After the Cold Marriage His Crazy Love (Iris and Julian) novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104 Cold Distance

73

Finished

She tried her hardest to keep up with the police. Then she tripped and dropped to her knees on the gravel path. Her palms got scraped, but lucky for her, her pants covered her knees. They were just a little red and swollen, not cut up.

Iris pressed her finger lightly on the red part of her knee. It didn’t hurt too badly. She probably didn’t need medicine. It would get better in a couple days.

“How’d you get that?”

Julian’s cold voice came from above. Iris jumped, pulled her pants down fast, stood up nervously, and looked up.

Her heart was pounding.

Was I too wrapped up in my own thoughts? Or does Julian always walk this quietly, so I never hear him coming?

“I tripped and fell.” Iris stood up, speaking softly. “Julian, why aren’t you asleep? It’s so late.”

Julian had both hands in his pockets. He stared at her, not saying a word. His face was dark, his eyes a little red. A cold, weird feeling hung around him–like he was hiding anger.

Iris knew that look. Panic flared in her chest, and a cold dread settled over her. She swallowed hard, nervous and on edge, and asked softly, “What’s wrong with you?”

Julian looked down, avoiding her eyes. He scoffed, his voice sharp with sarcasm. “How intense must it be to leave your knees red raw?”

Iris heard him, but she was confused. “Huh?”

Julian closed his eyes, like he was struggling to breathe. He opened his mouth to exhale, then looked up at her. His voice was cold, with no warmth at all. “You didn’t go to the hospital today?”

“No. Something came up at the research institute.”

“I went to the research institute to find you. Only one person was on duty. No one else was there working.”

Iris clenched her fists a little, flustered as she explained, “I really went back to the research institute. But we had some tricky stuff we had to handle outside.”

Julian’s eyes dimmed. He carried the bitter, frosty aura of a frozen cell. He nodded, like he heard her, then turned and walked to his room.

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13:15 Sat, May 16

Chapter 104 Cold Distance

73

Finished

Anxiety twisted in Iris’s chest. The cold, distant Julian she used to know seemed to be back.

She took big steps forward, grabbing Julian’s arm with both hands.

“Julian, don’t you believe me?” Her voice had a little panic in it, soft and humble.

Julian lifted his hand, shaking her off. He stepped back two steps, looking annoyed. He stared ahead, his voice as cold as ice. “I believe you.”

Iris looked at his handsome, cold side. Her heart went cold, sharp pains stabbing at it like needles. Her eyes filled with tears. “What’s really wrong with you today? Did I do something? Weren’t we fine yesterday?”

Julian stood still. He pulled his hand out of his pocket and made a fist. The veins on the back of his hand popped a little.

Iris’s heart shook, her fingers shaking too. She could feel Julian’s anger and coldness.

It came so sudden, out of nowhere. It scared her.

Julian’s kindness toward her seemed to be gone again.

She worked up the courage, slowly reaching out to touch his fist. “Julian, if you’re mad at me, just tell me. I can change.”

Her hand barely touched his fist before he shook it off hard. He said coldly, “I’m not mad.”

He strode into his room and shut the door.

In that moment, Iris felt like she’d fallen into a bottomless pit. Chills ran over her, the pain in her chest taking over. Her vision blurred with tears.

This familiar, sudden cold shoulder was happening again. It made her feel disappointed and confused. Just like when they first got married two years ago.

She thought Julian must have had a bad day, one that left him moody.

She’d spoken to him gently and humbly, trying to cheer him up and draw near carefully. But all Julian gave her was a cold attitude, short and impatient words, and two years of being pushed aside.

The kindness and warmth Julian showed her lately made her think he’d changed. So she gave him a second chance to hurt her.

Tears welled up in Iris’s eyes. She closed them slowly and took a deep breath. Two clear tears slid down her pale cheeks.

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13:15 Sat, May 16

Chapter 104 Cold Distance

73

Finished

She wiped them away with her hand, then turned and walked to her room.

The June night was short and stuffy.

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