His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 135: Disappearance

Ethan was already swamped in debt. Now their dad was really sick, and all the medical bills fell on Iris. That was part of why he was so heartbroken.

Iris held back her tears and comforted him. "Ethan, we gotta keep this from Mom and Dad first. Even Julian and Emily. Don't tell anyone. I'll pay for Dad's bills, and I'll stay at the hospital to take care of him."

Ethan's eyes were full of tears, his voice shaking with pain. "I get why you don't wanna scare Mom and Dad. I get you're divorcing Julian and don't want him to offer any help. But why hide it from Emily?"

Iris sighed helplessly. "Because people's true natures can't stand to be tested."

Ethan didn't get what she meant.

Iris didn't wanna spell it out for him.

After all, Emily had always looked down on Ethan for being poor and useless. She said he couldn't give her a rich, easy life. Now he was in debt from a scam, and their dad had cancer. Not every woman could handle that kind of pressure.

The night sky was dotted with stars.

Unlike the sorrow at the hospital, the wedding was filled with nothing but joy. But Julian didn't touch a drop of alcohol the whole time. Everyone was shocked and confused by that.

Julian looked everywhere for Iris, but he couldn't find her. He called her, but no one picked up. He asked other people, but nobody knew where she'd gone.

He drove home. When he passed the research institute, it was pitch black inside.

When he got home, he turned on the lights, set down his car keys, and called out as he changed his shoes. "Iris..."

The house was dead quiet.

He went straight to Iris's room and knocked, but no one answered.

He got nervous, pushed the door open fast, and turned on the light. All he saw was the neat bed, empty.

In that second, he panicked.

He ran into the room and opened the closet.

Her clothes were still there.

Julian took a deep breath, closed the closet door, turned off the light, and walked out of the room.

He sat on the sofa and reached out to Iris nonstop—calls, texts, WhatsApp messages. He exhausted every way to contact her.

But Iris didn't respond at all.

The night got darker, and time ticked by. Julian leaned back on the sofa, listless, closing his eyes to rest, but his ears stayed open for any sound from the front door.

He looked more and more worn out. He pulled off his tie, took off his suit jacket, and waited quietly for Iris to come home.

By early morning, Iris sent him a message, "Julian, I have something urgent and need to leave home for a while. I'll be there on the court date. Don't worry."

When Julian saw her message, he called her right away.

But Iris's phone was already off.

Julian threw his phone on the sofa and put his hand on his forehead. He felt like he was falling into an endless hole, lost in pain and confusion, unable to get out.

They'd been married for two years, and this was the first time Iris had turned off her phone and didn't come home.

Julian knew deep down she wouldn't come back, but he still sat on the sofa all night, waiting without sleeping a wink.

It wasn't until dawn that he dragged his tired body into the bathroom to clean up.

After cleaning up and changing clothes, Julian drove out to look for Iris.

He went to the research institute and her parents' house.

Zoe said she'd taken a few days off.

Grace said she wasn't at their place.

Iris had been gone for five days, and Julian was almost driven crazy looking for her.

Right then, the court sent Julian a trial notice for July 1st.

The divorce process that should've taken four months skipped mediation entirely and went straight to trial.

Only ten days left until the trial. It was insanely fast.

Julian told his lawyer to look into it.

When he found out the judge was a close friend of Lily's dad, he knew he was gonna lose Iris for good.

A woman as strong-willed as Iris would never come back once she divorced him, no matter whether she still loved him or not.

The night was pitch black, and the living room lights were on.

Julian came home from outside, leaning back on the sofa tiredly, covering his eyes with his arm. A heavy, cold feeling hung over him, making the whole house feel like an ice box—oppressive and quiet.

He was so tired he fell asleep without noticing, only to wake up from a nightmare.

He covered his face with his hands, taking deep, painful breaths.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

Julian sat up fast, grabbed his phone from the coffee table, and checked who was calling.

It was Zoe.

He stood up nervously, answered the call, and put it to his ear. "Zoe, do you have news about Iris?"

On the other end, Zoe's voice was really soft. "Something happened at the lab. Iris came back to fix it, but she'll leave again soon. Hurry over."

"Thank you." Julian rushed out of the house as fast as he could.

Bright moonlight covered the sky.

Iris and Zoe walked out of the research institute, heading for the subway station.

The street was quiet, and the dim yellow streetlights lit up the road ahead. The bushes next to the sidewalk were thick and green.

They walked arm in arm, stepping on their shadows.

Zoe was worried, so she slowed down on purpose. "Iris, you haven't been to the lab for five days. Did something happen?"

Iris didn't wanna tell Zoe. She pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Zoe got it and respected her, switching the subject. "You sure you won't regret the divorce?"

"No," Iris said firmly, a touch of melancholy in her voice. "Maybe I still love him, but this marriage wore me out for two years. Looking back, it just wasn't worth it."

Zoe felt sad. "I don't believe in love either, but my parents are forcing me to go on blind dates and get married."