His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 262: Lily's Act

Iris offered a bitter smile and let out a soft sigh. "When I realized he'd liked me since high school, I was really moved. I could tell how much he cared about me."

"Then why not give him another chance?"

"I've been married before—I know marriage isn't just about two people. It's about two families. If both sides' parents aren't on board, it won't last. And between Julian and me, there was also his basically arranged fiancée, Lily."

Beatrice fell quiet for a moment, looking both troubled and helpless. She took Iris' hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Iris, our family put you through so much. I'm really sorry."

Iris forced a stiff smile. "It's in the past now. I've moved on."

*****

Out in the living room, Lily had just returned from her doctor's appointment the night before, wheeled in by Harold and Irene.

When Frederick mentioned Iris was in the bedroom with Beatrice, their expressions shifted immediately, turning tense and guarded.

Lily pulled out her phone and dialed Julian.

"Julian, can you come to Rosehill Estate now?"

His voice was cool on the other end. "I'm tied up. Can't make it."

"You haven't been back in ages. I had my checkup today. The doctor said I need to keep up with physical therapy so my leg improves—and that family support helps with recovery. Don't you want me to get better sooner?"

Julian replied flatly, "Then stick with your exercises, keep a positive attitude, and take your meds on time."

"You're the best medicine for me," Lily said.

He sounded annoyed. "I'm really busy. If that's all, I've got to go."

Lily rushed out, "Iris is here visiting Grandma. They've been shut in the bedroom for a while now—no idea what they're talking about."

"Iris is with Grandma?"

"Yeah. Call her yourself if you don't believe me."

"Got it." Julian hung up without another word.

He immediately called his grandmother. Once she confirmed Iris was there, he dropped everything at work and drove straight to Rosehill Estate.

Julian stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut.

Near the front walkway, Lily sat alone in her wheelchair, gripping a pair of crutches as she tried slowly to stand. She was determined to practice walking on her own.

Struggling upward, she clenched her jaw, face tight with effort and discomfort.

As Julian passed by, he glanced around. "Where's your aide? Where are your parents? Why are you out here exercising alone?"

Holding the crutches tightly, Lily mustered a bright smile. "I can manage, Julian. I'll be standing on my own soon. I'll walk again."

Just as she took one shaky step, Julian turned toward the house. "Let me get your aide for you."

Before he finished speaking, there was a heavy thud. Lily had collapsed onto the ground, crying out in pain.

Julian turned back. A patch of blood was already spreading beneath Lily's face.

He hurried over, lifted her from the pavement, and settled her back into the wheelchair.

Getting a clearer look, he saw she'd split her forehead open. Blood streamed down her face.

Julian took a deep breath, holding back his frustration. Kneeling on one knee, he pulled a tissue from his pocket and began dabbing the blood from her skin. "Lily, do you really think I care this much? Is that why you keep hurting yourself to get to me?"

Lily looked up pitifully, eyes brimming with tears. "I don't know what you mean. I was just exercising—my legs gave out and I fell."

His gaze was steady, voice calm. "We've known each other over twenty years. You know me, and I know you."

He continued, "Back when Iris came to the office to sign the contract with me, you tried to sabotage the deal. You stepped on that nail at the construction site on purpose and played unconscious at the hospital."

Lily bit her lip and stayed silent.

Julian went on, "I don't know how much you pushed my father, how many pressure tactics you both used to force Iris into divorcing me.

"You kept coming up with new schemes. And when nothing worked on me, you threatened to jump off a building to get your way—thinking you'd won.

"Today, Iris came to see Grandma. You made sure to tell me, hoping I'd rush back. Then you staged another scene right in front of me—another self-harm stunt. You were willing to cut your forehead open and bleed all over just to make me feel guilty. Do you honestly think it works?"

He said it all evenly, without raising his voice.

Lily began to panic. Through tears, she asked, "Isn't it true, though? You don't want me to die. You're afraid when I get hurt. You clearly care about me."

Blood kept welling from the gash on Lily's forehead. Julian tossed the bloodied tissue and pressed a fresh one firmly against the wound. "Lily, if you died—and if your parents could move on and had other children to care for them—I wouldn't look back twice. I was never worried about you. I was worried about your parents. They've always treated me like their own. They're the ones I feel for."

"What about all our history?" Lily asked, voice trembling.

Julian cut her off. "Whatever friendship we had left? You used it up a long time ago."

Just then, Beatrice and Iris walked outside and took in the scene. Beatrice called out sharply, "Julian!"