His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex Wife novel Chapter 260

Chapter 260 A Fresh Start?

Ethan didn’t say a word. He kept his artis-around Celeste and didn’t let go.

Finished

Julian’s tone was sharp. “Are you really going to wait until there’s no turning back to finally regret this?”

Ethan glanced over at Iris, then back down at Celeste.

Celeste’s lips trembled, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Ethan, we’ve known each other for years. Don’t you trust me by now?”

Ethan stumbled over his words. “I just…”

Iris’ eyes burned, tears pooling before she could blink them away. Her heart felt like it had been slammed by a semi-truck.

Her nephew-the boy she’d loved like her own-was gone. No matter how hard she’d tried to shield him, she hadn’t been able to keep him safe.

Her mother, her brother, Celeste… they’d all played a part in Frank’s death, directly or not. She hated how powerless she’d been. She hated their stubborn blindness even more.

And now, after everything, she’d hoped her brother would finally see the truth.

But she’d expected too much.

Some people don’t change until it’s right in front of them-until there’s no pretending left.

Iris slowly reached for Julian’s hand. Her voice came out hollow. “Get me out of here. I can’t stand to look at them anymore.”

“Okay.” Julian wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her away without looking back.

Ethan panicked, taking a step after them. “Iris, wait-”

But Celeste clutched his wrist, swaying on her feet. “Ethan, it hurts so much… Aren’t you going to help me?”

Γ

Ethan watched his sister walk away, torn for a long moment, before turning back to steady Celeste.

Inside the car, Julian drove carefully, glancing into the rearview now and then.

Iris sat slumped against the passenger window, her eyes empty, fixed on the passing streets. She looked completely drained.

“Iris,” Julian said softly, “let me take you to the hospital. You don’t look well.”

She shook her head slowly. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. I’m worried about you.”

Iris let out a slow, shaky breath, like she was trying to force all the heaviness in her chest out into the air.

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Chapter 268 A-Fresh Start?

**Finished

It didn’t help. The ache stayed-a raw, broken feeling that left trer numb and disconnected.

After a long silence, she spoke quietly, more to herself that to him. “You know, I really regret some things. Julian.”

“What things?” he asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

The ghost of a bitter smile touched her lips. Her vision blurred again with tears. “Back when you asked me to move overseas with you… I didn’t want to give up my career. My family. Frank. So I said no.” She swallowed hard. “Now my career’s gone. Frank’s gone. Looking back… none of what I held onto was worth what I lost.”

Julian’s hands tightened on the wheel. Without warning, he signaled and pulled sharply to the curb. He undid his seatbelt, turning in his seat to face her fully. His voice was low, urgent, terrder. “Iris, if you mean that-if you’re willing-I can take you away. Right now. Tonight.”

Through her tears, Iris studied his face-handsome, earnest, those deep eyes full of a sincerity that made her chest hurt.

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Tears rolled freely down her cheeks now. She gave a broken little laugh and shook her head, wiping at her face with the back of her hand. “My hormones are all over the place lately. I just… I’m just venting. Don’t take me seriously.”

Julian reached over and took her hand, holding it firmly. His own eyes were red-rimmed. “I am serious. If there’s nothing left here for you, I’ll take you anywhere. Anywhere you want to go.”

“But your work… Lily… your whole life here. You can’t just walk away from all that.”

“Yes, I can,” he said without hesitation. “It’s called moving, not disappearing. I can build a life somewhere else-with you.”

Iris laughed weakly through her tears and gently pulled her hand back. “You make it sound so easy.”

Julian’s fingers curled slowly into his palm as he withdrew his hand. His voice softened. “Just think about it, okay? A fresh start. Somewhere far from all this.”

“Okay,” she whispered, turning again to stare out the window.

Julian watched her for a long moment before facing forward again. He started the engine and pulled back into traffic.

Iris’ thoughts were a tangled mess.

She’d worked so hard to build the life she had–climbing her way up, step by step. It hadn’t come easy. But again and again, family had pulled her back, held her down.

Everything she once thought mattered, everyone she thought she couldn’t leave… now it all felt dead to her. She was ready to let it go.

