His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 212: Still Here

When their eyes met, something unspoken passed between them, a weight that neither of them could ignore, no matter how much distance they had tried to put in place.

Iris had always believed she could handle everything on her own, that she didn't need anyone to lean on, but standing there now, all she felt was tired.

Tired enough to want to stop pretending she was fine.

Julian pushed himself off the wall and walked toward her when she didn't move.

She hesitated, part of her wanting to ask if he was feeling better, if the illness he had been dealing with had passed, but the words changed before they left her mouth.

"I thought we agreed you wouldn't come looking for me anymore."

Julian stopped in front of her, his voice low and steady. "Ethan called me. He said your mom's been making things difficult over the money. Do you want me to step in?"

"No," Iris said softly. "But thank you."

She moved past him, reaching for her door.

Before she could unlock it, Julian caught her arms and turned her back, pressing her gently against the wall in one smooth motion.

The sudden closeness caught her off guard, her breath hitching as she looked up at him, her heartbeat picking up without warning.

They were close enough to feel each other's breath, the space between them gone entirely.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

Julian held her there, his gaze fixed on hers. "When we got divorced, you didn't hesitate. When you walked away from me, you didn't look back. So tell me, why would you care if I was sick?"

Her thoughts scattered, her fingers tightening slightly as she avoided his eyes.

"You still care," Julian said, his tone certain. "Don't you?"

"No," she said quickly.

"You're lying."

He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, his voice steady but firm. "Look at me and say it again."

For a moment, she couldn't.

Because in his eyes, she saw everything she had been trying to deny.

The concern.

The hesitation.

The feelings she had buried.

The memory of the sleeping pills she had seen, half-used, sitting in his drawer surfaced again, weakening her resolve.

This wasn't just about him.

It never had been.

"I took the two hundred million from your father," she said finally. "And you're engaged to Lily. Let's just end this here."

Julian let out a quiet, dismissive breath. "If this were about money, I'd give you everything I have."

"It's not about money," Iris said, her voice tired.

"Then it's Lily," Julian replied. "I never agreed to that engagement. I didn't even show up."

"It still happened," Iris said, her tone firm. "That's not something you can just ignore."

A faint bitterness crossed his expression. "If people can decide I'm engaged without asking me, then I must have a long list of fiancées by now."

Iris didn't argue.

"I don't care what you call it," she said. "You and I are done."

Julian stepped closer, one arm bracing against the wall beside her, closing what little space remained.

She turned her face slightly, trying to steady herself, but his presence surrounded her, warm and inescapable.

"Iris," he said quietly, his voice rough. "I love you."

The words hit harder than she expected, her heart reacting before she could stop it.

She didn't respond.

Didn't know how to.

Julian rested his forehead lightly against hers, his voice softer now, but heavier with meaning. "I've loved you for a long time. Since high school. You were always out of reach. I stayed close, but never close enough. I didn't even have the courage to talk to you back then. When I found out you were planning to get married, I couldn't sleep. When I finally had a chance, I made sure you saw the best version of me. And when you said yes..." He paused, a faint, almost broken smile forming. "That was the happiest moment of my life."

Iris felt her chest tighten, tears blurring her vision.

If she had heard this before, it would have meant everything.

Now, it only made things harder.

"Julian, stop," she said quietly. "There's no going back."

He let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Why not? If you feel anything for me, even a little, I'm not letting you go."

"It's not just about us," Iris said, her voice unsteady now. "There's more than that. Families, expectations, everything that comes with it."

"I don't care about any of that," Julian said firmly. "And I'm not letting anyone else decide what happens between us."

"You're making it sound simple."

"You're the one making it complicated."

For a moment, she had no answer.

Julian straightened slightly, then cupped her face in his hands, lowering his gaze to meet hers, his expression unwavering.