His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 302: Two Layers of Protection

Zoe chewed on her lower lip, drew a slow breath, swallowed whatever she was about to say, and finally nodded.

It wasn't until a moment later that she let out a quiet complaint. "You really don't treat me like your best friend anymore."

Iris released a soft sigh, reached for Zoe's hand, gave it a firm squeeze, and met her gaze with a warmth that needed no words.

Caring sometimes meant holding back—to keep her safe.

Zoe held her hand in return and didn't press further.

The next morning, Iris was cleared to be discharged from the hospital.

After finishing the paperwork, she knew Zoe had to head to work, but Iris herself needed to meet with the narcotics detectives—quietly, without drawing attention. She intended to share every detail, hoping it would help bring down the drug ring sooner rather than later.

The problem was Harper. With her daughter around, it wouldn't be easy.

Iris took Harper to a cell phone store, bought a new device, had her old number reactivated, and called Julian.

The line rang several times before a man's weary voice answered with a flat, "Yeah?"

"Do you have time to watch Harper today?" Iris asked gently.

Silence lingered on the other end.

Her chest tightened. "I have something to take care of around noon, and I can't bring her along. If you're busy, it's fi—"

"Bring her over," Julian cut in, his tone cool.

"Okay," Iris replied, then added. "Where should I—"

The call ended abruptly.

A bitter smile touched her lips. The dismissal stung.

She booked a rideshare to the suburban villa.

Throughout the ride, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched—someone tailing her, staying just out of sight. The intuition was strong, though she couldn't pinpoint who it might be.

Worried it could be Arden's people, and even more worried about Harper getting caught in the crossfire, she decided Julian's place was the safest option for now.

Arriving at the gated property, she noted the entry code hadn't been changed—but then, this wasn't her home anymore.

She pressed the intercom.

A buzzer sounded, and the gate swung open remotely.

Hand in hand with Harper, she walked up the driveway.

Without fully understanding why, Iris had taken care to cover the bruises—foundation, heavier makeup, long sleeves and pants hid most of the damage.

At the front door of the main house, she found it slightly ajar. Hesitating to walk in, she rang the bell instead.

After a few seconds, the door opened wider.

"Daddy!" Harper's face brightened into a sunny smile as she slipped inside and ran straight to Julian.

Iris looked up to see him dressed in light loungewear, his complexion pale, his energy visibly drained.

He managed a faint smile as he lifted Harper into his arms.

For a second, Iris noticed a strain in his movement—the faint prominence of veins at his temples, a thin sheen of sweat on his skin, as if he were pushing through pain.

"Are you... alright?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Julian didn't answer her. Instead, he kissed Harper's cheek, his pale lips moving softly as he murmured, "Did you miss Daddy, sweetheart?"

Harper wrapped her small arms around his neck. "So much, Daddy."

His smile warmed briefly, but when his eyes returned to Iris, it faded into something distant and cool. "Was there anything else?" he asked flatly.

A sudden swell of sadness rose inside her. Her gaze shifted from Harper back to him.

She had always been afraid of dying.

Before, it was the fear of a coward—one that made her run.

Now, it was the fear of leaving her daughter behind. But facing the drug traffickers, running wasn't an option anymore. She wouldn't allow herself to retreat.

"If anything happens to me," she began, her voice steady but quiet, "I want Harper to stay with you. I hope you'll—"

"Bang."

The door shut firmly, cutting her off mid-sentence.

Iris flinched, her words freezing in her throat.

A cold emptiness settled in her chest.

These could very well be her last wishes, and he couldn't even let her finish?

With a quiet, resigned smile, she turned and walked away.

Later, during her discreet meeting with the narcotics detectives, she learned they had already been monitoring Arden and his network for some time—but solid evidence remained elusive.

"We've lost two undercover officers and one embedded pharmaceutical researcher to that group," one detective told her grimly. "And we still haven't located where they've stored over ten tons of precursor chemicals."

They also explained that arresting Arden now for assault or kidnapping would risk blowing their larger operation. The priority was finding that chemical stockpile to dismantle the entire ring.

Given Iris' standing as a key pharmaceutical researcher—a protected asset in the government's eyes—federal coordination had directed local authorities to provide top-tier security, keeping watch over her from a distance.

Within two hours of that security protocol being activated, patrol units identified two men trailing Iris—both former military, now working private security for Veritas Group.

"Iris," an officer informed her, "these men say they've been shadowing you since you left the hospital, under orders to provide discrete protection. Do you know them?"

She studied the two unfamiliar faces. The only person who came to mind was Julian.

For reasons she couldn't fully name, something softened inside her.

"They're not a threat," she explained. "My child's father is their employer."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "Iris, I didn't realize you were married."

She offered a small, quiet smile. "I'm not."

No further questions were asked, and the two were released.

From that point on, two separate layers of protection surrounded Iris, each invisible to the everyday eye.

One came from active-duty officers working under federal directive.

The other from a team of former special operatives, hired by Julian.