His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 108: Hidden Agendas

"You just overthink everything every day until you make yourself depressed?"

"Yeah. It started in high school. I got lucky you were there. I finally got better two years ago."

Arthur scoffed. "Now Julian's the one who's almost depressed."

Lily tensed up and turned to him. "What did you do to Julian this time?"

"Relax. You'll get what you want soon. You'll marry Julian."

Lily looked a little panicky. "Arthur, what happened two years ago almost killed him. Don't mess with him again."

"You don't want them to get divorced?"

"I do. I dream about it every single night."

"Don't worry. I study psychology. I'm good at reading people."

"If Iris finds out the truth, will she divorce him?" Lily asked, worried.

Arthur stroked her hair, looking confident. "Iris will never find out the truth. And Julian won't dare tell her."

"Why?"

"If he says it out loud, it'll turn into a thorn between them. A thorn they can never pull out. It hurts both of them when they get close. The more Julian loves her, the more he won't dare tell her. He's scared the marriage will end. So he keeps that thorn to himself. He pretends he doesn't know anything and pretends he didn't see anything. He lies to himself and suffers quietly."

Lily frowned, upset. "Quit torturing Julian. You're so good at reading people. Torture Iris instead!"

"Iris is too level-headed. No one can hurt her unless it's someone she loves."

"Arthur, how much longer do I have to wait?"

Arthur's hand slowly slid under the blanket. "One more time, and I'll tell you."

"I'm so tired."

"Just lie there. You don't have to move a muscle."

"Okay."

"Open your eyes and look at me. Don't close them and pretend I'm Julian. I'll get jealous."

Lily got lost in passion, moaning softly. "You really do know how to read people."

Iris's life went back to how it was before.

But this time, her mindset was different.

She didn't have the energy to stress over her relationship anymore. She'd let it go, stopped overthinking, and stopped wasting her energy.

The police got back to her with updates. They said Gary still refused to say where the five monkeys were. They also couldn't figure out why he'd stolen the virus-carrying monkeys and set them free.

But there was one thing the police told her specifically.

Gary's mom was disabled. He also had two younger sisters in junior high and a dad with liver cancer.

He had the whole family's weight on his shoulders. And as a drug researcher, he didn't make much money.

Lately, the charity department at Everhart Group had been helping his two sisters. They also donated money for his dad's treatment.

Everhart Group did charity all the time, in different ways. The police weren't sure if that had anything to do with Gary stealing the monkeys. They were still looking into it.

The police couldn't do anything without evidence, but Iris knew.

She was being targeted.

Last time, it was the fire department, the tax office, the animal protection association, and even her landlord kicking her out.

This time was worse. They were trying to ruin her career.

It was probably because Lily tried to kill herself over her depression.

Iris went to Rosehill Estate alone to find Frederick.

The sun was shining bright. The big garden was filled with birds singing and flowers blooming.

Frederick was wearing casual home clothes, trimming his potted plants calmly in the garden.

Iris got straight to the point. "You know why I'm here. Just tell me what you want."

Frederick smiled calmly, checking her out. "I always thought you were smart."

"My time is precious. Cut the nonsense." Iris had no respect or politeness left for him—only anger and impatience.

After all, a lowlife like him wasn't worth her time.

Frederick's face turned dark. He put down the scissors and scoffed. "How dare you talk to me like that? So cocky."

Iris didn't back down. She stood her ground even more. "If the virus spreads all over the place among people, my company will go under. I'll get punished and end up in jail. But you and your family won't get away with it either. Once you get infected, there's no vaccine, no medicine. You'll die too."

Frederick's eyes got dim. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do." Iris clenched her fists, holding back her anger. She knew he was faking it, and it would be hard to get evidence out of him. "I know you're scared I'm recording this, so you won't admit it. Just tell me what you want. What do you want me to do?"

After all, he'd gone to so much trouble to target her—her company and now her future.

He had to have an angle.

Frederick picked up the scissors and kept trimming the oddly shaped pine tree in front of him. "Iris, I'll admit you're smart, pretty, well-educated, capable, and gentle. You're a really good woman. But your family background, your status—you'll never be good enough for the Everhart family.

"At work, you can't help Julian or the Everhart Group.

"Personally, I've always wanted Lily to be Julian's wife, to team up with the Prescott family."

"I see." Iris clenched her fists so tight that her nails dug into her palms. Her hand hurt, and her heart hurt too.

But the pain didn't last long.

"Good that you get it." Frederick smiled, looking at her. "If your family was better off, you'd be perfect."