His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 277: Miscarriage Threat

"Move!" Julian snapped, his voice low and dangerous, each word sharp enough to cut through the tension in the hallway. "If anything happens to Iris or the baby, I swear you'll both regret it."

Arthur stepped closer to Lily, a cold smirk playing on his lips. "Easy there, Mr. Everhart. The woman in the wheelchair is your actual fiancée, isn't she?"

Iris was breathing hard, beads of sweat gathering at her temples. She tried to push herself out of Julian's arms. "Put me down... go deal with this. I can make it upstairs myself—"

"Stop." Julian held her tighter, his voice strained with a fear she'd never heard from him before. "Don't move—you shouldn't be walking right now."

The elevator doors down the hall slid open.

But Lily and Arthur stayed planted in their path.

Without hesitating, Julian shoved Lily's wheelchair sideways with his foot.

The chair jerked, spun halfway around, and tipped over with a heavy thud. Lily cried out as she hit the floor, then broke into shaky sobs, looking stunned and helpless.

Everyone nearby froze for a second.

Arthur scrambled over to help Lily up.

Julian didn't wait. Heart racing, he carried Iris into the elevator.

Inside, the cramping in Iris' belly eased a little, but the chill in her chest only grew heavier. She turned her face away from Julian's worried expression. "You can put me down now. I'm okay."

"Okay? You went completely pale back there," Julian said, his voice unsteady as he held her close. "This is on me. I never should've let them near you..."

Iris shut her eyes. Tears pressed hot behind her eyelids. She felt utterly worn down—and deep down, she knew they couldn't keep doing this, couldn't keep dragging each other through the same mess.

The elevator reached the maternity floor.

A medical team was already waiting with a gurney. Reluctantly, Julian laid Iris down on it.

"Patient shows signs of possible miscarriage. Family, please wait outside!" The doctors wheeled Iris swiftly into an exam room, leaving Julian behind in the hallway.

Restless and edgy, Julian slammed a fist against the wall, scraping his knuckles raw. He dropped his head, taking slow, forced breaths.

Fear clawed at him from the inside.

He couldn't bear to think how much Iris would hate him if she lost this baby.

Everything he'd tried to rebuild these past few months would shatter. He'd lose her for good.

If praying meant anything, he'd get on his knees right there and beg any god who'd listen to keep their child safe.

Once his heartbeat settled slightly, he pulled out his phone and called Owen. "Find out now why Lily and Arthur were at Mercy General today. I want details."

In the exam room, Iris lay listening to the fast, steady thump of the fetal heartbeat on the monitor. Tears soaked quietly into the pillow beneath her head.

Hold on, little one.

The doctor's voice was gentle. "Try to stay calm. Baby's heartbeat is strong. But your stress levels are affecting both of you—you need rest now."

"Doctor..." Iris' voice trembled. "Will the baby be all right?"

The doctor sighed softly. "We'll have to monitor you. For now, focus on staying relaxed. We'll take it hour by hour."

An hour later, the exam room door opened.

Julian was there in an instant. "How is she?"

"Stable for now, but we need to keep her for observation—at least forty-eight hours," the doctor said firmly. "Maternal stress directly impacts the fetus. She can't handle any more upheaval."

Julian nodded and hurried inside.

Iris was propped up against the raised bed. When she heard him enter, she turned her face toward the window.

He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for her hand.

But the moment his fingers brushed hers, Iris pulled away coldly. She bit back the hurt rising in her throat and kept her watery gaze fixed outside.

Julian bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Iris," he said, the words thick with regret.

Iris didn't answer.

Outside, spring leaves rustled softly in a gentle breeze, sunlight filtering through the branches.

The hospital room was still, almost too quiet.

Julian leaned back in the chair, shoulders slumped as if carrying something too heavy to bear. He rested his arms on his knees, watching her profile in silence.

His eyes held a raw pain, the kind that comes from knowing the person in front of you—and the future you're hoping for—could slip away any moment.

A long stretch of quiet passed.

Finally, Julian shifted forward, voice low. "Are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat?"

Iris kept her eyes closed, saying nothing.

"Trying to sleep?" he tried again.

Still no reply.

Gently, he took her wrist and guided her hand toward his face. "Iris, hit me if you need to. Let it out. Don't shut down on me."

With effort, Iris pulled her hand back. Her voice came out thin, tired. "Julian, let's just end this."

Her words were quiet, almost fragile, but they landed on Julian like a physical blow.

His chest tightened. He lifted a hand to brush the tear from the corner of her eye, but she turned further away.

He swallowed hard, voice gone rough. "I told you—I'm not letting either of you go. However I have to do it, I'm keeping you both."

"But you're getting married," Iris whispered, clutching the edge of the blanket until her knuckles turned white. "Julian, I'm tired. Every time I think maybe we could start over, something happens... and I remember there's too much between us that can't be fixed."

Julian's eyes reddened. A bitter smile touched his lips. "So you have thought about it? A fresh start with me?"