His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 250: Uninvited Warmth

If something ended up in her hands, she either threw it away or passed it to her roommates without asking where it came from.

She exhaled softly. "Then my roommates probably got it."

Luke let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Julian wasn't exactly easy to ignore back then. A lot of girls liked him. I just don't get how you never noticed."

Iris's expression softened, her tone steady but thoughtful. "Time only moves forward. Once it's gone, you don't get it back. Back then, I didn't see the point in spending it on things that wouldn't last. I'd rather focus on building something real for myself."

She paused briefly before continuing, her voice carrying quiet conviction. "I'm glad I did. It gave me the confidence I have now, the ability to choose my own life without depending on anyone else."

Luke caught her reflection again in the mirror, something in his expression shifting as understanding finally settled in.

It wasn't just about how she looked.

It was everything else.

That was what Julian had held onto all those years.

Luke smiled faintly, a little sheepish now. "Jenny's not a bad person. She just... trusts people too easily. Gets influenced. I hope you don't hold the past against her."

"I don't," Iris said simply.

"Then maybe spend some time with her," Luke added, half joking but not entirely. "People change when they're around the right influence."

That caught Iris off guard.

Does Jenny even know her husband thinks she's not that smart?

For a second, she didn't even know how to respond.

The days that followed didn't go the way she expected. Julian texted her every day. She ignored every message.

But Jenny didn't give her that option.

The next day, she showed up at the research institute with a banner and boxes of fruit, handing them out like it was some kind of celebration.

Iris wanted to disappear.

The banner made it worse.

"Beautiful and Kind, My Lifesaver."

It was the kind of thing that turned quiet admiration into public spectacle, and for someone like Iris, it was unbearable.

On the third day, Jenny didn't come in person, but deliveries did. Drinks for the entire lab, coffee, milk tea, enough for everyone.

By the fourth day, her phone rang.

It was Beatrice.

"Iris, are you free today?"

"I am," Iris said, surprised. "How did you get my number?"

"I asked Julian," Beatrice replied casually. "Come spend some time with me."

Iris glanced at the materials in front of her, hesitation flickering through her, but she couldn't bring herself to refuse. "Alright. Where should I go?"

"I know you don't want to come to Rosehill Estate," Beatrice said, already anticipating her thoughts. "So come to Jenny's place instead."

Iris paused. "Jenny's?"

Before Beatrice could continue, Jenny's voice cut in, bright and enthusiastic. "We're doing a barbecue. Just come over."

Iris hesitated.

She's relentless.

Before she could decline, Jenny added quickly, "Luke's already on his way to get you. He should be there any minute. Just head downstairs."

The call ended before Iris could respond.

She stepped out onto the balcony and looked down.

Luke was already there, leaning against his car, waving up at her like this had been planned all along.

Iris let out a long breath, turning back inside.

With Beatrice involved, saying no didn't feel like an option anymore.

By the time she got downstairs, the sun was already setting, the sky painted in warm gold and fading light.

Luke's home sat on the outskirts, quiet and removed, the courtyard styled with a elegant aesthetic that gave it a calm, almost timeless feel.

By the time they settled in, the evening had softened.

Under a small pavilion, a table was set with fruit and snacks. Iris sat with Beatrice and Jenny while Beatrice casually discussed research topics, slipping into chemistry and pharmacology as if it were everyday conversation.

Jenny listened with full attention, nodding along enthusiastically despite clearly not understanding a word.

Nearby, Luke worked the grill.

Jenny turned toward him, impatience creeping into her voice. "Is the food ready yet? I'm starving."

"Almost," Luke called back, adjusting the heat. "What do you want?"

Jenny didn't answer right away. Instead, she turned to Iris. "What about you?"

Iris paused, still not entirely used to the shift in Jenny's attitude. It made her hesitate in ways she couldn't quite explain.

"Anything except lamb," she said.

Jenny nodded immediately and turned back. "No lamb. Everything else."

"Got it," Luke replied.

And just like that, the tension of the past few days softened into something unexpectedly ordinary.