《leaving you bereft》 Altar 1 After four years of marriage, before the seven-year itch could even kick in, Julian Ziegler already had a mistress. At the gate of an upscale vi in Brindlewood, Willow Harper sat quietly in the backseat of an expensive car, watching her husband sneak around with another woman. The woman was young. Dressed in a white dress, she looked innocent and enchanting. They held hands like lovers, and Julian wore a tenderness Willow had never seen. The woman tilted her head up and yfully pouted at Julian. ¡°My feet hurt. Carry me, Julian!¡± Willow thought Julian would refuse. After all, he was known for being a cold, unapproachable man with a short temper. No matter how much he indulged his lover, he¡¯d never tolerate that kind of fuss. But the next moment, Willow was pped in the face. Julian gently rubbed the woman¡¯s delicate nose, looking both aloof and tender. Then, he picked her up effortlessly, cradling her in his arms as though she were the rarest of treasures. The woman¡¯s soft hands instinctively slid around the back of his neck. Her fingers lightly traced his hair. There was a cherry angioma on Julian¡¯s neck, which looked seductive and felt sensitive to the touch. Willow had once identally brushed against it in bed, and Julian had turned wild. He pinned her arms down and thrust into her, hard. Sure enough, Julian couldn¡¯t control himself. He pushed the woman against a pir in the gazebo with an intense gaze. Willow shut her eyes, unwilling to watch any longer. She had never seen Julian like this¡ªso wild with passion. So, what did that make her? Before they married, Julian had actively pursued her, saying, ¡°Willow, you¡¯re the perfect partner for me in this world of power and prestige.¡± That one sentence made Willow abandon her love for art. She threw herself into marrying Julian and plunged headfirst into the world of business, like a moth to the me, consumed by passionate love. In four years, Julian had seized control of the Ziegler family. Since then, Willow had be a dispensable pawn. He found her too proper andcking in femininity, so he kept a mistress on the side. Willow med herself for being so naive. She was such a joke. ¡­ When she opened her eyes again, she felt nothing but indifference. Love was gone, so now it was about the money. The vi where Julian met his lover was their joint marital property. Willow didn¡¯t want to let this shameless couple have it. She quietly asked her secretary, Annie Hudson, in the front seat, ¡°Has Julian been with her for the past three months?¡± Annie answered immediately, ¡°The woman¡¯s name is Catherine Burke. She¡¯s Mr. Ziegler¡¯s childhood sweetheart, though not very bright. Three months ago, Mr. Ziegler pushed through objections and arranged for her to join hispany, keeping her well protected.¡± She handed a stack of documents to Willow. Willow skimmed through them. She felt like she could make way for Catherine. As long as Julian was willing to split the joint property, she¡¯d take her share and leave, with no second thoughts. Outside, the autumn leaves were golden. The setting sun cast a golden glow. It looked dazzling and bright. Willow steadied her emotions and dialed Julian¡¯s number. He was probably still having fun with Catherine, as the phone rang several times before he picked up. His tone was cold and aloof when he answered. ¡°What is it?¡± Willow lowered her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s my birthday today. Are youing home for dinner?¡± There was a long silence on the other end. Julian didn¡¯t want toe home. Of course, he could make up any excuse to avoid it¡ªanother engagement he couldn¡¯t miss. But Willow could clearly hear Catherine¡¯s voice on the other end. She was calling him, ¡°Are you done yet, Julian? Don¡¯t talk to her.¡± Julian hesitated. After a moment, he awkwardly replied, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± The sound of the phone disconnecting followed. This was typical Julian¡ªalways decisive and never dragging things out. Annie shouted angrily, ¡°Mr. Ziegler¡¯s too much! He actually forgot!¡± But Willow didn¡¯t mind. Oh, it really was a shame that Julian¡¯s sweet time with Catherine was interrupted by her! But what could they do about it, anyway? Willow was the legal wife, after all. If she was upset, then she¡¯d make sure to rain hell on Julian and Catherine¡¯s parade as well. Willow smiled faintly. ¡°He hasn¡¯t forgotten. He just doesn¡¯t care. Annie, call and have the electricity, water, and gas shut off at that vi. He¡¯lle home then.¡± Annie couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You¡¯re really smart, Ms. Harper.¡± Willow didn¡¯t respond. She turned her face toward the window and stared at the outside world. The setting sun painted the sky in gold, and the evening clouds gathered in a tranquil embrace. She clearly remembered that on an evening just like this, with the sky painted in crimson, she had asked Julian if their marriage contract was for life and if they would never betray each other. Julian had said yes, that Willow was the most important person to him. But now, he made her feel like money was all that mattered. A single tear slipped down Willow¡¯s cheek¡­ ¡­ Willow returned to Grandview Manor. Half an hourter, Annie brought in the divorce papers. Willow was asking for half of the joint assets. After a bath, she was already dressed, but something made her turn back to the mirror. She slipped off her bathrobe and examined her figure under the bright crystal lights. Her body, worn from years of hard work, was naturally not plump. Thankfully, her smooth skin made her give off an air of cool elegance. But it was clear that she wasn¡¯t alluring enough for Julian. Otherwise, why would he be looking elsewhere? Suddenly, Willow thought of Catherine and even imagined Julian in bed with her. How intense it must have been. It must be far more passionate than when he was with her. She frowned slightly, feeling embarrassed by herparison. Just then, the closet door creaked open. Julian was back. He stood at the door of the closet. His tall, lean figure was wrapped in a luxury ck shirt and pants. His chiseled features glowed under the bright lights, exuding the charm of a mature man. Willow couldn¡¯t help but think that even without his vast fortune, his looks alone would make countless women eager to have a fling with him. She had slept with him for four years. To some extent, her marriage wasn¡¯t that bad. The couple exchanged a nce and said nothing. Julian walked slowly into the closet and stooped behind Willow as they both looked at their reflections in the mirror. Willow had already gathered her clothes, and her hair was neatly tied up. Even her post-bath look radiated a strong, capable woman. Julian clearly remembered that on their wedding night, Willow was still somewhat fragile. She trembled with fear at the sight of his body. But that night, nothing had happened. Two weekster, after a business mishap, Willow had curled up in his arms, whispering his name. He had hugged her tightly. That night, they had truly be husband and wife. Their sex life had been sparse. At home, Willow was the dignified Mrs. Ziegler; at Neb Group, she was a powerful executive. She always wore an unapproachable mask, cold as ice. Even in bed, Julian would say Willow had never truly let go and enjoyed it. After some time, he found it boring. Julian leaned in and teased, ¡°You had the electricity and water shut off at the vi, didn¡¯t you? You¡¯re upset because I¡¯m taking care of a respected elder¡¯s daughter?¡± Willow stared at him in the mirror. Julian knew it was her ovtion period. He gently caressed her earlobe, his voice low as he murmured, ¡°Was it for your birthday or your physiological needs? Mrs. Ziegler, you¡¯re just 26 and already so sexually demanding, huh?¡± His words were crude, but Willow knew what he was after. He wanted a child. Julian¡¯s grandfather, Dominic Ziegler, still held 10% of Neb Group¡¯s shares. Julian needed an heir to gain more leverage. But what Julian didn¡¯t know was that having a child would be difficult. During that ident, when Willow had pushed Julian away, she¡¯d been violently kicked in the abdomen. This reduced her chances of pregnancy. Willow gently closed her eyes to hide the pain. But Julian seemed unusually eager. He easily picked her up, carried her to therge, soft bed in the master bedroom, and quickly pinned her down. But Willow wasn¡¯t willing. She pressed her hand against his chest, her hair partially undone and spilling across the white pillow. Her bathrobe was slightly loosened. ¡°Julian!¡± Julian, however, couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her face. His gaze was feverish as he leaned down to kiss her. His body was already poised and ready. Altar 2 Author: Light Breeze Willow clenched the bedsheet. Her fingertips left behind a mess of wrinkles. Even at a time like this, she found herself wondering if Catherine didn¡¯t satisfy Julian. Otherwise, why would he bother wasting time kissing her tonight instead of going straight to the point? Willow felt nothing other than disgust. So, she simplyy there like a nk, letting him do whatever he wanted. No matter how hard he tried, he wasn¡¯t getting a child out of her anyway. At first, Julian was aroused by the seductive Willow in her loosened bathrobe. But now, she justy there like a lifeless nk on the sheets. Even the most eager man would find it uninspiring. What a mood killer. Sweat clung to the tips of Julian¡¯s hair. With a flushed face, he asked in a husky voice, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Not in the mood anymore?¡± They didn¡¯t sleep together often, but it still happened a few times a month. Those were his attempts to nt an heir in her womb. Willowy on the white pillow, staring up at the man she had been with for four long years. She was exhausted. For once, she wanted to live for herself. But Julian didn¡¯t know that. He kept questioning why she refused to be intimate with him and why she wouldn¡¯t cooperate in giving him a legitimate heir to help him secure more power. Willow reached out, gently tracing her fingers along his face. In a soft voice, she said, ¡°Julian, let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± His expression darkened, but he forced himself to stay calm. ¡°Is this because of Catherine? I¡¯ve already told you. She¡¯s just a respected elder¡¯s daughter. You don¡¯t want her staying there, so I¡¯ve already arranged for her to move elsewhere.¡± Willow let out a sneer. A respected elder¡¯s daughter who needed to be kept in a private vi? Who had to be held so intimately when they walked together? Willow didn¡¯t even bother arguing. It was beneath her. Instead, she pulled open the nightstand drawer and took out a divorce agreement. Shoving it into his hands, she said in a light tone, ¡°I want half of Neb Group¡¯s shares in addition to the bank savings and real estate.¡± Julian frowned. ¡°Half of Neb Group¡¯s shares? That¡¯s a bit greedy, don¡¯t you think, Mrs. Ziegler?¡± There was sarcasm in his voice, the same sharpness he used in business negotiations. Willow¡¯s heart turned to ice. Julian would never know that by taking that hit for him, she had lost her chance to ever be a mother. But she wasn¡¯t about to mention it. It would only sound pathetic. She had never regretted loving or hating him. She had given everything freely, and now she was ready to walk away just as easily. Willow leaned against the headboard. Her fair face looked gentle. She considered things from Julian¡¯s perspective. ¡°If we get divorced, you can finally give your beloved a legitimate title. And I will take my shares and leave. That¡¯s a happy ending for everyone.¡± She lookedpletely serious. That was when Julian finally realized that this wasn¡¯t just a spur-of-the-moment tantrum. She had nned this. As he looked at her, his dark eyes deepened, as if he could devour her whole. For a long time, he said nothing. Then his voice dropped to an icy edge. ¡°Forget it, Willow. That¡¯s never happening. We¡¯re business partners. You know that as well as I do.¡± Oh, she knew. But now? She didn¡¯t want to y along anymore. When she didn¡¯t respond, Julian grew irritated. He got up, threw on a robe, and headed for the guest room. He felt that Willow just needed time to cool down. By morning, she would likely find herself enjoying the feeling of being Mrs. Ziegler again, along with the thrill of being second inmand at Neb Group. Julian sneered inwardly. Willow had always been like that. Behind him, Willow¡¯s voice came softly, almost a whisper. It sounded almost like the timid Willow from four years ago. ¡°Let¡¯s part on good terms, Julian. I really don¡¯t want to be with you anymore.¡± Julian¡¯s body stiffened. After a long pause, he walked back to the bed and spoke softly, ¡°You knew, from the moment you married me, that there is no love in the Ziegler family. I won¡¯t love you. And you¡¯d better not expect it either. It won¡¯t make your life any easier.¡± With a flick of his wrist, the divorce papers scattered to the floor like falling snow. ¡­ At 8:00 am, Julian walked down the stairs, dressed in a perfectly tailored ck-and-white suit. Every inch of fabric hugged his lean, powerful frame. He exuded effortless elegance. His mood had been fine. That was, until he walked into the empty dining room. Lifting his coffee cup, he asked the maid casually, ¡°Where¡¯s Willow?¡± They had argued loudlyst night, the noise echoing through the house. Even the maids knew about it. The maid replied cautiously, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler left for work early this morning.¡± Julian mmed his coffee cup down with a heavy thud. He suddenly lost his appetite. 30 minutester, he arrived at Neb Group in his car. His secretary, Esther Barker, was already waiting at the parking lot. The ck Bentley came to a stop. Esther opened the car door and immediately briefed Julian on the day¡¯s meetings. As Julian walked, he buttoned up his suit jacket. His every move exuded masculine charm, causing several female employees to sneak nces. The two of them stepped into the private elevator. Esther paused, then lowered her voice. ¡°Ms. Harper has suddenly ced her people in Project Aurelia.¡± Julian nced at the glowing red numbers on the panel. After a while, he chuckled. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s growing bolder.¡± ¡­ During the meeting, Julian and Willow shed in a heated debate. They were married, and Willow¡¯s business tactics were ones Julian had personally taught her. Watching them sh now was truly something to behold. The executives at Neb Group were getting their money¡¯s worth in entertainment. By the time the meeting ended, the sun was already setting. Back in her office, Willow copsed onto the leather couch, rubbing her temples. A dull headache throbbed at her skull, making her feel drained. She let down her long hair, letting it fall in loose waves. Annie set a ss of water on the table and whispered, ¡°Mr. Ziegler¡¯s personal attorney called. He¡¯d like to meet you downstairs in the caf¨¦. Do you want to go?¡± Willow raised an eyebrow. ¡°Jeffrey Gibson?¡± Jeffrey Gibson was one of the topwyers in the country. His firm, Gibson Legal Group, was an industry leader. More importantly, he was Julian¡¯s hidden hand. If Julian had something inconvenient to handle, Jeffrey handled it for him. They were more than business associates. Their interests were deeply intertwined. Julian could divorce Willow, but he would never burn bridges with Jeffrey. Sending him meant one thing¡ªJulian didn¡¯t want the divorce to be public knowledge. After a moment¡¯s thought, Willow agreed. ¡­ Ten minutester, she took the private elevator down to the caf¨¦ on the first floor. Jeffrey sat by the window, dressed in a tailored three-piece suit that highlighted his tall, broad frame. His features were sharp, with a habitual expression of sternness. Upon hearing Willow¡¯s footsteps, he looked up at her. In his typically unreadable eyes, a flicker of surprise showed. This wasn¡¯t the Willow he remembered. In Jeffrey¡¯s memory, she was always impably dressed in expensive suits, standing by Julian¡¯s side with wlessposure as they navigated the cutthroat business world. But everyone in their circle knew that Julian didn¡¯t love Willow. His heart belonged to someone else. But Willow looked different today. She had changed into afortable, lightweight knit sweater that clung just slightly to her frame. Her sleek hair, with a subtle curl, fell loosely over her shoulders, looking soft. Just as Jeffrey was mesmerized by her beauty, she sat across from him and asked coldly, ¡°Julian sent you?¡± Jeffrey regained his usual calmposure. He took a document from his briefcase and gently pushed it toward Willow. ¡°Mrs. Ziegler, ording to this prenup, if you insist on divorcing, you won¡¯t get much out of it.¡± Willow flipped through the pages. When she flipped to thest page, she paused for a moment. A flicker of surprise crossed her face. Four years ago, Julian had kept a trump card hidden. Willow stared at the document for a long time before finally saying, ¡°Even if I get nothing, I still want a divorce. And Jeffrey, don¡¯t call me Mrs. Ziegler anymore. Just call me Willow.¡± After dealing with so many celebrity divorce cases, Jeffrey had bepletely detached. He picked up his cup and took a sip of his coffee. ¡°Why now? I thought you loved Julian. Affairs happen all the time in our world.¡± Willow turned away,ughing bitterly. Everyone knew she loved Julian, but Julian himself. Or maybe he knew. He just didn¡¯t care. At that moment, Willow exuded a fragile kind of beauty. One that, in Jeffrey¡¯s eyes, was more likely to make a man want to possess her than even Catherine. As he was contemting this, the caf¨¦ door swung open, and a tall figure walked toward them. It was none other than Julian. As soon as he entered, he saw Jeffrey staring intently at Willow like he was lost in thought. Suddenly, Julian felt a difort rise in his chest. Altar 3 Julian gave Jeffrey a slight nod. Jeffrey smiled faintly and left, giving the couple, who were on different wavelengths, some space. After Jeffrey left, Julian nced at Willow and frowned. ¡°Why are you dressed like that? Go change. We¡¯re having dinner at the Ziegler residenceter.¡± Willow understood perfectly. When Julian mentioned ¡°dinner¡±, it was code for showing off their fake affection for Dominic¡¯s stake in thepany. At times, Willow couldn¡¯t help but feel that Julian was a contradiction. He presented himself as polished and serene, but beneath the surface, he was more driven by ambition and wealth than anyone. He was perfectly suited for the world of power and status. Willow was willing to go along with it. Before they separated their assets, she would prioritize their interests. She returned to her office to change into a suit and met Julian in the private elevator. The elevator was empty except for the two of them. Julian nced at his watch and said casually, ¡°I think you¡¯ve probably dropped the idea of divorce after talking to Jeffrey. You¡¯re still in your fertile window. Get ready when we get home. If you¡¯re not into it, I¡¯ll make it quick.¡± Willow gave a self-deprecating smile. Julian was as indifferent as ever when it came to discussing having children. And she had endured such a marriage for four years. She was even colder. ¡°Same as before. I¡¯ll take half the assets and let you go free.¡± Julian didn¡¯t like that response. He was about to snap when the elevator suddenly stopped. The doors slid open. Standing outside was a youngdy in a white dress. She looked pure and innocent. It was Catherine. She stepped into the elevator and looked at Willow with a cautious plea. ¡°The employee elevator¡¯s broken. Can I borrow this one, Ms. Harper?¡± There were three people in the elevator, yet it felt crowded. Willow held the open button, saying nothing, but her message was clear. Catherine was mortified. Her beautiful face flushed red. Biting her lip, she looked at Julian, silently asking him to step in and support her. Julian, however, spoke gently. ¡°Do as Ms. Harper says.¡± Catherine reluctantly stepped out of the elevator. The whole scene disgusted Willow. She didn¡¯t say a word even until she got into the car in the parking lot. Julian, however, casually spoke as he fastened his seatbelt, ¡°There¡¯s nothing between us. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± Willow turned and quietly watched him. ¡°Feeling sorry for her? Julian, maybe you should go get checked at a hospital.¡± Julian misunderstood. He thought she was talking about their fertility. He answered naturally, ¡°I can have children.¡± Willow sneered. ¡°I meant¡­ You should get checked for STDs.¡± That set him off. He unbuckled his seatbelt, yanked her over, and pulled her onto hisp. Luckily, the Bentley¡¯s front seat was spacious enough for him to move freely. Willow¡¯s body hit the steering wheel with a painful thud. She pushed him away with all her strength. ¡°Are you out of your mind, Julian?¡± Julian, who seemed so refined, now had his head buried between her legs, doing all sorts of unmentionable things. In her frustration, Willow grabbed his hair and yanked so hard she almost pulled it out. Finally, Julian stopped. He looked up at her. His face was bathed in the dim light of the underground parking lot. His longshes cast shadows over his sharp features. At that moment, his expression was almost tender and filled with pity. Willow was taken aback. But before she could react, Julian grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her violently. He bit down hard on her tongue, drawing blood. Her blood mixed with their saliva. Willow froze, staring at him in disbelief. Her disdain in her eyes was so obvious. Julian, still holding her lips, whispered, ¡°Am I clean, Mrs. Ziegler?¡± His voice sounded breathless, showing great restraint. Willow shoved him away. She sat back in the passenger seat, trembling as she straightened her suit. Yet her chest still heaved from Julian¡¯s intense passion. This unfamiliar surge of emotions scared her, but she tried to appear calm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll have Annie arrange a checkup.¡± Julian was aroused, but his desire waned when he saw her indifferent expression. He buckled his seatbelt and stepped on the gas. During the drive, Julian¡¯s phone rang several times. Willow guessed it was Catherine calling, but she had already decided on the divorce and didn¡¯t bother asking. Julian nced at Willow, his gaze lingering for a moment. ¡­ Half an hourter, the ck Bentley pulled up to a grand mansion. The car stopped. Julian nced at his phone and said casually, ¡°Work stuff.¡± Willow didn¡¯t respond. Annoyed, Julian was about to say something when the Ziegler residence¡¯s maid opened the car door with a warm smile. ¡°Everyone¡¯s waiting for you, Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler. Pleasee in and join us.¡± Julian nodded graciously. He even took Willow¡¯s hand, ying up the loving husband act. Willow found it all so fake. They entered the dining room and joined the family for dinner. Dominic had two sons, the eldest Tyler Ziegler, and the second Liam Ziegler. Julian was Liam¡¯s son. Arge round table was filled with people, and it was clear Dominic had heard about Catherine. He gave Julian a few sharp words and then tried to talk to Willow aboutpromise and letting things slide. It was all code for wanting a grandson. Julian nced at Willow and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll work hard with Willow tonight.¡± Dominic¡¯s face grew stern. ¡°Didn¡¯t you do anything for the past four years?¡± Julian deflected thement with a few words. Willow, meanwhile, kept eating, her expression nk. No one knew she could hardly have children anymore. It was all because of Julian. Just then, Julian¡¯s phone rang. He nced at it and walked out to the front yard to answer. It was clearly a private call. A serving of fish was ced in Willow¡¯s bowl. Dominic spoke with a meaningful tone, ¡°Men are like cats. Sometimes they stray, but eventually, theye home.¡± Willow responded in her usual tone, ¡°I guess that day will be when he¡¯s under the ground.¡± The maids stifled a giggle. Willow, in a bad mood, left early and went to the backyard to clear her head. By the swimming pool, the moonlight was cold. A tall figure stepped into the light, someone who resembled Julian in many ways. It was Julian¡¯s cousin, Dexter Ziegler. Dexter hated Willow. He med her for Julian¡¯s rise, and with Julian now having an affair, Dexter was ready to make things worse. He handed Willow a stack of photos, all showing Julian and Catherine inpromising positions. Dexter smirked as he asked, ¡°Do you know who this woman is? Her father is Charlie Burke, a famous artist with influence in the industry. ¡°Her mother, Nancy Rogers, is Julian¡¯s mother¡¯s best friend. What chance do you have topete with her? Be careful, or Julian will leave you with nothing. It¡¯s not toote to work with me now.¡± Willow nced at the photos and tossed them in the trash. She looked up at Dexter, meeting the gaze of this ruthless figure she had shed with countless times. With a calm demeanor, she said, ¡°Thank you for your advice, but unfortunately, I won¡¯t be needing it.¡± Dexter sneered. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for the day Julian dumps you.¡± Willow smiled faintly. She didn¡¯t care because she had no intention of holding onto Julian anymore. Her dance with him was all just a waiting game. Once she got the money and the shares, Julian would be a thing of the past¡ªjust another fleeting memory of love and hate. Willow turned to head back inside. But as she lifted her gaze, she saw Julian. He stood quietly in the hallway, a picture of elegance. The lighting highlighted his refined features, making him even more striking. It was this perfect appearance that had once captivated Willow. His gaze was dark, even deeper than the night. He had seen her talking to Dexter, and that same difort rose inside him again, much like the feeling he had when he saw Jeffrey staring at Willow in the caf¨¦. Altar 4 Author: Light Breeze It was 9:00 pm when they left the Ziegler residence. As Julian fastened his seatbelt, he asked casually, ¡°What were you and Dexter talking about? You two seemed to be having a good time.¡± Willow replied softly, ¡°Oh, just chatting about your childhood sweetheart.¡± Julian was rendered speechless. After a brief silence, he reached over and lightly sped Willow¡¯s hand. His voice carried a rare hint of gentleness as he said, ¡°I never slept with her.¡± Willow leaned back against the seat, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She knew very well that Julian¡¯s tenderness was only because she was in her fertile window. He just wanted to nt his seed in her womb. It had nothing to do with love and even less to do with her. She wondered if Julian would still try to hold on to this marriage if he found out she couldn¡¯t have children anymore. Or would he rush to sign the divorce papers and start searching for the next woman fit to be his wife? He was putting in the effort tonight. He leaned in, his touch teasing, trying to stir her emotions. Willow just felt pathetic. Julian didn¡¯t love her. To him, she was a business asset and a vessel to bear his children. He didn¡¯t enjoy being intimate with her, yet every month, he came to her solely for the purpose of conceiving a child. How was that any different from an animal¡¯s instinctual mating? She turned her face away from his approaching lips. Her voice was barely above a whisper, tinged with quiet sorrow as she said, ¡°I meant what I said about the divorce, Julian. If you think I¡¯m asking for too much, we can renegotiate.¡± Under the dim light of the car, Julian studied her face like he was trying to see through her skin and into her soul. After a long silence, his voice turned cold. ¡°I already told you. Divorce is not an option. Once we have a child, you won¡¯t have time for all these wild ideas.¡± Willow closed her eyes, exhaling softly. ¡°What if I can¡¯t have kids?¡± He frowned, brushing off the thought. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. We both did full medical exams before we got married. Everything was fine.¡± Willow let out a bitterugh. The health report from four years ago was long obsolete. Just like the vows Julian had made when he proposed. They had vanished along with his conscience, lost in the warmth of Catherine¡¯s embrace. ¡­ By the time they returned to Grandview Manor, it was nearly 10:00 pm. Julian took a shower in the guest room. He had nned to convince Willow to sleep with him tonight, but a phone call interrupted his ns. He left in a hurry. Willow figured he was going to see Catherine. She didn¡¯t care. At least for tonight, she didn¡¯t have to deal with him. Julian didn¡¯te home that night. The lights in Grandview Manor burned until dawn, but the man of the house never returned. For the next week, he didn¡¯te home at all. Julian hadn¡¯t made any moves to proceed with the divorce either. What was Willow doing during those cold autumn nights? Most nights, she stood by her bedroom¡¯s floor-to-ceiling window, watching the sycamore leaves outside turn yellow. She wondered if she would have been happier if she had never given up painting, never married so young, and never stepped into the business world. She hadn¡¯t made a single call to Julian. A man who chose to spend his nights elsewhere might as well be dead to her. ¡­ The next time they saw each other, it was at a business function at Veil Club¡ªBrindley¡¯s most exclusive business lounge. The moment Willow walked into the private room, she saw Catherine snuggled up next to Julian. She looked every bit the devoted little darling. When Catherine noticed Willow¡¯s arrival, she simply lowered her head and started ying on her phone, as if Willow wasn¡¯t even worth acknowledging. Annie bristled with anger, ready tosh out. But Willow stopped her. ¡°She¡¯s Mr. Ziegler¡¯s favorite now. Let her enjoy it while itsts.¡± There was no seat for her beside Julian. Naturally, she wasn¡¯t about to sit on the clients¡¯ side, so she excused herself for a trip to the restroom, giving Julian plenty of time to deal with Catherine. The restroom was bathed in dazzling crystal light. As Willow washed her hands, the sharp sound of approaching heels echoed behind her. Willow lifted her gaze and saw Catherine in the mirror. Catherine stepped beside Willow. Her usual deference was reced with a sharp-edged provocation. ¡°I¡¯ve moved back into the vi. Julian said I can stay as long as I want.¡± Willow shut off the faucet. She stared at that youthful face in the mirror. Catherine¡¯s face was so innocent and plump. It was nothing like her own, which carried the faint weariness of years spent in the business world. Youth was a wonderful thing. And yet, Willow suddenly remembered that she was only 26. She lowered her head and slowly twisted the six-carat wedding ring on her finger before speaking calmly, ¡°Ms. Burke, if I were you, I¡¯d stick to being Julian¡¯s well-kept canary. Stay quiet, keep him entertained, and ask for money. ¡°I certainly wouldn¡¯t go around broadcasting what happens in the bedroom. And honestly, why are you even here? This isn¡¯t the kind of ce for you.¡± Catherine smirked. ¡°Julian will protect me. He won¡¯t let me drink.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Willow smiled faintly. ¡°You seem to misunderstand something, Ms. Burke. In Julian¡¯s world, moneyes first. He keeps business and women separate. In a moment, he won¡¯t just ask you to drink. If it benefits him, he might as well hand you poison.¡± Catherine paled. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± Willow¡¯s smile faded. After Catherine left, Willow stared at her reflection in the mirror, lost in thought. The bravado she¡¯d put on earlier feltughable, even to herself. She knew that if she yed her cards right, she could always remain Mrs. Ziegler. But that wasn¡¯t the kind of life or marriage she wanted. She was tired. Tired enough to flip the damn table. By the time Willow returned to the private room, the seat beside Julian had already been cleared. She slipped into it naturally, picking up their old performance of a loving couple. Catherine sat far away, looking pitiful. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. Julian frowned. ¡°Did you really have to be so hard on her?¡± Willow didn¡¯t answer. He had no idea that every word he spoke in Catherine¡¯s defense felt like a de slicing into her. He felt bad for Catherine, but what about her? What about all the years she had spent at his side, fighting battles with him? What did that count for? She was bleeding inside, but her expression remained calm. With a polite smile, she suggested Catherine have a drink with one of the clients. The man was clearly interested in her innocent charm. Catherine, knowing she had Julian¡¯s favor, kept making excuses. Under the crystal chandelier, Julian¡¯s handsome face darkened. The storm brewing in his eyes was undeniable. Of course, he knew Willow was doing this on purpose. Julian swirled his ss. His eyes were on Willow, but his words were meant for Catherine. ¡°Project Aurelia is a multi-billion-dor coboration. No matter what, Ms. Burke, you should at least show Mr. Smith some courtesy.¡± Catherine didn¡¯t dare refuse anymore. Her lips trembled as she muttered, ¡°Okay.¡± As she reluctantly raised her ss, Willow sat beside Julian, watching the scene unfold. Julian put on a poker face, while Willow couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was ying the wicked woman who had buried his grand love. They married at a young age and had been through a lot together. But at this moment, they had forgotten that entirely. ¡­ Late at night, in the underground parking lot, Annie held Willow steady and opened the car door. ¡°Careful, Ms. Harper. You drank a little too much tonight.¡± Willow rubbed her temple and murmured, ¡°I was in a bad mood.¡± Annie understood. Julian had crossed the line tonight. Project Aurelia had been Willow¡¯s from the very beginning. She had built it from the ground up, secured every resource, every connection. And yet Julian had brought Catherine here tonight, right under her nose. No wonder Willow was pissed. At least Catherine had ended up in the hospital. That was satisfying. Just as Willow was about to get into the car, a strong hand grabbed her wrist. Before she could react, she was shoved against the cold, sleek surface of a ck SUV with a loud thud. The car¡¯s imposing presence only made her seem more fragile and alone. It took Willow a moment to steady herself from the pain. Then, she lifted her gaze to Julian¡¯s stormy expression and spoke softly, ¡°Give us a moment, Annie.¡± Annie hesitated, but one look at Julian¡¯s expression made her swallow any protest. She only dared to whisper, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± Willow¡¯s eyes reddened slightly. The moment Annie left, Julian snapped. He grabbed Willow¡¯s chin and demanded, ¡°Why did you have to be so hard on her? She¡¯s in the hospital right now, getting her stomach pumped. Willow, I told you. She¡¯s just a respected elder¡¯s daughter. I was only looking out for¡ª¡± The sharp crack of a p cut him off. Willow¡¯s palm stung, and her whole body trembled uncontrobly. Looking at Julian, she smiled bitterly. ¡°Does looking out for her require you to bring her into the bed? Julian, are youpletely shameless, or do you really think I¡¯m that stupid?¡± Julian¡¯s handsome face was whipped to the side. Slowly, he turned back, running his tongue along the inside of his cheek. His gaze locked onto Willow, dark and murderous, yet his tone remained eerily calm. ¡°Is this how badly you want my love? Enough to do whatever it takes?¡± Willow scoffed, mimicking his tone. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± Julian finally seemed to calm down. After a long pause, he reached out and gently traced her face. ¡°You¡¯re not as obedient as you used to be back then, Willow. What¡¯s so bad about ying the perfect wife? Why don¡¯t you want to have a child to secure your ce? Why do you care so much? Why must you always go against me?¡± The night air was cold. Willow¡¯s face was streaked with tears, but she didn¡¯t even feel them. ¡°Back then? So, you do know it¡¯s in the past? Julian, do you really think we¡¯re still the same as before? Back then, there were no other women hanging around you. ¡°Back then, you still came home at night. Back then, you weren¡¯t tracking my ovtion just so I could pop out a child for you. So tell me, Julian. Was it you who changed, or was it me?¡± After four years of sharing a bed, they had finally dropped all pretenses. Julian studied her, the woman who had walked through the battlefield of power and ambition by his side for the past four years. After what felt like an eternity, his gaze darkened, like he had made a decision at that very moment. The night was still, like the funeral of a love long gone. Julian let go of Willow and took a step back. ¡°Starting tomorrow, you¡¯re off Project Aurelia. As for your position in thepany, I¡¯ll discuss it with the board and make the necessary adjustments.¡± Willow let out a chuckle. The first thing he did after achieving sess was to cut her off. Deep down, they both knew that Catherine wasn¡¯t the real issue between them. Julian was simply burning the bridge, trying to push Willow back into the role of the perfect wife, whose sole duty was to bear his children. He called it love, but in reality, it was a lifelong cage. Love¡­ Children¡­ Something inside her snapped. A bone-deep exhaustion washed over her. She suddenly felt that everything she did in the past had all been one-sided. Loving Julian wasn¡¯t fate; it was a curse. She didn¡¯t want to hide it anymore. She would tell Julian that she, Willow Harper, could never have children. Altar 5 Author: Light Breeze Willow knew that once she spoke the truth, there would be no turning back between her and Julian. But when disappointment had built up to its breaking point, one would throw caution to the wind and let go of everything. Looking up at the man she had once loved so deeply, she was ready to peel open her wounds and expose thempletely before him. When she spoke, her heart ached so much it felt numb. ¡°Don¡¯t bother making any decisions, Julian. I don¡¯t want my position in Neb Group or even the title anymore. Because I can¡¯t¡ª¡± She never got to finish because Julian¡¯s phone rang. His eyes stayed locked on her face as he answered. On the other end, Esther¡¯s urgent voice came through. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, Ms. Burke is in critical condition. You need toe now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Julian hung up and turned to Willow. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter.¡± Without another word, he strode to his ck Rolls-Royce, ready to leave. Willow stood frozen in ce. A gust of night wind swept past, chilling her to the bone. At first, she whispered his name. Then she raised her voice. And finally, she screamed, emptying every ounce of sorrow into her words, ¡°Julian Ziegler! Can¡¯t you even give me one damn minute? Four years of marriage, and I¡¯m not worth hearing out for one minute?¡± His hand rested on the car door as he replied coldly, ¡°We¡¯ll talk after Catherine is stable.¡± The engine roared to life. And then, he was gone. The night was as cold as water, yet it was nothingpared to the freezing hollowness inside her. Willow stared into the darkness where Julian had disappeared and finally finished the sentence he never let her say. ¡°I can¡¯t have children, Julian.¡± The wind howled around her. She said it again, ¡°I can¡¯t have children!¡± Each time she said it, it was like striking a whip against her own past love and mocking the foolish devotion she had given him. She had given him her youth, her everything. But to Julian, she was worth nothing. Her pain and heartbreak had never mattered to him. Suddenly, she wanted to break free and rid herself of the chains that had bound her as Mrs. Ziegler. After tonight, she would no longer be Julian¡¯s wife. She would just be Willow Harper. And she would live for herself. Willow lowered her head and stared at the ridiculous suit she was wearing. In the business world, Julian needed it. But outside of it, he found it dull and uninteresting. Now, even Willow felt its restraints wereughable. She had actually believed that catering to a man could earn her love. What a joke. ¡­ When Annie arrived, Willow had already discarded her zer. The top two buttons of her silk blouse were undone, revealing a small glimpse of fair skin. Her long hair cascaded down her slender back, exuding an effortless allure. Leaning against the car, she stretched out her long, slender legs. She turned to Annie and asked softly, ¡°Got a cigarette? I want one.¡± Annie felt a sting in her nose. She had been Willow¡¯s secretary for four years. She knew better than anyone how much Willow had loved Julian. And now, she was watching her fall apart. Annie didn¡¯t have cigarettes, but she found a way to get a pack. Willow had never smoked before. The first inhale burned her throat, making her cough until tears welled up in her eyes. Amid the choking haze of smoke, she smiled through her tears, breaking her love for Julian into shards of hate and piercing them deep into her bones. ¡­ For the first time, Willow let loose. The dim lighting and intoxicating atmosphere draped everything in decadence. Willow waspletely wasted. She didn¡¯t care about Julian¡¯s opinion or the Ziegler family¡¯s rules anymore. None of it mattered now. Slumped over the bar, she tapped her ss, signaling the bartender for another round. Before he could pour, a hand reached out, pressing down on her ss. Following that, a tall, imposing figure took the seat beside her. It was Jeffrey. Jeffrey Gibson from Gibson Legal Group. His dark eyes held a thoughtful glint as he studied Willow intently. She was even more uninhibited and alluring thanst time. Her body, seemingly boneless,y draped over the bar. With two buttons undone on her blouse, a hint of soft, tempting skin was easily visible. She had really soft skin. Jeffrey¡¯s gaze darkened. After a moment, he took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Startled, she looked up at him. Under the flickering bar lights, she met his deep, unreadable eyes. It felt like staring into an abyss. Jeffrey¡¯s voice was cool and detached. ¡°You¡¯ve had too much to drink. Let me take you home.¡± Willow leaned back against the bar, staring at him with unfocused eyes. He was surprised to notice the subtle allure in the curve of her eyes. It was an enticing charm usually hidden beneath her usual restrained attire. Her voice was slurred, stripped of its usual poise. ¡°Who the hell are you? Why should I go with you?¡± There was no reasoning with a drunk woman. Jeffrey pulled out his wallet and ced a wad of cash on the counter. Without another word, he scooped Willow into his arms. She struggled instinctively, but he held her firmly. His tone was harsh, as if he were speaking to a criminal. ¡°Unless you want your face all over the news tomorrow, leave with me. Now.¡± Willow found herself trapped in his hold. Her cheek rested against the crook of Jeffrey¡¯s neck, and his skin burned against hers. Ufortable, she shifted slightly, moving her face to his shoulder instead. The thinyer of his shirt provided some distance, and she felt a little more at ease. But still, she protested, ¡°Put me down, Jeffrey.¡± In the parking lot, neon lights shimmered. The stars were barely visible above. As Jeffrey looked down at the woman in his arms, a strange glint flickered in his eyes. Willow knew it was him. But he quickly pushed down that fleeting emotion. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that Willow was Julian¡¯s wife¡ªnot a woman he could indulge in a fleeting romance with. Five minutester, he tossed Willow into the passenger seat. She leaned against the leather seat with her eyes closed. Her face looked pale. As she slept, she looked utterly fragile. Jeffrey nced at her twice before pulling out his phone to call Julian. Both of Julian¡¯s phones were turned off. Jeffrey figured it had something to do with Catherine. Why else would Willow be this wasted? He was about to call Esther when Willow suddenly woke up. She reached out and pped the phone out of his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home.¡± Her head tilted back slightly, and her chest rose and fell with each uneven breath. The silky fabric of her blouse shifted with her movements, carrying a faint trace of her scent. It was undeniably alluring. Jeffrey¡¯s throat tightened. He tore his gaze away, staring out at the quiet, empty streets. After a moment, he nced back at her. She had already dozed off again. For a few seconds, he just watched her in silence. Then he opened the car door and stepped out. The night stretched vast and quiet around him. Dressed in ck, he blended into the darkness as he leaned against the hood of his Range Rover. He pulled out a cigarette, held it between his lips, and cupped a hand around the lighter¡¯s flickering me. A wisp of smoke curled into the air, only to be swept away by the night breeze. It softened the sharp lines of his features. Halfway through his cigarette, he turned to look at the woman inside the car. Dressed in white, she looked like a painting, with a trace of intoxicating allure shimmering at the corner of her eyes. Altar 6 The autumn night was crisp outside, but inside the car, it was warm and quiet. Willow caught the scent of fresh tobo. Jeffrey smoked the same brand as Julian. For a moment, in her hazy state, she got confused. She thought Julian was the one sitting beside her. Her eyes fluttered shut as she reached out, grasping his hand. ¡°Julian.¡± Half-asleep, she felt like she had slipped back in time. Back to when she and Julian were still a young couple. Jeffrey didn¡¯t pull his hand away. He didn¡¯t say a word either. He simply turned and looked out at the road ahead. The night was as deep and dense, eerily simr to the way he felt at that moment. Jeffrey had been with women before. But those had always been casual arrangements¡ªno strings attached. He had never experienced emotions as intense as Willow¡¯s. For the first time, he wondered what it would be like to be loved by someone like her. In the distance, fireworks bloomed against the sky, their brilliance cutting through the night. Willow stirred slightly, just a small movement, but Jeffrey noticed. He turned to her, and his eyes were deep and unreadable. ¡°You awake?¡± Willow¡¯s limbs felt heavy, but her mind was slowly clearing. She remembered drinking too much. She vaguely recalled Jeffrey pulling her out of the bar, but the rest was a blur. Her voice was hoarse. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°Just past 1:30 am,¡± Jeffrey replied. Willow gazed out at the fireworks with misty eyes. She was unusually quiet. After a long silence, she spoke softly, ¡°I once saw the most beautiful fireworks in the world. I thought they were mine to keep. But I forgot that no matter how dazzling, fireworks onlyst for a moment. ¡°Just like Julian and me. I thought if I gave up everything for him, we¡¯dst forever. But now I finally understand that Julian might have imagined love once or twice, but the woman he loves was never me.¡± A bitter smile curved her lips. ¡°Jeffrey, do you think I¡¯m a failure?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Jeffrey¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°As long as you want it, you¡¯ll always be Mrs. Ziegler.¡± It wasn¡¯t just emptyfort. Men like Julian didn¡¯t divorce easily. He might enjoy spoiling a younger woman for a while, but the title of Mrs. Ziegler was reserved for someone like Willow. Willow just smiled faintly. She said nothing more and kept watching the fireworks. ¡­ By 2:00 am., Jeffrey pulled up in front of Grandview Manor. The car came to a stop. Willow turned to him and thanked him for the ride. She held out his jacket, ready to return it. ¡°Keep it on,¡± Jeffrey said. ¡°It¡¯s cold out.¡± Willow thought that it seemed more proper to return it after getting it cleaned, so she didn¡¯t insist. Holding the jacket, she stepped out of the car and bid him farewell. Jeffrey remained seated, offering a polite nod before pressing the gas and driving away from the vi. The moonlight was cool, and the wind brushed against her skin. Willow rubbed her temple. Her head ached. From the house, ir Vaughn, the housekeeper, hurried over. The moment she got close, she caught the scent of alcohol. ir didn¡¯tment on it. Instead, she asked gently, ¡°Have you been drinking, Mrs. Ziegler? Mr. Ziegler just called. He¡¯ll be dropping by soon to pick up some clothes. Would you like to pack them, or should I take care of it?¡± Willow had already made up her mind about the divorce. Julian¡¯s affairs no longer concerned her. She told ir to handle it, while she wandered up with Jeffrey¡¯s jacket in hand. The moment she touched the bed, she drifted off into a deep sleep. A night breeze lifted the sheer curtains. Moonlight spilled into the room, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the woman on the bed. She looked delicate and alluring. At the foot of the bed, Jeffrey¡¯s ck jackety where she had dropped it. ¡­ In the deep of the night, a car pulled into the driveway. Julian hade back. But he didn¡¯t step out. He simply opened the door of his ck Bentley. The evening had ended badly between him and Willow. And with Catherine¡¯s condition worsening, he had no reason to stay. He was just here for his clothes. ir heard the car and quickly came outside. She handed the duffel bag with a change of clothes to Julian in the car. She said, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler just got back. She seems pretty drunk. Mr. Gibson was kind enough to bring her home.¡± Julian frowned. Willow had been drinking? After a brief pause, he decided to check on her. A momentter, Julian went upstairs and pushed open the master bedroom door. The lights were dim, and the air carried the faint scent of wine. Even Willow¡¯s breathing was tinged with a soft sweetness. Julian reached for the switch and turned on the wallmp. Light flooded the room. Julian¡¯s gaze immediately fell on Willow, lying on therge bed. Her long hair was messily spread across her chest. The silk blouse she wore hung loosely open at the cor, revealing smooth, soft skin. Her ck skirt had ridden up slightly from her movements, entuating the alluring curves of her body. Willow had always had a great figure. Julian had always known that. He was her husband, after all. But she had never truly let herself go. She was always reserved and distant in bed. Sometimes, she would even bring up business while they were in the middle of the action. Over time, his desire had faded. But the sight before him stirred something in Julian¡ªa flicker of desire he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. He figured it had simply been too long since he¡¯dst let himself go. Normally, he was used to keeping his desires in check. He sat down on the edge of the bed, watching her. Even in sleep, her brows were drawn together, as if she were troubled by some unseen weight. He had always known Willow loved him. But he didn¡¯t love her. All he had ever been willing to give her was the title of Mrs. Ziegler. Love had never been part of the equation. Lifting a hand, he brushed his fingers lightly against her cheek. Her skin was cold to the touch. His gaze darkened, and he murmured, ¡°Isn¡¯t being Mrs. Ziegler enough for you? Willow, love that burns too brightly only leads to ruin. I thought you¡¯d seen it all and let go of love long ago.¡± The only response was the steady rhythm of her breathing. Julian was about to leave when his gaze swept over the foot of the bed. And then he stopped. A man¡¯s jackety there. Julian reached out and picked up the jacket. It was from a high-end designer brand. Most of his formal wear came from the samebel, but this jacket definitely wasn¡¯t his. Which meant it had to be Jeffrey¡¯s. A sharp difort twisted in his chest. Even though he knew Jeffrey wouldn¡¯t have any designs on Willow, the innate possessiveness of a man still unsettled him. Willow was his wife! ¡­ The living room downstairs was brightly lit. ir had stayed up, waiting for Julian toe down. Finally, she heard movement from upstairs. Julian came downstairs with a dark expression. Without a word, he handed the jacket to ir and said tly, ¡°Take this to the dry cleaners, then have someone send it to Jeffrey¡¯s firm.¡± ir took the jacket without a word. Julian opened the door of his ck Bentley, ready to head to the hospital. But just before starting the engine, he hesitated. Tilting his head back, he looked toward the second floor of the house. Willow was sleeping up there. The night had ended on a sour note. Willow had said she had something important to tell him. Altar 7 The next morning, Willow woke up with a headache. ir was considerate enough to bring her some medicine. After taking it, Willow felt much better. She was about to take a shower when ir huffed indignantly, ¡°Mr. Ziegler ispletely into that vixen. He came homest night and saw youpletely drunk but still chose to drive away.¡± That was how Willow found out Julian hade back the previous night. ir suddenly remembered something else. ¡°Oh, right, Mrs. Ziegler, Mr. Ziegler told us to have Mr. Gibson¡¯s jacket cleaned and delivered to him. At least he¡¯s still considerate toward you.¡± ir had no idea about Julian¡¯s real intentions. She thought it was a gesture of care. But Willow understood. Julian was just afraid of being cuckolded. She wasn¡¯t feeling well, so she stayed home for two days and took time to visit her grandmother. ¡­ On Monday, Neb Group underwent a shake-up. A major project had gone awry, and all the evidence pointed to Willow¡¯s negligence. After a board meeting, she was suspended from all her duties and had to vacate the vice CEO¡¯s office that very day. On the 32nd floor, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, Willow quietly watched the bustling cityscape of Brindley. Behind her, Annie pushed the door open and spoke in a hushed voice, ¡°Ms. Harper, Project Aurelia has been handed over to Catherine.¡± Annie was seething, but Willow remained calm. At this point, she no longer wanted Julian. Fame and status had be fleeting clouds in the wind. Once she took what she deserved, she would leave with dignity, stepping out of Julian¡¯s world. Whether he truly loved Catherine or was simplypensating her no longer mattered to Willow. Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang on the desk. She walked over and answered. It was Julian¡¯s father, Liam Ziegler, asking her to meet him in his office. Willow agreed. That afternoon, she took a car to Liam¡¯s workce. Liam wasn¡¯t employed at Neb Group. He had his own business. He seemed refined and carefree, but in reality, he was quietly paving the way for Julian. It waste October. A gust of autumn wind carried the scent of osmanthus blossoms. The moment Willow stepped out of the car, Liam¡¯s personal secretary, Victoria Morris, greeted her. She was a strikingly beautiful woman who smiled as she led Willow to an elegant lounge. Victoria slid the door open and respectfully announced, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, Ms. Harper is here.¡± Liam was sipping coffee. Hearing this, he looked up and said warmly, ¡°Willow, you¡¯re here. Come in and have some coffee with me.¡± Willow stepped inside the lounge. Liam was well aware of the recent changes at Neb Group. Without revealing his thoughts, he poured Willow a cup of coffee and discussed thepany matters. He had always admired Willow. After all, her presence kept Julian¡¯s position secure. But sometimes, ability was a double-edged sword. A beast with sharp ws and fangs might turn into a threat. Liam and Julian shared the same view on this matter, but Julian was just more aggressive in his approach. Liam remained affable. ¡°I¡¯ve always admired you. Willow. Are you and Julian having problems recently? If it¡¯s about Catherine, don¡¯t bother. She¡¯s just a naive girl.¡± Willow smiled faintly. ¡°We have no problems.¡± She wasn¡¯t foolish enough to make their conflict public. The Ziegler family was not known for kindness. Liam was momentarily taken aback. His appreciation for Willow deepened. She truly hadposure. After a moment of contemtion, he voiced his concern. ¡°Project Aurelia is a coboration with Mr. Chapman. Since Dexter has a vtile temperament, I worry that his involvement will bring trouble to thepany.¡± Willow immediately understood his implication. Her response was calm. ¡°You can rest assured. Officially, Ms. Burke is in charge of the project, but Julian is actually overseeing it. Dexter won¡¯t have the chance to stir up trouble.¡± Liam, realizing his thoughts had been exposed, felt slightly ufortable and tried to smooth things over with some casual conversation. By the time Willow left, it was dusk. The sky was bathed in a shattered golden glow. Victoria stood by the car, nodding slightly as she bid Willow goodbye. With her poised smile, she looked just like a wless puppet. Suddenly, Willow felt like she had seen her before. ¡­ Just before nightfall, Willow returned to her office. She began packing. Some things she handed over, others she discarded. Annie cursed Julian, vowing that when they made theireback, they would crush all the spineless opportunists. Willow only smiled faintly. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Julian stood at the entrance, impably dressed, looking like a magazine cover model. He ushered Annie out. She muttered ¡°scumbag¡± under her breath before leaving. After Annie left, Julian stepped inside. His deep eyes were fixed on Willow. They met again, but everything had changed. Out of consideration for their past, Julian softened his tone. ¡°Catherine was never the issue between us. Willow, if you want, I¡¯ll call a board meeting next month to reinstate you at Neb Group.¡± Willow chuckled softly. How ridiculous. Their falling out, her breakdown that night, and the way she drowned her sorrows in alcohol were all childish rebelliousness in his eyes. He even believed that he was being generous and she should be grateful for his offer. But the things he once promised no longer held any value for her. Did he really think she still wanted to serve him and stay by his side? Just imagining how he cherished and protected Catherine made her feel like she had wasted her youth. Willow stepped forward and adjusted Julian¡¯s cor. For years, she had done this for him before every event. She had performed this act countless times. Julian instinctively leaned down, allowing her to straighten his cor more easily. They were so close. She could feel his warm breath on her skin. Looking at Willow up close, Julian couldn¡¯t help but recall the way she had looked that night in bed. They had been married for four years and had been intimate countless times, but he had never seen her like that before. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. The movement carried an undeniable allure. When Willow was done, she gently ran her fingers over the fine fabric, a trace of nostalgia in her touch. Six years of love and four years of marriage. It was over. This was thest time, Julian. She lifted her head and looked at him quietly before speaking in a soft voice, ¡°No need. I¡¯m noting back.¡± Julian froze. Willow stepped past him, carrying a small box as she walked toward the door. After four years, she realized there wasn¡¯t much she could take from Neb. At the door, she tilted her head slightly. Her voice wasced with quiet restraint as she said, ¡°Bye, Julian.¡± A strange pang hit Julian¡¯s chest. Something about Willow felt different. But he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it. Standing in her empty office, he watched as she walked toward the elevator and slowly disappeared from sight. At that moment, Julian didn¡¯t yet realize that Willow had just said her final goodbye. She was leaving Neb and leaving him. And she wasn¡¯ting back. Altar 8

Chapter 8

