CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: IF YOU BEHAVE, I’LL BEHAVE; IF YOU FLIRT, I’LL FLIRT MORE

Iris Crawford was nonchalantly about to leave when Orion Crawford, having settled things, walked toward her without a second thought. The elder brother grasped her hand and said, "Perfect timing, let me introduce you to my friends..."

Oh?

Iris raised an eyebrow, glanced back at Hector Sutton and others, and said, "Get acquainted?"

Listen to that sarcastic tone!

Hector’s expression was not great; they had known each other for a long time. Not only did they know each other, he had previously insulted her right to her face, calling her a dead fat person!

Orion hadn’t noticed and laughed, "You’ve actually met them before; this is Hector Sutton, that’s Jeremy Carter, and then this..."

"Rivers."

Iris called out Dane Rivers’ name, waved at him, and said, "Come over."

Dane Rivers, looking bewildered, approached and obediently called Orion, "Crawford."

Seeing this, Orion was quite surprised. He then turned to look at his sister, wondering when the little crybaby who always hid behind him had become a particularly strong and beautiful woman who no longer sought his help.

Orion was somewhat emotional and could only say, "You guys have known each other for a while?"

Dane looked embarrassed, hoping Iris would give him some face, but Iris, like pulling a little follower, brought Dane up to Orion and said, "No, we just met not long ago."

Dane Rivers was notorious in their circle for his bad temper, a troublemaker since childhood. His poor academic performance had driven away more than a dozen tutors, and no one dared to privately tutor him since.

Dane feared Iris might spill the beans about them bullying her, his expression soured, and he looked as pliable as a soft persimmon under Iris’s control, making him stutter, "Yes, yes, we haven’t known each other long."

"Why are you so obedient?"

"..."

"I gave him a thrashing, so now he’s behaving himself."

Without giving any face, Iris laughed and said, "He was too arrogant and vile before, and I beat him up."

"..."

Orion almost dropped his jaw to the floor, looked to Lachlan Wyatt for confirmation, only for Lachlan to say, "It’s true, terribly beaten, Dane Rivers deserved it, and Iris dealt with him."

No need to think; Dane must have spouted off again.

Orion enthusiastically slapped Iris on the back, "Great job, sister! Finally, someone sorted out that dumbass."

Dane pointed to himself, "I’m the one who got beaten up, Crawford!"

Orion’s expression changed, his voice dropped to a growl, his refined face instantly turned fierce, his gaze more intimidating than a killer’s, "It’s an honor to be beaten by my sister, any complaints?"

Dane Rivers: "No... no, of course not."

"Does she hit you nicely?"

"... Nicely."

Orion cheered up instantly, reverting to the cheerful elder brother, saying to Rivers, "Well, you’re still young, you should learn to restrain yourself..."

Restrain yourself isn’t quite the same as being beaten up!!!

Next to him, Hector Sutton was thoroughly ignored by them.

Orion wanted to keep introducing, "Come on, sweetheart, after Dane Rivers, these two handsome guys are Hector Sutton and Jeremy Carter..."

Iris smirked and immediately turned away.

As she left, she called out to Dane Rivers, "Rivers, I’ll give you a lift home."

Hector Sutton’s face turned blue; Iris was truly not giving any face. When she mentioned Dane before, at least she had teased him, but now that Orion was bringing her to face them, she directly turned and left?

Why could Dane Rivers...?

"Hey, Iris!"

Calling Iris’s name loudly made it seem like Orion might just change his face again, so Hector Sutton had to lower his voice, "Did I provoke you? Is this how you give me no face?"

With Iris holding Dane like he was her son, she halted her steps, turned back with a brilliant smile, "Why don’t I favor you? Isn’t it obvious to you?"

Hector’s teeth clenched under Iris’s words, "Then why can Dane Rivers?"

In the night breeze, Dane Rivers, standing over six feet tall, was pulled closer by Iris. Her arm locked around his neck, dragging him into her embrace in a brotherly manner, he leaned down as she whispered coldly, carried away by the wind past his ear, "Because this idiot rushed out when others were hitting me."

In that instant, everyone’s hearts seemed to pause.

Hector Sutton didn’t know what expression to wear, ashamed or angry. After a while, he hesitantly replied, "So what?"

"So I’m selfish, I’m double-standard. Who treats me well, I treat them well." Iris gave Hector the finger, "So damn I don’t favor you!"

Hector stepped back.

Indeed, he and Dane Rivers were in the same starting position, even more overstepping towards Iris was Dane. He and Jeremy Carter were always the ones enjoying the show.

He anticipated seeing Iris lose face, but didn’t expect Dane, the simple-minded one, to have a moment of acceptance.

Was it just because he recklessly jumped in at that time?

Those like them, refined egoists if you say it nicely, plainly put, are selfish, never meddling in what they have no need to, unwilling to be pulled down or implicated. So when the Jennings Family attacked Iris, Dane Rivers cried for help, but he chose to look away.

