After the Cold Marriage His Crazy Love (Iris and Julian) novel Chapter 35

I Stayed Until You Made It Hard To Stay by Tarin Kross 35

Chapter 35 The Late–Night Talk

Zoe clenched her fists, ticked off. “I think he’s the one acting like a maid.”

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Iris pressed her lips together, her mood sinking even more. Maybe it was the terrible weather. Or Celeste’s words. Or seeing a side of Julian she never knew about from the cameras.

All of it was dragging her down.

Zoe kept wondering if Julian checked the cameras regularly.

They chatted casually, and time flew by.

It got late. When Zoe got ready to leave, she pointed at the camera and patted her chest. “I bet that camera isn’t for burglars. Julian uses it to spy on you.”

“Quit being silly.” Iris handed Zoe an umbrella. “The rain stopped. Hurry home. Your parents will worry if you’re out too late.”

Zoe touched her cheek. “You go to bed early too. Don’t overthink it. Treat Celeste’s words like a fart–hear them and forget them. Don’t let them get to you.”

Iris nodded.

Zoe added, “The day after tomorrow, our college alumni group is having an offline event. Lots of old classmates are going. Since it’s the holiday, come with me. Meet some alumni.”

“Some alumni?” Iris looked confused.

Zoe smiled, her eyes crinkling as she shook Iris’s hand. “C’mon, come with me! I’m almost 26 and never had a boyfriend. I wanna check out some good single guys.”

Iris also wanted to relax during the holiday. A person couldn’t work nonstop like a machine.

“Okay.” Iris smiled and agreed.

“It’s a deal. I’ll pick you up the day after tomorrow.” Zoe grinned, waved goodbye, and left with the umbrella.

Iris watched Zoe get on the elevator before going back inside and closing the door.

She took a shower and lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

By midnight, she still couldn’t fall asleep. Celeste’s words were really messing with her.

She got up, warmed a glass of milk, and sat down on the living room sofa.

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12:37 Tue, May 5 ..

Chapter 35 The Late–Night Talk

She glanced at the clock. It was 1:10 a.m.

Then she looked at the camera.

A childish thought popped into her head. She wanted to test if Julian really checked the

cameras.

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Finished

It was a stupid idea, but she had a scientific mind. She believed truth comes from doing, not just thinking.

Time ticked by.

Iris sat in the living room waiting. No phone, no book. The bright lights in the room shone on her as she stared blankly at the night outside the window.

The rain let up for a while, then started pouring again.

It poured harder and harder, with thunder rumbling in the distance.

Iris was used to going to bed early. Even when she couldn’t sleep, she never stayed up past 3

a.m.

But tonight, she did.

At 3:30 a.m., the front door finally clicked open.

He was home.

Iris closed her eyes tiredly and let out a soft breath.

She listened closely to Julian’s first words to see if he’d checked the cameras.

The sound of the door closing. The sound of him changing shoes. Steady footsteps. The sofa shifted slightly. A smell of alcohol drifted over.

A cold, deep male voice came from beside her. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Iris couldn’t hear any surprise in his tone,

She slowly opened her eyes and turned to look at Julian next to her.

He sat in the corner of the sofa, a yard away from her. He was still wearing the casual sportswear from that morning. His short hair was wet, and his clothes were soaked too.

He leaned his head back against the sofa and spread his legs and arms wide, looking lazy and relaxed. He seemed drunk.

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12:37 Tue, May 5

Chapter 35 The Late–Night Talk

Finished

Iris asked in a soft voice, “Did you drive yourself home?”

Julian didn’t move, answering calmly, “Couldn’t find a designated driver in the rain. Took a ride–hailing car.”

That explained why he was wet. He probably didn’t have an umbrella and ran from outside the neighborhood to the door.

Iris spoke in a flat tone. “You weren’t planning on coming home tonight, were you?”

“If I didn’t come back, would you sit here and wait all night?”

Iris answered firmly, “Yes.”

Julian smiled faintly, took a deep breath, leaned forward, propped his elbows on his knees, and covered his eyes with his hands, rubbing them. “It’s almost dawn. Go back to the room and sleep.”

Iris twisted the hem of her clothes, feeling down. She thought for a moment and gathered her courage to ask, “Did you go visit Selena on set?”

Julian didn’t hesitate, answering casually, “Yeah.”

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