The Return (6)

The statement was like a punch to Iris. She froze, then lowered her head to avoid her aunt's eyes. "I am," she agreed in a whisper.

"And he's?" Aunt Maddie asked, pointing her cup at Kyro who sat silent by Iris.

"A-a friend, we—"

"One who left his empire just to come here with you? Very convincing." Aunt Maddie shook her head, giving Iris a deadpan look. "Do you take me for a fool, kid? Or think I'm too senile to recognize you in all those photos? Everyone around here knows that you ran away to have an affair with a handsome billionaire."

If there was a way to just drop into underground and never come out, Iris would have taken it, right that instant. Never in her wildest dreams had she considered that her neighbors and classmates might find out that she was abroad. She probably should have, what with it being the digital age, but… she hadn't.