His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 190: Crossing Paths Again

"Absolutely," Nolan said, his eyes still bright. "In all my years of teaching, you're the most gifted student I've ever had."

Iris looked at the emotion in his expression, something shifting quietly inside her.

For the first time, she understood clearly that her purpose had nothing to do with building wealth for her family or chasing recognition. What she wanted was simple.

She wanted children to have a real chance at growing up healthy.

That night, Nolan insisted she stay over.

The next day, she went out and bought a new phone, set up a new number, and cut off the last remaining ties to her past.

By the second day of the new year, she had rented a small apartment near the research institute, a place that would serve as her fresh start.

The following day, she stocked her fridge, then shut herself in, diving completely into the materials Nolan had given her.

The project focused on a broad category of treatments for rare pediatric diseases, and every page she read carried weight, each line tied to real lives waiting for answers.

Work became her escape.

Only when she was fully immersed in it could she push everything else out of her mind.

She rarely stepped outside, except to take out the trash, cutting herself off from the rest of the world as the days blurred together.

Time slipped by unnoticed until Nolan finally called her, asking her to come into the institute.

That was when she realized nearly two weeks had passed.

The institute itself was a joint venture between public research funding and private biotech firms, bringing together top universities and major hospitals.

With her investment, Iris had become a minority stakeholder.

Her days settled into a steady rhythm, busy but fulfilling.

By March, the city had turned damp and gray, rain falling in a constant drizzle that clung to everything.

That evening, after finishing a long day at the lab, Iris walked back toward her apartment, holding her umbrella against the rain as water splashed against the pavement.

She slowed as she reached the building.

Then she stopped completely.

Julian.

He stood just outside the entrance, motionless.

His dark coat was soaked through, his hair damp and clinging slightly, the rain tracing down his shoulders as if he had been standing there for a long time. There was something about him, something still and distant, like he didn't quite belong to the world around him.

And then his eyes locked onto hers.

Sharp, intense, unrelenting.

Everything in that look hit at once, the frustration, the exhaustion, the anger, and something deeper that he didn't even try to hide.

Iris instinctively took a step back, her heartbeat spiraling out of control.

How did he find me?

The distance between them wasn't more than a few steps, but it felt impossible to cross, like they were standing on opposite sides of something that couldn't be undone.

She steadied herself, tightening her grip on the umbrella before walking forward.

By the time she reached the steps, she folded it closed, her fingers stiff from the cold and tension. She looked up at him, her voice flat, controlled.

"How did you find this place?"

Julian let out a quiet breath, a faint, bitter curve touching his lips before it disappeared. He slipped his hands into his pockets, his posture calm, but the exhaustion in his eyes gave him away.

"I thought we were starting over," he said, his voice low and hoarse. "Didn't realize you decided to end it on your own. No explanation, nothing. You just disappeared on me for two weeks."

"I'm sorry," Iris said softly, her gaze dropping.

His expression hardened. "You know that's the one thing I don't want to hear."

There was a sharp edge to his voice now, the restraint barely holding.

"Then give me something else. Give me a reason."

Iris turned her face slightly, avoiding his eyes, her voice quieter, but steady. "I made my position clear the day we signed the divorce papers."

A hollow laugh escaped him, bitter and tired. "So what was that between us, then?" His eyes reddened slightly, something raw surfacing in his gaze. "Just two adults blowing off steam, no strings attached?"

She lowered her head, hiding the tears gathering in her eyes.

"I used every connection I have to find you," he continued, each word tight with restraint. "If I hadn't, would you have just stayed gone? Pretended I didn't exist?"