His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 165: The Bonfire Setup

By the time the yacht pulled up to the dock, the sky had already started dimming into early evening, and everyone made their way off one after another, stretching their legs after the ride.

Daniel's island wasn't particularly large, but it didn't need to be. The place felt like something out of a luxury travel magazine, a modern villa tucked between dense greenery, with uninterrupted views of clear blue water wrapping around the shoreline.

Iris and Julian lingered at the back of the group, walking side by side without speaking, while ahead of them Lily slowed her steps just enough to keep glancing back. The look in her eyes wasn't subtle. Jealousy had already settled in, sharp and restless.

Celeste noticed it immediately and leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Relax. You're not losing tonight. Just wait."

Lily let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "You'd better be right."

Inside the villa, Daniel slipped easily into host mode, clapping his hands once to get everyone's attention. "Rooms are all set, so go ahead and get comfortable. We're heading out to the east beach later tonight. Bonfire, tents, the whole thing. You can crash out there and catch the sunrise in the morning. It's worth it."

The mood lifted instantly as everyone scattered toward their rooms.

Iris stepped into hers and paused for a moment, taking it in. The space felt warm and thoughtfully designed, with soft lighting and a wide window that opened straight out toward the ocean. The water reflected the fading light in slow, shifting waves.

Daniel really went all out for this.

She unpacked quickly, then headed into the bathroom to freshen up.

About half an hour later, she stepped back out, pulling on a down jacket before heading toward the stairs, planning to walk along the beach before the bonfire started.

She had just reached the landing when laughter drifted up from below.

Looking down, she saw Lily, Celeste, Selena, and Jenny gathered in the living room, sprawled comfortably across the couch, clearly deep in conversation.

Jenny was the first to notice her. Her expression shifted instantly, something mocking flickering across her face as she raised her voice just enough to carry.

"You ever notice how some people just don't know when to let go?" she said casually. "Like, already divorced, but still hanging around their ex like there's unfinished business. It's kind of embarrassing."

Celeste didn't miss a beat. "Some people just can't accept reality. They think they can just walk back into the past like nothing happened."

Iris slowed for the briefest second, her expression cooling, but she didn't look at them.

Instead, she continued down the stairs at the same steady pace, passing them without hesitation.

"Funny," she said lightly, her tone calm but cutting, "I always thought the embarrassing part was refusing to take a hint after someone cuts you off, or getting this invested in a life that has nothing to do with you."

By the time she finished speaking, she was already at the door.

She didn't wait for a response, didn't even glance back.

The silence she left behind hit harder than anything she could've said.

On the couch, the mood shifted instantly. Lily's fingers curled into her palm, her jaw tightening, while Jenny and Celeste exchanged looks, irritation written all over their faces.

It wasn't just what Iris said.

It was how little she cared.

That kind of distance made it impossible to push back, and that, more than anything, got under their skin.

By nightfall, the beach had been transformed.

A row of tents stood just beyond the sandline, while a bonfire crackled at the center of it all, flames rising high enough to cut through the chill in the air. The heat spread quickly, warming the group as they gathered around.

Off to one side, a grill had been set up, and Mason and Daniel had taken over, flipping skewers and passing food around like they'd done it a hundred times before.

A long table nearby was already packed with drinks and plates of food.

Julian stayed by the grill a little longer than the others, carefully turning a few skewers before finally walking them over to Iris.

"Here," he said, handing them to her.

"Thanks," she replied, taking them without hesitation.

Across the fire, Lily watched the exchange more than she watched anything else, her gaze lingering just a second too long each time.

Celeste leaned in again, her voice low but certain. "It's coming."

Lily's lips curved slightly. "It better."

The night had settled into an easy rhythm when Celeste suddenly stood, brushing sand from her hands as she smiled at the group.

"Okay, we're not ending this night without a game," she said. "And not something boring either."

That got everyone's attention.

"We're calling this one 'No Mercy,'" she continued, clearly enjoying herself. "We draw sticks. Short stick loses. If you lose, you either drink something we're about to make... or you spill something real about someone we choose. And not just anything, it has to be bad enough to count."

Jenny leaned forward, instantly interested. "Define 'real.'"

Celeste grinned. "Something embarrassing. Something they wouldn't want out there. If it's weak, you still drink."

"That's evil," Jenny said, already laughing. "I love it."

Mason immediately jumped in, grabbing a large cup of watermelon juice as a base, then hauling over a pile of random ingredients. He walked around, making each person add something in.

Hot sauce. Soy sauce. Mustard. Vinegar. Barbecue sauce. Sour powder. Even a bitter herbal mix someone found in the kitchen.

When it got to Iris, she added a splash of bottled water, which earned a few laughs.

By the time it was done, the drink looked borderline toxic, thick and murky in a way that made it impossible to take seriously.

Even the smell was enough to make people hesitate.

Iris glanced at it briefly, her expression tightening just a fraction.

Yeah, this isn't random.

She didn't need to guess who this was aimed at.

The game started. Celeste went first.

She reached in, pulled a stick, and flipped it over. The reaction was immediate.

"No way," Jenny laughed. "Alright, what's it gonna be? Drink or dirt?"

Celeste hesitated just long enough to sell it, then sighed. "Fine. I'll talk."

Jenny didn't even pause before pointing straight at Iris. "Her. We want hers."

And just like that, every eye turned.