They left the study and got to the living room where everyone was.
"So... I guess it's official." Eleanor said with a smile and went to hug Iris.
"Welcome to the family, darling. She added.
Damien and Adrian walked past all of them, heading to the door.
"Damien, where you going?" Eleanor asked.
"Hm... I have some things to sort out with Adrian." He turned to them.
"Well, just be back before dinner tonight."
"Sure thing." He said as he glanced at Iris, then walked out.
A young, handsome gentleman with light brown slicked back hair dressed in brown shirt buttoned halfway way with his hands un the pocket of his black trousers paired with a silver necklace with a special symbol approached Iris.
"Hey. You must be Iris." He said.
"Yeah... who are you?" She asked.
"Oh, sorry. Where are my manners. Im Theo. Damien brother." He replied.
"Oh.. Hi, it's nice to meet you." She said, stretching her hand for a shake.
"Oh, come on, we're family already." He said, leaning in for a hug.
She smiled and hugged him.
Iris smiled as she pulled away from the hug.
Theo stepped back and looked at her.
"So," he said, "you're the girl my brother is marrying."
Iris raised an eyebrow.
"Apparently."
Theo chuckled.
"I've been hearing about this marriage all morning."
"I can imagine."
He studied her for a moment.
"You don't seem very excited."
Iris gave him a look.
"Do I look excited?"
Theo laughed.
"Okay. Fair point."
Iris couldn't help but smile.
At least someone in this family seemed easy to talk to.
Eleanor watched them from across the room with a small smile.
"I'm glad you two are getting along already," she said.
Theo turned toward her.
"Of course we are. She's family now."
Iris looked at him.
"Don't get too comfortable."
Theo placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"Ouch. And here I was already planning to call you my favourite sister-in-law."
Iris laughed.
"I'm your only sister-in-law."
"Exactly. Which means you automatically win."
Iris shook her head, smiling.
Anthony and Annie exchanged a brief glance.
For the first time since arriving at the Blackwood estate, Iris seemed slightly more relaxed.
But then she remembered Damien.
Her smile faded a little.
Theo noticed.
"You okay?"
Iris looked at him.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Theo gave her a knowing look.
"You don't have to pretend with me."
Iris was quiet for a moment.
"I'm just still getting used to everything."
Theo nodded.
"Yeah. I figured."
He glanced toward the door where Damien and Adrian had disappeared.
"Don't worry about my brother."
Iris raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Theo smiled.
"Because Damien looks intimidating, but he's not as terrible as he seems."
Iris crossed her arms.
"I'll decide that for myself."
Theo laughed.
"I like you already."
Eleanor smiled.
"Why don't we show Iris around the house?"
Theo immediately nodded.
"Good idea."
Iris looked toward Eleanor.
"Actually, I'd like that."
Theo stepped beside her.
"Come on, new sister."
Iris rolled her eyes.
"Don't call me that."
"Too late."
He grinned as they began walking down the hallway.
For the first time that day, Iris wondered if maybe being a Blackwood wouldn't be completely unbearable.
At least...
She had Theo.
Theo led Iris through the hallway, pointing out different parts of the mansion as they walked.
"This is the main library," he said, pointing toward a set of tall double doors.
Iris looked inside.
The room was enormous, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves covering almost every wall. A large fireplace stood at the far end, surrounded by dark wooden furniture.
"Wow," Iris said.
Theo smiled.
"Damien practically lives in there."
Iris looked at him.
"He reads?"
Theo laughed.
"Surprisingly, yes."
"I wouldn't have guessed."
"Most people don't."
They continued down the hallway.
Theo pointed toward another set of doors.
"And that's the music room."
Iris glanced through the doorway.
There was a black grand piano sitting in the middle of the room.
"Does Damien play?" she asked.
Theo shook his head.
"No. That's mine."
Iris looked at him.
"You play piano?"
"Among other things."
"Interesting."
Theo smiled.
"I have layers."
Iris laughed softly.
They continued walking until they reached a large set of glass doors.
Theo opened one and stepped outside.
Iris followed.
A beautiful garden stretched across the back of the estate. Rows of flowers surrounded a large fountain, while tall trees lined the edges of the property.
Farther away, Iris could see the swimming pool and tennis court.
"This place is huge," she said.
Theo nodded.
"You'll probably get lost at least once."
"Probably?"
"Okay, definitely."
Iris laughed.
Theo leaned against the railing.
"So, Iris…"
She looked at him.
"Yeah?"
"How do you feel about all of this?"
Iris knew exactly what he meant.
She looked out at the garden.
"I don't know."
Theo nodded.
"You don't have to know yet."
"I just never imagined I'd wake up one morning and find out I was getting married."
Theo smiled faintly.
"Neither did Damien."
Iris looked at him.
"Really?"
"Definitely."
There was something in the way Theo said it that caught her attention.
"What do you mean?"
Theo shrugged.
"My brother isn't exactly the marriage type."
Iris raised an eyebrow.
"Good to know."
Theo chuckled.
"But he's loyal. And when he decides something matters to him, he takes it seriously."
Iris looked away.
"I just hope I'm not another business decision to him."
Theo became quiet.
Then he looked at her.
"You're not."
Before Iris could respond, a familiar voice came from behind them.
"Theo."
They both turned.
Damien stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
Theo smiled.
"Look who's back."
Damien ignored him and looked at Iris.
Iris crossed her arms.
Damien glanced at Theo.
Theo immediately raised both hands.
"Okay, okay. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."
Iris's eyes widened.
"We are not—"
Theo was already walking away, laughing.
Damien watched him disappear down the hallway.
"Let's get one thing straight." He moved closer.
"Nothing most happened between you and my brother. Is that clear?" He said.
He placed his hand on her chin and looked directly into her eyes, and whispered.
"It will be bad for my career if the public finds out my wife," he emphasises. "has a thing with my little brother."
"One, get your hands of me." She said, throwing his hand off chin.
"Two, I have no intention of getting it on with your brother. I don't know if you know this, but it's also going to ruin my career." She added.
"Now leave me alone." She walked back inside.
Damien chuckled and turned to her direction.
She got back inside and saw Theo and walked over to him.
"Oh, you're back. So what did my brother have to say now?" He asked
"Nothing important, of course." She said.
Damien got back inside and stood in a corner,
watching them laughing.
Then his mother called him and asked,
"Damien, are you back already?"
"Hm.. yeah, but I have a meeting I have to get back to." He replied.
"Just remember to be back before seven, alright?" She said.
"Yeah, mom, sure. I should probably get going now." He said as he walked out of the house while Iris watched him leave.