His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 246: Right Thing to Do

Cayden closed the file and looked up at Iris, his expression easy and composed, though there was a quiet attentiveness in his gaze that made it feel less like a routine interaction and more personal than she expected. "Have you had dinner yet?"

Iris was, in fact, hungry, but there was no chance she wanted to stay in that room any longer than necessary, surrounded by men she didn't know and an atmosphere that didn't belong to her world. She kept her tone polite and steady. "I have, thank you."

Cayden didn't push the point, but he also didn't let it go. He rose from his seat with a relaxed confidence and stepped toward the door as if the decision had already been made. "This place does a great roast Cornish hen, one of their best dishes. Even if you've eaten, it's worth taking some home. I'll have the kitchen pack a few for you."

Iris followed a step behind him, caught off guard by how naturally he took charge of the situation. "Mr. Whitmore, you really don't have to do that, I couldn't—"

He waved her off gently, already speaking to a staff member in a tone that was calm but carried authority. "Pack three orders of the roast Cornish hen, and add a box of honey butter cornbread and some mini cream puffs."

Iris paused, unsure how to respond, the refusal already feeling out of place.

His warmth actually made her a little uncomfortable.

After all, he wasn't just anyone, he was the head of Aurelium Group, a global powerhouse ranked among the top corporations in the world.

And yet he treated her with such easy kindness, the kind that felt less like a formal business interaction and more like an older family friend who had known her for years.

Cayden turned back to her, studying her for a second with a faint, almost amused smile. "Do you like vegetables, or are you more of a protein person?"

The question caught her off guard. She hesitated, then answered honestly, "I do."

"Good," he said with an approving nod before calling out again to the staff. "Add a portion of the seasonal vegetable chowder as well."

At that point, refusing again would have felt unnecessarily stiff, and Iris found herself nodding instead, offering a small, polite smile. "Thank you, Mr. Whitmore."

Behind them, the men at the table had already leaned in toward each other, their voices low but not low enough to be missed entirely.

"Is she family?"

"Doesn't look like it."

"Then what, he's interested?"

"Cayden? He hasn't looked at another woman since his wife passed."

"Exactly, which makes this even stranger. Have you ever seen him act like this?"

"Maybe it's not about him. Maybe it's about his son."

A few quiet chuckles followed, carrying that knowing tone that came too easily in rooms like this.

Fifteen minutes later, Iris stood by the table again, now holding several neatly packed bags that felt far more generous than she was comfortable with.

"Thank you, Mr. Whitmore," she said again, her tone sincere despite the lingering awkwardness.

Cayden's expression softened slightly. "What's your name?"

"Iris."

"Iris," he repeated, as if committing it to memory. "It's getting late. I'll have my driver take you home."

She stepped back almost immediately, shaking her head. "That's really not necessary. I'll just take the subway, it's quicker. But thank you, I appreciate it."

There was something about his kindness that made her feel more pressure than comfort, like she didn't quite know how to accept it without overstepping some invisible line.

Cayden didn't insist this time. He simply nodded, still smiling. "Alright. Get home safe."

Iris gave a small nod in return, then turned and left the room.

Outside, the night had fully settled in, neon lights reflecting off the pavement in soft, shifting colors. She stopped just beyond the entrance, adjusting the handles of the takeout bags in her hand and glancing down at them with a faint, almost disbelieving smile.

It had been... unexpected.

A man in his position, running a global company like Aurelium Group, yet so casually warm, so effortlessly considerate.

It made sense, suddenly, why Brandon carried himself the way he did.

She exhaled softly and turned to leave.

Just as she stepped forward, a man and a woman came into view, moving unevenly across the sidewalk. The woman was clearly drunk, her body nearly collapsing into the man's arms as he held her up and guided her toward a car parked by the curb.

Iris slowed without meaning to, her eyes drawn to the scene.

The man opened the car door and tried to push the woman inside, but suddenly she braced herself against the frame, her hand gripping the door with surprising strength for someone so unsteady.

"Come on," the man muttered impatiently, prying at her fingers.

The woman shook her head weakly, her movements sluggish, as if every bit of resistance took everything she had left. Her hair fell forward, then shifted just enough to reveal her face.

Iris's steps stopped.

Jenny.

Julian's cousin.

"Hey, wait," Iris called out, moving forward quickly, her voice firm now. "Where are you taking her?"

The man turned, irritation flashing across his face. "She's my friend. I'm taking her home. Mind your business."

Jenny's eyes lifted slowly, unfocused at first, then locking onto Iris with a flicker of recognition. There was something in her expression that cut through the haze, something urgent and desperate.

Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Iris closed the distance, reaching out to steady her by the arm, forcing eye contact. "Is he your friend?"

Jenny tried to speak again, her throat barely producing anything more than a breath.

"Help..."

It was faint, almost inaudible, but it was enough.

In that moment, everything became clear.

The fear in her eyes, the tension in her grip, the way her body resisted even in that weakened state.

Jenny had never liked her, had never hidden it either, and Iris had more than enough reasons to walk away and pretend she hadn't seen anything.

But she didn't.

Because this wasn't about history or grudges.

It was about what was happening right in front of her, and there was no way she was going to ignore it.