Her father was gone. Frank was gone.

Her mother had Selena. Ethan had Celeste. Julian had Lily–or did he?

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Chapter 268 A Fresh Start?

Finished

Her company was goire. She could sell her shares anytime. Maybe it really was time to leave.

Instead of heading home, Iris had Julian drop her at the research lab.

As she stepped out of the car, he came around to her side and took her hand once more. “Iris, I know you don’t have any reason to trust me anymore. But I’m going to ask anyway-give me another chance. Come away with me. Let me spend the rest of my life showing you that you’re the only one who matters to me. I’ll make sure you’re happy. Every single day.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, easing her hand from his. “What I said earlier… I was just upset. Please don’t read into it.” She looked down, avoiding his gaze. “Thanks for the ride. I should get inside.”

The disappointment in Julian’s eyes was plain, but he only nodded. “Alright. If you get tired, go home and rest. Call me if you need anything. Anything at all.”

Iris nodded, turned, and walked into the building.

Julian stood by his car, watching her slender figure disappear through the glass doors. She carried none of the usual softness of pregnancy-just weariness.

His gaze lingered, full of quiet concern, long after she was gone.

*****

The next day, around noon, Iris’ phone buzzed.

It was Zoe, her voice practically vibrating with excitement. “Iris, have you seen the news? Check the trending tab right now. Oh my god, who did Celeste piss off? She is getting dragged-and I mean dragged. This is unreal… Honestly? She had it coming.”

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His Belated ove for the Abandoned Ex-Wife

Chapter 261 Resignation and Farewell

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Iris was drafting her letter of resignation. She had no real interest in Celeste’s situation, so she asked offhandedly, “I haven’t kept up with the gossip. What’s the short version what happened to her?”

“She went viral-can you believe it? Because she hired a male escort, shorted him two hundred bucks, and he brought reporters to her door to get pald. It actually made the news.”

“Two hundred dollars? Seriously?” Iris found the whole thing hard to believe.

“Yeah!” Zoe burst out laughing. “Two hundred. The guy showed up with cameras and everything. Caused a huge scene. Absolutely insane.”

“It doesn’t make sense-burning someone like that over two hundred dollars? She’d end up hurting herself way more.” Iris wasn’t buying it.

“Exactly. That’s why I think she must’ve pissed off someone powerful. No escort goes public like that unless there’s something bigger going on.”

Iris fell quiet for a moment. She remembered two days earlier, when Celeste had shoved her and she’d almost lost her balance.

Julian had been furious. He’d dragged Celeste somewhere out of sight and confronted her-roughly, from what Iris could tell.

She’d thought that was the end of it.

But now it looked like Julian was just getting started.

Was he going to ruin Celeste’s reputation for good?

Zoe went on, “And it gets worse. After the story broké, people online dug up all sorts of dirt on Celeste. Turns out in college she was seeing some much older wealthy guy. And back in high school, she used to bully other girls. Just a bunch of messy stuff-all out in the open now.

“Iris, you still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Honestly, I see now you’ve got good instinets. You cut her off over what seemed like a small thing, but you were right all along.” Zoe sounded genuinely impressed. “I used to think you were overreacting, but now I get it”

“What goes around comes around,” Iris replied calmly. “Listen, Zoe, I’m in the middle of something-can I call you back a little later?”

“Sure, talk soon.” Zoe hung up.

Iris set her phone aside and finished her report.

ok the resignation letter to the office and handed it to Nolan.

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Chapter 261 Resignation and Farewel!

Finished

Nolan looked it over, his expression growing serious-surprised and uneasy. He really didn’t want her to leave. “Iris, why resign? You’re one of our most promising researchers. Is it the salary? Problems with a colleague? Or–

“It’s not that, Nolan,” Iris cut in gently. “It’s personal.”

“Can you tell me why? What’s going on?”

“I’m planning to move abroad.”

Nolan was taken aback. He tried hard to change her mind, making his case passionately.

Iris sat in his office and listened patiently for half an hour.