Author: Light Breeze Willow bumped into Jeffrey in the parking lot. Jeffrey seemed surprised to see her. He thought for a short while before walking over toward her. His eyes were deep as he asked, ¡°Are you really leaving Neb?¡± Willow hummed softly. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m leaving.¡± She threw the box into the boot of her car and closed it. Then, she turned around and said faintly, ¡°Thanks for your help the other night.¡± Jeffrey looked closely at Willow¡¯s face. There was a faraway look in her eyes that concealed everything and revealed nothing. This was the Willow that he knew. Her fragile beauty that night had been nothing but a dream. His eyes dimmed considerably. Then, he nodded with reservation. ¡°It was nothing,¡± he responded coldly. Nheless, Jeffrey continued standing there as he watched Willow¡¯s car disappear out of the parking lot, seemingly in deep thought. ¡­ Willow finally arrived back at Grandview Manor around 8:00 pmter that evening. As soon as she got out of the car, she caught a whiff of osmanthus flowers in the breeze that weed her. It was quite a refreshing scent. ir came out to greet her and asked, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler, will you be having dinner alone today? Or would you like to wait for Mr. Ziegler instead? The food is already all prepared. We¡¯ll just need to warm it up a little.¡± Willow thought about it for a moment. Then, she answered faintly, ¡°There¡¯s no need to prepare my meals anymore from today onward.¡± ir paled in shock. She wanted to ask why, but Willow had already walked through the manor and was heading straight upstairs. It was brightly lit on the second floor. Willow slowed down as she fixed her gaze on the beautifully decorated corridor, She then took slow, heavy steps forward. Every step she took reminded her of Julian¡ªtheir past, their experiences, their hardships, and the pain that he caused her. ¡°Julian, if you want power, then let me assist you. ¡°Julian, these hard times will soon pass, right? ¡°Julian! My stomach hurts¡­ It hurts so bad¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Mrs. Ziegler, but after a close-up examination, we¡¯ve found out that the chances of you getting pregnant are close to zero. Perhaps you¡¯d like to consider adoption instead?¡± ¡­ It was just about 30 feet from one end to the other, but it felt as though Willow had re-lived her life all over again. The end of the corridor also felt like the end of her feelings for Julian. The night breeze blew gently around her, making her face feel icy to the touch. She pushed open the door to the bedroom and flipped on the light switches, basking the whole room in a warm glow. For the past four years, her life had revolved primarily around Julian. She had been with him as he seized power to stand at the top. Although Julian gained everything, Willow realized that she lost more and more of herself as time passed. Luckily, she was finally going to be free from it all. Willow walked into the walk-in wardrobe and brought out a fewrge suitcases before she began to pack. She packed the regr clothes she wore often, along with the pricey jewelry that she owned. She wasn¡¯t going to leave them behind for Julian. After she was done packing, Willow got up and happened to nce up at the oil painting that was hanging on the wall. She had painted it. It was a painting of Julian in his younger days. He looked young and full of life. But there wasn¡¯t any love left between them anymore, which meant there was no need for this painting to exist anymore. Willow found a tube of lipstick in her purse and began to scribble on the canvas with it. Bright streaks of red were dragged all over the painting, turning it gory and frightening to look at. In a matter of seconds, the painting waspletely disfigured. Julian¡¯s face had disappeared under the red streaks of lipstick. However much love Willow had poured into the painting when she made it back then, she now reced them all with an equal amount of hatred. The oil painting wasn¡¯t the only thing that suffered her wrath. Even their wedding photos were also shed to ribbons with a knife. This was the end of their rtionship. Just like their brightly smiling portraits that could never be pieced together again. The knife dropped from Willow¡¯s fingers. Her arm just wouldn¡¯t stop shaking. She then fell to the ground and covered her eyes with her hands as tears pooled in them. She had wasted all of her youth. Everything tasted bitter, just like that night when she¡¯d felt the excruciating pain in her belly. Willow didn¡¯t even look back when she finally left. The master bedroom felt empty without its mistress. The only thing left as a memento of her existence was the diamond ring on the bedside table, sparkling coldly in the darkness. ¡­ ir couldn¡¯t stop Willow. The only thing she could do was watch helplessly as Willow left in her car and sped off into the night. When ir finally snapped out of it, she immediately called up Julian. Julian was in the VIP ward at Everglow Hospital. He stood at the end of the corridor, close to the floor-to-ceiling windows, a tall and lonely figure as the night breeze fanned around his face. He was on the phone with ir, calling from the manor. She sounded anxious. ¡°Sir, Mrs. Ziegler has just left.¡± A look of impatience appeared in Julian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Where did she say she was going?¡± He didn¡¯t think much about it. He just thought that Willow was perhaps in a shitty mood and had gone out to take a breather. Hadn¡¯t she just gone out drinking a few nights before? Julian then chided ir for blowing things out of proportion. ir went silent for a while before finally speaking up. ¡°She refused to say. She also brought with her half a dozen suitcases. We went upstairs to check and saw that she¡¯d taken her clothes and jewelry. ¡°The bedroom¡¯s also been left in a mess. Mr. Ziegler, I think that you should hurry home as soon as possible to take a look!¡± Julian felt his chest tighten. He gripped his phone a little harder as his mind began to wander. It wasn¡¯t until a long whileter that he finally hung up and hurried to the elevators. The lights shone on him as he walked past, casting a stern yet perfect shadow onto the ground. However, if one looked closely, one would see that the eyshes were shaking. By the time Julian rushed back to Grandview Manor, it was alreadyte at night. He hurried upstairs to the second floor and pushed open the door that led to the master bedroom that he shared with Willow. He¡¯d only just opened it by a crack when he caught sight of the mess inside. The wedding photos that used to hang on the wall above the bed nowy crumpled on the ground, its ss and frame smashed into a million pieces on the floor. The photo of them smiling happily at each other had also been shed into shreds. He walked farther into the walk-in wardrobe. The half that belonged to Willow looked as though it had just been cleaned out by a robber. The doors were wide open, with not a single clothing item in sight. Her clothes and jewelry were all gone. Even Willow¡¯s most beloved oil painting¡ªthe one she¡¯d painted after begging him for the longest time after their wedding to be her model and muse, the one proof of the rare sweet moments they ever shared in their marriage¡ªwas utterly ruined. Julian couldn¡¯t understand. Why did Willow keep distancing herself from him and arguing with him only after they¡¯d finally made it to the top and had everything that they¡¯d ever wanted? Did she know just how many people were vying for her position as his wife? Did she really not want any of that anymore? He refused to believe it. Julian stood amongst the shards of ss and called Willow¡¯s number. He thought that she was just pretending to run away from home so that he would acknowledge her presence. Unexpectedly, Willow picked up almost immediately. He started interrogating her about the mess at home. He told her that if the media caught wind of the fuss she¡¯d kicked up today, the public would start gossiping about them, and that would cause Neb¡¯s share prices to drop. He then ordered her toe home at once. ¡°There¡¯s a limit to everything you do, including kicking up fusses like this, Willow Harper! Think about the whole picture for once!¡± The night was dark and silent, and Willow¡¯s calm voice could be heard from the other end of the line. ¡°There won¡¯t be any sort of picture anymore, Julian Ziegler. I¡¯ve already gotten someone to help me file for divorce. You¡¯ll be getting a court summons very soon.¡± Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. He took a long time to respond. ¡°What do you mean?¡± After a few seconds, Willow¡¯s cold voice was heard again. ¡°Exactly what you think I mean. We are done, Julian Ziegler.¡± Then, she hung up on him. Julian tried calling her back, but his calls wouldn¡¯t go through anymore. Instead, a robotic voice answered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the person you have called is not avable.¡± ¡­ Julian stood rooted in his ce for a very long time. At the door, ir cautiously approached him and said, ¡°Ms. Burke called. She said she¡¯d like to speak with you.¡± Julian could feel the veins in his head throbbing. He suddenly yelled back at her, ¡°Tell her to fuck off!¡± Willow was gone. Willow didn¡¯t want him anymore. His Willow didn¡¯t want him anymore. She once promised him that she would be with him forever. She told him before that she would forever be by his side. She told him that she would never leave him. Julian suppressed his anger as best as he could, breathing lowly and shallowly. Just then, he happened to catch sight of a yellowed piece of paper under the bed. It looked like it was from many years ago. He frowned and wondered what it could be. When he picked it up from the ground, he was instantaneously stunned when he finally had a proper look at it. It was a test report from the Obstetrics and Gynecology hospital. And Willow¡¯s name was on it. Altar 9 Julian read and re¨Cread every single word on the yellowed piece of paper, over and over again, until his eyes finally turned sore and bitter. Suddenly, he understood the pain that Willow had been through. He understood her tears. He finally understood why Willow had screamed at him in the parking lot, asking him why he wouldn¡¯t even spare her one minute of his time, and why he had changed so much. She couldn¡¯t give birth anymore. He didn¡¯t love her. However, Willow was someone very important to him. She had been with him for four years. She had been by his side when he was at his lowest, and she had also witnessed him achieving his greatest sesses. They had agreed to have two children after they got married. One would be a boy named Landon Ziegler, and the other would be a girl named Evelyn Ziegler. Julian slowly sat down on the bed. His usual handsome features suddenly looked like they¡¯d aged by a few years. He grabbed a cigarette from his pocket, lit it up, and took a huge drag of it. His slim face hollowed out even more, giving off a mysterious aura. ir appeared at the door again and cautiously said, ¡°Ms. Barker is here.¡± Julian didn¡¯t respond. Esther had rushed over from the hospital. She was shocked when she saw all the broken ss shards on the floor. Had Julian been abandoned? However, Esther was a trained professional. She quickly set her emotions aside and asked Julian what they should do next. Smoke framed Julian¡¯s face, slightly blurry to the vision. He answered faintly, ¡°Keep this out of the media. No matter what, the public must never know that Willow has separated from me.¡± Esther nodded in response. She looked at her boss and suddenly couldn¡¯t wrap her head around something. Weren¡¯t Julian and Willow just married for a business alliance? So, why did Julian look so sad now after learning that Willow had left? Did Julian really not love Willow after all? Willow moved into an apartment. It wasn¡¯t a huge one, just about 1,200 square feet in size, but the interior had been designed using only the best materials avable in the market. +25 Bonus She pushed open the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling length windows, looking out at half of the city¡¯s nightscape. The next morning, Willow went to see Grace. Grace knew nothing about her altercation with Julian and smiled widely as she asked her about him. Willow didn¡¯t want her to worry, so she smiled back in return and said, ¡°It¡¯s all good! Julian has been treating me really well.¡± Even if they weren¡¯t married anymore, life still had to go on. So, Willow decided to pick up oil painting once more, something that she¡¯d always loved since she was young. For the next week, Willow stayed at home as she painted. She had never felt as carefree as she did now. She even bought herself a dog, a mixed breed with fur as white as snow, and named it Snowy. She liked it very much. As the weekend rolled around, Willow went to attend an art show and gallery. There were hundreds of paintings on sale at the show, and she found herself particrly drawn to a painting of flowers titled ¡°Twin Blooms¡°. She was about to ask for the price when she suddenly caught sight of the artist¡¯s name¨CCharlie Burke. He was none other than Catherine¡¯s father. Willow began to get lost in thought. Just then, a woman¡¯s gentle voice sounded from behind her. ¡°You like this painting too, right?¡± Willow turned around and saw a noble¨Clooking woman standing next to her. She was dressed in a fashionable outfit and looked very beautiful and pleasing to the eye. There were also two personal assistants on either side behind her. Anyone could tell at first nce that the woman hade from a noble background, most presumably the wife of a prominent family. The woman smiled at Willow and introduced herself. ¡°My husband is from the Chapman family.¡± Willow suddenly remembered her. This woman¡¯s name was Heather Kipling, and her husband was Timothy Chapman, from Aurelia Group. Timothy¡¯s business was often more focused in the southern part of the country, Soudern. That was why Willow had only just caught a glimpse of Heather before. Seeing that Willow recalled who she was, Heather grinned and said, ¡°I saw you as soon as I arrived. You must be Mrs. Ziegler, Julian¡¯s wife. Right?¡± If the Zieglers were a prominent family in the northern part, then the Chapmans were prominent in the southern part. Heather had specifically referred to Julian by his first name, implying that the two families had a close¨Cknit rtionship. It also meant that Timothy was looking forward to coborating with Neb Group. Willow and Heather began chatting and got along like a house on fire. Ultimately, Heather invited Willow for a cup of coffee to continue with their conversation. Of course, Willow was happy to oblige. +25 Bonus They went to a bright, cozy cafe. Heather stirred her coffee with a silver spoon, speaking in an unhurried tone, ¡°Mr. Burke is a great artist. However, he¡¯s quite a character. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t buy his paintings after all.¡± Willow just smiled faintly. She was about to reply when she saw that Heather was suddenly spacing out with a sad look on her face. It was as if she was suddenly revisiting old memories of the past. Her personal assistant quicklyforted her. ¡°Mrs. Chapman, you don¡¯t have to think about the past anymore. Mr. Chapman will be worried if he learns that you fell sick again.¡± Heather smiled apologetically at Willow. ¡°Please excuse my behavior, Mrs. Ziegler. It¡¯s just that I had a very painful recollection of the past. When I was young, I fell in love with a man and gave him a child, but he was a cruel man. ¡°I was then harmed by an enemy, and by the time I woke up, my five¨Cyear¨Cold daughter had gone missing. Luckily, I met my husband then. But even after searching high and low for my missing daughter, I still was never able to locate her again.¡± Tears fell from Heather¡¯s eyes as she continued talking about her painful past. She remembered that her daughter had a mole on her waist. It was small, faint, and red in color, but she would be able to recognize her daughter immediately as soon as she saw the mole. Willow was an orphan. She could rte to Heather¡¯s loss of a family member, so she held Heather¡¯s hands and tried tofort her. Heather felt better after a while. She then came a little closer to Willow and said, ¡°I felt a connection with you, so I couldn¡¯t help telling you so many things about myself. Please excuse me if I¡¯m being too much of a chatterbox, Mrs. Ziegler.¡± Willow immediately said gently, ¡°Oh no, Mrs. Chapman! I believe that fate will have you meet your daughter again. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find her again.¡± o Heather broke into a smile. ¡°I sure hope so!¡± She then thought of something else. After taking out her business card, Heather said, ¡°Timothy will be hosting a dinner event at his mansion in a while. You have to attend. I know that you¡¯re an ambitious woman, so let me get you acquainted with a few prominent figures.¡± Willow couldn¡¯t possibly let her down, so she exchanged cards with Heather and agreed. When it was time to leave, Heather stood next to a luxurious car, seemingly not wanting to leave Willow so soon. It had been a very long time since she¡¯d felt like this. Chatting with Willow somehow reminded her of chatting with her own daughter when she was little. Heather¡¯s secretary then gently reminded her again that it was time to leave. It wasn¡¯t until then that she finally let go of Willow and said, ¡°Let¡¯s continue again next time.¡± +25 Bonus Willow stood in ce, watching quietly as Heather left in her car. She thought that Timothy must really love Heather very much. He showered her with love and everything else she needed¨Che even gave up on asking for a child because of her. All of a sudden, Willow¡¯s head was filled with thoughts. Around 9:00 pm, Willow finished thest stroke of her paintbrush and stretchedzily, while Snowy wagged its tail next to her. Willow fed the dog and made sure to add a small treat for it. Snowy was delighted and devoured everything as quickly as possible. She petted it for a while before going into the bedroom to fetch a change of clothing. It had been cloudy for the past few days, and the clothes she set out to dry were still damp. With no other choice, she went over to the wardrobe and opened it up, looking for a shirt she could use as a bathrobe. She turned on the lights in the wardrobe and let her fingers slide over the fabrics inside. Finally, shended on a ck shirt. It used to belong to Julian. She had identally brought it with her when it got lost among all of her other clothes. After pondering for a moment, Willow decided to take it out. After all, it wasn¡¯t like Julian would ever find out. Ten minutester, Willow finished her shower and came out of the bathroom in the ck shirt. She flipped her damp hair behind her shoulders, preparing to blow dry her hair, when the doorbell suddenly rang. Thinking it was Annie, Willow went over to open the door without giving it much thought. A split secondter, however, she was shocked. Julian was standing at her door. His tall silhouette blocked out the light from themps outside, casting a shadow over his face so that she couldn¡¯t read his expression well. She just didn¡¯t know why he would be here in the middle of the night. It had been a week, and they never contacted each other. There hadn¡¯t been a single phone call at all. Willow believed that Julian must have received the court summons. So, what was he doing here at her home? Julian stared at Willow. Willow was only wearing a dark men¡¯s shirt on her body, with nothing much on her lower half. He thought she looked sultry with her long legspletely exposed beneath the shirt. It was a thin shirt that left little to the imagination, after all. Altar 10 t was obvious that there was some hidden lust in Julian¡¯s eyes. Willow felt frustrated. She had had no intention of seeing him again. Jeffrey was supposed to handle everything about their divorce. She tried closing the door. However, Julian was faster and stopped the door with his foot. Then, he made his way through the front door easily. As soon as the door clicked shut, Willow was immediately enveloped in Julian¡¯s arms. Julian held her by her slim waist and kept pressing her against himself. Then, he started kissing her feverishly and desperately. Willow waspletely unable to break free from his hold. So, they just continued kissing and struggling like that, eventually making their way to the living room couch. This was the first time Julian had ever behaved like this. Even the bright lights and Willow¡¯s gentle voice couldn¡¯t get Julian to snap out of it. It wasn¡¯t until he finally saw the reddish mole on her waist that he finally let up a little. 1 He was breathing heavily as he forced himself to calm down. His warm lips brushed against Willow¡¯s earlobe as he said in a low, hoarse voice, ¡°You like me, don¡¯t you?¡± Willow froze. She liked him. She had always liked him since she was 20 years old. Julian knew about it, but he¡¯d never asked her straight away like this. Now that he suddenly brought it up, Willow just thought that there had to be something wrong with him. Of course, she¡¯d never admit to such an embarrassing thing. Since she refused to squeak, Julian pressed her farther into the cushions, wanting to touch home base. They continued struggling on the couch. Willow eventually grabbed Julian¡¯s short ck hair and gasped, saying, ¡°Calm down, Julian. It¡¯s not my ovtion period. You can¡¯t pop a baby in me no matter how hard you try.¡± Hearing this, Julian immediately lifted his eyes to look at her. His gaze was dark and he stared at her for a long time. Willow had a pretty face with dainty facial features, and now, her damp hair was scattered against the brown, coffee¨Ccolored couch. The men¡¯s shirt she¡¯d been wearing was also half¨Cdangling off her body, barely even covering her in any way. She was supposed to be looking very sexy and sultry now, with the ability to seduce anyone she wanted. However, Julian¡¯s eyes simply turned red. He reached forward and gently touched her belly. It was soft yet t. Willow raised her head slightly. Then, she repeated herself. ¡°Julian Ziegler, I¡¯m not in my ovtion period now.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Julian said, his voice even more hoarse than ever. +25 Bonus He just continued stroking her belly gently. After what felt like forever, he inched over and lowered his head to press a kiss onto her lips. Then, slowly, he deepened the kiss until their tongues started wrapping themselves around each other. It felt as if he wanted to continue doing this with her for the rest of their lives. Julian got hard after that. However, that was when he stopped and propped himself above her, panting as he caught his breath. His breathing was quick and heavy. He was holding back so much. This was also the first time he¡¯d ever struggled so much with self¨Crestraint. He had dearly wanted to do even more things to her just now¡­ Willow reached up and pushed him away. Although she looked like a mess, she still pretended to be calm as she found the divorce agreement and threw it in his face. Her voice was low and scratchy as she said, ¡°You can take over my 20% share of thepany as long as I get to take the dividends. ¡°You know how much I sacrificed these four years for you, so you also know very well that I¡¯m worth all these at the very least.¡± ¡°You are. But I won¡¯t give it to you,¡± Julian replied, his eyes dark and his gaze mysterious. Willow lowered her gaze to look at herself. Then, she reached forward and wrapped her arms around Julian¡¯s neck, pressing her body against him. ¡°If you sign this, I¡¯ll let you sleep with me once. I think you need it now.¡± Julian frowned. ¡°Who taught you such things?¡± Willow just chuckled self¨Cdeprecatingly and said, ¡°Julian Ziegler, I think that it¡¯s not too bad if I slept with you for money. I¡¯d gone through so much pain and suffering in the past, and look where it got me. You kicked me out of Neb Group. ¡°It would have been so much better if I¡¯d just slept with you for money from the start.¡± Julian turned over and sat up. He took out a cigarette from his coat pocket and lit it up. He rarely ever smoked indoors. His frustration was too obvious. Willow felt frustrated as well. Julian remained on her couch without moving. And while she was in a bedraggled state of undress, he was still in his full outfit, looking prim and proper, with his coat still on! Altar 11 Chapter 11 Willow figured that something had to be the matter about Julian. He must have just gotten dumped. However, he was going to be her ex¨Chusband very soon, and she didn¡¯t think she had the right to ask about his private matters anymore. She had some self¨Cawareness, after all. Since Willow wasn¡¯t able to shoo him out of her apartment, naturally, she didn¡¯t want to continue sitting around watching him smoke either. She just pulled her still¨Cdamp hair behind her head, twisted it up, and secured it in ce with a hair w before going into the kitchen to make herself some food. Willow wasn¡¯t a bad cook. It was just that she seldom had the chance to cook after she married Julian. But now that she was living on her own, she had to settle her three meals all by herself. A short whileter, the heavenly aroma of pasta bolognese came wafting out from the kitchen. Julian was still sitting dazedly on the couch. From his position, he could see Willow¡¯s back turn to him as she cooked at the stove. She was still wearing that ck men¡¯s shirt with nothing underneath, exactly like a seductress. Yet, because her head was leaning forward as she chopped up some onions, she gave off the illusion of a perfect wife instead. Suddenly, it dawned on Julian that this must have been what people meant when they said ¡°housewife¡°. He also thought that many men must be dreaming of Willow in her current condition. Yet, at that thought, Julian frowned slightly as he extinguished the cigarette and started wandering around the apartment. The apartment wasn¡¯t a huge one, but it had everything she needed. She¡¯d even managed to turn a small room into a painting studio. Julian pulled away the cloth covering the canvas on the easel and saw the unfinished painting underneath it. She was painting the skies of the gxy this time¨Cit was no longer Julian. In the past, Willow used to love painting portraits of him. He gently touched the brush strokes on the canvas, feeling a little bitter inside. A short whileter, he sneaked into the cramped kitchen and circled his arms around Willow¡¯s waist. They had never experienced such warmth or intimacy when they were married. Julian¡¯s thin lips were pressed against the back of Willow¡¯s neck. His voice was scratchy as he said, ¡°Is this the life you¡¯ve always dreamed of? Living in an apartment smaller than 1500 square feet, eating regr food, and turning yourself into another housewife?¡± Willow didn¡¯t fight him. They¡¯d been married for four years after all, and she was used to having sex with him. She was just going to treat this sudden physical intimacy as bad luck on her side. She didn¡¯t stop her task at hand as she replied, ¡°Yes, this is the life that I¡¯ve always wanted. When I¡¯m finally divorced from you, my life will only continue getting even better than before. I¡¯m buying a half¨Cacre mansion, employing ten maids, and bringing home as many boytoys as I want every night to-¡± It was obvious that Julian had gotten angry at that point. He bit her on the neck and said, ¡°You¡¯re still Mrs. Ziegler now.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be, very soon.¡± As soon as she was done speaking, however, Julian turned her around so that they were face to face. +25 Bonus He lowered his head to look at her, his eyes so deep and dark that she just didn¡¯t know what to think. A long whileter, Julian said in a low voice, ¡°If that¡¯s the biggest issue in our marriage, Willow, then I can still indulge and satisfy you.¡± Had he spoken to her like this in the past, Willow would have been so enamored with his flirting that all would have been forgiven. But now, she was already immune to his flirting. Men only flirted heavily with women to get what they wanted. She¡¯d fallen prey to that trick in the past and paid the price. Willow turned around again to continue making her pasta. However, Julian then asked her to make enough for two servings instead. He just kept pressing himself against her, telling her that he was starving. She froze for a second as she recalled bits and pieces about him and Catherine. Then, she just chuckled coldly and said, ¡°Indeed. I can tell you¡¯re ravenous.¡± Julian just kept touching and feeling her lower abdomen again. He seemed to be obsessed with that body part of hers today. A long whileter, he finally said thickly, ¡°I never touched her.¡± Willow didn¡¯t say anything else. Julian refused to leave that night. Even Snowy grabbing him by the ankle of his pants and pulling him toward the door had no effect whatsoever on him. In the end, Willow was forced to share her bed with him. o Before falling asleep, Julian pressed her back into the mattress again, intertwining their fingers together as he continued ravishing her lips. Yet, in Willow¡¯s mind, Julian had only ever shown such passion and excitement on their wedding night. Altar 12 Chapter 12 +25 Bonus Early the next morning, Willow was woken up by the garbage truck passing by her apartment building while sting her favorite song ¡°Strangers Again¡± to all the neighbors. The sun rays streamed in through the windows as the curtains danced gently in the early morning breeze. Julian wasn¡¯t next to her anymore. Last night, he never forced her into sex. However, he did keep waking up in the middle of the night repeatedly to kiss her every time. It felt as though he¡¯d been holding it all in for a long, long time. Willow could even vaguely recall hearing Julian mention something about starting over while kissing the living daylights out of her. ¡°Willow, let¡¯s start all over again.¡± Start all over? Truth to be told, the three words sounded incredibly enticing to Willow. However, all the pain and suffering she¡¯d gone through had given her plenty of trauma. Julian¡¯s expression had scared her enough at Veil Club the other night too. She was scared that everything would eventually turn out to be a dream instead. Julian spent the next few daysing in and out of her apartment. Nothing happened much when he came over, though. He would just suddenly show upte at night, eat some dinner that Willow made, and then hug her to sleep. He never asked for sex, and he would also always be gone by morning before she woke up. He was as clingy as a schoolboy experiencing his first rtionship. After that, however, Julian stoppeding altogether. D He never called her, and neither did she. She was busy preparing to open up her art studio. She nned to first open up an art gallery and start small. Her ultimate goal was to start an auction house for paintings and works of art. Willow did continue keeping in touch with Heather, though. After hearing Willow¡¯s ns, Heather was simply in awe. ¡°You¡¯re such a capable person, Mrs. Ziegler!¡± Willow never told Heather about her private matters with Julian. Nothing had been carved in stone just yet, and Willow didn¡¯t want to go about spreading rumors. Days passed. The season was starting to change as the end of fall approached. Most of the trees were already barren by then. That day, Willow received a call from Maureen. She sounded anxious on the phone. ¡°Madam Harper just had a nasty fall. She¡¯s now at Heartwell Hospital. Ms. Harper, I think you shoulde and check on her.¡± +25 Bonus Willow had been meeting with a client at that time. But when she got the call, she immediately rushed to the hospital after that. Nothing was more important to her than Grace, after all. It had been the middle of winter, many years ago. Willow had only been five years old, and she¡¯d been shivering out in the cold. It was Grace who took her in and wrapped her up in a warm nket at home, feeding her nutritious food until she finally managed to gain some healthy weight. Willow and Grace had always been relying on each other ever since. Grace went through a lot of hardships raising her, and Willow repaid her kindness by buying her a big house and employing two caretakers for her after she was capable after her marriage. Half an hourter, Willow finally reached Heartwell Hospital. Luckily, Grace had only had a twisted ankle. Willow suddenly felt as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She crouched down by Grace¡¯s bed and petted her silvery hair. Then, in a soft voice, she said, ¡°In that case, let me go and settle the paperwork with the hospital.¡± ra Hopkins, another one of Grace¡¯s caretakers, praised Willow in front of Grace. ¡°Ms. Harper is such a capable person! Madam Harper, did you know that you got the best ward in the whole hospital? The dean agreed to room you here as soon as he heard you were rted to her!¡± Grace grinned until her eyes disappeared. ¡°Of course. Willow has always been very capable.¡± Willow petted Grace on the hair again before getting up and leaving. The VIP rooms in the hospital were located in a separate wing, with two buildings facing each other, nestling a beautiful flower garden in the center. The scenery there was beautiful and stunning with the red and orange leaves on the trees and the ground. Willow couldn¡¯t help her gaze lingering on the flower garden for a while longer. However, a split secondter, Willow had the shock of her life. At the other end of the corridor, Julian was standing right there, carrying Catherine in his arms, with both her parents¨CCharlie Burke and Nancy Rogers¨Ctrailing behind them. Catherine¡¯s head was resting against Julian¡¯s shoulders as she looked small, weak, and vulnerable. Meanwhile, Julian had a gentle look on his face as he doted on her. Willow stared at them with a numb expression. She watched as the man who held her every night and asked if they could start over, held another woman in his arms in public just a short whileter, seemingly not the least bit afraid of how other people would perceive him at all. P Altar 13 +25 Bonus Willow couldn¡¯t help wondering how much Julian had to love Catherine for him not to care about rumors and gossip. She didn¡¯t want to watch them anymore and turned to leave. However, Catherine suddenly called out to her in a rather high- pitched voice. ¡°Mrs. Ziegler.¡± Willow turned around and fixed her gaze on the couple. Catherine seemingly tightened her arms around Julian¡¯s neck. She called out again in her supposed weak voice, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler, there¡¯s absolutely nothing going on between Julian and myself! I was just feeling unwell. That¡¯s why he¡¯s carrying me.¡± Without waiting for Willow to respond, Nancy then piped up in an overly polite voice, ¡°You must be Julian¡¯s wife! Catherine and Julian are childhood friends, and Julian just takes care of her often. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Willow looked at Julian. Julian didn¡¯t let go of Catherine. He just frowned a little. Meanwhile, Willow had no interest in ying the jealousy or possessive game. She was just disgusted by both Catherine¡¯s and Nancy¡¯s behaviors. So, she chuckled coldly and said, ¡°Mrs. Burke, it¡¯s fine if your daughter wants to have fun behind closed doors, but there¡¯s no need for them to poison the eyes of other innocent people. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether I mind them doing that or not. I think the real question is whether your daughter here minds that Julian is secondhand goods.¡± Nancy lost her temper and blurted, ¡°You rude, despicable orphan!¡± ¡°Mrs. Burke!¡± Julian roared, stopping her from speaking any further. Even though he was younger than Nancy, he still sounded like he demanded respect, and Nancy didn¡¯t dare to speak another word after that. Julian set Catherine on the ground and went over to grab Willow¡¯s wrist. ¡°I¡¯ll exin everything to youter.¡± Willow shook him off. She looked at him and said in a mocking tone, ¡°What¡¯s there to exin? Julian Ziegler, can¡¯t we just each preserve our dignity and move on? There really isn¡¯t anything that needs exining between us.¡± Charlie spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Willow turned to look at Charlie. ¡°Can you promise that your daughter will never talk to Julian ever again?¡± Charlie suddenly felt put on the spot. Nancy chimed in at once. ¡°Ms. Harper, in case you don¡¯t know, you¡¯re just an outsider if you¡¯re not the loved one in the rtionship.¡± Charlie immediately yelled at her for that. +25 Bonus Meanwhile, Willow didn¡¯t want to continue wasting her time with people like them. She just turned to Julian and said, ¡°Think about it carefully. The earlier you sign the papers, the faster you can give her the official title.¡± Then, Willow turned on her heels and left without looking back. Life was cruel like that. She had to take it by its horns if she wanted toe out of it alive. Behind her, Julian stood frozen to the ground, under the maple tree, watching as Willow¡¯s lonely figure disappeared out of sight. His gaze was dark, and nobody knew what he was thinking about. That evening, at the top floor balcony of the hospital, Willow rested her arms against the railings as she stared at the whole scenery of Brindley. The sky was streaked with brilliant oranges, pinks, and purples as cloudszily sailed by in the sky. Willow thought about the steps she would have to take after today. Just as she was in deep thought about her future, she heard the sound of heavy yet steady footstepsing up from behind her. She immediately turned around to see who it was. It turned out to be Jeffrey. Under her watchful eyes, Jeffrey soon approached her and mimicked her pose on the rusty railing. A whileter, he turned to the side and quietly observed Willow¡¯s beautiful side profile. ¡°Was it Julian again?¡± he asked gently. Willow didn¡¯t answer him. Jeffrey didn¡¯t seem to mind. He just turned back toward the sky and said in a low, maic voice, ¡°You used to be so deeply in love with him. Julian is the most outstanding person among us, the elite, and he knew what he wanted to do since he was very young. ¡°I thought that I was already bad enough and greedy enough, but I never thought Julian would be so much more cruel than me. He¡¯s not just strict with other people¨Che was also just as strict with himself. Once Jeffrey was done speaking, he stopped and turned to look at Willow next to him, keeping his silence. The sun¡¯s rays were quite blinding as it set. The tip of Willow¡¯s nose was a little more red than usual¨Cshe¡¯d probably just cried for a bit just now. Jeffrey swallowed thickly, his Adam¡¯s apple slightly bobbing. Altar 14 It waste at night when Willow finally drove home. She was about to undo her seatbelt after getting home when she suddenly caught sight of something. Julian had parked his car under the sycamore tree opposite her. He was dressed in all ck as he puffed clouds of smoke into the air. His Adam¡¯s apple kept bobbing lightly, drawing her attention to it. As the smoke rose into the air, it framed his face for a slight moment before being blown away by the gentle night breeze. The night was dark and ck, and his clothes blended right in. It was as if he was part of the darkness himself. When Julian caught sight of Willow, he frowned deeply at first. Then, he extinguished the cigarette and threw it to the ground, stomping out the embers before heading over toward her. Willow didn¡¯t want to talk to him, so she hurried into her apartment building toward the elevators while Julian¡¯s hurried footsteps could be heard following her. In the end, he managed to corner her against her own unit door. ¡°Willow, we need to talk.¡± ¡°Talk?¡± Willow took out the keys from her pocket and responded coldly. ¡°What do we have to talk about?¡± Those wet, steamy nights and Julian¡¯s fake promises felt just like a feverish dream to her. Luckily, she¡¯d never taken any of them to heart. She opened the door, and Julian immediately shot his hand forward to stop the door from opening. After wrestling for a bit, Willow was pushed back against the wall next to the door, with Julian¡¯s arms caging her from both sides. His eyes stared deeply into hers. He was looking at her with a solemn expression on his face. A whileter, he suddenly dipped forward, wanting to kiss her, just like he always didst time. But this time, Willow turned her head away, not letting hime close. Julian stared at her, his voice low and scratchy. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Willow¡¯s face looked soft and fragile. Now that she was no longer the vice CEO of Neb Group, she looked a lot softer than usual, naturally making men want to be more protective of her. Julian swallowed again, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing slightly, as he spoke in an even lower voice. ¡°Willow, things aren¡¯t like how you saw it.¡± Willow retorted, ¡°Then what is it actually like?¡± Even she was starting to look down on herself. Her own husband obviously had eyes for another woman and didn¡¯t care about gossip or rumors spreading about them, but yet, here he was, still clinging to her and pretending to still be in love with her. +25 Bonus This was just saddening and ridiculous. There was a hint of sadness in Willow¡¯s voice as she said, ¡°Julian, I said that we¡¯re over. ¡°You asked me whether I still liked you or not that night, didn¡¯t you? I hadn¡¯t answered then, but now, I can give you my answer. Yes, I used to like you, but I don¡¯t anymore. And I don¡¯t just dislike you. I hate you and you disgust me more than ever. Are you happy with my answer now?¡± There was a redness to Willow¡¯s eyes when she was finally done speaking. ¡°That¡¯s all I wanted to say. Don¡¯te here anymore.¡± With that, she opened the door to her unit, a sliver of light from the inside shining onto Julian¡¯s lonely expression. She went in, shut the door behind her, and looked up at the chandelier on the ceiling, trying not to let her tears fall. Snowy immediately came over to her, tugging on the cuff of her pants and barking softly. Willow bent down to pick the dog up, petting it lovingly, and said, ¡°Are you hungry, little one? Let me give you some food.¡± Snowy just barked in reply. After she was done feeding Snowy, she decided to take a shower next. She caught sight of the ck men¡¯s shirt when she went to fetch her bathrobe. She¡¯d worn it so many nights before as Julian held her in his arms. Truth be told, she had felt her resolve shaking for those nights he held her in his arms. She stared at the shirt for a long while. Then, she took it off the hanger and threw it straight into the trash. She got into the shower after that. The moon was brightly shining in the dark night sky. The sycamore tree danced slightly as its branches and dead leaves rustled in the night breeze, sounding just like the sobbing of a young woman who had no one else to turn to. Meanwhile, Julian remained seated inside his ck car, scrolling through some photos on his phone. Those were the wedding pictures he¡¯d taken with Willow. In this photo, she rested her head on his shoulder and smiled sweetly at the camera. At age 22, Willow was still the vice CEO of Neb Group, and she looked extremely young for her age. Julian couldn¡¯t help reaching forward to caress Willow¡¯s face on the screen. He wished he could feel the warmth of her smile against the cold of the ss pressing against his fingers as he recalled how much she used to like him in the past. P Support Share Altar 15 Willow didn¡¯t like Julian anymore. He just couldn¡¯t understand it. Since when had he lost Willow¡¯s love and adoration? +25 Bonus Three dayster, in Julian¡¯s office at Neb Group, it was obvious that he was in quite a terrible mood. There were a bunch of court summons on his office desk. Willow was the prosecutor. She wanted the court to grant her a divorce and to split up theirmon marriage properties and assets. Julian leaned back on his couch, one leg crossed over the other, as he held the summons in his hand. He then asked Esther, standing next to him, ¡°Has she contacted awyer?¡± Esther answered truthfully. ¡°She hired Mr. Zachary Lawless, the most famous and capable divorcewyer in the field. If he agrees to take her up on her case, I¡¯m afraid that Mr. Gibson won¡¯t be able to win the case for you.¡± Julian nced at her and said softly, ¡°Who said I was going to court with Willow? That¡¯s just her wish. I do not n on getting a divorce with her.¡± Esther was stunned. ¡°What?¡± Julian then ced the summon on the table and tapped on it with his long, slender fingers. The warm sunset glow cast a few rays of sunlight onto his face and reflected in his eyes, making him look like he¡¯d juste out of a picture. A short whileter, he said, ¡°Contact Mr. Lawless and tell him that I¡¯d like to treat him to dinner. Also, spread the word that¡­¡± Esther was taken aback when she heard Julian¡¯s wishes. Julian was finally serious about things. Esther was also a woman, after all, and she¡¯d always pitied Willow for putting in so much of her effort without getting anything in return. But now, with Julian¡¯s interference, Zachary returned Willow¡¯s deposit and refused to take up her case anymore. He even called her up apologetically and offered to treat her to dinner instead. Willow turned him down on his offer. It wasn¡¯t because she was mad at him, but rather, she was too busy to ept it. She told Annie to contact anotherwyer instead. Annie held a napkin to her nose and said in a nasal voice, ¡°None of thewyers in the whole of Brindley is willing to take up our case. Ms. Harper, I think that Mr. Ziegler definitely had a role to y in this. Nobody else would have such power and influence over them.¡± Willow just smiled bitterly. It seemed that Julian was hell¨Cbent on making things hard for her. She¡¯d been married to him for four years, and yet, at the end of it all, she would still be walking away with nothing. +25 Bonus Nheless, Willow didn¡¯t me Annie for it. She just told her to continue contacting morewyers. She was offering quite a substantial amount for herwyer fees, after all. It would be a 2% cut of the total value of her share of properties and assets she¡¯d get from the divorce. Three dayster, Annie finally managed to find a youngwyer, Ned Quinton, who agreed to take them up on the case. So, Willow decided to meet up with him and chat over a cup of coffee. That afternoon, Willow set up the meeting at a luxurious cafe that had a sycamore tree shielding more than half of the cafe¡¯s floor¨Cto¨Clength windows, allowing only wisps of sun rays to shine through its mosaic of leaves into the interior of the cafe, flooding it with a warm, golden hue. Willow sat opposite Ned at a table. Just as she was about to take her documents out to start telling him about the case, Ned suddenly got anxious and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Ziegler!¡± Startled, Willow¡¯s hand froze on the document holder as she looked at Ned in confusion. Ned took a sip of his coffee and finally mustered enough courage to say, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not knowing your real identity, Mrs. Ziegler.¡± He lowered his head in guilt and continued, ¡°Honestly, Mrs. Ziegler, nobody in Bridley dares to take up your case because we don¡¯t have the guts to get on Mr. Ziegler¡¯s wrong side nor make enemies of Neb Group. Also, there¡¯s a high chance that you might not even win this case.¡± Then, he stood up and shook hands with Willow apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry that I can¡¯t help you.¡± Willow didn¡¯t me him. After all, everyone was only trying to look out for themselves. They had to survive, too. Ned left, looking extremely remorseful. Willow figured that Julian must have taught him a lesson¨Cusing his wealth and power, of course. Willow wasn¡¯t in a hurry to get back, however. She sat there in silence as she slowly finished the rest of her coffee. Soon, a familiar voice sounded in her ears. ¡°Meeting up with someone?¡± Willow looked up and saw that it was Jeffrey. ÈÕ Altar 16 Jeffrey was dressed very formally. He wore a navy blue shirt with a ck suit jacket draped over his shoulder. Toplete his look, a ck tie was strapped around his neck. Put together, he looked sharp and refined, yet exuded an air of restrained allure. He gazed at Willow with a faint smile. ¡°Can I sit and have a coffee with you?¡± After a brief pause, Willow returned the smile lightly. ¡°Of course.¡± Jeffrey set his briefcase down and sat down. Very quickly, a waiter approached and politely asked, ¡°What kind of coffee would you like, sir?¡± ¡°Blue Mountain,¡± he replied with a tap of his finger. The waiter nodded and left. He sank back into his chair and habitually reached for a cigarette. Remembering where he was, he frowned and abandoned the idea. He tucked the cigarette away and turned his attention back to Willow. They hadn¡¯t seen each other for a while, and it seemed she had changed quite a bit. She wore a fawn¨Ccolored woolen dress that outlined her slender, graceful figure. Her long raven hair cascaded loosely across her back. She wore no extravagant jewelry, save a singr, delicate chain adorning her corbones. This version of her radiated such a gentle warmth that reminded Jeffrey of a soft pearl. ¡°Have you arranged to meet awyer yet?¡± ¡°Are you here for business, Mr. Gibson?¡± They spoke at the same time, creating a brief moment of awkwardness. Fortunately, the waiter arrived with Jeffrey¡¯s coffee, easing the tension. Jeffrey politely thanked the waiter and took a small sip of his coffee. He began, speaking of something other than the divorce case, ¡°I heard you bumped into Mrs. Chapman from Project Aureliately. Seems like you had a good conversation.¡± Willow lowered her head and gently stirred her coffee. Her voice was soft as she asked, ¡°How do you know about that?¡± Jeffrey stared closely at her. ¡°Mr. Chapman from Project Aurelia is a close family friend. Technically, he is my uncle, or more specifically, my first cousin once removed.¡± She raised her head. ¡°Oh? That¡¯s unexpected. Julian never mentioned it.¡± At the mention of Julian¡¯s name, a subtle silence fell between them¡­. +25 Bonus Jeffrey was awyer after all, and he was well¨Cversed in human nature. He could sense her unease, therefore smoothly changed the subject. ¡°I also heard you¡¯re looking for a space to start something of your own?¡± Willow hummed lightly in acknowledgment. ¡°That¡¯s the n.¡± Jeffrey slid a gold¨Cembossed business card toward her. His gaze deepened slightly. ¡°A friend of mine may be able to help. The property is located in the central atrium of the Grandview Tower. It¡¯d be a great fit for an art¨Crted business. It¡¯s around 8600 square feet, and rent costs 160 thousand dors annually.¡± Willow picked up the card. For that prime location, the price was extremely reasonable. She did not reject Jeffrey¡¯s goodwill. Though Jeffrey and Julian shared a close rtionship, the upper echelon of Brindley was a tight circle. No matter what she wanted to do, she couldn¡¯tpletely avoid thiswork. Not just Jeffrey¨Ceven with the Ziegler family, she wasn¡¯t going to burn bridges so easily. Willow pulled a faint smile. ¡°I owe you one.¡± Seeing her gentle smile, Jeffrey felt something stir in his chest. Yet, he maintained hisposed, professional demeanor and responded with a subtle smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Specks of sunlight scattered through the full¨Clength ss windows, casting a glow on the tip of her nose. The slight warmth brought her hand to stroke the spot. She turned her face away, revealing her fair cheek. A rosy blush further entuated her feminine grace. Across from her, the man¡¯s gaze seemed to linger on her face. He may be calm on the surface, but he was undoubtedly hiding unreadable thoughts beneath. Outside the caf¨¦, a ck Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom was parked by the roadside. Its sleek body gleamed in the sunlight. Inside the car, Julian sat in silence, watching the two of them. One was his childhood friend, and the other was his wife. He was no fool. The way Jeffrey looked at Willow was not innocent. His gaze was that of a man who had taken interest in a woman. If he remembered correctly, Jeffrey was a workaholic who had never fallen under the influence of a woman. And now, he had¨Cfor his wife. Should he be angry? Or should he take pride in his wife¡¯s marvelous charm? Altar 17 Willow¡¯s attire was markedly different from before. Gone were the rigid, professional suits¨Cher current outfit carried a touch of innocent allure. It looked as if she had casually styled for a date. Julian felt extremely ufortable. He pulled out his phone and started dialing Willow¡¯s number. As soon as she answered the phone, he coldly demanded, ¡°Where are you?¡± It wasn¡¯t until a brief pauseter did Willow reply, ¡°Must I report my whereabouts to you? Julian Ziegler, we are about to get a divorce.¡± Julian¡¯s voice remained firm. ¡°That¡¯s only your one¨Csided decision.¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back an incredulousugh. ¡°Is that so?¡± She didn¡¯t want anything to do with him any longer. Suppressing her emotions, she managed as gently as she could, ¡°I no longer hold any value for you. Can¡¯t we part on good terms? Actually, Julian, I can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Willow Harper!¡± interrupted Julian. His voice was quick and urgent; he wouldn¡¯t let her utter the rest of her sentence. They had wanted two children¨CLandon and Evelyn. They were once their hopes and dreams. Without the children, there seemed to be no path forward for him and Willow. At that moment, an overwhelming sense of attachment surged within him. Caught off guard, he could no longer tell how much of his feelings for Willow were genuine love. The tense atmosphere was abruptly interrupted by another iing call on Willow¡¯s phone. It was the caregiver looking after her grandmother. Without so much as a second thought, she hung up on Julian and answered Maureen¡¯s call. Maureen¡¯s voice was filled with panic as she eximed, ¡°Ms. Harper, something terrible has happened! A woman came by, and Madam Harper developed chest pain. Fortunately, there was medicine by the bed, which she managed to take herself. Had that not been the case¡­ I dare not imagine the consequences.¡± Willow¡¯s face turned deathly pale. After ending the call, she said to the attorney, ¡°I have an urgent matter to attend to. Mr. Gibson, we¡¯ll have to discuss this another time.¡± Seeing her ashenplexion, Jeffrey hesitated, wanting to offer assistance. But before he could, she had already rushed out. In her haste, she didn¡¯t even notice Julian. Meanwhile, the two men¡¯s gazes met, separated by a pane of ss. 1 +25 Bonus Julian¡¯s dark eyes were cold and unfeeling. For people of their status, allowing others to covet their wives was uneptable. Especially when the other man was a childhood friend. By the time Willow arrived at the hospital, Grace was out of harm¡¯s way. She was now asleep after taking her medication. Willow stood by her bedside and gently brushed aside the silver strands of hair on her face. Her expression was unusually tender. Just then, Maureen called out to her softly, ¡°Ms. Harper, there¡¯s something I have to tell you.¡± Willow straightened up slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± They stepped out into the hallway. Maureen recounted everything in detail. ¡°It was a young woman¨Cshe looked shallow and vain. She came straight to Madam Harper and imed she was pregnant with Mr. Ziegler¡¯s child, demanding that you step aside. Madam Harper was so angry that she nearly copsed on the spot. Then, upon seeing her condition worsen, the woman ran away without offering any help.¡± Her expression was grave. ¡°Ms. Harper, there¡¯s surveince footage to prove it. I¡¯m not making this up!¡± Willow¡¯s hands trembled. She struggled to contain her emotions and spoke with forcedposure, ¡°I understand. Please take care of Madam Harper while I handle some things.¡± Maureen assured her that she would. After making the necessary arrangements, Willow turned and walked down the corridor. The setting sun cast streams of crimson light through the windows. Her figure glowed red, as if she were engulfed in mes. Her face was filled with the harshness of the world. Willow was willing to give up love, to lose Julian, to lose everything. But she could not lose her grandmother. Her grandmother was her bottom line. And now, Catherine had crossed it. D Altar 18 Now that autumn was here, the streets had transformed into rivers of fallen leaves. A fleet of sleek ck cars drove into a vi in Brindlewood, making a grand entrance. There were maybe seven or eight in total. The servants tried to stop them from entering, but how could they hold back over 20 men in ck? An elderly servant was forcibly dragged in front of Willow. He couldn¡¯t stop trembling in fear. Willow¡¯s eyes were cial. ¡°Is Catherine Burke home?¡± The old servant feigned ignorance, avoiding eye contact and mumbling evasively. Willow paid him no attention and walked straight into the grand hall. Behind her, Annie and the 20¨Codd security personnel followed closely. Catherine was lounging on her sofa enjoying a self¨Cpamper session when she suddenly found herself surrounded. Startled, she tried to act tough. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? This is trespassing! I¡¯m warning you¨Cit¡¯s illegal!¡± ¡°Illegal?¡± Willow emerged from within the crowd, a mocking smile tugging at her lips. ¡°If I remember correctly, Julian and I are still legally married. I am still Mrs. Ziegler, and this house is a joint property in both our names.¡± Willow pointed a finger at Catherine, then at thevishly decorated hall. ¡°Anything on you that was purchased with Julian¡¯s card -even your underwear¨CI have every right to reim. All those Dulcet & Co. handbags in your closet, too, fall under our marital assets. As for this vi, I own half the rights to it. Now, I¡¯m legally asking you to move out. Nothing unreasonable about that, is there?¡± Catherine stomped her foot in fury. ¡°Julian will not let you get away with this.¡± Willow¡¯s expression grew frigid. ¡°And until he¡¯s here, I¡¯m not letting you off.¡± With that, she picked up a ss vase. Not just any vase¨Cit was a masterpiece by a world¨Crenowned artisan, worth over 40 thousand dors. And that was just one item¨Cthere was no imagining the total value of this extravagantly furnished vi. She had fought alongside Julian for years, only for another woman to reap the benefits of herbor. What a joke. In the next second, a loud crash rang through the halls. The vase shattered into smithereens. The 40 thousand dors was reduced to nothing but shards on the floor. Willow¡¯s gaze fell on Catherine. Calmly. She delivered her orders to the ck¨Cd men. ¡°Destroy everything! I don¡¯t want to see a single trace of this ce as it is now.¡± Catherine shrieked in objection, ¡°You can¡¯t do that! This is my home.¡± A sharp p cut her off. +25 Bonus She waspletely stunned. It took a long moment for her to return to her senses. When she finally did, she murmured, ¡°This is my home. This is my home with Julian. You can¡¯t just destroy it.¡± Each time she imed it was her home, Willow pped her again. She didn¡¯t hold back. Soon, Catherine¡¯s delicate face was swollen. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked utterly pathetic. Even then, she insisted this was her home, demanding the men stop what they were doing. But they were ruthless. Within half an hour, the entire vi was unrecognizable. Catherine was on the verge of a breakdown. She was about to lose her mind. But Willow still had unfinished business with her. She walked up to her, studying her innocent face. Upon learning about Julian¡¯s betrayal, she had chosen to handle things civilly. Before today, she had only discussed divorce and neverid a finger on Catherine. Yet, it was Catherine herself who overstepped her boundaries and touched Willow¡¯s family. Willow reached out and brushed her fingers against Catherine¡¯s abdomen. Her movements were eerily gentle. Goosebumps trailed across Catherine¡¯s skin in their wake, and she trembled violently in fear. Memories of the trouble she had caused at the hospital earlier in the day were still fresh in her mind. She had no idea if that olddy survived¨Cbut even if she were dead, she would never admit to anything. She didn¡¯t think it mattered. She carried something Julian wanted. As long as that remained true, he would go to great lengths to protect her. Willow looked her in the eyes. ¡°I heard you¡¯re pregnant? That it¡¯s Julian¡¯s?¡± Catherine clenched her jaw. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m carrying Julian¡¯s baby. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can order a paternity test after the child is born and see for yourself.¡± Willow sneered. ¡°No need for all that trouble! The world of technology has advanced since the olden days. We can determine the DNA match from the amniotic fluid. All the doctor has to do is extract amniotic fluid directly from your uterus, using a long needle like a steel nail through your abdomen. From there, they canpare it with Julian¡¯s hair sample for confirmation.¡± Catherine was downright petrified. A long needle like a steel nail¡­ through her abdomen¡­ to extract amniotic fluid! Every word Willow uttered sent a series of chills down her spine. Her teeth chattered involuntarily, but she still refused to admit the truth. She wouldn¡¯t say she wasn¡¯t pregnant. Willow, on the other hand, remained unforgiving. She ordered, ¡°Take her to the hospital!¡± Altar 19 Without the slightest sliver of mercy, the guards dragged Catherine away. Very soon, her delicate limbs were covered in bruises that were especially stark against her pale skin. Her shrill, unrestrained screams rang through the entire vi. ¡°You old hag! You¡¯re just jealous because you can¡¯t have children yourself. Julian will never forgive you. He¡¯ll only love me more and treat me better!¡± Her words were like needles piercing Willow¡¯s heart, inflicting a deep, unrelenting pain. She walked up to Catherine, raising her hand to deliver another p. But her hand nevernded. Julian had arrived in the nick of time. The evening twilight cast shadows over his face, making his grim expression all the more terrifying. He took in the scene before him¨Cthe wreckage of the vi, Catherine¡¯s swollen face, her bruised limbs. As the frail girl wept pitifully, a storm brewed in the depths of his dark eyes. (1) At that moment, his anger boiled over, clouding his reason. It drove him tomit a mistake he would regret for the rest of his life. A loud, crisp p echoed in the vast, empty vi, reverberating endlessly. Willow¡¯s face was whipped to the side. She stood still for a long time without turning back. She was in such a sorry state. Not because of the p across her face, or the physical pain. Not even because of the shock or heartbreak. Instead, it was her life. Because she, Willow Harper, was leading a life ofplete and utter disgrace. And at this moment, the shattered pieces of her life all came crashing down on her. They washed over her wave after wave, drowning her. There was no healing from that kind of brokenness. Willow burst outughing. She brought a hand to her cheek, gently touching the spot where Julian had struck her. Ever so calmly, she turned her head to look up at her enraged husband. It was as if she didn¡¯t know him. It was like he was not the Julian she knew. It was as though he was not the same man she once fell so deeply in love with. +25 Bonus Julian had rushed to Catherine, holding her close. The girl took full advantage of the moment to lean into his embrace, her gaze on Willow housing a triumphant glint. The silent mockery was somehow deafening to her. It was then that Nancy¡¯s words popped into her mind. She once said, ¡°The one who isn¡¯t loved is the real mistress.¡± What did it matter that she had been married to Julian for four years? What did it matter that she was hiswful wife? At the end of the day, he hadn¡¯t bothered to ask what happened when he saw all of this. He hadn¡¯t asked a single question before pping her. Willow muttered to herself, ¡°So it¡¯s true. The one who isn¡¯t loved is the real mistress!¡± Julian didn¡¯t catch what she said. Still furious, he questioned, ¡°Willow Harper, what do you think you¡¯re doing? Do you realize she¡¯s not in good health? She¡­¡± Tears started to roll down Willow¡¯s cheeks. (1 But she didn¡¯t feel them. Instead, she replied softly, ¡°You can cherish that woman in your arms all you want. Julian Ziegler, do you expect me to cherish her with you? You didn¡¯t even ask why I came here today. You didn¡¯t ask why I¡¯m trying to take her away. You¡¯re not even going to ask what she did, are you?¡± Naturally, Julian turned to look at Catherine. Catherine wailed, pulling the most innocent look she could. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything! I swear. I was just at home doing a face mask when she barged in and tried to drag me to the hospital. She was saying something about sticking a steel needle in my belly.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes smoldered with fury. ¡°You¡¯ve gone mad, Willow!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I must have gone mad,¡± Willow chuckled. ¡°I must be mad to have ever loved you, Julian.¡± Her heart was long dead. From that moment on, she would never love Julian Ziegler again. Otherwise, she would spend the rest of her life burning in the mes of a love that would never see an end. Without further exnation, she turned and left. She was letting it all go. After all, the entanglement of love and hate was no match for the simple act of letting go. ¡°Willow.¡± Who was that, calling out from behind her? Was it the Julian from their youth? Sadly, the Julian from their youth was long gone. The man standing behind her was no more than a shell. A hollow shell she no longer wanted anything to do with¡­ Annie trailed closely behind her, supporting her in silence. Outside, the sky was already tinged with the hues of dusk. Willow stopped in her tracks and tilted her head back, gazing up at the sycamore tree. +25 Bonus The wind swept past, rustling the few remaining leaves. It sounded like a weeping little girl. She stared at it for a long, long time before finally whispering, ¡°The leaves have fallen.¡± Annie¡¯s emotions pricked her nose, and she let a tear escape. She could hold it in no longer. She let go of Willow and ran back into the vi, shouting at Julian with all her might, ¡°You don¡¯t know Altar 20 Annie took a deep breath. Choking back her tears, she continued, ¡°Catherine almost killed Ms. Harper¡¯s grandmother! She lied and told Madam Harper she was pregnant with your child, causing such a shock that she almost died. Yet, here you are, pping Ms. Harper for her instead.¡± Julian was taken aback for a moment. Catherine, pregnant? How was that possible? His gaze darkened as he turned to her. ¡°You told Willow¡¯s grandmother that you were pregnant?¡± Catherine was scared out of her wits. Pitifully, she tried to exin to him, ¡°I just couldn¡¯t stand her! She¡¯s always putting on airs in front of me, so I¡­ Julian, I didn¡¯t mean any harm.¡± He abruptly released her and strode out, ignoring her desperate calls. He didn¡¯t even spare her a second nce. Catherine was left in shock. For the first time, she had failed to keep Julian on her leash. She refused to believe that Willow still held a ce in his heart. Their marriage had clearly been a transaction. How could he possibly develop feelings for her? Annie spat at her before turning on her heels and following Julian out. When Julian reached the door, Willow had already climbed into her car. When the couple locked eyes with each other again, they both knew things couldn¡¯t go back to the way they were. Through the ss window between them, Julian said in a hoarse voice, ¡°I was wrong to have med you. 11 In truth, those words barely scratched the surface of what he wanted to say. But he had been too ruthless in his youth¨Ctoo ruthless with himself, and too ruthless with Willow. Now, he struggled to express tenderness and warmth; they were too foreign on his tongue. In those nights of illness and intimacy, Julian often watched Willow¡¯s sleeping face. He would wonder silently if he had any true feelings for her beyond their marital bond. He did, albeit not much! Yet he knew, with absolute rity, that he did not want to lose her. Willow stayed put in her car. +25 Bonus She couldn¡¯t bear another sight of him. She no longer wanted to acknowledge the man whom she had shared a bed with for the past four years. To her, Julian was nothing but air. The feelings of love and hate would only be wasted on him. She kept her gaze fixed straight ahead and spoke in a calm, indifferent tone. ¡°No, you did nothing wrong. The mistake was mine. My younger self, who once loved you, was wrong. I should never have given in to the temptation. I knew there was no love between us, yet I threw myself into this marriage like a moth to a me. ¡°Back then, I was ignorant and fearless. But now, I¡¯ve woken up.¡± She paused to breathe. ¡°I¡¯ve woken up, okay? ¡°Julian, I have the right to wake up, don¡¯t I?¡± Willow¡¯s face remained expressionless. It was calm, neither joyful nor downcast. It was as though loving Julian was a thing of the past, as though she could forget everything between them in the next second. Julian felt his heart clench. he He had never been an impulsive man. From a young age, his every move was carefully calcted. But at that very moment, abandoned all rationality. He wrenched open the car door, reaching for Willow¡¯s hand. All he wanted to do was to pull her into his arms and never let go, to start anew with her. ¡°I will make it up to you, Willow!¡± Willow harshly flung his arm aside. ¡°Make it up? What can you possibly do to make it up to me, Julian? As your wife, all I ask for now is your signature on the divorce papers. All I need is for you to return me to the peaceful life I once had. Thank you in advance, Julian Ziegler!¡± Willow¡¯s voice choked with emotion. Julian¡¯s palm rested over the back of her hand. The strength of the man ovepped with the softness of the woman; it was all his pleading and all her disappointment. She gritted her teeth. ¡°Let go!¡± Even then, Julian refused to let go. For more than a dozen seconds, he held on. Then, he finally let go. The tinted window slowly rolled up, separating the former couple into two separate worlds. Willow lifted her chin slightly, suppressing the tremor in her voice. ¡°Let¡¯s depart,¡± shemanded. The driver returned a nod and stepped on the elerator. The ck car slowly drove forward, its tires crushing the withered leaves beneath. It drove past Julian, putting more and more distance between them. Altar 21 Julian stood there. His face was devoid of emotion. It was impossible to tell what was going through his head. +25 Bonus While Julian was outside, Catherine¡¯s parents had rushed over to the vi. Nancy screamed when she saw how the house was in a ¡°What on earth happened here? Who was it that had the audacity to do this to the Neb Group¡¯s CEO¡¯s house?¡± Catherine held one hand over her cheek. ¡°It was Willow.¡± Nancy¡¯s anger diminished almost instantly. However, she snickered a few secondster. ¡°She won¡¯t be able to act haughtily like this for long. We can do pretty much anything we want to an orphan like her once Julian divorces her.¡± Charlie felt his conscience telling him this was not right. He furrowed his brows. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. She¡¯s Julian¡¯swfully wedded wife, after all.¡± Nancy was irked. ¡°Lawfully wedded wife? If you ask me, the two of them are just pretending to be a couple. If it weren¡¯t for what happened back then¡­¡± Charlie called out to Nancy and stopped her from saying more. Nancy ordered a maid to fetch her some ice. Then, she helped apply a cold press to Catherine¡¯s swollen cheek. ¡°Look what she¡¯s done to Catherine! Are you not going to do something about it? Aren¡¯t you acquainted with Aurelia Group¡¯s Mrs. Chapman? You should talk to her. If Mr. Chapman agrees to work with Neb because of Catherine, it¡¯ll help Catherine solidify her position in the Ziegler family.¡± Catherine¡¯s eyes were bright with tears. ¡°Dad, say something!¡± Charlie had an awkward expression on his face. Nancy cast him a sidelong nce. She remarked scornfully, ¡°You¡¯re still not over her, aren¡¯t you? She¡¯s already married to another man.¡± (1 Charlie snapped, ¡°What nonsense are you going on about?¡± Truthfully, he could not help but feel a bit guilty. At night, Charlie would often dream of his past lover and the child they¡¯d had in his sleep. The child went missing when she was only five, and they still had not found her even after years of searching. Charlie had only learned of this two years ago, and he dared not tell Nancy what happened. He went over to a corner to have a cigarette. The smoke from his cigarette curled upward, and the corners of Charlie¡¯s eyes were red. Nancy did not notice the unusual changes in her husband¡¯s emotions. She was still nagging. ¡°I don¡¯t care what happened between the two of you in the past. Anyhow, you need to consider what¡¯s best for Catherine¡¯s future.¡± Charlie drew on his cigarette hard and long. He wanted to meet that person again and ask if there were any new updates on their daughter¡¯s whereabouts. +25 Bonus In the hospital¡¯s VIP ward, Willow sat next to the bed while she peeled an apple. Grace was staring at her face intently. Willow put her palm lightly against her own cheek. She got it treated by a doctor to help reduce the swelling beforeing here. Willow asked, ¡°Grandma, what are you looking at?