The One Above All

C7: Dream On!

Disappointment settled heavily in Iris' chest. All those years… All those silent hopes she had buried deep inside...

That one day, her father would look at her as his daughter.

Not a burden.

Not a mistake.

---

She had imagined it countless times. A simple meal together. A conversation that didn't end in coldness. A single moment of warmth.

But now, reality stood before her cruelly. To Victor Blackwell, she was nothing. She was just a tool. A disposable pawn.

---

A bitter smile touched her lips as tears slipped down her cheeks. But she wiped them away quickly. This man does not deserve her tears.

TAP!

TAP!

TAP!

Hurried footsteps broke the silence. A servant rushed in to report to his master.

"Sir… Mr Rothwell is here to see you!"

Victor and Catherine froze. Then their eyes lit up. They completely forgot about Iris' existence in that room.

Victor had been thinking of ways to apologize and see if he could salvage the situation. He didn't expect Mr Rothwell to come and find him on his own.

"What are you waiting for?" He snapped at the servant. "Let him in immediately!"

"Yes, sir!"

Moments later, a figure stepped in.

"Ah—!"

Victor and Catherine gasped. The man standing before them barely looked human. His head was wrapped in thick gauze. Bruises covered his swollen face.

One eye was nearly shut, and his arm hung stiffly, heavily bandaged.

'It's over…' Victor's heart sank. Cold sweat formed on his back. 'This is my karma for letting this bastard girl live.'

Mr Rothwell didn't look like someone who came to make peace... It was obvious he came to get his revenge!

"Mr Rothwell, I sincerely apologize for what happened last night!" Victor hurried forward and bowed deeply.

"On behalf of the Blackwell family, I ask for your forgiveness!"

Catherine quickly followed suit. "Yes, yes! This has nothing to do with us!"

She pointed at Iris. "It was all her fault! We will discipline her."

The supposed culprit, Iris stood still and silent. Her fingers tightened slightly. So this was it. They didn't even hesitate to throw her under the bus.

---

But something felt slightly off. Mr Rothwell didn't respond or acknowledge the couple's apologies. He didn't even glance at them.

Instead, he walked forward, heading towards Iris. Seeing this, she instinctively stepped back. Her heart tightened, fear creeping in.

Was he here…

To finish what he started?

---

But then—

THUD!

Rothwell dropped to his knees, right in front of her. Everyone froze.

Victor blinked in disbelief. Catherine's mouth fell open. And Iris simply stood transfixed to the spot.

"I… I'm sorry!" With tears in his eyes and a trembling voice, he begged for forgiveness.

"Miss Blackwell… last night was my fault. I was drunk… I lost control."

He lowered his head. "Please forgive me!"

---

Shock spread across the room. Victor staggered slightly. Catherine's face twisted in confusion. What's happening?

Before anyone could react, Mr Rothwell hurriedly took out a brown envelope.

"This is the contract…"

He flipped through the pages hurriedly. "Look, I've signed everything. You can review it… change anything if you want… But please… just forgive me!"

---

Iris stared at him. Wasn't this the same man who had pinned her down last night?

He had threatened her, and told her that no one could save her from him.

But now, he was on his knees begging for forgiveness?

---

Behind her, Victor and Catherine also exchanged a stunned look.

"Mr Rothwell," Catherine finally spoke, "Why are you apologizing to her? She should be the one begging you!"

"Yes!" Victor nodded in agreement. "She had someone beat you up like this, yet—"

"Enough!" Mr Rothwell snapped.

Victor froze and Catherine swallowed her words. Mr Rothwell didn't even look at them.

His gaze stayed on Iris. His eyes were filled with fear and anxiety.

"Miss Blackwell… Please… I was wrong."

Only he knew how terrified he had been after suddenly receiving that call. Only one order.

"Go and apologize."

And that was all. But it was enough.

Because everyone in Highmont knew Reginald Langford was not someone you disobeyed. He was the richest man in the Northern Meridian region.

And if even someone like him was protecting Iris… then she wasn't someone just anyone could afford to offend.

Only then did Mr Rothwell realize how much trouble he had gotten himself into. He had stepped on the wrong toes.

---

"I accept," Iris finally spoke. Her voice was calm and steady.

She reached out and took the envelope. Only then did relief flood Mr Rothwell's face.

"Thank you! Thank you, Miss Blackwell! Don't hesitate to find me if you have any problem with the contract"

He bowed repeatedly. Then as if he was afraid that she would change her mind, he quickly turned around and left.

"Mr Rothwell! Mr Rothwell!" Victor called behind him.

But he didn’t stop. He fled like a man escaping danger.

Silence filled the hall once more. Victor slowly turned. His gaze fell on the envelope. He snatched it from Iris and opened it immediately.

His eyes scanned the contents, and then his brows furrowed.

Everything was perfect. No tricks. No loopholes. Just a clean contract.

His breathing quickened. Then a smile spread across his face.

"With this… the Blackwell Group will rise again."

Greed replaced confusion instantly.

"Dad," Iris' voice interrupted him. He looked up with a small frown.

"No more excuses. I already fulfilled my own part of the deal."

She paused shortly before reminding him, "You said… if I succeeded… I wouldn't have to marry Julian."

Victor looked at her silently. Then his lips curved with a cold, sinister smile.

"Humph! Dream on!"

"You—!" Iris froze. "You promised!"

Victor stepped forward, holding the brown envelope carefully like it was the most precious egg in the world.

"I said if you succeeded on your own."

His eyes narrowed. "But clearly… You didn't. You relied on someone else."

His voice turned sharp and he flickered his fingers. "So the deal still stands."

His gaze turned cold.

"You're still marrying Julian."