His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex Wife novel Chapter 196

Chapter 196 times Drawn

Selena felt it like a spotlight snapping on. The shift in their attention made her skin crawl, and for a split second, the mask almost cracked. She recovered quickly, though it took every ounce of control she had to keep her expression smooth.

Iris caught it, that flicker of irritation, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. “She’s got it covered,” she said lightly. “No point in me embarrassing myself over pocket change.”

Julian reached for her hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “You only took an hour off, right? We should get going.”

Iris hesitated for a fraction of a second, then nodded. “Right. Mom, Dad, I need to head back to work.”

Grace waved her off without much interest. “Go on. There’s nothing for you here anyway.”

They had just reached the door when Grace suddenly remembered something. “Wait. Did you change your number? We haven’t been able to reach you. What is it now?”

Iris stopped with her back still to them, her expression turning cold in an instant.

Julian glanced at her, then answered smoothly, his tone calm and controlled. “She lost her ID and her phone. She hasn’t been able to get a new number yet. If you need anything, you can go through me.”

Ethan stood quietly off to the side, watching the exchange with reddened eyes. He understood exactly what Iris was doing, the distance she was putting between herself and all of this, and he didn’t try to interfere.

Grace, on the other hand, missed it entirely. She clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed. “Unbelievable. How do you even lose something that important?”

Julian didn’t respond. He simply guided Iris out of the room.

Once they were in the hallway, Iris pulled her hand free, her voice low but steady. “Thanks.”

Julian’s hand lingered for a second before he slowly curled his fingers and slipped them into his pocket He fell into step beside her. “I’ll drive you back.”

“I’ll take the subway.”

“Iris,” he said quietly, “don’t shut me out like this.”

She didn’t answer.

They walked out of the hospital together, but when he turned toward the parking lot she veered off toward the main exit without a word.

He stopped, then turned back and caught up to her in a few quick strides, reaching out to lightly grip her arm. “The car’s thus way”

Iris exhaled softly, then looked at him, her eyes clear but distant, her tone polite to the point of unfamiliarity, “Mr. Everhart, please don’t do this. Just let me go.

That single title landed harder than anything else she could have sall

Chapter 195tines Drawn

For a moment, Julian didn’t move. The light in his eyes dimmed, something unspoken settling there before he slowly let go of her arm. “Okay,” he said, his voice rougher than before.

Iris held his gaze for a second longer, something tight pulling at her chest, but she didn’t let it stop her. She turned and walked away without looking back.

Julian remained where he was, standing under the bright midday sun, his figure still and heavy, watching her disappear into the distance until there was nothing left to see.

By the time Iris made it back to the lab, she was running on autopilot. The hours blurred together, her focus scattered, her mood sinking lower with every passing minute.

That one word from Julian, that quiet “okay,” it was exactly what she had wanted.

So why did it feel like this?

By the time she got home late that night, exhaustion had settled deep into her bones. She showered, changed, and was just about to call it a night when a knock at the door broke the silence.

Her entire body tensed.

Living alone made moments like this hit differently, especially this late. She checked the time. Just past eleven.

She approached the door carefully, keeping her voice steady despite the edge of caution. “Who is it?” Julian’s voice came through the door, low and familiar. “It’s me.”

She closed her eyes briefly, the tension easing just a fraction. “You already agreed earlier today. Why are you here?”

“I left something important.”

454

His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife

Chapter 196 Too Close

“What is it?”

“My watch. It should be in your room.”

At eleven at night?

The excuse was thin, and they both knew it.

Still, there was much she could do about it. She let out a quiet breath. “Give me a minute.”

She tu

exact

d back into her bedroom, opening drawers until she found it. The watch sat there,

have left it on purpose.

aring at it for a moment.

this through, didn’t you?

sigh, she walked back to the door and opened it.

ent she extended her hand to return it ence filled the space as he guided her

arely had time to react before her

en he kissed her.

There was nothing tentative abo intense to ignore. The force of through her system all at on

Her grip tightened ar

mind could catch u

This isn’t right

But the t

stepped forward, closing the distance in an instant.

one hand bracing the door shut behind him.

o restraint, just urgency and something far too As familiar scent wrapping around her as heat rushed

e spiraling out of control as her body reacted before her

was nothing left but the moment.

ist, lifting her effortlessly as she instinctively grabbed onto his shoulders. k, carrying her straight toward the bedroom as if there were no other

lity snapped back in sharp and sudden. She turned her head, breaking the kiss. she struggled to steady herself Julian, what are you doing?”

in one hand and pinned them gently but firmly above her head, his other hand side as his voice dropped, rough and strained. “You think I can just walk away after this?

Crushed

Chapter 196 Too Closc

There was no easy way to fight him off, not like this, not when every instinct was working against her.

Resistance blurred into something else, something she didn’t want to name.

The night stretched on, intense and consuming, leaving no room for anything outside of it.

By the time everything finally stilled, the sky had long since gone dark.

Iris lay curled against him, completely drained, deep taking her almost instantly.

Julian didn’t sleep.

He held her close, his fingers moving absently through her hair as he watched her face, soft and unguarded in sleep. After a while, he leaned down and pressed a quiet kiss to her forehead.

“Iris,” he murmured, barely above a whisper, “do you really not feel anything for me?”

She didn’t stir.

He closed his eyes, pulling her closer, his voice low and certain. “You do. You have to.”

She shifted slightly in her sleep, her cheek brushing against his chest as she settled in closer, her voice soft and distant. “Julian… I don’t know what to do…”

His eyes opened immediately.

He lowered his head, studying her face. “What aren’t you telling me?”

But she had already drifted deeper into sleep, leaving the question unanswered.

After a long moment, he let out a up with him too.

quiet breath and/closed his eyes, holding her as sleep eventually caught

The next morning, sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, undisturbed by any alarm.

Iris woke slowly, her mind still heavy with sleep. She turned her head instinctively, but the other side of the bed was empty.

She pushed herself up, pulling the blanket around her, and noticed a neatly fokied set of clothes placed at the foot of the bed.

After getting dressed, she stepped into the bathroom and paused.

A glass of water sat by the sink, and beside it, a toothbrush already prepared.

She stood there for a moment, something tightening in her chest.

The more thoughtful he was, the harder it became to hold her ground.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify