His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 32: Celeste's Accusation

When she got tired, she rested her head on the desk.

When she got hungry, she took a small pack of bread from the drawer to fill her stomach.

She had a lot on her mind, and it was all him. She couldn't focus on work at all.

Her phone didn't ring once all day.

She had an urge to send Julian a message.

No matter how long he'd ignored her, she still hoped he'd turn around and look at her.

Today was their second wedding anniversary. That hope hit its peak.

If Julian won't take the first step, should I?

I can ask him to come home early, even just for dinner.

No, forget it. Getting rejected will be way too embarrassing.

Maybe I should wait till he gets home tonight and give him a gift?

Iris hesitated. She thought back to everything that had happened before, then pushed the idea away.

She packed up her things and left the lab.

Night fell. The street lights came on. Cars passed by, and the streets were quiet and almost empty.

Iris called Zoe.

"Zoe, where are you going for the holiday?"

Zoe's angry voice came through the phone. "I'm outside your neighborhood. Celeste's gone crazy. She insists on coming to find you, and I can't stop her."

Celeste?

Didn't we break off our friendship already?

Iris quickened her pace toward home.

A few minutes later, Iris saw Zoe and Celeste arguing outside the neighborhood gate, pulling at each other, their faces red with anger.

"Celeste, just give up," Zoe said. "Iris already ended your friendship. Stop bothering her."

Celeste was furious. "Why? I'm not willing! We've been best friends for over six years. Is that worth less than a jerk?"

Iris walked over slowly and called calmly, "Celeste."

Celeste turned to look at her, walked over quickly, pulled a stack of photos from her bag, and threw them hard at Iris.

Iris froze, startled by the sudden pile of photos hitting her.

The photos were scattered all over the ground.

The street lights at the neighborhood gate weren't bright. Iris couldn't see what was in the photos.

Celeste shouted angrily, "Iris! We've been best friends for six years, and you ended it just like that. I've never seen someone so cold-hearted. If it were for any other reason, I could accept it.

"But for this jerk? I refuse to accept it! Open your eyes and look—this is your cheating husband! On your wedding anniversary, he's spending it with another woman!"

Zoe hurried over, picked up the photos, and looked at them. "Where did you take these?"

Celeste lifted her chin at Iris, looking proud. "I went to a film set today to take photos for someone. I just happened to see him go to visit the popular actress Selena. Surprised? On your wedding anniversary, he went to see Selena.

"After filming, they went to a hotel together. I followed them all the way for you. I know which hotel they're in right now."

Zoe was shocked, her mouth hanging open.

Iris stood there motionless, like she'd been frozen in place. She didn't look at Celeste, and she didn't look at the photos.

"Come on! I'll take you to catch them red-handed." Celeste grabbed Iris's arm and pulled hard. "I know you love this jerk. If you don't see him cheat with your own eyes, you'll never give up. Come with me—let's catch them!"

Iris refused to move. She was dragged a few steps, then pulled her hand back hard, breaking free from Celeste's grip.

She didn't believe a single word.

But her heart felt tight, as if being squeezed hard. It hurt so much that every breath felt sharp and painful. Every part of her body went stiff and numb.

Tears came quietly, pooling in her eyes.

Zoe noticed something was wrong with Iris and quickly pulled Celeste back. "What the hell do you want?"

Celeste snapped, "Zoe, you're her best friend. Shouldn't you tell her to leave this jerk? I'm telling her the truth. Why is it my fault?"

Zoe shot back angrily, "This is Iris's business. She has her own thoughts. Don't act like you know better. These photos of them together prove nothing. Isn't that how rumors and gossip start?"

Celeste was indignant. "Fine, then I'll take her to catch them. Let her see for herself if I'm making this up, or if her husband betrayed her a long time ago."

Zoe put her hands on her hips, took a deep breath, and rolled her eyes in frustration.

Celeste ran over to grab Iris's hand again. "Say something, Iris! Why aren't you talking? Why are you scared to come with me to catch them?"

Iris stumbled slightly, her steps growing unsteady.

She chose not to believe it, but she was still too weak from the pain to speak.

Deep down, she was scared that everything Celeste said was true.

The more Iris stayed silent, the angrier Celeste got. She felt like a clown, panicking for no reason. It wasn't even her husband, but she was so desperate to prove something.

She gritted her teeth and shouted, "Iris, I really hate people like you! What do you have that I don't? You're just a tiny bit prettier than us. Back in college, so many guys were after you. Why could you act so cold you never even looked at any of them, yet still be that goddess they could only admire from far away?

"What do you have that I don't?" Celeste screamed, consumed by jealousy, rage, and bitterness. "None of us could find jobs after graduation, but you just started your own company right away! Why could you be from the countryside and still marry into a rich family? A cold, stuck-up, quiet woman like you deserves to be ignored by your husband, cheated on, and left behind!"