After the Cold Marriage His Crazy Love (Iris and Julian) novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157 Crossing the Line

Julian’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he kept his attention on the grill, turning over a few lightly seasoned pieces and taking his time, like nothing out of the ordinary had

been said.

Lily inhaled slowly, the brightness in her expression fading as she set her fork down and reached for her water. After a small sip, she looked straight at Iris, her tone deceptively casual. “I’ve heard Caleb and Arthur have had feelings for you for years, Miss Whitlow. So tell me, have you thought about getting married again?”

The question landed like a spark in dry air. Mason and Daniel immediately stiffened, exchanging quick, uneasy glances before shooting Lily silent warnings, their eyes practically begging her to stop before she crossed a line she couldn’t come back from.

They both knew exactly how Julian felt about Iris, knew he had never truly come to terms with the divorce, no matter how much time had passed.

Lily, however, didn’t seem concerned in the slightest. A faint smile lingered on her lips as she kept her gaze fixed on Iris, clearly waiting for a reaction.

Iris understood instantly. This wasn’t curiosity, it was provocation.

“She’s not considering it,” Julian said before Iris could speak, his voice low and cold, carrying a quiet authority that pressed down over the table and smothered any remaining conversation.

Without giving anyone time to respond, he turned his attention to Mason, his eyes sharp. “You told me you and Daniel were coming over for lunch. At what point did that turn into bringing someone else without asking me first?”

Mason’s throat tightened, and he swallowed hard, caught completely off guard.

Daniel jumped in quickly, forcing a light tone that didn’t quite mask the tension. “Come here. No need to make this awkward.”

we’re all friends

his hands before Julian let out a short, humorless laugh as he reached for a wet wipe, methodically cleani leaning back in his chair. His gaze shifted to Lily, steady and unyielding. “If you call going straight for my weak spot friendship, then I think we define that word very differently.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Lily started, but her voice faltered as her eyes drifted toward Iris.

Iris was still eating, completely composed, as if none of this concerned her at all. There was no flicker of jealousy, no discomfort, not even curiosity. The names Caleb and Arthur might as well have meant nothing.

The only person affected by the question was Julian.

And that, more than anything, made Lily’s chest tighten with frustration.

Because in relationships, it was always the one who cared more who ended up hurting.

The one who didn’t care walked away untouched.

Lily’s smile finally broke. She pushed her chair back abruptly, stood, and strode to the couch to grab her

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Chapter 157 Crossing the Line

bag. Without looking at anyone, she headed for the door, but just before leaving, she paused and turned back to Julian.

“Julian,” she said, her voice edged with something sharp, “don’t forget what your dad told you.”

The door slammed behind her.

Silence settled over the room like a weight.

Mason and Daniel exchanged a look, both unsure of how to recover from that.

Iris lowered her gaze, chewing slowly, though she barely tasted anything. A faint heaviness lingered in her chest, uninvited and difficult to ignore.

She wasn’t someone who inserted herself into other people’s affairs, but Lily’s last words stayed with her.

Frederick wasn’t the kind of man who spoke lightly, and if Lily had brought it up as a warning, then whatever he had said to Julian was unlikely to be insignificant.

The atmosphere at the table had turned dull and strained, the kind that drained any enjoyment out of the meal. Iris didn’t want that, not over something like this.

After a brief hesitation, she picked up her glass of juice and lifted it slightly, her tone gentle but deliberate. “How about a toast, since we’re all here. Happy New Year in advance.”

The suggestion caught all three men off guard. They looked at her for a moment before their expressions softened, and one by one, they reached for their glasses and clinked them together.

“To a better year,” Mason said, his voice regaining its usual energy.

Daniel followed with an easy grin. “We should do this again on New Year’s Day. Iris, bring Zoe next time.”

The word hung in the air again, intentional this time.

Iris hesitated for a brief second. She had already told him not to call her that, and it was obvious he was doing it on purpose, but she chose not to push back again. “We’ll see if she’s free.”

Julian watched her with a faint smile, his expression softening, the sharpness from earlier fading into something quieter and more restrained.

With that, the tension finally began to dissolve. The conversation picked up again, guided by Mason into lighter, more entertaining territory, and before long, the table felt warm and lively once more.

Lily slid into the back of a cab, but the anger in her chest refused to settle. She clenched her jaw, pulled out her phone, and dialed a number she knew by heart.

The call connected almost immediately.

The moment she heard Arthur’s voice, her composure crumbled. Tears welled up as her voice broke. “Arthur… I need your help again. Please, just one more time.”

What’s going on?” Arthur asked, his tone steady.

“Iris is back,” Lily said through quiet sobs. “She’s back and staying close to Julian again. They’re divorced, but

09:48 Sat, May 23 MM.

Chapter 157 Crossing the Line

they’re still living together, and I feel like I’m losing my mind. I really can’t take this anymore.

“You’re overthinking it. Arthur replied after a pause. “I know Iris. She’s not the type to go back.”

“I don’t care.” Lily said, cutting him off, desperation bleeding into every word. “Just help me this once, and make it final. Marry her, okay?”

Arthur went quiet for a moment before answering. “You know I don’t believe in marriage or having kids.”

“I’ll give you whatever you want,” Lily pressed, her voice trembling. “Just help me. I can fund a top-tier hospital for you, one of the best in the country. We’ll put it in a contract, make it official.”

Silence stretched across the line.

And then, slowly, Arthur began to hesitate.

After lunch, Julian and Mason stayed behind to clean up, while Iris and Daniel moved to the living room with a plate of fruit. The mango had been cut into small, neat cubes, making it easy to pick up with a fork.

Daniel shifted a little closer on the couch, dropping his voice like he was about to share something confidential. “Okay, seriously, why is Zoe ghosting me?”

Iris let out a small breath, a polite smile tugging at her lips, though there was a hint of discomfort in her eyes. “Hey… before that, can you not call me that?”

Daniel blinked, caught off guard. “Call you what?”

She hesitated for half a second, then said, “Just… Iris is fine.”

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