¡± Grace asked, ¡°Is Julian good to you?¡± Willow paused for a split second. ¡°Julian has been very good to me.¡± However, Grace was very keen and perceptive. After giving it some serious thought, she came to a painful but much¨Cneeded decision¡­ ¡°If you¡¯re unhappy with your marriage, you should get a divorce. For ordinary people like us, stepping into the world of the rich and powerful will alwayse with many hurdles. ¡°In the past, I couldn¡¯t say much since you had feelings for Julian. However, I can see that those feelings are gradually fading away now. You two might as well just break up.¡± ¡°Grandma¡­¡± Willow said in a choked voice. She did not expect Grace would be so open¨Cminded about it. The sound of someone knocking on the door could be heard just then. Willow looked in the direction of the noise and saw Julian standing by the door. He was staring at her with those dark eyes which held an unreadable look. It appeared Julian had been standing there for quite some time. He probably heard the entire conversation just now. Nevertheless, Willow could not be bothered with it. Julian slowly walked into the room and ced a fruit basket on the coffee table. Then, he sat down beside Grace and chatted with her. With his experience socializing with those in the elite circle, Julian had no trouble holding a pleasant conversation with an olddy. Beside them, Willow remained expressionless. During their four years of marriage, Julian had rarely joined her in visiting Grace. It was already a clear indication of whether Julian truly cared about her. Still, Willow had put up with that for four years. She could not help but feel that she had iting. Julian¡¯s voice rang in her ear at that moment. ¡°What are you thinking so deeply about?¡± Altar 22 Willow did not want to speak to him. She excused herself and went into the bathroom. She leaned against the wall and stared nkly into space. Willow was waiting for Julian to take the hint and leave. Ten minutester, the bathroom door opened with a soft creak. A ray of light streamed in through the opened door, and Julian slipped in shortly afterward. There were only the two of them inside that dark space. Willow did not look at him, a sign of her refusing tomunicate with him. Julian stopped before her. With his tall form, he towered over Willow. Julian reached out and lightly ced his hand against her cheek. His voice was hoarse yet gentle. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Willow turned her face away. She was repulsed by his touch, and she made sure to show it clearly. However, Julian was not someone who would give up easily. He pushed one leg between Willow¡¯s legs and held her chin. He gently caressed her cheek as if he was looking at something precious to him. Yet, Willow merely found his behavior absurd. She tried to push his hand away, but Julian caught her wrist instead. As he held her wrist firmly, Julian stared at Willow quietly with an intense gaze. As far as she could recall, Julian had never looked at her that way. Willow could not understand why he was doing this now when it was already toote. Willow said in a cracked voice, ¡°Let me go!¡± Julian took out a small tube of ointment from his pocket. He squeezed out some ointment and applied it carefully onto Willow¡¯s cheek. Willow had no choice but to stay still arid let Julian do whatever he wanted. However, there was not a single trace of warmth in her eyes as she stared at him. Her eyes reflected a cold light. ¡°Are you done? Let me go if you are.¡± Julian gazed at her. ¡°Do you hate it that much when I touch you?¡± Willow replied immediately, ¡°Yes.¡± As if he could no longer hold back, Julian lowered his head and tried to kiss Willow. He wanted to remind her of past memories. Willow wanted none of that, of course. She kept turning her face away, trying to avoid any intimate contact with Julian. Unfortunately, Julian could be stubborn at times. The more she refused, the more Julian wanted to do it. The couple¡¯s bodies were stuck close to each other in that narrow bathroom. Eventually, Willow was forced to ept Julian¡¯s kisses and caresses since she was no match for him in terms of strength. Shafts of light fell on her soft skin, where beads of sweat appeared. +25 Bonus The veins on Julian¡¯s forehead bulged, which was an indication of how hard he was trying to suppress his urges. Unfortunately, it was not a good time or ce for them to be doing these things.. A short whileter, he buried his face in the nape of Willow¡¯s neck. Julian muttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Willow¡¯s clothes were disheveled. Her hand was shaking as she lifted it and threw a p across Julian¡¯s face. Curiously, the sound felt much louder than it actually was in that dark space. Julian did not resist or fight back. He held Willow in a tight embrace and whispered next to her ear in a shaky voice, ¡°You¡¯re the most important person in my heart, Willow.¡± Willow raised her head. A tear rolled down her face. A momentter, she pushed Julian away and walked out of the bathroom silently. Just like how some rtionships were not meant tost, some promises could be easily broken at any moment. She and Julian could not possibly go back to how things were. Besides, there was nothing much to begin with since it had always just been Willow having feelings for Julian and making sacrifices for him one¨Csidedly. Now, Willow no longer wanted him. It did not matter to her anymore whom Julian considered was the most important to him. Julian often visited Grace at the hospital. If Willow was not around, he would chat with Grace to keep herpany. After being married for four years, it was as though Julian finally had the time to meet and socialize with the only family Willow had. (1) Yet, Willow was not moved. She was still looking for awyer to help her get divorced from Julian. Meanwhile, the Ziegler family seemed to have learned of what happened since Catherine was not even trying to be discreet with what she did. Liam phoned Willow twice, asking her to drop by home for a meal together. Yet, Willow rejected both invitations. After being let down by Julian again this time, Willow could not even be bothered to visit the Zieglers for the sake of keeping up appearances. A week , it was a rainy night inte autumn. In the silent night, little pools of water formed on the dark ground. The fallen leaves, which were soaked in rainwater, gradually blended in with the ground. Altar 23 Willow left the hospital and headed home. Julian quickly hurried after her. After she stopped her car, Willow could see Julian standing next to his car, which was parked beside the sycamore tree. When Willow exited her car, Julian moved to block her path. ¡°We need to talk.¡± Willow walked past him and headed for the elevator. ¡°There¡¯s nothing for us to talk about, Julian. I¡¯ll see you in court.¡± She went up to her floor, and Julian followed behind her. However, Willow did not let him into her apartment. She leaned against the door after closing it. Julian took up a big part of her youth. It was actually really painful for Willow to try and cut him off now. She spent some time organizing her thoughts. Then, Willow took her bathrobe and went for a shower. As for whether Julian would linger outside or leave, it was none of her business anymore. As the night deepened, one could see through the windows of the building the lights going out one after another. Inside a ck car parked on the ground floor, a dim light was turned on. A man dressed in all ck sat in the car. He gave off an elegant, sophisticated aura even though his face showed no expression. Julian was looking at his phone, more specifically at Willow¡¯s photos saved in his phone¡¯s photo album. Willow was smiling softly in one of those photos. Julian had not seen her smile in a long time. In fact, they were just a few minutes away from each other with one being inside the building and the other outside. Yet, Willow did not even want to speak to him. Julian was not exactly sure why he was trying so hard to save their marriage. Whether it was out of guilt and remorse or because of Willow¡¯s worth as the Neb Group¡¯s CEO¡¯s wife. There was an air of mncholy as the raindrops hit the bare branches of the sycamore tree. A man¡¯s form could be seen vaguely through the car window. The water droplets hanging from the tree branches fell onto the roof of the car one after the other, making a loud noise with each drop. In the morning, Willow took Snowy out for a walk. The weather had turned cold. She could see her breath after taking just a few steps out of her building. Willow was wearing a thin sweater dress and a brown coat. The belt entuated her slim waist. Willow had let down her dark, slightly curly hair. Overall, she exuded an exotic elegance. Julian was watching her silently from inside the ck car¡­ +25 Bonus Willow had never dressed up in this style before. Yet, it seemed like this was her go¨Cto style recently. Julian wondered if it was because of Jeffrey. He opened the car door and walked over to where Willow was. By the time Willow had snapped to her senses, she was already holding breakfast and a bottle of milk. A man¡¯s gentle voice began, ¡°You should have some breakfast first before going for a jog.¡± ¡°Woof! Woof!¡± Snowy barked at Julian. Willow could not help but find it ironic as she lowered her head and stared at the food she was holding. Julian never cared about her when she was still his wife. He would even use Willow like she was a machine built to aid his work. Now that he had a mistress, Julian was trying to act like he was a loving partner to her instead. Willow could not fathom why he was doing all this. She tried to push the food back into Julian¡¯s hands. Willow replied coldly, ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this. This isn¡¯t what we¡¯re supposed to be doing.¡± Julian had a determined look in his eyes. ¡°What are we supposed to be doing, then? Tell me, Willow. I¡¯ll do as you say. We will¡­¡± Willow¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°There is no we. There¡¯s only you and me.¡± Julian refused to take the food from her. Willow went over to a garbage bin and tossed the bag of food and drink into the bin. Then, she turned around and looked at Julian. ¡°Julian, can both of us be a bit more rational? You¡¯re not the old Julian, and I¡¯m not the old Willow either. I don¡¯t want you anymore.¡± Julian stood under the sycamore tree. The good¨Clooking man watched Willow¡¯s receding figure silently. Just then, a water droplet fell from the tree branch andnded on the corner of his eye before it rolled down his cheek¡­ 11 Altar 24 One weekter, Willow secured the unit for her business. She signed a contract for five years since the price and location of the unit were ideal. She wrote a check and passed it to the With the economy having slowed down in recent years, thendlord was very pleased with the fact that Willow wanted to sign a contract for five years. Thendlord left shortly afterward since he had other arrangements. On the other hand, Willow remained seated as she tried to finish her coffee. It was a habit she had had for a long time. Just then, she heard a soft female voice. ¡°Willow!¡± Willow paused for a split second. It was Natalie, Jeffrey¡¯s younger sister. 1 Natalie was still a college student. She and Willow were not exactly close. However, she was being very friendly to her that day. Natalie hurried over and clung to Willow¡¯s arm while speaking to her enthusiastically. Even someone who was usually aloof and distant like Willow liked how bubbly and lovely the youngdy was. Willow beckoned a waiter over and ordered two desserts for Natalie. A whileter, the waiter served the dessert to the table. Natalie was clearly in bliss as she ate the dessert. She finally remembered her initial purpose after finishing her serving. ¡°It¡¯s my brother¡¯s birthday tomorrow. We¡¯re having a party. You should join us!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jeffrey¡¯s birthday tomorrow?¡± Willow pondered. Without much hesitation, she declined the invite politely. ¡°I probably won¡¯t be able to make it.¡± Natalie had a knowing look on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Julian won¡¯t be there. He¡¯s never attended these small, insignificant parties¡­ I can bet it on my brother¡¯s life!¡± Willow felt that Jeffrey would need to have at least nine lives for Natalie to make bets like this. After giving it some thought, Willow epted Natalie¡¯s invitation eventually. She owed Jeffrey a few favors, after all. 1 On her way home, Willow stopped by the mall to get Jeffrey a gift. After considering the rtionship between her and Jeffrey, she decided to get him a gold pen. It was a gift that was proper for the asion and would not look too shabby. +25 Bonus She spent some time browsing and eventually picked a pen with a price of 126 thousand dors. Once she had settled the payment using her credit card, the saleswoman tried to promote other items as well. ¡°You must be picking out birthday gifts for your husband, madam. We also have an exquisite selection ofpel pins and cufflinks that are of the finest quality in the market. Would you like to take a look at them?¡± Willow wanted to exin that she did not need them. However, the saleswoman had brought over a silver tray. Willow did not want to yell at the saleswoman since thetter was just doing her job. She picked up one of the items on the tray to have a closer look. During her four years of being married to Julian, Willow had handled and selected all of his clothes and essories. Gradually, she developed a good taste for fine, luxurious items. She smiled slightly. ¡°Thispel pin looks pretty nice.¡± The saleswoman keptplimenting Willow about how she had excellent taste, hoping that she would make the purchase. Truthfully, spending 180 thousand dors on a gift was not that big of a deal to Willow. Yet, she stared at the pin for a long while. Eventually, she muttered, ¡°It¡¯s a shame since I have no one to give it to now.¡± Meanwhile, Julian stood quietly by an elevator. Neb Group had just obtained this mall through acquisition a week ago. Julian came for an inspection today, and he was not expecting to see Willow there. It seemed like Willow was picking out apel pin for him. Julian thought about how she must still have feelings for him since she was willing to buy him gifts. 1 He also recalled their times together. To be fair, their marriage had not been an entirely bad experience for Julian. Other than the fact that Willow was a bit more reserved in bed, Julian had nothing toin about their marital rtionship. Moreover, Willow looked a lot more frail and delicate these days. Julian kept getting the urge to pull her into his arms and offer her sce with his gentle caresses. He longed for her now. Standing beside him, Esther reminded Julian when she noticed he was getting distracted. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, Mr. Ludwig is giving a report of his work.¡± Julian finally turned his gaze away from Willow. He walked away with a group of men trailing behind him. As he treaded away, Julian thought about how there was no way their four¨Cyear¨Clong marital rtionship woulde to an end. It was only a matter of time before they reconciled¡­ 1 Willow was stuck in a traffic jam the next day. By the time she got to the private room of a club, she was already 30 minuteste. She opened the door and apologized sincerely, Moon Hans Hopen of teffog¡¯e friend or quiety in Holle ratse of them stobed their nose are they watched what was soon to mible with anticipation Altar 25 ¡°Julian¡¯s wife is celebrating another man¡¯s birthday behind Julian¡¯s back.¡± ¡°Well, Julian caught her red¨Chanded.¡± ¡°Julian doesn¡¯t love Willow, though. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll make a fuss about it.¡± +25 Bonus Julian leaned back against a couch ced in a corner of the room. With his ck attire, it was as though he had blended in with the darkness. Even in a ce like that, Julian exuded an air of refinement. He seemed like he could be a celestial being who would never be tainted by matters of the mortal world. Julian fixed Willow, who was standing at the door, with an intense gaze. It was obvious that she had dressed up for the asion. Willow was wearing a greyish¨Cblue satin dress with a fitted waistline, a pearl ne around her neck, and a pair of diamond earrings. She also paired her outfit with a handbag and a watch of matching colors. She looked both elegant and feminine. No one knew exactly when it was that Willow had started showing these changes. She started showing this alluring side of her. Men were mesmerized by her presence and every move, including Julian. However, Julian felt that those were just the effects of hormones and had nothing to do with emotions like love. As soon as he took care of this primal urge, Julian was certain the attraction he felt toward Willow would fade away as well. He cast a nce at Willow¡¯s hands. She was holding a beautifully wrapped gift box. It was obviously a gift she had gotten for Jeffrey¡¯s birthday¡­ ¡°So, she was getting a gift for Jeffrey. It wasn¡¯t for me!¡± Julian thought. The joy of having seen her the day before vanished instantly at that moment. Julian¡¯s eyes hardened. He was looking at Willow as if she was the wife who had cheated on him. There was a strained atmosphere in the room¡­ Eventually, Natalie braced herself and stepped forward to wee Willow. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t know Julian would show up here today. He¡¯s never attended Jeffrey¡¯s birthday parties before. He¡¯s always said that they were boring.¡± Willow did not me her. Moreover, she could not even be bothered with how Julian would feel. The two of them would soon be officially separated. Willow had the freedom to interact with whomever she liked. She held out the gift. ¡°Happy birthday, Mr. Gibson.¡± Jeffrey took the gift from her and smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you.¡± +25 Bonus Someone cracked a joke at that moment. ¡°Jeffrey hardly ever smiles! Julian¡¯s wife happens to be the first person who¡¯s made him smile. You mustn¡¯t get jealous over this, Mr. Ziegler. You can¡¯t!¡± All of them had known each other since they were kids. They dared make jokes about this since they were aware that Julian did not love Willow. Who would ever care about a woman they did not love? The person that Julian had given his heart to was someone else. None of them noticed how the man sitting in a corner of the room had an icy look in his eyes. Still, he maintained an unreadable expression on his face. Julian drew on his cigarette and stared at Willow with a stony gaze. She no longer cared about his feelings, and she even acted chummy with another man. Willow had not said a word to Julian. At the same time, Julian did not try to act like a caring, loving husband to her. Things seemed to have ended between them¡­ Those who were present in the room were all very observant and perceptive. Most of them concluded that Julian and Willow would surely get divorced. Their attitude toward Willow changed almost instantly. They became more affable. Willow looked beautiful that night, and no one would dislike a beautiful woman. Willow was asked to join the rest in ying a game of truth or dare. She was seated next to Jeffrey. While they were picking their cards, some level of physical contact was unavoidable since they were sitting side by side. There was an unusual atmosphere between them. At the very least, Jeffrey¡¯s intentions were not pure. In the past, Jeffrey would never join and y a childish game like this. It was obvious that he was making an exception tonight because of Willow. Jeffrey got a king card. The others were all waiting for this moment. All of them wanted to hear his honest feelings and ask him if there was someone he liked. Jeffrey had a calm expression. ¡°I¡¯ll answer the question honestly.¡± There was a moment of silence. His friends were no fools. Besides, Jeffrey¡¯s intention was as clear as day. If it were before, no one would be able to imagine hearing him say something like that. Altar 26 In the other corner of the room, Julian leaned forward and stubbed out his cigarette. With his perfect side profile and slender fingers, he looked charming even when he was just doing those simple movements. Then, he stood up and walked over to the group. Julian ced one hand on Willow¡¯s shoulder lightly. ¡°It¡¯s time to go home, Willow.¡± A heavy silence lingered in the air. The others did not expect Julian to be so affected by this. They all assumed that he did not care that much about Willow. Besides, Jeffrey had not overstepped his boundaries. He merely said something ambiguous. It was not as though he had actually stolen something precious from Julian. Yet, Julian had reacted this way. Even back then, he had never acted so defensive when it came to that person. It seemed like being officially married did make a lot of difference. Everyone thought that Willow would surely listen to Julian and follow him home since he had given in first. She would most likely go back to being the good wife and choose to turn a blind eye to the scandalous gossip and news involving Julian. (1) To their surprise, Willow tantly rejected him. She pushed his hand off gently and said in a soft voice, ¡°It¡¯s my friend¡¯s birthday, and we¡¯re still in the middle of a game. You can head home first if you want.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes hardened. The others sat in The scale of Neb Group¡¯s business was pretty much unparalleled in Brindley. Furthermore, despite his disarming good looks, Julian had always been very cold and ruthless when it came to work. No one had ever dared get on his wrong side. Yet, there was an exception tonight. Jeffrey leaned against the couch and twirled the king card around with his fingers. He smiled slightly. ¡°You should join us, Julian.¡± Julian directed his gaze to Jeffrey. The gold pen Willow had given Jeffrey was ced in the pocket of his suit. It was so annoyingly dazzling. Jeffrey was practically issuing a challenge to Julian, who was Willow¡¯s legal spouse. Julian reckoned that Jeffrey had lost his mind. With how tightly their work and family businesses were connected, Jeffrey should not be harboring any thoughts of coveting Willow, Julian¡¯s lips lifted in a contemptuous smirk. ¡°A married couple like us have other things to attend to,¡± He lowered his head and looked at Willow. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± +25 Bonus Willow knew very well that Julian would probably do something, which would be etched in her memories forever, in front of all these people if she stubbornly refused to go with him. She got up and turned around to leave. All the while, she felt unperturbed. The possessiveness disyed by Julian would only make the hearts of naive youngdies flutter. Willow, who was no longer shackled by her feelings for Julian, waspletely indifferent and unaffected. Suddenly, Julian grabbed her hand. Even a blind person could sense his overwhelming possessiveness. The others were in a state of bewilderment¡­ Willow felt rather embarrassed. ¡°Julian, you don¡¯t have to act like this.¡± Yet, Julian merely tightened his grip over her hand even more. As the two of them walked to the door in that awkward state, Jeffrey¡¯s calm voice came from behind them. ¡°As a divorce attorney, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask this. Willow, why do you want to divorce Jun?¡± Silence reigned. Everyone was briefly stunned. Jeffrey had a solemn look on his face. It was as though he was discussing the fate of a couple in court instead of hosting avish party to celebrate his birthday. Everyone thought that Jeffrey hadpletely lost it. Yet, none of them knew that he had followed Willow the other day. He saw Willow, who was hunched over the side of Grace¡¯s bed in the hospital. He saw her going into the vi anding out with a dejected look on her face. There were red marks on her cheek. He saw a prideful woman in one of her most pathetic, devastated moments. 1 Jeffrey did not go up to her since he was afraid of hurting thest bit of pride she was holding onto. He had thought about it for a long time. In the end, he¡¯d asked for Natalie¡¯s help to invite Willow to the party anyway. It was not like Jeffrey had not considered the possibility of Julian showing up and the consequences of him incurring Julian¡¯s wrath. Yet, none of that seemed to matter whenever he recalled how frail Willow looked from the back¡­. P Altar 27 That day, for the first time ever, Jeffrey wanted to hold a woman in his arms. It was not out of lust or desire. Instead, Jeffrey simply wanted to hold Willow, wipe away her tears, and kiss those trembling lips. While the others remained silent, Jeffrey asked, ¡°Why do you want a divorce?¡± The couple standing by the door turned around. Julian looked at his longtime friend with a stony gaze. His voice turned icy. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing, Jeffrey Gibson? You should go to the hospital and get yourself sobered up if you¡¯re feeling too drunk.¡± Jeffrey rose from his seat slowly. ¡°I¡¯mpletely sober! I¡¯ve always been! Have you sobered up, Julian? If you have, you should have realized by now that Willow doesn¡¯t love you anymore. You can hold onto her for one to two years, but you can¡¯t hold onto her forever.¡± Julian scoffed. ¡°She¡¯s still my wife now.¡± Jeffrey fell silent. Natalie, who sat beside him, tugged at his sleeve. She asked cautiously, ¡°Jeffrey, do you like Willow?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± he responded. Natalie dropped her ss, and it shattered into pieces on the floor. Julian and Willow were the only ones in the narrow elevator. Willow squirmed free from his grip. Her tone was emotionless. ¡°There¡¯s no one else here. You can stop it with the whole loving couple act now, Julian.¡± She was pressed against the cold elevator wall the next instant. Julian¡¯s hands roamed her body, from top to bottom. He had never acted this roughly and vulgarly. It was as if Julian was trying to check a personal belonging. Moreover, the way he was doing it was rather deprecating. With his build, Julian trapped Willow in his arms. He pushed his face toward hers. Their noses were touching, and Willow felt something hard¡­ ¡°When did you and Jeffrey be so close?¡± ¡°How does that concern you?¡± Julian¡¯s dark eyes were trained on Willow as if he was trying to scan every inch of her skin. A short whileter, he snickered. ¡°I should remind you that Jeffrey is my attorney. His job is to make sure you end up penniless. Are you still going to keep meeting him?¡± That was Julian. That was how he really was. He was always blunt and critical. With her back against the elevator wall, Willow chuckled softly. +25 Bonus She wasughing so much that tears came to her eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t he carrying out his job because you want him to? Julian, aren¡¯t you the one who wants me to end up penniless?¡± Willow tilted her head and said in a mocking tone, ¡°I don¡¯t mind it, actually. I¡¯ve made some good connections these past few years. Even if I¡¯m not getting anypensation after the divorce¡­ As long as I¡¯m willing, I¡¯m sure there are countless men who¡¯ll be interested in making Julian Ziegler¡¯s ex¨Cwife a candidate for their remarriage.¡± Julian was exasperated. He caressed Willow¡¯s soft cheek. His voice was low and husky. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll ever let you be in bed with another man? Willow, don¡¯t even think about it.¡± Willow spat, ¡°You crazy bastard!¡± Her words hadpletely set him off. Julian stared at her with a frigid gaze. Then, he pressed the button for the 32nd floor. Willow did not notice that. By the time the elevator door opened, Julian dragged her out of the elevator. The hotel receptionist spotted the customers and smiled. ¡°Are you looking for a room, sir?¡± With one hand gripping Willow¡¯s wrist, Julian pulled out his wallet from his coat pocket. ¡°My ID and credit card are in there. I want one of your best suites here.¡± Willow could not stand it anymore. ¡°You¡¯ve lost your mind, Julian!¡± There was a steely look in his eyes. ¡°You think, Mrs. Ziegler?¡± The receptionist settled the procedure in an instant. Her hands were shaking a little when she returned the wallet to Julian. She had recognized the man before her as the Neb Group¡¯s CEO. Thedy was most likely his wife. ¡°They¡¯ve been married for four years. Yet, they would still spend some nights together at a fancy hotel suite. They¡¯re such a lovey¨Cdovey couple!¡± the receptionist thought. Altar 28 Julian took Willow to the suite and opened the door with the ess card. It was their first time staying in a hotel room together. The lights were off. All of their senses were heightened. While Willow was still in a daze, she was pressed against the sturdy door and forced to ept Julian¡¯s kisses. The faint scent of aftershave and the strong smell of tobo lingered on his body. All of that invaded Willow¡¯s senses while Julian was kissing her passionately. Willow could hardly stay on her feet since her legs were shaking¡­ The two of them stumbled across the room and got to where the couch was. Julian¡¯s coat had been taken off, followed by Willow¡¯s stockings. Her legs trembled slightly as she felt the fabric of Julian¡¯s ck suit pants against her skin. 1 Julian caressed her face and demanded, ¡°Say that you don¡¯t like Jeffrey.¡± There was no way Willow would say something like that. She did not have any special feelings for Jeffrey. At the same time, she did not want to say those words for the sake of proving that she was loyal to Julian either. Willow did not see the need to exin something that waspletely unfounded when Julian was seeing another woman himself. Besides, she was also trying to divorce Julian. Willow said something else to irk him instead. She mimicked what Julian did and caressed his face. She muttered in a low voice, ¡°I might just fall for him.¡± Julian fixed her with a piercing gaze. There was a look of pure venom in his eyes. He hoisted Willow up in his arms. It was impossible for Willow to break free from Julian¡¯s grip since there was a huge difference in their physical strengths. Willow simply turned her face away and said tly, ¡°Julian, since when have you be such an unreasonable person? There are a bunch ofdies out there who are willing to spend the night with you. So, why force me to do this? I won¡¯t do it with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m forcing you? Willow, you¡¯re saying that I¡¯m forcing us, a married couple, to spend the night together?¡± Julian halted. He stared at Willow¡¯s face intently. He could see the beads of sweat on her fair skin. Then, Julian cupped her face and kissed her. He mumbled almost inaudibly, ¡°Willow, do you not have any urges?¡± Willow shut her eyes. ¡°I can just take care of that with someone else.¡± Julian was exasperated with how bull¨Cheaded she was. He lost interest at that moment. Julian pulled away from Willow. He sat on the couch and lit a cigarette. Beside him, Willow adjusted her dress and got up to leave. However, Julian caught hold of her hand. ¡°I have something to talk to you about.¡± +25 Bonus Willow tried to leave, nheless. Julian tightened his grip on her hand. With a slight tug, he had Willow plopping down next to him. He circled his arms around Willow¡¯s slim body and covered her mouth and nose with just one hand. Julian finally let go of her when she was very short of breath. He snorted. ¡°I should just suffocate you to death.¡± Willow leaned back against the couch, panting heavily for breath. ¡°I haven¡¯t even gotten the money. I can¡¯t die just yet.¡± Julian said frigidly, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about getting a divorce.¡± Willow smiled faintly. After having spent a lot of energy struggling against his hold earlier, she had a quiet, rxed look in her eyes. It gave off a sultry charm. Willow also decided to pay no mind to the wordsing from a sly, calctive man like Julian. The night deepened. Julian gazed ahead at the reflection of a bitter, estranged couple in the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. He said in a soft voice, ¡°Project Aurelia hasn¡¯t been finalized. I can¡¯t get a divorce at a time like this. Besides, we¡¯ve been married for four years. Do you not have any lingering feelings about it, Willow?¡± ¡°No,¡± Willow replied without the slightest hint of hesitation. Shey against the couch and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°I will never forget the humiliation I suffered that day. I don¡¯t think you should ever forget about it either, Julian. ¡°You should realize how it¡¯s time to put an end to this rtionship each time you recall that memory. Any attempts to salvage this rtionship are utterly absurd and pointless.¡± Julian turned his eyes to her. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about money and business, then. I can agree to getting a divorce, but not now. We need to wait two years before doing it, Willow. ¡°It¡¯s too much if you want 20% of Neb¡¯s shares. You can have 10% of our shares. I¡¯ll transfer 5% of the shares under my name to you first as a sign of goodwill. I¡¯ll transfer the other 10% to you on the day we proceed with the divorce. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know the market price for 10% of our shares. They¡¯re worth at least 30 billion dors. You won¡¯t be able to get that much money through a divorcewsuit. We¡¯ve signed a prenuptial agreement, after all.¡± Support Altar 29 Willow was aware of that, of course. That was why she did not turn down Julian¡¯s offer right away. After all, who would say no to earning more money? However, she was no fool. Julian would not just make such a nice offer for no reason. He was not someone who would give away his money so easily. Willow smiled slightly. ¡°What are the duties that I¡¯ll have to fulfill?¡± Julian looked at her and said crudely, ¡°You need to cooperate with me for Project Aurelia. Also, you¡¯ll need to satisfy me in bed.¡± ¡°Julian Ziegler!¡± ¡°I have urges.¡± Willow did not agree to it right away. She replied tly, ¡°I¡¯ll consider it.¡± Julian produced a document and handed it to Willow. ¡°This is the agreement. You can get awyer to go through the details listed in the document. We can discuss more if you have any other conditions. ¡°Even if there¡¯s no love between us, we¡¯re still family. Think about it, Willow.¡± Willow agreed to consider his offer. Still, she insisted on leaving. She refused to stay there for the night. Julian did not try to stop her this time. He had other matters to take care of that night. It was already veryte by the time Willow exited the building. Most of the neon lights in the city had been turned off, leaving just a handful of them that could be seen scattered around the area. Just as Willow opened the car door, she witnessed an unexpected scene out of the corners of her eyes. A man and a woman were clearly in a scuffle. The woman was trying to stop the man from leaving. Willow recognized the pair. It was Dexter and his girlfriend, Eleanor Sutton. Eleanor worked for the Neb Group as the head of the PR department. She was a proud and capable woman. Yet, she was clinging onto Dexter desperately at the moment to stop him from leaving. It seemed like they were having a rtionship issue. Sadly, it was almost impossible for a woman to stop a man from leaving. While they were shoving or yanking the other person, Dexter identally pushed Eleanor to the ground. Eleanor was wearing a dress and a pair of high heels. She grazed her calf on the concrete floor, and the rough surface of the floor scraped some skin off her calf. Blood poured from the wound instantly. Dexter was momentarily stunned. +25 Bonus However, he did not linger, nor did he help Eleanor get up from the floor. He merely spared her one final nce before opening his car door. Dexter started the ck Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan¡¯s engine and drove off shortly afterward. Eleanor shouted at the top of her lungs, ¡°Dexter, you bastard!¡± After yelling for some time, she plopped down on the cold floor and stared into space. Her eyes were red. Willow saw everything that had happened. She knew very well how much of a yboy Dexter was. No matter how pretty or capable Eleanor could be, Dexter would never remain faithful to her and her only. He had probably left earlier to meet his other lover. Willow could not help but find the men of the Ziegler family oddly simr. After a moment¡¯s consideration, Willow walked toward Eleanor. She let out a soft sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital so that you can get your wound treated. It¡¯ll be bad if it gets infected.¡± Eleanor seemed even more shocked when she raised her head and saw Willow. ¡°Ms. Harper¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so courteous around me. I won¡¯t be going back to working at Neb again.¡± Willow sounded calm and unruffled. She helped Eleanor get into the car and drove her to the hospital. As a woman, Willow understood Eleanor¡¯s situation pretty well. Even though they had dated for three years, Eleanor still had not secured her chance to marry into the Ziegler family. Instead of Eleanor¡¯s excellent capabilities at work, what Dexter needed more was a woman with a social background that was befitting to be his spouse. Therefore, the rtionship he had with Eleanor was bound toe to an end. Eleanor cried silently on the way to the hospital. Inwardly, Willow felt a bit down as well. She could see glimpses of the old her from Eleanor. How she had fearlessly given everything she had for love¡­ In the darkness, Willow¡¯s voice cracked a little. ¡°Actually, marrying into the Ziegler family doesn¡¯t necessarily guarantee you a happy life. Material wealth won¡¯t make you feel truly happy if your partner isn¡¯t a good man.¡± Eleanor froze. ¡°Is Ms. Harper not happy with her marriage?¡± she pondered. Altar 30 +25 Bonus After Willow left, Julian headed off to another ce. He went up to the rooftop of the Manning Building. The ck coats that the two men were wearing pped in the night breeze. Both men gave off the intimidating auras of the nightjars, which usually came out at night to hunt their prey. Facing the wind, Julian lit a cigarette. He put it between his lips and drew on it. His cheeks were a little sunken as he pulled on the cigarette, making his handsome features a lot sharper. When only half of his cigarette was left, Julian directed his gaze to Jeffrey. His voice was steely. ¡°I¡¯m calling off all of our coborative work. Also, I¡¯m putting the divorcewsuit between me and Willow on hold for now. If I¡¯m going through with it, I¡¯ll have someone else take over the case instead¡­¡± Jeffrey asked, ¡°Why?¡± Julian dropped the butt of the cigarette on the floor and put it out by stepping on it with his leather shoe. His voice hardened even more. ¡°Jeffrey Gibson, you¡¯re asking me why?¡± He threw a punch at Jeffrey¡¯s jaw the next instant. Jeffrey took the punch full¨Con. Julian straightened himself. He had an icy look in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s because Willow is my wife. Have you forgotten about that?¡± ¡°Your wife?¡± Jeffrey lowered his head and wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth. A small injury like that was nothing to him. He chuckled as he stared at the bloodstains on his hand. ¡°So, you know that she¡¯s your wife. What were you doing all this time, then? Even the mere existence of Catherine is enough to make Willow so upset. If she ever finds out about the truth, do you think Willow will still want to stay with you? ¡°Dream on! Julian, money isn¡¯t everything.¡± After working together for so many years, Julian and Jeffrey were having a fallout for the first time ever. Julian pulled out another cigarettenguidly and lit it. He smirked. ¡°Jeffrey, we¡¯re the same kind of people. You know very well that sometimes money is everything.¡± He met Julian¡¯s gaze. ¡°I won¡¯t divorce Willow. Ever.¡± Willow did not contact Julian. Even between a married couple, it was necessary to be shrewd and calctive in discussing matters where personal interests were involved. Moreover, Willow was not such an impatient and impulsive person. +25 Bonus Also, Willow heard from Annie that Catherine had been trying to find a way to attend the party organized by Timothy through her connections. Annie was worried that Catherine might eventually gain more power and authority in Neb. Willow smiled faintly. ¡°Catherine doesn¡¯t have the capabilities to hold those responsibilities. She won¡¯t be able to lead and handle a huge project like Project Aurelia. ¡°Instead, she would feel miserable. She would question herself. She¡¯d go through the same thing just like me when I just got married and had a lot of self¨Cdoubt.¡± Before Willow had settled the issue with Julian, the doctors found a new issue when conducting an examination on Grace. Grace had a brain tumor, which was found in a tricky spot. If they did not remove the tumor as soon as possible, the tumor might apply pressure on certain nerves and cause paralysis affecting one side of her body. Willow had used all of her connections. Yet, not a single doctor was willing to perform the surgery. One of the main reasons was because of the location where the tumor was found. Another major factor was because of Grace¡¯s old age. There was a high risk that she might not survive the procedure. Willow was very concerned about the issue, and she decided to put matters with Julian aside for the time being. Heather dropped by the hospital after learning what had happened. She wanted to visit Grace. At the same time, she wanted to share with Willow some useful information. After seeing Grace, Willow took Heather to the coffee shop downstairs. The two of them sat opposite each other in the brightly lit coffee shop. Heather held Willow¡¯s hands and said in a tender voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s hope in curing any disease with how far the medical sector has progressed. After I learned of this piece of information yesterday, I¡¯ve tried asking around for more details. Fortunately, I did learn something useful from Mr. Chapman. ¡°Mr. Chapman said that there¡¯s a surgical expert based in Brindley named Leonard Frost. However, he doesn¡¯t agree to perform surgeries just for anyone. ¡°Mr. Chapman doesn¡¯t have the connections to ask for this favor from Dr. Frost. However, the Frost family and the Ziegler family share a close connection. ¡°They¡¯re still maintaining a good rtionship even to this day. If the Zieglers were to make the request for you, Dr. Frost would most likely be willing to perform the surgery.¡± Heather was aware that Willow was trying to divorce Julian. So, after saying all that, she took a sip of coffee and allowed Willow some time to think. Altar 31 Willow was deeply grateful to Heather. Just as she was hesitating, a call came from the Ziegler family. Dominic wanted to see her. Liam was the one who called. The Ziegler family was strict about etiquette. Since Willow was Dominic¡¯s guest, even Liam, her father¨Cinw, spoke to her with formal courtesy. He said, ¡°No matter what¡¯s going on between you and Julian, you should stille see my dad. You know he¡¯s always been fond of you.¡± Willow agreed. Early winter had arrived. The courtyard of the Ziegler residence was beautiful all year round. Willow parked her car and stepped out, only to see Liam already waiting for her. The fact that he came in person to escort her to Dominic showed how much this meeting mattered. On the way, he made polite conversation, carefully avoiding any mention of Julian. Willow did the same. When they reached Dominic¡¯s study, Victoria appeared and whispered something to Liam. As they spoke, Willow studied her features. When Victoria left, Willow remarked, ¡°Liam, your secretary looks familiar to me.¡± There was a hint of hesitation on Liam¡¯s face. After a pause, he pushed open the door and looked at Willow. ¡°Dad is waiting for you.¡± Willow let the matter drop and stepped inside. In the rustic study, the rich aroma of tea filled the air. Dominic was leisurely sipping his tea while on a rocking chair. There were no maids in sight. Hearing footsteps, he smiled and said, ¡°Willow, you¡¯re here? Come. Have some tea with me.¡± Willow walked over and sat down, greeting Dominic respectfully. There was still a touch of formality in her tone. Dominic smiled. ¡°Julian isn¡¯t here, and I sent everyone else away too. Let¡¯s have a good chat today.¡± Willow gave a small smile and leaned forward to pour him tea. Arnong all the younger members of the Ziegler family, aside from Julian, Dominic valued Willow the most¨Cperhaps even more than his eldest grandson, Dexter. Of course, this special favor had also made her a target of resentment. This was something Dominic was well aware of. He took a sip of tea, then casually brought up Dexter and Eleanor, before ending with a light remark, ¡°You and Julian have been married four years. It¡¯s about time we settled Dexter¡¯s marriage too.¡± Willow stiffened. She immediately understood. Dominic didn¡¯t approve of Eleanor. If he did, Dexter would have married her already. By bringing this up now, Dominic was making it clear that he was about to remove any obstacles to a more suitable match for Dexter. (1) Though the realization shook her, Willow kept her expression calm, even offering a smile. ¡°You¡¯re right. Dexter should settle down by now.¡± Dominic gave her a sharp look. She was steady and reserved, the kind of woman who was more than worthy of Julian. Then, shifting the conversation, he asked about Grace¡¯s health. Willow gave a brief, measured response. Dominic paused for a moment. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you have Julian tell me about something this important? I know what¡¯s on your mind. You think Julian doesn¡¯t love you. But I see things clearly. If he didn¡¯t care about you at all, your marriage wouldn¡¯t havested this long.¡± Willow lowered her gaze. ¡°I understand that feelings don¡¯t matter in the Ziegler family.¡± Dominic¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Did Julian tell you that crap? That idiot! If feelings don¡¯t matter, then how the hell did his parents manage to have him? Was that just some mindless animalistic mating?¡± Willow couldn¡¯t help but think of Victoria. Her striking beauty was hardly idental. 1 But she said nothing. Dominic talked for quite a while and was starting to feel tired. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll take care of your grandma¡¯s treatment. You and Julian should take some time to work +25 Bonus things out. After all, fate brought you together for a reason.¡± Willow nodded and quietly stepped out, making sure to close the door behind her. As she turned, she unexpectedly collided with a firm, warm chest. Startled, she instinctively tried to step back, but the man¡¯s arm came around her and pulled her close. His voice was low and slightly rough. ¡°How did the talk with Grandpa go? Have you made up your mind?¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you U Altar 32 Willow struggled briefly. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet.¡± Julian said, ¡°Then decide now.¡± Her voice turned cold. ¡°Is this a threat or an enticement? Don¡¯t take me for a fool, Julian.¡± Before he could respond, Dominic¡¯s voice rang out from inside. ¡°If you two are going to unt your love, take it somewhere else. Don¡¯t rub it in the face of a lonely old man like me.¡± A long silence followed. Julian looked down at Willow, then took her hand and led her toward his car. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to see Mr. Frost.¡± It wasn¡¯t until she got in that Willow realized it was that ck Maybach¨Cthe one they had driven during their first two years of marriage. Back then, they relied on each other and had no one else. There were too many unforgettable memories between them. She let out a soft smile. (1) Julian really would do anything to get what he wanted. After buckling her seatbelt, she said lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯re helping with Grandma, I¡¯lle running back to you.¡± Julian nced at her. He was wearing a dark gray shirt beneath a lightweight ck cashmere coat. He was tall and good¨Clooking. No matter what he wore, he exuded the effortless charm of a cold and aloof heartthrob. He studied Willow for a long moment before pressing down on the gas pedal. ¡°Rx. I¡¯m just doing my part as a grandson¨Cinw.¡± Willow said nothing throughout the drive. After a while, they arrived at Leonard¡¯s home, a secluded retreat nestled between the mountains and water¨Ca perfect ce to grow old in peace. A house of blue bricks and red tiles stood nestled among the rolling hills, blending seamlessly into thendscape. With autumn crabapple blossoms in full bloom, the scene exuded an elegant charm. As soon as Julian parked, Leonard himself came out to greet them. ¡°Just yesterday, Zara was see us.¡± and that you don¡¯t even Julian stepped forward and embraced him. ¡°Well, here I am, Mr. Frost.¡± After letting go, he turned to Willow and introduced him properly. ¡°This is Mr. Leonard Frost, a surgical expert. Also, Mrs. Frost makes excellent home¨Ccooked meals, so be sure to grab an extra helpingter.¡± Willow naturally stood beside Julian and greeted him politely. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Frost.¡± Leonard smiled. ¡°You two seem to have a good rtionship.¡± He had met Willow once before, at their wedding. Back then, she had struck him as a delicate, pretty young woman. Butter, after hearing about her from Dominic, he realized she was far more capable than she appeared. No wonder she could keep Julian in check. Now, seeing her again, he noticed that she had matured and changed quite a lot. Leonard took an immediate liking to Willow, as did his wife, Zara Scott. She eagerly took Willow by the hand and led her around the garden to see the flowers and fish she tended to. Willow was particrly drawn to a tree in the garden. It had a small sign hanging from its trunk that read ¡°Under the Magnolia Tree¡°, written by Leonard himself. Catching her thoughtful expression, Zara smiled. ¡°Leonard likes to dabble in calligraphy in his spare time.¡± Willow reached out, tracing the lettering with her fingertips. ¡°He has beautiful handwriting.¡± Zara beamed. ¡°I¡¯ll send you a few of his pieces He¡¯ll be thrilled to know someone appreciates them. He acts all serious, but deep down, he loves a little ttery.¡± Willow found herself liking Zara too. Before lunch, Leonard reviewed Grace¡¯s medical scans and assured Willow that the situation wasn¡¯t too concerning. They set a tentative date for the consultation. With that settled, she finally felt a weight lift off her chest. Over dinner, she naturally raised her ss to toast Leonard in gratitude. Julian intercepted it. Taking the ss from her hand, he turned to her and said gently, ¡°You¡¯ll be driving us back. I¡¯ll be the one drinking with Mr. Frost tonight. It¡¯s been a while since I saw him.¡± Leonard admired the affectionate bond of the young couple. +25 Bonus After some drinks, Julian¡¯s face was tinged with a faint flush. There was a hint of mischief in his eyes. Even Willow couldn¡¯t help but blush at his teasing. Beneath the table, Julian quietly held her fingertips. Willow lifted her gaze, and it suddenly hit her. In four years of marriage, this was perhaps the most peaceful time they had ever spent together. No forced social gatherings, no hidden agendas. Just a quiet moment, untouched by the outside world. Julian had a few drinks too many and wasn¡¯t in any shape to leave now. Leonard helped him to a loft to rest. The afternoon sun streamed through the window. Juliany on a bed. The room was warm, and he was only covered by his ck cashmere coat, which he had taken off earlier. Willow had shed her own coat, curling up on a cushioned bench by the window with a book in hand while waiting for him to wake. The world outside was still. At some point, Julian stirred. The sunlight was too bright, and he raised a hand to shield his eyes. Through the gaps in his fingers, he caught sight of Willow by the window. She was wearing a muted lc dress, exuding a mature and feminine charm. Her long hair was casually braided Into a fishtail braid,plementing her delicate Jface. Willow had always been beautiful. Julian watched her quietly for a long moment before speaking, ¡°Pour me some water.¡± Willow set her book down and looked up. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± D Altar 33 Willow didn¡¯t refuse. She got up from the bench and poured Julian a ss of water. Sitting next to the bed, she handed it to him and said calmly, ¡°You¡¯ve been asleep for two hours. It¡¯s almost 4:00 pm now.¡± ¡°Are you in a hurry? Got a date?¡± Julian took the ss and set it down on the bedside table. Then, without warning, he pulled Willow into his embrace. Their bodies pressed together through the thin cashmere coat. His body was hard and warm. Willow squirmed ufortably, letting out a protest. ¡°Let go of me,¡± But Julian wasn¡¯t going to release her. His voice carried a hoarse, seductive quality from the alcohol as he whispered against her ear, ¡°Have you decided about us?¡± Willow didn¡¯t want to talk about it, but Julian was relentless. As he kissed her, his face flushed with a slight tilt of his chin. His entire being exuded a sensual air. He caressed her soft waist, demanding that she give him an answer right then and there. Willow feared he might push things too far. She reluctantly leaned against his shoulder, her body pressed close to his. In her mind, she knew she couldn¡¯t repay Leonard for his kindness. The only way she could do so was by returning to Julian¡¯s side, But from now on, their rtionship would be strictly about money, not love. When Willow spoke, her voice trembled. ¡°I¡¯ll work with you for Project Aurelia, but I won¡¯t return to Neb Group. Also, I want my personal space. If I want to live somewhere else, I will. And Julian, you can¡¯t force me to sleep with you if I don¡¯t want to.¡± She also requested 500 million dors from their joint ount for business ventures. julian agreed, but he added, ¡°At least once a week. A man can¡¯t hold it in for too long, or he¡¯ll end up in the hospital.¡± Willow smiled lightly. Without love between them anymore, it didn¡¯t hurt to discuss these matters. In fact, she could even tease him. ¡°Did Catherine not satisfy you?¡± Julian gripped the back of her neck and kissed her deeply. His voice was thick and indistinct. ¡°I never slept with her.¡± Willow maintained her cool smile. At this point, who would care about the details? She responded to Julian¡¯s kiss, her expression captivating and seductive. ¡°That must be true love then. I envy you, Jun.¡± Julian paused and looked at her. His dark eyes shimmered with unspoken thoughts. Later in the evening, a ck car rolled over the dusty road, slowlying to a stop at the hospital building. Willow unbuckled her seatbelt and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll go in and check on her, I¡¯ll be out in ten minutes.¡± Julian grabbed her hand. ¡°Your grandma is my family too.¡± Willow gave him a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m just going in to have a quick word.¡± Her voice was gentle but firm. Julian didn¡¯t want to argue further, so he watched as she walked into the building. Inside the ward, it was quiet. Grace was asleep, and Maureen sat beside her, keeping watch. When Willow entered, Maureen quickly stood up, her face brightening. ¡°Dr. Watson came by earlier. He said a renowned surgeon named Dr. Frost personally called to inquire about Madam Harper¡¯s condition. With Dr. Frost involved, Dr. Watson said we can rest easy.¡± Dr. Watson was the hospital director, Samuel Watson. Of course, Willow had known that Leonard would step in to help. She sat down by Grace¡¯s bed, gently running her fingers through her grandmother¡¯s gray hair. Meanwhile, Maureen¡¯s expression gradually shifted to one of unease. ¡°Ms. Harper, did you go to ask Mr. Ziegler for help?¡± Willow looked up at her, giving a hum of affirmation. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Grandma. I don¡¯t want her to worry about me.¡± Maureen felt uneasy, but she was just a caregiver. It wasn¡¯t her ce to interfere in household matters. She simply wiped the edge of her dress and said, ¡°Ms. Harper, let me get you a bowl of applepote to soothe your throat.¡± Willow nodded, appreciating the gesture. Soon, Maureen returned with the applepote and handed it to Willow. +25 Bonus Willow took a small sip, savoring the sweet vor. She looked up at Maureen and remarked softly, ¡°It¡¯s really good. Too bad I can¡¯t have it every day.¡± Maureen understood the implication. Willow was nning to return to the Ziegler family, and a divorce seemed unlikely for now. Willow stayed for a little while longer before leaving. She walked down the narrow hallway. Through the window ss, she noticed that dusk had already fallen outside. In a daze, it almost felt as if someone was calling her name. ¡°Willow.¡± Turning, she saw Jeffrey standing by the window and silently watching her. Since their exchange at the birthday party, they hadn¡¯t spoken again, and now Willow wasn¡¯t sure how to face him. After a long pause, she continued walking forward. She didn¡¯t say anything, simply passing by him as they brushed shoulders. Jeffrey didn¡¯t stop her. He watched quietly as she made her way down the stairs and returned to Julian¡¯s side. Julian stepped out of the car. He gently pulled Willow into his arms and kissed her. It was a gesture that clearly showed his possessiveness. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you P ? Altar 34 At 8:00 pm, Willow and Julian returned to Grandview Manor. Time had passed, and things felt different. The housekeepers, who had always liked Willow, were already lined up at the entrance to wee her back. Their faces were full of joy. ¡°Wee back, Mrs. Ziegler.¡± ¡°Congrattions for making up, Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler.¡± ¡°Will you dine together? The kitchen has everything prepared.¡± Willow smiled faintly, but there was a touch of exhaustion in her eyes. Julian gently wrapped his arm around her, ying the role of a considerate husband. He instructed the housekeepers, ¡°She¡¯ll rest for a bit. We¡¯ll have dinner in an hour.¡± After the housekeepers left, Julian looked down at Willow and spoke gently, ¡°You¡¯ve had a long day. How about a shower?¡± Willow nodded, her attitude still distant. Julian usually had a short temper, but tonight, he kept it in check. Upstairs, in the master bedroom, Willow surveyed the room. Everything she had destroyed before had been fixed, and the wedding photo above the bed had been reced with a new one. In the picture, she still wore a sweet, radiant smile. The only thing that couldn¡¯t be restored was the oil painting. Its empty space now held a new piece¨Ca narrow alley lined with bare willow trees. Willow stared at it for a long time. Her fingers traced the familiar details. The empty wall was now adorned with a new painting, and the empty closet was filled with new clothes and new jewelry, but what about her heart? The ce in her heart reserved for Julian was now empty, and nothing could fill it. Under the bright lights, Willow¡¯s eyes glistened with emotion. At some point, Julian entered the room and wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he murmured, ¡°Can we do it tonight? It¡¯s been a while.¡± Before Willow could respond, he kissed her skin, trying to spark her passion. Willow pushed aside her sadness and resisted. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell the housekeepers that dinner is in an hour?¡± He chuckled softly. ¡°Absence makes the heart grow fonder. The housekeepers are all older than us. I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t disturb us.¡± Willow didn¡¯t reject him again. She knew that returning to Grandview Manor meant she couldn¡¯t avoid her marital duties. She would simply pretend she had arranged for a man to entertain her tonight. But as Willow was ced on the soft bed, tears silently fell from theers of her eyes. She couldn¡¯t forget how Julian had treated her in their past intimacy. Everything had been for him to nt his seeds in her body. She truly didn¡¯t enjoy that. Julian leaned over her. He kissed her tears and asked gently, ¡°Why are you crying?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask.¡± Willow¡¯s voice trembled. She clung tightly to his neck, not allowing him to ask again. She even lifted herself to kiss his lips and chin. Julian¡¯s gaze grew heated as he looked at her face. A surge of unfamiliar emotion stirred in his chest, They were about to be one. Just then, Julian¡¯s phone rang. At the foot of the disheveled bed, his phone buzzed and rang from the pocket of his ck coat, Julian was in the middle of something far more pressing and had no intention of answering. But the caller was relentless. The phone kept ringing again and again, making it impossible to ignore. +25 Bonus Willow pushed him away gently and panted. ¡°You should answer it.¡± Julian wanted to continue. However, Willow turned her back to him and said softly, ¡°Answer it. Otherwise, you won¡¯t get any peace tonight. Don¡¯t worry, Julian. I came back for the money, not for romance.¡± Julian stared at her exposed back, his throat tightening with a feeling he couldn¡¯t exin. He hesitated but eventually left the vi in the darkness. On the luxurious bed, Willowy with her clothes in disarray, quietly listening to Julian¡¯s retreating footsteps. Each step faded, and soon he was gone. He was just the same as before. Without love for Julian, things that once caused heartache felt trivial. Even her mood wasn¡¯t affected much. At the door, a knock came from ir. ¡°Mrs. Ziegler, Mr. Ziegler said he won¡¯t be home for dinner. Shall we serve your meal now?¡± Willow closed her eyes gently. ¡°In half an hour.¡± The winter night was bitterly cold outside. Inside the ck Bentley, however, the warmth was like spring. Before Julian started the car, he couldn¡¯t help but gently touch his neck. He actually felt an inexplicable longing. Altar 35 It had been ages since Willow had taken the initiative to hold Julian. He lowered his eyes. His longshes trembled ever so slightly with an unspoken intensity. Half an hourter, Julian¡¯s car pulled up in front of a luxurious apartment building. Catherine had finally left that old vi behind and was now living in a 2,800¨Csquare¨Cfoot apartment. Her days were filled with nothing more than clocking in at Neb Group, followed by endless beauty treatments and shopping sprees. It was a textbook existence for a kept mistress. Esther had been waiting for quite some time. As soon as Julian¡¯s car came to a stop, she opened the door for him. Stepping out, Julian frowned slightly. ¡°What¡¯s she up to now?¡± Esther only managed a helpless smile. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t return her calls, so she¡¯s been refusing to eat or drink, even breaking things. Not even Mr. and Mrs. Burke can handle her anymore.¡± Julian paused in his steps. ¡°The doctors can¡¯t do anything? Have they tried a nutritional boost, or even force¨Cfeeding her?¡± Esther¡¯s doubts began to stir. She¡¯d worked for Julian for years and still couldn¡¯t fathom what he saw in Catherine. It wasn¡¯t that he loved her passionately, but why did he spoil her so endlessly? Of course, being on his payroll, she dared not speak out of turn. As they spoke, the pair entered the apartment where Catherine lived. Inside, Charlie and Nancy were already there. They were trying to calm Catherine down and urging her not to push Julian too far. When the door swung open, Julian strode in. At the sight of him, Catherine flounced forward like a little bird returning to its nest, desperate to nestle in his arms. But Julian sidestepped her advances. He walked to the couch, smoothed down his sharply pressed trousers, and said coldly, ¡°We had an agreement. You¡¯d enjoy a life of luxury in exchange for your contribution. So, why are you reneging now?¡± Catherine¡¯s face went as pale as paper. She looked up at him. Her lips trembled as she whispered, ¡°She went back to your home, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Julian¡¯s tone grew even colder. ¡°She¡¯s my wife, and returning home is perfectly natural. What right do you have to say anything about it?¡± Catherine¡¯splexion turned even whiter, mortified beyond measure. Nearby, Charlie stepped in to smooth things over. ¡°Catherine is just confused right now. In time, she¡¯ll understand that you¡¯re married and she can¡¯t keep acting out like this. We¡¯ll handle her.¡± Charlie was well¨Cconnected with the Ziegler family and was Julian¡¯s respected elder. Julian¡¯s expression softened at Charlie¡¯s words to show his respect. He turned and ordered the cook to prepare a bowl of chicken noodle soup for Catherine to help restore her strength. Almost without thinking, Catherine blurted, ¡°Eat with me, Julian.¡± But Julian said nothing in reply. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out a cigarette box. After retrieving one, he lit it and took slow drags with his legs crossed. Charlie watched silently, fully aware of the situation. From the moment Julian arrived, he had kept his coat on. That was an unmistakable sign he intended only a brief visit. Now, as he smoked indoors, it was clear he didn¡¯t care about Catherine¡¯s health. As expected, no matter how clingy Catherine tried to be, Julian remained utterly indifferent. Charlie guessed that Julian¡¯s mind was with Willow at home. Once Catherine finished her meal, julian promptly stubbed out his cigarette and left. The moment he was gone, Catherine broke down in tears. ¡°Julian must have gone back to that old woman at home. She must have found a way to cling to him. He doesn¡¯t even like her.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Charlie snapped. Nancy, clearly displeased, argued with him, ¡°Did Catherine say anything wrong? If it hadn¡¯t been for what happened back then, would Willow be able to marry Julian?¡± Charlie sternly reminded Nancy and Catherine, ¡°She¡¯s now Julian¡¯s legitimate wife. Don¡¯t take it too far.¡± +25 Bonus Catherine, with a defiant glint in her eyes, dered, ¡°I¡¯m going to win Mrs. Chapman¡¯s favor! If I lead Project Aurelia, Julian will have no choice but to change his mind about me.¡± Nancy beamed with pride at Nancy¡¯s ambition, while Charlie¡¯s face remained troubled. Every time he heard Heather¡¯s name, he couldn¡¯t help but think of the daughter he¡¯d never met. He heard that she bore a subtle birthmark. By his count, she was already 26. