His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 102: An Urgent Crisis

"No need for dinner." Iris could tell he meant it, and she didn't want to hurt his feelings. She settled on a middle ground. "If you really want to thank me, just give Zoe the money and let her treat me to a nice meal."

Arthur laughed. "Can't I come along too?"

Iris looked a little awkward, smiling as she explained, "I'm closer to Zoe. We're more at ease when we eat together."

Arthur faked being hurt. "So you're saying eating with me would feel weird?"

Iris didn't sugarcoat it. She nodded right away.

Arthur smiled helplessly, his voice softening. "You and Zoe have been best friends for eight years. I've known you for seven. In my heart, you're just like Zoe—like a little sister. But you always keep me at arm's length. Do you have something against me?"

"I don't have anything against you."

Arthur stuffed both hands into his pockets, his eyes fixed on her. "Then why?"

"Other than my brother and dad, I act the same around all adult men." Iris kept a polite, gentle smile, but her voice was cold.

"Even your husband?" Arthur raised one eyebrow.

Iris felt offended, her tone turning sharp. "My husband is closer to me than my dad and brother. How could you even compare them?"

Arthur laughed and nodded in agreement.

"I'll head in now. Goodbye." Iris said her farewell, turned quickly, and walked toward the inpatient building.

Arthur didn't get a chance to say goodbye. He watched her cold, distant back and smiled helplessly.

There are over eight billion people on Earth, and just as many personalities. Iris's was one of a kind.

As an associate attending psychiatrist, Arthur understood and respected how Iris felt.

Iris walked into the pediatric inpatient building of Riverfront Hospital and waited for the elevator.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

She pulled it out and checked the screen—it was David.

She answered and held it to her ear, her voice soft. "Professor Climer."

On the other end, David's voice was almost shaking. "Iris, the ten monkeys in cage No. 2 are gone. You need to... you need to come back right now..."

Iris's scalp went numb. Her blood felt like it had frozen solid. Her heart stopped for a few seconds. She spun around and ran out, gasping as she gave orders. "Report this immediately. Call the fire department. Get everyone looking for them. Now."

She had never run so fast in her life. It was like she was racing against time.

Arthur hadn't gone far. He saw Iris running out, panic written all over her face.

Iris ran to the main road, watching the cars go by. She waited for a taxi and pulled out her phone to order a ride. Her fingers shook as she tapped the screen.

It was morning, so there weren't many ride-sharing cars available. She had to wait in line. She was frantic, sweat dripping down her forehead. She kept glancing ahead for a taxi and checking the countdown on her phone.

The ten monkeys in cage No. 2 all carried experimental viruses. If they infected humans, it would be another catastrophe.

Just as she was at her wits' end, Arthur's car pulled up in front of her. "Iris, get in."

Arthur didn't ask questions. He just knew she was in a rush.

Iris didn't hesitate. She opened the door and slid in. "Thank you, Arthur. Please take me back to the company."

Arthur started the car and pulled away.

"Something urgent?" Arthur asked, curious.

Iris nodded, sweat beading on her forehead. "Yeah, really urgent."

"What is it? Do you need help?"

"No, thank you."

This was a national-level disaster. It had to stay strictly confidential. They had to report it right away and follow the higher-ups' orders on whether to handle it publicly or in secret.

Just then, David called again.

Iris answered quickly, her nerves stretched thin. "Professor Climer, did you find them in the lab?"

"We looked everywhere. No sign of them."

Iris couldn't wrap her head around it. "That cage was so secure—bulletproof glass walls, infrared heat monitors. The security checkpoints were like a fortress. How did they get out?"

David's tone was heavy. "That's what I was going to tell you. We can't get ahold of Gary. We just fixed the broken monitors. The footage shows he snuck back last night and stole all ten monkeys from Lab No. 2."

Gary Mancuso was David's top student and a drug research scientist the country valued highly.

Iris was lost for words. She put her hand to her forehead, her temples throbbing.

The sunset painted the sky red.

In the pediatric ward of Riverfront Hospital, Ethan was feeding Frank dinner.

A knock sounded at the door.

Ethan and Frank looked toward the door. Then it opened.

Julian held several boxes of supplements in his left hand and a big box of toys in his right.

"It's Uncle Julian! Uncle Julian!" Frank jumped up excitedly, bouncing on the bed.

Before, Julian had taken Ethan to a few dinners and personally dropped the drunk Ethan off at home. Sometimes he was invited upstairs to sit for a bit. After meeting Frank, Frank took a real liking to him.

Ethan quickly put down his spoon and stood up. "Julian, what are you doing here?"

Julian spoke softly. "I finished work and came to check on Frank."

He pulled disinfectant wipes out of his pocket, wiped down the toy packaging, and handed it to Frank. "This is for you, Frank. Do you like it?"