I turned the handle off and shut the running water, everything came back to me.

Jace is still not here and the only solution I can think of is to go to him. Surely, he'll help me... right?

I chose a simple white shirt, a knee-length maroon skirt and a black cardigan. A casual yet formal style for meeting one of the country's biggest businessmen. I left my wavy golden hair untied and only put the minimal makeup to cover the dark circles that were hovering under my eyes. I didn't want to look like a mess in front of him, no, I'd hate that.

The door opened to Jacob's weary face and when he laid eyes on me, he immediately eased and ran to me for a hug. He was dressed in a blue polo shirt and and black jeans. Jamie soon entered the room, dressed the same as he tugged my skirt.

"Where are you going mommy? Are you going to see Jace?" he asked. Hearing Jace's name was enough to tear me up, I missed him terribly and I could see that the two felt the same. I looked up, taking a deep breath to prevent the tears from falling.

"I'm going to see someone who will help us find Jace, okay? Will you be good here with aunt Haley?" I asked and smiled. I saw Jacob pouting.

"You will come back, right mommy?" he questioned with his big round eyes tearing up. My heart melted and broke at his words and I quickly pulled him in a hug.

"Of course. Of course, baby. Mommy will never leave you. I will come back as soon as I can okay?" I reassured him, trying not to cry myself. He nodded, and held my hand tight.

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I stood in front of the giant building that was all too familiar to me, but looking at it now, it seems like I don't recognize it at all. I'm guessing it was renovated to be more technologically advanced even if it was advanced enough to make it seem like it was a tech company. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding loudly against my chest. I felt scared, nervous, nostalgic and all other emotions swirled inside of me, but all I could do was hold my bag tightly and sigh.

I almost felt sick and I wanted to run away from here, I promised myself never to come back anywhere near this place, anywhere near him. I promised myself that I'd never see him again, that I'd never come seeking for his help. I promised myself that I could do this on my own, take care of my kids alone, yet here I was. I was ready to leave and call a cab, but then I remembered Jace's smiling face.

I know that only he could help me. Sure, the police might think that this is some normal kidnapping case, but there's so much more than just that.

I summoned all the courage that I had and entered the giant glass doors which automatically slid open in my presence. I walked to the receptionist with pummelling heartbeats each time I took a step closer.

She smiled widely when she saw me approaching her, her teeth brightly shining through. "Hello, ma'am. What can I help you with today?" she asked in such a care-free way that it almost seemed like an insult to me who was a nervous wreck.

"Uhm... I-I want to see Mr. Liam Parker." I announced, a bit stuttering. Saying his name left a sour taste in my mouth, as if I wasn't allowed to say it. His name alone took me to a trip down the memory lane, to a time where it's better left in the past.

The receptionist's smile faded as she looked at her screen.

"And do you have an appointment with him today?" I answered no. She looked up to me with an apologetic face. "I'm so sorry ma'am, but if you want to see Mr. Parker, I'm afraid you would have to book an appointment first. He is, after all, a busy person." she explained. In the past, I used to walk in here without any problems that it never occurred to me that I needed an appointment with Liam before seeing him.

"Please, it's an emergency. Just tell him that Iris Williams is here to see him." I pleaded. After all the effort and courage that took me to enter this building alone, I wasn't just going to leave without seeing him. This is an emergency, this is my son's life that's on the line! 

The receptionist shook her head in disagreement. "I'm so sorry, it's a policy that I can't not follow. I can't let you in." she said in dismay. I took a deep breath and looked towards the elevators a few meters away from us that was about to open then towards the girl. Without any delay, I went straight towards the elevator and got in. 

Being taken by surprise, the girl quickly followed behind me and warning me to leave, but as soon as I entered the elevator doors, they closed on her. I breathed in relief and waited as the wagon counted floors going up to the highest floor. That girl will probably get in trouble which I will be terribly sorry for, but Jace was more important right now. 

I could hear my heart beating loudly in my chest and my senses getting warmer. I'm getting way too scared. What for? I shouldn't be. 

As the doors opened, I stepped out staggering in steps as the smell of the place took me to the past again. It smelled strongly of his fresh manly perfume that I used to love to smell. The layout of the floor also changed and while I was reminiscing, a girl, which I assumed to be Liam's secretary walked up to me. 

"I'm sorry, but you have to leave right now or I will the guards." she said immediately. She tried pushing me back to the elevator but I struggled in her grasp. 

"I have to see him. Just tell him my name, that Iris Williams is here to talk to him. Please, it's an emergency, I have to see him." I pleaded. She shook her head defiantly and was threatening to call the guards on me, but I couldn't care less if she did that. 

"Liam Parker is one of the country's top businessmen, he's a busy person. You can't just come in here and demand to see him to get an autograph. Honey, come up with a better excuse than having an 'emergency' next time, okay? That's overused. Now, you will go away calmly or I will call--" she was cut off with the office doors opening widely. 

And there he stood, in all of his glory, Liam Parker. 




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Hello loveliess!! Happy belated love's day to you all! 
So here are the five first chapters of TBRW (yeeeeyyyy!!) I'm sorry I haven't updated in a long time (school and all), but I promise to update much more frequently. 

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