His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 222: Clean Break

Through all of it, Iris remained the calmest person in the room.

The chaos only settled when Keith actually called the police. Once that happened, the men finally backed off and left.

What followed was just as messy, just quieter.

Keith and Grace lashed out at Iris, talking about cutting her off completely, then circling back when reality hit, unwilling to lose the financial support she'd been giving them every month.

They blamed her for everything, even going as far as saying she was holding Ethan back from getting married.

That was when it clicked for her.

One move, two outcomes.

If things escalated like this, there was no way Ethan and Celeste's relationship was moving forward either.

By the time she stepped out of the villa, the weight she'd been carrying for years felt noticeably lighter.

For once, the balance had shifted.

If her parents came asking for money again, they wouldn't have the same confidence, not after this.

If anything, the situation had flipped completely.

Standing under the fading light of the evening sky, even the air felt easier to breathe.

She pulled out her phone to call a ride, but before she could, a familiar car pulled up in front of her.

The window rolled down.

Julian sat behind the wheel in a tailored suit, one arm resting casually against the door, a faint smile playing at his lips as he looked at her. "How'd it go?"

A real smile broke across her face. "It worked."

"Good," he said easily. "Let's go home."

She walked around to the passenger side and got in, fastening her seatbelt as he pulled away.

"There are snacks in the console if you're hungry," he added.

"I'm okay." She paused, then glanced at him. "Do you think they bought it?"

Julian didn't even hesitate. "Doesn't matter. As long as you said the debt exists, it exists."

She watched him for a moment, her voice softening. "Julian... thank you."

The way she said his name carried warmth this time, something more personal.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. "You don't need to thank me."

She let out a quiet laugh. "Alright."

He kept one hand on the wheel and reached over with the other, taking her hand where it rested on her lap, his fingers closing around hers with an easy familiarity.

The warmth of it settled somewhere deeper than she expected.

After a moment, she gently pulled her hand back. "Focus on driving."

He didn't argue, just smiled slightly. "So, dinner at home, or do you want to go out?"

She thought for a second, then looked at him, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "I've been craving something spicy, like a loaded Cajun boil or something bold."

Julian let out a soft laugh. "Your cravings are getting interesting."

"You don't want that?"

"I'll eat whatever you want."

Her smile widened, impossible to hide.

By the time they got back to the apartment, it was already eight.

The second she stepped inside, she dropped onto the couch, completely drained, not wanting to move.

Julian went into the kitchen and came back with a cup of chamomile tea and a plate of sliced mango.

He sat down beside her and pulled her gently into his arms, pressing a light kiss to her cheek. "Iris... come back to Rosehill Estate with me."

She blinked, caught off guard. "Back there?"

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his gaze steady. "Yeah. The place we used to live."

She hesitated, her expression turning serious. "If we go back, your dad will find out."

Julian frowned slightly. "This is between us. What does he have to do with it?"

She hesitated again, caught between telling him everything and keeping it to herself.

If she stayed silent, she would be the one dealing with whatever came next. If she told him, it could damage his relationship with Frederick.

"If you're worried about the money, I can return it," Julian added.

"It's not about the money," she said quietly.

Iris wasn't worried about the money. The whole thing had been notarized with a lawyer from the start, clearly classified as compensation for damages.

It was tied to that lab incident, when a research monkey carrying the virus was accidentally killed.

"Then what is it?"

She chose her words carefully. "He doesn't want us together. He'll interfere. He'll try to break us up."

Julian's expression softened, but his voice stayed firm as he pulled her closer. "No one gets to decide that. Not him, not anyone. The only things that could separate us are death... or you."

Her chest tightened. She looked up at him, conflicted. She didn't doubt him anymore.

But real life didn't run on feelings alone.

"What about you and Lily?" she asked softly. "What are you, really?"

Julian took a moment before answering. "We've known each other since we were kids. There's history there, yeah, but I've never seen her that way. She's family to me. Because of you, I've already been keeping my distance, but cutting her off completely overnight isn't realistic. Our families go way back."

"I understand." She nodded slightly. "Then the engagement... it doesn't count?"

He reached up and smoothed her hair back. "It never did."

She took a breath, ready to respond, but his phone rang, cutting her off.

Julian let go of her and pulled it out, his expression shifting the second he saw the screen.

"What is it?" he said, his tone immediately colder.

She couldn't hear the other side, but she could see it in his face.

Something was wrong.

"Got it. I'll be there soon."

He ended the call quickly, already standing. "I have to go. Don't wait up."

A sudden unease settled in her chest.

She reached out and caught his hand.