His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 149: Rain and Regret

She tilted her chin up, strutting away with Jenny and Celeste like she'd won the whole thing. Her tone was cocky. "C'mon, let's bounce. We're gonna go sing and dance."

Jenny pulled out her phone as she walked, her voice oozing pride. "Yeah, I'll call Julian to come with us."

Watching them walk off, Zoe puffed her cheeks up in anger. She punched the table, her voice low but seething. "Birds of a feather flock together!"

Iris said nothing. She just picked up her wine glass and took a tiny sip of the fruit wine.

Her eyes locked on the swirling liquid in the glass, like she was staring at some far-off memory. A faint, almost invisible pain flickered in her eyes.

Zoe looked at her, worried sick. Her voice was soft but tense. "You really okay?"

Iris looked up, a small smile tugging at her lips, but it never reached her eyes. "What could be wrong with me?"

Zoe sighed, lifting her glass and forcing a light tone. "Right. C'mon, cheers to being single."

Iris clinked her glass against hers, her voice soft. "Cheers to us being single."

*****

It was three in the morning, and the rain was coming down hard.

Thunder boomed, like it was tearing the sky apart. Rain poured, hitting the ground with a loud, steady tap.

The whole world was wrapped in a rain curtain. Everything you could see was just a blurry haze.

Walking out of the club, Mason held an umbrella. Daniel supported a wasted Julian, struggling to get him to the car.

Julian suddenly pushed Mason's umbrella away, shoving Daniel off him too. His voice was hoarse, broken. "Leave me alone..."

The downpour soaked all three of them in seconds. Julian's hair stuck to his forehead, rain running down his face. No one could tell if it was rain or tears.

His steps were wobbly, his body swaying like a light wind could knock him over.

Daniel planted his hands on his hips, yelling in frustration, "You've been drinking nonstop for days. If we don't get you home, you'll drink yourself to death in that club!"

Julian tilted his head back, letting the rain beat down on his face. His voice was empty and sad. "Home? I don't even have a home anymore..."

Mason rushed over, grabbing his arm tight. His voice was urgent. "The rain's too bad. Get in the car first!"

But Julian pulled away hard, stepping back. His voice was hoarse, desperate. "I said leave me alone!"

Mason shouted, his voice full of bottled-up anger and worry, "You're my best friend. How the hell could I leave you?"

Daniel stepped up. "It's just a divorce! Do you really gotta kill yourself over it? Keep this up, and no one can save you!"

Julian closed his eyes, his voice so soft the rain almost swallowed it. "Then let me die. Let me be free..."

Mason couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed Julian's arm hard, shoving him toward the car. "Yeah, getting divorced against your will sucks. But Julian, with your looks and your money, you think you can't find someone better?"

Daniel nodded along. "Yeah, this one's gone. The next one will be way better."

Julian was pushed into the back seat, his body slumping against the window, eyes closed, breathing heavy. The heater in the car cranked up slowly, but his body stayed cold, like his heart was frozen through.

Mason got in the car, his voice tired and worried. "Aren't you a total clean freak? How can you stand not showering for days, getting wasted every night?"

Daniel started the car, his voice relieved. "If the club owner hadn't been scared you'd die in his place, he never would've called us to come get you."

Julian didn't answer. He just mumbled quietly, his voice hoarse and broken, "Iris... please, don't leave me..."

Mason and Daniel looked at each other, their hearts heavy. Neither of them said a word.

The only sounds in the car were Julian's mumbles and the steady swish of the windshield wipers. The air was so thick.

Daniel sighed, shaking his head in frustration. "If he keeps this up, he's gonna get really hurt."

Mason reached out to feel Julian's forehead, his face dropping. "He's burning up! Drive faster—get him to the hospital!"

Daniel hit the gas hard. The car raced through the pouring rain.

Rain smacked the windows, loud and steady, like the whole world was falling apart.

Mason stared at Julian's pale face, his voice helpless and worried. "It's just one girl. Why are you torturing yourself over her?"

Julian still had his eyes closed, his voice weak but stubborn. "Iris... I don't wanna get divorced..."

Mason put his hand to his forehead, closing his eyes and sighing. "You're hopeless."

The car pulled into the hospital. Julian was rushed straight into the emergency room.

The emergency room light stayed on from four in the morning till dawn. Twice, they got papers saying he might not make it.

The whole Everhart family showed up. Beatrice stood by the window, hands pressed together, whispering through tears, "Please, save Julian..."

Jenny sobbed, her voice confused and angry. "Julian was so healthy. How'd he get this bad so fast?"

Daniel stood nearby, his voice heavy. "He turned off his phone, hid in the club, drank day and night, and didn't eat a thing for days. If the club owner hadn't called us, he probably would've died there."

Frederick clenched his fists, his face turning red with anger. His voice was full of bottled-up rage. "Iris is nothing but trouble!"