His Genius Wife Is A Superstar Chapter 3 - Iris Long

"Can you recall your name?" Dr. Ching inquired of his patient upon her awakening the following day.

"I am Iris Long. For how long was I unconscious?" Her voice was steady as she addressed the physician, showing none of the previous day's distress.

"For slightly more than a year," he replied.

"I understand."

She remained passive as the medical team attended to her. There was no alternative but to embrace the reality of inhabiting a different body. Having known death, she viewed this second existence as a precious opportunity to lead the life she had always desired—a life that was impossible in her previous incarnation.

In her past life, she had lived essentially as a captive. Constantly under guard, she was coerced into mastering subjects and skills that held no interest for her, forbidden from ever leaving the estate or socializing with the outside world.

She had been a bird in a cage.

That was her former reality. Now, however, she possessed the chance to finally spread her wings and fly as high as she pleased.

Freedom.

This was her ultimate longing. Even if it required living under a different identity, she would embrace this new path wholeheartedly.

Evelina was gone, her life ending at twenty-five on that horrific, bloody night.

Now, she had returned as nineteen-year-old Iris Long, a rebellious pop star and socialite.

A year prior, Iris Long had been driving solo after a night of clubbing when she realized her brakes had failed. Losing control, she slammed into a building, instantly demolishing her brand-new sports car. Her trauma was so severe that she fell into a coma, kept from the brink of death only by life support machinery.

While the original Iris Long perished in that accident, her physical form was preserved. A new soul now occupied the vessel, and this new owner intended to pursue a life defined by independence and fulfillment.

"When is my discharge date?" Evelina—now Iris—asked Dr. Ching. She was eager to begin her new journey.

"Do not be in such a hurry. We must continue our observations and tests to ensure no complications arise. Once you gain enough strength, you will need to start rehabilitation and physiotherapy to regain your former mobility and physical power."

She let out a sigh. Just as she prepared to ask more, the door swung open, and the heavy scent of oud flooded the room.

Iris wrinkled her nose as she watched a woman enter, sporting heavy makeup and meticulously styled hair. She wore a stunning, floor-length red gown paired with diamond-studded stilettos.

Wei Lan marched inside, shoving the medical staff aside to lean over her daughter and plant air kisses on both cheeks.

"Oh, my poor baby!!! Your mother is sooooo delighted that you have finally woken up!!! I have been sooooo sick with worry over you!!!"

Reaching into her designer handbag, Wei Lan pulled out a finely embroidered handkerchief to dab at eyes that were perfectly dry.

Iris resorted to breathing through her mouth; the woman’s perfume was overwhelming.

Recalling the original Iris’s memories, she knew there was no closeness with this mother. Actually, she was estranged from her entire family.

Wei Lan, once a struggling model, had married Long Tengfei strictly for his wealth and social standing. After their divorce, she used her daughter as a tool to extract an exorbitant amount of child support and alimony from her former husband.

Within a month of the split, her mother was already seeing a succession of lovers who were just as wealthy as her ex-husband. Consequently, the Long family harbored deep resentment and looked down upon both Wei Lan and her daughter, Iris.

From a tender age, Wei Lan had pushed Iris into the entertainment industry. She began as a child model in commercials before transitioning into a teen pop idol.

Though Long Tengfei felt a sense of shame regarding his daughter, she still carried the Long bloodline. Aware of his ex-wife’s avarice, he had appointed a financial manager for Iris to safeguard her wealth from both Wei Lan and Iris’s own impulsive nature.

This arrangement infuriated Wei Lan. Unable to change it, she directed her bitterness toward her daughter, resulting in a hollow and strained bond between them.

The relationship with her father was equally fractured. Long Tengfei had acted in her best interest, but the immature Iris failed to see it. She viewed his restrictions on her allowance and earnings as a form of punishment. Wei Lan only worsened the rift by constantly speaking ill of her ex-husband to their daughter.

Feeling abandoned by her kin, Iris had chased fame at any cost. She sang provocative lyrics, frequented wild parties, and clung to celebrities—performing all sorts of desperate stunts to gain attention.

She had been naive enough to believe that more fame would translate to more love. While she had fans who admired her beauty and music, they did not necessarily care for the person behind the persona.