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 36 Julian returned to Grandview Manorte at night. As his car rolled to a stop, he looked up at the second¨Cfloor master bedroom. The lights were already out. He stared into the darkness for a moment, then unfastened his seatbelt and stepped out of the car. ir, who was on night duty, came forward, looking somewhat surprised. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, you¡¯re back? Mrs. Ziegler just went to bed. Would you like ate¨Cnight snack?¡± Julian answered indifferently, ¡°A bowl of instant noodles will do.¡± ir was pleased for Willow that Julian had chosen to return home. Rubbing her hands together, she headed for the kitchen. Julian shrugged off his coat and tossed it over the back of the couch. While waiting for his meal, he picked up his phone to handle a few work emails. But before long, he found himself scrolling through his photo gallery instead. ir returned with the noodles. She stole a nce at the screen and said with a smile, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler looks even more beautiful than before.¡± Julian smiled faintly. ¡°Does she?¡± ir was just about to sing Willow¡¯s praises when Julian¡¯s phone rang. Seeing Catherine¡¯s name on the screen, he frowned and answered. ¡°I told you. Don¡¯t call me for no reason.¡± Catherine acted as if she hadn¡¯t heard him. ¡°You¡¯re afraid of upsetting her, aren¡¯t you?¡± Julian hung up without a word. Suddenly, he lost his appetite. Exhaustion seeped through his body. Leaning back on the couch, he tilted his face upward and shielded his eyes from the harsh overhead light with one hand. How many years had it been? Just how long had he endured? Even he couldn¡¯t count anymore. All he knew was that he was tired. And on a night like this, with Willow back under the same roof, maybe he should just grow old with her. Maybe he should spend the rest of his life with her after all. The night stretched on, deep and quiet. Julian ascended the stairs. The long corridor was still, yet he swore he could hear the soft rhythm of Willow¡¯s breathing. He pushed open the bedroom door. Inside, the warmth wrapped around him like a silent embrace. Willowy on her side, fast asleep. She had bathed and changed into a white robe. Her entire being looked fresh and serene under the dim glow of the bedsidemp. Her hair cascaded over the pristine pillow, partially veiling her delicate face. The curve of her nose and the soft outline of her lips were like a masterpiece crafted by the finest artist. She carne back. She was lying in his bed right now. Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. He unfastened the buttons of his shirt, letting his clothes fall to the floor. Yet instead of iming Willow, he walked straight into the bathroom and turned on the cold water. The next morning, Willow woke up in his arms. Even after a full night¡¯s sleep, Julian still looked effortlessly handsome. His hair fell slightly over his forehead, softening his usual sharpness and making him look years younger. He wore a ck robe. The thin fabric clung to his body, hinting at the strength beneath. Willow wasn¡¯t used to seeing him like that. She carefully shifted, attempting to slip out of bed. But the moment her toes brushed against her slippers, Julian pulled her back and locked her firmly in his embrace. Her cheek pressed against his chest, where she could hear the steady thump of his heartbeat. It was winter, and his arms were undeniably warm. But Willow didn¡¯t forget. No matter how perfect he seemed, Julian was still a scumbag. Buried in his arms, she murmured, ¡°I have to get up.¡± Julian lowered his gaze, his eyes deep and unreadable. The next second, he pinned her beneath him. Their fingers entwined as he kissed her with a fervor that seemed endless, as if the world itself could fade away. +25 Bonus That was until ir knocked on the door. ¡°The Ziegler residence just called. Mr. Ziegler Senior wants you two to go back for dinner tonight. He said there¡¯s no refusing this time.¡± Juliany over Willow. The muscles in his back were taut, his body like a bowstring drawn tight. Without shifting his position, he responded tly, ¡°Got it.¡± ir left after receiving his response. Silence filled the bedroom, broken only by the sound of their own heartbeats, Willow, finding their posture unbearable, pushed at him. ¡°Get up. I have to go to the hospitalter.¡± Julian didn¡¯t press further. But as he let her go, he leaned close to her ear and asked, ¡°It¡¯s been three months. Don¡¯t you want a taste of me?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Willow quickly pulled her robe together and strode into the dressing room, almost as if she were escaping. ? Support Altar 37 In the bathroom, Willow sshed cold water on her face, trying to cool her overheated skin. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, momentarily dazed. The woman looking back at her felt almost unfamiliar. Her hair was tousled, her soft skin was nearly glowing, and her lips were slightly swollen from Julian¡¯s kisses. Willow reached up and touched her face. Was this really her? Since then, life at Grandview Manor turned out to be better than she had expected. Julian had kept his promise. Willow received the 500 million dors in cash, along with a 5% stake in Neb Group. His decision caused an uproar within the Ziegler family. Even his parents couldn¡¯t understand it. But Julian bore the weight of it all. He treated Willow well¨Ctoo well. He didn¡¯t force her to sleep with him, as if giving her time to adjust. He often called to have meals with her, though sometimes he would break his promises. Willow never asked where he went or who he was with. Just as they had agreed from the start, she was here for the money and the doctor, not for love. Meanwhile, Grace¡¯s surgery n was nearly finalized. As for her career, Willow had never put it on hold. Everything continued to move forward, just as she had nned. A weekter, the day of Timothy¡¯s banquet arrived. Julian had an important meeting that morning, so he arranged for Esther to bring a styling team to Grandview Manor to help Willow prepare. The Zieglers were wealthy, and the team was, of course, the best. Upon arriving at the vi, Esther couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of awe. She hadn¡¯t expected Willow to return to Julian¡¯s side so soon. More importantly, Willow hadn¡¯t begged to . A 5% stake in Neb Group was an astronomical fortune. Yet, Willow didn¡¯t seem the least bit pleased. ir led the team upstairs, smiling as they walked. ¡°Mrs. Ziegler is reading in the lounge. These days, if she¡¯s not at the hospital, she¡¯s here at home with her books. She has even gained a little weight.¡± Esther mused to herself. It seemed Willow truly no longer cared for power. ir directed them to a private dressing room before heading off to inform Willow. Five minutester, Willow arrived. She wore a soft pink silk robe. Her hair fell loosely over one shoulder. She had no makeup on, yet her skin was smooth and luminous. Esther immediately noticed the difference. In just a short time, Willow¡¯s sharp edge had faded. Now, she looked gentle, like a noblewoman kept in quiet luxury. However, her methods had probably not softened in the slightest. Willow smiled faintly. She had always been beautiful, but when she smiled like that, it was mesmerizing. The stylist took an instant liking to her and eagerly introduced the high¨Cend dresses she had brought. Among them, she strongly rmended a white evening dress. Willow¡¯s fingers brushed lightly over the fabric. She had her eye on a beaded dress from Musemarry, a brand by a rising designer. It was an intricately crafted strapless dress, with a matching sheer cape. The three fasteners were antique ss pearls, giving it a vintage elegance with an ethereal touch. The stylist was stunned. It was as if this dress had been made for Willow. Only someone with her slender figure could carry it so effortlessly. The stylist adored beautiful women. +25 Bonus In the bathroom, Willow sshed cold water on her face, trying to cool her overheated skin. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, momentarily dazed The woman looking back at her felt almost unfamiliar. Her hair was tousled, her soft skin was nearly glowing, and her lips were slightly swollen from Julian¡¯s kisses Willow reached up and touched her face. Was this really her? 914 Since then, life at Grandview Manor turned out to be better than she had expected. Julian had kept his promise. Willow received the 500 million dors in cash, along with a 5% stake in Neb Group. His decision caused an uproar within the Ziegler family Even his parents couldn¡¯t understand it. But Julian bore the weight of it all. He treated Willow well too well. He didn¡¯t force her to sleep with him, as it giving her time to adjust He often called to have meals with her, though sometimes he would break his promises. Willow never asked where he went or who he was with just as they had agreed from the start, she was here for the money and the doctor, not for love. Meanwhile, Grace¡¯s surgery n was nearly finalized. As for her career, Willow had never put it on hold. Everything continued to move forward, just as she had nned. A weekter, the day of Timothy¡¯s banquet arrived. Julian had an important meeting that morning, so he arranged for Esther to biling a styling team to Grandview Manor to help Willow prepare. The Zieglers were wealthy, and the team was, of course, the best. Upon arriving at the vi, Esther couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of awe. She hadn¡¯t expected Willow to return to Julian¡¯s side so soon. More importantly, Willow hadn¡¯t begged toe back, Jultan had paid a steep price to bring her home. A 5% stake in Neb Group was an astronomical fortune. Yet, Willow didn¡¯t seem the least bit pleased. ir led the team upstairs, smiling as they walked, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler is reading in the lounge. These days, if she¡¯s not at the hospital, she¡¯s here at home with her books. She has even gained a little weight.¡± Esther inused to herself. It seemed Willow truly no longer cared for power. ir directed them to a private dressing room before heading off to inform Willow. Five minutester, Willow arrived. She wore a soft pink silk robe. Her hair fell loosely over one shoulder. She had no makeup on, yet her skin was smooth and luminous. Esther immediately noticed the difference. In just a short time, Willow¡¯s sharp edge had faded. Now, she looked gentle, like a noblewoman kept in quiet luxury. However, her methods had probably not softened in the slightest. Willow smiled faintly. She had always been beautiful, but when she smiled like that, it was mesmerizing. The stylist took an instant liking to her and eagerly Introduced the high end dresses she had brought. Among them, she strongly rmended a white evening dress. Willow¡¯s fingers brushed lightly over the fabric. She had her eye on a beaded dress from Musemarry, a brand by a rising designer. It was an intricately crafted strapless dress,yered with a matching sheer cape. The three fasteners were antique ss pearls, giving it a vintage elegance with an ethereal touch The stylist was stunned. It was as if this dress had been made for Willow. Only someone with her slender figure could carry it so effortlessly. The stylist adored beautiful women. 172 +25 Bonus She praised Willow¡¯s beauty while styling her hair. She wove thin braids into Willow¡¯s hair, pinning them into an elegant updo that exposed her slender neck. A touch of powder was all she needed to enhance her natural beauty. As for jewelry, the stylist refused to let anything overpower the dress. Just when Willow was admiring herself in the mirror, the door suddenly opened from the outside. The rhythmic sound of leather shoes echoed through the room. A steady,posed, aristocratic pace. Then, in the mirror, Julian¡¯s reflection appeared. His eyes deepened as he took in Willow¡¯s beauty. Stepping behind her, he wrapped an arm around her waist without the slightest regard for the others present. ¡± You look good in this.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 38 eing perceptive, Esther led the styling team out, leaving the spacious room to just Julian and Willow. Julian turned Willow around, his palm pressing gently against her cheek. He traced over her skin with slow, deliberate strokes. For the first time, he took the time to truly study her face. ¡°Are you cold?¡± His eyes locked onto hers, filled with a quiet intensity. Willow smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯ll wear a coat outside.¡± Julian didn¡¯t let her go. His hands wandered to her waist, feeling the fabric against her skin. She looked beautiful tonight; so beautiful that he didn¡¯t want her stepping out of this room, especially not in front of other men. It had been a week since she returned, yet they hadn¡¯t truly be one. He had been holding back for too long, and now, the restraint was wearing thin. But Willow refused. She tilted her head back and gently closed her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll ruin the dress.¡± Julian exhaled slowly, frustration flickering across his features. Without warning, he caught her wrist and pressed her against the cool mirror. His lips captured hers in a fierce, resisted. But Julian¡¯s dominance was overwhelming. Soon, she was melting against him. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, her head tilting back as she surrendered to the deep, lingering kiss. Just as her mind began to blur, something cold slipped onto her finger. Willow panted softly as she lowered her head. The wedding ring on her ring finger shimmered brilliantly under the crystal chandelier. Julian rested his forehead against hers, his gaze deep and intense. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. ¡°Just tonight. I can¡¯t hold back anymore.¡± The night wind howled. Timothy¡¯s mansion was breathtaking under the night sky, exuding grandeur and elegance. Luxury cars lined the courtyard, and elegantly dressed guests moved gracefully through the gardens. A sleek ck limousine slowly pulled into the Chapman residence. When the car came to a stop, Julian stepped out and gently took Willow¡¯s hand. This time, her status in high society was different. She owned 5% of Neb Group¡¯s shares, and Julian treated her with the utmost respect. She was no longer the woman who looked up to him. She hadplete independence now. And tonight, all eyes were on her. Julian, as always, was meticulous in his appearance. He wore a crisp white shirt beneath a custom¨Ctailored ck suit. Every detail highlighted his tall, sculpted frame. His strikingly handsome face drew more than a few admiring nces. With Willow¡¯s hand in his, he moved effortlessly through the sea of elegantly dressed guests, heading straight for Timothy. The two of them, together, shattered any lingering rumors of discord. They looked nothing short of perfect. On the other side of the banquet hall, Timothy and Heather were busy entertaining guests. Nearby, Charlie and Nancy were attempting to introduce Catherine to the influential couple. After all, Charlie and Heather were old acquaintances. Catherine had done her research. She knew that Timothy and Heather had no children of their own. If she could win their favor, she might just secure her ce as the princess of Aurelia Group. And if that happened, then her path to Julian would be effortless. With that thought in mind, she put on a carefully rehearsed sweet smile. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Chapman. I¡¯m Catherine Burke, Charlie Burke¡¯s daughter. Heather barely spared her a nce. ¡°My apologies, but I¡¯m not particrly familiar with Mr. Burke.¡± Catherine¡¯s smile stiffened, her face turning red. This was absolutely humiliating. Heather felt no obligation to be polite and showed no warmth toward Charlie and Nancy. Catherine, in turn, assumed this was just the way the wealthy behaved¨Ctreating everyone equally, even if Charlie was a renowned painter. Catherine failed to notice the disdain in Heather¡¯s eyes. Just then, Julian walked over with Willow. The striking couple instantly drew everyone¡¯s attention. D Support Altar 39 Catherine wanted to go over to Julian, but Nancy held her back. ¡°This isn¡¯t the ce for jealousy,¡± Nancy whispered. ¡°Catherine, you need to know when to pick your battles.¡± Catherine froze, her eyes welling up with tears. She longed for Julian¡¯s attention. But he didn¡¯t even nce at her. Instead, he held Willow¡¯s hand and exchanged pleasantries with Timothy and Heather. ¡°Mr. Chapman, Mrs. Chapman.¡± Timothy smiled warmly. ¡°You¡¯re a lucky man, Julian.¡± A wife¡¯s beauty was a husband¡¯s honor. Even Julian couldn¡¯t help but nce at Willow. A faint smile tugged at his lips. Heather reached for Willow¡¯s hand with genuine affection. ¡°I heard you two have reconciled. I was so happy for you, but I didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡± Timothy wrapped an arm around Heather and chuckled. ¡°Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Let¡¯s not get in their way.¡± He adored Heather, which naturally gave him a favorable impression of Willow. His tone was warm. In an effort to amuse Heather, he blurted out, ¡°You and Mrs. Ziegler hit it off so well. If you look closely, your features even have a bit of resemnce! Don¡¯t you think so, Julian?¡± Julian wasn¡¯t one to study women¡¯s faces, but he was a natural in social diplomacy. ¡°There is a slight resemnce.¡± Heather stared at Willow, a sense of longing in her expression. She really liked Willow. It would be great if she were her daughter. But that wasn¡¯t possible. The world was vast. What were the chances of such a coincidence? Timothy, noticing Heather¡¯s momentary daze, immediately pulled her closer. ¡°That was careless of me. I¡¯ll make it up to youter.¡± Heather leaned against his shoulder, looking delicate and fragile. Not far away, Charlie watched, his face drained of color. How could it not ache to see the woman he once loved sharing such a bond with another man? His usual gentle expression cracked ever so slightly. Later in the evening, Charlie finally found an opportunity to speak with Heather alone on the terrace. ¡°Heather,¡± he called softly. She turned around, her usual gentleness reced by an icy demeanor. ¡°Mr. Burke, let¡¯s not pretend to be close. There¡¯s nothing between us anymore. Call me Mrs. Chapman.¡± Charlie winced at her coldness. ¡°Heather, must you push me so far away? We once loved each other.¡± ¡°Love?¡± Heather let out a sharpugh before spitting out, ¡°How dare you say that word? If it doesn¡¯t make you sick to say it, it certainly sickens me to hear it.¡± Charlie knew the past was long gone, and there was no going back with Heather. So, he changed the subject and asked about his missing daughter, ¡°Has there been any news of her?¡± At the mention of her lost daughter, Heather¡¯s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. That winter was brutal. Her daughter was only five years old. Heather had copsed from illness, and when she woke up, the child was gone. Years had passed. Was her daughter still out there somewhere? As the memories surged back, Heather¡¯s expression twisted with resentment. ¡°That¡¯s my child, Charlie. She has nothing to do with you!¡± Charlie¡¯s face was full of regret. ¡°I wronged you back then. I know that now.¡± He hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking again. ¡°The past is the past, We¡¯ve both moved on. My younger daughter, Catherine, she¡­¡± The past was the past? They had both moved on? His younger daughter? Heather shook her head in disbelief. She had underestimated Charlie. Even now, he had the audacity to stand before her, shamelessly trying to secure a future for Catherine. And what about the child she¡¯d lost? Just as her emotions threatened to spiral out of control, the ss doors to the terrace swung open. Willow stepped inside. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you U Support Altar 40 Willow stepped onto the terrace, catching both Charlie and Heather off guard. Given the situation, it was easy to guess that the two shared a past. The night breeze tousled Charlie¡¯s hair and lifted the hem of Heather¡¯s elegant dress. The delicate silk brushed against Willow¡¯s arm. It felt soft and smooth. After a brief silence, Heather¡¯s voice came out strained. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well. Mrs. Ziegler, could you help me inside to rest?¡± Smiling, Willow nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why I came. I¡¯ve been worried about you.¡± Heather felt a warmth in her heart. She gently patted Willow¡¯s hand. ¡°Having you here makes me feel much better.¡± Willow gave a soft smile and supported Heather as they left. Behind them, Charlie watched his former lover walk away. The thought that he wouldn¡¯t have another chance to speak with her like this pained him. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, ¡°I can give you everything he can.¡® 11 The words barely left his mouth before regret set in. Heather halted for a brief moment, then let out a scoff. ¡°With just words?¡± Willow cleared her throat lightly. Charlie was already embarrassed by Heather¡¯s rebuke. But with Willow listening, his face burned even hotter. But his feelings weren¡¯t Heather¡¯s concern. Willow led Heather into the master bedroom. The room was vast, furnished with white and gold¨Cented pieces. Sheer organza drapes added an ethereal touch. Framed portraits of Heather adored the walls. It was a clear testament to Timothy¡¯s devotion. Heathery down to rest, taking Willow¡¯s hand in hers. ¡°I must have made a fool of myself tonight.¡± Willow understood all too well and reassured her gently, ¡°Everyone has a past. But people and things that are behind us shouldn¡¯t weigh on our hearts. What matters is cherishing the happiness we have now.¡± Tears welled up in Heather¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not him I care about. It¡¯s my lost child. Mrs. Ziegler, that child was a part of me. Losing her has been my life¡¯s greatest sorrow. If I never find her, I will never truly be at peace. Wealth and status mean nothing. My only fear is failing Timothy¡¯s love for me.¡± Her voice trembled with emotion. Willow felt the weight of her grief and was about to ask for more details. Just then, Heather¡¯s secretary entered, carrying a small pill and a ss of water. ¡°Mrs. Chapman, it¡¯s time for your medication.¡± Knowing it wasn¡¯t the time to linger, Willow excused herself. She quietly closed the door behind her and turned, only to find herself face¨Cto¨Cface with Jeffrey. At tonight¡¯s banquet, all the men were in formal evening wear, but not Jeffrey. In a dark gray shirt, ck suit, and tie, he had more of a business look. His entire demeanor carried a distinct tension. Willow wasn¡¯t entirely surprised to see him. After all, Jeffrey was Timothy¡¯s nephew. The hallway was quiet, removed from the noise of the party below. The warm light cast long shadows. Jeffrey¡¯s gaze locked onto Willow. His voice was slightly hoarse when he finally spoke. ¡°Did you get back together with him? Do you have feelings for him again?¡± Willow saw no point in ying dumb. Jeffrey¡¯s feelings were too intense. She had no way to return them. As she leaned against the wall, her expression remained calm. ¡°Call it whatever you want. He and I have always taken what we needed from each other. He wanted a respectable wife, and I wanted the Ziegler family¡¯s wealth. A woman like me can¡¯t afford to live for love alone. ¡°Jeffrey, I¡¯m not who you think I am. I¡¯m just an ordinary woman caught up in the mundane, Money is my only true love.¡± Jeffrey muttered, ¡°Is that so?¡± After a moment, as if carefully weighing his next words, he locked eyes with Willow and said, ¡°I can give you everything he can.¡± Altar 41 Willow heard those words for the second time tonight. A whirlwind of emotions surged within her. Just as she was about to speak, the sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase. A momentter, Julian appeared. In the blink of an eye, he was at her side. It was as if the fight from that night had never happened. He looked at Willow and Jeffrey and asked casually, ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± Willow¡¯s voice was indifferent. ¡°Just making small talk.¡± Julian studied her intently, as if searching for something in her expression. After a pause, he smiled faintly. ¡°Then let¡¯s get together another time. It¡¯s gettingte. We should go.¡± Before Willow could react, Julian had already taken her hand, his grip firm and unyielding. Under the bright lights, Jeffrey¡¯s expression turned ice¨Ccold. Julian smirked as he led Willow past Jeffrey. When they brushed shoulders, Julian noticed Jeffrey¡¯s hand twitching inside his pocket. It seemed like he wanted to reach out to stop her. Julian stopped in his tracks. His voice was cutting as he said, ¡°I hate when people covet what¡¯s mine. And Jeffrey, you of all people should know that best.¡± Jeffrey met his gaze, just as cold. ¡°Is that so? I just don¡¯t think you can handle it all, Julian.¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your concem.¡± The night was as dark as ink. A ck Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom sped down the road. Streetlights cast flickering glows through the windshield, illuminating the faces of the silent couple. Silence was the unspoken melody of the night. Willow felt the car moving too fast. She gazed at the dark road ahead and said softly, ¡°Slow down, Julian.¡± He acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard. Instead, he took her hand, absently ying with her fingers. ¡°Julian,¡± Willow called out again. He nced at her, his eyes cool and unreadable. ¡°Feeling guilty?¡± Willow forced a small smile. ¡°What would I be guilty of?¡± Julian didn¡¯t answer. He floored the gas pedal, making the car go even faster. Willow seriously thought he must have lost his mind. Less than 20 minutester, they arrived at Grandview Manor. The moment the car stopped, Willow moved to get out, but Julian was faster. He grabbed her wrist and turned to face her. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling guilty, then show me.¡± Show him? How? Willow barely had time to process his words before she found herself lifted into his arms. Julian carried her straight through the brightly lit living room and up the stairs toward the master bedroom. Under the crystal chandelier, his face was both restrained and dangerously alluring. But his actions were anything but. Willow pounded his shoulder, panting. ¡°Are you out of your mind, Julian?¡± His dark eyes locked onto hers, an unreadable anger simmering beneath. After a long pause, his voice dropped to a murmur. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Willow hit his shoulder a few more times. Julian knew what she was thinking. He said indifferently, ¡°The housekeepers are all older than us. It¡¯s perfectly normal for a young married couple to be intimate at home. They won¡¯t say anything.¡± With just a few words, he had already carried her into the bedroom and thrown her onto the luxurious bed. Willow sank into the soft sheets. Julian stood at the edge of the bed, watching her as he reached up to undo the buttons of his shirt. Willow knew there was no escaping this. She turned her head away, refusing to look at his domineering face. Her nose was slightly red, her lips flushed and swollen. ¡°Julian, I¡¯m not some prostitute you bought. If I don¡¯t want to, you can¡¯t force me.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 42 V o Willow¡¯s surprise, Julian stopped. As he looked down at her, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, showing how hard he was suppressing his desires. After a long pause, he moved off her. ¡°Go wash up,¡± he said. When Willow got up, her legs trembled. After stumbling into the bathroom, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and was startled by her own disheveled state. In the bedroom, Julian turned over onto his side. After a few moments of steadying his breath, he reached for the nightstand drawer and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He ced one between his lips. In the end/ he walked over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window in the lounge, cracked it open slightly, and slowly smoked there. The soft glow of themp cast a mix of light and shadow across his face. Hisshes formed delicate shadows under his eyes, making his chiseled features even more striking. His fingers trembled slightly as he flicked the ash. The faint blue¨Cgray smoke curled upward before the night breeze carried it away, blurring the sharp lines of his face. He gazed out into the thick darkness, his thoughts in turmoil. Jeffrey was the one with the one¨Csided infatuation. Willow felt nothing for him. So, why was Julian losing control? He behaved like a jealous husband, desperate to keep his wife locked away, never to see another man. Julian knew perfectly well that he didn¡¯t love Willow. It probably was just possessiveness. He simply couldn¡¯t stand the thought of another man coveting Willow. Maybe there was some guilt mixed in too, but that was it. Willow wasn¡¯t that important. The moment he sorted out his emotions, the weight on his chest lifted. He stubbed out his cigarette and strode back into the bedroom. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Willow was showering. Amid the steam, she stood beneath the showerhead, letting the warm water cascade down her body. Clear droplets slid through her hair, tracing along her delicate red mole before disappearing into the curves below. In the shower, she was unadomed, yet captivating. Julian pulled open the ss door. Hearing the sound, Willow turned to look at him. His gaze was dark and intense, burning with unmistakable desire. A shiver ran through her. A moment , he unfastened his shirt buttons and stepped toward her. One hand cradled her face, the other wrapped around her waist. He lowered his head and kissed her. The bathroom brimmed with a sultry warmth. A night of passionsted until dawn. The next morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered into the bedroom. Even through the curtains, Willow found the light harsh. She instinctively buried her face in the pillow, but the slightest movement sent a dull ache through her body. ¡°Morning.¡± Julian¡¯s voice came from beside her, followed by the sensation of being pulled into a warm embrace. Through the thin fabric of his robe, Willow rested her face against Julian¡¯s chest, breathing in his crisp scent. His heartbeat was steady and strong. For a long moment, Willow didn¡¯t know what to say. After four years of marriage, intimacy between them was nothing new. Keeping her expression calm, she hummed softly and moved to get up. Julian, however, tightened his grip. Looking down at her, he asked in a slightly husky voice, ¡°Did you enjoyst night?¡± Willow kept her tone neutral. ¡°It was fine.¡± The truth was, Julian had taken her four times. And yes, she had enjoyed it. But she wasn¡¯t about to admit that so bluntly. She had her pride. +25 Bonus Her detached response didn¡¯t seem to bother Julian. He chuckled while brushing his nose against hers. ¡°Well, it was great for me.¡± Their noses brushed, the subtle friction between them carrying an unmistakable tension. Willow had never seen Julian so aroused. He had always been traditional in bed, restrained even. Butst night, he had been different, like a man who had thrown all caution to the wind. His fingers traced lightly over her lower abdomen, lost in thought. Willow could guess that he was thinking about a child again. But that was impossible. Her mood dimmed. She lifted the covers and got out of bed. Momentster, her voice drifted out from the bathroom. ¡°I¡¯m not ovting right now. I won¡¯t get pregnant.¡± Altar 43 Juliany in bed, his gaze dark and unreadable. After a moment, he got up and walked into the bathroom. Willow was washing up. He stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder. His voice was low as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait another two years. I¡¯ll be 30 then. We can have a child after that. Didn¡¯t you always want to focus on your own things first?¡± Willow lifted her gaze to meet his in the mirror. For a long moment, she simply stared at him, as if seeing a stranger. Then, she smiled faintly. ¡°What game are you ying now, Julian?¡± His chest tightened. He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he picked her up and carried her to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, pressing kisses along her skin as the morning light spilled in. The white curtains swayed gently in the breeze. She was as soft as silk beneath his touch. It was nearly noon when they finally came downstairs. Willow had ns to visit Grace. Today was the day Leonard would finalize the surgery n. Afterst night¡¯s relentless intensity, Julian was unexpectedly gentle this morning. At the dining table, he ced a piece of fish on her te and said, ¡°ir did a great job with this. Try it.¡± Willow wasn¡¯t particrly interested. Julian added, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospitalter.¡± She nced at him. ¡°The driver can take me. It¡¯s not on your way.¡± Julian¡¯s tone was casual. ¡°I have some things to take care of at the hospital anyway.¡± She didn¡¯t argue further, quietly finishing her meal. But Julian kept watching her. His gaze was direct and unwavering. Finally, Willow set down her fork. ¡°Last night changed nothing. Don¡¯t treat me like some naive youngdy, Julian. That doesn¡¯t work on me.¡± He let out a quiet chuckle. After lunch, they headed to the hospital. Willow went to Grace¡¯s ward. Leonard would be arriving soon. Julian, on the other hand, had a different destination. He walked into an office building, heading straight to the director¡¯s office on the fourth floor. As soon as he stepped inside, the man behind the desk stood a warm smile. ¡°Julian! Come in. Have a seat. Julian returned the smile, settling into the couch. Samuel reached for a pack of cigarettes, offering one to him. Julian raised a hand in refusal. up with Samuel paused, then chuckled and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re right. Cutting back is definitely a good idea. I¡¯ve tried to quit so many times, but I just can¡¯t. My wife nags me about it every day, but what can I do? Work demands it.¡± Since Julian wasn¡¯t smoking, Samuel put his cigarette away as well. He slipped it back into the pack and sat down, taking the yellowed hospital report Julian handed him. It was the very one Willow had left behind. ¡°Take a look at this,¡± Julian said. His voice was low and steady. Samuel adjusted his sses and carefully examined the document. After about two minutes, he set the paper down and looked up at Julian. He was stunned. This was explosive. He had just learned something he wasn¡¯t supposed to know. The Ziegler family was already a battlefield, constantly locked in power struggles. If word got out that Willow couldn¡¯t have children, the entire bnce of the family could shift. For a long moment, Samuel didn¡¯t say a word. Julian reached into his pocket and ced a check on the table. ¡°I hope you can keep this a secret, Dr. Watson.¡± Samuel stared at the 20 million figure, utterly stunned. It took him a long moment to rein in his shock before he lowered his voice and asked, ¡°What exactly are you trying to say, Julian?¡± Chapter 43 +25 Bonus Julian¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°Find a solution. Willow and I want a child.¡± Samuel picked up the report again, studying it with even more care. After a long pause, he finally said, ¡°It won¡¯t be easy. She should avoid cold foods, and you two should foster a closer bond. Ideally, bring her in for a thorough checkup.¡± Julian gave a small nod. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Samuel was an old hand at this. Upon hearing Julian¡¯s words, he immediately sensed there was more to the story. He couldn¡¯t help but think that being a wealthy couple was no easy feat. It felt like a constant power struggle. But that 20 million dors was certainly tempting. Julian didn¡¯t linger. He left the office and headed toward the inpatient ward. Now that he and Willow were truly husband and wife, certain matters required his attention. When Julian wanted something, he never failed to get it. Willow¡¯s body and soul belonged to him. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 44 Julian took a slow drag of his cigarette before stepping into the VIP ward. Leonard happened to be inside, going over Grace¡¯s case. Seeing Julian walk in, he smiled and greeted him, ¡°Perfect timing. We¡¯ve finalized the surgical n. All that¡¯s left is setting the date.¡± Grace¡¯s condition was still fragile, so she needed more time to regain her strength. In the end, Leonard scheduled the surgery for two weekster. Willow finally felt a sense of relief. Leonard had an old friend to catch up with, so Julian personally escorted him to the parking lot. On the way, Leonard couldn¡¯t stop praising Willow. Just before getting into the car, he pped Julian on the shoulder and said, ¡°You¡¯d better treat her right. She¡¯s a good woman. Let this one slip, and you won¡¯t find another like her.¡± Julian smiled slightly and held the car door open for him. ¡°I hear you, Mr. Frost.¡± Leonard smiled before getting in. A momentter, the sleek car slowly pulled away, brushing past Julian as it left. Julian lingered for a moment before heading back to the ward. Willow was chatting with Grace. When she saw Julian return, she gave him a faint smile. ¡°Grandma wouldn¡¯t be having this surgery if it weren¡¯t for you. Thank you.¡± Julian walked over and ced a hand on her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re my wife. No need to thank me.¡± Willow felt the gesture was too intimate and instinctively tried to pull away. Grace noticed. She had advised Willow to divorce Julian before, but now that he was acting like a devoted husband, she hesitated. Ultimately, she just wanted Willow to have a normal, stable home, so she chose not to say anything. Julian yed the role of a loving husband well. Even Maureen was starting to believe he had turned over a new leaf and was fullymitted to his marriage. Only Willow knew the truth. This was just a mask. Everything he did had a price tag attached. Julian wanted something from her, like her connections to Heather and the influence she wielded over Project Aurelia. Sure enough, the moment they left the hospital, he brought it up in the car. Willow said calmly, ¡°Mrs. Chapman got in touch. Aurelia Group is interested in working together. However, they have some concerns about Neb¡¯s management and feel there¡¯s ack of basic trust.¡± ¡± Julian kept his eyes on the road and responded smoothly, ¡°They mean Catherine?¡± Willow¡¯s expression cooled. ¡°I left Neb Group a long time ago. How would I know?¡± They hit a red light, and Julian brought the car to a stop. Resting one hand on the wheel, he turned to look at her and said seriously, ¡°Believe it or not, there¡¯s nothing between me and her.¡± Willow was stunned for a moment before smiling faintly. A man¡¯s words were as trustworthy as a magician¡¯s tricks. Julian wanted to build something with Willow. So, without hesitation, he decided to remove Catherine from the project team. She was irritating and a distraction anyway. When he brought it up to Willow, she remained indifferent. ¡°I don¡¯t work at Neb Group anymore. That¡¯s none of my concern.¡± The light turned green. Julian stepped on the gas. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead as he let out a quiet . ¡°I¡¯m your concern, though, Mrs. Ziegler.¡± His words were unmistakably suggestive. Willow understood him perfectly but chose to act oblivious. Julian didn¡¯t mind the cold shoulder. After driving a little farther, he pulled up in front of a pharmacy and eased the car to a stop. Willow turned to him. ¡°Are you sick?¡± Julian unbuckled his seatbelt and grabbed his wallet. ¡°No, I¡¯m buying something else.¡± A few momentster, he stepped inside the pharmacy and casually grabbed two boxes of condoms from the counter¨Cextrarge, of course. When the cashier scanned the items, she nced up and was momentarily stunned. Julian was the kind of man women couldn¡¯t help but notice. She worked up the nerve to chat him up. ¡°Would you like to check out some other options? The strawberry and mint vors are really popr.¡± Strawberry? Mint? Julian looked at her with a nk expression. ¡°No.¡± The cashier decided not to push her luck. But as he walked out, she couldn¡¯t resist stealing another nce. God, he was hot. And those legs were long. Back in the car, Julian tossed the boxes into the center console. Willow couldn¡¯t exactly pretend she hadn¡¯t seen them. She turned her face away and said evenly, ¡°We don¡¯t actually need those,¡± Julian shifted slightly to look at her. Maybe it was because of the night before, but Willow¡¯splexion was especially rosy. Her delicate features stood out even more. His throat tightened. ¡°I thought we agreed to wait for two more years.¡± Willow finally turned back to face him. She studied him like she was seeing him for the first time. +25 Bonus That night, Julian used two condoms. Without the pressure of having children, he didn¡¯t hold back. His usual restraint vanished, and his intensity left Willow exhausted. She ended up catching a cold from the ordeal. The next morning, Julian was already out of bed. The sound of running water from the bathroom told her he was still home. Sure enough, a few minutester, he emerged, fully dressed. He held a slim tie in his hand and gestured for Willow to help him fasten it. Willow felt sick and didn¡¯t want to move. But Julian was persistent. 1 He lowered himself just enough to make it easier for her. With no other choice, Willow pushed herself up slightly. This wasn¡¯t new¨Cshe had done it countless times before. She could tie his tie perfectly with her eyes closed. As she worked, Julian looked down at her. Her face rested against the pillow, dark strands of hair spilling over it. A loosely tied white robe hung from her slender frame, entuating her delicate curves. The sight brought back memories ofst night¡¯s lingering passion. T Two nights in a row. He was getting addicted. If not for Willow¡¯s delicate frame, Julian wouldn¡¯t have stopped so easilyst night. The intensity of his desire unsettled him. He had never been one to indulge. A momentter, Willow tightened the knot neatly. She smoothed it down and said, ¡°Julian, we couldn¡¯t be a real couple in the past four years. And now? It¡¯s even less of a possibility. Stop wasting your energy on me. Whatever your reasons, whatever you¡¯re trying to do, it¡¯s pointless.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°Is there really no trust left between us?¡± Willow smiled faintly but said nothing. Julian left for work. Willow tried to get up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her. Fortunately, ir knocked on the door and discovered that Willow was unwell. ir brought over a thermometer, and to her surprise, it read 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. ¡°Mrs. Ziegler, you have a fever.¡± ir had always been kind. Seeing how well Julian and Willow had been getting alongtely, she figured this was the perfect opportunity to bring them even closer. (1 So, as she fetched medicine, she pulled out her phone and dialed Julian¡¯s number. 1 Altar 45 nside the conference room, Julian was in the middle of leading a morning meeting when Esther walked in with a phone in hand. Julian shot her a questioning look before taking the phone. On the other end, ir¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, Mrs. Ziegler¡¯s burning up. Her fever¡¯s at 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. I¡¯m really worried she won¡¯t be able to hold up.¡± ir might be exaggerating, but the concern in her words was genuine, Julian was about to respond when he noticed his executives watching him. He shed a calm smile. ¡°Willow¡¯s sick. She just called to ask me toe home early.¡± The room fell silent. If they hadn¡¯t seen firsthand how badly things had gone between the couple not long ago, they might¡¯ve actually believed him. Julian, satisfied with the little disy, softly instructed ir to take good care of Willow. He assured her that he would be home early. Every word carried the attentiveness of a devoted husband. Once he finished giving his instructions, he ended the call and resumed his meeting. The first order of the day was removing Catherine from Project Aurelia. Effective immediately, she was no longer allowed to attend meetings or be involved in any way. The room was stunned. Willow was truly something. Of course, Julian offered no exnation. When the meeting wrapped up, he returned to his office. He had just settled into his seat when Esther pushed the door open with a troubled look. ¡°Catherine is making a scene outside, dernanding an exnation from you, 10 Julian took a sip of his coffee and let out a coldugh. ¡°An exnation? Project Aurelia was never meant for her. I only let her in as a temporary fix.¡± Esther could see it clearly now¨CJulian didn¡¯t like Catherine. But then why¡­? Julian leaned back in his chair. After a moment, he said, ¡°Aurelia Group hasints about her. Tell her not toe back. Her sry will still be paid, but she¡¯s done here.¡± Esther understood immediately that Catherine was officially sidelined. She then brought up another issue. ¡°Since you ended the contract with Gibson Legal Group, a few projects are currently without legal representation. You¡¯ve never liked using the in¨Chouse team¡­¡± Julian barely hesitated. ¡°Reach out to Zachary Lawless. He¡¯spetent and knows how to stay in hisne.¡± Esther nodded and left to make arrangements. Outside, Catherine¡¯s angry voice could still be heard, but Julian didn¡¯t spare it a second thought. At 5:00 pm, Julian clocked out early. On the way home, he stopped by a florist and picked up a bouquet of white roses. Back in his car, he ced the delicate blooms on the passenger seat. They looked strikingly beautiful, almost like a woman with an intoxicating allure. He stared at them for a moment before finally starting the engine. By the time he arrived at the house, dusk had fallen. The scent of home¨Ccooked food filled the air, making the ce feel inviting. Julian grabbed the bouquet and stepped inside. When ir saw him, she was stunned. In all the years she¡¯d worked here, she had never once seen Julian buy flowers for Willow. Was this a sign the world was ending? Julian didn¡¯t break stride. ¡°How¡¯s Willow doing?¡± ir snapped back to reality. ¡°Still feeling weak. She was worried about getting her grandmother sick, so she didn¡¯t go to the hospital today.¡± Julian paused, then instructed, ¡°Bring up a bowl of soupter, with a couple of light side dishes.¡± ir beamed. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, you¡¯re finally learning how to take care of Mrs. Ziegler!¡± Julian shot her a nce before heading upstairs. The warm light from the chandelier cast soft shadows over his face, entuating his sharp features. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 46 Chapter 46 Julian pushed open the bedroom door. The room was quiet, filled with the faint scent of Willow¡¯s perfume. On the bed, Willowy curled up, seemingly asleep. He walked over and crouched down beside her. He brushed a few strands of hair from her face before cing a hand on her forehead. It was still warm. Willow stirred. Her fevered eyes fluttered open to meet his gaze. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. ¡°You¡¯re home?¡± Julian¡¯s heart skipped an inexplicable beat. He cupped her face gently and nodded. ¡°I told ir to bring up some soup. Eat a little before you sleep again. Are you feeling very sick?¡± The way he touched her reminded her of how one would pet a small animal. She wasn¡¯t used to it. Reaching out, she pressed a hand to his forehead. He wasn¡¯t sick Julian chuckled. ¡°Is it so strange for me to be concerned? You used toin that I wasn¡¯t attentive enough.¡± Willow leaned against the headboard, her expression unreadable. ¡°I needed that before but not anymore. Julian, you¡¯re not the right man for me, and I¡¯m not the wife you envisioned. When our two years are up, we¡¯re going our separate ways.¡± His dark eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°You¡¯re that eager to leave?¡± Before she could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them. ir entered, carrying a tray with soup, light side dishes, and medicine. She set it down in the sitting area and, reading the mood, quickly excused herself. Julian turned back to Willow. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you over.¡± Before she could protest, he scooped her up effortlessly. The silk robe she wore barely covered her, especially her long, slender legs. When she instinctively tried to adjust the fabric, it only left other areas exposed. Julian¡¯s gaze lowered slightly. ¡°Why bother? There¡¯s nothing I haven¡¯t seen.¡± Willow was speechless. If he wanted to keep up the act of being a loving husband, she could y along. It made things easier. So when he settled her onto hisp, she didn¡¯t resist. Her bare legs rested against his te¨Cgray dress pants. The contrast looked both stark and intimate. A nervous flutter passed through Willow. Julian leaned in, murmuring against her ear, ¡°I just changed into these today.¡± She had no reply for that. Her fever left her lightheaded, so she let him feed her spoonfuls of soup. After half a bowl, she felt a little better and tried to move away, but Julian¡¯s grip on her waist tightened, firm and possessive. ¡°Julian,¡± Willow called out urgently. ¡°Yes?¡± Julian, however, was far moreposed, as if he hadn¡¯t been the one doing the teasing. He realized he enjoyed seeing Willow lose control. Every time her hair spilled over the white pillows, something inside him stirred. He dismissed it as a simple biological reaction. Willow¡¯s gaze fell on the bouquet of white roses sitting on the nightstand. She reached out, cradling it in her hands and staring at it for a long time. She thought how wonderful it would have been if Julian had treated her this way when they first got married. There would have been warmth, at least. Beautiful memories instead of a mess of tangled emotions and regret. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Julian asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were the type to woo a woman.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°No woman dislikes flowers.¡± Her evasive answer clearly displeased him. Julian plucked the roses from her hands and set them aside. Then, without warning, he gripped her waist and captured her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss. She refused to respond, so he kept teasing her until he was satisfied. P Altar 47 Willow was still sick, so naturally, there was no way for them to be intimate. She went back to bed to rest. The sound of running water drifted from the bathroom. Julian was taking a shower. The steady stream was oddly soothing, and before she knew it, Willow had drifted off to sleep. Even in her dreams, Julian refused to leave her alone. When she woke up again, it was already 1:00 am. The bedroom was dimly lit by a single readingmp. Julian was sitting against the headboard, reading through some important documents. His features were striking. Even in a simple white robe, he looked effortlessly refined. Willow found herself stealing a few extra nces. The subtle shift in the bed caught Julian¡¯s attention. He lowered his gaze to her. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Willow nodded. ¡°What time is it?¡± Julian set down his documents, leaned back slightly, and wrapped an arm around her delicate shoulders. His voice carried a rare hint of warmth. ¡°1:00 am.¡± She wasn¡¯t used to this kind of tenderness. She used the excuse of going to the bathroom to avoid their intimacy. Julian didn¡¯t call her out on it. He simply let her go. Back in bed, Willow found that she couldn¡¯t fall asleep again. She didn¡¯t dare toss and turn, afraid of disturbing Julian. But he noticed her restlessness. He switched on the readingmp and stretched his arm toward the nightstand to retrieve something from inside. ¡°If you can¡¯t sleep, I¡¯ll read to you. It might help.¡± It was rare for him to be this considerate. Julian pulled Willow into his chest, letting her rest against him. Her long hair spilled over his body like silk, creating an intimate scene neither of themmented
  1. on.
Julian nced down at her. Unable to resist, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Although Willow had recovered, she didn¡¯t have the strength to resist. Besides, she was too tired to struggle. julian¡¯s nose brushed against hers as he murmured, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m starting now.¡± Willow closed her eyes, treating his voice like a luby. This had nothing to do with love. His voice was refined and rich like the timbre of a fine cello. With its deliberate depth, it was irresistibly alluring. But as the words flowed, her eyes suddenly snapped open. She lifted her head and red at him. He was reading one of the love letters she had written to him years ago. Willow¡¯s face turned crimson. She pushed against his chest, reaching for the paper. Their bodies brushed against each other. But right now, she had no time to be embarrassed about that. Julian stretched his arm out of her reach. She struggled, breathless from the effort. Holding her close, he chuckled softly. ¡°What? A love letter doesn¡¯t count as a book?¡± Not only that, he lowered his head to hers, his voice deep and slow as he read aloud her past confessions. Each word was with a teasing edge that sent tingles down her spine. ¡°Even if it¡¯s hard, I still want to stay by your side. I will love you for a long, long time. Again and again.¡± When Julian finished, silence filled the room. Their breaths mingled in the quiet, both lost in the memories of what once was. Neither of them knew who moved first. Maybe she leaned in. Maybe he did. But in the end, it didn¡¯t matter. They kissed. Itsted long enough that, at some point, Julian reached over and turned off themp. Outside, the crescent moon hung low over the trees. That night was, perhaps, the sweetest night of their lives¨Cthe closest they had evere to love. Butter, they both forgot it. The following week, Julian came home almost every evening on time, He had dinner with Willow and shared intimacy with her. More often than not, it was he who couldn¡¯t get enough of her. He was astonished by his own insatiable need for her. So much so that he decided to see a psychologist about it. +25 Bonus In a secluded room of one of Brindley¡¯s psychiatric clinics, heavy curtains shut out every trace of light. With nomps turned on, the space was cloaked in darkness. Julian sat in aer, his voice cool and detached as he recounted his marriage. Altar 48 +25 Bonus ¡°I have an amazing wife. One could even say she¡¯s the perfect woman, but I don¡¯t love her. I can say for sure that I¡¯m not attracted to her at all. I only slept with her to have a legitimate heir. However, I seem to be addicted to this rtionship of ours. I¡¯ve never felt desire in the past,¡± Julian exined, confused. The doctor took some time to evaluate the situation before saying, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, the first thing you need to do is decide whether you love her or not. It¡¯s impossible to be subjective or objective about rtionships, especially with how unpredictable they can be.¡± Julian frowned, dismissing that line of thought. He had someone he loved when he was younger, so he knew what loving someone felt like. After the consultation, he buttoned up his suit and left the clinic. Esther, who was waiting outside, saw hime out and asked, ¡°Have you been unhappytely, Mr. Ziegler?¡± Once they were in the car, Julian leaned against the backseat and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m too happy, actually.¡± Esther was confused, but she then remembered something. ¡°Melody Simpson from Vision Group invited you to dinner; just the two of you. She wanted to talk about working together. Should I reject the invitation for you, Mr. Ziegler?¡± Julian never epted invitations like that, mostly to avoid arousing suspicion. However, he suddenly realized how simr Melody and Willow were. They were both cool, aloof, beautiful women. If he had a meal with Melody, it would be the perfect chance to prove that his feelings for Willow weren¡¯t real. Julian thought about it before replying, ¡°Make a reservation for 8:00 pm at The Royal Diner, Trinity Hotel.¡± His response shocked Esther, but she did as he said. That evening, Julian called Willow to tell her he had a business appointment. Coincidentally, Willow was busy as well. A famous painter was in Brindley, and she was staying in the Trinity Hotel. Willow had invited her out to talk business, and if all went well, she hoped to work with the painter in the long term. At 7:00 pm, Willow and the painter were having a meal at The Royal Diner. By the time they were done eating, they had finalized the cooperation. Willow paid the bill and was about to leave when she saw a familiar face while walking down the corridor. It was her husband, Julian. He said he had a business appointment, but he was having a meal with a woman. Willow recognized her. That was Melody, the vice CEO of Vision Group. She was a smart, capable, and gorgeous woman. On top of that, Melody was wearing an ash¨Cgray, altered dress that night. She had a thin gold watch on her wrist that highlighted her feminine energy. Julian, on the other hand, was dressed in an exquisite three¨Cpiece suit. He was the perfect picture of nobility, and there was dignity in his every move and gesture. The atmosphere in The Royal Diner was perfect for a romantic dinner, too. Julian leaned back and stared at the woman across from him with a hint of nonchnce, but his dark eyes held a seductive gaze that only a mature man could possess. Melody lightly touched her hair in an enticing manner. Willow didn¡¯t want to interrupt, so she was about to leave after staring at them for a while. However, Julian noticed her and was shocked. Why was Willow there? That night, all he and Melody had talked about was business. Of course, Melody had tried flirting with him, but his mind had been elsewhere all night. That was when he¡¯d caught sight of Willow. D ? Support Altar 49 Julian walked over to Willow with a dark look in his eyes. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Willow lifted her briefcase. ¡°Not for a date.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze deepened as he offered, ¡°Come eat with us.¡± Willow didn¡¯t spare his dignity, and she didn¡¯t even nce at Melody. Listlessly, she replied, ¡°I¡¯m quite full. Take your time talking to her, Julian. I¡¯m heading home.¡± Then, Julian grabbed her wrist with a frown. ¡°Willow!¡± Willow let out an airyugh. She looked at him and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you two talking business? I¡¯m not that close¨Cminded, you know. Our marriage is only contractual anyway. Once the time is up, we¡¯ll go our separate ways. Who you spend your time with is none of my business.¡± Julian¡¯s frown deepened. He knew Willow was only saying that out of anger, but it was irritating enough to make him lose his patience and stop trying to persuade her. He simply let her go. Willow had no intention of staying, so she turned and left without a second nce. She left Julian where he was, and his mood had souredpletely. When Melody saw Willow leaving, she thought that was her chance and walked over tofort Julian in a charming tone. ¡°Is Mrs. Ziegler upset, Julian? Should I go exin what¡¯s going on?¡± Julian, however, called the waiter over and handed him around two thousand dors in cash. ¡°No need for that,¡± he told her before disappearing into the night. It hadn¡¯t been easy for Melody to finally get him on his own, so she wasn¡¯t going to let this opportunity go. She chased after Julian and followed him to the parking lot. It was a chilly winter night, and she was shivering from the cold, but she bravely asked, ¡°Are you angry?¡°¡± Julian¡¯s hand was on the door handle, and there was an indifferent look on his face. ¡°We¡¯re not close enough for you to call me by my first name, Ms. Simpson.¡± He lowered his head to think for a moment before vaguely adding, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t havee tonight.¡± The reason why he felt such strong physical attraction toward Willow wasn¡¯t because she was his type. He didn¡¯t feel anything for Melody, at least. She had tried flirting with him, but it hadn¡¯t affected him at all. His time was precious, so he got into the car right after saying that and left Melody behind, disheveled in the wind. She kept reying the night over and over again in her head, unable to understand why Julian was so indifferent. She just couldn¡¯t ept it. Half an hourter, Willow returned to Grandview Manor. As soon as the car came to a stop, Snowy jumped inside and rubbed its snow¨Cwhite head against Willow¡¯s arm. It let out two barks. Willow was incredibly fond of it, so she took a treat out of the glove box and unwrapped it before feeding it to Snowy. Once snowy was done eating, she carried it into the house. When ir saw her, she asked, ¡°You¡¯re home from dinner, Mrs. Ziegler? Should I make you some tea to cleanse your pte? Restaurant food can be quite heavy on the stomach.! 10 Willow ran her fingers through her long hair with a subtle smile. ¡°Take the tea to the studio on the third floor.¡± ir happily agreed and got to work. Willow first went to the master bedroom to change her clothes before heading to the studio on the third floor. When she turned on the lights, she was greeted by the half¨Cfinished piece on the easel, called ¡°Lovers in the Rain¡°. As Willow painted, Snowy obediently sat beside her with affection in its dark eyes. Soon, there was a knock at the door. Willow thought it was ir, but to her surprise, Julian stepped inside. Willow turned to nce at him before turning back to continue painting. Julian walked in and ced the tea to the side. He hugged her from behind and whispered, ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t bothered. Why are you cooped up in here, then?¡± Willow¡¯s hand froze. ¡°What do you want me to say, Julian?¡± Julian tightened his grip and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± Willow turned around in his embrace and fiddled with his cor, a yful look on her face. ¡°Would you believe me if I said I loved you so much that I couldn¡¯t help myself, Julian?¡± His gaze was dark, like a bottomless pool. He stared at Willow¡¯s face for a while before gritting his teeth. ¡°You¡¯re asking for it.¡± He didn¡¯t know why he was so worked up and angry. He was probably irritated by Willow¡¯s cynical words and how she kept reminding him that she didn¡¯t love him. A lot of the time, his anger transformed into something else. He carried Willow into the bedroom on the second floor without even turning the lights on. Their bodies were entangled, and their figures ovepped in the +25 Bonus darkness to form a vague silhouette. Willow allowed him to do as she wished. She didn¡¯t try to resist at all. She held onto his neck tightly as if she was a submissive woman who loved her husband deeply. Julian, on the other hand, knew that no matter how affectionate she was, Willow didn¡¯t feel a thing. After everything was over, Julian felt physically and mentally empty. He had never felt so dissatisfied before. It was like he had lost something incredibly dear to him. It was a quiet night. Julian grabbed Willow¡¯s shoulders and leaned over her from behind. He pressed his lips against the back of her neck and murmured, ¡°Be more obedient, Willow.¡± It took a while before Willow quietly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll y along and act like we¡¯re a loving couple. After all, I still need your money to treat my grandmother¡¯s illness.¡± Julian went stiff. Willow turned around and gently leaned into his embrace, running her slender fingers over his handsome features. ¡°I¡¯ve done everything you¡¯ve asked of me. What else do you need, Julian?¡± Julian grabbed her wrist, a gloomy look in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not enough.¡± He didn¡¯t know what wasn¡¯t enough, though. In the early morning, Willow woke up and saw Julian¡¯s handsome face right in front of her. He was staring straight at her, and it looked like he wanted to devour her. It was quite creepy. 0 Willow.closed her eyes, deciding that it was better to feign being asleep. However, she was soon awoken by Julian passionately kissing her. When she woke up againter that morning, Julian wasn¡¯t in bed. She leaned against the headboard, lost in thought. She heard someone moving around in the coatroom, and Julian walked out of it shortly after. He was dressed neatly, and it was impossible to tell that he was the same violent person as the night before. Julian put on his Patek Philippe watch and looked at Willow. ¡°There¡¯s a charity dinner tonight. You¡¯reing with me.¡± Willow agreed to it. Ever since she stopped loving Julian, being his wife was like a job to her. It was much easier than before. Her indifference frustrated Julian, and he leaned over to capture her lips. ¡°Sometimes, I really want to kill you.¡± Willow remained unbothered. Life was hard enough as it was. She didn¡¯t want to make things even more difficult for herself. Altar 50 Julian leaned back in his leather chair in the CEO¡¯s office of Neb Group. He was having a serious moment of introspection. Everything he did was for his marriage and to have a legitimate heir. He didn¡¯t hate Willow. In fact, he somewhat liked her. They had been getting along well in that aspect, at least. Men like him were animals with needs. If they were satisfied in bed, they would generally be much more generous. He was willing to treat her well, let her experience the benefits of a marriage, and show her what love felt like if that was what Willow wanted. That had nothing to do with actually loving her, though. He still didn¡¯t love her. While Julian was lost in thought, Esther knocked on the door before stepping in. ¡°You have a call from Grandsburg, Mr. Ziegler.¡± Julian took the phone and lowered his chin. ¡°You can leave.¡± Esther returned to the secretary¡¯s office while thinking, ¡°Mr. Ziegler gets a call from Grandsburg once a week, and he flies there at least once a month¡­ I¡¯m sure it¡¯s someone important!¡± Just as she was pondering, Julian came in and lightly knocked on her desk. ¡°You¡¯reing to Yarrowmere with me tomorrow. There¡¯s an update on Project Aurelia.¡± Esther was delighted. ¡°Did Mr. Chapman agree?¡± Julian let out an affirmative hum. ¡°They¡¯re willing topromise, so there¡¯s a lot of room for negotiation. Pack your things. Tell Mr. Xander from the finance department and Ms. Sutton from the public rtions department to get ready, too. We¡¯ll fly to Yarrowmere tomorrow morning.