Chapter 243 All-out War

• "Iris…" Andrei began, but his voice trailed off, and he stared at the ceiling, a myriad of emotions contorting his face like he was grappling with demons only he could see.
• Releasing a long, deep breath, he sat up and stared at Austin with a pleading look when he spoke, "For all her bravado, in the end, Iris couldn't do it. She couldn't keep the truth from you. She wanted to tell you everything. A few weeks before she died, she called and told us she planned to break the news to you. Her conscience wouldn't allow her to walk down the aisle without laying out all her cards on the table for you."
• The low hum of Austin's phone buzzing in his pocket put their chat on hold for a bit while he read and replied to Orlando's text. She was having a blast at her art class, learning pottery, and had a lot of festivities planned with Anna and Marybeth for the evening ahead.