His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 178: No One Else

"Iris... you smell incredible," Caleb murmured, his voice thick as he leaned in closer, completely absorbed in his own fixation.

Fear tightened around her chest. She knew exactly how vulnerable she was in this moment, how little she could do if he decided to take things further. There were only two ways this could end, and neither of them felt survivable.

Her pulse thundered in her ears, his breathing too close, too loud, until the sudden roar of an engine tore through the silence.

Caleb paused, his grip loosening just enough as he turned toward the sound, irritation flashing across his face.

Iris followed his gaze, and the second she saw it, something inside her surged back to life.

A speedboat was cutting across the water toward them at full throttle, and at the front stood Julian.

Relief hit her so hard it almost made her dizzy. She twisted free in that split second of distraction, shoving Caleb away and running toward the edge of the deck.

"Julian! I'm here!" she shouted, her voice breaking despite herself.

Julian saw her immediately. The moment he confirmed she was safe, something in his expression steadied, but it didn't last. As soon as he noticed Caleb moving after her, the restraint disappeared, replaced by something far more dangerous.

He pushed the boat harder.

Caleb lunged after Iris, trying to grab her before she could reach safety, but he was already too late.

Julian closed the distance in seconds, jumping aboard with practiced ease and pulling Iris straight into his arms. She was trembling, and the moment he felt it, his chest tightened painfully.

"You're okay," he said quietly, one hand steady against her back. "I've got you now."

Iris clutched his shirt, the fear finally breaking loose as tears spilled over. "Please... get me out of here..."

He pulled back just enough to look at her, brushing the tears from her face with surprising gentleness. "You're safe. No one's touching you."

Behind them, Caleb let out a short, mocking laugh. "Out here in the middle of nowhere, how did you even find us?"

Julian didn't respond. His focus stayed on Iris.

"Go inside and wait for me," he said, his voice soft but firm.

She shook her head immediately, gripping him tighter. "No. I'm staying with you."

He cupped her face, meeting her eyes. "Then whatever happens next, don't be scared, and don't try to stop me."

She hesitated, then nodded.

Julian let go of her and turned, walking toward Caleb without another word. The first punch landed before Caleb had time to react, snapping his head to the side as he stumbled back, blood appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"You just hit me?" Caleb snapped, anger flashing.

Julian didn't slow down. "That was the warning."

Julian let out a cold, humorless laugh as he closed the distance, his gaze locked on Caleb with something far more dangerous than anger. "Hit you?" he said, his voice low and edged. "I'm not stopping there. I should dump you overboard and let the ocean deal with you."

Caleb felt it then, that shift in Julian, the point where this stopped being a warning and turned into something real. A flicker of unease crossed his face, but he forced himself to hold his ground.

"You wouldn't dare," he shot back, clinging to arrogance like it could save him. "I'm your brother. I'm the only heir to Everhart Group."

Julian's expression didn't soften. If anything, it went colder. "Brother?" he said quietly. "You really think you've earned that title?"

Caleb barely had time to react before Julian moved again. The punch came fast and hard, slamming straight into his abdomen. Caleb's body folded instantly, the air knocked out of him as pain tore through his core.

A strangled sound escaped him as he staggered, his face draining of color, sweat breaking across his forehead.

Julian grabbed him by the front of his shirt and dragged him toward the edge of the yacht, his grip unrelenting. "I've told you more than once to stay away from Iris," he said, his voice sharp and controlled, each word landing with weight. "You didn't take me seriously, so now I'm making sure you do."

Caleb struggled now, the confidence finally cracking. "Julian, stop. You've lost it!"

Julian ignored him completely. He found a length of rope, tied Caleb's wrists tight, and without hesitation shoved him overboard.

The splash echoed across the water.

Iris stood frozen, one hand covering her mouth as she watched it happen, too shocked to move.

Caleb resurfaced, coughing and furious. "Julian! You're going to regret this!"

Julian stepped closer to the edge, looking down at him with no trace of warmth. "Stay away from her. This is your only warning."

He turned and started the engine.

The rope snapped tight, and Caleb was dragged behind the yacht, his body jerking through the water as he struggled to keep his head above the surface. Waves crashed over him again and again, swallowing his protests.

Iris watched, her chest tight with a mix of relief and fear. Out here, anything could happen, and the ocean didn't forgive mistakes.

"Julian... is he going to be okay?" she asked, her voice unsteady.

"I know what I'm doing," he said, calm and controlled.

Only after several long passes did he finally slow the yacht and pull Caleb back aboard. Caleb collapsed onto the deck, soaked through and barely conscious, his face drained of color, his breathing ragged as he lay there, completely spent.