His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 239: Burned Bridges

Jay let out a dry, mocking laugh, the kind that carried more contempt than humor, then shook his head as if the entire situation had already become a joke to him. "I've only got one life, and I'm not planning to waste it on something like this. She'd rather destroy her own reputation than marry me, so why would I sign up for that? What am I supposed to do, bring her home and wait around to get cheated on?"

He didn't bother waiting for a response. By the time Grace tried to say anything, he had already turned and walked off, leaving her standing there with nothing but anger and embarrassment to hold onto.

With nowhere else to direct it, she turned sharply toward Iris.

Iris had already stepped away from the table, ready to leave the entire mess behind, but the moment she looked up and saw Grace charging toward her, it was obvious there was no walking away quietly. The anger on Grace's face wasn't fading, it was building, and by the time she reached Iris, she didn't hesitate for even a second. Her hand came up fast, her jaw clenched tight, and she swung.

The slap never landed.

Julian moved in before it could, stepping between them and catching Grace's wrist mid-air, his grip firm and controlled, stopping her completely without any wasted motion. The force of it made her flinch, the aggression in her expression faltering as pain flashed across her face.

He let go just as quickly, his gaze cold, his tone even colder.

Grace stumbled back a step, but instead of backing down, she shifted instantly, her anger twisting into something louder, more performative. Her voice rose, her posture collapsing into exaggerated grievance as tears welled up on cue.

"Iris, tell me what I did wrong," she cried, her voice echoing through the café. "I raised you, I paid for your education, I made sure you got into college, I sacrificed everything for you, even your brother's future, just so you could have a better life. And this is how you pay me back? Faking something like that? Do you even plan on getting married anymore?"

Iris didn't answer.

Julian's voice cut in, low and controlled, each word landing with weight. "If she doesn't want to get married, then stop pushing her."

Grace snapped toward him immediately, anger reigniting. "And who are you to interfere in my family? If you hadn't divorced her, she wouldn't be like this now. You're the reason she ended up this way. You ruined her."

Julian didn't react, his expression unreadable as he let her vent.

That only made her push further.

She grabbed onto his jacket, her voice breaking into louder accusations, as if volume alone could turn blame into truth. "You destroyed her life. Without you, she would've had a perfect marriage and a stable future. You owe us for that. You owe this family for everything you took."

At its core, it always came back to money.

Julian pulled her hands off him, the disgust in his eyes no longer hidden, and for a brief second, something else crossed his mind, something heavier. He had no idea how Iris had endured this for so long without breaking.

When Iris finally spoke, her voice was calm, almost detached, as if she were stating a fact instead of defending herself. "I cheated during the marriage and contracted HIV. I'm the one who owes him, not the other way around. So if you want to keep making a scene, go ahead, but make sure you say it loud enough for everyone to hear. Your daughter cheated, got infected, and now you're demanding compensation from her ex-husband. If you're fine with that, then keep going."

The effect was immediate.

Grace froze, the panic hitting her before she could hide it. Her eyes darted around the café, suddenly aware of the staff and customers who had been watching the entire exchange.

Humiliation replaced anger in an instant.

Her voice dropped, her confidence gone, her expression tightening as the reality of what she might lose, reputation, face, control, finally caught up with her.

She glared at Iris, her teeth clenched. "Fine. You win this time. But don't come crying to me when something happens to you out there."

With that, she turned and stormed out.

Silence followed her exit, heavy and uncomfortable.

Julian turned back to Iris immediately, the cold edge in his expression softening the moment he saw the tears in her eyes. "Iris, do you really have to go this far just to get some peace? Why won't you let me help you?"

Iris didn't look broken.

She looked tired.

"What would helping me even look like?" she asked quietly, a faint bitterness slipping into her voice. "You hand her money and she disappears? Just like that?"

Julian didn't answer, because he couldn't promise that.

"You can't fix this," Iris continued, her tone steady but firm. "You can't stop her from pushing me into marriage, just like you can't stop Lily from threatening her own life to control you."

Her voice didn't rise, but the weight of it landed harder than anything shouted. "I want a simple life. Quiet, stable, no constant interference. But the moment I'm connected to you, everyone around you finds a way to get involved, and it never ends. It wrecks everything, my life, my work, my peace. And I'm done living like that."

She walked past him, heading for the exit, tears finally slipping free.

Julian stood there for a beat, then turned and grabbed her arm before she could get far.

Iris stopped, her back to him, her voice sharp with frustration. "Wasn't I clear enough? Being around you brings nothing but problems, and you can't even fix them. So please, just stop showing up in my life."

Julian's expression darkened, his breathing uneven, his eyes rimmed red. "You shut me out, you don't tell me anything, you don't let me do anything, and then you turn around and blame me for not fixing things?"

Iris let out a long breath, steadying herself before speaking again.

"Your father bribed one of my colleagues," she said slowly, each word deliberate. "He had research monkeys stolen, ones carrying viral samples, and used them to threaten me. If I didn't cooperate, he'd release them and frame me for it. I know exactly what he did. I just don't have proof." She lifted her gaze to meet his. "So tell me, can you deal with that? Can you stop him?"

Julian froze.

Then the shock hit him all at once.

He stepped forward, gripping her arms tightly, his hands shaking, anger flashing in his eyes. "When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?"

Iris didn't pull away.

"Because he's your father," she said quietly. "That's not something you can cut off, and it's not something you can fix. Telling you wouldn't change anything."

Julian lowered his head, a bitter smile forming as the weight of her words settled in.