His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 163: Lines Drawn

Julian's breathing slowed, but the warmth of it still lingered as his gaze dropped to where Iris was pressed against his arm, her body fitting against him in a way that made it impossible to ignore her presence. When it came to her, he had never really stood a chance.

"Alright," he said quietly, his voice rough but gentle, "we'll do it your way."

As Iris turned with him, she cast a quick glance over her shoulder at Lily, and the look on Lily's face was enough to tell her everything. It wasn't just anger, it was the kind that sat heavy and ugly, barely contained, like it could spill over at any second.

Iris had spent years avoiding conflict, believing that if she kept her head down and stayed out of trouble, things would settle on their own. But all that restraint had done was invite more pressure, more interference, more calculated moves meant to corner her. Even after the divorce, Lily hadn't backed off. If anything, she had gotten bolder, weaving herself into Iris's life in ways that felt deliberate and cruel, even dragging other people into it just to make things harder.

That kind of persistence didn't deserve patience anymore.

If I don't push back now, I'll just keep getting walked over.

Across the dock, Mason stared as Julian and Iris turned back toward the yacht, his eyes lingering on the way she held onto Julian's arm, close enough to leave no room for misunderstanding.

"I'll take that," Mason said quickly, stepping in to grab the luggage from Julian before heading ahead toward the yacht.

Julian glanced down at Iris as they walked. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

"Yeah," she admitted, her voice low but steady.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Then I guess I don't mind being used."

Up ahead, Luke leaned closer to Jenny as they stepped onto the yacht, his voice low enough to stay between them. "If you don't want to get on your brother's bad side, don't start anything with Iris."

Jenny let out a quiet scoff, clearly unimpressed.

Selena, standing beside Caleb, watched Julian and Iris walk up together, her eyes sharp with interest. "If you want her, go for it," she said casually. "She's not off-limits anymore."

Caleb's expression shifted into something confident, almost reckless. "I don't lose what I go after," he said, then headed straight for the yacht.

Selena gave a faint, knowing smile before following him on board.

Behind them, Celeste leaned closer to Lily, her tone soft but deliberate. "Don't let this get to you. I know exactly how Iris works. Leave it to me, I'll make sure she regrets showing up."

Lily's eyes narrowed slightly, her anger sharpening into something more focused. "You're planning to go after her?"

Celeste shook her head with a small smile. "Not directly. Not with Julian around. But there are other ways to strip someone's image apart."

That was enough to ease Lily's expression just slightly. "Good," she said under her breath. "Then don't mess it up."

Once everyone was on board, Mason took control at the helm, steering the yacht out into open water. The group settled across the deck, letting the sun warm their faces while the ocean breeze cut through the air with a crisp chill. Laughter came easily, conversations overlapping, the kind of relaxed atmosphere that made everything feel effortless.

Iris didn't join them. She stood off to the side near the railing, her hands tucked into her coat pockets as she stared out over the endless stretch of water, her thoughts drifting further than the horizon.

A moment later, something warm settled over her shoulders.

She froze slightly as the weight of a coat wrapped around her, followed by a familiar, subtle scent that didn't need explanation.

Even before she turned, she knew it was Julian.

It wasn't cologne, nothing sharp or artificial. It was cleaner than that, softer, something like fresh laundry mixed with the natural warmth that always seemed to cling to him. It was unmistakable, and dangerously easy to lean into.

"Thanks," she said, pulling the coat closer around herself. She lowered her gaze just enough to take a quiet breath, letting the scent settle in before she straightened again.

Julian leaned slightly to catch her expression. "Still cold?"

"No," she said quickly, her cheeks warming as she kept her eyes on the water. "So where are we heading?"

"Daniel's island."

That earned a small laugh from her. "Of course he owns an island. That tracks."

Julian slid his hands into his pockets, his tone easy. "If you like it, I'll get you one."

She turned to look at him, amusement flickering in her eyes. "That's funny, because I remember someone once pointing out that I never spent his money, handled everything at home, and basically saved him from hiring help."

Julian frowned slightly, caught off guard. "I said that?"

"You did," she replied, smiling faintly. "So it's kind of surprising to hear you offering to buy me an island now."

He let out a quiet breath, something restrained in the way his expression shifted. "I probably said it after a few drinks," he admitted. "Doesn't sound like my best moment."

There was a pause before his voice dropped, more serious now.

"But those two years weren't easy for me. I resented how open you could be with other people, how natural it seemed. And then with me, you held back like there was always a line you wouldn't cross."

Iris's grip tightened slightly around the coat. "So that's why you wouldn't agree to the divorce at first? You were trying to get back at me?"

Julian met her gaze, something deeper settling behind his eyes.

"Or maybe," he said quietly, "it's because when you care that much, it doesn't just disappear. It turns into something else."