After the Cold Marriage His Crazy Love (Iris and Julian) novel Chapter 117

Chapter 117 A Condition and a Secret

+5 Pearle

His Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice hoarse and low. “For two years of marriage, I never slept with you because I had a little psychological block. But my body’s totally fine. You should’ve felt that just now.”

Iris felt her skin warm up under his intense stare. She’d never seen Julian like this-soft yet eerily calm, a dangerous edge to his composure.

She didn’t dare push Julian’s moral limits. After all, his body really was fine. When he held her while they slept, she could feel that terrifying reaction from him as clear as day.

If Julian forced himself on her, she knew she couldn’t take it. She might even end up hurt.

Fear mixed with the clarity in her bright, clear eyes.

Julian smiled, looking satisfied. His voice turned extra gentle. “Go back to sleep. I’ll help you pack.”

He walked over to the suitcase, set it down, squatted and unzipped it right away.

Iris scrambled out of bed, barefoot, and rushed to him. She pressed her hand on the suitcase. “No, I can do it myself.”

“I’ll help,” he said.

“Really, I don’t need you to.”

“You sure you’re not moving out?” Julian’s deep eyes fixed on her, a sadness she couldn’t read lingering in them.

Iris hesitated, unsure what to say.

Julian’s eyebrows furrowed, his face darkening in an instant.

Iris felt his mood turn icy. She swallowed hard, nervous, and spoke up. “I can stay, but I have one condition.”

Julian stood up, leaning in a little. “Name it. One condition, ten thousand-it doesn’t matter. I’ll do it.”

Iris stood too, meeting his gaze. “Can you stop drinking so much?”

Julian froze, his body going rigid. He stared at her, like he couldn’t believe she’d said that.

After a long pause, he let out a soft breath, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I can do that.”

Iris hung her head and nodded. “Okay.”

“Anything else?”

“If the judge says we’re divorced, I have to move out. I hope you won’t stop me then.”

Julian didn’t answer directly. He switched gears. “This place is close to your job. It’s way more convenient for you.”

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Chapter 117 A Condition and a Secret

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Iris blurted out before she could think, “My contract at the research institute is ending. My landlord says I gotta move out before August.”

Julian’s eyes went dark. He stared at her, not saying a single word.

Iris realized she’d said too much. She hurried to squat down, pulled folded clothes out of the suitcase, and tossed them into the wardrobe.

Julian said nothing. He just opened the other suitcase.

Iris sighed, defeated. “Really, you don’t have to help. Go back to your room, take a shower, and get some more sleep.”

Julian ignored her. He pulled books out of the suitcase one by one.

He set the books on the desk, ran his finger along the corner, and frowned. Even a thin layer of dust bugged him. “It’s dusty. Don’t you ever wipe this?”

Iris turned to him. “It was packed with books before. Besides, it’s not even dirty. Who has time to wipe it every single day?”

Julian didn’t respond. He left the room, grabbed a new towel, wet it down, wrung it out, and came back. He wiped her desk and dressing table until they shone, not a speck of dust left.

Iris hung the clothes in the wardrobe, glancing over her shoulder every now and then to sneak a look at his busy back.

Julian wasn’t wearing a shirt, so all she could see were his broad back muscles, a narrow waist, warm, healthy skin, and firm hips under his thin long pants. Every little move he made was charming, almost distracting.

This was her room, but it smelled like him, filled with his masculine presence.

Iris’s face heated up, her breathing getting unsteady. Her voice came out soft, a little shy. “Julian, can you put on a shirt?”

Julian stared down at his bare torso, his features composed, before turning his eyes to her.

Iris’s eyes turned shy. She quickly looked away and kept pulling clothes out of the suitcase, pretending to be busy.

Julian finished arranging the books and then picked one up-one that clearly surprised him–and walked over to her.

He got close suddenly, too close. Iris felt flustered, hung her head, and kept tidying the clothes in her hands to avoid his eyes.

“You embarrassed?” he asked softly, leaning in a little. “Or just shy?”

Iris stuffed the clothes into the wardrobe, closed the door hard, and lied. “Embarrassed.”

Julian propped one hand against the wardrobe, leaning down to corner her, trapping her against its

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Chapter 117 A Condition and a Secret

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He was so close his chest almost brushed her cheek. Iris’s heart raced. She swallowed hard, nervous and shy, but forced herself to look up at him like she wasn’t affected.

Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed again, his voice dropping even deeper. “The best part about you not wearing makeup is that you look clean and pretty. More than that, nothing can hide your blush when you flush.”

Iris quickly covered her cheeks with her hands, dropping her head to hide her face.

“You’re obviously shy,” Julian said, teasing her a little. “Why say you’re embarrassed?”

Iris didn’t want to talk about this embarrassing stuff. “Just go back to your room. I can finish packing by myself.”

Julian ignored her attempt to kick him out. He held the book up in front of her face, grinning. “Do you read just any kind of books?”

When Iris saw the book in his hand, her already red face turned bright red. Her heart skipped a beat. She reached for it, flustered and shy. “It’s just a regular literary book.”

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