In the end, he couldn’t sway her, so he reluctantly approved it.

Her last day would be at the end of the month.

Iris wrapped up her handover tasks and began arranging her visa.

With her qualifications, she was a desirable candidate for skilled migration, so the process was straightforward and moved quickly.

She gave her landlord notice that she’d be moving out at month’s end.

She also got her passport and flight tickets sorted well in advance.

She kept it all to herself-not even Zoe knew. She planned to tell her best friend the day before leaving, to avoid any complications or difficult goodbyes.

Before leaving the country, though, she wanted to see Beatrice one more time.

After all, Beatrice had always been genuinely kind to her.

Figuring it might be their last visit, Iris didn’t overthink the family dynamics. She just went straight to their home.

May answered the door and was pleasantly surprised to see Iris standing there with a large gift box. She welcomed her inside warmly.

Beatrice came out to greet her, smiling affectionately as she took Iris’ hands. “Iris, dear! You came to see Grandma. You’ve made my day.”

“Grandma, I brought you some pastries from that bakery you like. I hope you enjoy them.”

Beatrice accepted the box happily. “Of course I will. Come in, sit down.”

Iris stepped into the living room.

Frederick was seated on the sofa, scrolling through his phone. No one else was around.

He glanced up at Iris, his expression cool and measured, giving nothing away.

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Chapter 264 Resignation and Farewell

Its nodded politely but didn’t speak to him. She followed Beatrice into her room.

Once they were seated, Beatrice held her hand and asked how she’d been.

Iris reminded her to take good care of herself and to stay happy.

Finished

Both being perceptive and well-spoken, Beatrice gradually picked up on something unusual in Iris’ tone. “Iris, you seem different today. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Iris offered a faint smile and shook her head. “No, I just really missed you, so I wanted to visit.”

Beatrice studied her closely, her wise eyes narrowing slightly, “You’ve told me to take care of myself three times now.”

Iris felt a pang of guilt and glanced away briefly, trying to mask it with a soft smile.

After a quiet moment, Beatrice asked carefully, “Are you leaving again? Like last time-going away on your own for half a year or more?”

Iris gave a small, resigned smile and shook her head again.

Beatrice let out a long, weary sigh. “Iris, do you have any idea how much it hurt Julian when you filed for divorce? Do you know how much he suffered?”

Iris lowered her head, her chest tightening.

She’d finally made her decision to leave. She didn’t want to know-not really.

“One of his close friends told me he drank himself into the hospital twice-stomach bleeding-because of you.” Beatrice’s face was shadowed with sorrow. She added quietly, painfully, “He was trying to numb the hurt, but at the same time, he fought to pull himself together-to do whatever he could to win you back. Did none of that reach you?”

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Chapter 262 Lily’s Act

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Iris offered a bitter smile and let out a soft sigh. “When I realized he’d liked me since high school, I was really moved. I could tell how much he cared about me.”

“Then why not give him another chance?”

“I’ve been married before-I know marriage isn’t just about two people. It’s about two families. If both sides’ parents aren’t on board, it won’t last. And between Julian and me, there was also his basically arranged fiancée, Lily.”

Beatrice fell quiet for a moment, looking both troubled and helpless. She took Iris’ hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Iris, our family put you through so much. I’m really sorry.”

Iris forced a stiff smile. “It’s in the past now. I’ve moved on.”

Out in the living room, Lily had just returned from her doctor’s appointment the night before, wheeled in by Harold and Irene.

When Frederick mentioned Iris was in the bedroom with Beatrice, their expressions shifted immediately, turning tense and guarded.

Lily pulled out her phone and dialed Julian.

“Julian, can you come to Rosehill Estate now?”

His voice was cool on the other end. “I’m tied up. Can’t make it.”

“You haven’t been back in ages. I had my checkup today. The doctor said I need to keep up with physical therapy so my leg improves-and that family support helps with recovery. Don’t you want me to get better sooner?”

Julian replied flatly, “Then stick with your exercises, keep a positive attitude, and take your meds on time.”

“You’re the best medicine for me,” Lily said.

