His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 286: Trapped

"Julian already agreed to marry you. You signed the prenup half a year ago—the wedding should have happened back then. You're the one who keeps pushing it off."

Lily trembled, her whole body shaking with fear. She shook her head desperately.

Vivian tried to calm her. "Just get it over with. Once you're married, you can move out. If he stays here much longer, I'm going to lose my mind too."

"No." Lily pulled out her phone, hands unsteady as she dialed. Holding back tears, she said, "The florist? I need an exact replica of the bouquet from this morning. Get me yellow roses—I don't care how you do it..."

Her voice rose anxiously, "Yellow roses. Not a single one missing. And not one leaf either..."

She hung up and completely broke down sobbing.

The staff didn't have time to feel sorry for her.

Everyone was in a rush, kneeling on the floor with clean cloths, wiping every surface, not daring to leave a single drop of water.

Worried that water might have splashed elsewhere, they nervously scrubbed every corner.

The vase and flowers arrived quickly.

Lily placed the vase on the coffee table and carefully adjusted it until it looked just right.

Then she hurried back to her room to change into fresh clothes before returning for dinner.

No talking at the table.

You couldn't make a sound while eating—not even speak.

Even when Frederick was present, no one dared break that rule.

It was a rule Julian had set after shattering over a dozen dish sets and flipping two tables.

Every meal with Julian there was unbearably tense.

The staff stood by, watching nervously as if walking on eggshells.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

A maid rushed to answer it.

"Mr. Caleb Everhart, please—"

Caleb cut her off. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't bother with all that. I came prepared."

He walked into the dining room.

Julian looked up, his expression darkening.

Everyone was stunned by what Caleb was wearing.

He had on disposable hospital shoe covers, a sterile gown, a surgical cap, a face mask, and disposable gloves.

"Having dinner?" Caleb strolled in with a broad smile.

"What in the world..." Frederick frowned.

Caleb shrugged. "What can I say? This makes things easier. Go ahead, don't mind me. I'm here to see Julian."

He walked over to Julian, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "Hey bro, some buddies and I are planning to open a casino down in Zaxaria. Can you front me two billion?"

"Open a casino?" Vivian yelled angrily. "Have you lost your mind?"

Julian was brief. "Twenty billion."

"You're lending me twenty billion?" Caleb's eyes lit up.

Julian set down his fork. "Your remaining shares are worth twenty billion." He got up from the table and headed toward the study.

Caleb scrambled after him. "Alright, fine. You can have the last of my shares."

Vivian was so furious she beat her chest and stamped her feet. She grabbed Frederick's arm. "That eldest son of yours is a devil. He's taken every last share from his brother. Now he's just watching him throw his life away—even funding a casino in Zaxaria. I can't take this anymore... sob... I just can't... Go stop them!"

Frederick looked grim and pained. "They don't listen to me. Neither of them sees me as their father. Who do you want me to stop? Julian? Or Caleb?"

Vivian turned to Lily and pleaded, "Lily, please talk to Julian. He's taken everything from my son. What am I supposed to do?"

Lily kept her head down and replied timidly, "It was a fair trade."

"Opening a casino in Zaxaria never ends well. He can't just let Caleb do this. He's ruining my boy... Please, just talk to him."

"I don't dare." Lily bit her lower lip, took a deep breath, and clenched her fists.

"I'm done eating." She quickly stood and left the table.

As she passed through the living room, Caleb emerged from the study holding a check. "Lily, my brother wants you in the study."

Lily froze, stiff with fear.

Her face went pale. She turned and entered the study.

At the shoe rack inside, she changed into another pair of disposable slippers reserved only for the study, then walked slowly toward him. "Julian, you wanted to see me?"

Julian was lounging casually at the desk, reviewing the share purchase agreement in his hand. He said flatly, "Tomorrow at two PM. You're coming with me on a business trip to Edulet City."

Lily panicked instantly. She shook her head quickly. "I don't want to go."

Julian looked up at her, his voice cold and sharp as ice. "You're going whether you want to or not. That's your duty as my wife."

Lily shot back angrily, "I'm not your wife yet."

Julian's gaze was icy, but a sinister smile touched his lips. "We'll go to the city hall tomorrow morning and get the license. There'll still be plenty of time for the trip."

Lily's face went pale, then ashen. She stood there nervously, her clenched fists trembling.

Her heart raced with fear.

Every time Julian went on a business trip, he made sure to bring her along.

And every time, he'd make her brew over eighty cups of coffee, never satisfied.

He'd kick her out of the car without warning, leaving her stranded on the highway in a downpour.

He made her hand-wash his clothes, shoes, and socks, and iron his shirts—not a single wrinkle allowed.

He'd wake her in the middle of the night to fetch documents for him.

When she attended events with him and got harassed by a business partner, he never stepped in. Instead, he'd blame her for not handling the situation well enough.