His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 175: Blurred Lines

Iris hesitated with the spoon still in her hand, caught in a dilemma that felt way more serious than it should have been. Switching utensils now would probably make it look like she minded, like she thought it was gross, and that felt unnecessarily hurtful. But if she didn't switch...

Wait... does that mean we basically just shared a spoon?

The realization hit all at once, and heat rushed straight to her face.

Julian noticed immediately. The way she froze, the way her expression shifted, it was almost too easy to read. His eyes softened, amusement and something warmer settling in, and he reached over to gently brush his hand over her hair.

Julian said, "What's going on, you seriously grossed out by me?"

Iris snapped out of it and shook her head a little too fast. "No, of course not."

Then why does this feel so weird...?

Lately, everything between them felt like it was slipping out of its usual boundaries, turning into something harder to define. It wasn't just friendship anymore, but it wasn't something she could clearly name either, and that uncertainty made her chest feel tight.

Needing something to focus on, she scooped up another spoon and blew on it, trying to steady her breathing.

Julian withdrew his hand, his tone turning more serious, though the gentleness never left.

Julian said, "Mason and I are heading out in a bit, gonna hunt. You stay here and keep your head down, alright? Try not to get involved with those women. If anything happens, call me right away."

Iris nodded quietly. "I will."

She lowered her gaze and took a bite, her lashes trembling slightly.

Why is my heart beating this fast...?

It made no sense. Nothing had really happened, and yet everything felt different.

Even the food tasted sweeter now, which only made it worse.

After breakfast, she went back to her room.

The balcony opened up to a sweeping ocean view, endless blue stretching to the horizon without a single obstruction. The air felt lighter out there, like it could carry away every lingering thought if she let it.

She pulled a book from her bag and settled into the lounge chair, letting herself sink into the quiet.

Time slipped by so quietly she barely noticed it passing, the steady rhythm of the waves and the warmth of the sun pulling her deeper into the moment, until a faint sound at the edge of her awareness broke through the calm, soft footsteps moving just outside, slow and deliberate, followed by a gentle knock on the door.

Jenny said, "Iris, you in there?"

Iris closed her book and went to open the door.

The second it opened, Jenny grabbed her wrist like she was desperate, pulling her out into the hallway without giving her time to react.

Jenny said, rushing, "Come with me, now. Lily just collapsed out of nowhere, she's not waking up. The guys all went hunting, and you're the only one here who knows anything about medicine. You have to help her."

Before Iris could question anything, she was dragged into another room.

Lily lay flat on the floor, completely still.

Celeste and Selena stood nearby, their expressions tight with concern, though something about it felt... off.

Celeste said, "Can you check on her? We don't know what's wrong."

Iris didn't move.

Instead, she stood there, her gaze moving slowly from one face to the next, taking everything in with unsettling clarity. The shift in her expression was subtle, but her eyes turned cold.

Iris said, "Did you call anyone?"

Celeste's eyes were already red, her hands trembling as if she were on the verge of breaking down.

Celeste said, "No. They wouldn't know what to do anyway, they're not doctors, and there's no one else here..." Her voice wavered. "What if something happens to her? Iris, you understand this stuff, please, just help her."

A faint smile appeared on Iris's lips, calm and completely unhurried.

Iris said, "I don't know what you're trying to pull, but if you're going to test me, at least come up with something less obvious."

She didn't even glance at Lily again before turning toward the door.

Jenny's patience snapped. She rushed forward and blocked her path.

Jenny said, "What is wrong with you? She's unconscious and you're just walking away? How can you be that cold?"

Iris let out a slow breath, the exhaustion finally showing.

Iris said, "If she had actually passed out, the first thing you would've done is call Julian. Or at least get her off the floor and onto a bed. That's basic."

Jenny froze for a second, then instinctively looked toward Celeste and Selena, her confidence slipping.

Iris caught it immediately.

Iris said, "And just so you know, Celeste understands this just as well as I do. We were in the same program. She might not specialize in pharmacology, but the fundamentals are the same. What I know, she knows."

That was enough.

All three of them went pale.

The act fell apart right in front of her.

Iris didn't bother hiding her disdain this time. She stepped around Jenny and walked out without another word.

Behind her, Lily suddenly sat up from the floor, her expression turning sharp as she brushed at her clothes like she'd actually gotten dirty.