He even tried to dissuade Dane from stepping up.

Yet now, Dane, though harshly disciplined by Iris, seemed like... because of that uproar, he had gotten closer to Iris.

Hector felt a pang of sourness. He had always thought there could be something more between him and Iris because on that day she was drugged and under him, uttered Jordan Jacobs’s name with hatred...

He harbored thoughts.

Iris looked at Hector as if probing, "Not satisfied?"

He scrutinized with clenched fingers, seeing them like this, Orion wasn’t stupid either, knowing something must have happened for his sister to be so averse to Hector Sutton.

Thinking of the times when he wasn’t around Iris, not knowing what she’d been through, transforming into this formidable figure, he was deeply distressed. To Iris, he said, "Tell me if you’ve been wronged."

Always knowing his sister to be sensitive, meant to be lovingly cherished, and witnessing the detachment and unfamiliarity in her gaze now wasn’t at all feigned.

But Iris gently pushed away Orion’s hand, "Brother, take care of yourself alright."

Orion’s face fell as tears the size of noodles streamed down, "Are you abandoning me...?"

"Not at all."

Iris tidied Orion’s collar; her brother had always been her pride. She smiled, "It’s just, I’ve grown up too, brother." Meaning she wouldn’t depend on him like before, some paths she wished to walk alone, must be walked alone.

Vengeance, how could it involve others.

But to Orion Crawford’s ears, this sentence sounded so heart-wrenching. Two years ago, when he personally gave her away in marriage, she had still clung to him reluctantly.

But now, she’s pushing his hand away...

Orion Crawford turned to Hector Sutton, "Did they bully you?"

Hector Sutton was just about to say something to cover up the past when Iris Crawford admitted with a smile, "They laughed at me, saying if I were Orion Crawford’s sister, they’d give me fifty million."

After saying this, she glanced at Hector Sutton, with a hint of warning and sarcasm in her eyes, as if mocking him for not having seen the world.

Hector Sutton was utterly defeated. After all, it was indeed him who said those words, and he couldn’t deny them now.

Gritting his teeth, Hector Sutton said, "Because back then I thought you were the kind of woman who hangs around Lachlan Wyatt..."

The reality was, he got slapped in the face.

Orion Crawford’s appearance was like a slap that landed hard on Hector Sutton’s face. She played the role of a fool who outwitted her critics, letting those harsh remarks pass by her ears because she had grown strong enough not to care.

In the past, he would spare no effort in cursing Iris Crawford with vile words, and she would only watch him with a smile, perhaps because she had long foreseen this day...

The day when he would be left speechless by Iris Crawford.

Feeling a sting in his chest, Hector Sutton found it hard to look Iris Crawford in the face, feeling emotionally complicated over his past behavior. But how could he possibly admit he was wrong? In his social circle, where people are always within each other’s sight, he was used to being flattered and wouldn’t admit fault, so he said, "Fine, if you can’t bear to see me, then so be it."

Iris Crawford pulled Dane Rivers to the car, as if Hector Sutton was dust on her hands that she could easily brush off without any attachment, "But the fifty million still needs to be transferred to me, right, Young Master Sutton?"

Hector Sutton’s face was extremely poor, while Jeremy Carter had remained silent the entire time. It seemed Iris Crawford did not target him, though for some reason.

Dane Rivers blushed as he said to Iris Crawford, "You shouldn’t be so aggressive. Now that Hector knows who you are, he won’t speak ill of you in the future."

Iris Crawford opened the passenger door without blinking and pushed Dane Rivers inside, "If it’s none of your business, then don’t speak. Save yourself from getting beaten by me in a moment."

Dane Rivers obediently closed his mouth but still glanced worriedly at Hector Sutton.

Sigh... With things so awkward now, has Iris Crawford already blacklisted Hector in her heart? Hector’s gaze is so complicated...

Thinking about how Iris Crawford told him to shut up, Dane Rivers could only silently ponder these things in his heart.

Seeing Iris Crawford start the car to leave, Orion Crawford worriedly knocked on the window, "Sweetheart, why aren’t you coming back to the Crawford Family?"

"There are some things I want to do on my own, not to mention I have Lachlan Wyatt with me," Iris Crawford smiled at her brother, "Bro, I’m not that pathetic weakling from two years ago anymore."

How much hurt must one have endured to say out loud that they were a pitiful weakling?

Orion Crawford was deeply concerned, "I’m worried about you being out there..."

"Don’t you trust me? Don’t you trust Lachlan Wyatt?" Iris Crawford pointed outside, "I’m living with him."

Lachlan Wyatt, who had initially watched the drama unfold with indifference, now found the fire burning directly onto him. Before he could speak, a dark aura had already surrounded Orion Crawford as he approached him.

