After the Cold Marriage His Crazy Love (Iris and Julian) novel Chapter 156

Chapter 156 Stay a While

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“I do.” Julian said quietly, his voice softening as he looked at her. There was something steady and unguarded in his expression. “But what am I supposed to do with you? I just want a little more time with you. Stop avoiding me, okay?”

“I don’t like this kind of crowd,” Iris said under her breath, lowering her voice so it wouldn’t carry outside.

“Then I’ll ask them to leave.” He turned toward the door, already moving. “You guys can-”

“No.” She reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him. “It’s fine. I’ll stay. I’ll eat.”

She didn’t want to be the one who made things awkward for everyone else.

Out in the dining area, Mason called out, “Grill’s hot, let’s get this started.”

Julian reached for her hand, but she sidestepped him and walked past, taking a seat at the table.

A large tabletop griddle sizzled at the center of the table, one side brushed with a bold, smoky marinade that crackled as it hit the heat, the other kept simple with just oil and seasoning, letting the natural flavors come through.

Everyone settled in. Julian stepped into the kitchen and came back with an apron draped over his arm.

“Iris, stand up,” he said gently as he stopped beside her.

Thinking he needed her to move, she stood without question. Instead, he slipped the apron over her head and tied it neatly behind her back, his movements unhurried and familiar.

Her hands instinctively lifted to adjust the fabric, and for a brief moment, her heart stirred in a way she didn’t expect.

Across the table, Mason and Daniel exchanged knowing looks, grins tugging at their lips, while Lily’s expression grew noticeably tighter, her fingers curling subtly against her palm.

“So the clean freak gets special treatment?” Mason joked.

Julian ignored him entirely and gestured for Iris to sit. “Go ahead”

She sat back down, unsettled. She didn’t want to be singled out, didn’t want whatever this was between them to feel different, and yet it did.

Lily forced a smile, her tone light but edged. “I don’t remember Julian being like this before. Funny how he only got attentive after the divorce.”

The implication was obvious.

Cold during the marriage, attentive now. Convenient.

There was jealousy there too, thinly veiled but unmistakable.

Iris heard it, understood it, and chose not to engage. She simply reached for her fork.

Chapter 156 Stay a While

No one responded to Lily. The conversation died off as everyone turned back to the table, focusing on the grill, laying out slices of meat and vegetables, the soft sizzle quickly filling the silence.

Mason picked up a plate of thinly sliced meat, but before he could drop it in, Julian asked. “What is that?

“Lamb.”

“Iris doesn’t eat lamb.” Julian took the entire plate and stood, carrying it back toward the kitchen.

Iris looked up, catching Mason mid-reaction. “It’s really fine. You guys can have it.”

Mason pointed toward the kitchen with a helpless laugh. “Too late. Honestly, we don’t eat it either. Grabbed it by mistake.”

Iris gave a polite, slightly awkward smile.

Lily, eating casually, spoke again. “I heard you spent the last six months road-tripping. Must’ve seen a lot. Anything interesting happen?”

Iris picked up a slice of beef and answered without much interest. “Not really.”

“Where did you go?”

“A lot of places.”

Her tone was distant enough that anyone could tell she wasn’t interested in continuing.

Julian came back and slid into his seat, reaching for the side of the grill that had been kept lightly seasoned, skipping the spicier cuts altogether.

Iris couldn’t help but notice.

He used to go for really bold flavorslike, the hotter and heavier, the better… especially when it got cold. So what changed?

Daniel caught the look and leaned back in his chair, speaking like it was no big deal. “He wrecked his stomach a while back, too much drinking. Can’t really handle anything too heavy or spicy now.”

Iris’s hand paused slightly, fork hovering.

Mason added, “After the divorce, he almost-”

Julian set his fork down with a quiet but firm motion and leaned back, his gaze sharp. “You two planning to keep eating or not?”

Mason laughed it off, waving it away like it wasn’t a big deal. “Yeah, yeah, we’re eating,” he said, grabbing a king crab leg and setting it onto the cooler side of the grill, where it started to sizzle almost immediately,

Daniel didn’t continue.

The mood shifted, a subtle tension settling over the table.

Iris felt out of place, like she didn’t quite belong here.

What were they about to say? Why stop now?

M

09:48 Sat, May 23 MM.

Chapter 156 Stay a While

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When the crab was ready, Julian picked out a few legs, placed them into a bowl, and put on gloves before carefully cracking the shells with scissors, extracting the meat with practiced ease.

“This is so good” Mason said, enjoying his own portion before glancing at Lily. “You’re not having any?”

She shook her head lightly. “Too much effort.”

“I can crack it for you,” Mason offered.

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