His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 280: The Truth About Birth

Iris managed a bitter smile, glancing down at her swollen belly. "Yeah, with this bump, traveling overseas is definitely out of the question."

Julian shifted closer, his voice dropping to a murmur. "The nursery's all set up now. Would you like to see it?"

She shook her head.

"I bought a bunch of baby things too. Since we don't know if it's a boy or a girl, I mostly picked out clothes in white."

Iris kept her eyes lowered, her tone flat. "Whatever you think is fine."

"Should we start thinking of names?"

"That's up to you."

Julian released a soft, weary breath, disappointment settling heavily over him.

He sank down on one knee in front of her, taking her pale, soft hands firmly in his. His voice grew rough, strained with emotion. "Iris, you really do know how to tear me apart. I'm going to be a father—and the child is coming from the woman I love more than anyone. For any man, that should be pure happiness."

He let out a cold, hollow laugh. "But it doesn't feel like I've ever really had you... and it feels like I could lose this child at any moment."

Iris looked at him intently. "If one day I left—and took the baby with me—would you hate me?"

"Yes," Julian answered without a second's hesitation, his voice firm. "I would hate you for it. So don't you dare. Or I'll never forgive you."

Seeing the resolve in his eyes, Iris felt a flicker of panic.

She knew it was true.

Leaving would be a betrayal.

No love, no matter how strong, could survive being broken again and again.

"I'm tired," Iris said, her thoughts tangled and heavy. "I need to lie down."

Julian tightened his grip on her hand, his tone urgent. "Promise me you won't leave. Ever."

She nodded quietly. "Okay."

His eyes reddened, but a small, relieved smile touched his lips. Gently, he helped her up and led her back to their bedroom.

In her third trimester, Iris found everything increasingly difficult. Whether standing, sitting, or lying down, nothing felt comfortable anymore.

After getting her phone back, she had been texting Zoe even more often.

Then one morning, a message came through from Ethan.

"Hey Iris, Celeste and I are getting married on the 5th next month. Think you can make it back for the wedding?"

Reading her brother's text, Iris let out a frustrated laugh—the kind that comes from seeing someone stubbornly ignore the obvious. She typed a reply.

"Did you miss all those stories about her and that male model? Or do you think the tabloids were just making it up?"

Ethan wrote back, "She says she's changed. I believe her—she just had too much to drink and got confused. Nobody's perfect, right? Besides, she's carrying my baby now."

Iris' fingers hovered over the screen as she started to type, "Are you sure it's yours?"

But then she paused. They were both women—why be so cruel?

Everyone had their own path to walk.

She deleted the line and wrote instead, "I wish you both the best, but I won't be able to make it back for the wedding."

Ethan replied, "Thanks, Iris. You'll always be my favorite sister."

Favorite sister.

The words didn't move her anymore.

She opened Venmo and sent Ethan 10,000 dollars, adding a note, "Wedding gift."

That same evening, her mother called.

In all the months she'd been gone, her mother hadn't sent a single text or made one call. Now, suddenly, she was reaching out—probably about Ethan's wedding.

Sure enough, as soon as Iris answered, Grace's demanding tone came through. "Your brother's getting married next month. You need to help cover the reception and the wedding gift."

Iris felt completely drained. Falling back on the excuse Julian had helped her prepare earlier, she said, "Mom, you know I'm deep in debt. Where am I supposed to get money for Ethan's wedding?"

Grace replied coldly, "You're already in debt—what's a little more? You can pay it off slowly later. Your brother's wedding is important. You can't just contribute nothing."

Iris gave a dry laugh. "I gave plenty when he got married the first time."

"That was then. This is now."

"No matter how you put it, I don't have the money right now. I already sent Ethan ten grand as a gift."

Grace exploded. "Ten thousand? Is that what you give a beggar?"

"Have you ever seen a beggar get ten thousand?" Iris shot back.

"Don't you get smart with me," Grace snapped. "I raised you, I paid for your education—"

Iris pulled the phone away from her ear, breathing deeply, in and out. Her mood had plummeted, and she could feel the baby kicking more frequently inside her.

When her mother finally paused, Iris brought the phone back and said calmly, "Say whatever you want. I don't have the money. Goodbye."

Grace's voice turned shrill, almost frenzied. "Iris, if you don't give money for your brother to get married and he ends up alone, then you marry him yourself. You give him children. You carry on the family line."

The words struck like a thunderbolt. Iris trembled from head to toe, her face pale, lips quivering, eyes wide with disbelief and horror.

What kind of person says something like that?

Let alone her own mother?

"Listen to what you're saying," Iris whispered, her voice shaking. "Aren't Ethan and I twins?"

Grace seemed to realize she'd gone too far. Backpedaling quickly, she stammered, "I—I'm just stressed. You and your brother are twins... you should be helping him more. He needs the money to get married."