"Lachlan..." Orion Crawford’s eyes carried a murderous intent as he enunciated Lachlan Wyatt’s name, "You safeguard against outsiders, but how dare you make a move on my sister?!"

Lachlan Wyatt glanced at Iris Crawford, who was seated in a bright red sports car, tapping her long fingers on the steering wheel. Beside her in the passenger seat was the young Dane Rivers, looking towards him.

In the past, Lachlan Wyatt was the one watching the drama; now, it was her turn in the audience seat.

This little vixen clearly didn’t want to make things easy for him. By deliberately speaking ambiguously, she wanted her brother to suppress him. This way, he wouldn’t dare lay a hand on her again, lest he step on Orion Crawford’s toes.

Might as well...

Lachlan Wyatt grinned and said mysteriously, "Orion Crawford, don’t you trust my character? Rest assured, leave Birdie to me."

As Iris Crawford, who had just opened a bottle of water and taken a sip, nearly spit it all over the steering wheel!

Orion Crawford’s mouth gaped open, as did Hector Sutton’s and Jeremy Carter’s, but the most excited was Dane Rivers. He exclaimed to Iris Crawford, "What? What’s your relationship with Lachlan Wyatt?"

Iris Crawford said, "Bro, don’t listen to his nonsense!" She was so startled she took another sip of water to calm her nerves.

Lachlan Wyatt said, "We’ve been living together for two years now."

Orion Crawford stood there stunned like a statue, "Lachlan, you..."

After speaking, Lachlan Wyatt stepped forward, and right in front of Iris Crawford, yanked Dane Rivers out of the car. He then sat inside, closed the door, and with a grin not quite reaching his eyes, said to Iris Crawford, "Isn’t that right, Birdie?"

Birdie.

Iris Crawford, failing to suppress her water, sprayed it all over Lachlan Wyatt’s face.

Orion Crawford was heartbroken, "Sweetheart, why did you hide your relationship with Lachlan from me? Why? Have I failed as a brother? How could you live with another man? All men outside are liars; they all want to deceive you. There’s not a single good man in the world except your brother! Lachlan doesn’t count! Lachlan isn’t even as handsome as I am—oh, he’s a bit more handsome, but can looks put food on the table? Even if he’s attractive, his heart is still dark! Our family doesn’t lack money, you’re not allowed to contact Jordan Jacobs anymore, but also you’re not allowed to live with any other man. I’m telling you, this relationship is not approved by your brother, not approved, not approved!!!"

As he spoke, Orion Crawford moved towards Iris Crawford, fearing she would escape, his movements quicker than the police arresting a criminal, "Come home with your brother now! You’re still young; I can support you until you’re sixty, and then you can get married!"

Iris Crawford was so afraid that she floored the gas pedal, "Bro, you’re too scary. I’m heading back now and will contact you in a few days. By the way, keep this a secret, ahhhhhhh!"

******

Sitting in the parked car at the villa, Iris Crawford sighed.

Lachlan Wyatt reached out and scratched her neck, where Howard Jennings had left faint marks. They were red and swollen, and as the man brushed over them with his fingertips, it was tinged with pain.

Iris Crawford cried out and glanced at Lachlan Wyatt beside her.

She said, "I need to go to the Jacobs Family next week."

Lachlan Wyatt smiled, mischievous like a scoundrel, "Made up your mind to take me along to flaunt and put a green hat on Jordan Jacobs?"

Iris Crawford was tempted to take off her high heels and make a hole in Lachlan Wyatt’s forehead with the heel, "It’s to confirm the divorce papers. We’ve been separated for two years and can file for divorce."

"Don’t divorce." Lachlan Wyatt looked at her and said, "Your married status gives me a bit of a thrill."

Iris Crawford glared at Lachlan Wyatt, "Do you need a beating? Stop using those tactics you use to play women."

"What don’t you owe to me? Even your life is mine." Lachlan Wyatt lowered his voice, his dark pupils like the cold barrel of a gun.

Seeing her pulling Dane Rivers by the hand like he was her son at the club entrance earlier had made him quite unhappy. That Dane Rivers was at least a tall adult, following her silently, with a fair, handsome face, as mute as a fish.

Lachlan Wyatt had never seen Dane Rivers so obedient before.

Iris Crawford had subdued him into compliance.

This made Lachlan Wyatt a bit displeased, and he said, "You’re quite the expert at playing men."

"Didn’t I learn that from you?" Iris Crawford leaned closer, staring into his eyes, sparks flying as if blades were drawn. Neither would yield, both waiting for the other to surrender.

Iris Crawford reached out and pinched Lachlan Wyatt’s high, straight nose. She was perhaps the only one in the world who dared to act so absurd and unconventional. What should a woman be like? Iris Crawford had no definition for herself.

She smiled charmingly, "You behave, I behave. You flirt, I go further. You want to play and compete with me, I wouldn’t mind teaching you a few tricks."

Lachlan Wyatt burst out laughing!