¡± Esther couldn¡¯t help but reply, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler can be very convincing when Mrs. Chapman is involved.¡± Julian shed her a subtle grin. Even though he was going on a business trip, he still had to attend the dinner party as nned. It was a charity dinner, so Willow didn¡¯t wear anything too shy. She was dressed in a ck suit, and her only essory was her diamond wedding ring. Her cold demeanor made her even more attractive. When Julian nced over at her, he froze for a moment before hooking his arm around Willow¡¯s waist and introducing her to the host of the party. Willow had been involved in business for many years, so she was adept at handling things and navigating social situations. The way she carried herself would affect her husband¡¯s reputation, after all. While she was socializing, Julian couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to her, too. She waspletely different from how she was at home. Her presence was overwhelming. Someone called out, ¡°Here you are, Julian! Come on! Mr. Wilson from Helios has always wanted to get to know you. He came here just to see you. Go chat with him.¡± Julian nodded in a reserved manner. ¡°Sure.¡® ¡°1 He was always the center of attention when it came to business. He held a ss of red wine in a dignified manner, charming countless women in attendance. That included Melody, who had dinner with him the night before. She just couldn¡¯t forget how romantic the night had been. She was so eager to get with Julian that a single meal with him was enough to fuel hexfantasies. When she heard that he would be attending the dinner party, she got herself an invitation and showed up to stage a chance encounter. That night, Melody was even rented jewelry worth millions of dors, determined not to let Willow outshine her. She ramped up her feminine charm to the maximum as she said to Julian, ¡°There are so many things we didn¡¯t get to talk aboutst night, Julian. What a pity.¡± Julian had no intention of getting involved with her. A waiter happened to pass by, so he set his wine ss down and tumed back to Melody with an icy look on his face. ¡°Like I said, Ms. Simpson, we¡¯re not that close.¡± That left Melody embarrassed. She wanted to continue attempting to seduce him, but Julian was already walking off in the other direction. P Altar 51 Chapter 51 Dressed in all ck, Willow held a ss of red wine as she watched everything go down. Julian walked over to her, and she subtly raised her ss while lifting her chin. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay to do that? It seems like you¡¯re neglecting Ms. Simpson.¡± Julian stared at her with a seductive look that only a mature man could pull off. A whileter, he grabbed the ss in her hand and kissed her on the lips. ¡°Should we get going, Mrs. Ziegler?¡± Before Willow could react, Julian had already grabbed her and dragged her out. It was a rather rude thing to do, but it was what he wanted. The chandelier shone down on them, casting a gorgeous silhouette. They could hear Melody yelling from behind them, ¡°Julian!¡± For some reason, Willow smiled. Annoyed by the teasing, Julian took it out on her by pushing her against the wall and kissing her. The hotel corridor was a public space, and people could show up at any moment. Obviously, Willow was against it, so she tried to break free. However, Julian grabbed her neck and kissed her deeply as if he wanted to swallow her whole. Eventually, he managed to tame Willow, and she raised her head to reciprocate./1 In a hoarse voice, he asked, ¡°Do you want to do it?¡± Trembling, Willow replied, ¡°No.¡± All of a sudden, Julian chuckled. Given how handsome he was, hisugh was incredibly charming. Even though Willow didn¡¯t love him anymore, she was still attracted to him. Honestly, she hadn¡¯t lost out at all. Julian caressed her face, feeling a sudden wave of internal peace. That was how Willow made him feel. In a low voice, he said, ¡°Just kidding. I have to go to Yarrowmere early tomorrow morning.¡± Willow immediately caught on. ¡°Is there progress on Project Aurelia?¡± Julian stared at her, his dark eyes clear and bright. There was an obvious romantic undertone to his gaze, and Willow subtly turned her face to the side. When they were back at Grandview Manor, Julian went to the study for a video conference while Willow helped him pack his luggage. The three¨Cday trip to Yarrowmere was mainly for business. Willow packed two suits, three shirts, and some essories for Julian. It was cold in Yarrowmere, so she specifically chose a thin and long down jacket. As she moved his luggage, Julian¡¯s conference ended and he walked into the bedroom. Seeing the open closet, he ran his slender fingers across a row of clothes and shed a light smile. ¡°Buy me some new shirts when you have the time. It¡¯s been half a year since you got me anything new.¡± Absentmindedly, Willow let out a hum of acknowledgment. Julian approached her and hugged her without saying a word. He just held her in his arms quietly, and after a while, he leaned over and whispered a few words to her. His voice was barely audible, but it was deafening to Willow. ¡°You¡¯re the only woman I¡¯ve ever been with. If you don¡¯t want me to see her anymore, then I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll learn to be a good husband, Willow. Trust me.¡± Those words haunted Willow all night, leaving her unable to sleep. Julian¡¯s strong arms had her trapped in his embrace with her face buried in his neck. When she woke up again, it was already the afternoon. The lounge attached to the bedroom was filled with expensive boxes containing jewelry, clothes from brands that Willow liked to wear, and a few expensive trinkets. They were all typical things that women would like. Thest box contained all the love letters Willow had written. It was a gallery of her entire youth. At that moment, Willow felt herself tearing up. Julian sure knew how to please a woman. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you P Altar 52 On Julian¡¯s third day in Yarrowmere, Willow went to the mall. Julian liked the shirts from Kitom, so she picked out two colors for him¨Cck and dark gray. He rarely wore white shirts, and most of the time, his clothes were tailored. After she paid, the clerk started buttering her up. ¡°You¡¯ve got wonderful taste, Mrs. Ziegler. We¡¯re getting a new batch of clothes next week, so you have toe and take a look. Mr. Ziegler looks amazing in this brand.¡± Willow smiled. ¡°Of course, I will.¡± Women tended to love shopping, and Willow was no exception. She wanted to invite Heather out for coffee but wasn¡¯t sure if Heather was busy. Just when she was about to make a call, she heard a joyful voice calling out to her. ¡°Willow!¡± When she turned to look, she saw that it was Natalie and Jeffrey. Natalie had already forgotten what happened that night at the birthday dinner. Willow would buy her dessert, so Natalie was very fond of her. Most people said that eating too much dessert would cause weight gain, but Willow wasn¡¯t like that. Whenever she pestered Willow to talk to her, Willow would y along affectionately. Jeffrey, who was standing to the side, silently stared at the bag in Willow¡¯s hand, which contained men¡¯s shirts from Kitom. He suddenly asked, ¡°Did you buy those for him?¡± Willow lightly nodded with no intention of dodging the question. ¡°Yes. I bought these for Julian.¡± Jeffrey¡¯s gaze deepened. A momentter, he gave her a soft smile. ¡°Julian has always gotten everything he wanted since he was a kid.¡± That applied to both Neb Group and Willow. Willow only smiled without any exnation. Meanwhile, Natalie shifted her gaze between Jeffrey and Willow. What was he talking about? The chance encounter at the mall didn¡¯t affect Willow that much. On her way home, she bought a bunch of white ca lilies, which she ced in a crystal vase on her bedside. They looked fresh, and ir gushed about how beautiful they were. Sheplimented Willow¡¯s handiwork, too. Willow turned the vase with a light smile on her face. That night, she happened to get a call from Julian. When he went on business trips in the past, they rarely called each other unless it was for something important, but that night, Julian broke that rule. At that moment, he was talking business with Timothy from Aurelia Group, who enjoyed drinking and had a high alcohol tolerance. Despite how experienced Julian was, he couldn¡¯t turn down Timothy¡¯s offer. He heard the gentle voice of a woman beside him. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, allow me to drink with Mr. Chapman.¡± (1 It was Eleanor, Timothy¡¯s girlfriend. Relieved that she was taking over, Julian came up with an excuse to head to the lounge. Esther followed him in worriedly. She closed the door behind them and squatted in front of Julian, quietly asking, ¡°You drank too fast just now. Should I get you a warm towel?¡± Julian leaned against the couch. His long legs were stretched out casually, and his handsome face was alluring. After some time, he let out a soft hum. Esther headed to the bathroom to get him a warm towel. She could hear Julian¡¯s resigned voiceing from outside. ¡°The way Ms. Sutton stopped me from drinking just now reminded me of the past. Willow used to do that, too. She can¡¯t hold her alcohol at all, but she always tries to take over for me.¡± His voice grew hoarse toward the end of the sentence. Esther thought, ¡°Mr. Ziegler is still human after all. He has human emotions and desires, too. He still has feelings for Mrs. Ziegler.¡± The thought was rather touching to Esther, and she enthusiastically wiped Julian¡¯s face down. Julian red at her, but he didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he told her, ¡°There¡¯s a violinist who will be performing in Brindley on the 12th. Willow is a huge fan of him, so help me get two of the best seats.¡± Altar 53 Esther immediately did as he said. As soon as she was done, Julian kicked her out of the room. Beyond the floor¨Clength windows, the night was quiet. Julian had mostly sobered up by then, so he called Willow. He figured that she was probably still awake, and as expected, Willow soon picked up. With a slightly hoarse voice, Julian asked, ¡°Did you buy the shirts?¡± ¡°Yes. They¡¯re a little ugly, though.¡± Willow said that on purpose. It wasn¡¯t often that they got to chat like they were an affectionate married couple. Julian chuckled. ¡°I trust your taste, Mrs. Ziegler.¡± He changed the topic, and his voice grew gentle, ¡°Cameron Stone is having a concert, and he¡¯s quite a good performer. I told Esther to get us two tickets. I¡¯ll attend the concert with you when I¡¯m back in Brindley,¡± Willow was happy to hear that. She had been a fan of Cameron for six years, but she had yet to see him in person. Julian really knew how to set aside his pride and do what she wanted. It was only natural for her to be moved. 1 She couldn¡¯t help but soften. ¡°Thank you for remembering, Julian.¡± The night was dark. Julian stood up and walked toward the floor¨Clength windows. He was staying on the 32nd floor of the hotel, and he had a full view of the nighttime scenery of Yarrowmere. All of a sudden, he missed Willow. It was the first time he was thinking about his wife at home instead of that person in Grandsburg. He lowered his voice, sounding almost tender as he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll go home early the day after tomorrow. I¡¯ll take a private flight back, and you can pick me up at the airport. I want to see you.¡± Julian had never said anything so romantic before, but he didn¡¯t regret saying it. It just came out naturally with the mood. It was true that he missed Willow. He missed the way she would tie her tie, and how charming she looked when she was lying on their big, soft bed¡­ He thought, ¡°The tenderness of a woman can really turn a man soft, and I¡¯m no exception. I can draw the line between sex and love, though.¡± Willow agreed after a moment of contemtion. She didn¡¯t have anything in particr nned in two days, anyway. Julian sent Willow the QR code, and he looked very happy after doing so. Esther could tell he was in love and teased, ¡°You and Mrs. Ziegler have been getting along pretty well recently! People in thepany say that your temper has be much better. It¡¯s like you¡¯re full of life again.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Julian asked on purpose, his expression reserved. However, the upturned corners of his mouth revealed how happy he was to hear that. Esther nodded boldly. ¡°Of course! I can attest to that.¡± Julian shed a light grin. He was about to return to the private room and rejoin the social gathering when his phone rang. It was a call from Grandsburg. The look on his face was calm when he first picked up, but it gradually turned grave. He only said a few words in response before hanging up. Esther was about to ask when julian started giving her orders, his phone still in hand. ¡°Prepare the private jet right now. I need to go to Grandsburg. Tell Catherine to head to the airport. Please apologize to Mr. Chapman for me and tell him that I¡¯ll make it up to him once I¡¯m back in Brindley.¡± Esther was stunned. Before she could ask any questions, Julian was already walking out hurriedly. Despite everything he had arranged, he forgot to tell his wife about it. He forgot that he had made ns with her, that she was waiting for him in Brindley, and that they had agreed to meet at the airport in two days. He also forgot all the romantic things he had told Willow. He said he wanted to see her, but he¡¯d forgotten about it. How could he have forgotten? BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you P Altar 54 It waste at night, but Willow wasn¡¯t sleeping. She kept reying what Julian had said to her in her head. He said that she was the only woman he had ever been with and that he wouldn¡¯t see any other women. He said he would learn to be a good husband and told her to trust him. Amidst the bright lights, Willow¡¯s face was calm as she thought, ¡°Can I really trust you again, Julian?¡± Dark clouds were gathering outside the window, and thunder could be heard in the distance. For the next two days, Julian didn¡¯t call her. Willow wanted to stay nonchnt, so she didn¡¯t call him, either. On the third morning, Willow woke up early. When she went downstairs to have breakfast, ir was stunned. ¡°Are you going to the hospital to pay your grandmother a visit, Mrs. Ziegler?¡± Willow took a sip of milk and smiled. ¡°Julian ising back from a business trip, so I¡¯m going to pick him up from the airport.¡± ir was overjoyed. ¡°You two are so lovey¨Cdovey.¡± Willow didn¡¯t respond. Once she was done with breakfast, she drove to the airport herself. Having been married for so many years, the two of them had a sort of silent understanding. Julian liked taking private flights at 7:00 am, so he would reach Brindley at around 9:00 am if he wasing from Yarrowmere. It was the perfect time for Willow to set off. She was in quite a good mood. After getting in the car, she took her phone out to look at the QR code again. She was really looking forward to the concert. After starting the car, she turned on the radio. The song ¡°Melody¡± started ying, slowly flowing into the car and making Willow feel refreshed. Willow focused on driving. She was on the highway when the sky suddenly turned gloomy. Dark clouds covered the sky of Brindley, and a few snowkes began falling, which shocked Willow. It was only the beginning of December, but it was already snowing. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t snowing that heavily, so she arrived at the airport without any incident. Willow could have waited in the parking lot, but she gave it some thought and decided to get out of the car and wait at the exit. Julian said that he wanted to see her sooner, after all. Willow had dressed up that day. She was wearing a white cashmere coat, and there was a pearl brooch with a lily of the valley on her cor, which made her look beautiful and elegant. She stood at the exit, patiently waiting for Julian to arrive. When the clock struck nine, Julian wasn¡¯t there. When it was 9:15 am, Julian still didn¡¯t show up. Willow figured he had probably run into some business problems, so she didn¡¯t think much of it. By the time it was 9:30 am, Willow still didn¡¯t see him anywhere, so she called him. However, his phone was off. She called him a few times, but all she got in response was the cold voice of the voicemail operator. ¡°Sorry. The number you have dialed is unavable.¡± Willow tried calling Esther¡¯s phone instead, but Esther was on a flight back to Brindley, so she couldn¡¯t pick up. The same went for Julian and the others. Willow couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. She told Annie to look into it, who called her after doing so. ¡°Neb doesn¡¯t have any flights to Brindley today. Mr. Ziegler didn¡¯t check into the flight that Esther is on, either.¡± Did that mean Julian was still in Yarrowmere? Willow just couldn¡¯t rx. She used all her connections to investigate, but all she found out was that Julian had left Yarrowmere the night before, and his current whereabouts were unknown. Unknown¡­ Willow gripped her phone, her fingers trembling uncontrobly. She thought of the ident that happened back then. At the time, she and Julian had nearly lost their lives. It wasn¡¯t the first time something like this had happened. Julian was the CEO of Neb Group, and if anything happened to him, the news couldn¡¯t get out. It would inevitably affect Neb Group¡¯s stocks. Willow was terrified. She had to rush back to Brindley and talk to the Ziegler family about this. 1 Outside the airport, there was snow and ice as far as the eye could see, Snow was falling heavily, and there were piles of it on the ground. Cars were prone to slipping, and the rows of cars on the highway were moving as slowly as turtles. P Altar 55 Willow was driving much faster than everyone else. She didn¡¯t even care about her safety anymore. It was like she had returned to the year she was 22, when she was brave enough to fight for love. All of a sudden, the white BMW stalled. Willow kept trying to start the engine, but she failed. Her anxiety was reaching its peak. After a while, she opened the car door and braved the snow to check on the car. The ice¨Ccold snowkes rained down on her face, sneaking down her cor andnding on her limbs. Soon, she began shivering from the cold. To make things worse, not only was her car broken down, but her phone was out of battery, too. The blizzard was still raging on relentlessly. Willow sat in the car silently for a moment, a few unmelted snowkes still caught in her eyshes. It was freezing outside, but there was still no news about Julian¡¯s whereabouts. A few secondster, Willow resolutely opened the car door again and walked forward amidst the wind and snow. The snow continued falling mercilessly, which was incredibly cold and made her skin sting. It felt so much like when she got kicked in the abdomen that night. That was when she and Julian were at their lowest point as a couple. He had hugged her and said, ¡°All we have is each other, Willow.¡± All these yearster, Willow was once again carrying a burden for Julian, lonely yet courageous. There was a vast expanse of snow before her, and behind Willow was the expensive car she had abandoned. She had always been willing to give up everything for Julian. She walked on for what seemed like forever. She didn¡¯t even know how far she had made it. All she knew was that her body was almostpletely numb. Even so, she couldn¡¯t stop. She was terrified that something had happened to Julian. Most of the cars on both sides of the sixne highway had stopped, quietly waiting for the snow to stop. Her lone figure trudged through the snow, and she looked incredibly lonely. The deep tracks she left in the snow were the traces of her love for Julian. A ck Mercedes MPV suddenly stopped next to Willow. When the door opened, she heard Esther¡¯s shocked voice. ¡°Mrs. Ziegler?¡± Stunned, Willow slowly turned around. Esther was smart enough to immediately get out to help Willow into the car, but Willow didn¡¯t move. She simply stared at the car and softly asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Julian? Is he in the car?¡± Esther hesitated before replying, ¡°Mr. Ziegler has other ns. He might not be back in Brindley for a few more days.¡± ¡°Where did he go?¡± Willow pressed. Esther didn¡¯t dare to tell her because Julian had gone to Grandsburg with Catherine, but Willow wasn¡¯t easy to fool. In a stern voice, Willow repeated, ¡°Where did Julian go?¡± Out of shock, Esther couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Grandsburg.¡± She couldn¡¯t hide it anymore, so she decided to juste clean. ¡°Mr. Ziegler went there with Catherine. It seemed like something urgent. To be honest, Mrs. Ziegler, I think-¡± Willow quietly cut her off. She stood in the ice and snow, and all she could feel was an intense pang in her heart. She had braved the cold snow out of worry for Julian¡¯s safety, and the whole time, he was in Grandsburg with his lover. She figured the weather in Grandsburg was probably perfect for a vacation right then. Why would Julian remember the promise he had made to her when he had such a beautiful woman by his side? He had only said all of those romantic things on a whim and disappeared as soon as the moment was over. Willow, however, had taken him seriously Willow¡¯s eyshes were covered in snowkes. She gazed at Esther and softly muttered, ¡°Ugh. I¡¯m such a clown.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 56 By the time they returned to Grandview Manor, it was already 4:00 pm. The ck Mercedes MPV drove through the thick snow and stopped in the garage. Esther opened the door and helped Willow out of the car. Esther was worried and wanted to stay to take care of her, but Willow refused. Willow stood on the steps, looking up at the falling snow and muttering, ¡°Nothing good everes out of worrying about a man.¡± Esther didn¡¯t hear what she had said and wanted to ask about it, but Willow had already gone up the stairs. She was clearly freezing and in pain, but she still straightened her back, determined not to embarrass herself in front of someone else. Julian had stripped even her dignity away. ir went over to help her inside, but Willow gently pushed her away. ¡°I want to walk by myself.¡± ir couldn¡¯t help but start crying at the sight of Willow like that. ¡°What happened to you, Mrs. Ziegler?¡± Willow hesitated for a moment before replying, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry about ine, I want to go upstairs and sleep for a while. Don¡¯t wake me up no matter who shows up.¡± She was terrified of losing herposure. She was already far too agitated. It was so humiliating of her. She had put herself in danger and sacrificed her dignity time and time again for Julian. She had done all of that for a man. It was embarrassing, Willow¡¯s face was pale as a sheet under the bright lights. She had walked so slowly and sorrowfully, but Julian didn¡¯t know what that kind of sadness felt like. When he needed her, he would call out to her, but when he didn¡¯t, he would just y the part of a perfect husband in front of everyone else. Willow closed her eyes in silence. All he ever did was make use of her. When she got to the second floor, she opened the door to the bedroom. It looked the same as always. There was a bouquet of white ca lilies on the bedside table, and the two shirts she had bought for Julian were on the couch. She had even picked out a pair of exquisite cor pins for him. Looking back, she realized how pathetic and ridiculous she had been. Why was she naive enough to think that Julian was being honest when he said all of those romantic things? She genuinely thought they would fall in love over time. It was ridiculous. Willow had fallen sick. She had a high fever that wouldn¡¯t go down, and her body temperature reached 104 degrees. ir didn¡¯t want to hide it, and she immediately called the Ziegler residence. In the middle of the night, the sound of a phone ringing cut through the silence in the Ziegler residence. After the night watchman answered the phone, he steeled himself and frantically knocked on Dominic¡¯s door. Outside the door, his voice was urgent and restrained as he reported, ¡°Something happened, Mr. Ziegler Senior. Mr, Jun¡¯s wife is sick, and he¡¯s not at home.¡± Dominic was startled. Through the dim window, he was already getting dressed. His voice traveled out of the room as he said, ¡°Wake Liam and his wife up. Tell them to stop sleeping. How dare they sleep when their son is doing something like this?¡± With how angry Dominic was, Liam and Mnie hurried to do as he said. Mnie had someints, though. ¡°How weak of her. I didn¡¯t think she was such a fragile person.¡± Liam was rather unhappy to hear that. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard that Julian isn¡¯t in Brindley right now? Don¡¯t you have any idea where he went? As his parents, we should be more attentive toward him, especially since he hurt someone¡¯s daughter.¡± Mnie sneered. ¡°Hurt her, you say? She¡¯s so selfish. She already has 5% of Neb Group¡¯s shares. You don¡¯t have that, Liam, nor does anyone else in the Ziegler family.¡± Liam paused. ¡°That¡¯s only because Julian gave the shares to her willingly.¡± P Altar 57 Mnie let out a cold huff, but no matter how much she wanted toin, she didn¡¯t dare to go against Dominic. Everyone in the Ziegler family rushed to the vi in the middle of the night. Dominic ordered the best medicine and hired the best doctors for fear that something had happened to Willow. He walked upstairs with the help of a cane while asking Liam, ¡°Where did that bastard Julian go? His wife is terribly sick, so where is he? Is he out having fun, or has he already be a corpse? Even if he¡¯s dead, we should have heard about it, right?¡± Liam lowered his head and cautiously replied, ¡°Julian went to Grandsburg.¡± Dominic was stunned. The light shone on his face, and he seemed to have aged 70 years in a split second. His mouth moved as if he was about to say something, but in the end, he only sighed. ¡°Think of a way to contact him.¡± Liam bowed his head and said he would do his best. That night, Dominic personally watched over Willow. He had allowed Julian to take care of Willow, and if anything happened to her, Julian¡¯s family would be destroyed. Who else was going to carry such a heavy burden with Julian? 1 Under the bright light, Dominic¡¯s gaze was wise. Late that night, Liam walked into the study and hesitantly stated, ¡°We still can¡¯t contact Julian.¡± Dominic flung a teacup at him and roared, ¡°Who do you think you are? If this ruins the Ziegler family, I¡¯ll hold you and your wife responsible.¡± 1 Mnie pushed the door open and stepped in. She helped her injured husband up and couldn¡¯t help but retaliate, ¡°You can¡¯t keep him in line, either. What are we supposed to do? If it were up to us, he would have married¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Dominic¡¯s face darkened with rage. ¡°You heartless wench! Get out.¡± Mnie left, helping Liam out as she walked off. §ã The night grew darker, but they were still unable to contact Julian. With Dominic watching over Willow, her temperature finally began to drop at dawn, ir was so happy that she secretly wiped her tears away. Dominic walked by with his hands behind his back and let out a light cough. ¡°What are you crying for? Mrs. Ziegler is a blessed woman. She and Julian will have a daughter and a son, and they will live together until their hair goes white.¡± 1 Mnie pouted from the side while Liam held her back. 1 Early in the morning, the snowstorm stopped. Outside, everything was painted in white. The branches of the dead trees were covered in snow, which trembled as if it was going to fall at any moment. The master bedroom was as warm as spring. After Willow woke up, she changed into clean clothes and felt much fresher. ir fed her some soup and muttered, ¡°Mr. Ziegler Senior was watching over you all night. He even scolded Mr. Liam and his wife. You could say he helped avenge you.¡± Willow didn¡¯t respond to that. She had spent her years in the Ziegler family walking on eggshells, and only she knew how it felt. At that moment, a phone began to ring in the living room. Happily, ir eximed, ¡°It must be Mr. Ziegler! I¡¯ll go answer it.¡± Willow shed an indifferent smile, neither happy nor sad. ir excitedly picked up the phone, but she returned in disappointment. ¡°It was Mr. Ziegler Senior. He called to ask how you¡¯re doing. That¡¯s good too, though. At least he cares about you.¡± Willow remained impassive. ¡°The soup is getting cold.¡± ir hurriedly continued feeding her. She snuck nces at Willow¡¯s expression, only to see that she seemedpletely calm and unaffected. ir remembered how much Willow used to care about Julian back then. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you P Altar 58 The snow in Brindley had melted, but Julian still had yet to return. When Willow checked the calendar, she realized it was already the 12th. That meant Cameron¡¯s concert would be at 8:00 pm that night. Willow suddenly felt like attending the concert alone, but ir was worried about her. She nagged, ¡°You just recovered. If you go out, you might catch a cold and fall sick again.¡± Willow replied, ¡°I¡¯ll wear a thick down jacket.¡± ir had no choice but to dig some thick clothes out of the closet and help Willow put them on. She even got a warm cashmere scarf and wrapped it around Willow¡¯s neck. ¡°Get the chauffeur to drive you, or I¡¯ll tell Mr. Ziegler.¡± Willow agreed. Five minutester, she was sitting in the ck RV. Once Benjamin Henderson, the chauffeur, knew where to go, he hit the gas. The ck RV slowly drove out of Grandview Manor, leaving the lit house behind it as the neon lights of the city gradually appeared before it. The lights were in full bloom, filling the sky with colors. The car stopped at the entrance of Brindley Theater. Its expensive, shiny body caused a stir in the crowd. Everyone wondered which richdy from Brindley hade to watch the performance. Willow grabbed the door handle and calmly told Benjamin, ¡°You can return now. I¡¯ll take a cab back home.¡± Benjamin and ir respected her very much and were too scared to go against her wishes. Even though it troubled him, Benjamin thought about it and ended up agreeing. When Willow stepped out of the car, a gust of cold wind hit her in the face. She quickly strode into the main hall and got two VIP tickets from the ticket machine. When a staff member checked the tickets, they kindly reminded her, ¡°There are still 20 minutes until the show starts. Your partner can still make it in time. It would be a waste to lose such a good seat.¡± Bitterly, Willow responded, ¡°I came here alone.¡± The staff member didn¡¯t press the issue. After her tickets were validated, Willow entered the performance hall. She sat in the first row and enjoyed the performance she had been looking forward to all on her own. She had set her phone to silent mode, so she didn¡¯t know Julian was calling her. Her phone kept lighting up and going dark. Actually, Willow did end up noticing, but she didn¡¯t pick up. She wasn¡¯t Julian¡¯s dog who he could summon whenever he wanted. Willow¡¯s phone kept lighting up throughout the whole performance. When the concert was over, Willow took her phone out and saw that Julian had called her 28 times. He seemed to be very concerned, but Willow didn¡¯t care anymore. When she called back, he answered immediately. Clearly, Julian had been waiting for her to call. Icily, Willow asked, ¡°Is there something important going on?¡± Julian had finally called Grandview Manor, and ir had told him through tears, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler went to pick you up early in the morning! She was dressed beautifully that day, and she seemed to be in a good mood. When she came back in the evening, though, she was stiff and dazed. ¡°She kept saying stuff that we didn¡¯t understand, and when she got a high fever, she kept talking about how cold it was and saying ¡®Go away, Julian¡®. Her fever hit 104 degrees. It was terrifying. Thank goodness you¡¯re back, Mr. Ziegler.¡± A chill ran through Julian¡¯s heart. He didn¡¯t know how to face Willow, nor how to exin why he broke his promise. Could he tell Willow about everything that happened? No, he couldn¡¯t. After a moment of silence, his voice softened. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, why did you go out?¡± Willow was unnaturally calm. She didn¡¯t cause a fuss and replied, ¡°I came to attend the concert. I didn¡¯t want to waste the tickets.¡± Julian paused. Having been married to her for four years, he knew what she was like. She wasn¡¯t going to forgive him so easily. He was willing to own up to his mistakes, so he humbled himself and sincerely apologized, promising to go with her next time, Willow, however, remained indifferent. ¡°No need. Go spend your time with other people.¡± If it were the past, Julian wouldn¡¯t have tolerated her attitude, but he felt guilty for letting Willow down. Thus, he held his anger back and tried reassuring her.¡± Something caused a dy. I¡¯ll be back within two days. I won¡¯t miss Grandma¡¯s surgery.¡± Willow didn¡¯t expose him. He was having fun with other women outside, and saying too much would only be an insult to herself. D Altar 59 Casually, Willow replied, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯ll be back.¡± Julian wanted to say more, but Willow hung up on him. She put her phone away and took the two concert tickets out, which had them seated side¨Cby¨Cside. Her head was lowered as she stared at the tickets for a long time, remembering how excited she had been when she received the news that day. Now, she just felt like an idiot. Thankfully, she wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake again. Willow ended up throwing the two tickets into a trash can on the side of the road. She wrapped herself in a thick down jacket and stepped into the cold night. Sometimes, even clothes treated her better than a man. At least her clothes kept her warm on a cold night. It was the afternoon in Grandsburg. A castle¨Clikeplex stood near the cathedral. That was the most famous hospital in the area, which had the best doctors in the world. A lot of rich people would have their seriously ill family members treated there. Julian stood at the end of the corridor, quietly smoking a cigarette. He was thinking of his wife, who was back in Brindley. 2 The sun was shining brightly outside the window, but it couldn¡¯t prate the icy ss, let alone warm his body. He was thinking about how Willow must have trudged through the ice and snow in Brindley that day. Was she freezing? Was she in pain? Julian¡¯s slender fingers trembled as he held the cigarette, and his gaze deepened. At that moment, he heard a woman cry out from behind him. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving! I want to see Julian! Where is he? He said I could stay in Brindley as long as I did what he said-¡± There was amotion, and someone tried taking Catherine back to the ward to draw her blood, but she insisted on seeing Julian. She broke free and ran over to Julian barefoot. The hospital gown she was wearing hung loosely on her thin body, making her look frail and without her former innocence. She clung to the sleeve of Julian¡¯s coat and desperately begged, ¡°Don¡¯t be so cruel, Julian! I¡¯ll listen to you. I won¡¯t be so stubborn from now on. I won¡¯t swap blood bags again. Don¡¯t leave me here!¡± Julian turned around to look at her expressionlessly. ¡°Can I even trust you anymore?¡± the Tears streamed down Catherine¡¯s face. She tightly grabbed Julian¡¯s sleeve as if he was herst hope. She kept apologizing, saying that she would never harm her sister again. 1 Julian didn¡¯t fall for it, though. He wouldn¡¯t have made it to where he was if he was such a softhearted person. He shed Catherine a sneer. ¡°Someone almost died because of your nonsense. There¡¯s a limit to how stubborn you can be, Catherine. I don¡¯t want something like this to happen again.¡± At that moment, Catherine¡¯s parents showed up. There was an indescribable expression on Charlie¡¯s face. Julian shot the nurse a look, who quickly dragged Catherine away. Nancy followed them with tears in her eyes, leaving Julian and Charlie behind. Julian passed Charlie a cigarette. ¡°Mr. Burke.¡± Charlie lit it and took a deep puff, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing slightly. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Julian. You¡¯ve given us so much over the years, both financially and emotionally. We wouldn¡¯t have made it this far without you. I¡¯m sorry that Catherine is so immature. She¡¯s caused you a lot of trouble. Your wife doesn¡¯t me you for it, does she?¡± Obviously, Julian wasn¡¯t going to talk about his personal rtionships. All he did was sh a bitter smile. Any man would understand what it meant. Charlie hesitated for a moment. ¡°Make sure to exin everything when you¡¯re back in Brindley. Don¡¯t let this create a rift between you and your wife.¡± At the mention of Brindley, Julian added, ¡°Things have pretty much calmed down over here, so I¡¯m nning to take a special flight back to Brindley tomorrow morning. Willow¡¯s grandmother is undergoing surgery, so I have to go back no matter what.¡± Charlie seemed to understand. ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Once he was done smoking, Charlie left. Julian stood there on his own for a long time, checking his phone from time to time to see if Willow had sent him any messages. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 60 On the day of the surgery, Julian still had yet to return. Dominic was furious and turned up to apany her, showing how much he cared for her. Tyler, Liam, and Mnie were with him, too. All of them went to the hospital. Willow didn¡¯t care anymore. All she wanted to do was be with her grandmother. Julian could fend for himself. Dominic agreed and left the ward, leaving Willow and Grace alone. The warm yellow light illuminated Grace¡¯s hair, making each strand look smoother than ever. Grace was leaning against the headboard as she held Willow¡¯s hand. After being alive for so many years, she no longer feared death. She just couldn¡¯t bear to leave Willow alone. She was worried that Willow would be lonely, or that people would let her down. There were tears in Grace¡¯s eyes as she quietly told Willow about her dream the night before. ¡°I saw my fathering to pick me up. He showed up in a white gilded carriage, and it was huge and luxurious. My father looked so young. He didn¡¯t have a single white hair on his head, while I was all old and gray. ¡°I was so excited to see him. I walked over and called out to him. I wanted to get into the carriage, but he didn¡¯t see me. He just rode the carriage right past me.¡± Her voice began to tremble. ¡°Has my father forgotten me because too much time has passed? I¡¯m only alive because I still want to be with you, though, Willow.¡± Willow leaned against her and sobbed, ¡°Grandma.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears. With shaky hands, she lovingly caressed Willow¡¯s ck hair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be okay. I still have to protect you, after all.¡± Willow began to choke up. ¡°You¡¯re right. You¡¯ll be fine.¡± At that moment, someone pushed the door to the ward open. Samuel and Vincent Campbell, the head of the department, stepped in to apologize to Willow personally. ¡°There¡¯s a bit of an issue, Mrs. Ziegler. Leonard is no longer able to operate on Madam Harper. It¡¯s okay, though. His best student is a skilled surgeon as well. We¡¯ve hired him to operate on Madam Harper, and the sess rate is equally high. You don¡¯t have to worry too much.¡± Willow was stunned. ¡°What are you talking about? What happened to Dr. Frost?¡± Samuel bit the bullet and replied, ¡°He went to Grandsburg. He was just sent there. It seems like he has to perform an important operation.¡± It took some time before Willow found her voice again. ¡°Julian sent him away, didn¡¯t he?¡± Samuel didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Mr. Ziegler was also the one who arranged everything.¡± Willow started calling Julian. She hadn¡¯t contacted him at all since that day, but she was willing to do anything for Grace. She didn¡¯t want anything to go wrong with Grace¡¯s surgery, even if that meant bowing down to Julian. The call went through, and Julian was the one who answered. With a shaky voice, Willow stated, ¡°Julian, in the four years we¡¯ve been married, I¡¯ve never asked you for a single thing. Right now, though, I¡¯m begging you to give my grandmother a chance at life. Don¡¯t make her pay the price for your love. She¡¯s old. Don¡¯t make her take risks like this. I¡¯m begging you, okay? ¡°You¡¯re the one who said that we¡¯re family even if we don¡¯t love each other, Julian. I¡¯m begging you to let Mr. Froste back so he can operate on her. He can go to Grandsburg after that, okay? I¡¯m begging you, Julian. Please. Just help me out this once, won¡¯t you?¡± D Altar 61 The other end of the line was silent for a long time. Willow¡¯s heart grew cold, and she could guess what Julian had chosen. She suddenly smiled. It wasn¡¯t like she was the love of Julian¡¯s life, after all. Why would he change his mind just because she was begging him? He had always been cold¨Chearted toward her. Eventually, Julian muttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Willow.¡± Catherine had attempted suicide, and her life was in danger. Only Leonard could save her. Julian had weighed the pros and cons and decided to send Leonard¡¯s student in his ce. Once again, he made many promises to Willow, but she didn¡¯t process any of it. Her phone slipped from her hand. It felt like her world was crashing down. It turned out that she meant nothing to Julian. All the hard work she had put in over the years was meaninglesspared to some youngdy. Meeting him was rotten luck on Willow¡¯s part, The unexpected situation caught everyone off guard, and Dominic was more embarrassed than anyone. In an attempt to salvage his dignity, he took charge and suggested the surgery be postponed until Leonard returned. Samuel hesitated before saying, ¡°This is the best time to operate. I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be good to postpone it further.¡± Dominic was furious to hear that. In the end, it was Grace who made the final decision. She held Willow¡¯s hand, her tone calm and kind as she said, ¡°If God pities me, he will give me another chance at life so I can be with you for a few more years. If not, I hope you get to live a free life, Willow.¡± Her expression was bright. ¡°It¡¯s all up to fate now. Nothingsts forever, Willow.¡± Willow buried her face in Grace¡¯s palm, tears falling uncontrobly. It felt like an eternity had passed before she said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Let¡¯s get ready for the operation.¡± The operationsted 12 hours. With Dominic in charge, none of the members of the Ziegler family dared to move an inch. Later on, Heather showed up along with Jeffrey and Natalie. All of them silently stood outside the operating room, guarding thest glimmer of light in Grace¡¯s life. Only Julian, Grace¡¯s grandson¨Cinw, was far away in Grandsburg. From morning untilte in the night, Willow remained standing there. She refused to sit down and rest for even a moment, Heather held onto her with tears in her eyes. Earlier, she had overheard Liam and Mnie talking. Mnie had secretlyined about Willow, saying incredibly unpleasant things, like how she was an orphan. Heather was heartbroken. If Willow had a family, she wouldn¡¯t have been insulted like that. However, she decided not to say anything about it given the situation. The surgery was finally done at 10:00 pm. Leonard¡¯s student walked out to announce that it was a sess, and Willow could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Despite that, he also had some bad news for Willow, which was that Grace had yet to wake up. If she remained unconscious for over 48 hours, she would never wake up again and would turn into a vegetable, She would turn into a vegetable if she didn¡¯t wake up¡­ Willow staggered and nearly copsed. Heather grabbed onto her and triedforting her through tears. ¡°You have to be strong at times like this! If Madam Harper woke up and saw you so distraught, she would be upset.¡± Willow held Heather¡¯s arm tightly, her fingernails digging into Heather¡¯s skin. She was trying her best to stay calm. She couldn¡¯t let herself fall. Grace had said that she would survive and stay with Willow. D Altar 62 Grace still hadn¡¯t woken up. She was in the ICU. Separated by a transparent ss wall, Willow stood outside, staring nkly. Every minute and every second felt like torture to her. Heather, feeling sorry for her, often brought food to help Willow stay healthy. But Willow could barely eat. In just two days, she had lost so much weight that her chin had be noticeably sharper. Heather tried to persuade her, but it was useless. She could only silently stay by her side, Jeffrey and his sister would drop by asionally to lend a hand. Seeing Willow refuse food and drink, growing thinner and more haggard by the day, Natalie leaned against her brother¡¯s shoulder, her voice trembling with tears. ¡°Willow¡¯s going through so much! Why did Julian do that to her? It¡¯s so cruel!¡± Jeffrey knew the reason, but he couldn¡¯t say it, Because the truth was even crueler. That afternoon, Dominic sent Liam and his wife over. Liam treated Willow with warmth and politeness, but Mnie wasn¡¯t as tactful. She made insinuations, openly and subtly ming Willow for not taking care of her husband, which led to her son being scolded by Dominic. Heather happened to be there. The moment she heard such nonsense, she flew into a rage. She confronted Mnie, ¡°You¡¯re a woman too! How can you twist the truth like that and say such things?¡± Mnie sneered, ¡°Heather, our families have always been close. Let¡¯s not make things unpleasant over an outsider.¡± Heather¡¯s smile was colder and more dignified. ¡°Who¡¯s the outsider? Do you mean the women Julian has outside?¡± Mnie had no real argument, so she couldn¡¯t say anything back. Liam had no choice but to step in and smooth things over. That only made Mnie even angrier. She shot her husband a furious re before storming off. Liam turned back to Heather, apologizing sincerely. ¡°Julian¡¯s mother is in a bad mood. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Heather scoffed lightly and didn¡¯t bother to respond. Liam looked at her strikingly beautiful face and hesitated for a moment, lost in thought about the past. He sighed inwardly, then considered going over to offer someforting words to Willow¡­ Just then, the sound of polished leather shoes echoed through the hallway¡ªsteady and rhythmic. Liam tensed. Julian was back. He turned toward the sound, and sure enough, there was Julian. He looked travel¨Cworn, a suitcase in hand, clearly having rushed back from Grandsburg. Liam gestured toward Willow and said, ¡°Go talk to your wife.¡± Julian nodded. ¡°Dad.¡± Then, he walked toward Willow. He stopped behind her, staring at her thin back. His voice was hoarse as he spoke, ¡°Willow, I¡¯m back.¡± Willow¡¯s body stiffened. She knew it was Julian, but she didn¡¯t want to turn around. She didn¡¯t know him anymore. The Julian she had once loved wasn¡¯t like this. That night, on their wedding day, he said, ¡°Willow, from now on, we¡¯re family. I¡¯ll cherish you, and I¡¯ll cherish our marriage. I¡¯ll never make you sad.¡± But not only had he hurt her, he had cost her grandmother her life, After a long silence, Willow murmured, ¡°Why did youe back? Shouldn¡¯t you be with the one you really care about?¡± Julian had no way to exin. +25 Bonus He reached out to try and take Willow¡¯s hand, but she jerked away. She refused to let Julian touch her. Her voice was even colder now. ¡°Don¡¯t put on this act, Julian. You can¡¯t cheat on me and still try to y the good guy.¡± Julian felt a sharp pain in his chest. ¡°It¡¯s not like that between me and her.¡± Willow lowered her gaze and sneered. ¡°Lover? Affair? Cheating? Whatever you two are, no one cares. Julian, no one¡¯s stopping you from chasing thrills, but don¡¯t bring your filth in front of me, okay? And more importantly, don¡¯t bring it near my grandma. ¡°You call her Grandma and im she was family to you, Julian, but tell me, what did you do in the end? Do you want me to list it all out for you? If you have even a shred of dignity left, you won¡¯t be here right now because you don¡¯t deserve to be here.¡± Altar 63 +25 Bonus Julian wanted to say something. Suddenly, Jeffrey walked over. He grabbed Julian by the cor and shoved him against the wall, osting, ¡°She begged you. She, a woman so proud, cried and begged you in front of all those people. ¡°Julian, are you made of stone? If you had even the slightest bit of warmth in you, you wouldn¡¯t have forgotten that Willow is your wife. She¡¯s been by your side for four years. ¡°Is love really that important? Julian, do you even know what love is?¡± Julian threw a punch in retum. Jeffrey staggered back a few steps, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He red at Julian. This was the second time they had fought over Willow. Julian¡¯s chest rose and fell sharply. He pointed at Jeffrey and sneered. ¡°Willow is my wife. Jeffrey, what right do you have to interfere in our private affairs?¡± Jeffrey let out a softugh. ¡°I love her. Is that a good enough reason?¡± Off to the side, Heather froze. C Afraid things would spiral out of control, she pacified Jeffrey and dragged him away. Soon, the hallway fell back into a deathly silence. Julian looked at his wife. In just a short few days, she had lost so much weight. A thousand emotions surged through his chest, and before he could stop himself, he softly called her name. ¡°Willow.¡± Willow didn¡¯t need him. She quietly told him to get lost. She rested her head against the cold ss, her tear¨Cfilled eyes fixed on her sleeping grandmother¡¯s face. The air conditioning made strands of Grace¡¯s silver hair tremble ever so slightly. Willow had never believed in gods or fate. But right now, she wished they existed. Seeing her like this made Julian¡¯s heart ache. 1 He stayed until evening, making sure everything at the hospital was taken care of before finally approaching Willow again. His voice was gentle as he said, ¡°I¡¯m going home to change. I¡¯ll be back to keep watch overnight. You should rest a bit. You¡¯ll wear yourself out like this.¡± Willow didn¡¯t spare him a single nce. Julian felt a deep, crushing weight in his chest, but he knew he wasn¡¯t in any state to stay. He had to go home and pull himself together. By the time he returned to Grandview Manor, night had begun to fall. The housekeeper was surprised to see him. It took her a long moment before she finally spoke, ¡°Sir, you¡¯re finally back. Mrs. Ziegler has been through hell.¡± Julian¡¯s throat tightened. He let out a quiet hum. ¡°I just came from the hospital.¡® The housekeeper didn¡¯t dare say more and quickly hurried to the kitchen to make a meal. Julian carried his suitcase upstairs. As soon as he reached the second floor, he saw Snowy lying by the bedroom door, its tiny paws resting on the ground, dark eyes full of grievance. When Snowy saw Julian, it let out a soft whimper. Julian set his suitcase down and reached out to pat the dog¡¯s head. Snowy¡¯s ears drooped. Inside the bedroom, the absence of its mistress made the space feel empty when, in fact, there were new things in there. A bouquet of white ca lilies sat in a crystal vase on the bedside table. But time had passed, and they were already wilting. On the sofa, there was a shopping bag. Julian reached inside and pulled out two kitom dress shirts¨Cone ck, one gray. They were his favorite colors +25 Bonus His face turned ashen as he held those items. He could picture Willow picking them out, her heart filled with excitement. He didn¡¯t dare imagine how she would treat him if Grace never woke up. Would she¡­ never want to see him again for the rest of her life? The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Through the frosted ss door, a tall male figure could be vaguely seen, the silhouette shifting through the steam¡­ Julian turned off the shower, ran a hand over his face, and casually grabbed a white towel, wrapping it around his waist before stepping out. As he browsed the walk¨Cin closet for something to wear, he hesitated for a moment before choosing the new dress shirt Willow had bought him. He went with the ck one. Just as he was fastening his belt, a voice came from outside. ¡°The Ziegler residence called, sir. They need you toe over. Julian paused. After a brief silence, he replied, ¡°Got it.¡± Altar 64 At 7:00 pm, Julian¡¯s car arrived at the Ziegler residence. As soon as the car stopped, Dominic¡¯s attendant stepped forward to open the door, smiling. He said, ¡°Mr. Ziegler Senior is quite angry this time. Mr. Julian, you¡¯d better tread carefully and not add fuel to the fire.¡± Julian got out of the car, shut the door behind him, and followed the man inside. Dominic was waiting for him in the study. The air in the study carried the scent of aged wood and incense, and the dim candlelight flickered. As soon as Julian stepped in, Dominic let out a cold sneer. ¡°So, our great lover has finallye home. Should we line up and shower you with flowers in celebration?¡± Julian didn¡¯t dare act out of turn. He lowered his head and stood still. ¡°Grandpa.¡± Dominic sipped his tea, his aged yet sharp eyes sweeping the cane. I¡¯ll discipline him tonight.¡± Ver his grandson. After a moment, he turned to the person beside him. ¡°Bring me As soon as the words fell, Mnie¡¯s cries echoed from outside. Annoyed, Dominic walked over and shut the door. When he turned back, his eyesnded on Julian. ¡°Strip, Mr. Julian.¡± Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, but he still followed orders, taking off his coat and then his ck dress shirt. He said, ¡°The shirt can¡¯t get dirty. Willow bought it for me.¡± Dominic looked at his grandson¡¯s well¨Cbuilt physique and scoffed. ¡°Your wife bought it for you? Then, she really wasted her kindness on a worthless cheater. Good. Now, I can beat the hell out of you on her behalf.¡± A cane, about as thick as a thumb, was handed to him. It felt just right in his grip. Dominic didn¡¯t hold back. He lose your damn mind over there?¡± Julian remained kneeling, silent. Dominic¡¯s fury only deepened, and his blowsnded even harder. Outside the study, Mnie¡¯s sharp voice rang out again, but Dominic ignored herpletely. He cursed her for having no sense of right and wrong and ordered her to leave at once. Otherwise, he would beat her son to death today. Dominic was old. After a while, he grew winded, gasping for breath. But his mouth still worked just fine. Pointing at Julian, he scolded, ¡°Julian, no one gets to have it all. Do you think life is that easy? ¡°Back then, when it came down to love or power, you chose power. And now, between that person and Willow, you¡¯re choosing that person again. Tell me, is that fair to Willow? ¡°Hah! I know exactly what you¡¯ll say that love is never fair, Then, let me ask you, have you slept with your wife? ¡°If you¡¯re so in love with that person, how could you sleep with Willow? Be honest with yourself. When you sleep with your wife, do you really feel nothing? Not even the slightest flicker of emotion?¡± The crimson blood on Julian¡¯s back seeped into the thick carpet, staining a small dark patch. Yet, he remained silent, unwavering. Dominic¡¯s words struck a chord. He couldn¡¯t help but think back to how he chose Willow back then. The golden autumn leaves, Willow in a flowing white dress¨Cshe was unyieldingly lively, like the toughest de of grass. That year, he had someone he loved deeply. He envied Willow¡¯s liveliness. He thought, if only the woman he loved could be as full of life as Willow. But fate was cruel In the end, winning Willow¡¯s heart had been far too easy. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 65 After getting married, Willow no longer wore white dresses. She switched to cold, formal business suits, apanying him to various business events. She became the perfect daughter¨Cinw of the Ziegler family. Julian remained silent. Dominic was a wise man. He believed his grandson could still be saved. ¡°Julian, think carefully. Love isn¡¯t a fixed asset that just sits there, never changing. People¡¯s hearts waver.¡± Julian clenched his teeth. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re right.¡± Dominic got angry again. ¡°Get up and go to the hospital to atone for your sins! Your wife won¡¯t forgive you so easily. With all her good qualities, why should she settle for you? What do you even have to offer? ¡°Besides a few lousy dors, do you have any real strengths? This pretty face of yours? Ha! There are plenty of good¨Clooking male celebrities nowadays. Use your damn brain!¡± Julian nodded. He struggled to stand, and Dominic¡¯s attendant reached out to help him. ¡°Mr. Julian, be careful.¡± Julian blocked the hand and said tly, ¡°It¡¯s just a minor injury. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Dominic snorted. ¡°You¡¯re one tough cookie.¡± Julian didn¡¯t respond. He braced himself against the pain, slowly wiped off the bloodstains, and put his ck dress shirt back on. Just as he was halfway through putting it on, Mnie barged in. The moment she stepped inside, she saw the bloody welts on Julian¡¯s back. She froze for a moment, then let out a sharp, grief¨Cstricken cry, ¡± Julian!¡± Dominic was displeased. A teacup shattered onto the floor. ¡°What are you screaming for? Are you trying to shatter the windows?¡± Late at night, Julian rushed back to the hospital. When the car came to a stop, he sat inside and smoked a cigarette before getting out. The hospital at night was eerily quiet, not a single sign of life, carrying an unsettling sense of dread. Julian had brought Willow her favorite porridge, but when he arrived at the ICU, she wasn¡¯t there. Instead, the caretaker she had hired was keeping watch. Maureen told Julian, ¡°Ms. Harper went to the chapel to pray. She¡¯s been gone for about an hour.¡± She wiped her tears. ¡°Ms. Harper, she¡¯s run out of options. All she can do now is hope for divine mercy. She carries too much pain in her heart, but someone like you would never understand.¡± Julian barely touched the ground as he rushed to Cornerstone. Cornerstone was located at the northernmost part of Brindley, towering and solemn. The car could drive all the way up the mountain. When Julian arrived at the chapel, a nun guided him to push open the doors of the main hall The night wind howled. Willow, dressed in in garments, was kneeling before the altar. With every verse she recited, she bowed her head to the ground in devotion. Thud. A dull sound echoed. No one knew how many times she had bowed. Her once wless forehead was now stained with blood. But she waspletely unaware. She pleaded with God to have mercy on her, to let her grandmother stay in this world for a few more years. She was willing to bear all selfish desires and reckless ambitions alone, even if it meant giving up everything she had¡­ Julian¡¯s heart ached as he called out, ¡°Willow.¡± He stepped forward, but Willow stopped him in a hushed voice. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer, Julian. Stay away. I¡¯m afraid your filthy body will desecrate the altar and stain this sacred hall.¡± +25 Bonus Julian¡¯s face turned pale. There was no blow more brutal than this. He didn¡¯t go in. He stood outside the main hall, silently waiting for Willow, watching as she remained kneeling before the altar, bowing her head again and again in reverence. Again and again, over and over¡­ At midnight, a thin mist rose in the mountains, and the chapel bells rang through the night. D Altar 66 Willow prayed 500 times. She burned the scriptures and shakily stood up. The moment she got up, she nearly fell. Julian stepped forward to support her. He thought Willow would push him away in disgust, but unexpectedly, she didn¡¯t. Instead, she said tly, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Julian¡¯s feelings were indescribable, like something precious that had been lost and was now found because Willow was willing to speak to him again. Outside the main hall, a gleaming, luxurious Maybach from Brindley was parked. Willow walked over, gently stroking the car¡¯s body, murmuring in a low voice, ¡°So, this is the car you¡¯re driving.¡± Julian said yes. He helped her into the car, and when he buckled her seatbelt, he spoke gently, ¡°I went back to the Ziegler residence and switched to this one. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital. We¡¯ll wait for Grace to wake up together.¡± Willow stared at him intently.¡± Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°S you to ler alluch think Grandma will wake up?¡± will. You have bowed so many times before the altar for her.¡± He wanted to wipe the blood off Willow¡¯s face¡­ Willow turned her face away and said in a calm voice, ¡°I want to go to Lake Tolpond. Julian, take me there, will you?¡± Julian turned his head to look at her. She was actingpletely out of character, but he couldn¡¯t refuse her. A momentter, Julian stepped on the gas and sped toward Lake Tolpond. The midnight wind howled. Lake Tolpond was where Julian had proposed to Willow. The sunset there was famous. It was there that, Julian had once said that, in his heart, Willow was the most important person. More than half an hourter, the road widened, and the riverbank stretched into endless darkness. The same ce. The same car. The same man. Willow sat quietly, staring into the night ahead of the car. Her voice was calm. ¡°Julian, this ce holds our most beautiful memories. This car was almost like half a home to us. ¡°You really understand human nature well. Every time you mess up, you drive this car to remind me of our past. But those memories, to me, are soaked in blood. And yet, you don¡¯t care at all. ¡°The foundation of love is family, but Julian, we don¡¯t even have that anymore. Get out of the car.¡± Julian frowned. Willow¡¯s voice grew colder. ¡°Julian, get out of the car.¡± Julian was afraid of provoking her, so he had no choice but to step out. He thought Willow would drive away, but instead, she got out as well. The river roared, waves crashing violently. A flicker of fire rose in Willow¡¯s hand. She lit her bag on fire, then threw it into the Maybach¡¯s cabin and shut the door. The mes quickly devoured the leather interior. In mere moments, the fire zed to the sky, breaking through the darkness and illuminating half the night. Willow had set the car on fire. Julian froze¨Cshocked. It was Willow¡¯s love and Willow¡¯s hatred. From now on, there was no more love for Julian, only hatred! The fire illuminated Willow¡¯s face as she looked at her husband. Tears covered her cheeks, but she was smiling. ¡°Julian, I wish you and Catherine a lifetime of love and passion. Stop ruining other people¡¯s lives.¡± Julian¡¯s face turned pale. Onest time, Willow looked at the man she had once loved deeply. Without hesitation, she turned and walked away¡­ After just two steps, she copsed straight to the ground. Willow had fainted. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you D Altar 67 In the early hours of the morning, Willow woke up. The first thing she saw was Dominic¡¯s concerned face. His first words were, ¡°Your grandma woke up. God must have been moved by your sincerity and pulled her back from the gates of hell overnight.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Willow leaned against the pillow, and tears streamed down her face uncontrobly. Dominic tucked her in and assured her, ¡°It¡¯s true! Don¡¯t rush to move. There are professional doctors and nurses taking care of her over there. But you, child, need to rest properly. ¡°Your blood sugar was dangerously low. If Julian hadn¡¯t been with you, the consequences would¡¯ve been unimaginable.¡± Speaking of the devil, Julian pushed the door open and walked in. His gaze met Willow¡¯s. When the two met eyes, everything became indescribable. The grief and determination Willow had before burning the car felt like the mes by the river. It was still burning, refusing to fade. Even now, Julian¡¯s heart had yet to settle. After a long moment, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°I just came from Grandma¡¯s room. She¡¯s doing well. You should focus on recovering.¡± With that, he walked into the bathroom. Julian was wearing a light gray dress shirt, probably a fresh change from the middle of the night. The expensive fabric wrapped around his perfect frame, but when he turned around, the back of the shirt was stained with blood. Willow couldn¡¯t help but nce twice. Dominic rubbed his nose and exined, ¡°I hit him! Julian admitted his mistakes. You two should just go back to being a loving couple.¡± Willow had been married to Julian for years. How could she not know what he was thinking? He was ying the pity card again. Too bad she wasn¡¯t falling for it anymore. Her mind was on Grace. After resting for a bit, she insisted on going to see her. No one could stop her. In the end, Dominic had to give in. Luckily, it was just another wing of the hospital. She only needed to throw on a coat and walk over. Willow pulled out her IV and was about to leave. Outside, Liam and Mnie were arguing about her. Mnie said angrily, ¡°She doesn¡¯t love Julian at all. All she cares about is the Ziegler family shares. She married into the family for the money.¡± Liam sighed helplessly and tried to reason with her. ¡°She¡¯s not a fairy who can live on air. Let¡¯s be real. Without her, would Julian be living thisfortably? We¡¯d probably still be at the mercy of Tyler and his wife. Would that make you happy?¡± After thinking for a moment, he added gently, ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. You prefer that girl from the Burke family, but how could that work? With her condition, how could she continue the Ziegler bloodline? Dad would be the first to object,¡± Mnie shot back, ¡°Willow¡¯s been married for years and hasn¡¯t had a single child either.¡± Liam was instantly at a loss for words. At that moment, Willow stepped out with Julian right behind her¡­. The atmosphere became tense, Mnie disliked Willow, but with Dominic around, she knew that if she provoked Willow, Dominic wouldn¡¯t let her off. Just as she hesitated, Julian spoke indifferently, ¡°We¡¯ve been using birth control.¡± Liam and Mnie exchanged nces. After a while, Mnie¡¯s voice turned sharp with suspicion. ¡°Julian, you¡¯re 28. How can you not want kids?