His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 314: The Old Country Manor

May released a quiet sigh, hoisted Julian's suitcase off the floor, and walked out.

The door stood ajar. No sooner had May stepped into the hallway than she found Julian waiting right outside. His expression was grim, his features dark and cold, and his eyes held a lifeless dimness.

"Julian, I'm just going to stash your gear in the spare room, alright?"

Julian remained silent, offering only a barely perceptible nod.

Inside the room, Iris heard the commotion and turned her gaze toward the threshold.

May walked away, but Julian made no move to enter the room.

Unable to see the man waiting in the hall, Iris gripped the garments in her hands with anxious force. She took a deep, steadying breath and resumed hanging up her clothes.

Once she had finished unpacking, Iris stepped out of the bedroom.

The living room was empty, so she continued walking until she exited the villa.

Out in the sprawling, inviting courtyard, a long, rectangular outdoor dining table had been set up. The entire Everhart clan was seated around it, along with a handful of neighbors who had dropped by to keep Beatrice company. They were all sipping coffee and sampling pastries.

Harper was perched on Frederick's lap. She and her grandfather were engrossed in an animated conversation, alternating between fits of giggles and serious whispers. Frederick's eyes were filled with evident adoration.

To an observer, it appeared to be a heartwarming scene, yet Iris felt a deep sense of unease. A nervous urge to snatch Harper away and flee washed over her.

Her mind drifted back to when Harper was still in the womb—back to when someone had almost coerced her into terminating the pregnancy.

The possibility that Frederick had been the mastermind behind that attempt was too horrifying to even contemplate.

In that moment, she felt like an intruder who had no place in this family dynamic. She stood there, frozen in awkward silence.

"Is that Julian's better half?" a female neighbor asked in a hushed tone.

Another older woman glanced in Iris' direction. "Yes, that's her. The last time she showed her face around here was at the grandfather's funeral a few years back."

The locals in their hometown were oblivious to the fact that they had divorced. Murmurs rippled through the small group.

"Why doesn't she come over and join us?"

"Relations are probably strained," the elderly muttered. "Years ago, at the old man's service, Julian barely gave her the time of day, yet he was quite attentive to Ryder's granddaughter."

"I saw some online chatter claiming Julian was on the verge of getting engaged to Ryder's granddaughter. Not sure if it was just tabloid gossip or if they actually split up for real."

Beatrice caught fragments of the conversation. She turned her head and noticed Iris looking as though she was about to retreat back inside.

Beatrice called out quickly, "Iris."

Iris halted her steps and looked over at Beatrice.

Instantly, every pair of eyes at the table shifted to Iris.

A flush of embarrassment colored Iris' cheeks. She offered a stiff, awkward smile, uncertain whether to flee or stay. Just then, Julian turned around and spotted her as well.

Julian pushed his chair back, rose to his feet, and strode in Iris' direction.

Iris couldn't fathom why he was approaching her. She looked at him, bewildered.

Julian closed the distance between them, stopping just inches from her face. "You're already out here. You might as well come sit," he said.

He was standing so close that Iris could detect the faint, familiar scent of his cologne. Her nervous heart began to hammer against her ribs, losing its rhythm. She cleared her throat awkwardly.

"Other than Grandma, I don't really know a soul here. I wouldn't know what to say. I thought it best if I just kept my distance."

"Talk to them and you'll get to know them," Julian stated. Without warning, he reached out, grasped her hand, and tugged her toward the dining table.

Iris stared down at their interlaced fingers. Her heart was pounding wildly like a trapped animal. She was stunned by this sudden display of intimacy.

Beatrice watched Julian lead Iris over with a look of triumph on her face. She addressed the two neighbor women who had been whispering earlier. "My grandson and his wife are incredibly close."

The two women offered stiff, awkward smiles and exchanged a glance.

Iris was guided all the way to the long wooden table. Julian pulled out a chair for her. She sat down gingerly, watching the others in tense silence.

Caleb was lounging with his legs crossed, absorbed in a handheld video game.

Jenny and Luke were flirting shamelessly, leaning in close to whisper, completely lost in their own bubble.

Vivian and Gloria were murmuring quietly to one another.

Frederick was entertaining Harper.

Beatrice kept the conversation flowing with the neighbors.

Julian sat half-listening to Martin, nodding casually every now and then to pretend he was paying attention.

Martin was holding court, pontificating loudly, but Julian's attention was elsewhere. He kept glancing sideways at Iris from the corner of his eye.

He picked a glass from the center of the table, rinsed it out with water from a pitcher, and poured a cup of coffee. He slid it over to Iris.

"Thank you," Iris said hurriedly, accepting it.

She took a tiny sip, then placed the cup back down. Julian immediately poured her another round. Iris nodded in gratitude but didn't touch it.

Martin frowned, his train of thought broken. He paused for a moment. Once Julian had finished, he resumed his lecture on the state of the economy.

Iris leaned back against the wooden chair, her gaze drifting to the flower beds bordering the lawn. She looked thoroughly bored.

Julian leaned forward once more. He retrieved a large peach and a small knife from the fruit bowl in the center of the table. He sliced it in half, carved the flesh into neat cubes, and handed it to Iris.

Startled by the sudden appearance of the prepared fruit, Iris felt obligated to take it. She accepted it quickly. "Thanks."

Martin stopped talking again. He stared at Julian with clear annoyance, waiting for him to finish. Finally, he demanded, "Julian, are you even listening to a word I'm saying?"

Julian nodded calmly as he pulled a napkin from the holder. "I'm listening."

He handed the napkin to Iris. "Careful with the peach juice. Try not to get any on your outfit."

Iris held the peach, shielding it with the napkin. "Oh, this is huge. I don't know if I can finish it all."

"If you can't finish it, just leave it. It's not a big deal."

Martin let out a long, heavy sigh. "Iris isn't a toddler, Julian. If she wants something to eat or drink, she's perfectly capable of getting it herself."

Only then did Julian turn his gaze to Martin, his expression unbothered. "Yeah, go on..."

"The stock market has been tanking lately. My entire portfolio is in the red. Do you have any hot tips on..."