His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 11: Storm Warning

The storm was pounding. Wind howled, rain slammed against the windows, and visibility was awful.

Julian gripped the steering wheel, eyes focused ahead.

"So what brought you out for coffee all the way near my place?" he asked, almost absentmindedly.

Lily glanced outside. Her tone was casual, but her eyes flickered.

"A friend of mine lives nearby. She just went through a breakup. I stayed over last night, but I barely slept. Figured I'd grab a coffee to wake myself up... didn't expect the rain to hit this hard."

Julian didn't seem all that interested. He said nothing more.

Lily turned to him. "Heard from your assistant you're flying to Aurelia tomorrow?"

His voice went cold. "You don't need to keep tabs on my schedule."

Lily leaned toward him, resting her elbow on the center console, head propped in her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"What a coincidence," she said with a sweet smile. "I booked the same flight. Same hotel, too. But I'm going for fun."

"I'm going for work," Julian said flatly. "Try not to get in my way."

"I don't need you to babysit me," Lily pouted. "But come on, you know how my parents are. Always treating me like a kid. They never let me travel alone. They're always saying how dangerous it is overseas."

She sighed dramatically.

"So I told them you'd be there. It made them feel better, okay? Let me go."

Julian kept his eyes on the road. Silent.

"If anything does go wrong over there," she added with a laugh, "at least I'll have someone I trust to call. That's what friends are for, right?"

Julian said nothing.

The rain had finally stopped after nearly a week of gloomy drizzle. The sky was still gray, and the air felt heavy with moisture.

The cab pulled into Rosehill Estate and stopped in front of a two-story villa.

Iris stepped out and looked through the iron gate. Her stomach sank.

She had barely set foot in this house since marrying Julian. And this wasn't even his mother's house—it was his stepmother's.

She wouldn't have come, if not for the call from Julian's grandmother.

The moment she heard that Beatrice had come to the city, her heart lit up. She couldn't wait to see her.

She pressed the doorbell.

A few seconds later, the housekeeper—May—came out to open the gate, smiling kindly.

"There you are, Iris! Mrs. Everhart's been asking for you all morning."

"Hi, May," Iris said politely.

"Come on in."

Inside, the living room was bright and extravagant, lit with ornate chandeliers. Four oversized leather couches framed an equally massive coffee table, where drinks, snacks, and a pile of fancy gift boxes were laid out.

The room was full—Julian's father and stepmother, his uncle and aunt, his cousin Jenny, Lily and her parents, and in the middle of it all, Beatrice, silver-haired and serene.

Iris followed May inside. No one looked up.

Lily was busy handing out gifts, gushing about her recent trip.

"This one's from Julian," she beamed. "He picked it out for you personally."

Vivian's smile widened. As Julian's stepmother, being acknowledged by him was a rare thing. She took the box with both hands. "I can't believe he thought of me while you two were off on vacation. That's so sweet. Tell him I said thank you."

Jenny's eyes sparkled. "Lily, did you bring anything for me?"

"Of course I did," Lily said playfully. "How could I forget our sweet little cousin?"

She handed over a large, ribbon-wrapped box. Jenny's grin only grew wider. "Thanks, Lily! And tell Julian thanks too!"

Then Lily picked up a small, delicate box and turned to Beatrice, her voice suddenly softer, more reverent. "This is for you, Beatrice. Julian and I picked it out together. I really hope you like it."

Beatrice gave her a flat smile, took the box with one hand, and set it aside without a glance. Her eyes were already searching toward the door.

"Where's Iris?" she muttered aloud.

Just as the words left her mouth, she spotted Iris standing quietly behind the group. Her face lit up instantly. She stood and reached out both hands.

"Grandma." Iris smiled and stepped forward, gently taking the woman's hands in hers.

The warmth in Beatrice's eyes was unmistakable. Whatever grief she'd carried since her husband's passing, it had softened now.

"I missed you so much," she said, her voice full of affection.

And just like that, the room froze. Smiles faded. Conversations stopped. The air turned cold. Aside from Beatrice, everyone else looked like they'd just bitten into something sour.

Iris kept her gaze on Beatrice, gently rubbing her hand. "How have you been feeling?"

"Oh, same old aches," Beatrice said, dismissing it. "But nothing I can't handle."

She led Iris to the couch.

Iris nodded to the others as she passed. "Hi, everyone." They barely looked at her. No one returned the greeting. Just a few reluctant nods, cold and distant.

Beatrice glanced toward the door. "Where's Julian? Didn't he come with you?"