¡± +25 Bonus Julian didn¡¯t respond. He simply followed Willow to the ICU. After they left, Mnie turned to her husband. ¡°Julian must be lying to us, right? In the first two years, he was obsessed with having a child. He didn¡¯t like Willow, but he still slept with her every month just to have one.¡± Liam frowned. ¡°Mind your own business. Stop gossiping about other people¡¯s marriages.¡± Altar 68 Mnie sneered. ¡°Oh, but your business can be talked about? Liam, do you think I don¡¯t know about your dirty little affair with your secretary? She¡¯s with you 15 hours a day. You might as well just marry her.¡± Liam had been dissatisfied with his wifetely, so he blurted out, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind!¡± Mnie was just about to explode. Dominic stepped out of the hospital room and shot them both a re. ¡°You think Willow can¡¯t have kids? Then, why don¡¯t you two have some more yourselves? In over 30 years, you¡¯ve managed to pop out just one¨CJulian¨Cand you still have the nerve to judge others.¡± The couple didn¡¯t dare argue anymore. The hospital wing was eerie in the dead of night, like a ce crawling with ghosts and shadows. Willow was weak. Every few steps, she had to stop and lean against the wall to catch her breath. Julian reached out to support her, but she snapped at him. She spat, ¡°Julian, don¡¯t touch me. You¡¯re dirty.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes darkened. He hadn¡¯t slept in almost 48 hours. He had rushed back to Brindley, gotten beaten by Dominic, and was now running on sheer willpower. His body was at its breaking point. Looking at Willow, he spoke in a pleading tone, ¡°Can we talk about this after Grandma is discharged? Don¡¯t upset her, any further right now.¡± Willow let out a fazedugh. ¡°Upset her? Julian, what more could possibly upset her?¡± She stopped looking at him and slowly made her way to the ICU room. Through the ss door, she saw Grace lying there quietly, her silver hair shifting slightly, the wrinkles on her face even deeper than before. Willow cried. Leaning against the ss, tears falling, she raised her palm and gently pressed it against the spot closest to Grace. Her voice was hoarse and barely audible. ¡°Grandma¡­ Grandma¡­¡± Love seemed to echo. As if sensing Willow¡¯s presence, Grace slowly opened her eyes. Her lips trembled. ¡°Willow, you¡¯re here.¡± Willow¡¯s tears poured down like rain. For a while, she cried andughed at the same time¡­ Three dayster, Grace was transferred to a VIP room. For the following week, Julian was either at Neb Group or at the hospital. He stayed by Grace¡¯s side, barely leaving, taking care of her personally. Willow couldn¡¯t drive him away, so she simply ignored him, treating him like air. Grace, on the other hand, was calm. The hospital room was quiet. Grace reclined against the headboard, resting with her eyes closed. Willow sat beside her, peeling apples. Without even realizing it, she had already peeled four, each one perfectly neat. Grace let out a soft sigh. ¡°I know you hate Julian. But Willow, we aren¡¯t born into this world to love someone, nor are we born to hate someone. We are here to be ourselves. Don¡¯t let hatred control your life. Look ahead.¡± After a long pause, Willow came back to her senses. ¡°I know.¡± Grace took her hand and said lovingly, ¡°That¡¯s good¡± The two were in the middle of their conversation when Julian walked in. +25 Bonus The moment he entered, Willow fell silent. She picked up a tray and went into the bathroom to wash the dishes, using it as an excuse to avoid him. One was avoiding, and the other was chasing. How could Grace not see it? She just pretended to be blind. 1 While washing the dishes, Willow overheard their conversation outside and was momentarily lost in thought. She had filed for divorce. She told him she didn¡¯t want the remaining 5% of thepany shares and asked him to think it over carefully. Julian never gave her an answer. Instead, he showed up on time every day, bringing tonics for her and Grace, acting gentle and considerate. Willow never drank any of it. Instead, she dumped everyst drop into the trash right in front of Julian. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 69 The door opened, and Julian walked in. Willow knew it was him. With her back turned, she spoke in a detached tone, ¡°Don¡¯te here again. ying the victim after what you¡¯ve done is futile. No one cares for your fake sympathy.¡± Julian stepped forward, trying to grasp Willow¡¯s shoulder, but she avoided him. His hand hovered in midair for a long moment before he finally said in a low voice, ¡°I won¡¯t divorce you. Willow, we have an agreement.¡± ¡°I know, I signed for two years. Julian, if you insist on not getting a divorce, then I can wait. In the worst case, I¡¯ll take the money and the shares when the two years are up. It won¡¯t change the oue.¡± Willow lookedpletely indifferent. Julian¡¯s voice was heavy with pain. ¡°Willow, it shouldn¡¯t be like this between us.¡± Willow retorted, ¡°Then, how should it be? Julian, besides money, what else is there between us?¡± By evening, Willow needed to return to her apartment. As soon as she stepped out of the inpatient building, she saw a ck Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom parked by the roadside. Julian stood beside the car in his usual refined manner, a half¨Cburnt cigarette between his slender fingers, looking like he was waiting for someone. Willow acted as if she didn¡¯t see him and brushed past him. He reached out and grabbed her arm at once. His dark eyes were deep and unreadable, his voice low. ¡°I want to take you somewhere.¡± Willow refused, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go.¡± But Julian wasn¡¯t letting her say no. He had always been forceful, but this time, there was a rare trace of gentleness. He was afraid she would reject him. After a moment, Willow sat in the passenger seat. ¡°Julian, I don¡¯t have time to entertain you. If you¡¯re lonely, I don¡¯t mind if you go looking for Catherine or Tegan.¡± Julian buckled his seatbelt and turned his head slightly, speaking softly, ¡°Tonight is Christmas Eve, Let¡¯s spend it together.¡± Willow remained unmoved. His voice grew even gentler as he asked, ¡°Do you hate me now? Does being around me make you ufortable?¡± She responded with a cold sneer. } He said nothing more and lightly pressed the gas pedal. Soon, the neon lights of the city came into view. The colorful glow reflected off the luxury car¡¯s body, spilling through the dark¨Ctinted windows, casting flickering hues over the two of them. Maybe it was the atmosphere, but Julian suddenly had the urge to touch Willow. The warmth of his fingers had barely brushed against her soft skin before she moved her hand away. Her voice was colder than ever. ¡°Julian, I already told you. I don¡¯t care if you pay for women outside.¡± Indifference from a woman wounded a man¡¯s pride the most. And Julian was a proud man. He withdrew his hand and didn¡¯t overstep his bounds again. Soon, night fell Brindley Theater stood resplendent in golden light, its silhouette dazzling against the night sky. At the entrance, promotional posters lined the space, all featuring Willow¡¯s favorite violinist. Julian had spent a fortune arranging a private performance. Naturally, the cost was steep. It cost him 60 million to invite such a beautiful woman. +25 Bonus However, he felt that it was worth it if he could see Willow smile. Looking at his wife, he spoke softly, ¡°I owe you this concert. I¡¯m making up for it today.¡± Willow didn¡¯t smile. She gently ran her fingers over the posters as if touching the remnants of her own foolishness. After a long pause, she murmured, ¡°Julian, you¡¯ll never be able to repay me for the things you owe me.¡± Julian stiffened. He thought Willow would turn and leave. But she stayed. W She sat next to Julian as the violinist yed the same piece as before. Several times, he tried to hold her hand, but each time, she subtly avoided him. She didn¡¯t speak or look at him. She treated him like a stranger. Altar 70 The performance ended, and the violinist came out to take a bow. Willow left. Walking beneath the boundless neon lights, she thought life woulde to an end, just like her and Julian. Behind her, someone called out. ¡°Willow.¡± Willow slowly turned around, her breath forming a white mist in the cold air, blurring their gazes. Through the haze, she heard Julian¡¯s trembling voice. ¡°Do you still love me? Willow, can you still love?¡± She replied calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can still love, but Julian, I will never love you again.¡± Loving him once drained herpletely. Loving him once cost her too much. Loving him once made her lose herself. She couldn¡¯t afford to love him anymore. As the white mist dispersed, Willow saw the tears in the man¡¯s eyes. The next second, she was pulled tightly into his embrace. Julian refused to let go and refused to divorce. Holding Willow in his arms, he kept whispering apologies in her ear, kept promising that it would never happen again, and kept begging her to trust him one more time. A man¡¯s vows of eternal love¨CWillow only found themughable. She looked up at her husband and softly asked, ¡°Where was all this earlier, Julian? When you had to choose between Catherine and Grandma, you chose Catherine. You haven¡¯t forgotten that, have you? Julian¡­ You picked your side chick over your own family!¡± Then, a pnded hard. Willow had used all her strength. The crisp sound of the p echoed again and again in the alley, like an old church bell tolling. Julian slowly turned his head back. His skin was red, and a distinct handprint quickly surfaced on his face. But he didn¡¯t care. He grabbed Willow¡¯s wrist and forcefully pulled her into the car. Of course, Willow didn¡¯t cooperate. By the time she was seated, they were both breathing heavily. She didn¡¯t resist anymore¡­ Leaning against the leather seat, she stared straight ahead. She spoke with eerie calmness, ¡°Find the nearest five¨Cstar hotel. But Julian, I¡¯m on a schedule. I only have an hour.¡± Julian¡¯s dark eyes deepened. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Willow let out an almost imperceptibleugh, her voiceced with mockery. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you wanted, Julian? Besides this, what other purpose do I serve for you?¡± Julian felt his heart shatter into pieces. At that exact moment, his phone rang. It was Catherine. Willow sneered. ¡°Go be with her.¡± That sentencepletely set Julian off.. He shut off his phone, his dark eyes locked onto Willow. ¡°You¡¯re the one who said it. We¡¯re going to a hotel?¡± The next second, the ck car roared to life. Julian didn¡¯t say a single word the whole way. It was obvious he was furious. In the same hotel, the same presidential suite, he pressed her against the wall and kissed her. There was anger in his kiss and a man¡¯s wounded pride. He was desperate for a response from her, so his touch was urgent and rough. However, Willow gave him nothing. Pressed against the wall, she was as lifeless as a dead fish, stiff and cold. She said, ¡°Julian, this is what you wanted. I¡¯m giving it to you. We¡¯ll get a hotel room, but I¡¯m on a schedule. I only have an hour¡­¡± Julian suddenly stopped. He buried his face against the crook of Willow¡¯s neck, his breath ragged and restrained. After a long pause, his voice came out hoarse, almost trembling. ¡°Willow, can you just hug me?¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 7`1 Willow leaned against the wall,ughing through her tears. She would not forgive him. Why should she? When she was drowning in despair, Julian had been with Catherine. Had he ever considered her anguish? Had he ever thought about the pain of losing a loved one? Willow lowered her head, gazing at Julian¡¯s face. She reached out with her slender fingers, touching his face as if caressing a lover. Her voice was soft, tender, filled with affection as she asked, Does it hurt? Julian, do you even know what pain feels like?¡± Before he could answer, Willow threw her head back andughed. Herughter shook through her body, rising and falling with her breaths. Pressed tightly against her, Julian swore he could hear the sound of a heart breaking. Late into the night, it felt as if a requiem for love was ying in the air. Julian had hit a wall. However, he still went to the hospital, staying by Grace¡¯s side and pleading for Willow¡¯s forgiveness. Before New Year¡¯s Day, he took a business trip to Yarrowmere. He returned on January 1st. As dusk fell, smoke curled up from kitchen chimneys. A sleek ck Lincoln drove up to the Grandview Manor estate and came to a smooth stop. The driver stepped out and retrieved the luggage from the trunk. Julian got out of the car. The driver asked in a low voice, ¡°Shall I carry your luggage upstairs?¡± Julian rejected him. Later, he took the suitcase himself and walked toward the main hall. As he stepped inside, the servants greeted him. ¡°Wee home, sir.¡± He unbuttoned his coat and asked naturally, ¡°Where¡¯s Snowy?¡± Usually, the moment he got home, Snowy woulde running, wagging its tail. Over time, Julian had gotten used to it. The servant thought for a moment before answering, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler stopped by two days ago. She took the dog with her and packed a few changes of clothes. Oh, and Madam Harper has been discharged from the hospital.¡± Discharged? Julian frowned. Willow hadn¡¯t told him. Julian tidied himself up briefly before heading to Grace¡¯s ce. It was a single¨Cfamily house with a 200¨Csquare¨Cfoot garden¨Cperfect for an elderly person to retire in. When Grace fell ill, Willow hired two additional caretakers. Maureen was pleased, feeling that Willow was fair and reasonable in how she handled things. Julian¡¯s car rolled into the driveway, Just as he was about to park, a familiar car caught his eye. It was a ck Rolls¨CRoyce Ghost. It was Jeffrey¡¯s car. Julian stared at it for a few seconds before asking the new caretaker, ¡°Mr. Gibson is here? How long has he been around?¡± The caretaker, knowing who he was, responded cheerfully, ¡°Mr. Gibson and Ms. Gibson have been here for about an hour. Madam Harper just got out of the hospital, so they came by to celebrate with her. Mr. Ziegler,e on in! We¡¯re about to start making cakes.¡± Julian was not pleased, but the caretaker didn¡¯t notice. +25 Bonus A whileter, Julian stepped into the house. He set down the health supplements he had brought and, as he took off his coat, swept his gaze around the room. Jeffrey and his sister were making cakes with the caretakers. Willow, however, was nowhere to be seen. Julian sneered. When did Jeffrey start making cakes? He was in his wife¡¯s house, ying the perfect guest. He must be courting death. Jeffrey saw him too. For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense. Julian and Jeffrey had once been close business partners, but because of Willow, their rtionship hadpletely fallen apart. Now, meeting again, neither man acknowledged the other. Julian even let out a mocking scoff before sliding open the kitchen door. Inside, Willow was slicing fruit. She had been surprised when the Gibson siblings suddenly showed up in the evening. She couldn¡¯t turn them away when they hade with good intentions, so she invited them to stay for cake. She hadn¡¯t expected Julian to return from his business trip. Altar 72 Julian leaned against the sliding door, lowering his voice as he questioned Willow, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Willow set down the fruit in her hands and asked in return, ¡°What do you mean?¡± He stepped closer, leaning against the dark¨Ccolored countertop, his sharp and handsome features looking down at her. ¡°I¡¯m talking about Jeffrey! Willow, are you keeping a backup while you look for something better?¡± Willow lowered her head and continued arranging the fruit, ¡°Are you the backup?¡± Julian was furious. He grabbed her chin, intending to kiss her, but she bit down hard on the corner of his lips. As they struggled, the stainless steel kitchenware nged noisily in the kitchen. After a while, she broke free and fled the kitchen. ¡°Julian, I¡¯m not as filthy as you are.¡± Julian followed her out. The Gibson siblings bad already left. The living room was empty¡­ Willow stood there for a long moment, looking somewhat mncholic, which made Julian unhappy. ¡°Do you miss them? Since when did you two be so close?¡± Maureen had disliked him for a while now. She carried the prepared cakes over and muttered while working, ¡°Mr. Gibson is a good man. The Gibson family doesn¡¯t seem like the type to fool around. Whoever marries him is bound to be blessed. If you ask me, Mr. Gibson would never abandon his inws to go running after some cheap floozies,¡± Julian was clearly the one being criticized, but as a wealthy heir, he wouldn¡¯t stoop so low as to argue with a housekeeper. He turned to look at Willow. Willow¡¯s expression remained indifferent as she turned and went back to her room. She was still rejecting him. Snowy came running over; the little white furball wagging its tail and circling Julian¡¯s long legs, acting spoiled. He bent down, picked it up, and stroked its head. Maureen happened to catch sight of this scene and clicked her tongue. ¡°Even a dog, knows loyalty.¡± Her remark irritated Julian so much that he lost his appetite for the cake. And knowing Jeffrey had made it only made it worse. After eating just a few bites, he left to apany the sleeping Grace. Maureen whispered to Willow, ¡°Is he still sulking? Serves him right!¡± Willow remained expressionless, already thinking about calling Jeffreyter to apologize. Julian had been way out of line. In the bedroom, Grace was sleeping soundly, resting and recovering. Julian stepped inside and sat down on the single¨Cseater couch by the bed, casually handling some work emails on his phone. But his mind was unsettled, and before long, he put the phone down. Under the dim yellow light, Grace¡¯s silver hair spread like silk, and her sleeping face was peaceful and kind, Truthfully, Julian didn¡¯t have much affection for Grace. Iulian¡¯s deep¨Cset eyes darkened as he murmured, ¡°Good. I should be grateful that Grace is still alive and well.¡± A hand gently grasped him. ¡°Julian ¡± Julian saw that Grace hadn¡¯t woken up. She must have been talking in her sleep. He immediately leaned in, his voice warm. ¡°I¡¯m right here, Grandma.¡± She seemed to still be dreaming. ¡°Julian, if you truly don¡¯t love Willow, then let her go! She¡¯s still so young. She has time to start over. That -25 Bonus child has suffered too much, I can¡¯t bear to see her without someone to rely on. ¡°The Ziegler family is wealthy and powerful, but aside from Dominic treating her decently, not a single other person can be counted on. Willow has no one to rely on.¡± Julian felt as though something was stuck in his throat. Altar 73 Grace¡¯s words lingered in Julian¡¯s mind for a long time. It was the end of the year, and Neb Group was swamped with business affairs. The negotiations with Aurelia Group were moving forward at full speed, and Julian hadn¡¯t seen Willow in half a month. At the end of the year, Neb Group hosted a banquet. At the event, Julian was alone. In previous years, Willow had always been by his side at this time of year. This year, he had invited Willow, but she never responded. With Neb¡¯s president¡¯s marriage on the rocks, women eager to take her ce lined up one after another. Esther dealt with them all. In a quiet corner of the banquet hall, Julian held a wine ss and silently gazed out at the night view of most of Brindley. A tall and slender figure appeared behind him. It was Dexter¡¯s girlfriend, Eleanor. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, how has Ms. Harper beentely?¡± Julian turned around and quietly studied her for a moment. ¡°She¡¯s doing fine. What about you, Ms. Sutton? Have you and Dexter made ns to get married?¡± His question was abrupt. He wasn¡¯t even sure why he had asked. Perhaps it was because Eleanor looked a lot like Willow. Eleanor smiled faintly. ¡°We¡¯re not nning to get married.¡± Upon hearing this, he unexpectedly felt a bit mncholic. After the banquet ended, Julian got into his Rolls¨CRoyce Spectre, a newly purchased car worth ten million dors. He intended to give it to Willow. Esther had mentioned that her gallery was about to open. This would make the perfect opening gift. The car¡¯s interior was dimly lit. Julian unbuttoned his suit jacket, leaned back against the leather seat, and closed his eyes to rest. He had a few light drinks earlier, and now the buzz was kicking in. His face carried a faint flush in an alluring shade of red. In the front seat, Ester ran her fingers over the interior and was stunned. So, this was what a ten¨Cmillion¨Cdor luxury car looked like! Julian ordered the driver to head to Willow¡¯s apartment. But Esther suddenly remembered something and said, ¡°I just ran into Mrs. Chapman. Apparently, Mrs. Ziegler arranged a meeting tonight with a B¨Clist actor to discuss an endorsement deal.¡± In Julian¡¯s eyes, a B¨Clist actor was a young, pretty boy. His mood instantly soured. He had Esther get the location and told the driver to head straight there. Willow had spent two hours negotiating with the actor at Moonlit before finally closing the deal¨Ca two¨Cyear endorsement contract worth three million per year. The actor was young and pure¨Chearted. Willow had mostly dealt with his agent, and they wrapped up the meeting with a ss of champagne. The young actor knew of Willow¡¯s reputation. She also treated people with respect, so he politely called her ¡°Ms. Harper¡°. In reality, Willow was only two years older than him. Willow said nothing. She wasn¡¯t particrly familiar with the entertainment industry. But the moment the young actor called her ¡°Ms. Harper¡°, Julian happened to step inside. The door swung open, and that was the first thing he heard. +25 Bonus Men always had an inexplicable sense of possessiveness. Julian instantly felt ufortable, but in front of others, he maintained hisposure. He walked up to his wife and asked in a gentle tone, ¡°Are you done with your meeting? If you¡¯re done, let¡¯s go home.¡± Willow couldn¡¯t be bothered to acknowledge him. The actor¡¯s agent was an industry veteran. At a nce, he could tell Julian was obviously jealous. He quickly exined the situation and even tried to get Julian¡¯s number in the end. Julian didn¡¯t respond. At his level, he rarely gave out his number to people. Esther, sensing the mood, tactfully escorted the two guests out, leaving the space to her jealousy¨Cfueled boss. The private lounge fell silent. Julian held back for a long time before finally speaking, ¡°I don¡¯t mind you working, but was it really necessary to hire some pretty boy as a spokesperson? And drinking champagne together, too? What if you got drunk and someone took advantage of you?¡± Willow leanedzily against the folding screen, tilting her head back with a lightugh. ¡°Julian, back when I used to apany you to social events, I drank the hard stuff, and you never worried about me then. ¡°As for the young and handsome man, Julian, you have your freedom, and I have mine. I don¡¯t owe you my loyalty. Today, it¡¯s Mr. Frank. Tomorrow, it could be Mr. Winston¡­ As long as I¡¯m happy.¡± Willow¡¯s chest rose and fell slightly, her red lips slightly parted, d in nothing but a thin dress. She was unbearably seductive. Yet, at the corner of her eye, there was the faint shimmer of tears. Those tears, strangely enough, extinguished Julian¡¯s anger. He stepped forward, gently cupping her face, his voice deep and tender. ¡°Don¡¯t say things just to hurt me! Willow, deep down, you still care about me, don¡¯t you?¡± Altar 74 Willow blurted out, ¡°No.¡± Julian lowered his head and captured her red lips, kissing her deeply and repeatedly. She struggled against him, so he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. He picked up the slender champagne bottle from the table and fed her the remaining half bottle until he got herpletely drunk. Her long mauve dress was soaked with golden liquor, turning sultry and decadent. Her voice, too, became soft and alluring. ¡°Julian, you bastard¡­¡± Julian caught her swaying body, his voice hoarse. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a bastard. A bastard who¡¯s taking you home.¡± The night was intoxicating. A ck Rolls¨CRoyce Spectre was parked outside the apartment building. Even in thete hours, passersby couldn¡¯t help but steal nces. The car was simply too luxurious and dazzling. The driver, understanding the situation, stepped out for a smoke. Inside the car, Willow had fallen asleep. She was nestled in Julian¡¯s arms, wrapped in his light wool coat. She slept soundly with her face buried against his chest, her warm breath seeping through his dress shirt, sending tingling heat straight to his skin. The air inside the car carried the faint scent of her perfume. It was an intoxicating aroma that could drive any man to sin, let alone Julian, who had been abstinent for so long. It hadn¡¯t mattered to him in the past, but once a man had had a taste, it was hard to forget. Now, with this soft, fragrant woman in his arms, it was impossible not to want her. But Julian held himself back. He lowered his gaze, watching Willow¡¯s face. She only behaved this obediently when she was drunk. Otherwise, she would never willingly curl up in his arms like this. There had been a time when he took these moments for granted. Now, he had to get her drunk just to steal a fleeting moment together. His heart felt damp and heavy. Unbidden, his mind wandered back to that night at Lake Tolpond when she set the car aze. He could never forget the look in her eyes when she turned back to look at him. It was a look filled with both hatred and a strange sense of release. But if he had to choose, he would rather she hate him. Willow woke up at 1:00 am. She was still in Julian¡¯s arms. They were intimately wrapped together, sharing the warmth of his coat and each other¡¯s body heat, She wasn¡¯t some naive young girl. She could clearly feel the change in Julian¡¯s body. Just then, the man stirred awake, his dark eyes locking onto her with a gaze that left no room for doubt. Willow pretended not to notice. She sat up in his arms, feigning indifference. ¡°I¡¯m going back.¡± Julian didn¡¯t stop her. He simply said in a quiet voice, ¡°I bought this car for you. The transfer paperwork is done. I¡¯ll have Edward bring you the keyster.¡± Willow ran her fingers along the car¡¯s interior. She recognized the model. It was worth ten million. But she refused. ¡°I have no use for a car like this.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°Is it that you have no use for it, or that you just don¡¯t want it?¡± ¡°Both.¡± She didn¡¯t beat around the bush. She stated bluntly, ¡°Julian, if something is rightfully mine, I won¡¯t pretend to be noble and not take it. But these so¨Ccalled gestures of 172 +25 Bonus appeasement andpensation¨Ckeep them. Julian, they¡¯re pointless.¡± With that, she pulled on her coat and left without a backward nce. In the back seat, Julian sat quietly. He was wearing the ck dress shirt that Willow had bought him. The top two buttons were undone, making him look casually disheveled. The lingering heat of their closeness still clung to him, tempting him to savor it just a little longer. Then, his phone rang. It was a call from Grandsburg. Julian nced at the screen but didn¡¯t pick up. For the first time, he ignored a call from Grandsburg. Julian didn¡¯t leave. He stayed outside Willow¡¯s building all night. Willow knew him too well. She knew that he loved using the pity tactic. She wasn¡¯t falling for it anymore. Julian found himself shut out time and again. He couldn¡¯t get close to Willow, and he couldn¡¯t keep getting her drunk just to be near her. Eventually, word of this reached the Ziegler residence. Dominic personally called him, scolding him for being utterly useless. He berated Julian for being 28 and still clueless about rtionships. Dominic said, ¡°Even the fiercest woman can¡¯t resist a persistent man.¡± 1 But Julian knew persistence wouldn¡¯t work. Willow didn¡¯t love him anymore. Yet, he couldn¡¯t help but think that if they had a child together, maybe Willow wouldn¡¯t be so determined to leave and divorce him¡­ Before he realized it, Willow had be the affliction he could never cure. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 75 Before the New Year, Willow¡¯s gallery opened. The store covered 9,000 square feet and cost 20 million in renovations. Everywhere one looked, one could see the scent of money. From day one, it became the go¨Cto spot for high society to unt their status. Buying art had be the new trend. Some up¨Canding artists saw their paintings skyrocket in value after being disyed at Willow¡¯s gallery. Fortunately, she had signed long -term contracts with them. Of course, Willow had her way of managing people. If anyone got too greedy, she wouldn¡¯t work with them again. At noon, the gallery closed for two hours. After an inventory check, 32 paintings had been sold, excluding pending contracts. This result had already exceeded expectations. To celebrate, Willow popped open a bottle of champagne with her 12 employees. Annie was the happiest of all. She had followed Willow to start fresh on her own, and it turned out to be the right move. Willow was paying her 800 thousand dors a year, a full 20% more than before. Annie couldn¡¯t be more satisfied. Willow swirled her ss lightly, her smile calm. ¡°This is just the beginning. One day, we¡¯ll have our own auction house, nurturing world¨Css artists that collectors all over the world will chase after and willing to pay top dor for.¡± Annie immediately chimed in with a few ttering words. Willow set down her ss. ¡°There are 12 mary gifts over there, each with 20 thousand inside. Consider it a bonus for this month¡¯s hard work.¡± Instantly, a chorus of voices rang out in unison, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Harper!¡± Willow smiled. ¡°We¡¯re running a legitimate business here, not a nightclub. Get some rest now and stay sharp for the afternoon.¡± She was generous with her employees, willing to share the profits, and in return, they respected her. ¡­ Later, Willow rested in her private office. Annie came in, struggling under a massive pile of boxes, using all her strength. Even her pencil skirt nearly tore from the effort. Willow frowned. ¡°What is all this? Why is it so heavy?¡± Annie dumped the boxes onto the desk and pped the dust off her hands. ¡°These are congrattory gifts for you, Ms. Harper. Take your time opening them. Willow nodded. Since she had nothing else to do, she started unboxing and keeping a record. These were favors she would eventually have to return. She even prepared a small notebook to keep track of them. ¡°Mrs. Chapman¨Ca pair of solid gold lion paperweights. Jeffrey¨Can authentic Victorian¨Cera painting. Dominic¨Ca statue of Mother Mary holding a child.¡± Willow stared at thest one, speechless. At the same time, she felt guilty toward the old man. Not only was she determined to divorce Julian, but she also could never have children¡­ Dominic was bound to be disappointed. The next gift was from Julian. It was the key to Grandview Manor. A deep, antique bronze key was solemnly ced on a bed of raffia. Willow immediately understood what it meant. It was nothing more than a plea for forgiveness. It was an invitation toe home and remain as Mrs. Ziegler. But Willow knew she could never do it. +25 Bonus If this had been in the past, she might have yed along. But after what happened with her grandmother, she felt nothing but overwhelming disgust for him that she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of being intimate with him again. Willow closed the box, fully intending to send it back to Julian. Just then, amotion erupted outside. She heard a woman crying. Setting everything down, she quickly stepped out. The scene outside was a mess. In the dead of winter, Catherine was wearing nothing but a thin dress, her eyes filled with tears, lookingpletely unhinged. She was sobbing Julian¡¯s name, and the moment she saw Willow, she went berserk. ¡°Where¡¯s Julian? Why won¡¯t he see me? Willow, did you hide him?¡± Altar 76 ¡°You¡¯re the one who forbade him to see me, right?¡± Catherine cried. +25 Bonus Two female caretakers rushed in, grabbing Catherine by the arms to keep her from thrashing around. But Catherine still had her mouth. She started hurling insults at Willow, her words vicious. ¡°Julian never loved you! You¡¯re nothing more than a tool for his power struggle! If he truly loved you, why would he stay in Grandsburg instead ofing back? ¡°Willow, you¡¯re pathetic for clinging to a man who doesn¡¯t love you. You have no self¨Crespect at all!¡± One of the caretakers covered her mouth. But it was toote. Everyone had heard her, including Charlie and Nancy, who had just arrived, and Julian. The room fell into a dead silence. Willow¡¯s pride was trampled on once again¡­ Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he called out, ¡°Willow.¡± Willow first looked at Catherine, then shifted her gaze to her husband. She let out a faint smile. ¡°Julian, she¡¯s not wrong. You don¡¯t love me, do you? Do you dare say it now that you love me?¡± Julian took a step closer. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this at home.¡± She shook off his hand, her smile turning cold. ¡°Why should we talk about it at home? Are you afraid to say something in front of your mistress? ¡°Julian, we¡¯ve been married for years. I never asked you for your loyalty, but at the very least, keep your dog in check. Now that she¡¯s barged in here herself, I won¡¯t disappoint either of you. ¡°I will sue you. I will have the court calcte it down to thest penny of every cent you spent on Catherine. Sure, I know you don¡¯t care about the money, but I¡¯ll make sure Catherine is nailed to the pir of shame. ¡°I want everyone to know that she is your side chick.¡± A round of apuse broke out. Annie pped so hard that her hands were about to break. Willow was truly something else. Charlie and Nancy turned pale. Charlie was a well¨Cknown figure. His reputation mattered. Even if Julian and Catherine¡¯s rtionship was innocent, those expenses wouldn¡¯t be easy to exin away. Before Charlie could say anything, Nancy stormed up and blocked Julian, snapping, ¡°Julian, your wife is really something. She¡¯s keeping tabs on your spending? Why don¡¯t you just tell her-¡± ¡°Mrs. Burke!¡± Julian¡¯s voice was ice¨Ccold, carrying a sharp warning. Nancy froze. She wanted to say more, but Charlie firmly held her back. Julian¡¯s voice was low. ¡°If anyone dares to say one more word in front of my wife, you¡¯ll deal with the consequences.¡± Charlie and Nancy were stunned. Julian brushed past Nancy and walked up to Willow. His heart was in turmoil. After all these years of running back and forth, the only warmth and happiness he had ever known had actuallye from Willow. No matter how exhausted he was, he always had a home to return to Brindley. With time, how could he not have felt something for her? Julian gently pulled Willow into an embrace, his whole body trembling¡­ +25 Bonus In a luxury apartment, the doctor sedated Catherine, and she finally calmed down. Things had been this way since Julian came over. Charlie and Nancy sat down to discuss some matters with him. They clearly felt that Julian¡¯s attitude toward them had grown noticeably colder. They talkedte into the night andter persuaded Julian to stay for a midnight snack before leaving. Julian was truly exhausted, so he agreed. Then, he fell asleep on the couch. His tall frame sprawled across the entire sofa, and his ck coat was casually thrown over him. As he shifted, something slipped from his coat pocket. It was a yellowed piece of paper that quietly fluttered to the floor. Catherine woke up. She tiptoed over and picked up the paper¡­ Altar 77 News of Catherine¡¯s outburst reached the Ziegler family. In the middle of the night, Dominic summoned Liam and Mnie, scolding them furiously. ¡°That Catherine girl looks like trouble. Sure enough, she¡¯s brought disgrace upon us!¡± Mnie quickly exined, ¡°Julian doesn¡¯t even like her.¡± Dominic let out a coldugh. ¡°What about the one he does like? Doesn¡¯t she share the same mother as that troublemaker? ¡°I doubt she¡¯s any better.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t dare say another word. With a wave of his hand, Dominic dismissed the couple, sending them away like pests. Once they were gone, he pulled out his phone and personally called Willow. Willow was taken aback. She had been busy all day and had just returned to her apartment. She had just finished her shower when Dominic called her. He hesitated for a moment before steeling his resolve. He praised her for handling things well. He even made his stance clear. ¡°I never liked anyone from the Burke family! But Julian¡¯s mother¡¯s values are all over the ce. ¡°She kept insisting on keeping ties with them.¡± Willow immediately understood that what happened earlier in the day had spread far and wide. She couldn¡¯t help but smile, but a sense of warmth filled her heart. Dominic truly treated her well. The next day, an unexpected visitor arrived at Insight¨Cthe renowned artist Charlie Burke. Even though this was his second visit to Insight, Charlie found himself impressed. A significant amount had been invested into the gallery, making the ce exude sophistication and prestige. Even a master¡¯s work wouldn¡¯t lose value when disyed here. But today, he wasn¡¯t here for art, but a personal matter. Willow met him in the lounge. Annie, who had never liked the Burke family, served the tea with a loud thud. She didn¡¯t hide her hostility. ¡°Your tea!¡± Since Charlie had a favor to ask, he had no choice but to endure this. He grabbed the teacup and tried to sound reasonable. ¡°Catherine and Julian had known each other for a long time! I swear on my honor, nothing inappropriate has ever happened between them. ¡°Ms. Harper, I hope you can be a little more understanding.¡± Willow responded indifferently. ¡°So, are you nning to keep spending Julian¡¯s money?¡± The expenses in Grandsburg were a bottomless pit. No matter how many sleepless nights Charlie spent painting, he could never make enough to cover the cost¡­ Artists valued their pride. Charlie¡¯s face darkened as Willow¡¯s words struck a nerve. He blurted, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my daughter¡¯s illness, do you think you¡¯d be lucky enough to live sofortably? ¡°Mr. Harper, have somepassion.¡± Willow chuckled coldly. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, feel free to take back this so¨Ccalled ¡®luck,¡® Mr. Burke.¡± Seeing that she was unmoved, Charlie grew resentful, causing his tone to turn sharp. 312 +25 Bonus ¡°Ms. Harper, can¡¯t you have some empathy for us parents? How can you be so heartless?¡± Just as Willow was about to reply, Charlie¡¯s phone rang. The moment he nced at the phone, his expression changed. There was even a trace of humility in his eyes. He stepped aside to answer the call. On the other end, a woman sobbed uncontrobly. ¡°Charlie, I found out that the child was taken away by an elderly woman. I heard she was struggling, collecting scraps for a living and barely getting by¡­ ¡°Five yearster, she moved away. ¡°My poor daughter¡­ Does she even have warm clothes for the winter? Did she ever go to school? Does she even know how to read and write?¡± A bitter feeling welled up in Charlie¡¯s chest, and his phone slipped from his grasp. Looking around the luxurious interior of Insight, Charlie felt repulsive. His disdain for Willow only deepened. 1 ¡°People like you will never understand the suffering of others.¡± Willow smiled faintly. ¡°Is that so?¡± Charlie ended the call with Heather and staggered out of the gallery. He was desperate to uncover his daughter¡¯s whereabouts. If he could find her, he swore he would cherish her and be a good father. As soon as Charlie left, Annie stormed in and tossed the teacup that Charlie had used aside. She scoffed, ¡°Disgusting.¡± Willow said nothing. Now that Grace¡¯s condition had improved and her business was thriving, she had no reason to be unhappy. Only people who were consumed by anger would be unhappy. Willow didn¡¯t return home. Catherine¡¯s scandal had inevitably tarnished the Ziegler family¡¯s reputation, even causing Neb Group¡¯s share price to plummet for a few days. Altar 78 At the end of the year, Dominic visited the house in the southern suburbs. Coincidentally, Willow was there, reading a book to Grace. Maureen rushed over, panting. ¡°Ms. Harper, Mr. Ziegler Senior is here. You should go greet him.¡± Dominic? Willow was surprised. This time, he came here with quite an entourage, consisting of an entire fleet of ck cars. Not only were Liam and Mnie here, but Tyler and Karen hade along as well. Their visit served two purposes. One was to visit Grace, and the other was to invite Willow to spend the New Year back at the Ziegler residence. Although Grace came from humble beginnings, she knew she couldn¡¯t embarrass her granddaughter. She remainedposed. Maureen, being clever, arranged the seating so that both Ziegler couples sat below Grace, making their status clear at a nce. Dominic was impressed. He took a sip of tea and smiled at Grace. ¡°Willow knows how to run a household. The Ziegler family cannot do without her! Madam Harper, I value her a lot. ¡°Unfortunately, Julian is a fool, and his parents are even bigger fools. I hope you can help smooth things over. Let¡¯s at least go through this New Year happily.¡± Being humiliated, Liam and Mnie¡¯s expressions turned sour. As for Karen, she was feeling pleased and secretly sneered. Willow remained silent, letting the elders talk. Grace took a nce at Willow, then at Dominic. She understood it was best topromise. With a gentle tone, she said, ¡°I understand your concerns. It is only right for Willow to help out during the New Year and handle some household matters. ¡°As for their marriage, I believe the young people should decide for themselves. After all, they¡¯re the ones who have to live with it. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Mr, Ziegler?¡± Dominic¡¯s eyes lit up. He recognized that Grace was no pushover. But having weathered countless storms in his life, he quickly made a decision. ¡°You¡¯re right. They should make their own decision.¡± Grace gestured. ¡°The tea is getting cold, please have it while it¡¯s warm.¡± In the evening, the setting sun painted the sky in vibrant hues. A ck Roll¨CRoyce Phantom slowly entered the courtyard. The car door opened, and Julian stepped out. His noble temperament was as dazzling as the golden sunlight. He hade to pick Willow up to spend the New Year at the Ziegler residence. When he stepped into the house, Maureen, who was busy baking pies, couldn¡¯t help but tease him, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, you have a good nose. You came straight for the pies, right?¡± Julian took off his coat and joined her. ¡°Last time, they tasted amazing. I came here just to try them again.¡± Maureen was pleased but didn¡¯t show it. ¡°Last time, Mr. Gibson made them.¡± Julian smiled and replied, ¡°Then this time, let me help you.¡± +25 Bonus Maureen shot him a look. She thought Julian was something else¨Cknowing to be flexible. No wonder Ms. Harper had fallen for him when she was younger. After all, what woman could resist this? Just then, the front door creaked open. Willow just returned from walking the dog. The moment Snowy saw Julian, its tail wagged furiously as it ran up to him, full of excitement. Julian bent down and picked up Snowy. Then, he looked at Willow and said, ¡°I¡¯ll bathe himter.¡± Maureen clicked her tongue. ¡°Snowy, do you remember your daddy?¡± She was calling Julian a good¨Cfor¨Cnothing dog. Julian caught the insult but didn¡¯t react. Instead, he just kept looking at Willow. Just now, Willow had smiled. Late at night, the sky was dotted with stars. Willow sat in the car and reached for the seatbelt, but Julian beat her to it. A soft click. He didn¡¯t pull away immediately, but gently embraced her. In a low voice, he exined that nothing improper had happened between him and Catherine. Willow listened as he spoke. Once he was done, she pushed him away gently with a calm expression. ¡°Julian, I¡¯m tired of hearing the same thing. Whether something happened or not doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is that we can¡¯t go on like this. ¡°Julian, sometimes, emotional infidelity is more unbearable than physical cheating.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes darkened. In the end, he didn¡¯t say a word and simply started driving. Altar 79 In the final days of the year, Julian and Willow both stayed at the Ziegler residence. With Willow managing everything, the household ran smoothly. Every detail and social interaction was handled wlessly. The entire upper echelon in Brindley was abuzz with admiration for Julian¡¯s capable wife. Mnie wasn¡¯t pleased. Liam, on the other hand, was quite at ease and in a good mood. He even had Victoria deliver a check for five million dors to Willow. Willow was surprised at the generous gesture. Victoria smiled warmly. ¡°Mr. Ziegler insisted you ept it. He said it¡¯s a small token from him.¡± Willow immediately understood his intention. Liam must¡¯ve grown tired of the Burkes. Given the circumstances, he¡¯d rather support her instead. Willow epted the check but in return, she discreetly handed Victoria a check of 100 thousand dors. Victoria was surprised but epted it after a moment¡¯s hesitation. As Victoria was leaving, she said, ¡°Mr. Ziegler mentioned I resembled Mrs. Chapman a little.¡± Willow froze for a second. Before she could process it further, Julian entered the room and asked, ¡°What are you thinking about? I saw Victoria leaving just now. What was she doing here?¡± Willow smiled faintly. ¡°She brought me a check. Dad gave me five million dors.¡± Julian¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Willow had called him ¡°dad¡°. Did this mean she had changed her mind? Just as Julian was feeling hopeful, a housekeeper¡¯s voice came from outside the door. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler, dinner is ready. Mr. Ziegler Senior has asked you two to join him downstairs.¡± Julian turned his head. ¡°Understood.¡± Once the housekeeper had left, he looked at Willow gently. ¡°I have a gift for you too. I¡¯ll give it to youter tonight.¡± For the past few days, he had been sleeping in the guest room. But tonight, on New Year¡¯s Eve, there was no way he wasn¡¯t going to sleep in their bedroom. Willow ignored him and walked into the closet. She changed into a beige dress and even put on some jewelry. As she stepped out, Julian was still standing there, looking at her with deep eyes. ¡°You look beautiful, but it doesn¡¯t feel very festive.¡± Willow responded indifferently, ¡°I didn¡¯t dress up for you.¡± Julian was speechless. They went downstairs together. Their good looks make them a perfect match. Dominic was pleased to see them and gestured for Willow to sit beside him. It was an obvious disy of favoritism. The dining room was lively, filled withughter and conversation. In reality, most of them were focused on getting the shares that Dominic held. Dominic was well aware of their intentions, but he said nothing. He just gave everyone a check. However, he didn¡¯t mention anything about thepany¡¯s shares. Everyone assumed that the 10% would go to Julian¡¯s future firstborn son. That was the reason why Julian was so desperate to have a child. +25 Bonus Throughout the dinner, Julian yed the role of the perfect, devoted husband. At the same table, Dexter scoffed as he bit into a piece of pork. ¡°Julian, are you turning over a new leaf?¡± Julian put down his utensils and replied, ¡°Not as much as you, Dexter. You¡¯re already past your prime, yet still willing to sacrifice yourself for a political marriage.¡± Dexter scoffed. Dominic was displeased. He snapped, ¡°It¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve. Can¡¯t we just have a meal in peace? If you two can¡¯t control your mouths, the belt in my study is itching to be put to use.¡± The entire room fell silent. Dominic was even more displeased. His face flushed as he said, ¡°What, do you think I¡¯ll really beat you all?¡± Mnie muttered, ¡°Dad, we won¡¯t be surprised if you did that.¡± Dominic was speechless. Late into the night, the house finally quieted down. Willow was wearing a thin bathrobe as she stood on the balcony, gazing at the barren trees in the distance. The bare branches made the darkness feel heavier. Julian entered the room and saw her standing there, lost in thought. He walked over and gently wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. In a husky voice, he asked, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Willow tried to pull away. ¡°Let go of me. We¡¯re not that close.¡± Julian didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Are you thinking about Jeffrey?¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± She shoved him away and turned to grab a nket from the room, intending to sleep in one of the guest rooms. However, Julian grabbed her wrist and said helplessly, ¡°All the guest rooms have been locked.¡± In other words, they had to sleep together tonight. Willow guessed that it was Dominic¡¯s idea, but she didn¡¯t say anything. She just looked at Julian coldly. Julian pulled out a little envelope from his coat and ced it in her palm with a serious look on his face. ¡°Willow, Happy New Year.¡± She didn¡¯t want it. Julian tore open the envelope, revealing a small, exquisite emerald pendant. Altar 80 Julian personally put the pendant around Willow¡¯s neck. ¡°I got this as a good luck charm for you. It¡¯s said to be highly effective.¡± Willow wanted to remove it, but he grabbed her hands, his gaze intense. ¡°With this gift, I want you to be safe, happy, and free from worry for all your years.¡± Willow turned her face away, avoiding Julian¡¯s affectionate gaze. That night, they were forced to share a bed. One by one, the lights in the bedroom dimmed until the room waspletely shrouded in darkness. The darkness heightened their senses, especially for Julian. He had been celibate for a long time. Now, the woman he wanted was right next to him, so it was impossible for him to not feel anything. He knew Willow wasn¡¯t asleep yet, so he reached out and pulled her into his arms. The thin bathrobes did little to separate their bodies. Julian¡¯s thoughts were running wild. He whispered in her ear, ¡°I want to do it. Do you want to?¡± Willow remained silent. Julian pressed on. ¡°Do you want to? Hmm? I really want to.¡± Willow turned her back to him and said coldly, ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t care if you spend money to get what you need. ¡°Julian, if you have urges, go find someone else. We¡¯re getting divorced.¡± Julian had clearly been holding back for too long. He forcefully pinned her down, kissing her with a fiery passion, attempting to ignite her passion¡­ But Willow justy there like a lifeless doll. She knew him well and knew he hated women who weren¡¯t responsive in bed. After kissing for a while without getting a response, he hugged her tightly in his arms, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. ¡°It wasn¡¯t like this before. Willow, we used to have good times.¡± Willow remained silent. Disheartened, Julian buried his face against her neck, breathing heavily before getting up and heading to the bathroom for a cold shower. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to force her, afraid that she would resent him even more. The night was tough for Julian as he had to suppress his urges. There were times he really wanted to just do it. The sky began to light up. Just as he was about to fall asleep, a a scene.¡± Julian sat up immediately. ¡°Catherine Burke?¡± The housekeeper replied, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s her. She seems to have something important with her. ¡°She¡¯s demanding to see Mr. Ziegler Senior. The entire house is in chaos now,¡± Julian quickly dressed. He didn¡¯t want Willow to find out, but when he turned around, he saw that she was fully awake, her gaze sharp and clear. By the time Julian and Willow got downstairs, the entire Ziegler household was up. Dominic was even dressed neatly. It was 6:00 am on New Year¡¯s Day Catherine hade prepared, bringing something important with her. She insisted on speaking with Dominic, Julian¡¯s parents, as well as Julian and Willow. The housekeeper brought a chair for Dominic. +25 Bonus He sat down and sipped his tea leisurely. Then, he said, ¡°You showed up to a man¡¯s house uninvited on the first day of the new year. What kind of behavior is this? ¡°Do your parents not care about their reputation? Now that everyone¡¯s here, show us what you¡¯ve got. ¡°I¡¯d like to see what you¡¯vee up with to break my family apart.¡± The winter morning was freezing, yet Catherine stood there in just some in clothes. She turned her head and red at Willow, screaming, ¡°I have an announcement to make. Willow can¡¯t bear children, she¡¯s infertile! ¡°This is the proof! She wasn¡¯t able to have kids four years ago! She¡¯s been deceiving everyone!¡± Willow¡¯s face turned pale. She felt as if someone had ripped open an old wound in front of a crowd. The pain of that night felt as if it had just happened yesterday. Even though she no longer loved Julian, no woman would ever want her personal struggles exposed and her dignity trampled like this. Seeing that Willow remained silent, Catherine grew more arrogant. Like a mad woman, she continued, ¡°Willow is infertile, so she can¡¯t be Julian¡¯s wife. ¡°But I can! I can bear Julian¡¯s children.¡± Everyone in the room believed this was the end for Willow. The fact that she was infertile meant that she would be discarded. Julian wouldn¡¯t want her, and Dominic would despise her even more. Julian¡¯s expression darkened, and he took a step forward. Before he could act, Dominic stopped him. Dominic rose from his chair and slowly walked toward Catherine. In a grim tone, he asked, ¡°Do you want to have Julian¡¯s child?¡± Catherine replied confidently, ¡°That¡¯s right. I can give him many children.¡± Smack! A vicious pnded across Catherine¡¯s face. Dominic sneered, his face darkened. ¡°Who do you think you are? Do you think you¡¯re worthy of that?¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 81 That p left Catherine¡¯s ears ringing. She covered her face and stared at Dominic in disbelief. She murmured, ¡°How is this possible? Willow can¡¯t have children anymore. She¡¯s lost her worth.¡± The atmosphere was tense, but not as grim as Dominic¡¯s expression. He let out a chillingugh. ¡°Who told you that Willow¡¯s worth is defined entirely by her ability to bear children?¡± Everyone was shocked. In the past, Dominic had been the most vocal about wanting grandchildren. Catherine refused to ept this. She hade in thin clothes during the New Year, not for this oue. She thought Dominic didn¡¯t believe her words. She produced a piece of paper and handed it to Dominic, eagerly exining, ¡°I found this in Julian¡¯s coat pocket. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, ask Julian. Ask him if it¡¯s true.¡± Julian walked forward and snatched the paper from Catherine¡¯s hand. Without hesitation, he tore it apart. He replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s not true.¡± At that moment, Julian was conflicted. He tore up the paper not for the shares, but for Willow. He didn¡¯t want his wife to be humiliated in public. Whether or not they had children was a private matter between them. Catherine screamed, ¡°Julian, why are you defending her?¡± His gaze turned ice cold. He turned around and ordered Sebastian, the butler, in an indifferent tone. ¡°Tie her up and send her back to Charlie and his wife. ¡°From now on, don¡¯t just let anyone into the residence.¡± Sebastian quickly apologized for his negligence. With a wave of his hand, someone covered Catherine¡¯s mouth and took her away. Her bare feet scraped against the ground, leaving behind faint streaks of blood. It was an unsettling sight. julian stood beneath the oak tree, expressionless. Dominic let out a sigh. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Everyone, go back inside and get some rest.¡± Suddenly, a sharp voice sounded in a harsh tone. ¡°That¡¯s it? You¡¯re going to just let go of the fact that Willow hid her infertility for four years? You¡¯re going to let her off so easily?¡± Dominic saw it was Mnie speaking. Mnie never liked Willow, so she seized the opportunity to attack her. ¡°Mr. Ziegler Senior, in the Ziegler family, women who couldn¡¯t have children would be divorced, no matter how capable she was. What do you say?¡± Dominic chuckled. ¡°Do you believe the words of a lunatic?¡± Karen interjected, ¡°Whether it¡¯s true or not, we¡¯ll know after a hospital check¨Cup. By then, I hope you two don¡¯t cover up for her. Willow stepped forward. She walked toward Julian and whispered, ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide this for me. I don¡¯t need your sympathy.¡± Her gaze swept across the Ziegler family members. She raised her voice and said confidently, ¡°Yes, I, Willow Harper, can¡¯t have children! ¡°Four years ago, I shielded Julian and was kicked in the stomach, losing my ability to be a mother. +25 Bonus ¡°Did I do anything wrong? No. Do I regret it? No. ¡°Back then, I loved Julian with all my heart. Forget taking a kick for him. Even if I had to give up my life, I would¡¯ve done so without hesitation. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what it means to love someone? To go all in without reservation? ¡°Why should I hide this? Why should I stand here to be judged by all of you? Is it just because I lost the ability to bear children for the man I loved? ¡°Mrs. Ziegler, from now on, that¡¯s how I¡¯ll address you. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t cling to your son. ¡°I¡¯ll divorce him and stay far away from him. I won¡¯t stand in the way of him having a house full of children. ¡°I certainly won¡¯t stay here to endure your endless criticism. Whoever wants the title of ¡®Mrs. Ziegler¡® can have it. I never cared for it in the first ce. The scene fell silent. Everyone was shaken by Willow¡¯s fierce spirit. Even Julian¡¯s throat bobbed, unable to control his emotions. Mnie was the only person who wasn¡¯t willing to back down. She let out a coldugh. ¡°Well, you said it yourself. Pack your things and-¡± ¡°Pack what?¡± Dominic¡¯s voice cut through the air like a knife. She walked toward Mnie with a grim expression. His presence was overwhelming. If Mnie dared to say another word, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to p her. Mnie backed away immediately. ¡°Nothing!¡± Dominic pointed his finger at everyone and said coldly, ¡°I dare any of you toy a finger on Willow. ¡°As long as I¡¯m alive, she¡¯s Julian¡¯s wife. You all can get lost, but she stays! What a bunch of ungrateful fools.¡± He then stared at Liam. ¡°Liam,e to the study with me. The rest of you, wait in the living room.¡± Liam hesitated for a moment, looking at his wife with a hint of reproach before following his father, Early in the morning, the study was filled with the lingering scent of sandalwood. After the recent events, Dominic was feeling exhausted. However, he still forced himself to manage the family affairs. Julian¡¯s marriage was in a mess, but Dominic needed to protect his family. Liam poured his father a cup of tea carefully. Dominic scoffed and scolded him. ¡°Your mediocrity is one thing, but how did you marry such an idiot? Not only is she useless normally, but she¡¯s always causing trouble in the family. ¡°She¡¯s absolutely useless!¡± Liam stood before the desk, nodding along his words. He even praised Willow. Dominic let out a sigh. ¡°Julian has an eye for picking her as his wife. She has sacrificed too much for him. She may be fierce, but she truly loves him.¡± The flickering light of themp cast shifting shadows across the room. Dominic stared at it for a long time, until his eyes were sore. He said softly, ¡°Liam, we¡¯re a family of honor and tradition. I won¡¯t bother talking to Tyler about this. ¡°Willow turned out like this because of Julian. I can never make it up to her. I hope both you and Tyler don¡¯t hate me for this. ¡°Initially, I set my 10% in shares aside for you two. But now, I¡¯ve decided to pass it to Willow.¡± Liam was visibly shocked. 2/3 He wasn¡¯t greedy, but he simply didn¡¯t expect Dominic to make such a decision. He just stared at Dominic in silence. Dominic knew his confusion, and sighed. ¡°Julian loves her.¡± Altar 82 Dominic spoke, ¡°Tell her toe here.¡± Liam nodded and stepped out of the study. His heart was filled with conflicting emotions. As a father, he wanted his son to be happy. But it seemed clear that Willow had no intention of staying in the Ziegler family. Thinking back, he resented his wife for being too harsh and intolerant. In the living room, silence reigned. Everyone just sat there, without any appetite for breakfast. Liam walked in and looked at Willow gently. ¡°Go to the study. Dad is waiting for you.¡± Mnie immediately asked, ¡°Did he change his mind? Julian can¡¯t be without an heir.¡± Liam¡¯s expression remained calm. ¡°Dad has made it clear. If anyone is leaving, it will be Willow choosing to leave Julian, not the other way around.¡± Mnie slumped into the chair, defeated. Liam gently asked Willow to go to the study. Just as she took a few steps forward, Julian stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± B Liam stared at Julian with aplicated look. ¡°Dad didn¡¯t ask for you. He only asked for Willow.¡± Julian refused to give up. He grabbed Willow¡¯s wrist, determined to go with her. He had a feeling that she would make an important decision, one he wouldn¡¯t like. He held on tightly and refused to let go. Willow looked down and whispered, ¡°If you truly cared about me, our marriage wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this. ¡°Catherine even got my medical report from you. Julian, I gave you my heart, but the only thing you gave me was pain and suffering.¡± After saying that, she pulled her hand away. 1 Julian¡¯s hand was empty. He could only watch as she walked away. When she walked out of the door, she rested her hand against it, as if she had used up all her strength. Suddenly, he was reminded of the sunset at Lake Talpond. Back then, she looked radiant when she asked Julian if they would be together forever, never to part. She¡¯d believed that they were each other¡¯s most important person. He recalled the love letters she¡¯d written, ones he had teasingly read aloud to her in bed at Grandview Manor. ¡°Even if it¡¯s difficult, Julian, I want to stay by your side. I¡¯ll love you slowly and endlessly. Again and again.¡± They really had good times. Overwhelmed by emotions, Julian blurted out, ¡°Willow, I don¡¯t want a divorce.¡± Willow stopped in her tracks. She turned around, silently looking at the man she had loved deeply. She smiled lightly, then turned around and walked away, without hesitation. After a while, he arrived at Dominic¡¯s study. The study was filled with the aroma of tea. On the small tea table were some pastries and soup. Dominic stood up to greet her in a warm tone. ¡°Come, sit with me, and let¡¯s have breakfast.¡± Willowplied and had breakfast with him. But she could tell he wasn¡¯t in a good mood. After finishing the food, she opened her mouth to speak. But before she could, he raised a hand to stop her. Then, he told her he would transfer thepany shares to her. Willow was dumbfounded. She sat in silence, tears welling in her eyes. Having spent four years in the Ziegler family, she knew better than anyone how careful and guarded Dominic was. Yet, he was giving away his shares that were worth 30 billion dors. How could she not be moved? After a while, she said softly, ¡°I know you want to make up for what happened, but I did that willingly. ¡°Besides, the one that owes me is Julian, not the Ziegler family. I can¡¯t ept the shares.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 83 Hearing those words, Dominic understood that Willow had made up her mind. She was determined to leave. But he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What about Julian? You don¡¯t want him either?¡± Willow lowered her gaze and replied, ¡°It depends on him. Whenever he¡¯s willing to let go, we¡¯ll get divorced.¡± She made it clear, and Dominic was disheartened. But he didn¡¯t me her. Right from the start, she was wless. It was Julian who had wronged her! Dominic pulled himself together and forced a smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take another look? There are other men in the Ziegler family. Maybe you¡¯ll find someone you like.¡± Willow let out a helplessugh. ¡°Grandpa!¡± Dominic sighed sadly. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to let you go.¡± Willow didn¡¯t want to leave as well. She hade from a lonely background, raised and nurtured by only her grandmother. During her time in the Ziegler family, Dominic was one of the few sources of warmth in her life. There was no way she could ever repay his kindness. Willow stood up and poured him some tea. The first cup was to thank him for his four years of guidance. The second cup was for his patience and understanding. The third cup was to honor their bond. She might not have been his granddaughter, but he had treated her better than one. She shook her hand firmly and said, ¡°Grandpa, I wish you health, happiness, and peace for many years toe.¡± Dominic couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. For an elderly man who had weathered countless storms, he was moved to tears. He waved his hand and said hoarsely, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Dominic finished the tea and reached into his pocket. He took out an envelope and handed it to Willow. ¡°No one else is getting this.¡± Only Willow, the granddaughter¨Cinw he had truly approved of. Willow clutched the envelope tightly, tears in her eyes. ¡°Thank you, Grandpa.¡± She didn¡¯t linger for long, slowly leaving the study. At the door, she unexpectedly ran into Dexter. Dexter had heard the news, his expressionplex. When he saw Willow, he couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°You and Julian are quite the couple. ¡°What a show you two put on. Was Catherine an actress you two hired? This little show of yours made you 30 billion dors. What a bargain!¡± Before Willow could respond, Dominic¡¯s voice boomed from inside the study. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Dexter rubbed his nose and entered the study. In the study, Dominic was talking to one of his trusted aides, shaking his head as he spoke. ¡°Julian¡¯s wife is truly unique. She¡¯s gracious, generous, andposed. None of my children and grandchildren canpare.¡± Dexter huffed, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re more generous than her, giving away your shares.