After the Cold Marriage His Crazy Love (Iris and Julian) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17 Some Families Need Breaking

Iris held her mother’s gaze, voice calm but firm. “Mom, I’ll handle it.”

That finally shut her up.

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Finished

Iris walked over and knocked on the bedroom door. “Emily, let’s be adults about this. Come out and talk. If you don’t want to talk, fine. Then we’ll take it to court and handle it the formal way.”

She returned to the living room and sat on the couch with her mom and Ethan, waiting.

Emily finally emerged, dragging her feet. She dropped her 400–pound frame into the armchair like it had wronged her.

Her size only made Ethan’s wiry, sun–dark frame look even more fragile.

Emily stared coldly out the window, wearing that smug, high–and–mighty look she always wore.

Ethan clenched his fists, about to speak, but Iris stopped him gently and went first. “Let’s talk about the divorce.”

Emily stayed silent, chin lifted in defiance.

Iris’s tone stayed composed. “This apartment? I paid for it. Full price. Gave it to Ethan and parents to live in. It’s his property, purchased before marriage. The car–I know it’s not worth much, but it’s his too. Also from before you two got married.”

She paused, then added, “And every penny he earned over the years? Went straight to you. A couple years ago, he had about five hundred thousand saved–and without telling him, you gave it all to your brother for a down payment on his house. That was shared marital property. You’ll need to give half of that back. As for the fruit shop–I invested in that. My dad and Ethan have been running it, but fine, it counts as joint property. We’ll get it appraised and split it. And as for custody? We’ll respect my nephew’s wishes.”

Emily’s face twisted with rage. She pointed at Iris, voice shrill. “You’re the worst person I’ve ever met! You’ve been dying to tear our marriage apart from day one!”

Ethan tried to interject, face red with anger. “Emily—”

Iris calmly held his arm down and spoke first. “You’re right. I am trying to break your marriage.”

Emily’s face turned purple. “See?! That’s what I’ve been saying! Because of you, my son’s about to lose his home!”

Iris didn’t flinch. “Let’s be real. You looked like this when you married Ethan–overweight, average–looking at best. And he didn’t care. He still married you. Never once made you feel less.

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12:30 Tue, May 5

Chapter 17 Some Families Need Breaking

Finished

But now you look down on him because he’s not rich? Ethan might not give you a mansion, but he gave you stability. He handed over every dollar he made, never asked you to work a day in your life. My mom’s been doing all the housework since day one.”

She pointed lightly at Emily’s bag. “That purse might be a few seasons out of style, but it’s still LV. Your phone? The newest model. The bracelet on your wrist is diamond, your hands are covered in gold rings and diamond bands. You snack on durian like it’s nothing. Your online shopping boxes are stacked so high, they’ve taken over my nephew’s room–and you haven’t even opened half of them.”

She narrowed her eyes. “So what exactly are you missing? Ethan hides a little cash to buy me a present, and suddenly life is unbearable? You hand over five hundred thousand to your brother behind his back–and he never even raised his voice. Who’s the unreasonable one here?”

Emily was starting to shrink into the chair, all that swagger draining out of her.

She wasn’t used to this–no one ever dared push back at home. She was starting to panic, and her voice turned defensive. “You’re married now. You don’t live here anymore. What right do you have to stick your nose in our business?”

Iris didn’t even blink. “I’m not backing off.”

Her voice stayed warm, but there was steel underneath. “Emily, let me be blunt. With how you carry yourself–that mess of an attitude, the lazy lifestyle, the way you’ve let yourself go–even if you were eighteen and single, no wealthy man would look at you twice. Think about that.”

She stood and slung her bag over her shoulder. “Ethan, if she keeps fighting you, take it to court. I’ll help you find someone new. She’ll be younger, smarter, and she’ll treat you better. I’ll pay for the ring, and we’ll throw the biggest damn wedding this neighborhood’s ever seen.”

Emily’s face went pale. She bit her lip, tears welling up in fury and humiliation.

Iris didn’t look back. “I’m heading out, Mom.”

Grace sat frozen. She’d never seen her daughter like this–soft–spoken, but devastating. That sister–in–law dynamic? Destroyed. But for once, Emily finally shut up.

Grace couldn’t lie. Part of her was kind of excited about the idea of a new daughter–in–law.

“I’ll walk you out,” Ethan said, getting up to follow her.

“Do you really think I should go through with the divorce?” Ethan asked. He didn’t care if life got harder for him–he just didn’t want his son to suffer.

Iris gave him a tired smile and gently took his calloused hand. “Ethan, I’m not trying to break your family. I just want Emily to understand–you’re not alone. You’ve got someone in your corner. And you can’t keep giving in. The more you let her walk all over you, the worse she

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12:31 Tue, May 5 G

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