His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 195: Lines Drawn

Selena's expression flickered, the shift so quick most people might have missed it, but the tightness in her smile gave her away. She was holding it together by force, swallowing down whatever frustration was rising underneath.

Keith and Grace exchanged an uneasy glance. The situation was awkward, and they knew it. Julian was no longer family, not legally, not anymore, and staying in his place indefinitely was no longer something they could justify.

Ethan broke the silence with a quiet, measured tone. "Julian, we appreciate everything you've done for us these past six months. We'll start looking for a place and move out soon."

Grace didn't respond right away. Instead, she turned toward Selena, her eyes lighting up with expectation that wasn't even subtle.

Selena felt it instantly, the pressure closing in from all sides. She had spent years crafting the image of a devoted daughter, and there was no backing out now, not without tearing that image apart. She forced a smile, though it looked more strained by the second. "Mom, Dad... you and Ethan can stay with me."

Relief flooded Grace's face as she stepped forward and pulled Selena into a tight hug. "That's my girl. I knew I could count on you."

Off to the side, Iris tilted her head slightly, her gaze drifting over the two of them before settling briefly on Selena. The flicker of resistance, the barely concealed disgust in her eyes, it was all there if you knew where to look. Selena didn't want this, not even a little.

That realization eased something in Iris's chest. It wasn't satisfaction exactly, but it steadied her.

"Then I'll leave Mom and Dad to you," Iris said evenly, her tone calm, almost casual.

Selena gently pulled herself out of Grace's embrace, her jaw tight enough to betray how hard she was clenching her teeth, yet her voice stayed bright and composed. "Of course. I'll take care of them."

Iris reached into her bag and pulled out a couple hundred dollars in cash, holding it out to Grace. "Get Dad something decent to eat, something healthy."

Grace didn't even try to hide her disappointment. She glanced at the money, then back at Iris with a frown. "That's it? What is this supposed to do?"

The air shifted.

Iris's expression cooled instantly, something sharp settling behind her eyes, but before she could respond, Julian stepped in. He reached out, took the cash from her hand, and spoke in an easy, almost offhand tone that carried more weight than it seemed.

"Selena pulls in seven figures a year between films and endorsements. This won't even register," he said, slipping the money back into Iris's bag without looking at Grace. "Keep it. Use it for your own expenses."

Grace and Keith turned toward Selena at once, their expressions changing, interest sharpening into something far less subtle.

Selena felt it like a spotlight snapping on. The shift in their attention made her skin crawl, and for a split second, the mask almost cracked. She recovered quickly, though it took every ounce of control she had to keep her expression smooth.

Iris caught it, that flicker of irritation, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. "She's got it covered," she said lightly. "No point in me embarrassing myself over pocket change."

Julian reached for her hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You only took an hour off, right? We should get going."

Iris hesitated for a fraction of a second, then nodded. "Right. Mom, Dad, I need to head back to work."

Grace waved her off without much interest. "Go on. There's nothing for you here anyway."

They had just reached the door when Grace suddenly remembered something. "Wait. Did you change your number? We haven't been able to reach you. What is it now?"

Iris stopped with her back still to them, her expression turning cold in an instant.

Julian glanced at her, then answered smoothly, his tone calm and controlled. "She lost her ID and her phone. She hasn't been able to get a new number yet. If you need anything, you can go through me."

Ethan stood quietly off to the side, watching the exchange with reddened eyes. He understood exactly what Iris was doing, the distance she was putting between herself and all of this, and he didn't try to interfere.

Grace, on the other hand, missed it entirely. She clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed. "Unbelievable. How do you even lose something that important?"

Julian didn't respond. He simply guided Iris out of the room.

Once they were in the hallway, Iris pulled her hand free, her voice low but steady. "Thanks."

Julian's hand lingered for a second before he slowly curled his fingers and slipped them into his pocket. He fell into step beside her. "I'll drive you back."

"I'll take the subway."

"Iris," he said quietly, "don't shut me out like this."

She didn't answer.

They walked out of the hospital together, but when he turned toward the parking lot, she veered off toward the main exit without a word.

He stopped, then turned back and caught up to her in a few quick strides, reaching out to lightly grip her arm. "The car's this way."

Iris exhaled softly, then looked at him, her eyes clear but distant, her tone polite to the point of unfamiliarity. "Mr. Everhart, please don't do this. Just let me go."

That single title landed harder than anything else she could have said.

For a moment, Julian didn't move. The light in his eyes dimmed, something unspoken settling there before he slowly let go of her arm. "Okay," he said, his voice rougher than before.

Iris held his gaze for a second longer, something tight pulling at her chest, but she didn't let it stop her. She turned and walked away without looking back.

Julian remained where he was, standing under the bright midday sun, his figure still and heavy, watching her disappear into the distance until there was nothing left to see.

By the time Iris made it back to the lab, she was running on autopilot. The hours blurred together, her focus scattered, her mood sinking lower with every passing minute.

That one word from Julian, that quiet "okay," it was exactly what she had wanted.

So why did it feel like this?

By the time she got home late that night, exhaustion had settled deep into her bones. She showered, changed, and was just about to call it a night when a knock at the door broke the silence.

Her entire body tensed.

Living alone made moments like this hit differently, especially this late. She checked the time. Just past eleven.

She approached the door carefully, keeping her voice steady despite the edge of caution. "Who is it?"

Julian's voice came through the door, low and familiar. "It's me."

She closed her eyes briefly, the tension easing just a fraction. "You already agreed earlier today. Why are you here?"

"I left something important."