¡± Dominic let out a cold chuckle. ¡°She didn¡¯t want them.¡± Dexter was baffled. How could it be? How could Willow not want the shares? Dominic sat down slowly and let out a long sigh. ¡°Back then, she married into this family for Julian. ¡°And now, she¡¯s leaving because of him. She never cared about the Ziegler family¡¯s wealth and power.¡± Dexter said nonchntly, ¡°Then, it must be for Julian.¡± He might have sounded indifferent, but deep down, he felt ufortable. He even felt a tinge of jealousy. Why did Julian always get the best of everything? The control of Neb Group, as well as Willow¡¯s love¡­ Altar 84 The morning light pierced through the thin mist, casting a soft glow into the bedroom. Willow was packing her belongings. Aside from a few sets of clothes and Snowy, she didn¡¯t take much. It only took her a few minutes to gather everything. Then, it was time to leave the Ziegler residence. The bedroom door swung open, and Julian stepped inside. Moments ago, he just had a heated argument with Mnie. She used him of hiding Willow¡¯s condition, while he felt she was being heartless and unreasonable. The moment he entered the room, he saw Willow bending over, folding the sheets, which still held the warmth from the night before. Julian walked toward her and wrapped his arms gently around her waist. He didn¡¯t say a word, but Willow understood what he meant. He didn¡¯t want a divorce. She found it absurd, yet she still chose to respond calmly. ¡°Julian, look at how humiliating this marriage has been for me. Today, everyone heard that I couldn¡¯t bear children. ¡°I can¡¯t stay here after such an embarrassing episode. I can¡¯t stand the way they¡¯ll look at me.¡± His voice was hoarse. ¡°What do you n to do after you leave?¡± Willow thought for a moment before replying, ¡°I¡¯ll just live as an ordinary woman. Maybe I¡¯ll remarry, maybe I won¡¯t. ¡°Either way, I won¡¯t be your wife anymore.¡± Julian¡¯s voice grew even raspier. ¡°What if I tell you I don¡¯t care? That it doesn¡¯t matter whether we have children or not?¡± Willow was taken aback at first, but she simply didn¡¯t believe him. Julian was the CEO of Neb Group. He would need an heir eventually. Furthermore, he was never the kind of man who put love above all else. There was no love between them, to begin with. Words spoken in a moment of impulse couldn¡¯t be trusted. Willow just smiled faintly. Julian held her tightly, his throat aching. ¡°Willow, it was very painful that night, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Wrapped in his embrace, she could feel the warmth radiating from his body, momentarily soothing the scars of the past. However, she didn¡¯t linger in this warmth. The rift between her and Julian was too deep after years of build¨Cup. After a while, she said calmly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. ¡°Julian, now that everything is out in the open, I feel relieved and free. I no longer have to hide and worry about people discovering my secret. ¡°It¡¯s time to let go. Julian, I have to leave.¡± Julian refused to divorce her, but he said he would give Willow space. Willow had initially asked the driver to fetch her, but Julian insisted on driving her himself. He said that they were still married, so there was no reason for her to leave the house on her own. That would have been too cold and heartless. Willow didn¡¯t refuse. They were once husband and wife, so she wanted to part on good terms. Just as Grace had once said, people didn¡¯te to this world to hate anyone. To forget was the best healing. Willow didn¡¯t pack much. All she carried was a small suitcase and a dog. When she walked downstairs, the housekeepers were teary¨Ceyed, reluctant to see her go. +25 Bonus She paused for a moment and said softly, ¡°The New Year¡¯s bonuses are with Sebastian. They¡¯ll be handed out during lunch.¡± A few housekeepers couldn¡¯t help but wipe their tears, feeling that Willow didn¡¯t deserve this fate. But Willow had already made peace with it. She picked up her things and walked toward the exit, catching a glimpse of Mnie standing at the base of the stairs. Mnie said solemnly, ¡°I don¡¯t dislike you. But Julian doesn¡¯t love you. All I want is for my son to be happy.¡± Willow smiled faintly. ¡°You didn¡¯t get your husband¡¯s love either. So, I won¡¯t hold this against you.¡± Mnie¡¯s face went pale as ash. Altar 85 After standing up for herself, Willow felt liberated. She walked toward the parking lot leisurely. In the distance, Dexter watched Willow silently. He still couldn¡¯t believe that she would leave the Ziegler family as well as this alluring world of power and prestige. But she had. Julian was waiting for her downstairs, waiting outside the Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom he often drove. He was smoking outside the car. The morning sunlight illuminated the smoke, blurring its surroundings and his handsome face. When he saw Willow approaching, Julian threw away the cigarette and stamped it out with his leather shoe. He walked over and took her luggage, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± As their fingers touched, he noticed how cold her fingers were. Julian couldn¡¯t help but gently wrap her hand in his, his dark eyes scanning her pale face. His voice was low and gentle. ¡°It¡¯s chilly these days. You should keep yourself warm.¡± Willow thought he was being too clingy. They were getting a divorce, so there was no need to be so intimate. She pulled her hand away and got into the car, saying calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the apartment.¡± She didn¡¯t want Grace to find out what happened today, to avoid worrying her. Julian seemed to understand and didn¡¯t ask further. He just pressed on the elerator. He intentionally drove slowly. A 30¨Cminute drive turned into 50 minutes instead. At 10:00 am, the car finally pulled up at the apartment building. Willow had her hands full with Snowy, making it inconvenient to carry the luggage. Julian gave Snowy a pat and stared at Willow. ¡°Let me take them upstairs for you.¡± Two minutester, Willow unlocked the apartment door. ¡°Just leave the luggage here.¡± She walked straight into the kitchen to turn on the main water supply. Julian put down the luggage and quietly slipped into the kitchen. Just as Willow stood up after turning on the valve, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. In the broad daylight, and after everything that happened, he wasn¡¯t trying anything. He simply wanted to hold her. He wanted to embrace her quietly, as if only the two of them existed in this world. In such a private moment, even a man like Julian could speak sentimentally. He brushed his lips against her ears and whispered softly,¡± Willow, let¡¯s start over.¡± Start over? Willow immediately regretted letting him in. She had forgotten that he was never someone easy to get rid of. She didn¡¯t struggle, nor did she respond to him. After a while, she asked softly, ¡°Julian, do you love me?¡± Behind her, the silence stretched on. Julian didn¡¯t answer her. Willow chuckled. Sometimes, a man¡¯s silence was as good as a denial. However, she didn¡¯t seem bothered. Gently, she added, ¡°See? You don¡¯t love me, ¡°If something happens, I¡¯ll always be thest priority. Julian, maybe you like me a little, but it¡¯s nothing more than a calcted choice. ¡°It has nothing to do with love.¡± When she spoke, her face was calm, as if love had long lost its weight in her heart. Julian¡¯s throat bobbed. He cupped her face, leaning in to kiss her. Willow turned her face away. ¡°Go home, your family is waiting for you at home.¡± Julian reached in once again, unwilling to let go. Suddenly, Willow shoved him away with force. She raised her voice, with a hint of grief and anger, ¡°Julian, I told you to leave! Do you not understand human speech? ¡°Or do you think you haven¡¯t hurt me and humiliated me enough?¡± Altar 86 Julian froze. He stared at Willow¡¯s tear¨Cbrimmed eyes. Seeing how sad she was, he realized how much she actually cared. She wasn¡¯t as strong as she pretended to be. She was only 27, yet she had gone through so much with him. The debt he owed her was something he could never repay in this lifetime. But now, all he could say was, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Tears streaked down Willow¡¯s cheeks as she smiled faintly. ¡°Julian, I don¡¯t want your apology. All I ask for is for you to leave and let me have some peace. If you¡¯re truly sorry, sign the papers.¡± Julian refused to sign as he didn¡¯t want a divorce. So, he left the apartment. Downstairs, his car hadn¡¯t left. He sat inside the car with a cigarette between his lips. He was about to light it when his gaze was drawn to a group of children ying in the distance. It was New Year¡¯s Day, and the children were setting off small firecrackers. Theirughter filled the crisp air. Julian looked at their innocent faces, lost in thought. Actually, Willow loved children. Every Christmas, Willow would prepare gifts and sweets for the younger children in the Ziegler family. She would always smile as they watched them happily munch on the sweets and open the gifts. Julian watched the children for a long time before he slumped back into the leather seat, shielding his eyes with the back of his hand. Suddenly, his eyes shimmered with moisture. By noon, he returned to the Ziegler residence. As soon as he parked the car, someone had been waiting for him, instructing him to go to the study, mentioning that Dominic wanted a word. Julian stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind him. ¡°Noah, what did Grandpa say?¡± Noah Harris smiled faintly. ¡°He didn¡¯t say much, but he shed some tears. He¡¯s genuinely moved. It¡¯s rare to see him like that.¡± Julian didn¡¯t say anything. He just walked past the trees and headed straight to the study. He opened the door and it was quiet inside. Dominic was ying chess by himself. When he heard the noise, he didn¡¯t even look up when he asked, ¡°Did you send your wife away?¡± Julian hummed in response and sat down across the table. He picked up a few chess pieces and said, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll y a round with you.¡± A pnded on the back of his hand. Dominic scoffed, ¡°Why are you ying chess with me instead of being with your wife? How promising.¡± Julian put down the chess piece and chuckled helplessly. ¡°My wife is gone, isn¡¯t she?¡± Dominic red at Julian angrily. ¡°So what if she¡¯s gone? Can¡¯t you chase after her? Julian, let me ask you something man to man. ¡°What do you n to do about Willow?¡± Julian didn¡¯t hide anything. ¡°I don¡¯t want a divorce. I want to stay with her.¡± At his admission, Dominic spoke his mind. ¡°If you don¡¯t want a divorce, then act like a man. If having children is an issue, just adopt someone from within the family. ¡°Plenty of people would be more than happy to offer their children. Willow can choose the one she likes.¡± Julian was stunned because Dominic had always been obsessed with bloodlines. +25 Bonus Dominic didn¡¯t forget about his eldest grandson. ¡°Dexter¡¯s child should be the first option. As for the shares, since Willow didn¡¯t want it, your father has agreed to pass it to Dexter after I¡¯m gone. ¡°All these years, he¡¯s been bitter about it.¡± Julian had no objections. Dominic twirled a chess piece between his fingers. After a long pause, he finally said, ¡°As for the matters in Grandsburg, cut things off as soon as possible!¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Altar 87 Julian gave a bitter smile. ¡°I let her down back then, and she¡¯s been ill ever since. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been taking care of her. There¡¯s nothing more to it.¡± Such an excuse didn¡¯t sit well with Dominic. He tossed the chess piece to the ground. ¡°Nothing more to it? Then why are you treating her like a queen? She was born with the illness, but your wife¡¯s condition is because of you. ¡°Open your eyes!¡± Julian lowered his head. ¡°Grandpa, I understand.¡± The next day, Willow received a gift¨Ca dog tag. The silver tag was engraved with the letters ¡°JW¡°, representing Julian and Willow. Willow thought, ¡°Julian wasn¡¯t the type to do such a thing.¡± Over the next week, she would receive a daily gift from him. None of them were particrly expensive, but they were thoughtful. There was even a delicate diamond ne that she liked. However, she didn¡¯t use any of the items and just tossed them into a box. She ignored Julian and gave him the cold shoulder, but that didn¡¯t dampen his enthusiasm. Two weekster, he called her multiple times. Willow couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and finally picked up. ¡°What do you want?¡± On the other end, Julian said gently, ¡°The New Year¡¯s g tomorrow night in Brindley. Are you going?¡± Willow was definitely going. Heather was going to introduce her to two people she had always wanted to meet, but she didn¡¯t want to tell Julian that. She replied indifferently, ¡°Whether I go or not is none of your business.¡± Julian instantly knew that she would be going and was satisfied. After hanging up, Julian felt that pursuing Willow was quite a nice feeling. Even the housekeepers said he seemed to be walking on air. He thought, aside from guilt and responsibility, he did have some feelings for Willow. The next day, the New Year¡¯s G was held in Brindley. Prominent figures from all around dressed up and attended the event. That evening, Willow met the heavyweights of the art world. She had them endorse the painters she had signed. With their celebrity backing, the neers¡® value would skyrocket. Of course, Willow would pay them seven¨Cfiguremissions. Tonight, she dressed modestly in a ck silk gown. She paired it with a set of handmade earrings from Bijoux Heart, with the crimson pendants entuating her soft skin. She held a champagne ss and socialized with people. In half an hour, she had already concluded her discussions. Julian stood a few yards away, watching his wife interact with others. He was the one who taught Willow such social skills. Her decisiveness in business was simr to his. That feeling was subtle and sweet. He felt that he and Willow were symbiotic. Julian¡¯s gaze darkened. He decided to stop observing and prepared to go talk to her. But then, something unexpected happened. Nancy stormed into the banquet hall. The Burkes had received a court summons. The intiff was Willow, suing the Burkes for using Julian¡¯s money and demanding to recover the payments. +25 Bonus Nancy was furious and shouted at Willow. ¡°Ms. Harper, get your facts straight! Julian willingly gave us the money. He and Catherine arepletely innocent. Why are you suing us? ¡°Oh, I get it now! ¡°It¡¯s because you can¡¯t have children. You¡¯re an infertile hen, sitting on the nest withoutying any eggs. ¡°You¡¯re jealous that the Burkes are getting Julian¡¯s attention¡­¡± The banquet hall fell silent. Nancy¡¯s behavior was ungracious, exposing someone¡¯s private matters in front of everyone. Everyone thought Charlie would reprimand her, but to their surprise, Charlie joined in. ¡°Ms. Harper, you¡¯re a bully!¡± Altar 88 Everyone sympathized with Willow. So, the rumors were true, Willow had lost the ability to bear children. This type of sympathy was worse than death for her. She had already been betrayed by Julian, and now, she was being scrutinized under the harsh eyes of the world. But she couldn¡¯t wallow in self¨Cpity. At the very least, she had to maintain herposure and dignity in front of others. Willow red at Nancy and spoke each word clearly. ¡°Don¡¯t think that by humiliating me, I will drop thewsuit. ¡°Not only will I not drop it, but I¡¯ll file an additional im against your family for defamation. When that happens, Mr. Burke won¡¯t just have to pay damages, but he¡¯ll have to publicly apologize to me on social media. ¡°He¡¯ll be required to pin the statement on top for a month. I wonder if Mr. Burke can afford to tarnish his reputation like this?¡± Nancy regretted it instantly. She couldn¡¯t allow her husband¡¯s reputation to be tarnished. She wanted to take back her words, but Willow chuckled coldly. ¡°You can wait for the court summons! I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Nancy stared at Willow¡¯s retreating figure dumbfoundedly. After a while, she murmured, ¡°Julian, are you going to let her humiliate us like that? ¡± Julian walked over slowly. He just stared at Charlie and Nancy quietly. He had always respected them, but he never imagined they would publicly humiliate his wife like this. They were hurling insults like street thugs. Did they think he was dead? Amidst the silence, Julian finally spoke, ¡°Willow fell ill because of me. ¡°If I ever hear anyone insult my wife again, I, Julian Ziegler, will make sure they can¡¯t even find a job sweeping the streets of Brindley, let alone continue as a distinguished artist.¡± His words were a direct p in Charlie¡¯s face. Charlie¡¯s face turned red with humiliation, yet he didn¡¯t dare to refute a single word. Nancy was the same. This was the first time they had seen Julian lose his temper like this. Charlie understood that things had changed. Now, Julian cared about Willow. After delivering his warning, he ran after Willow. Nancy realized her mistake and sobbed pitifully. Charlie was annoyed by her, so he simply walked off to smoke a cigarette in peace. Unexpectedly, he ran into Heather. Heather was close to Willow. Moreover, she always despised Charlie. Now, seeing him, Heather¡¯s face turned cold as she reprimanded him. ¡°Your values are bing more twisted by the day. ¡°If your daughter had her husband stolen and was treated so unfairly, would you still call her a bully?¡± Charlie¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Our daughter will never be as ruthless as Willow.¡± Heather sneered, ¡°I think Willow¡¯s remarkable. She¡¯s a thousand times better than your shameless daughter.¡± If anyone else had said that, Charlie would¡¯ve erupted in anger. Altar 89 Julian chased after Willow to the underground parking lot. Tonight, Willow had driven a white Rolls¨CRoyce Spectre, but the car was empty. She wasn¡¯t inside. Julian tried to open the door, then gave up. He got into his own car, ready to drive around to look for her. He was anxious, eager to find her. Just as he was about to start the engine, his phone rang. The call was from Grandsburg. Alicia Burke was calling. Julian stared at the name for a few seconds before picking up. Soon, a soft feminine voice came through the phone. ¡°Julian, I¡¯m really sorry. Catherine has caused you trouble again. ¡°I heard about what happened tonight. My parents acted rashly and offended your wife. I want to apologize on their behalf. Please don¡¯t hold it against them. ¡°They¡¯ve done so much for me over the years. Julian, if it weren¡¯t for my poor health back then-¡± Julian didn¡¯t let her continue. Holding his phone, his chiseled face remained expressionless. His voice was calm yet devoid of warmth. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. I¡¯m hanging up.¡°¡± In Grandsburg, ady in a white dress was standing on the balcony of the ward inside a private hospital near the cathedral. She was gripping her phone, deep in thought. Julian had never hung up on her before. But now, he was angry with her for Willow¡¯s sake. Julian tossed the phone aside and mmed his foot on the gas pedal. His sleek, ck car shot out of the parking lot and onto the streets of Brindley. The car window was down, letting the cold wind rush in. Julian drove around, searching for Willow. But Brindley was vast, with eightne roads. Looking for one woman at night was like looking for a needle in a haystack. He circled the area for two hours before finally spotting her in a quiet alley. She looked disheveled. On the cold spring night, she had no warm clothing. Even her makeup was smudged. She held her high heels in her hand, walking aimlessly on the street. When she was tired, she crouched by the roadside, resting her hands on her knees. Her slender frame was trembling uncontrobly. Julian sat in his car. The neon lights outside the car flickered across his face, making it difficult to see his expression clearly. He watched as his wife cried, looking very sad. It turned out that Willow wasn¡¯t unshakeable. She would also secretly hide and cry. It turned out that her strength was just a disguise, that she cared about the cruel words Nancy had said. Aplex emotion surged in Julian¡¯s chest. He opened the car door, got out, and walked toward Willow¨Ctoward his wife. At that moment, he didn¡¯t think of anything else. All he wanted to do was to hold her tightly in his arms. He wanted to tell her that it was okay, that they could still live a good life without children, and that he would take responsibility. Seeing Willow like this shattered his heart. Afraid of startling her, he called out her name cautiously. When Willow looked up, her makeup was ruined. Her eyes were also dark with exhaustion. She looked up at Julian nkly, at the man that she had once loved and been hurt by¡­ After a while, her lips trembled as she whispered, ¡°Julian, don¡¯te over.¡± Her makeup was ruined, and she had blisters on her feet. She looked terrible. She had already humiliated herself tonight, so she didn¡¯t want him to see her in such a mess again. Her voice sharpened. ¡°Stay away! Julian, don¡¯te closer!¡± The night wind howled, ruffling his dark hair. He bent down and grabbed her shoulders, suddenly pulling her into his arms. He hugged her tightly and kept apologizing, telling her that it was okay. How could it be okay? Willow Willow buried her face in his shoulders, her nails digging into his back strongly, almost tearing through the coat. In his arms, she cried uncontrobly. This was the first time she had lost herposure, the first time she showed her sadness¡­ She sank her teeth into Julian¡¯s shoulders while her shrill cries echoed in the night wind. ¡°Juban, I¡¯ll never have my own children anymore. ¡°Julian, why did you treat me like this? ¡°Julian, sometimes, I really hate you.¡± Julian endured the pain. His chest felt tight, and his throat choked up. All he could do was repeat, ¡°I know, Willow. I know.¡± But he didn¡¯t know anything. If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have let her suffer. Willow¡¯s sorrow was gently swept away by the night wind¡­. Late at night, they arrived at the hospital¡¯s emergency room. Willow had stepped on shattered ss, leaving her feet bloody. Julian brought her here for treatment. When the doctor treated her, he stepped outside the corridor for a sinoke. Even now, his heart was still shaken. He had never realized how much pain this marriage had caused her. It turned out that Willow hated him so much. Before, he was certain about pursuing her again, so that they could be husband and wife again. He¡¯d even thought about adopting a child from one of the extended family members. But it seethed like she¡¯d never want to reconcile with him. If this marriage made her so miserable, maybe he should set her free. He should let her go so she could find happiness elsewhere. A gust of wind blew past, brushing the smoke against his face, and causing him to cough lightly. Behind him, footsteps sounded. Julian turned around and saw Willowing out of the emergency room. +25 Bonus Altar 90 Willow lowered her gaze. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t hurt, why were you crouching on the street, crying? Willow, you could have-¡± Willow interrupted, ¡°Could have what? Cried in your arms? Julian, your arms are too upied.¡± He wanted to exin but gave up in the end. Willow no longer trusted him. Exining would¡¯ve been pointless. Besides, he sincerely wanted her to live freely, just as he¡¯d promised when he proposed. ¡°My Willow would stand at the pinnacle of power, admired by all.¡± They had made it, bing the most powerful couple in Brindley. But this marriage was crumbling. Willow didn¡¯t want him anymore. The love she had for him had disappeared into disappointment. After a long pause, Julian reached out and ran his fingers through the ends of her hair. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± The night was enchanting. A ck Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom pulled up beneath an apartment building. Julian unfastened his seat belt and turned to Willow. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you up. ¡°1 Willow refused, but he still carried her out of the car, straight toward the elevator. On their wedding day, he had carried her like this down the aisle. That day, in his suit, he was the most dashing man in the world to her. Neither of them spoke during the short journey upstairs. Julian carried her all the way to the bedroom and ced her on the bed. Her arms were still hooked around his neck. He lingered for a moment before removing her arms from his neck. He whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll leave now.¡± Willow didn¡¯t stop him and simply watched as he walked away. Just as he reached the door, without turning around, he asked, ¡°That day at the Ziegler residence, you said you loved me. You said that even if it cost your life, you wouldn¡¯t regret it. ¡°Did you really mean it?¡± After a long pause, she answered, ¡°Julian, I did.¡± Julian rarely showed emotions, but at this moment, something inside him cracked. He turned to look at his wife. All the warmth and happiness he had gained from her came rushing back like a shockwave. He felt as if his soul was leaving his body. Julian didn¡¯t know what that feeling was, he had never felt it before. He only knew that he was reluctant to let her go. But he left anyway. The night breeze in spring blew against the curtain, carrying the faint scent of white gardenias. Willow sat on the bed, lost in thought. After a long time, she gently reached for the ne around her neck. Hanging from it was a small, emerald pendant. On New Year¡¯s Eve, he told her, ¡°With this gift, I want you to be safe, to be happy, and to be free from worry for all your years.¡± Willow held the pendant tightly, her slender neck trembling, Six years of love and four years of marriage. How could it not hurt? Julian returned to Grandview Manor just before dawn. The moment he parked the car, ir greeted him, ¡°Sir, would you like a midnight snack?¡± +25 Bonus Julian stepped into the entrance, the bright lights revealed his gloomy face. He took off his coat, and after a long while, he said softly, ¡°Make me a bowl of pasta. Do we still have any of the sauce left? The one Willow usually makes?¡± ir was stunned. ¡°There¡¯s still a little left. I¡¯ll make the pasta for you.¡± Julian nodded. He walked into the dining room and lit a cigarette. He rarely smoked indoors, but tonight, he couldn¡¯t calm his thoughts. His phone on the table had been ringing again and again, all from Grandsburg, but he ignored them all. His mind kept reying Willow¡¯s words. ¡°Julian, I¡¯ll never have my own children anymore. ¡°Julian, sometimes, I really hate you.¡± Altar 91 Tears welled up in Julian¡¯s eyes Willow had the right to hate him. Soon, ir brought over a bowl of pasta, topped with the sauce. One look at it was enough to stir up one¡¯s appetite. Julian put out his cigarette and lowered his head to eat. Standing nearby, ir asked carefully, ¡°What did Mrs. Ziegler say? Is she willing toe back?¡± Julian¡¯s hand paused mid¨Cmovement After a while, he said softly, ¡°She¡¯s noting back she¡¯s mad at me.¡± ir didn¡¯t dare ask any further. The pasta, topped with Willow¡¯s sauce, waspletely emptied. ir added, ¡°There¡¯s still half a jar left¨Cnuugh for three more servings.¡± Julian was stunned. He looked up at ir and said, ¡°Later on, ask her how she made it. Make a few more jars and I¡¯ll take them to Yarrowmere.¡± The partnership between Neb Group and Aure Group was nearly tinalized. At the end of the month, he would be beading to Yarrowmere to sign the contract. If everything went smoothly, he¡¯d be staying in Yarrowmere for at least six months. Once the project stabilized, he would return to Brindley. In the past, when he went on business trips, Willow would be holding the fort, so he had nothing to worry about. But now, before going to Yarrowmere, he had to settle the divorce. Maybe after the divorce, she¡¯d be a little happier. Maybe after the divorce, she¡¯d stop crying ir caught a glimpse of tears welling up in the corner of Julian¡¯s eyes¡­. The soft glow of the bedroom lights cast an alluring light over the silknightgown on the woman¡¯s body. Julian gently pushed open the bedroom door. He hadn¡¯t slept all night. Instead, he sat there in silence, reading the love letters Willow had once written to him, staring at their wedding photo. Then, he went into the walk¨Cin closet, touching everything that she had once used. Memories of the past were more fiery than wine, searing straight through his heart Al 10.00 am, Julian sat in the CEO¡¯s office in Neb Group. He cleated his entire schedule and sat alone in the office, his face utterly expressionless. The office door opened gently, and Esther walked in. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, Mr. Lawlessis bere ¡± As soon as she said that, she smiled at Zaciary. ¡°Mr. Lawless, i (you foring. I¡¯ll excuse myself. stated at the distinguished CEO of Ne Zachary understood the weight of the situation. He gently closed the door behind him and a Neb Group. Before working with Julian, he had heard countless stories about Julian¡¯s ruthless efficiency. Not only was he a capable man, he even mamed a wife just as In just a few short pears, they hadpletely overpowered the other an obvious that the ruthless julian Ziegler was in a bad mood. rs of the Ziegler family, securing Julian¡¯s ce as i Zatury mas | grected him, ¡°I asked you toe are to help me draft a diyore agreeibent. ¡° Unspectedly, Julian, ¡°Need for that post witte down eatly what I say ¡± test acheryruitated for a meatured ¡°Legally spra ligated to give her das zy +25 Bonus Julian didn¡¯t change his mind. All these years, he had built his career brick by brick without ever showing mercy to anyone. But now, he felt that if money could make Willow happier, he was willing to satisfy her. He owed her too much. Taliam instructed coldly, ¡°Just do as I say.¡± Altar 92 That afternoon, Willow¡¯s name shot to the top of the trending ¡°Neb Gosip CEO¡¯s wife is infertile!¡± ¡°Julian Ziegler¡¯s Stands by His Wite: A Love Stronger Than Gold.¡± Along with the headlines was a bluny p photograph, presumably takenst night when jun was vas holding Willow. Within moments, the topic surged to the top of the trending list 1 Neb Group¡¯s PR team acted swiftly, spending money to have it taken down But in just half an hour, the discussion reached an astonishing 78 million views, with over 40 thousand reposts. Thousands of women online envied Willow¡¯s good fortune for having a husband who loved herdeeply. Willow Found it ironie. She was in a bad mood, so she left the gallery earlier than nned. She drove her white Rolls¨CRoyce Spectre aimlessly around the streets before parking in the za outside an amusement park. She sat on the hood of the car and stared at the Ferris wheel that was tuming slowly. At 4:00 pm, snowkes began to fall. The air was freezing. Willow wrapped berseli fighter in her white down coat, but she refused to b to leave. She just stared at the Ferris wheel silently and watched as the colored lights on it lit up one by one. Then, she just watched as the children gradually left. The world grew silent, with only the sound of snowkes gentlynding on the ground Suddenly, a cup of hot tea appeared in front of her.. willow gently blinked away the snowkes on her eyshes and looked up. It was Jeffrey. He was wearing a formal suit with a deep gray coat on top. There was a thickyer of snow on his dark hair. He smiled and said, ¡°That tea shop over there is pretty popr. I queued for ten minutes to get this. Drink it while it¡¯s hot.¡± Willow hesitated for a moment before epting it. On a freezing day like this, a cup of hot tea was too tempting to reuse. Jetfiry tossed his briefcase on the hood of the car and sat down beside her. He looked at the huge Tetris wheel just like Willow was doing He dider¡¯s ack out the trending news, nor did he ask about her private matters with pun, Instead, he talked about his childhood. When I was little, Natalie and I went to school nearby. She was in kindergarten while I was insistikgrade. cover, asking me to take her home from the kindergarten next door. hen I get their, Hound that e¡¯d identally stepped onto pou in the toilet. Her foot was yellow and she reeked the wastou dirty and cried sadly Willow imagined these and the thought of Natalie made her chuckle softly jeffery turned his head slightly and stared at her deeply He said gently, ¡°Kids can be quite a handful at times. Natalie certainly was and all for a while. Was this his way of contesting bes? Few how her mond had proved. They cared talking about Natalie, and she even shared states of her schoo Sikar shamond with him the tough times loving with his grandowther Back then, add the three with all head about was owes had A luxury ck car had been parked at the curb for some time. +26 Bonus The rear window was slightly lowered. A man was sitting inside, gazing deeply at his wife from afar. She was sitting side by side with Jeffrey on the hood, chatting in the light snow. She was holding the cup of tea he had brought her. She was even smiling at him How long had it been since shest smiled like that? But now, her smile was directed at Jettrey! Julian sat quietly in the car. Inside the car was dark, making it hard to see He had changed his mind. He didn¡¯t want to The window rolled up as he ordered the driver, ¡°Drive.¡± be the expression on on his face. After a while, he let out a scoff before ripping the divorce agreement he had drafted. to let Willow go COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Altar 93 At 10:00 pm, Willow had just taken a shower. She changed into a silk bathrobe, feeling loose and rxed. She sat in front of the dressing table, applying her sidncare products, Suddenly, a subtle noise came from the door. It was the sound of a key turning in the lock Willow was about to walk to the living room to check it out when the uninvited guest had already let himself in. It was none other than Julian Willow sat back on the chair in front of the dressing table and observed him through the mirror. He had some snow on his shoulders and his hair was dark and shing. It was obvious that he had been standing in the snow for some time. Willow asked softly. ¡°Where did you get the key?¨C Julian ced the key on the dressing table in front of her, saying matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°I made a copy.¡± Willow sneered, ¡°You¡¯re really impolite.¡± Julian stepped behind her and put his hands on the back of the chair. He looked deeply at her through the mirror, as if he was trying to see straight through her After a long pause, he leaned in and whispered in her ear, ¡°Tonight, I don¡¯t feel like being polite.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s exactly what you think Let¡¯s fulfill our marital obligations and have sex¡± Naturally, she refused and said, ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood Julian¡¯s fingers traced the back of her neck, and like a lover¡¯s whisper, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you are. Afterward, he lifted her on conto the dressing table and began to unbutton his coat Willow was shocked by his actions. She grabbed his hair, breathing erratically. ¡°julian, you¡¯ve lost your mind! He gazed up at her, eyes dark with hunger. ¡°I dun¡¯t care.¡± The lights were soft and warm. And soon, all restraint was lost. Afterward, their hair was disheveled, and beads of sweat dotted their skins. Willow wrapped herself in a thin sheet, her head resting against the white pillow as she was gasping. ¡°You can leave now.¡± With her soft curves and warm body next to him, how could be hear to leave? Deep down, he was still mad about what happened with Jeffrey earlier in the day, but now he didn¡¯t want to ran the moment with questions. Instead, he held her gently by the shoulders and asked, ¡°You enjoyed it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Willow replied softly, ¡°It was fine for a while, just like ordering takeout,¡± Julian was furious. He tipped her over and said, ¡°Then, let¡¯s go again Willow pushed him away. Wrapped in the thin sheets, she left the bed and walked barefoot into the bathroom. Amomentter, her voice came vaguely from the bathroom, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t made yourself a key, none of this would ve happened. Julian, can you be dectve for once? Thisn¡¯t like you.¡± When he heard the sound of the running water, a thought slipped through his mind. He quickly stepped inside the bathmom. Firully, be bonught up Jetfiry His words weirdipping with jealousy as he demanded Willow tonit ties with Jetftry¡­ Sey, she turned off the sheet and began drying herself with a towel have an event to attendenon. I don¡¯t have the energy to entertain you. Julian took it from her, smoothly removing the towel from her body. Then, he gently put the robe on her and tightened the sash around her wt. He looked at her deeply and said, ¡°Let me take a shower. Then, I¡¯ll make you a midnight snack.¡± Willow felt like he was put under a spell. The night deepened, julian finished his shower and put on the clothes he¡¯d worn earlier. Willow was the one who had brought the gray shirt for him. He stood in the kitchen and cooked his special dish¨Cpasta. The confined space didn¡¯t diminish his natural elegance. Under the bright kitchen lights, his sharp features were entuated. Like an exquisite painting, he was definitely God¡¯s masterpiece Willow held a cup of hot cocoa white leaning against the door, staring at his tall figure. This was the first time she discovered that Julian could cook Altar 94 ulian could sense the gaze from behind him. He said softly, ¡°When I was in my 20s, I lived abroad alone for a while. I learned back then.¡± Willow didn¡¯t ask any further. Their rtionship was ambiguous right now. Just because they had been intimate once didn¡¯t mean anything She had no intention of opening up to him. Besides, she was tired and didn¡¯t want to argue with him. The pasta Julian made was quite good, and Willow ate most of it. Then, she asked him to leave. As he lett, Julian gazed at her deeply. ¡°I¡¯lle again tomorrow.¡°! Willow thought he was joking. Julian can a corporation with zo thousand employees¨Che didn¡¯t have that much free time. 20 But the next day, when she returned from the gallery, her apartment was brightly lit, filled with the aroma a of Wisteran cuisine and red wine. ??? That bottle of red wine was one of Willow¡¯s cherished collectibles, something she couldn¡¯t bear to drink. And now, it was sitting there on the dining table. Willow slowly closed the door and looked at her soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chushand with a trace of mockery. ¡°Hiding out here like some fairy¨Ctale housekeeper must be quite a grievance for a rich heir like you, filian, aren¡¯t you supposed to be busy? Why do you keeping to my ce?¡± Julian stepped out of the ldtchen, dressed in all ck. He looked elegant and dazzling. He pazed at Willow intently, as if she were a priceless work of art. Then, with his voice sounding as smooth as silk, he said, ¡°I find time when I see you. The dog has already been walked, and I¡¯ve already called Grandma. Tonight, it¡¯s just the two of us.¡± willow tossed aside her briefcase, sat on the couch, and eyed him. ¡°When are you signing the papers?¡± she asked. Julian dodged the question. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Willow continued, ¡°Julian, can¡¯t you tell I find you annoying? Julian stared at her steadily and said softly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll stay until you don¡¯t.¡± Willow was speechless. She couldn¡¯t do anything abour Julian. All she could do was treat him coldly, hoping he¡¯d take the hint and leave. However, heclung to her like high¨Cquality adhesive, refusing to budge. He even stole Snowy¡¯s sleeping spot at night Willow simply focused on work and avoided physical contact with him The night was silent¨Cunder the warm glow of themp, Willow meticulously flipped through the ledgers. The gallery was just the beginning. Her ambition was to establish her own auction house and then ring the bell on the stock market. Willow had set a two¨Cyear deadline to reach this goal, so she couldn¡¯t afford to ckoff. After working tillte, her eyes felt tired. Suddenly, a cup of Mendhling coffee appeared before her. willow looked up and saw julian gazing down at her from above. He said gently, ¡°A little pick¨Cme¨Cup.¡± This was their past unspoken i understanding. Willow didn¡¯t take the coffee, Julian set it down lightly, then leaned in to kiss her. It was soft and devoid of any camal desire. After a long moment, lie asked in a husky voice, ¡°How does it feel?¡°.|||| ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel like anything.¡± Willow paused for a moment and then said seriously, ¡°pulian, I admit that when you seriously suffered ion much because of you¡ªI¡¯m scared.. ly pursue a wor ta woman, you¡¯re charming and hard to resist. Hit ¡°As forst night. Yes, I admit I enjoyed it, but that was just a physical reaction. It doesn¡¯t mearr¨¢nything, and it certainly doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m willing toe back turver been rejected by a woman before. This was the fint time. He didn¡¯t get angly Instead, he said greatly, ¡°I¡¯lle again tomorrow. You should rest earlier.¡± didn¡¯t look at him. A momentter, she band has footsteps bnd her and the sound of the apartment door opening and closing. the coffer on the table, tilting her head back slightly to suppress her emotions. ¡­¡­.. She had already decided to forget Julian, yet far refused to let let g? Willow didn¡¯t cair. She had her own things to du +25 Bonus A weektet, on ate night, Willow signed a new painter. They weren¡¯t famous, but she saw great potential in them. Their artwork had a unique, almost soul¨Clike quality. COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Altar 95 Willow bought an at the painter¡¯spleted words and wrote him a check for an instead, which made him very satisfied. Willow smiled talitly. 1st left, shar tomed to house, who hind pucaled. ¡°Ikonow you¡¯re wondering why i paid sia le a low price. It¡¯s because I don¡¯t want money in wear away even more than Charlie hachin fir day. for hinn f¨¹the world, and dry then, his paintings will be with a foutine. Even the smallestim Andr had always used Willow¡¯s After ¨¹nisiding their listiness, they left fliesclub and sl feel gooilleyes in the Willow had just opened her cas done when a familiar, mocking, voler song out behind her, ¡°cat back together with my cousin?¡± Willow turned her head in loukat Dexter and replied coldly, ¡°What does that have todo with you! ?? Destersmeered ¡°Nothing at all, but I warned you boetisie, didit 1/Myenisin is like a wooll ir ?bilevur you without leavily; atraer, by the end be signing with Aurelia. Do you really thinki mince you¡¯re no longer useful in ?sam, be Respirsalon tinned cruel. ¡°By then, ? you¡¯ll just be an eyesine, ¡± Willow remained indifferent. ¡°taxveill Hat¡¯s time, Istill has nothing to do will you ¡± The neon lights flickered across Willow¡¯s face, casting a colorful glow that made her usually rokdexpressions appear more lively. Dexter stated at her, and for a split second, an intrusive thought crossed his mind ¨C what kiel of expression woold Willow have beneath pun? Would she lusin herself inquassion? Upon realizing his own thoughts, he felt He had always despised Willow, but new, for found himself jealous of julian. Willow quickly drove away. When she got back to her apart i but the door and leaned against 18, zoning mit for a mj¨®mrust. Later that night, she grabbed two cans of dIwn cans of beer and headed in the rooting. The scent of flowers filled the spring night ?s alt, Willow tilted her head back, gazing at the starry shy as her emotions slowly settled. She thought about the past and the future, then smiled with relief¨Ctime could truly heal everything julian. She would consider er him as just a dream from her youth. Just as she thought of Julian, he appeared. He was cantying two cans of beer, the same brindashures. Willow timed to look at him. The night wind tousled her long halt, making her look a little bit muckyouthful. Julian disregarded his exprisive talloid sult and sat beside her with the beer. He cracked open a canal spor saply. ¡°Willow,e to Yarrownee with se We¡¯ll bring Grandma too.¡± Willow sald neiling- ben gazed into the vast darkness of the night and continued, ¡°I don¡¯t Inst others with Project Aurelia. F¡¯ll have to stay Here for at least six months And Willow, I Willow smiled faintly ¡°julia, we¡¯re getting a divorce.¡± ze deepened as he confessed ramently, ¡°Not as a paper in the world of power and wealth, int as the matrian of the Zieglers, but as any wife I will never betray you for the rest of my life. palian¡¯s was momentarily stimu on¡¯s voice canted a trace of bitterness as he said, ¡°Willow, in fact, the best yo ranit Evennumently, Willow, you are But Willow inngri dared to believe inline amtbed serenely and tilted her head be best years of our lives were spent supporting eachother. +25 Bonu Julian took off his coat and gently draped it over Willow¡¯s shoulders. When his fingers brushed against her shoulder, a sudden warmth surged through his heart. Willow had always been his home Now, v, he wanted to give willow a home. Altar 96 At the end of the month, on the eve of the signing between Neb and nure, a grand banquet was held at Skyview Hotel in varnowiteje, attended by the senior and mid¨Clevel executives of both corporations julian wore a ssic ck¨Cand¨Cwhite sult, standing tall and elegant. He was the object of admiration for many women However, he wore his wedding ring and maintained a distant demeanor, so one dared to slip him a mom key. Timothy approached him with Heather for conversation. Upon seeing the admiration in the eyes of many women, Timothy joked, ¡°Julian, next time you should Bring Mrs. Ziegleralong. These hungry gazes look like they might just demur you.¡± Julian smiled faintly. ¡°Tumeting, you¡¯re exaggerating.¡° Timothy patted Heather¡¯s hand, signaling that he had something private to discus. She smiled politely and walked away to mingle. Once she left, Timothy spoke solemnly to Julian. ¡°Don¡¯t take Jeffrey¡¯s actions to heart. It¡¯s nomal for young people to sometimes let their emotions get the best of Them Dawntime, he¡¯lle to his serovka. can¡¯t be fully tries Besides, you wo have been clour for so many years. There are some things that, it left to outside, just can¡¯t Julian spared him some dignity, saying. ¡°If jettrey is willing, I have no issue on my end.¡± |Timothy adanired his response. ¡°Suchposure! Julian, I regret that we didn¡¯t meet earlier. Tonight, we must driek a few inore rounds,¡±||| Julian raised his ss with a faint smile. Of course. He was was already an exceptionally handsome man, but wh when he smiled, he ended the unique charm of a mature gentleman. It made it impossible for women to look Yet, Julian¡¯s heart was entirely upied by his wife back in Brindley. As the banques pearlord its peak, he stepped onto the empty balcony and made a call to willow. The phone can a few times before she answered. The night breeze in Yarowernere was gentle, and julian felt even more lender¨Chearted, In a low voler, he asked over the phone, ¡°Have you thought about it? Everything is arranged in Yarrominere the best medical care, in Grandma will receive top treatment. If you want to work, you can do to from Yarrowmere, and I call apany you back to Brindley once a week. ¡°just six mortis, that¡¯s all task Willow, think of it as giving is more churce, okay? Willow did not agree. Julian, however, seemed to have endless patience. His voice remained gentle. ¡°Take your Lime. I¡¯ll wait for good news from you.¡± After hanging up, jedian lightly ran his fingers over his phone. He was convicord that, in the end, Willow would say yes. After all, they had years of history together. Back in Brindley, Willow sat quietly in her car, staring out into the night. a delicate tinum chain. Hanging from it was the emerald good luck pertant After a moment, she pulled down the high¨Cneck cor of her wool dress, revealing a de thur Julian had given her. Under the dim light, it gleamed a deep green. That day, Julian had said, ¡°I want you to be safe, to be happy, and to be Tere Trout worry for all your years.¡± She didn¡¯t know when Julian had fallen for her, but it seemed to be toote between them. hat at Willow was feeling mncholic, the car door was suddenly pulled open, and a damp cotton cloth tightly pressed against her mouth and nose. Willow struggled twice, but her hands sont went limp at her sides, and she lost consciousness. When she woke up, she was in an abandoned warehouse, and the air was filled with am The call figure in front of her turned out to be Deider. Willow struggled hard, but her body was tightly bound to the chair, making it impossible to break tree. ¡°Dexter, are you insane? This is kidnapping the parater looked down at Willow with a urer and began airing his grievances, ¡°Kidnapping? A clone? I should have done this a long time ago! If I had, how could the Zeglen have ended up intle hands of you and your husband! the eldest grandson of the main family faire childhood, in what way lure Lever been infeder to him? bestiafter. Torettowat ten, hirto and Aurelia will sign their contract, and I¡¯ll give tilian a grand gift. Dorur¡¯t be want your forgiveness) Denesar)| want to mend things with you? Let¡¯s see whether hans kaunes prerrotlover. ¡° Willow spat out through gritted teedi: ¡°Deuter, you really ali Dexter stepped forward and figlely patted her check. ¡°Talking tough won¡¯t help! I can¡¯t wait to see how my ruthless main cha Willow surried. ¡°¡°No matter what he chouses, it Insolos file you wasiot gain anything ¡° bear being fotred into such a choice? pester¡¯s care deepersed as he said, ¡°but I get to see him softest He has always been proud ¨C how could be bear He patted Willow¡¯s cheek again. ¡°Now, let¡¯s start the countdown:* Willow kicked at the dust on the ground and said, ¡°Ineed to use the restroom,¡± +25 Bonus Willow was well aware of Dester¡¯s ways. He was ruthless and would never give her a chance to escape, Hight now, she could only wait¨Cwait for Julian toe and Do would heeween the power of Nelm This was the most agonitzlog night of Willow¡¯s Hie what would fanchonar? As the sky gradually lightened, stiraled with is of down, Willow wealdy opened her eyes. It seemed the day had broken. Would taliae to save bec w the other Feburary, at be Log¨CBiar conterence mom at Skyview Hotel in Yarrowiner, Julian was dressed in a formal suit, apanied by Neb¡¯s legal Teammated several senior executives Opposite themi sir Tinsely as Aurelied¡¯s representative (may now sign.¡± At exactly to do an, thewyers from both sides spread out the contract. ¡°Mr.Ziegler, Mr. Cupom, you n Timothy was the first to sign the contract. It He then raised his hand slightly and said, ¡°jan, it¡¯s your tum.¡± julian smiled faintly and was just about to sign when Esther funded in, holding her phone. Her expression was extremely serious as she leaned in and whispered a Tew words to Julian¡¯s eE jaitan Truze for a monteur. Then, be turned to Thotly and said, ¡°Excuse me, I need to take a call. Timothy, ever the gentleman, responded, ¡°Nojush ¡± jaltan took Esther¡¯s phone and quickly walked out of the conteieice moin, As soon as he stepped outside, Dexter scold voice came through the phone. ¡°Julian, I demand that you abandon the signing and take a pivate jet back to Brindley immediately, or you will never see Willow again. She¡¯s in my hands now. Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bolted as he swallowed He could hear Willow¡¯s voler came through from the phone, His expression darkened, and he spoke each word with deliberate force. ¡°Dexter, and you Insane? You¡¯re using this to threaten me? Do you know what will happen if the deal with Aurelia talls through? Thousurals of people will lose their jobs.¡± Dexter let out a coldngle ¡°I also know that you, Julian Ziegler, will lose control over Nebia¡¯s decision¨Cmaking power.¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Altar 97 hapter 97 julian was making ¨C 4 gainble. He bet that Dexter wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything too extreme. The two of them hand yedni less games of strategy against each other, and tulian had never lost. But this time, hest to something unexpected. Esther froze for a moment, then quickly understood. She immediately arranged for a rescue operation for Willow. Julianstealled his time and spoke caludy to Dester. ¡°I will not abandon the signing, Dexter, release Willow now, and I won¡¯t pursue this matter. But if you insist on -tids foolishness, let me make site thing clear¨CTonly see Willow as a tool in my power struggle. You know this, Dexter ¡°In the Zieglers, there has never been love. I don¡¯t love her, so don¡¯t think you can use her to threaten me ¡° On the other end of the call, Dexter let out a coldugh. ¡°As expected of Julian! Truly nathless.¡± Julian pansed for a moment. He knew Dester had softened, so he ended the e call decisively. He nned to finish the contract signing before returning to Brindley to deal with everything. pside the abandoned warehouse, Dexter looked down at his phone and then tumed to Willow. ¡°Did you hear what he said? Do I need to repeat it for you?¡± Willow didn¡¯t need him to repeat it, because julian¡¯s words kept echoing in her mind. ¡°I only see Willowasa tool in my powerstruggle.¡± In the Zieglers, there has never been love.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t love her, so don¡¯t think you can use her to threaten me Willow let out a soft chuckle. Sheughed at her own foolishness and naivery She had actually hoped that Julian would abandon the contract signing ande back to save her. How ridiculous and naive! Lately, Julian had said so many sweet words to her. Had she forgotten that any bit of affection he had for her was always carefully weighed against its benefits? How could love exist in the Zieglers? How could she have believed that jun possessed normal human emotions? For him, power had alwayse first. Tears welled up at theers of Willow¡¯s eyes, Dexter¡¯s expression was alsoplicated. He had lost to Julian¡¯s ruthlessness, Julian¡¯s cruelty was unrivaled, and Dexter could only concede defeat. entrance of the dpidated warehouse, a woman stumbled in, shouting, ¡°Dexter, stop this!¡± Arther It was Eleanor. She had secretly followed them here. Dexter looked at her and said in a defeated tone, ¡°I lost.¡± Heanor¡¯s eyes reddened, She walked closer to him and said softly, ¡°Dexter, you still have me! Go back and plead with Mr. Ziegler Senior properly, and everything will be for Let Ms. Harperen.¡± Dexter nced at Willow. After a moment, he started wallding toward her. The emply warehouse suddenly rang with a sharp female voice. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer! If you take another step, none of you will get out of here alive! I¡¯ve nted bonds in this warehouse. In so seconds, they will explode. That bitchcan only die here. If you don¡¯t want to be buried with her, you¡¯d better run now!¨C It was Catherine She was wearing a tattered white dress, and her expression was deranged¨Cshe was already half¨Cmad. She started counting down in a singsong voler, ¡°?o serumuts. Dexter¡¯s eyes turned blooddiol Fanor grabbed ?ils atm as tears streamed down hier Tare ¡°Let¡¯s save Ms. Harper, okay? Dexter, we can¡¯t leave her behind.¡± beater wanted to save her, but when he looked at the red countdown numbers on the bomb, hew he couldn¡¯t make it in time. He dragged Eleanor and spainted toward the he thought¨Cdeep down, be really didn¡¯t want Willow to dir The red numbers on the bomb reached the final few seconds, and Catherine silently slipped away Willow fell over, herchair toppling with her they sprawled on the cold ground, and a thin chain slipped out from aro the good luck charm julian had given heron New Year¡¯s Eve ¡°It¡¯s very powerful ¡± ¡°I want you to be sade, to be happy, and to be free from worry for all your years. ¡°Willow,e to Yarrowmere with me. ¡°Willow, think of it as giving us one more chance. To me, you¡¯re still the most important. Willow¡¯s face was drenched in tears as she recalled those words. Was this what Julian meant when he said he wanted her to be safe, happy, and free from worry y for all her years? rest of her years She really couldn¡¯t ept it. With her tragic birth and Grace¡¯s hard work in raising her, how could she die here? Who would be good to Grace for the rest and take care of her in her old age? A tear fell onto the emerald pendant. Then came the sound of an explosion. A warm body tightly embraced her, and a deep voice seemed to echo in her ears, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± Who was it? Who protected her? Who blocked most of the fire for her? who refused to let go, even in death? Who, with one hand covered in blood, held her and hid in the cracks between the exploding walls? Outside the warehouse, Dexter stood dumbfounded. Tears had welled up in his eyes when the explosion sounded. He didn¡¯t know why he was crying¨Cwas it because of his own cruelty, or because of Willow¡¯s tragic fate? He even remembered that day of her and julian¡¯s grand wedding, when Willow had sweetly called his name, But now, he had killed her with his own hands. He had lolled Willow! In the distance, the sound of police sirens could be heard, along with ambnces and fire truck. Suddenly, Dexter felt like he had lost himsell Back in Yanowmece, Julian finished signing and exchanged pleasantries with Timothy before heading toward the door. He needed to retum to Brindley Immediately. Esther closely followed him¡­ As soon as they stepped outside, they saw the TV screen in the conference room switch to a frame showing the explosion, and a female anchor spoke with a tragic Lone to announce breaking news. ¡°At 10:00 am this morning, a major ident urred in Brindley. The wife of Neb¡¯s CEO was a victim of a bombing at the Taynton warehouse and is currently missing. Her condition is unknown. It¡¯s reported that 125 police officers have been dispatched for the search, but no signs of life have been found. e will continue to follow up on Mrs. Ziegler¡¯s condition -We Julian watched silently with a pale face. He froze for a long while, then quietly asked Esther beside him, ¡°is that Willow they¡¯re talking about? Did Dexter take Willow to the Tayton be a mistake? Dexter wouldn¡¯t dare to do something this extreme,¡± He asked again, ¡°Is that Willow?¡± Altar 98 -25 Bonus Two hourster, Julianhumedly touched down in Brindley, It had rained at noon, and the explosion site was a air was affecting the dogs¡± sense of smell As soon as Julian got out of the car, he saw Dexter handcuffed with silver cuffs. He was standing in a daze and was being escorted by someone. ¡°Dexter, you bastard!¡± Julian threw a punch. He hit with full force, and Dexter¡¯s mouth and nose Immediately pushed blood, but he didn¡¯t retaliate. He took a step back, still staring nkly in the direction of the abandoned warehouse. Time was precious, and Julian didn¡¯t have the time to settle scores with him. He stepped into the mud, discussing the rescue n with the head of the rescue tearn and arranging for an additional 80 also rescue personnel and professional life The rain grew heavier, and jun, not wearing a raincoat, was covered in mud. He was digging through the broken walls with his bare hands, lifting heavy concrete beams with the rescue workers. Over time, his palms grew bloodied, but Julian didn¡¯t feel the pain Willow was underneath this. His Willow was underneath. Every brick he moved added a bit more hope for her survival. In the distance, Mnie held up a ck umbre, calling out painfully to her son, ¡°julian, it¡¯s raining so heavily. You should rake shelter.¡± Julian ignored her. Mnie tried to go over to pull him away, but m stopped her. ¡°Willow is his wife. Whatever he wants to do is right.¡® After saying this, Liam threw aside his own ck umbre and joined in to help in the rain. Mnie watched her husband¡¯s recldess behavior, stunned, she never knew Liam cared for Willow so much. Willow had nothing to her name, so why? In the rain, a sharp voice suddenly sounded¨CIt was Grace, who had rushed over. Despite her frail body, she held herself together she called out Willow¡¯s name in the rain, her voice full of sorrow. My Willow! Grandma¡¯sing ¡°Willow! Willow! My ¡°Willow,e home with me.¡± willow, I¡¯m here! Heater had also rushed back from Yarrowmere. She helped Grace along, heartbroken as she listened to her desperate cries. She thought of the elderly woman who adopted her daughter, wondering if she would also call out for Wirmow in the rain at dusk. Heather began to cry, she looked at Timothy and said softly, ¡°Think of something.¡± The sky grew darker and gloomier. The rain poured down to the ground relentlessly. right hours had passed since the ident. The head of the rescue team felt that there was no hope left. He wiped the mad and water off his face, subtly expressing Is thoughts to Julian. Julian rumbled and suddenly kneeled in the mud. A small flower was crushed under his feel, but it still retained a trace of its vivid color. da Julian, his hands covered in blood, picked the small flower. In his ears, Willow¡¯s grale voice echoed ¡°like it, Julian. Now woman doesn¡¯t like flowers itis face was covered in mod, and tears streamed down his cheeks. Suddenly, he stood up, staggered towards the Ziegler family¡¯s car, and pulled open the door. He pot in, and soon the car sped away through the muddy water. istunged for spected that, after the Dot Neb had lost his wife, it caused him to go mad Dark clouds rolled through the night, moving swiftly An hourter, a ck car sped toward them from atar ¨C¨CIt was julian. The door opened up, and he got out holding a small white dog. It was Sowy, Willow¡¯s dog Soowy¡¯s dark eyes were like an endless abyss as juliangently patted its little bead He carried Snowy through the muddy water, walking ig all the way to the site where Willow had the ident before Snowy seemed to understand it arodously began searching through the ruins, sniffing here and there Ten minstester, it started desperately digging at a copsed wall. Its little pawes weer heil frantically, and they weir son coveted in blood Snowy Whiprid ausimusly, its dark eyes looking up at they were wo were wet and glistening julian bent slown, picked it up, ansi handled it to Heather. He stood silently in front of the copsed wall for about two seconds before speaking in a hoarse voler, Hight here. The caseful¡­¡­. No our believed Willow hat a chance of survival, but they weir all extremely careful, The crane¡¯s lights illuminated the raliw night like daylight, Auctionter, the wall was finally ornmoveil, revea people Trapped beneath, I was Willow. She was Higlily shielded benira jetfory, and boil of them weer covered in blood and dirt, jetfrey¡¯s arm was a bloody, mangled mess of flesh. The scene was utterly shocking, asud the rotire site tell toto silence: No our knew whether Willow and Jeffry were still alive, mul for a moment, noor datedstep forward to check Talian kneeled in the sibly water, carefully realig toward Willow¡¯s one¨Cthere was juliau looked up, 1,caping into the night sky. He couldn¡¯t control his romotions: Willow was still alive. His Willow .still alive! e was warm breath. Indian didn¡¯t date move her. He only candlendly patted her cold face, calling her name, ¡°Willow, Willow Pinback.¡° Willow slowly opened her eyes. The lights were so bright and billing, Where was she? Her mind was still musclear, and she mananced the words she had thought of countless times that night. ¡°julian, it¡¯s dawn¡­. Will youe to save me 20 ¡°Julian, it¡¯s dawn. ¡° After repeating it a few times, Willow gradually regained conselmaness. She looked at the non bu front of her and sindled softly. He finally came back Julian wanted to pick her up, but willow gentle shook her bead. Slowly, she opened her blood¨Cstained palm¡ªin it was the shattered emerald pendant. Willow looked at Julian and sd softly, ¡°The gill you gave in¡­ I¡¯m trimming it to you w ¦§ COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Altar 99 In the early moming at Brindley First Hospital, willowy in a clean hospital room, still inconscious. Her face and body were covered in scrapes, and arge bruise had spread across her lower back. Fortunately, their weir no severe internal injuries, The doctor called it a miracle Julian took care of everything and sat by het bedside, waiting for Willow in wake up. -Dominic walked in thac When he saw jon¡¯s expression, he sneered. ¡°Acting all affectionate now Julian nced at Willow, wiped his face, and followed him out. ¨C too had no one appreciates it! Come outside with me.¡± Outside, Dominic booked at his most aplished grandson with a stem expression ¡°pan, as the CEO of Neb, you weren¡¯t wrong, Canceling the contract would have led to thousands losing their jobs, ¡°pat Julian, aside from being the CEO at Neb, you are also Willow¡¯s husband. I know you have your own judgment, and you believed Dexter wouldn¡¯t do anything reckless, ¡°But there are always unforeseen idents. If you only loved her, you wouldn¡¯t have hesitated for even a second. You wouldn¡¯t have taken even the slightest risk. | ¡°Put yourself in her shoes¨C11 you were in danger, I believe willow would have chosen you. without hesitatio¡± ¡°Think it over carefully. If you don¡¯t truly love her, don¡¯t waste her time,¡° Dominic had always tried to bring them togeiler, but saying this now meant he was deeply disappointed. Julian remained silent. Liam understood his son¡¯s feelings, so be patted his shoulder and said, ¡°Take good care of her. When she wakes up, exin everything properly.¡± Julian nodded. Liam apanied Dominic downstairs, At that moment, the sky tumed pale, surrounded by a circle of magnificent clouds. Dominic stood in front of the ckcar, staring nkly at the clouds as he spoke in a low voice. ¡°Dexter is beyond saving. I just don¡¯t know how many years he¡¯ll. get. How will his parents ensure this blow?¡± Liam felt the same heaviness in his heart andained silent for a long time. Dominic let out a sigh. ¡°Coine with me to the detention center. Tyler isn¡¯t in a position to show up.¡± Liam bent down and opened the car door. ¡°Get in, Dad,¡° When they arrived at the detention center, visiting hours hadir¡¯t started yet. Doendue, who had always been proud and strong, patiently waited at the entrance. It wasn¡¯t umil 4:30 am that Dam managed to negotiate for him to have a private meeting will Dexter.
