Philip was of mixed ancestry.
Although his appearance was that of a westerner, if you looked closely, you could see that his facial features were rather exotic.
His look made one think he was a very affectionate and loving man.
But Iris knew how cold-blooded he really was.
With a calm look on her face, she remained silent.
Philip didnât speak either. A complex look shone in his eyes.
Suddenly he asked, âI remember you once said that the rich and the poor can be distinguished by their temperament. So, what you liked was not me, but my money, wasnât it? Actually, you knew from the beginning that I was rich, didnât you?â.
Actually, Iris found it a bit ridiculous that he asked her that question again when more than twenty years had already passed.
She looked down, too lazy to bother explaining it all. She said, âYou can think whatever you want.â
As soon as she said that, Philip took a big step forward and grabbed her by the shoulders.
The two hadnât known each other for more than twenty, in fact, almost thirty years. They were each otherâs first love, but despite being reunited, the atmosphere didnât feel so awkward.
It was as if everything was still the same as it was then.
Philip narrowed his eyes. âI heard it with my own ears at the party back then, are you still going to use those sophistry on me?â
Had he heard it?
gⱯlnÏνð®ðsï¹ð¬ððº, the heart of fiction Iris was taken aback.
The man was standing very close to her. Iris could see that he was tall and slim plus his complexion was fair. In her trance, she even felt like she had gone back more than twenty years in time.
Back then, he didnât attract much attention at the university.
He wore normal clothes and went unnoticed.
It wasnât because it was because of her that Iris had noticed him; rather, it was because when she was in college, she noticed that he had been studying in the library since he enrolled in college.
He had a lot of self-control.
Most people who had just started college after the SATs would relax for a while, but not him. Ever since he became a freshman, he had been diligent and had worked hard.
Once, Iris realized that she couldnât understand the books he read.
At that moment, Philip suddenly became suddenly tall and mysterious to her.
After that, although many followed her, she did not become infatuated with any of them.
It wasnât that they werenât hardworking enough; rather, it was because none of them were as hardworking as Philip!
He behaved as if there was no tomorrow, as if he wished to break time to pieces and absorb as much knowledge as he could.
Thatâs why, when he started wanting to woo Iris, she couldnât even imagine that a man like him would have time for datingâ¦.
She had accepted.
At that time, she still didnât know that being curious about someone and slowly paying attention to them was the beginning of love.
She only knew that every time she saw Philip studying painstakingly when he was not with her, but not feeling like he was wasting his time when he was with her, she felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
At that time, she was a talented Evans girl and also a well-known figure at the university.
Once, at a party, someone standing next to her couldnât resist asking her, âIris, what on earth do you like about Philip? Surely it canât be because heâs handsome, can it?â.
At the mention of it, a vivacious and high-spirited Iris had raised her eyebrows and replied, âWhy, I go out with him for other reasons, of course!â.
âHa ha! What kind of reasons can it be? Surely it canât be because his family is rich, can it? Iris, what makes you think heâs from a rich family?â.
All the second-generation wealthy heirs who met Iris looked down on Philip.
But Iris knew Philip was no ordinary person.
Although she had never cared about such things, when interacting with him, the man seemed unusual to her.
Hearing the others ridicule him, she couldnât help but retort, âHow can they be so sure heâs poor?â
Iris remembered now.
At that moment, after saying that, she had vaguely seen a familiar figure in the distance that disappeared when she looked closer.
She hadnât paid much attention to the matter at the time, much less knew that her few words with her friends had affected Philip so much.
He had been pretending to be a beggar so he could find a girlfriend who truly loved him, but he hadnât expected Iris to have seen through him.
This became Irisâs sin, as well as an obstacle that Philip could not overcome all this time.
For many years, he had wondered something: Why on earth had Iris entered into a relationship with him in the first place?
It had to be because she realized that he wasnât really a poor boy, right?
So what Iris loved was really his money?
