His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 304: The Little Doctor

Iris was especially persistent—with a quick motion, she undid the top buttons of his pajama shirt and pulled it open, exposing his chest.

The shirt slid down to his elbows and waist, revealing his lean, well-defined torso. Iris gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. Her eyes grew red and watery as her heart sank at the sight of the blood-soaked bandage on his back.

Harper tried to lean over for a better look, but Julian held her close, gently preventing her from turning.

"Daddy, let me see," Harper insisted, squirming in his arms.

Julian kept his voice soft and calming. "Sweetheart, why don't you go get your doctor's kit? You can help make Daddy feel better."

"Okay!" Harper quickly slipped off the bed and pattered out of the room, heading downstairs to fetch her toy medical set.

Once Harper was gone, Julian began slowly pulling his shirt back up his arms, intending to put it on again.

Iris caught the fabric before he could. He tugged lightly, but she didn't release it. Turning his head toward her, he spoke in an even, detached tone, "Let go."

Swallowing her concern and ignoring his coldness, she asked quietly, "What happened to your back?"

"Not your concern."

"You're an adult—you know an infected wound can turn serious, right?"

Julian gave a humorless smile. "Even if it does, that's not your problem, Iris. Don't pretend to care now."

Iris let out a slow, quiet breath, a dull ache settling deep in her chest. She met his frosty gaze squarely. "Then what about the two Veritas Group security guards who've been following me?"

Julian glanced away, his expression briefly unreadable. "If anything happened to her mother, my daughter would be upset."

"So you knew I was hurt? That I was in the hospital?"

He closed his eyes, his voice dropping to an icy murmur. "Get out."

"At least let me change your bandages. If that wound isn't treated properly—"

"I don't need your help," he interrupted flatly.

Kneeling on the mattress across from him, Iris felt stuck between frustration and worry. Normally, if someone brushed her off like this, she'd walk away without a second thought and let them handle their own problems.

Just then, Harper came hurrying back into the room, dressed in a little nurse costume and cap, her toy medical kit in hand. "Daddy, I'm here to fix you up!"

She dropped the kit onto the bed and eagerly dumped its contents beside him.

Julian had always been particular about cleanliness. The sight of scattered plastic toys across his bedsheets made him frown briefly, but despite his distaste, he didn't complain.

Harper picked up a toy thermometer and held it toward his mouth. "Daddy, open up!"

Julian pressed his lips together, his brow furrowed, and didn't move.

Iris took out a real thermometer. "Harper, we put it under the arm, remember?"

"Okay!" Harper cheerfully tucked the plastic thermometer under his arm. "Hold it tight, Daddy!"

Iris held up the real one. "Let's check your temperature properly. We need to see if you have a fever bad enough for medicine."

Julian shot her a look, lowering his voice to a near mumble. "Don't encourage her silly games."

"You're the one being difficult," Iris replied evenly. She lifted his arm, placed the thermometer in position, and guided his arm back down.

"Now I'm going to remove this old bandage and apply fresh medication," she said, moving around behind him. Carefully, she began peeling away the bloodied gauze from his back.

"Iris..." Julian's voice was low, tight with restrained irritation. But before he could continue, Harper stuck a toy cooling patch onto his forehead.

She patted his cheek gently with her small hand. "Don't be scared, Daddy. You'll feel better soon."

Seeing Harper's earnest, sweet face, Julian's irritation melted away. A warm tenderness filled his chest. "Alright, Daddy won't move."

Harper picked up her toy stethoscope, placed the earpieces in her ears, and listened very seriously over his heart.

With a solemn expression, she announced, "Daddy has a cold. He needs a shot and medicine. Um... his temperature is one hundred degrees. That means a fever shot."

A soft chuckle escaped Julian. He watched, amused, as Harper took a toy syringe and pretended to give him an injection in the shoulder.

"Doesn't hurt at all. All done now."

Next, she picked up a plastic pill from the kit and brought it to his lips. "Time for your medicine, Daddy."

Julian opened his mouth, but before he could pretend to take it, Harper pulled the toy away. "Okay, you took it! You'll be better soon. Daddy, you have to drink lots of water and rest... No spicy food, no ice cream, no chili peppers..."

She played the role of a very responsible little doctor, seriously listing all the things he shouldn't do while sick.

The smile slowly faded from Julian's face. He turned his head slightly, his body growing still.

His attention was now entirely fixed on his back. Even though he couldn't see what Iris was doing, he felt intensely aware of her every movement.

Her touch was gentle, but as she lifted the gauze from the wound, a sharp sting made him instinctively clench his fists.

After applying fresh ointment, Iris checked the thermometer. "102.6 degrees. You need fever reducers."

She climbed off the bed, gathered the soiled bandages, washed her hands in the bathroom, then returned with medicine and a glass of water, holding them out to him.

"Take this," she said.

He didn't reach for it. Instead, Harper crawled across the bed, took the pill from Iris' hand, and popped it into Julian's mouth.

"Daddy," Harper chirped, "Mommy says when you take medicine, you get a gummy bear afterward."

Julian held the pill on his tongue, accepted the water glass from Iris, and swallowed.

Harper beamed happily and held her open palm out toward Iris.

Confused, Iris looked at her. "What is it?"

From past experience whenever Harper was sick, taking medicine was always followed by a small candy reward. "Where's Daddy's gummy bear?" Harper asked expectantly.