After the Cold Marriage His Crazy Love (Iris and Julian) novel Chapter 23

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Finished

Zoe took a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m still trying to figure it out myself. I just got into a screaming match with them. Thank God the fire department showed up–otherwise it would’ve turned into a full–on brawl. Right now, the front office is trying to hold them off. We bought those lab animals legally, with full documentation, everything above board, and now they’re accusing us of animal abuse. They want us to release everything but the mice, and they’re threatening to

sue.”

Zoe’s face was flushed with anger. She paced in front of Iris, arms crossed, too worked up to stand still. She shot Iris a look. “Did you piss someone off?”

Iris gripped the strap of her backpack tightly, saying nothing. Her chest felt like it was being crushed by a boulder.

Zoe frowned. “No, that doesn’t make sense. You’re not the type. If anyone screwed up, it’s probably me.”

Just then, a man’s deep voice came from behind them. “Miss Whitlow, there you are. I was just looking for you.”

Iris turned to see the property manager, Derek Quinn, walking toward them.

“Hi, Mr. Quinn,” she greeted politely.

“I just got off the phone with your landlord,” he said. “They’re not renewing the lease when it ends in August. They’re asking you to start looking for another location.”

Zoe froze, her mouth opening slightly in disbelief. Her

eyes welled

up with frustration.

Iris, calm as ever, nodded once. “Alright.”

“I’ll leave you to it,” Derek said, hands clasped behind his back as he walked away.

Sunlight spilled over Iris’s shoulders, but she felt nothing but a slow, creeping chill. Zoe turned to her, her voice breaking. “I seriously have no idea who we crossed.”

“This isn’t your fault.” Iris forced a bitter smile and gently touched Zoe’s cheek. Then she reached into her bag and handed her a contract.

Zoe glanced at it–and her eyes widened. “Is this… a funding agreement? From the Everhart Group?”

Iris nodded. “Yeah.”

Zoe stared at her. “Okay, what does that have to do with any of this?”

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Chapter 23 They Want Us Gone

Iris answered quietly, “Someone doesn’t want Julian backing me.”

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It clicked for Zoe. Her face flushed red with rage. “It’s her, isn’t it? That damn influencer. She’s trying to tank you.”

Iris kept her tone steady. “I don’t know for sure, but if it is her, she definitely didn’t do this alone.”

Zoe grabbed Iris’s hand. “Come on, let’s go talk to Julian. We have to tell him.”

Iris pulled her hand back, voice flat. “What’s the point?”

Zoe stomped her foot. “The point is, somebody needs to put that woman in check. I’m so over this.”

Iris looked down, her voice barely a whisper. “Some people are born protected. They can lie, cheat, hurt others–and still be forgiven. But the rest of us? We get judged just for breathing.”

Zoe’s heart ached. She couldn’t understand it fully, but she felt it deeply. She stepped forward and wrapped Iris in a tight hug.

That small, sudden gesture hit Iris hard. Warmth filled the void in her chest, and her composure finally cracked.

Tears slipped down her cheeks, quiet and unannounced. She’d wanted a hug like that for a long time.

Resting her face against Zoe’s shoulder, her voice came out soft but fierce. “Everything I have, I earned. Step by step. I don’t need a man’s pity or anyone’s favor. My paperwork’s solid, my taxes are clean, and even if I’m not some powerful woman, I’m not someone who breaks easily either.”

Zoe gently rubbed her back. “You’ve been my role model since college. Seriously. You’re the kindest, strongest person I know.”

Iris pulled away and discreetly wiped her tears. She took a deep breath, steadied herself. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go deal with the people inside.”

Zoe followed, still uneasy. “They’re not here to talk. They came looking for trouble.”

Iris didn’t even blink.

Inside the office, three middle–aged men were sitting on the couch, shouting at the staff over the use of animals in the lab.

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