Well, that made sense. Her family was ranked among the top five wealthiest families in the world. It was as if her mother had married her father for his money.
When he was five years old, his motherâs infidelity was discovered.
When her father, in pain and agony, demanded an explanation, her mother shouted, âWho do you think you are? If you werenât rich, I would never have married you.â
She had said many unpleasant things. In the end, her father had killed her.
After killing his mother, his father had looked at him and said the following: âNever expose your wealth to anyone. Only the woman who loves you for what you are truly loves you.â
After that, his father had committed suicide.
He simply could not bear the pain of his motherâs betrayal, so in the end he had chosen the easiest way to solve everything.
Philip, who had been an orphan since childhood, had long known that the people around him only treated him well because he was rich.
For example, his uncles in the family. They were openly and secretly fighting for the right to raise him, but he had heard them say privately that whoever raised him could get his hands on the familyâs money.
At the time, he had locked himself in a room alone. In the end, he told his aunt and uncle that he didnât need anyone to raise him and that he could grow up on his own.
From then on, the only thing he trusted in this world was profit. He didnât believe in love, until he met Iris in college.
He loved her, just as his father had loved his mother.
However, he dared not trust her, so he had hidden his family background from her all along.
That was until she approached him and told him she knew he had money, so he asked her to give him $80,000 so he could pay his motherâs medical expenses?
His motherâs medical expenses?
At that moment, Philip thought that if she had to choose between his mother and himâ¦. If she stayed with him even if she had no money, it would mean that she truly loved him.
She would not refuse to treat his motherâs illness.
The moment she chose him, his mother would receive the best medical treatment in the world.
Unfortunately, in the end he ended up disappointing her.
For the sake of money, she had even agreed to marry the Hunts.
Thinking about all these past events, Philip felt that his sadness and anguish from that moment had resurfaced. His grip on Irisâs shoulders tightened even more, as if he wanted to break her shoulder blades.
He said angrily, âYou know what? You were the one who made me believe that love would never exist.â
Iris did not move, nor did she frown.
The delicate woman did not even utter a sound. Instead, she endured the pain in her shoulders and said, âLove does exist, itâs just that the two of us didnât pass the test.â
Philip scoffed, âYes, of course, love has always been a sham! Iris, thereâs not a single decent woman in this world! Neither you, nor your daughter-in-law! Ha, your son said he shouldnât have put love to the test so many times, but what about him? He didnât, but didnât his fiancée cheat on him in the end? So women have no heart.â
However, Iris said, âThe love between Justin and Nora doesnât need to be tested. She will never cheat on him.â
âWonât she?â Philip said, âEveryone already knows about her infidelity, And yet youâre so sure she wonât cheat on Justin? Should I say youâre stupid, or should I say you simply refuse to believe the truth? Iâve even found her lover.â
Philip smiled and laughed. âLook here, Iris, am I not kind to you? But what gives a woman like you the right to hurt me over and over again? Damn it, all women should die! Especially the pretty ones!â
Suddenly he reached out and grasped Irisâs neck. A sharp glint came out of his eyes as he said, âIâve wanted to kill you for many years. Once I kill you, I wonât feel so much pain anymore, but I canât bear it. Iris, I canât bear to lose the love between us⦠but now, I understand that love doesnât exist at all. Ordinary couples canât afford to be unfaithful because they have to try their best to survive. As for the rich, how many married couples among them are really in love?
âTherefore, the word âloveâ is a big joke in itself! My father shouldnât have committed suicide then, because itâs not worth it!â
The more Philip spoke, the more agitated he became. His grip also became tighter, as if he wanted to snap Irisâs neck. He said, âSo, once I kill you, Iâll break free and never believe in love again. Hahaha⦠Donât worry, after I kill you, I will also kill your daughter-in-law so that your son will also understand how hateful she is. Because all women who betray love deserve to die.â
The hysterical manâs voice was hoarse as he screamed at the top of his lungs. As he spoke, his grip around Irisâs neck grew even tighter, then murderous intent and hatred also welled up in his eyes.