He sounded annoyed. “I’m really busy. If that’s all, I’ve got to go.”

Lily rushed out, “Iris is here visiting Grandma. They’ve been shut in the bedroom for a while now-no idea what they’re talking about.”

“Iris is with Grandma?”

“Yeah. Call her yourself if you don’t believe me.”

“Got it.” Julian hung up without another word.

He immediately called his grandmother. Once she confirmed Iris was there, he dropped everything at work and drove straight to Rosehill Estate.

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Chapter 262 tily’s Act

Juhan stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut.

Finished

Near the front walkway, Kily sat alofre in her wheelchair, gripping a pair of crutches as she tried slowly to stand. She was determined to practice walking on her own.

Struggling upward, she clenched her jaw, face tight with effort and discomfort.

As Julian passed by, he glanced around. “Where’s your aide? Where are your parents? Why are you out here exercising alone?”

Holding the crutches tightly, Lily mustered a bright smile. “I can manage, Julian. I’ll be standing on my own soon. I’ll walk again.”

Just as she took one shaky step, Julian turned toward the house. “Let me get your aide for you.”

Before he finished speaking, there was a heavy thud. Lily had collapsed onto the ground, crying out in pain.

Julian turned back. A patch of blood was already spreading beneath Lily’s face.

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He hurried over, lifted her from the pavement, and settled her back into the wheelchair.

Getting a clearer look, he saw she’d split her forehead open. Blood streamed down her face.

Julian took a deep breath, holding back his frustration. Kneeling on one knee, he pulled a tissue from his pocket and began dabbing the blood from her skin. “Lily, do you really think I care this much? Is that why you keep hurting yourself to get to me?”

Lily looked up pitifully, eyes brimming with tears. “I don’t know what you mean. I was just exercising-my legs gave out and I fell.”

His gaze was steady, voice calm. “We’ve known each other over twenty years. You know me, and I know you.”

He continued, “Back when Iris came to the office to sign the contract with me, you tried to sabotage the deal. You stepped on that nail at the construction site on purpose and played unconscious at the hospital.”

Lily bit her lip and stayed silent.

r

Julian went on, “I don’t know how much you pushed my father, how many pressure tactics you both used to force Iris into divorcing me.

“You kept coming up with new schemes. And when nothing worked on me, you threatened to jump off a building to get your way-thinking you’d won.

“Today, Iris came to see Grandma. You made sure to tell me, hoping I’d rush back. Then you staged another scene right in front of me-another self-harm stunt. You were willing to cut your forehead open and bleed all over just to make me feel guilty. Do you honestly think it works?”

He said it all evenly, without raising his voice.

Lily began to panic. Through tears, she asked. “Isn’t it true, though? You don’t want me to die. You’re afraid when I get hurt. You clearly care about me.”

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Chapter 262 tily’s Act

**Finished

Blood kept welling from the gash on Lily’s forehead. Julian tossed the bloodied tissue and pressed a fresh one firmly against the wound. “Lily, if you died–and if your parents could move on and had other children to care for them-I wouldn’t look back twice. I was never worried about you. I was worried about your parents. They’ve always treated me like their own. They’re the ones I feel for.”

“What about all our history?” Lily asked,oice trembling.

Julian cut her off. “Whatever friendship we had left? You used it up a long time ago.”

Just then, Beatrice and Iris walked outside and took in the scene. Beatrice called out sharply, “Julian!”

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His BelatedLove for the Abandoned Ex-Wife

Chapter 263 Dinner and Suspicion

Finished

Julian glanced up, his gaze sculing on Iris: When their eyes met, his chest tightened almost imperceptibly.

He took Lily’s wrist and guided her hand to press the tissue against her forehead. “Keep it there,” he said quietly.

Letting go, he pulled a disinfectant wipe from his pocket and started toward Iris, cleaning the blood from his finger

alked.

“H

e long?” he asked, his tone gentle.

composed. “A while, yeah.”

ad back?”

ay.”

ive you.”

She agreed so easily that both

In the past, Iris would have reluctance.

Just then, Lily’s ha

fainted. The blo

Iris noticed