Jayce clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing. "And what exactly do you propose I do, Iris? How am I supposed to fix this?"
Iris softened her tone slightly, trying to appeal to his practical side. She took a deep breath, her demeanor shifting to one of strategic counsel. "Start with the small things. Take her out to dinner, buy her flowers, show her that you still care. Remind her of the man she fell in love with. Give her the attention she's craving. If you want to keep her, you need to act like you want her."
Jayce ran a hand through his curly hair, his mind racing with the implications of her words. "And why are you so invested in this, Iris?"
Iris hesitated for a moment, then spoke carefully, choosing her words with precision. "Because this marriage needs to work. You know why." She leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a whisper that carried a heavy weight. "You keep providing for me financially, and I'll keep my mouth shut about your... activities." 
Jayce's eyes narrowed further, the full weight of her implication settling over him. He knew what was at stake, and the delicate balance that held their secrets in place. He couldn't afford any slip-ups, not now, not ever.
Iris continued, her voice firm and unyielding. "If you don't do something now, you'll lose her. And with her gone and no longer attached to you, you'll stop providing me with the money and status that I need, and then who knows what else might unravel? Your entire empire is at risk.  I will expose everything I know Jayce. Do you want that happening? Because I guarantee if I go down, I'm taking you with me." she threatened 
Jayce sighed, clenching his jaw he nodded slowly as he absorbed her words. "I'll do it. I'll try to make it up to her. But this better work, Iris. I can't afford to have her slipping away." he grumbled angrily, knowing Iris was right. 
Iris straightened, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips. "It will. Just make sure you don't lose her and especially not that X person, he's no good for her. He'll break her."
As Iris left the study, Jayce sat in silence, contemplating her words. The study felt colder, the shadows longer, as he considered the steps he needed to take. He knew he had to act fast. He couldn't afford to lose Ivory, not now, not ever. The stakes were too high, and the secrets too dangerous.
He thought back to the early days of their relationship, when everything seemed perfect, and Ivory looked at him with love and admiration. Those days felt distant now, replaced by suspicion, anger, fear, and distance. He downed the rest of his Dussé, the burn in his throat a stark reminder of his own failings.
He needed a plan, a way to win her back. And he needed to do it quickly, before everything came crashing down around him. The weight of Iris's words hung heavy in the air, a sheer reminder of the precarious position he was in. He couldn't afford any more mistakes, especially not with a man who possibly knew his entire past in town doing God knows what with his wife at that. 
Jayce stood up, the resolve hardening in his eyes. He would do whatever it took to keep Ivory, to maintain his empire. He would play the role of the loving husband, shower her with gifts and affection, whatever it took to win her back. Because losing her was not an option, not now, not ever.
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Sαɳƚα Mσɳιƈα, CA
Ivory moaned quietly as she laid down on her stomach in Xaier's bed, her muscles relaxing under his firm, soothing hands. The gentle pressure of his fingers kneading away the tension in her shoulders, neck, back, and thighs helped well to soothe her sore muscles. She had been getting flipped like a damn pancake, stretched like taffy and spread like jelly all week. Xaier honestly felt a little bad only because he knew she was new to so much, but he wasn't able to help himself when it came down to it.