His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 332: A Private Jet and Tension

"Besides me, who else can you trust?" Julian asked.

Iris hesitated for a beat. "Grandma."

"Alright, I'll have someone bring Grandma up from our hometown immediately. Between Grandma, the nanny, and the detail watching over him, Harper will be in good hands. Are you satisfied now?"

Iris let out a soft sigh, tilting her head back to rest against his arm as she gazed up at his dark, striking features. "You still have work to do here. Why do you have to come with me?"

A bitter, self-deprecating smile tugged at the corner of Julian's mouth as he looked down into her eyes. His voice softened, laden with a raw vulnerability. "I'm terrified you'll be in danger. I'm terrified you don't want me anymore. I'm afraid that if you leave, you won't come back—that you'll just vanish into thin air."

Iris felt like a stone had dropped into the depths of her heart, sending ripples of emotion through her. She was both touched and heartbroken.

She had abandoned Julian for three long years.

He might claim to hate her, yet every nuance of his behavior, every single thing he did, screamed how deeply he loved her, cared for her, and anguished over her safety.

She didn't know if she had pushed him too far in the past, but in that moment, she couldn't bear to inflict any more pain on him.

"Okay, we'll go together," Iris said, though she hesitated. "But isn't it way too late for you to book a commercial flight?"

At her agreement, the tension drained from Julian's shoulders, replaced by a relieved smile. "When you have money, why worry about availability? Besides, I have a private jet. I don't have to wait in line or squeeze into a cabin full of strangers. Whenever you want to leave, that's when we take off."

A private jet?

Iris stood there, stunned.

Then, the realization dawned on her—she had briefly forgotten just how wealthy Julian truly was.

Owning a jet and a yacht was as mundane for him as owning a bicycle, wasn't it?

"Come with me, we need to pack a few things," Julian said, taking Iris' hand and leading her out of the room. He was terrified that if he let go, even for a second, she would evaporate right before his eyes.

Julian hastily shoved his belongings into Iris' suitcase. Then, keeping a firm grip on her hand, he carried the bag downstairs.

In the living room, Scott stood up as soon as he heard their footsteps descend. He stood tall, observing Julian with a composed, dignified bearing. His gaze was steady, yet it held no aggression.

Julian had crossed paths with plenty of Iris' male colleagues in the past, and almost all of them fell into the stereotypical academic mold—bookish and nerdy. But this man? He didn't look like someone who spent his days hunched over a microscope.

He carried himself more like a soldier.

As they approached, Iris made the introductions. "This is Scott, an old colleague of mine. He's..."

When she got to Julian, she paused, searching for the right label.

Ex-husband? Boyfriend? Or should she just use his name?

While Iris fumbled for the words, Julian extended his hand and cut in smoothly. "I'm Iris' husband, Julian."

Iris froze, staring at him in absolute shock.

He was completely at ease, radiating confidence and calm.

Scott shook his hand politely. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Everhart."

Julian scrutinized Scott's eyes, finding nothing but honest, upright sincerity. It did little to quell his unease, but it put his mind slightly at rest.

After saying a quick goodbye to Harper and strictly instructing the nanny and security detail to keep a close watch on her, Julian also ordered the bodyguards to drive out and retrieve Beatrice.

With everything at home settled, they climbed into the car and headed for the airport to rendezvous with Brandon.

Fifty thousand feet in the air, the jet pierced through the clouds, flying steady and true.

Inside the spacious cabin, an assortment of food and drinks was laid out on a long rectangular table.

Iris and Julian sat side by side, while Scott and Brandon faced them from the other side.

Iris couldn't shake the feeling that the atmosphere was a bit... off, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly why.

Perhaps it was simply because nobody really knew Scott yet, so everyone maintained a polite, guarded distance.

Or maybe it was due to Julian's attitude toward Brandon, which was frigid at best, with an undercurrent of poorly concealed hostility.

However, being mature, steady adults, they all maintained a facade of civility.

Brandon attempted to make small talk with Scott about the medical field. When he felt parched, he reached for his water bottle, only to realize it was empty.

He looked around, searching for a refill.

Iris noticed immediately and started to stand up. "I'll get you another one."

Julian clamped his hand down on her wrist, his expression darkening by a fraction. Glaring at Brandon, he snapped, "There's a mini-fridge right behind you. Help yourself."

Brandon was well aware of Julian's jealousy. He pressed his lips together, suppressing a smile, and addressed Iris, "I'll get it. You stay put. You don't need to wait on me."

Iris slowly sat back down.

Julian exhaled a sharp, dismissive breath through his nose. He kept his grip on her wrist possessively and turned his face toward the window, gazing out at the sky.

Brandon returned with a fresh bottle, twisted off the cap, and took a sip. "It's been a long time since I've seen Harper. Do you think she still remembers me?"

Iris shook her head slightly. "It's been too long. She probably doesn't."

Brandon smiled reminisce. "The last time I saw her, she was still finding her voice. She couldn't even manage 'Uncle,' just 'Dada'."

Iris felt the pressure on her wrist intensify, bordering on painful.

She glanced at Julian nervously.

Julian kept his face turned away toward the window, his presence heavy and brooding. Perhaps he realized he was hurting her, because he finally released her wrist, placing both hands on his knees beneath the table.

Scott looked between them, curious. "You're an OB-GYN, right? Did you deliver Iris' baby?"

Iris gave an awkward smile and vehemently shook her head. "No, definitely not."

Brandon was completely unbothered by the question. "I wanted to deliver the baby, but Iris is a bit old-fashioned. She wasn't comfortable with a male doctor."

Scott nodded in understanding and chuckled. "Yeah, I get that. Your profession is a bit unique. A lot of women aren't okay with it. Honestly, if I ever had a wife and she went into labor, I think I'd feel a little weird having a male doctor deliver our child."

Brandon disagreed with a professional shrug. "In the eyes of a doctor, gender is irrelevant. We see the human body as a biological machine. Childbirth is the most natural function in the world. There's nothing mysterious or special about it."