His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 211: Damage Done

The officer studied Iris for a moment, his tone measured but direct. "So you're saying you weren't scammed?"

Iris felt like she had reached the edge of her patience, the kind of exhaustion that didn't just sit in her body but pressed down on her thoughts until even speaking felt like effort. Still, she kept her voice steady.

"No," she said. "I'm an adult. I made my own decisions, and I take responsibility for them. How I choose to use my money is up to me. There's no fraud involved."

The officers went through the institute's files one by one, checking licenses, contracts, and funding records until they confirmed everything was legitimate, a properly registered joint venture with full legal backing. Once that was established, they stepped in and escorted Grace out, despite her loud resistance.

Grace didn't go quietly.

She struggled, shouted, and hurled accusations at anyone within reach, her voice echoing down the hallway, drawing more attention than anyone wanted. What should have been a routine clarification turned into a full spectacle.

Every pair of eyes in the office seemed to land on Iris at once.

Some people pretended to stay busy but kept glancing over.

Others didn't bother hiding it.

A few whispered.

Those looks stayed with her far longer than the noise.

By the time the situation settled and people began returning to their desks, the damage had already been done.

Ethan approached her slowly, guilt written all over his face. "I'm sorry, Iris. I had no idea Mom would show up here and cause something like this."

Iris took a slow breath, her hands clenched at her sides as she fought to keep her voice level. "You found out about the two hundred million, didn't you?"

Ethan shook his head immediately. "I'm not asking you for money. I swear. I'd never take anything from you."

"I know you wouldn't," Iris said quietly, though there was no comfort in it. "But you, Mom, Dad, you're the closest people I have in this world. And somehow you've become the ones hurting me the most, without even realizing you're being used."

Ethan frowned, confusion turning into unease. He reached for her hands, holding them tightly as if that could steady the situation. "Used? No, that's not what this is. We'd never do that to you. Mom just doesn't want you getting taken advantage of, that's all."

Iris let out a slow breath, forcing her emotions back into place before she met his eyes again, her tone sharpening with intent. "Lily has always seen me as an obstacle. She wants to marry Julian, and getting me out of the way has always been part of that plan. Now that she's close to getting what she wants, she's making sure there's no chance left for me to come back into the picture. She sent Celeste to get close to you, and Selena to win over Mom and Dad. It's not random. It's calculated."

Ethan stared at her, stunned for a moment before shaking his head. "No, Iris, you're reading too much into this. Celeste is with me because she wants to be. She's serious about us. She wants to get married."

A quiet, bitter smile crossed Iris's face. "You're completely caught up in it."

Ethan's tone softened, trying to reassure her. "Selena's been good to the family too. Mom and Dad are living with her now, in her place. It's huge, they've got staff helping out, and Frank's there too. Things are finally stable."

Iris looked at him steadily. "Lily hears I have two hundred million, and the next day Mom and Dad know about it, and you still think none of this is connected?"

Ethan hesitated, uncertainty flickering across his face before he looked away.

It wasn't enough.

Iris pulled her hands back, disappointment settling in. "Looks like you didn't learn anything from Emily."

Ethan exhaled, slipping his hands into his pockets as if bracing himself. "There's something else you should know."

"Then say it."

He avoided her eyes. "Celeste said Frank's future should come first, so I... I dropped the case against Emily."

For a moment, Iris didn't react.

Then the anger hit, sharp and immediate, tightening her chest.

"She took everything from you," Iris said, her voice low but trembling. "And you dropped the charges?"

Ethan rushed to explain. "She's still Frank's mom. If she ends up with a criminal record, it could follow him for life. It might affect what he can do later, jobs, school, even military service. Celeste just didn't want that for him."

Iris let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh, tears rising despite her effort to hold them back. "That money wasn't yours to forgive. I paid off those debts. Letting her go costs you nothing."

Her chest tightened, each breath heavier than the last. "Celeste really knows how to play the good person."

Everything she had done for this family had somehow turned into this moment, where she stood alone, misunderstood, and dismissed.

"Iris, that's not what she meant," Ethan said quickly.

"Stop," Iris cut in, her voice firm.

He fell silent, looking at her with helpless concern.

Iris took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and when she spoke again, her voice was colder, more distant. "If I could, I'd pay whatever it takes to walk away from all of this, from all of you."

She knew she couldn't.

There were obligations she couldn't erase.

But distance was still a choice.

"Iris..." Ethan's voice faltered. "Why would you even say that?"

She didn't answer.

There was nothing left to explain.

She turned and walked away.

The aftermath followed her.

Even as a minor shareholder, she was called in by management and advised to handle her "family situation" carefully and make sure nothing like this happened again.

It was humiliating.

And completely out of her control.

By the time she made it back to her apartment building, night had fully settled in, the city lights casting a muted glow over everything.

She stepped out of the elevator, already drained, her mind still heavy from the day.

Then she saw him.

Julian stood outside her door, leaning against the wall, dressed in dark, tailored clothes that made him look as composed as ever, though the mood around him felt anything but calm.

He didn't move.

He just waited.