His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 248: The Truth

The living room was loud, tense, filled with overlapping voices and rising worry, but at the dining table, it felt like a different world.

Iris and Beatrice sat side by side, quietly eating, the warm food grounding in a way nothing else was. The contrast was almost surreal.

That quiet didn't last.

The soft hum of an electric wheelchair cut through it as Lily approached, her posture composed, her expression carefully arranged into something polite. "Miss Whitlow, I heard you were the one who brought Jenny back. Thank you."

Iris looked at her, taking in the performance.

Before she could respond, Gloria stormed over again, her patience gone. "What did you give my daughter?" she demanded. "The doctor says her heart rate's off, and she even lost control earlier. What did you do to her?"

Iris didn't react, her tone level. "Take her to a hospital. When she wakes up, she'll tell you what happened."

A voice broke through from the front door, urgent and panicked. "Jenny!"

Luke rushed in with two doctors right behind him, heading straight for the couch.

The room grew even more chaotic.

Gloria pointed at Iris, her voice sharp with warning. "You're not off the hook. When she wakes up, we're finishing this."

She turned and rushed back.

Lily forced a small smile. "Don't take it personally. She's just worried."

Iris didn't bother answering. She picked up her fork and kept eating.

Beatrice ignored Lily completely, reaching for another piece of dessert. "This is good. I'm having another one."

Iris smiled. "Go ahead."

Beatrice looked at her with quiet affection. "You should come by more often. Or I'll come to you."

Iris hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."

Lily sat there for a second longer, completely shut out, her hands tightening against the armrests before she turned and rolled back toward the living room.

Then Gloria's voice rang out. "She's awake!"

Everyone moved at once.

Iris and Beatrice both turned to look.

Jenny sat up slowly, surrounded by people, questions hitting her from every direction.

"Are you okay?"

"What happened?"

"Do you feel sick?"

Gloria leaned in, her voice urgent. "Why were you out drinking? Did Iris give you something? Tell me if someone hurt you."

Jenny didn't answer that. She turned and buried her face in Luke's chest, breaking down.

That was all it took.

Gloria spun back toward Iris, anger flaring again, but Beatrice stepped in front of her this time. "You don't even know what happened yet. Stop."

Gloria's voice shook. "Look at her. She's clearly been through something."

From the couch, Jenny's voice came through, unsteady but clear. "It wasn't Iris. She saved me. If she hadn't... I don't even know..."

Gloria froze. "That's true?"

Jenny nodded quickly.

Luke kept a steady hand on her back. "What happened?"

Jenny hesitated, then shook her head, like she couldn't say it all at once.

Lily stepped closer, her voice soft. "It's okay. You're safe now."

Jenny's head snapped up, anger flashing through the tears. "Safe? This is because of you."

The room went still.

Lily blinked, caught off guard. "What does that have to do with me?"

Jenny's voice rose, frustration breaking through. "That friend you introduced me to, Celeste, what kind of person is she? You told me to hang out with her. She dragged me to this high-end club, ordered a bunch of male hosts, wouldn't let me leave, and then stuck me with the bill. Twenty grand."

Her voice shook as she went on. "I was already out of it when I left. Some guy handed me a drink, and after that, everything got worse. If Iris hadn't shown up... I don't think I'd be here talking right now."

She broke down again.

Lily's composure slipped, her face paling. "I didn't know she'd do that. I'll talk to her. I'll make sure she pays you back."

Jenny looked at her like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You think this is about money? It's about who she is. No wonder Iris cut her off. People like that don't belong in my life."

Lily forced a tight, strained expression. "I didn't know she was like that..."