Chapter 4
Iris's POV
"What?" I sat up in bed, my brain still fuzzy with sleep.
"Emily slit her wrists because of all the online hate!" Liam's voice was shaking—with anger or fear, I couldn't tell. "Don't play dumb with me! The entire school is calling her a homewrecker, saying she came between us! Who ELSE would start that if not you?!"
I blinked a few times, suddenly wide awake.
Online hate? Homewrecker?
"Liam, what are you even talking about?" I frowned. "I don't know anything about any online harassment."
"Stop LYING!" He was yelling now. "Instagram is full of people attacking Emily! Saying she's a boyfriend stealer, saying she faked that fall, saying she's some poor girl trying to climb the social ladder! If you didn't do this, then WHO DID?!"
I opened Instagram and checked the school's anonymous accounts.
He was right—photos and videos from the dance were everywhere. Every single post drowning in vicious comments.
"Homewrecker Emily stealing Iris's man and playing victim."
"Iris gave up YALE for him and this bitch still went after Liam?"
"Typical poor girl behavior—can't handle other people being happy."
I scrolled through the comments and actually laughed.
"Liam, the dance was public." My voice came out ice cold. "People are going after Emily because she deserves it."
"Iris Vanderbilt!" Liam's voice cracked. "What is WRONG with you?! Emily's in the ER! The doctors said she lost a ton of blood!"
"And?" I cut him off. "What exactly do you want from me?"
"You need to get to the hospital RIGHT NOW and apologize!" He wasn't asking—he was demanding. "You're gonna tell Emily and everyone else that you were wrong about her!"
Listening to him talk like he had any right to order me around, I felt something snap inside me.
"Liam, are you actually insane?" Cold laugh. "Why the hell would I apologize?"
"Emily almost DIED! And all you care about is your ego?!"
"Whether she lives or dies? Not my problem." My voice got even colder. "Liam, I didn't start any harassment campaign. And you know what? Even if I did, she'd still have it coming."
"You—"
I hung up on him.
For the rest of break, Liam went absolutely crazy on Instagram.
Beach at sunset—arm around Emily. Carnival—buying her cotton candy. Some expensive restaurant—Emily in yet another new dress.
I knew exactly what he was doing. Thought I'd break and come crawling back like I always did.
This time I didn't even look. Just kept packing my bags.
I went through my closet, pulling out everything Liam had ever given me.
This necklace? Birthday present. He said it was one-of-a-kind. Saw the exact same one on Emily two weeks later.
This teddy bear? Part of a matching set. He took one because he "loved my perfume and wanted something to remember me by." Showed up on Emily's desk the next day.
Those heels. That candle. That book. Every single thing I thought made me special was just a copy.
I threw it all in a trash bag. Didn't keep a single thing.
Liam's texts kept flooding in.
"Iris, you really need to think about what you did."
"Emily almost died because of you. Don't you feel even a little guilty?"
I looked at those messages and smiled to myself.
Then deleted every single one.
The day before my flight, Liam sent one last text.
"Iris, you should really reflect on your behavior. I'm done punishing you—I hope you learned something. See you at State tomorrow. I've got something important to tell you."
I stared at that message and actually laughed out loud.
Something important?
Probably to inform me he'd gotten into Yale all along and didn't need me anymore.
I didn't reply. Just deleted Liam's contact completely. Blocked him on everything.
Ten hours later. Heathrow Airport.
London's sky was gray and heavy with clouds, the air thick with damp fog.
I dragged my suitcase through arrivals, scanning the crowd for Gen's mysterious "old friend."
"Iris Vanderbilt?"
A deep voice spoke behind me.
I turned around and completely froze.
Sebastian Rockefeller stood there in a perfectly tailored navy suit, his golden hair styled without a strand out of place, amber eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Been a while." He smirked. "Bet you didn't see this coming."
My mouth opened but nothing came out.
"What's wrong?" Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Not who you were hoping for?"
"I just—" I took a breath. "I didn't think it'd be you."
"Your sister asked me to pick you up." He reached over and grabbed my suitcase like it was nothing. "She mentioned you'd been through some 'rough times' lately. Said you needed to get away."
I stared at him, my mind racing. After that massive blowout three years ago, Sebastian had left for school abroad. We hadn't spoken since.
"Come on." Sebastian interrupted my thoughts, pushing the luggage cart toward the exit. "My car's outside. Oh, there's this thing tonight—small party, if you're up for—"
My phone rang.
I pulled it out—video call from my friend Jessica.
But when I answered, Jessica wasn't on screen.
Liam was.
His face filled the entire frame, eyes wild and red-rimmed, hair a mess, looking equal parts shocked and furious.
"Iris!" He was practically screaming. "Where the HELL are you?! I've been standing here at State like an IDIOT all morning! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
