His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 173: The Cold Water

Julian slowed his steps along the shoreline, then suddenly bent down and picked something out of the sand. When he straightened, a small pink spiral shell rested in his palm, delicate and almost glossy under the early morning light. He held it out toward Iris, his tone casual but warm. "This one's actually kind of rare. You want it?"

The moment Iris saw it, her eyes lit up without any attempt to hide it. She took it from him carefully, as if it might break. "It's so pretty. Thank you."

The way she smiled made something in Julian loosen, almost unconsciously. He let go of her hand and started scanning the beach more seriously now, stepping through the sand as he searched. Shells were scattered everywhere, but he ignored most of them, instinctively picking only the ones that stood out.

It didn't take long before Iris gave in to the same quiet excitement. She bent down as well, brushing sand aside here and there, completely absorbed in the simple, almost childlike joy of finding something beautiful.

Then suddenly, she froze.

Half-buried in the sand was something larger, only the tip visible but clearly different from the rest. Her voice broke the calm, bright with excitement. "Julian, over here, I found one!"

He didn't hesitate. Within seconds, he was beside her, crouching down and digging into the sand with quick, efficient movements. A few scoops later, he pulled out a large conch shell, its shape full and elegant, still dusted with damp sand.

Iris's reaction was immediate and unfiltered. "Wow, that's huge," she said, her whole face lighting up, the kind of expression that made her look years younger.

Julian didn't say much. He simply got to his feet and jogged toward the water, stepping into the edge of the ocean to rinse it clean. The cold waves lapped against his shoes, the winter chill obvious even from a distance.

Iris followed quickly, concern creeping into her voice. "Julian, you don't have to wash it now, the water's freezing."

He barely reacted to the cold. After a few quick rinses, the shell was clean, its natural colors coming through clearly. He turned back, walked toward her, and placed it into her hands. His voice softened without him realizing it. "This one's worth keeping."

"Thank you," Iris said quietly, her fingers tracing the edge of the shell.

Before either of them could say anything else, a sudden wave surged forward, faster and stronger than the rest.

Iris didn't even have time to step back. The icy water rushed over her feet, soaking through her shoes instantly.

She let out a small startled sound, instinctively trying to pull away, but the cold had already settled in.

In the next instant, Julian moved.

His arm wrapped firmly around her waist, and before she could react, he lifted her clean off the ground.

The shift was so sudden that Iris instinctively clutched onto him, her arms going around his neck as her feet left the sand entirely.

Julian held her securely, steady and unhurried, as he carried her back toward dry ground.

Pressed close to him, Iris leaned in slightly, her voice soft near his ear. "That water is freezing."

Julian glanced down at her, his brows tightening just a little. "Your shoes are soaked, aren't they?"

She nodded. "Yeah. My feet are already going numb."

Once they were clear of the water, Julian set her down carefully. He glanced briefly at the horizon where the sun was beginning to rise, then looked back at her without hesitation. "We can catch a sunrise anytime. Let's get you back and change first."

Iris didn't argue. Her feet were stiff from the cold, but strangely, there was a quiet warmth settling somewhere deeper, something she couldn't quite explain. She simply nodded.

They turned back before the sun had fully risen.

Not far away, a small group had been watching.

Celeste crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on their retreating figures, irritation clear in her voice. "This whole trip was supposed to give you a chance with Julian, and somehow Iris still managed to insert herself into it."

Jenny's expression darkened slightly. "She's not as harmless as she looks. They're already divorced, and she's still hanging around him like that. If this keeps going, Julian's never going to see her for what she really is."

Selena stood beside them, brushing windblown hair back over her shoulder, her lips curving into a faint, knowing smile. "Girls like her are actually the easiest to deal with. No real backing, no power, no experience. All it takes is the right push."

That immediately drew the others' attention.

Jenny leaned closer, unable to hide her eagerness. "You have something in mind?"

Selena didn't answer right away. Her gaze drifted past them, landing on Caleb not far off, her expression sharpening just slightly. "The opportunity's already there. Whether you can use it... that's the real question."

The others followed her line of sight, then looked back at her, confusion mixed with anticipation.

Jenny didn't hold back. "Then just tell us."

Selena smiled faintly and motioned them closer.

The group leaned in, forming a tight circle, their heads nearly touching as the sound of the waves filled the background.

Selena lowered her voice, one hand lightly shielding her lips as she spoke.

Her tone was quiet, almost swallowed by the wind, but there was a distinct chill underneath it, something calculated and deliberate.

By the time she finished, none of them spoke immediately.

They exchanged glances, each silently weighing what they had just heard.

Jenny was the first to react. A sharp edge flickered across her eyes, and the corner of her mouth lifted slowly, as if she could already picture the outcome she wanted.

Out at sea, the waves continued their steady rhythm, the sound carrying faintly through the air like the opening note of something inevitable.

By the time they returned to the villa, the beach trip had fully wound down, everyone drifting back into their own routines.

Iris changed out of her damp shoes and socks, rinsed them clean, and set them in the dryer before stepping out of her room again.

She moved down the hall and into the open kitchen, where the space felt warm and lived-in. Resting her hands lightly on the kitchen island, she eased herself onto one of the high stools, her posture relaxed, her attention naturally settling on Julian.

He stood at the stove, focused but effortless, the kind of presence that didn't need attention to draw it.

Her voice came out soft, almost blending into the quiet of the room. "What are you making?"

Julian turned at the sound, and the moment he saw her, something in his expression softened, the edge in his gaze easing into something quieter. "Made some creamy beef and barley soup," he said. "Figured you might be in the mood for something like that."