How much he had loved her all these years was also how much he hated her.
The love and hatred did not disappear with the passage of time. On the contrary, they slowly fermented and became more and more intenseâ¦.
At this instant, Philip felt that all his years of persistence and concessions were just a joke.
âKill Iris.
âI will never believe that love exists.â
Those were the only thoughts left in his mind.
The woman he was strangling grabbed his hand with both of hers and hit them hard. Her nails scratched the back of his hand, but he didnât let go.
Until she slowly stopped movingâ¦..
Just then, the door suddenly opened and Jason walked in. With his phone in his hand, he looked anxiously at Philip and said, âBoss, Justin Hunt has held a press conference and cleared it all up: this is all a misunderstanding! It turns out it was really Nora Smith and Justin Hunt who were in the villa outside! AND Q⦠Itâs Nora Smith!â
Philip was stunned.
He lowered his head unconsciously, only to see that the woman in his grip had already stopped breathingâ¦.
ð ð ð ð ð
âJustin, Nora. Philip and I have too much history to sort out. Iâve gone with him to see the world and also to say goodbye. Donât look for me, Iâll come home when all our grievances have been settled.â
Back at Hunt Manor the voicemail message from Justinâs phone rang again. Justin listened intently to the information it contained.
Nora sat down next to him, nervous. âIs Iri⦠I mean, Aunt Iris really okay? Did Philip make her say that?â
Justin clenched his jaw and carefully analyzed the voicemail. âYou can tell by her tone of voice, it doesnât sound like she was forced to say that. Also, you can tell by the background sounds that theyâre near the sea, which means theyâve already left the city.â
With a sullen look, he slowly analyzed the message and said, âYou can also hear the clock chimes in the background. Although itâs very subtle, itâs still audible. The time is also correct, so you shouldnât be in danger.â
Despite saying that, he called Sean and ordered, âPut aside all your current tasks and find Mom! If she doesnât want to come back, stay by her side. If she wants to go home, take her home.â
After speaking, Justin narrowed his eyes and suddenly added, âIf necessary, you can reveal your identity!â.
Sean replied, âYes, sir!â.
After Sean left, as Nora was about to comfort Justin, Cherry suddenly rushed over and shouted, âMom, quick, come take a look!â. Another one of Xanderâs rabbits has died.â
Nora and Justin got up abruptly and the two headed straight for Xanderâs room.
Xander, who seemed to have gotten used to it by now, looked at the animals in the cage.
Nora sighed quietly.
All the animals had been injected with V15. Without V16, all that awaited them was death.
In addition, the animals had shorter dosing intervals than humans, ranging from a few days to two weeks.
Recently, of the dozen animals Trueman had sent, five had already died.
Xander squatted down and lightly stroked the rabbitâs fur. He said, âDonât worry, Iâll be with you soon.â
His one sentence sent a sharp pain through Noraâs heart.
Xander knew⦠He knew everything!
During the last period of time, Nora had not worried much about the Hunt conflict. Instead, she had gone out of her way to look for clues from the V16 for Xander every day.
However, despite searching through all the things her mother had left behind, she still found nothing.
After comforting Xander, Nora and Justin went outside.
A sullen Nora put on her headphones.
The headphones blared the only audio recording her mother had left for her.
Lately, Nora had been listening to the recording every day. She could now make a complete replication of Yvetteâs words down to her tone of voice, but she still couldnât find any clues.
She felt very discouraged and frustrated.
She sighed deeply and went back to Justinâs room.
The same audio recording that her mother had left her before she died was still playing in the earpiece.
She felt very depressed, so she lay on her back on the bed and closed her eyes.
Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
In the middle of the night.
Suddenly, Nora opened her eyes wide and sat up in bed. A look of surprise and excitement suddenly welled up in her eyes.
She finally understood what her mother had left behind!
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