His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 306: Strangers or Something More?

Iris struggled to steady her racing heart, utterly bewildered. "I already apologized. What else do you want from me?"

Julian spoke each word with deliberate clarity. "I think the real question is—what do you want?"

Hurt flashed across Iris' face. "I explained already. I got my clothes soaked while bathing our daughter, so I borrowed your shower. That's all."

Every syllable from Julian dripped with sarcasm. "Is my house some kind of hotel you can come and go from as you please? What are we to each other that you feel entitled to change my bandages, give me my meds, cook, clean—and then help yourself to my bathroom?"

Iris fell silent, a sour, unexplained ache spreading through her chest.

"Iris, aside from our daughter, there's nothing left between us." Julian's tone was final, cold, stripped of any warmth—hard and angry. "Don't force your pity on me. I don't need it. Learn your place, and stop doing things that give people the wrong idea."

His words cut like a blade.

Iris slowly clenched her fists, a sharp pang tightening around her heart.

A bitter taste rose in her throat, choking back her words.

She was no saint—where would she even get "pity" from?

Worrying over him, tending his wound, giving him medication, cleaning up, making dinner, looking after their daughter—it all came from somewhere deep and instinctive, something she couldn't suppress even if she tried.

Her eyes grew damp. She lowered her head, cleared her throat, and her voice came out hoarse and thin. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

Julian's breathing turned quick and heavy. He tilted his head back, inhaled deeply, and his knuckles whitened as he slowly balled his hands into fists.

The silence that followed weighed on Iris, growing heavier by the second. When Julian still didn't speak, she added weakly, "I'm dealing with some... trouble right now. It's not safe for Harper to stay with me. She's better off here with you. Once things settle down, I won't bother either of you again."

Julian let out a short, mocking laugh. "So you're giving up on your daughter?"

"I never said that. I just—"

He reached out, gripped her chin, and lifted her face, cutting her off coldly. "Don't make excuses. If you don't want her, sign over custody."

Iris trembled with anger, her fists clenched so tight her nails bit into her palms.

Getting tangled with dangerous people had already left her on edge—and now this man was using their daughter against her.

Her heart ached unbearably. Her eyes reddened, tears shimmering but not yet falling.

She bit down gently on her lower lip, holding them back. Her wide, watery eyes fixed on him, stubbornly fighting the tears until her cheeks flushed with the effort.

Julian's gaze darkened. His breathing grew ragged, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

"I carried her for nine months," Iris said, her voice cracking. "I raised her alone for three years—working, staying up night after night, losing sleep, losing hair... going through everything you can imagine. You don't get to talk about custody like it's some casual decision."

"Was I unwilling to take on that responsibility?" Julian shot back, anger simmering beneath his words.

Tears pooled in Iris' eyes, heavy with guilt. "That's my fault. I took away your chance to be her father—your right to be there all these years. But that doesn't mean you can just take her from me now."

"If you won't give up custody," Julian said coldly, "then take care of her yourself."

Iris felt drained. Her voice softened, almost pleading. "I've got dangerous people after me. A hotel isn't safe for her."

Another cold laugh. "I'm injured, and you expect me to look after a child?"

"That's not what I meant—you could hire a nanny, or a live-in tutor—"

Julian narrowed his eyes, a scornful breath escaping him. "Even her own mother is being irresponsible. You think I'd leave her with strangers?"

Iris' nails dug deeper into her palms. The tears at the corners of her eyes threatened to spill over. "Then what do you want me to do? Tell me, so you'll finally be satisfied."

Julian slowly released her chin and took a step back. His voice turned detached, icy, yet leaving no room for objection. "Taking care of our daughter is your responsibility. Don't remove her from this house. Don't put her in danger."

Iris stared, speechless.

He added slowly, "At least until my injury heals."

With that, he turned and walked out of the room.

Iris' legs felt weak. She slid down against the wall, crouching on the floor, and buried her face in her hands, quietly wiping her eyes.

She might not have been the most emotionally aware person, but she was far from stupid.

She understood exactly what Julian meant.

What she didn't get was why one moment he was telling her they were strangers and she should keep her distance—and the next, he was ordering her to stay and care for their daughter until he recovered.

He was pushing her away and holding her here at the same time.

Whatever his reasons were, she was too tired to overthink it.

Call her weak if you wanted—right now, all that mattered was keeping herself and her daughter safe.

And staying here was safer than any hotel.

She took a steadying breath, pulled herself up, and began tidying the room. She fetched fresh linens and remade the large bed.

Once everything was in order, Iris quietly left the room.

Downstairs, Julian had already finished dinner and was sitting in the living room with Harper, reading a picture book.

Iris approached quietly, stopping near the coffee table. She glanced at Julian's pale, weary face and wondered if he'd taken his medication—but this time, she kept the question to herself.