His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 289: Demanding Harper

Harper glanced up, her face lighting up at the sound. Spotting Iris, she scrambled to her feet and hurried over, beaming. "Mommy, you're here?"

Iris swept her into a tight hug, kissed her forehead, and held her close, her own heart still racing. "Mommy's here to take you home."

Harper pointed excitedly toward Julian. "Mommy, Daddy came back! See, Daddy's really here."

Iris followed her gaze.

Julian had risen from the carpet. Dressed in a simple white button-down and black trousers, his broad frame carried an air of cool elegance and restrained authority. His handsome features seemed sharper now, edged with a new severity that made him appear more grounded, more unapproachable.

His eyes were ice. Slowly sliding his hands into his pockets, he watched her in silence.

Iris found no warmth in his stare. Though her heart hammered against her ribs, she kept her voice steady. "It's been a while."

Julian's expression darkened, but he still didn't speak.

Just then, the bedroom door opened and Lily stepped out, several neatly pressed dress shirts folded over her arm.

Iris met her eyes, and the air in the room grew thick, tense.

Lily didn't look surprised—more like annoyed. Her gaze traveled over Iris, finally dropping to her shoes.

Not removing shoes at the door clearly bothered her.

Iris had always trusted her instincts.

Julian had brought Lily on this business trip. They were sharing a presidential suite. And here was Lily, delivering his freshly pressed clothes like it was the most natural thing in the world—something a wife would do.

A weight settled in Iris' chest. She looked away and said evenly, "I'm taking my daughter home."

With Harper in her arms, she turned to leave.

As Iris pulled the door open, the two bodyguards stationed outside moved to block her path.

Iris took a slow breath, met their stern gazes, then turned back. Setting Harper down gently, she murmured, "Sweetheart, go play for a minute, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy." Harper trotted back to the carpet, picked up a delicate Barbie doll, and began playing quietly.

Julian took a seat on the sofa beside the coffee table. He pulled a pen and a document from the side drawer and dropped them on the tabletop. "Come here. Sign this."

Iris walked over, sat across from him, and picked up the document.

"Petition for Modification of Child Custody."

Iris let out a quiet, bitter laugh. She didn't bother reading the rest. Closing the folder, she looked straight at Julian. "I'm not signing it."

The corner of his mouth lifted into a cold, mocking smile. "You don't have a choice."

Iris held her composure, her voice firm and clear. "You may have money and influence—enough to tilt the scales in your favor. But the law isn't something you can just bend to your will."

Julian's brow furrowed slightly. "So you want to fight me for her?"

"You're the one trying to take my child," Iris shot back, anger tightening her tone.

"Your child?" Julian gave a short, derisive laugh. He looked down, shaking his head faintly before lifting his eyes to hers again. They were cold, sharp, glinting with something dangerous. "She's my daughter, too. Since you won't cooperate, we'll each do what we have to. Even if it costs me everything, I will get my daughter back."

A chill ran through Iris. She studied him uneasily.

He had changed.

He felt like a stranger now—not the gentle, kind-hearted man she once knew. He seemed to have shed his warmth, his reason, with something almost ruthless simmering beneath the surface.

A businessman of his stature—driving national commerce, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, shaping the economy—carried influence that ran deep. In a custody battle, his resources could very well match hers, a respected pharmaceutical researcher.

Iris didn't want this to turn into a fight that would break them both. Softening her tone, she said calmly, "You'll always be Harper's father. If you want to see her, you can visit anytime. There's no need to drag this through the courts."

Julian leaned forward, pressed a hand to the document, and slid it slowly toward her. "That's what I was going to say. Sign it. Let's not waste each other's time."

Across the room, Lily had finished putting away the clothes and walked over to Harper. She knelt down, wearing a strained smile as she began playing with the little girl. Their interaction looked warm, intimate.

Seeing that, Iris' heart went cold.

She would rather die than give custody to Julian and let Harper be raised around a woman like Lily.

"I... will... not... sign," Iris said, each word deliberate and firm.

Julian's eyes darkened. He stood, walked over to Harper, and scooped her up gently. "Hey, sweetie," he murmured, "how about Daddy runs you a bubble bath?"

"What about Mommy?" Harper asked, glancing back.

"Mommy has work to do tonight," he said soothingly. "Let's let her focus, okay?"

"Okay," Harper agreed.

Iris watched as Julian carried Harper toward the bathroom. She opened her mouth to call out, but the two bodyguards stepped closer. "Ms. Whitlow, it's time for you to leave."

Iris clenched her fists until her nails bit into her palms. A sharp, aching pain spread through her chest.

In that moment, the fear of losing her daughter coiled around her heart like poison ivy—tight, suffocating. Panic set in, a kind she'd never felt before.

She was always calm, always in control. But right now, all she wanted was to take her child and never let go.