His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 241: Crossing Boundaries

After she said her piece, Iris didn't hesitate. She turned and walked away, steady and decisive, refusing to give herself the chance to look back.

Julian didn't follow.

For a brief moment, she let herself believe he finally understood what "no" meant, that this time he would actually respect it. By the time that thought settled in, she already knew she'd been wrong, and worse, she regretted ever admitting she had loved him at all.

That night, she got back to her apartment a little past seven-thirty, drained from work with a backlog of data still waiting for her. Cooking felt like too much effort, so she grabbed a cup of mac and cheese from the cabinet and filled the kettle. It had been a while since she'd eaten something like that, but lately her appetite had been all over the place, and for reasons she didn't feel like unpacking, it was the only thing that sounded good.

She had just poured the hot water and sealed the lid when the doorbell rang.

Frowning slightly, she set the kettle down and walked over to open it. The door had barely swung open before Julian stepped in, a bag of groceries in one hand as he pushed the door wider like it was second nature.

"What are you doing?" Iris snapped, instinctively pressing both hands against his chest to stop him.

Julian caught her wrist easily and pulled her in closer instead, one arm settling around her waist in a firm but controlled hold. "I just got off work," he said, his tone low and casual, like this was the most normal thing in the world. "I was nearby, figured I'd come up and cook."

"Did you not hear anything I said this morning?" she shot back, glaring up at him.

A faint smile curved at his lips, almost amused. "I heard you. You said you used to love me."

The answer hit her like a wall, leaving her momentarily speechless. She bit down on her lip, forcing herself to stay composed, even as frustration built behind her eyes.

Julian's gaze drifted past her and landed on the table. The moment he spotted the cup of instant mac and cheese, something in his expression darkened. He let go of her and walked inside, slipping into a pair of house slippers without hesitation.

"You're eating that?" he asked, his voice tightening with clear disapproval.

Iris followed him, irritation flaring. "Yeah. So what?"

He didn't argue. He picked up the cup and walked straight into the kitchen, tossing it into the trash without a second thought.

For a split second, she just stared, like her brain hadn't caught up yet. Then the reaction hit all at once.

"Are you serious right now?" she snapped, rushing after him. "You walk into my place and throw out my food?"

The frustration came out sharper than she expected, her eyes stinging as something deeper bubbled up beneath the anger. She had been craving that for days, and he had just decided, without asking, that it wasn't acceptable.

Julian set the groceries down, his tone softening immediately. "I brought better stuff. Steak, chicken, seafood. I'll cook you something real."

"I don't want that," she shot back, moving toward the trash like she meant to pull it out.

He reacted instantly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back. "Iris, that's not good for you. Let me make you something better."

She yanked her hand free, stepping back, her eyes already glossy with emotion she couldn't quite control. "Who do you think you are? You don't get to come in here and decide what I eat. This is my life. You don't get a say. Or what, you're so free now you don't need to check on Lily anymore?"

Julian hesitated, caught off guard by the shift in her tone. "Hey... don't cry," he said quickly, glancing toward the cabinets. "Where's another one? I'll make it for you."

Only then did she realize her vision had blurred. Annoyed with herself, she wiped her eyes and walked to the cabinet, reaching up to grab another cup.

Before she could, Julian stepped in behind her and took it down effortlessly. "I've got it," he said, his voice gentler now. "Go sit for a minute."

She turned to face him, the distance between them too close, her emotions still unsettled. "I can do it myself."

"Let me cook first," he said, setting the mac and cheese aside on the counter. "You can eat both."

She didn't respond, her silence heavy with resistance.

Julian softened his tone, coaxing now. "If you don't eat, all this goes to waste."

A quiet, bitter edge slipped into her voice. "Then leave it. I'll cook for myself. You should go, before your childhood sweetheart starts calling again and making a scene."

Julian's brow lifted slightly, a trace of amusement in his expression. "Didn't realize you got jealous."

She froze for a second, then let out a small scoff, refusing to engage.

He turned back to the counter, rolling up his sleeves as he began unpacking ingredients. "Lily's at Rosehill Estate. She has nurses, therapists, a full staff taking care of her. I stay at my place. I only go back occasionally to see my grandmother."

Iris frowned, confused. "Why are you telling me this?"

He rinsed the ingredients under running water, his tone easy. "Because you sound jealous."

"I'm not," she said immediately, her voice firm. "I just want you gone."

"Alright," he replied, a quiet smile in his voice. "I'll cook and leave."

She opened her mouth to argue, but before she could get a word out, the smell from the seafood hit her.

Her stomach turned instantly.

She clamped a hand over her mouth, bending forward as nausea surged up without warning. She didn't make it two steps before turning and rushing out of the kitchen.

Julian froze for half a second before moving quickly, rinsing his hands and grabbing a paper towel as he followed her.

By the time she reached the living room, the wave had passed, her breathing uneven but steady again.

Julian stepped in close, one arm wrapping around her shoulders while his other hand instinctively settled against her abdomen, his voice tight with concern. "What happened? Are you okay?"