  1. li. just one night, Dexter had lost all his former glory. Dressed in the detention center¡¯s deep blue p?sen uniform, his tall teame toked stiff and constrained. His Lace was coveted inunshaverstubble, and his bloodshot eyes weer sinkenwithexhaustion¨Cbe looked utterly hagrand
Dominic scame struck the ground with lood thods, his brant truly aching der ply. He nosed his int and pped Dexter several times ¡°Dexter, are you out of your mind? Who is Willow in you? r¡¯s your sister¨Cin¨CLaw! She once served you tea and regended you as a brother ¡°Yes, it was that lunatic who set off the bombs, but you kidnapped her. You won¡¯t escape prison tline for that. As for that lunatic- ¡ªonce we catcher, I¡¯ll skin her (the pis without saying a word. It was only after Dominic had vented his angerthat Dexter looked at lilin directly and asked, ¡°How is she? Is she seriously hunt?¡± Dominic replied angrily, ¡°Luckily, she¡¯s fine! Otherwise, you¡¯d be dour tor¡± Thankfully, fete was on their side. Eleanor bad called Jeffrey in time, and he had rushed over to stop a disaster from happening, otherwise, the Zieglers would have Befour leaving, Dominic said in a low voice, ¡°Dexter, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless. If you don¡¯t go to prison, there¡¯s no way to appease the shareholders¡± tury ¡°And another thing ¨C you¡¯ve never been able to ept it, but that jo% stake? julian agreed to leave it for you Los At that moment, Dominic seemed to have aged significantly. He knew Dexter would be sentriued to at least there prai. As Demiric was about to leave, Dexter maddenly spoke up urgently. ¡°Tydber. I¡¯mwony Dominic shook his head lightly. P Altar 100 Dominic stepped out of the dimly lit detention center, feeling his heart ache with excruciating pain. A figure in deep red stood at the corner outside. It was EleanGE Dominicd been expecting her +25 Bonus He walked up to her and said in a low, hoarse voice, ¡°I need to thank you for saving the entire Ziegler family. Without your call, willow would have loss her life, and the Zieglers¡± reputation would have crumbled.¡± Beside him, Liam handed over a property deed Dominic weighed the deed in his hand, carefully choosing his words. ¡°Dexter¡¯s prison sentence is certain. As for your future, that¡¯s up to you. But as Dexter¡¯s elder, this is my token of appreciationTM Dominic had gifted her a luxury apartment in Brindley¨Cone worth over 100 million dors. Eleanor refused to ept it. She had tears in her eyes as she said, ¡°I truly love Dexter. I¡¯m willing to wait for him to s from you.¡± Dominic felt deeply saddened. After a long silence, he casped out, ¡°That bastard doesn¡¯t deserve this I But matters of the heart could not be dictated by reason Dominic could only offer materialpensation. He insisted on transferring the property to Eleanor¡¯s name, at least giving her some guarantee. Inside the quirt hospital room, Julian sat on a single¨Cseater couch by the bed. His arms rested on his knees, and his fingers were pressed together under his chin in a steeple. He had showered and changed into a clean, well tailored outfit that fit his frame perfectly, highlighting his impable physique. He stared intently at Willow¡¯s face, afraid to miss the moment she woke up Everyone told him to let Willow go. But he wasn¡¯t willing to give up. At the time, he had been sure Dexter wouldn¡¯t dare do something like this. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t care about Willow¡¯s life or death, but now that things had turned out this way, he had no way to exin imself. Suddenly, Willow murmured weakly in her sleep. julian immediately leaned in, Willow suddenly grasped his amutightly, murmuring in her dreams, ¡°Julian, it¡¯s dawn¡­ Will you to save me?¡± ¡°Julian, It¡¯s dawn¡± She repeated it over and ov lover, seemingly trapped in a nightmare. Jurian telt his heart ache. He gently stroked her pale cheek and pulled her into his aring, whispering in a low, render voler, ¡°Willow, I¡¯m back julian is back.¡± willow slowly opened her eyes as tears still streamed down her cheeks. She gazed at puljanin silence, as if seeing him for the first time. After a long pause, she gently pushed him away and said, ¡°I want to see jelly. Where is Jeffrey?! Willow.remembered¨CIt was Jeffrey who had held her tightly, shielding her from the mes. Where was Jeffrey? Willow struggled to sit up, yanking out the IV from the back of her hand. She got out of bed and was about to run out. Julian was utterly heartbroken. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and whispered, ¡°He¡¯s out of danger. He¡¯s in the sterile wand However, Willow still wanted to see jeffrey. She broke free from julian¡¯s grasp and ran toward the door. After weaving through several corgidors, she finally reached the entrance of the sterile ward. Through the transparent ss, she saw jelfiey lying still, half of his arm wrapped tightly in white bandages. Willow slowly pressed her palm against the ss as tears welled in her eyes. Natalie, whai tad been early, rushed over to themotion, sobbing ¡°Jeffrey¡¯s left an ispletely shattered 7 The doctors say ay he¡¯ll need over ten surgeries to Willow¡¯s entire body trembled. While holding back her tean, she gently pounded on the ss. She owed Jeffry something she could never pay in this lifettine Bender, Julian stood pale¨Cfaced. At that moment, his feart ached unbearably Before, Willow¡¯s heart had belonged solely to him. But now, arracd formed, and jettney had found his way inside Whether it was gratitude or something else, jelliey now stated in Willow¡¯s ¨C there was another man their Julian took a step forward, wanting to hold her. However, Willow softly said, ¡°Don¡¯t Looch mel Don¡¯te looking for me again, I don¡¯t want ?n see your ¡°Julian, I don¡¯t want to see you. Dil you hear me clearly? If you didn¡¯t, Fll say it again¡ª(don¡¯t want to see you!¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Altar 101 pdiandilo¡¯t wond to bei lu Willow linker as though she was partially deat Gaway from shattering as she questioned pun sharply, ¡°I got pped, my grandouther nearly died, Land Jeffrey is now ¡°julian, ido you think r¡¯ll eves reconsider quemding our rtionship? Your ¡®Honly seek o pompaly to like youenday¡¯s when you need something, but wheneverything steer? Well, you¡¯ll aleted act. Why do you think I¡¯ll still == Phas, any affection you pavend always been a still want you after all that, pund mithing to say in his detruse because Willow was right. De hadder Willow down, Imirting her toes and over again. However, he was now ready to make it julian, whos ?stel always been guideful, sonund inted meek as he asked mechly, ¡°Will you only return to my side Jeffrey¡¯s ear gets better? will you rsider me if I ¡°letunto your side?¡± Willow slowly tuned to look at him as she added is a despalling tone, ¡°Do you want me to turn to your side so you could continue to furt ¡°pilian, there¡¯s no use ctyling over spilled milk. We¡¯re though.¡°¡± [she looked away, pressing her palms against the ss. fei gaer meer left the man who had protected her. She daba¡¯t love jetfory, ausisler would never be able to repay say the dirbt she Willowurfused to leave. She wanted to keep vigil until Jeffrey woketju Jeffrey¡¯sshes ttered after what seemed like a century long wall, and be finally opened his eyes. Jettrey had regained conclomares, Willow pressed her palion against the ss before susarking It lightly. Her lipstiembled as she cried out hoarsely, ¡°jettrey¨Cjettrey Jeffrey seemed in how he and her as he slowly turned is bad to look at Willow, who was standing outside his ward Willow snacheil thur ss agalin There was a sinde on her lips even though tears were running down her cheeks. Jeffrey did his best to bug his lips into a small sandle. His eyes were askond on they ined to be. Natalie, who was standing beside Willow, covered her lips as she burst Theidor¡¯s lights were dini, there was no was no biding Jur¡¯s pale fare. Willow Hirially retuned home to test after jeffreyhad awdurned
  1. There was a wall around her heart, and slee no longer wanted Julian anywhere near it
Shariidn¡¯t speakto Julian, nor did she ept his help. Ti All she did was tell him to leave A use walked in with silver tray to her hands around n o¨´ pm and told pon, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler has a wound at her lower back. Could you help her apply the After the nurse left, Julian parted willow lightly and said ge Willow didn¡¯t respond. Igently, ¡°Let me help you with your woord ¡° Julian tumed her around, intending to help her undiess. Untnitimately, Willow recoiled in disgust and immediately s Julian froze in ce, feeling utterly mortified someone knocked on the door Heather¡¯s mald hade bearing gifts. The maid was a smart or an instantly knew what had happened eyes on the couple to, she altered attentively, ¡°Mennau be a bit careless Why don¡¯t I help Mrs. Ziegler with her wound?¡± julian didn¡¯t ward to provoke Willow any further t and after giving it a moment at thought He left the waid and walked down the corridor. Then, der stod there, is at a bing while, der took time thing our of his parler. His gif to Willow, a hacky chur, waseompletely shuttered¡± || dave it back togriler s, what wa main banken. as past like his rtionship with Willers. There was rolling he could do now that the milk had been spilled. M -25 Bonu and sow Charlie and Mare y pushing toward him. Harry wailed in despair, ¡°¡°Julian, please let Catherine go, even if for Alicia¡¯s sake. Catherine idie woonded penbalsy be given a an year sentence for the colour Mamydell in her hores, pleading al juliand¡¯s feet for mercy. Although chudie wasn¡¯t as dramatic, die also begged on Catherine¡¯shehalf, saying, ¡°Please spare well in Toned of Willow ever again dur right wind forwded fis fury, ruffling pulloni¡¯s dark hair. The dark strands brushed past his piercing eyes as he intoned in a voice as cold as ice, ¡°Spare her? Are you now? My wife nearly died in an expleton because of her recklessness, and you still have the nerve to beg me in let her off the hook? ¡°I¡¯ll never let her off the bank, and orlther will thew, the and prester can Chaille liesinated tommentarily. ogh be kirw he was being muderhanded, be still said, ¡°pest do it for Alicia. Alicia needs Catherine¡¯s blood, She¡¯ll also need After a long praese, Julian merint. ¡°Lililok you¡¯lle ng with something, Mr. Burke,¡± Chailie argized infrastrat ¡°Julian, have you forgotten that you and Al¡ª¡± The fever tous look in julian¡¯s eyes promptly made Churtle stop short. Although Chadle didn¡¯t dare to mention that name again, he couldn¡¯t help butin,¡± Heather, win hade to visi, kappened to mediarchadie¡¯smend Even thonglittrallers had no idea what was going on, it didn¡¯t stop her from speaking bermind. So, the gropped at Charlie harshly, ¡°Your darling daughter might as well be a feral beast, Lopk at the mess she has mode! (can¡¯t believe you two still have the ry beg for ry, it it were, I would¡¯ve told the autorites to shoot be de Rainy and deadlere disliked each for retain reasms. So, she fissed, ¡°Heather, stop kicking someone when they¡¯re down.¡± Heather coded her lips in a rer. ¡°You should¡¯ve thrown that muster into a cessit as soon as she was bom, if only to lower the air pollution Index¡± Charlie hastily whipped oni Hany¡¯s heart medication before carrying her to the BIL jalian summoned Exiles over and arranged for 20 bodyguards in and all the entrances and exits onthis Door. Then, he ordered them not to allow any uninvited t?er Hinse arrangements were made, he and Heather entered the VIP ward to vist Willow. had sent over was carefully applying medicine to Willow¡¯s back traddle the VIP room. The inald frowned in sympathy when she saw how terribly ade sure to be as careful avsberuulid when applying the medicine s, the maid efforts were tough, as willow could¡¯t help but gasp info of how that Willow was in gradu, to, ale tried lies b?st todistract Willow, Jemaking cheerfully. ¡°Do you know you have a mole on your back? 11¡¯s a unique The maid seitly covered Willow¡¯s body, afraid that julian might see bey naked After all, it would be best for the boushared to see sachia Altar 102 Chapter 102 -24 Donun Julian hired the best specialists to treat Jeffrey. Although the Gibson famaly was unhappy, they didn¡¯t raise a fuss due to their close ties with the Ziegler family. It also didn¡¯t help that a certain Mr. Chapman was now also involved in this incident Still, Willow wouldn¡¯t be able to move past this incident if jettrey¡¯s ear didn¡¯t recover As a result, Willow remained by Jeffrey¡¯s aide when he was receiving treatment, Willow was folding him a paper ne before he They could see the starry night sky outside the VIP wand¡¯s window ore he had to undergo surgery onlus am. Willow ced the paper ne on her palm Jeffrey picked it up carefully as they enjoyed the view. After a long while, he murmured, ¡°Natable told me I might as will be a cold¨Cblooded reptile because I was never enthusiastic about anything. Now, I¡¯ve realized that this isn¡¯t the case. I also possess emotions just like everyone else. I could also be reckless ¡°I still have another ear left. So, I¡¯ll be just fine. I might only have partial hearing left, but I think it¡¯s a worthy exchange for your life. You shouldn¡¯t feel guilty. Jettrey gave Willow a warm smile There was no point in saying anything else. Willow looked at him and gave him a small smile in tum If she were to describe her past, she would say that there was barely a hint of sweetness in the drowning depth of bittemess, Jeffrey¡¯s presence was like a balmas he had washed away that bittemessiner life. Willow clenched her fist and bumped it against his. They looked into each other¡¯s eyes and shared a smile One could say that they were confidants now. Julian stood by the ward¡¯s door silently, watching the two of themL He saw Willow folding a paper ne for jerry. He saw how she smiled at jeffrey so radiantly. He watched how they bumped their together. These Interactions had once been something he and Willow shared. It had been exclusively their. Now, Willow had given all of that to jeffrey. julian¡¯s expression tumed dark. Esther caught sight of bouchange in mood and said tentatively, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, your private jet will be taking off in an hour, and i Mrs. Ziegler will be discharged tomorrow. I¡¯ve already taken care of everything. You can rest easy julian¡¯s expression didn¡¯t often. ¡°How am I supposed to rest easy?¡± Esther didn¡¯t dare make another peep. After a while, Julian strode toward the elevator. It was obvious he was in a bad mood. Just then, the elevator doors slid open, and Natalie stepped out they need you back at Yarrowmere Julian was usually exceedingly aloof, so he would never bother to waste his time on a kid Like Natalle. Yet, he was unexpectedly friendly today as he said gently. I¡¯m needed at Yarrowmere, so I¡¯ll be leaving Willow in your care, Natalie.¡± Natalie was utterly befuddled by his attitude. Ester couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°Mr. Ziegler is truly a devious, devious man. ¡± One could smell the light fragrance of the ck locust flowers in the alt now that it was p The chauffeur had parked the ck limousine under the tree, walling for Julian. When he saw Jubian, he wasted no time opening the door for him. ¡°Please get in, Mr. Ziegler.¡± julian couldn¡¯t help but take a jp back before he wentnide the car. He really didn¡¯t want to leave, but he was needed backat arrow. He wanted so badly to take Willow with him there, but Will had rejected bisa He had no choice but to consider his options. Their wedding anniversary was just over a month away. It was probably better for han to make a decision Julian started flipping through his tiles per he was inside the Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from thinking about the intimate literaction between Willow and jettery. The more he thought about le set his work aside. After a leat, le pere lit and asked Father, who was sitting in the fron Exther couldn¡¯t help but find his reaction Juntry She deliberately feigned confusion, donning a thoughtful look on her face. ¡°Well, it¡¯s hard in say. Love is aplicated thing, especially rom knows? Maybe they¡¯ll fall in love overtime. Besides, it¡¯s not as if you¡¯ll be able to notice anything because you¡¯ll be at Yarrowmere ¡± Julian leaned back in his seat. Although his posture was regal, there was no concealing his foul mond love, Who Honestly, his mind had been chuming with dark thoughts. He had wanted to send Willow abroad past to ensure that she would never see jeffery ever again. rationality stopped him from doing so. After all, things would truly be over between them if he did something like that. Willow had always been strong¨Cwilled. Yet, his Julian was swamped with work as soon as he arrived at Yarrowmere. There were far too many things that needed his personal touch. Still, he would always give Willow a call every night, no matter how busy he was. Unfortunately, she never picked up his calls The roses were in full bloom now that it was April. Neb Group¡¯s building was situated in the heart of Yarrowhere. It was a sa grand building that seemed to pierce through the clouds. ¡°Julian retumed to his office after wrapping up yet another routine meeting. He leaned against his leather chair and rubbed his brow weartly. ¡°There¡¯s so much work I could barely breathe.¡± Ester nced at the schedule and said, ¡°You have a banquet to attend tonight.¡± Julian picked up his calendar and looked at the circle drawn on today¡¯s date. Then, he said softly, ¡°It¡¯s my wedding anniversary with Willow today. I¡¯m flying back to Brindley.¡± Esther smiled andmented, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler will be pleased.¡± Julian quirked his lips into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s been two months since west met. She¡¯s probably still Julian left work early that day and took his time to change into an exquisite three¨Cpiece suit. He looked handsome and refined in it Then, he even booked the best restaurant in Brindley. He thought to himself, ¡°Willow will probably be delighted. After all, women do love their romance.¡± He was determined to win her back. It was already 7:00 pm by the time Julian returned to Brindley and arrived at Willow¡¯s apartment. A ck Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom rolled to a stop beneath arall sycamore tree as the sky darkened Julian stepped out of the car, holding a bouquet of white roses. He even had a precious gift tucked in the pocket of his suit jacket. He was certain that Willow would love it. Julian strode to the building¡¯s entrance and raised Ish head to look up in the direction of Willow¡¯s terrace as he took his phone out. However, his movements came to alult the very next second He had found Willow, but he was with Jeffrey. They were looking up at the starry night sky together, Willow was holding a sparkder while jettrey light up with a smile on his face. The sparkler¡¯s glow illuminated Willow¡¯s face, Julian could see the happy expression on her fare. Julian had always known that Willow tended to smile toothily when she was genuinely happy. That smile added a certain innocence to het That could only mean that she was truly happy right now. The must be happy now that she was with Jeffry The dark night had the somber lookonjun¡¯sf?r. He didn¡¯t make the call instead, he stood there below Willow¡¯s terrace, watching Willow enjoy the moment with someone else. He remained there, incating of low painful it was to watch Willow stargaze with another as she held a sparkler in het hand talie came bounding out a momentter. ¡°The ple¡¯s ready! I¡¯ve snuck mipselta Jeffrey ruffled Natalie¡¯s hair and extinguished Willow¡¯s sparkles. Then, the three returned to Wallow¡¯s apartment Julian¡¯s gaze girm more solemn in the darkness. Altar 103 illow bid the cabson siblings goodbye at 9:30 pm. The gray Rolls Rowe Ghost gradually disappeared from her line of sight. Willow stood there for a moment longer and was about to head back into her apartment Moe calling out, ¡°Willow.¡± Then, she locked eyes with julian as the night breeze blew. He was standing next to his ck Rolls¨CRoyce F Phantom. He had donned a ssic three¨Cpiece suit, looking very sefined. Still, Willow could tell that n had lost weight and gotten more canned since they¡¯d hadst met A breeze swept by, carrying with it the fragrance of tuberoses. It also brought with it the lingering echoes of their past. Those memories weighed upon them, unwilling to be forgotten It had been two months since they hadst met, two months since they had to their rtionship indo sheds. Yet, it felt as though it had been centuries since then. They stated at each other for a long while before putian approached Willow. Then, he stood before her and raised his head to look at her apartment. Finally, he murmured, ¡°I¡¯ve been here since 7:00 pm, but I did¡¯t want to disturb you after seeing E you and Jeffrey ying with sparkders.¡± willow didn¡¯t say a word in response Julian¡¯s voice remained gentle. ¡°It¡¯s our fifth marriage anniversary today, I returned to Yarrowmere just to surprise you. I booked a restaurant that has the best night view here, even bought you the white roses you love.¡± Julian opened the car door, brought the white roses out from in the passenger seat, and pulled out an exquisite¨Clooking vehert box. Then, he opened it, disying a six¨Ccarat pink diamond ring Julian looked at her deeply before holding Willow¡¯s hand, intending to put it on her finger. ¡°Happy fifth anniversary.¡± s, Willow curled her fingers together, refusing to let him put it on. She muttered, ¡°Jan, I can¡¯t ept your bted gifts. You should sign the divorce papers if you really want to make me happy, Esther may have forgotten to inform you about this, but our divorce hearing is in two days.¡± Julian¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°In two days? Willow, today¡¯s our manage anniversary. I mashed back here from Yanowire Willow cut him off, saying, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter even if you rushed back here from Grandsburg. Jullin, how many times do I have to tell w us. I no longer love you, nor do I like you. Is this clear enough for you? Can you fimally understand what I¡¯m trying to say now?¡± The night bree swept by once more, ruffling palian¡¯s dark hair, He lowered his gaze and asked, ¡°Have you fallen for jeffery? Willow didn¡¯t answer. She didn¡¯t need to tell julian anything now that they were through. 1 you this? It¡¯s overbetween Willow span on her heel and left, thinking, ¡°it were to be honest, whatever feelings I¡¯ve had for polian had been strangled at the cradle long ago.¡± Jalian was the one person on Earth who had absolutely no right to question her like this. The night was so quiet that Julian¡¯s hoarse voice pined the alt as clear as day. ¡°Willow, I¡¯ve really missed you.¡± His work at Yarrowmere had been hectic and extuusting Regardless, he had taken to looking at her pictures every night before he went to bed. He would look at it and wonder what she was doing Then, his mind would wander to the day they would finally see each other again at Brindley. He had imagined every single possibility, but never once did he think it would end Willow attend momentarily before walking away, her pace even faster than before. Dow she was back in thete confines of her apartment, the slumped against the door and tilted her head back as tears shimmered inher eyes, adn¡¯t cleared the dishes on the dining table, and the bottle of champagne was merely halt eimpty. had acquired an auction house today, so the cabson siblings hade over to celebrate her sess. She didn¡¯t expect Julian toe ov Honestly, she had forgotten about their anniversary Snowy came bounding over, warping Willow bent down and scoped her dog into her am before burying her face in its watt belly- Even though she knew it wasing, she felt tied and hurt by the death other manage ir was surprised and pleased to see that palian had returned to Grandview Manor. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, you¡¯re back Altar 104 Julian nodded slightly. Then, n, he unbuttoned his suit as he walked toward the brightly lit foyer The manor was the same as ever, but he couldn¡¯t help but find it cold and empty. He probably felt that way because Willow wasn¡¯t here. ir took his suit jacket from him and asked in an attempt to gain his favor, ¡°Would you like some supper, Mr. Ziegler? I¡¯ve learned Mrs. Ziegler¡¯s spaghetti bolognese recipe.¡± pan paused briefly before inquiring. ¡°Has my wife returned to the manor these past two month? ir shook her head.. Julian was disappointed to hear that and didn¡¯t bother asking anything else. Instead, he went straight to the second floor¡¯s study. Nothing had changed, except there was a court summons on his desk. The hearing was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. The floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows in his study were immacte and spotless. It was so clean that it reflected the lights and the despondent look on his face. He was dressed in an impably tailored suit and had styled his hair carefully. He looked wless, but the emptiness in his heart made him think that he might hras well look like a beggar. Julian picked up a cigarette case from his desk, drew a cigarette out, and lit it up. The smoke drifted in the air as he wallowed in his thoughts. His eyes were aldin to the dark depths of the abyss. He finally came to a decision after smoking nearly half of his cigarette away. He tomed slightly to snuff it out, picked up his phone, and dialed a long¨Cunused number, Jeffrey, let¡¯s meet up.¡± Brindley Hidden Springs Restaurant bossted sleek Ivalian decor and ck crystals. It had a full wall of floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of the airy lights. Julian had spent go thousand dors just to book the entire venun jeffrey arrived around half an hourter, only to find Julian standing by the window, julian¡¯s silhouette exuded a sense of loneliness. Julian didn¡¯t turn around when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. ¡°Jeffrey, do you remember back when we were at Wallington Street? We made over four million dors together. We celebrated like kings that night, drank on the power of money and all it had to offer for the first time in our lives.¡± jeffrey curled his lips into a faint smile. ¡°How could I ever forget that right?¡± Julian sounded more solemn than the dark night as he continued, ¡°Jeffrey, we could be considered childhood friends. We¡¯ve nevere to blows in business or even when we wereworking. You could have anything you want, but I¡¯ll never give Willow up. Not even to you. ¡°Jeffrey, I¡¯m aware I owe you a great deal, but I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll never be able to repay you.¡± Jeffrey had never once underestimated Julian. Frankly, not a single scion in Brindley had ever won against Julian when it came to scheming and plotting. Julian was a natural¨Cbommaniptor. He knew how to use everything and everyone around him to his advantage. Their meeting right now was a good example of this. He sounded gentlemanly and nostalgic even though he wasying his cards on the table. It was no wonder willow fell so hard for him Regardless, Jettrey understood what at palian was silently implying despite those simple sentences, Julian was going to raise hell against him. trill, he wasn¡¯t afraid. Instead, he approached julian and stood next to J¨²m, looking at the bright city outside the window. After a moment, Jeffrey said dispassionately, ¡°I didn¡¯t rese Willow and stay by her side just to get into her good graces. I only wanted to help her leave a loveless marriage Julian, you don¡¯t deserw her, especially not her love. Can you even bring yourself to confess the truth to her? Do you have the courage to tell her about The night loomed over them. The motize city seemed to be engulfed in shadowy tendrils after those words cheese in his bespoker ck i The restaurant¡¯s lights outlined his side profile, making him look as though he had walked out of a He looked elegant and sok at jetfory with a bottomless gare ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right, I don¡¯t draeree het, but I still want to have her ¡± Altar 105 -25 Bonus Reporters from everyer of the city made an appearance at Brindley Court There were so many people there that the court¡¯s entrance was one person away from absolute chaos. The cameras¡± shing lights were aimed straight at a ck Limousine as the reporters eagerly awaited their chance to take a picture of Julian. They knew that the picture of Julian walking out of his car would definitely be the trending topic for the day. Esther, who was also in the ck limousine, tumed to look at Julian. *Mr. Ziegler, should we get security? The reporters are broadcasting this live. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll affect your reputation Julian straightened his s sult and said dispassionately, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The chauffeur opened the car door for him, palsam buttoned his cor and left the car, striding toward the court. The cameras¡± shing lights promptly bombarded his vision ¡°Mr. Ziegler, are you going to sign the divorce papers? ¡°Rumors have it that you and Mrs. Ziegler have been living separately. Is this true?¡± ¡°will you remarry after your divorce?¡± Julian ignored all the chatter and didn¡¯t bother answering a single question. He walked into Courtroom 2, where every single seat was upied. Nearly everyone from the Ziegler family was there. His grandfather, Dominic, and his parents, Liam and Karen, were there. Tyler and Karen had alsoe to witness the asion. After Dexter was sentenced to prison. Tyler and Karen couldn¡¯t wait to dick Willow out of the Ziegler family. willow¡¯s friends and family had also amived¨CJettrey, Natalie, Heather, and even Willow¡¯s grandmother. Julian soon found Willow in the midst of the crowd. Willow had wom a ck dress for the asion. She didn¡¯t bother wearing any expensive essories. All she had on her person was an horis brand brooch. There .adetermined look on her face. Julian didn¡¯t say a word as he looked at her gently and lovingly. Hiswyer, Zachary, whispered into his ear, ¡°The court won¡¯t grant the divorce as long as you insist that your rtionship is on the mend. Mrs. Ziegler will have to file another case if she still wants to proceed with the divorce. When that happens, you can request that the judge make a decision them.¡± Zachary gave Juliana script and told him to put his emotions into the words there. Once he did it, Zachary was confident that the divorce wouldn¡¯t happen. Everyone in the courtroom assumed that Julian didn¡¯t want the divorce. Therefore, he would do everything in his power to drag this out until Willow gave up. However, Julian set the script aside Then, he looked straight into Willow¡¯s eyes and said softly, ¡°I agree to the divorce.¡± fevents, julian had actually agreed to the divorce. The crowd erupted upon hearing those words, utterly shocked by the ram of e Willow was also caught off guard. Julian¡¯s eyes were gentle as he continued to look at her, repeating, ¡°I agree to the divorce. If I could tum back time, I would have never risked it. Willow, I¡¯m willing to agree to the divorce as long as it¡¯ll make you happy. As for the division of our assets. ¡°Aside from the 10% shares in Neb Group, I¡¯m willing to transfer all of the assets under my name to my wife, Willow. I only want Grandview Manor and some of the shirts there. After all, you brought those for me, Willow.¡± Julian had dered his with to the world lovingly Dominic, who was sitting in one of the seats, tumed to his youngest son, Lam. ¡°When did he be so dramatic? I don¡¯t remember him confessing his love in such a fashion when he got married. Aren¡¯t they getting divorce? Liam, they are divorcing eachother, right?¡± Liam answered seriously, ¡°Dad, Julian is getting a divorce. Dominic stroked his case with a witharred finger before saying expressionlessly, ¡°Then, he must have taken some acting sses when he was abroad. It has been a very convincing performance so far.¡± Liam cleared has throat, unsure as to how he should respond Mnie was both shocked and pleased as she thought to herself, ¡°Julian has finally seen the lightl The court session ended with both parties agreeing to sign the divorce papers. -25 Bonus Perhaps things had been far too smooth sailing as Willow found herself hesitating when it was her tum to sign Jun gazed at her deeply as he asked gently, ¡°Could you not bear to part from me? ¡°You think too highly of yourself,¡± she answered. Then, she lowered her head and pressed the penib on the paper. Her fingers kept shalding, and the sted peni refused to cooperate with her. Julian¡¯s eyes never left her. It was as if he were trying to etch her face into memory. He could see a hint of moisture in the corner of her eyes and asked her out of th blue. ¡°You still love me, don¡¯t you?¡± The court staff felt very awkward to be there. Still, they had to admit that those embarrassing words sounded oddly sexy when they came from Neb Group¡¯s CEO However, if those words came out of the lips of other men¡­ Saying that it was cringey would be the understatement of the century. Willow finally signed the papers and slid them over to Julian. Her voice was cold as she answered, ¡°julian, 1 told you. You think too highly of yourself.¡± Julian looked at her deeply before taking the papers and signing his name on them. ¡°Jolian Ziegler,¡± ¡°Willow Harper.¡± After signing it, Julian stared at the names on the paper for a long, long time. This was thest time their names would ever be written on the same plece of paper together. They would no longer be husband and wife from now on. Now, they would merely be familiar strangers living their separate lives. Julian closed the file, looked at Willow, and said softly, ¡°willow, you¡¯re free now. Willow¡¯s lips trembled, but she didn¡¯t say anything else. Instead, she left night after that. Julian remained standing as he watched Willow leave him behind. The camera caught the expression on his face in high definition. He looked handsome but also wholly dejected. That picture of his expression went viral that very evening. Every single woman from the city felt their heart ache at the sight, ¡°Julian looks like he¡¯s one push away from breaking apart.¡± ¡°Someone just give) Juliana Willow. It¡¯s not as if he¡¯s asking for the impossible.¡± ¡°God, all I want for the New Year is for Willow and julian to get back together. Amen. Meanwhile, a woman set her phone aside as she stood at one of Grandsburg Hospital¡¯s terraces. She was looking toward the east. That woman was none other than Alicia Burkr. Julian rarely called her after Catherine messed things up. Sometimes, he wouldn¡¯t even answer her calls. Today was one of those days. She had called him at least three times, but he didn¡¯t answer a single one. Did he not have the time to answer them, or did he not want to answer them? It had been two months, and he hadn¡¯t visited her in Grandsburg even once. Had he fallen for Willow? Why did he say those things in court? Why did he wear such a gentle expression when he looked at Willow them? That same tenderness had been hers in the past. Alicia thought to herself, ¡°Julian, what about the affection we shared in the past?¡± Commenti Altar 106 A ck Rolls¨CRoyce gradually came to a halt betove the Ziegler residence that night The car door wung open, and filian came stepping out of the vehicle. He stood straight¨Cbacked, exuding an indescribable aura of elegance. He went inside and strode to the study, pashing the door open. Dominic was ying chess all on his lonesome. When he heard the door creak, he couldn¡¯t help but say mockingly, ¡°Look what the cat dragged in. Here the great actor, Julian You must be pleased to see all those ridiculousments online. Those women are all throwing themselves at you now,¡± Julian had real thements as well, He sat in the seat across from Dominic, ying chess with him. ¡°I don¡¯t like those frivolous women. Dominic sneered. ¡°Willow isn¡¯t frivolous, but don¡¯t see you cherishing her all that much. You didn¡¯t hesitate to divorce her.¡± Julian made a move. ¡°shell always be my wife.¡± Dominic¡¯s eyes brightened with hope. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Dominic hadn¡¯t gotten an a in answer when someone came frantically banging at his door. It was his aide, Noah Dominic was displeased. ¡°What¡¯s with the racket? I was finally getting to the good part.¡± Noah opened the door. There was aplicated look in his eyes when theynded on Julian Julian had a smile on his face as he yed with the chess piece in his hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Noah? Why are you looking at me Noah smiled at him bitterly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go that far, Mr. Ziegler that? It¡¯s not as if I¡¯m a monster¡± Then, heposed himself and reported, ¡°The Gibson family is in trouble, Jeffrey¡¯s father made a mess of hispany. From what I¡¯ve learned, forget Gibson Legal Group¡¯s profits making a dent in solving the problem. Even someone like Mr. Chapman wouldn¡¯t be able to save them now The bright lights cast a shadow on Dominic¡¯s thunderous expression. Then, he swept his hand across the chessboard, causing the chess pieces to mash against the ground. Julian, you¡¯d better tell me that this has nothing to do with you. You should keep your personal and professional lives separate! You low that tanghing them together would bring nothing but trouble¡± Julian wasn¡¯t the least bir fazed as he picked the chess pieces up from the ground He sounded respectful as he said, ¡°There¡¯s no way I could do that. Grandpa, please don¡¯t get upset.¡± Then, he got to his feet and left. Dominic blew a gasket, pointing at the door as he demanded, ¡°What do you think he was getting at? What is with him? That brat did this, didn¡¯t he? te must¡¯ve done this!¡± Noah didn¡¯t dare to answer those questions. After all, it was obvious what had happened julun stayed at the Ziegler residence that night, Mnie paid him a visitte at night. Julian was going through his work on hisptop in i living room. All he did was nce at her when he saw that Mnie had shown Mnie wasn¡¯t bothered by his indiference she was in great spirits nov its now that Julian had gott had gotten a divorce. After all, I meant that she no longer had to suffer willow¡¯s presence. Mnie had brought several pictures of young wonten with her, She anged them in front of julian, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled. ¡°Alicia¡¯s frail, so she¡¯s not on the list. I¡¯ve found you a few suitable girls. They¡¯re pretty and hail from wealthy backgrounds. Most importantly, they¡¯re all obedient glils. I¡¯m sure one of them would be a perfect wife for you.¡± s, Julian didn¡¯t even bother looking at the pictures. Instead, he said impassively, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I have to tention of marrying anyone aside from Willow.¡± Mnie blinked dumbly. ¡°But you¡¯re already divorced ¡± Julian card hisptop with a wrap and looked at his mother. Hisdemeanor grew.colder as he responded, ¡°I sad what I said: I have no intention of marrying another. I¡¯ll wishes back eventhough we¡¯re divorced ¡± Mnie was furious with his answer. Nur leapt to her feet. ¡°Julian, are you insane? -25 Bonus She stormed back to her bedroom and startedining to her husband. Unfortunately, Liam wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised After all, Julian was a chip off the old block Julian wouldn¡¯t have reacted so violently at the warehouse if he truly disliked Willow. Liam could tell that Julian only chose to divorce Willow as a temporary measure. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have treated Jeffrey as though Jeffrey were a homewrecker Julian only chose to divorce Willow as a means to drag everything to light. Even Liam had to admit that his son could be a little too calcting for his tastes sometimes. He leaned against the headboard as a smile appeared on his lips. ¡°I think he¡¯s acting as he usually is. Willow¡¯s a good kid. Meanwhile, you¡¯ve been far too focused on her faults. You should really consider her strengths¡± Mnie was about to nag further, but Liam decided to take action, silencing herints with a kiss Mnie couldn¡¯t help but immerse herself in the sweetness of his affection after going without it for a long while. Soon, the two ended up getting lost in each other¡¯s embrace. Julian took a ne to Yarrowmere the next morning. In the meantime, things were chumming in Brindley. Gibson Group had gotten itself in a major mess. As a result, the media hounded them like Inemzed sharks scenting blood. News of Gibson Group¡¯s scandal cycled throughout the day due to the severity of the situation Willow decided to pay the Gibson family a visit. jeffrey¡¯s parents had been taken away for questioning, petfrey¡¯s arm was still far from recovered, but he was forced to handle Gibson Group¡¯s mess. The only one left with nothing to do was a panicked Natalie, who had no idea what was going on Willow gave pilian a call around noon. He only answered the call after six seconds. However, be still sounded asposed as ever. ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see that it was you calling, but I can¡¯t say I¡¯m displeased to hear from you¡± Willow low full well that he was trying to distract her. So, she didn¡¯t bother beating around the bush. ¡°You¡¯re the one behind the Gibson family¡¯s scandal, aren¡¯t you?¡± Julian stood before the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows in his office at Yanowmere¡¯s Neb Group. He held his phone in his hands and sounded even more affectionate as he replied, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood me, Willow. I always keep business and personal matters separate.¡± Willow let out a coldugh. ¡°Please, Julian. I know you too well to fall for that.¡± Jun merely chuckled softly. ¡°You shoulde to Yarrowmere if you want the answers to our questions.¡± Altar 107 There was no way willow would go to Yarrowmen -5 Bonus so, she promptly hung up on Julian After a bear, she stared at the phone in her hands as her mind raced a mile a minute. Julian wasn¡¯t senous when he said he agreed to the divorce. He only chose to let her go free as a temporary mean to keep her in check. The touching speech he gave in court was merely an act He truly was a fantastic actor. Willow went to the Ziegler residence that evening. The sunset painted the sky with swaths of breathtaking colors. The two rows of Faeria¡¯s sycamore trees in the Ziegler residence stood tall, their branches lush and vibrant as they were bathed in a soft golden glow. Sebastian came to greet Willow at the door, saying respectfully, ¡°Mr. Ziegler Senior has gone fishing with his friends. I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t be back tonight. However, Mr. Liam is at home. Would you like to meet him?¡± Based on his words, it was evident he was Liam¡¯s mouthpiece. Willow considered her options and ever and eventually agreed to meet Liam Liam found himself meeting his ex¨Cdaughter¨Cinw in his study. He didn¡¯t treat Willow any differently. Instead, he specifically requested a cup of Mendhling coffee to be brewed for her before personally serving it to Willow. Then, he said warmly, ¡°We¡¯ve just gotten a new batch of bears recently. Please have a taste.¡± The two at side by side in the study. Liam didn¡¯t bother wasting his time pretending to be clueless. Rather, he chose to say in a firm but gentle tone, ¡°We¡¯re family, so I won¡¯t bother dragging things out. I¡¯m afraid neither my father nor i will be able to help you. ¡°Julian owns 10% of Neb Group¡¯s shares. My father gave Dexter 10%, which Julian now holds. In other words, my father could only browbeat Julian into submission if Julian was willing to y the respectful grandson. He has no other way of dealing with Julian otherwise. My father knew you would pay him a visit, so be chose to avoid you.¡± Willow¡¯s heart sank upon hearing Liam¡¯s words, Liam took a sip of his coffee before adding genially, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ralk things our with pulian? Perhaps he might reconsider if you do.¡± wilow curled her lips into a bitter smile, declined Liam¡¯s offer to stay for dinner, and left the Ziegler residence under the cover of dusk. Madanie came storming in the second she left the manor. Mnie was very displeased as she questioned her husband, ¡°Why is she here? Didn¡¯t she divorce Julian? Liam remained seated on the Eborisian embossed couch as he enjoyed the rest of his coffee. When he heard his wife¡¯sints, he shot her a nce and scoffed. ¡± Divorced? Please open your eyes and look around you for once. Your darling son is the one trying to regain Willow¡¯s favor ¡°He¡¯s trying so hard that he¡¯s brought chaos upon Brindley. He¡¯s done all those outrageous things, but where is he now? He¡¯s squirreled off to Yarrowmere, waiting patiently for Willow to darken his doorstep.¡± Mnie was aggrieved by Liam¡¯s rebuke. ¡°How am I supposed to face Dorothy after this?¡± Liam answered, ¡°Face her? You should rejoice if she could stop herself from pping you.¡± The city lights lit up one after another. Willow dropped by Gibson Legal Group on her way y home. The e32¨Cstory building was brightly lit when she arrived. Jeffrey¡¯s secretary opened the door for her and murmured, ¡°Mr. Gibson has been going through the ounts all aftemoon. He hasn¡¯t had a bite even though it¡¯s often sote.¡± Willow nodded upon hearing that corupeal. Jeffrey had a frown on his face as he sat behind the office desk. She could still see the white bandages wrapped around his anns, even though he was wearing his suit jacket overtlem. Meanwhile, his uninjured right hand was holding a half¨Cburned rigarrile while be asionally took a pult from it. He instinctively raised his head when he heard the noise. Then, he promptly extinguished his cigarette. ¡°What brings you here? Willow ced the dinner she had brought for ham on the desk. It was buck a l¡¯Orange Angh Jeffrey was in a bad mood, he still tried to squeeze a smile on his face, saying, ¡°And here I was, starving to death. You¡¯re nw savior¡± Then, he pushed his documents aside with a sweep of his hand. -25 Bonus -25 Bonus Altar 108 Willow ate her dinner with Jeffery Jeffrey didn¡¯t mention a single word about the Gibson family¡¯s financial issues. Instead, he merely talked to her about her day, Willow only felt even more guilty due to him putting on a brave front. She took out a check and ced it on his tidy desk. She had written the amount she had in her savings, totaling around two billion dors. jettery looked at the check and asked softly, ¡°What is this?¡± Willow continued munching on her food. ¡°You can consider that as me trying to give you a hand,¡± Jeffrey slid the check back to her and intoned solemnly. ¡°Willow, that a lot of money. However, thepany owes over 20 billion dors because of this contract We¡¯re still negotiating the terms, but it¡¯s going to be an ardumus process.¡± Besides, he would never allow himself to ept Willow¡¯s money. As for the reason why¡­ Well, there was no need to put things into words. Willow had spent years of her blood, sweat, and tears just to save up all that money. Therefore, Jeffrey¡¯s pride and conscience would never allow him to ept the check He wouldn¡¯t be able to live with himself if he d did. Willow tell silent. After a while, she eventually said the words that had been had been in her mind all this time. ¡°Jeffrey, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jettrey hesitated momentarily before rattling her hair. ¡°What are you saying? This isn¡¯t your fault ¡° s, Willow knew that it was her fault because Julian was the mastermind behind this scandal. Gibson Group¡¯s scandal remained one of the hottest topics the media loved to b abour for the following week willow pulled all the strings she had in her hands and rang up all the connections she possessed to make things right. Unfortunately, everyone in Brindley knew that Julian was behind this, so none of then dared to offer her any help. In the end, Willow still failed to help Jeffrey. Yet, Gibson Group was in dire straits because of her. She couldn¡¯t remain sitting on the sidelines as things crashed and burned. As night fell, so did the city¡¯s hastle and bustle. Willow stood on her apartment¡¯s terrace as the night breeze blew past her long, dark hair. A faint, woodsy scent wafted alongside the breeze. It was soothing and refreshing, but Willow¡¯s mind was far from calm. She had chugged down two cans of beer before eventually biting the bullet and dialing Julian¡¯s number. The phone rang for a couple of seconds before he finally answered. she didn¡¯t bother beating around the bush. Instead, she sounded weary as she said, ¡°Julian, let¡¯s make a deal. I¡¯ll transfer 10% of Neb Group¡¯s shares over to you I¡¯ll even include two billion dors in cash and one auction house to sweeten the deak, You can have it all as long as you let jeffrey and me go. What do you say?¡± Julian let out a bark ofughter on the other end of the line. He responded with a question of his own, asking. ¡°Do you hear yourself? That¡¯s all of your savings, Are you willing to start from square one just for someone like Jeffrey? Is he worth it, Willow? is someone like Jeffrey worthy of your Willow didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s worth it. I owe jeffrey this much.¡± A pregnant silence seemed to drag out on both sides of the phone. It appeared that julian was trying to keep a hold of his temper as he answered in his usual gentlemanly tone, ¡°Willow, do you think this is what I want? I¡¯m sure you know what exactly it is that I want after all I¡¯ve done. I told you, didn¡¯t I? Come to Yarrowmere if you want to talk things out.¡± Perhaps he was truly angered by her words because he hung up on her right after that. All she could hear pow was the sound of the monotonous beeping of an ended ers as she blinked I in acknowledgement. The phone slid from Willow¡¯s fingers as she Yes, she knew what he wanted. Yet, how could she willingly fall into that trap heid for her? How could she return to julian¡¯s side after all the effort abe put into freeing herselt from him? From wwaping their marriage? Altar 109 +25 Bonus Willow didn¡¯t leave for Yarrowmere. She knew Julian far too well. He did all those things and was lying in wait for her. Then, he was going to take his time bending her to his will. Yet, Gibson Group was in dire straits- Willow received a call Jettrey¡¯s mother, Dorothy, had invited herforcoffee. Although the Gibson family was in financial trouble, Dorothy still dressed herself to the nines for a simple meeting. She was practically dripping with branded goods and sparkling jewelry Willow and Dorothy made themselvesfortable in a high¨Cend cate. Willow looked at the wealthy but weary¨Clookingdy across from her, well aware that the other woman was most definitely going to spew some harsh words. Unfortunately, she had no choice but to show up. As expected, Dorothy stirred her coffee and said snootlly, ¡°I never objected to your friendship with Jeffrey in the past because you were Julian¡¯s wife. I had assumed that Jeffrey would know where to draw the line. I didn¡¯t me you when Jeffrey got hurt because of you, as i knew jeffrey did it all willingly. ¡°However, I¡¯m here to tell you to please stop contacting Jeffrey now that you¡¯re divorced. After all, I¡¯m sure we don¡¯t want any unpleasant rumors to make their rounds, do we? Willow replied calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. 1only want to help¡± Dorothy looked up from her drink, her gaze piercing, ¡°I¡¯ll be blunt. I¡¯m aware that jeffrey is in love with you, but I will never ept you as his wife. Even if I do not consider your status as a divorced woman, even if I disorgard the fact that you were married to Julian, I will still never ept someone like you into my family She paused briefly before adding. ¡°Jeffrey¡¯s father and I ce a great deal of importance on the olson family¡¯s future mistress¡¯s background.¡± Willow found it humiliating to be spoken to in such a manner, but she still forged through it. After all, she owed Jeffery her life. Willow could swallow her grievances, but Heather, who had passed by, could not. She had a limited¨Ceditionary purse made from crocodile leather in her arms as she marched to their table. Then, she said with indignation, ¡°Willow didn¡¯t even say anything about marrying into the Gibson family. Yet, here you are, ying the role of an abusive mother¨Cinw, How¡¯s that fair, huh?¡± Dorothy¡¯s face turned pale with anger out of embarassment. She grabbed her purse and rose to her feet. ¡°It¡¯s always better to smother a fire before it can bur Who knows whether she¡¯s doing this to achieve her ulterior motive, like seducing Jeffrey?¡± Heather wanted to argue in Willow¡¯s defense. However, Willow quickdy tugged on her sleeve and shook her head. Heather knew what she was trying to say and sighed ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart pest try by ignore her for Jeffery¡¯s sake.¡± Willow gave her an unperturbed smile. ¡°I¡¯ve never once taken those outrageous ims to heart. Frankly, I¡¯ve heard worse in the past,¡± Heather couldn¡¯t help but feel for her. She reached out to hold Willow¡¯s hand in support. ¡°Your parents would be so upset to hear that,¡± Willow merely smiled at her. She had never met her birth parents, nor did she know who they were. Since they had bumped into each other, Heather chose to join her for a cup of coffee. ting by the time they bid each other farewell, dyeing the sky gold. The sun was setting by i Willow drove to the southem suburbs, nning to visit her grandmother and take Snowy back to her apartment. The night had fallen as she drove into the small vi Maureen came tumbling out when she pulled her car to a stop, aint ready on her lips, Maureen still hadn¡¯t quite recovered from the shock from earlier. ¡°Mr. Ziegler suddenly showed up to visit Madam Harper around 100 pm. | Gigured since you two parted ways amicably, there was no de asom to reject his good intentions ¡°s, I didn¡¯t expect him to take Snowy with him after visiting Madam Harper! Now, both he and the dog are in Yarrowmere. Mr. Ziegler even had the gall to give Willow was dumbfounded She stood under the duck sky and hastily gave Junacall. Julian answered it rather quickly. It had been ten days since theyst spoke, and Julian seemed to have forgotten all about their argument. He sounded incredibly gentle as he said, ¡°Yes, nowy¡¯s keeping mepany at Yaminer. We took the private jet, as there¡¯s no need for you to work I bought it a pink bed. I¡¯ve ced it in the bedroom. It¡¯s quite adorable, really Altar 110 willow was rendered speechless. ¡°Julian, do you think that¡¯s why I called you? Snowy¡¯s my dog. You¡¯ve stolen my dog.¡± Jan remained futterly unfazed as he replied blithely, ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, I¡¯ll take good care of it.¡± Then, he ended the call and sent hera picture. Snowy w was on a greewn. It had a red ball in its mouth as it happily bounded over the person taking its picture. willowcould tell that Snowy really loved its new owner, Willow.couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense ( a sense of helplessness at the sight. Maureen, who had been standing next to her, said hesitantly, ¡°Are we just going to let Mr. Ziegler get away with stealing Snowy? Willow kept her phone away and answered emotionlessly, ¡°You should address julian by his name in the future.¡± Maureen promptly fell silent, not daring to say another word. -25 Bonu Willow finally gave up and took a flight to Yarrowmere three dayster. She had it all nned out. After all, er all, she was confident that fun wouldn¡¯t be home at 4:00 pm on a Thursday. The blue cab she was in stopped before a red and white vi. Willow paid the driver in full before rapping against the ck, omate entrance. Sure enough, a maid Immediately opened the doorforher. ¡°You must be Ms. Harper, correct? Mr. Ziegler¡¯s at home, he¡¯s been waiting for you.¡± Julian was at home? Willow hedged for a moment but eventually followed the maid into the vi. Although this was only Julian¡¯s temporary residence, it was still impably furnished. There were a total of four housekeepers and cooks, two chauffeurs, and a gardener working in the approximately 800¨Csquare¨Cfoot vi, fun had always preferred living in luxury, no matter where he chose to live. The vi was decorated in the Faerian style, making it look both tasteful and refined. The maid smiled at her and said, ¡°Mr. Ziegler¡¯s waiting for you on the second floor. Willow was so done at this point. she followed the maid up the stairs and was brought to the bedroom door at the far eastemer. Then, the maid knocked on the door. Julian was waiting for her in the bedroom¡¯s sitting room. It had been a while since shestid eyes on him. He seemed to have gotten significantly thinner. He was wearing a ssic ck and white suit and had trimmed his hair neatly to his temples. He looked like a wless statur. He was currently sitting on a dark¨Ccolored couch. There was amp next to him, casting a sqft glow on his face. The light stretched the shadows beneath his , adding a sense of fragility to his striking features snowy was lying on its belly right next to him. Julian flipped though his file as he gently caresand Snowy¡¯s fur. Snowy¡¯s dark eyes were filled with adoration for him. Julian tilted his head toward the door when he heard it creak open, catching Willow¡¯s eyes. He gazed at her silently for a breath before telling the maid, ¡°You¡¯re dismissed.¡± The uid practically flew at the pace she had fled. han turned to look at Willow now that they were alone. ¡°Come in and have a wat Willow was still hesitating. However, Snowy made the decision for her with a happy wag of its tall. Its eyes were filled to the brim with pure devation for her. Willow promptly tossed aside all her second thoughts and walked ow to log nowy. Then, she found herself pressed onto the plush couch. His body followed close behand, pinsing her in ce. Naturally, the man could be no one else but tili hanum, only to be trapped beneath Julian¡¯s solid weight, she hastily ced her palms against his chest, shoving him awn Loan her lightly ¡°Julian, let me politan¡¯s eyes poiled with unnamed emotions. He dider¡¯t say anything about letting her go, not did lor say a wood about not teleasing het momentter, he reached out to take hes hair the off -25 Bonus Her long hair came abound. The fine strands of her hair fell upon their bodies, teasing their skin with the fluttery sensation Jan¡¯s dark, dark eyes remained fixed on her. Sure enough, there was a clear, unmistakable hunger in his eyes. Willowawlowardly jerked her head to the side. Julian¡¯s handsome face leaned in as be ced his hand at the back of her neck, cupping it gently toward him. His voice was low and warm, feeling like a lover¡¯s caness as be umurmured, ¡°Perhaps Snowy prefers staying with Daddy.¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Altar 111 Tears welled up in Willow¡¯s eyes, she could never move on from the fact that she was infertile. Julian ribbed the tip of her nose with his and asked in a deep voice, ¡°We haven¡¯t begun doing anything, and yet you¡¯re already crying- Willow pushed him away and sat upright. Grabbing the hair tie, she tied her long hair back into a low hun. As her long fingers brushed aside her hatt, she exposed a section of her delicate neck. Its graceful lines effortlessly reminded him of the past. Whenever he couldn¡¯t hold himself back anymore, he would nibble on her neck and maker hermuan his name. He rubbed Snowy and chuckled halfheartedly. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re here for Snowy and not Jeffrey?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for her response, though. Instead, he picked up his phone and ordered the maid to serve the meal in a while. After he hung up, he resumed his usual wann voice. ¡°It¡¯s been three months, and we¡¯re finally meeting officially. Let¡¯s share a meal. Julian looked so affectionate and considerate that it almost seemed like they had never hurt each other or gone through the divorce The maid in the vi could just guess who Willow was, 50, she had been respectful toward her. From the looks of things, Julian loved her deeply She gave everything she had and prepared over a dozen of Yarrowmene¡¯s signature dishes. Once the food was served on the dining table, it looked and smelled mouth¨Cwatering Be that as it may, Willow didn¡¯t have any appetite, palia took off his coat, revealing his white shirt. Undemeath the glow of the crystal chandelier in the dining room, his stunning visage looked even more defined and pleasing to the eye. He enthusiastically ced a piece of salmon on her te and said, ¡°it was caught this moming. Have a taste.¡± Willow didn¡¯t touch the fresh salmon. Looking at Jalian, she said coldly, ¡°julian, I didn¡¯te to Yarrowmere to parch things up with you.¡± He stared at her for several seconds before he reached out and poured himself a ss of red wine. ¡°Did youe here for jeffrey, then? I saw the news. Things aren¡¯t going well for the Gibson family. Is that what¡¯s breaking your heart?¡± Julian was shedding crocodile tears. None of hispassion was genuine. Willow wore a nonchnt expression. ¡°Jeffrey and 1 are friends.¡± His eyes darkened. ¡°What kind of friends would you guys be? Will you do anything for him, or do you n on marrying him? He never let up on the sarcasm. Willow shot to her feet. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to speak in riddles anymore. ¡°What will it take you to let him and his family off the hoole julian, haven¡¯t you always valued money and power above everything else? is 10% of Neb Group¡¯s shaces not enough to sway your mind?¡± Julian gently ced his wine ss on the dining table. Raising his head, he looked at her. His voice was uncharacteristically tender when he spoke ¡°Since you¡¯re putting everything on the table, I don¡¯t see the point of holding myself back anymore. Be my wife again, and I¡¯ll let Jeffrey and the Gibsons walk free. The next thing he knew, Willow poured a ss of red wine on his head, she put it down and saidily, ¡°You¡¯re worse than an animal, Jin.¡± The maids, who had been standing to the side, were taken aback by what they saw. Julian gave them the signal to leave the dining hall. Then, he got a piece of tissue and slowly wiped the wine stains from himself, but the clothes were ruined. He gave up on it and threw the wine¨Cstained tissue away. Instead of flying into a rage, he responded calmly. ¡°Is this how you¡¯re supposed to ask for help? Willow, I won¡¯t let you take Snowy away, just like Jeffrey can¡¯t take you away from me. We swore an oath.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Willow sorted. Sleer enunciated, ¡°Plot all you what and keep up the good guy act in court, Julian. The truth is that we¡¯ve gotten our divorce certificate. I¡¯m no longer your wife Making it sound like you own me isn¡¯t going to change that. I¡¯m a tree soul.
  • that much, feel free to keep it for now
ckled gently. He looked absolutely unhing whenever he smiled. There was also a hint of love on his expression, not to mention the fondness and , don¡¯t you? The thing is, I have to go in great inng just to see you in person. Willow, it¡¯s been a long time ince we¡¯ve enjoyed each the samne table and share a moral. Are you going to deny this simple request of mine Willow left without any kalian didn¡¯t stop her. He walked over to the floor to ceiling window and ma ser was a delicate little flower on the lush paradum, swaying with the evening | It reminded tam of the torrential rain that night. His pizti had never lifted to this day. Snowy circled around ban¡¯s legs. It whimpered before desperately mobbing its head agatind his pants. Towering | The maid came over and asked timblly, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, slid treheat the dishes? halian responded nonchntly, ¡°Make for some instant mac and cheese,¡± The maid hurriedly old, ¡°Understead? Willow spent a night in the Comal Hotel, yarrowsm. It wasa, ON eiling window and she had just taken a shuiwer Dressedina bathrobe, she sto The building across the street was Neb coop¡¯s Yarrowanere branch, standing She gently leaned her torehead aganist the ss. She isnt moved on from her noundage, but full. Willow had lett her phone at the end of the bed, and it was singing ceaselessly, She knew that it was Julian, but she didn¡¯t ammwer it. His voice was thest thing she needed to beat now. Altar 112 Atter Willow retuned to idley, ale halo¡¯t seen julians for two whole months, and neither did they talk on the pleur. It was as if he were gone from her world, At the beginning of poly, her auction house held ittiest anction, and the sales tracted a whopping i?e million dors, from whatcha cahandsome prodir outbe same night, Willow had a celebration pantyat mosight. People from high society flooded the ce, and her friends were also there to show their support The man standing best chec mos jettier, weaning a ck velvet suli, the fooled bandume and graceful, and he brought out her delicate beauty, Back dis Cantownere, the Chor¡¯s ollier in Neb tuong wonspletely dark, pinsat on the chentar couch with a ss of red wine in his hand. He quietly watched 1 willow and Beltury were standing shoulder to shoulder. Derasinually, they¡¯d swap nces andaluare a smile. she looked so wonderful whenever she gilined. It was a shamer, Hungh She was sting it at aunther man. Raising his hand, julia slowly finishes half of the red wine, bis gaze never leaving the news. Esther knocked on the office doot from outside. ¡°Mi Ziegler, the candy. Your private ne is set udly back to nondley in an hour. ¡± Julian carried Snowy in our of his as the rose to his feet and walked toward the door. The light outside shome on him, but there was only darkness and a cold, lilur glow livins the soren behinlb. The initial stage of the project in Yarrownee had drawn to a close. It was early paly when Julian tok the private ne back to Brindley on the same night. I to be investigated from time to time. The issor guing cabsen Group remained smiresolved, and Gent contined to jethey wouldn¡¯t epta check from Willow. So, she secretly transfered 20% of Insight¡¯s shares to him, That was how much he meant to her as a friend. Today, she had a meal with Heather. Afterward, she went to the restroom. She was about to leave when she suddenly patised. She saw two prople whom she didn¡¯t It was Julia as Natalie. They had the best table in the restant. The ckcrystal surface was ill by a silver candle, creating a truly graceful and romantic scene. He was dressed elegantly, and his defining features were downright seductive, Even hils ck hair tips evaded a mature man¡¯s sex appeal. On the other hand, Natalie wore a long belge dress. Her cheeks were delicate and tender, and she gave out an air of youthful innocence, However, her eyes were red, and her voler was trembling slightly. ¡°Julian, I¡¯m very scared that something hail will happen to my dat ¡± He smiled affectionately in response. Willow wasn¡¯t sure what julian had said to Nata Natalie, but Natalie¡¯s lips were trembling even more now. She was clutching a tissur ayshe lookedpletely lost and ck at himapetly. That was when an seemingly intentionally raised his gaze and saw Willow, who looked right Both of them weir calm, but the same couldn¡¯t be said for Natalie. Her face instantly toned red, and she got up frantically. ¡°Willow! L¡® A mix of emotions washed over Natalie. She felt so ashamed that she didn¡¯t dare to look at Willow. It was pretty obvious what was going on here. Willow knew it all too well Given julian¡¯s stunning appearance and deceitful maneuver, heroobid dann the pants off of Natalie. Julians would y the savion and alienate her from the Gibsons. Natalie would buy intos innocence and tum against her own family. sentially, she would rettrad Willow¡¯s path and be the author of her own downfall like a
  • a moth drawn in me.
beacted, and lurmless. Willow.could just see Willow held Natalie¡¯s hand while she stared at Julian dae said non hntly, ¡°Back already?¡± COIN BUNDLE get more free bonus Altar 113 ulian remainedposed. He even shed Willow a tender smile. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve returned to Brindley for a couple of days now. ¡°I¡¯ve been made aware that something bad happened to jeffrey¡¯s family. So, Natalie and I have shared meals with each other in this restaurant. The ambiance is Willow would¡¯ve buried the candlestick in Julian¡¯s head if she could, but she held herself back and led Natalie out of the restaurant instead. Julian had given Natalie a ride for today¡¯s date. So, Willow hailed a cab and gave the driver her address. Natalie was ashamed. Her eyes welled up with tears before she got into the cab. ¡°Willow.¡± Willow still didn¡¯t say anything, Natalie was simply too young and naive. It wasn¡¯t strange at all that she would sumb to his tricks. She brushed the strands of hair on Natalie¡¯s cheels, tucked them behind thetter¡¯s ear, and said affectionately, ¡°Get in the car. Your mom¡¯s waiting for you at Natalie stapped into the cab. At this point, she had a good idea of what was happening. She covered her face and sobbed. She was wracked with shame that she let her own emotions get to her. The night was as dark as it was enchanting willow stood undemeath the countless neon lights, feeling chilly all over her body. She knew pan all too well, and she also knew just how naive Natalie wa Natalie might have sobered up right now, but all it took was a single phone call from talian, and she would fall back into his clutches, bing nothing more than a hopeless romantic. Willow didn¡¯t return to the restaurant. Instead, she drove straight home. As expected, Julian got there faster than she did Acklimousine was parked underneath an oak tree. Its window was lowered, revealing lean fingers with a cigarette between them. The lit end of the cigarette rose and fell as he smoked, creating a pleasing sight. Willow karw that julian was here for her. Her seduced Natalie simply because he wanted to look for her She walked over, opened the door to the passenger seat, and sat next to him. He turned sideways and looked at her. Then, he snuffed out his cigarette and said tenderly, ¡°Thave to jump through hoops just to see you in person.¡± Willowcast ber gaze at the darkness ahead of the car and responded with a nk face, ¡°Leave Natalie aloon.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Julian chuckded. ¡°What are you insinuating? Natalie is just a lid to me. All I did was express concern about what happened to the Gibson family. You¡¯re also concerned about them, aren¡¯t you?!: Willow asked wearily, ¡°Julian, can we not beat around the bushes? will it all you to be honest for once? Julian¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Are you heartbroken about Natalie or Jeffrey?¡± She responded, ¡°Both¡± Then, she wanted to get our of the car, but he gripped her wrist. A soft click echoed, and the doors were locked, kin yanked at her wrist and pinned her to the car seat. If someone were to look at them from outside, they wouldn¡¯t have known just how much torce be used. Now that the inside of the car was dark, it had, in turn, heightened their sense of smell. The scent of the aftershave he wore mixed with the fresh stench of tobo, assaulting Willow¡¯s nostrils. She leaned on the leather seat in dejection, and she murmured, ¡°Julian, what on earth do you want?¡± He asked gr gently, ¡°Do you have feelings i s for him?¨C It had been five months, and both of them were still single, Julian didn¡¯i have a choler but to pose the question to Willow Tranglisted in bereyes as she looked at him quietly and responded softly, ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± Baising his hand, Julian ran his fingers across her soft cheeks. ¡°I forbid you from having feelings for him. D Altar 114 Chapter 114 The summer night was cool and refreshing. Willow wour a this jacket as she stood out the rooftop quietly. Acigarette was between her fingers, but she didn¡¯t smoke it Instead, she let it slowly bum sit, It was drizzling, and the rainwater doused hercigarette. It didn¡¯t bother her at all. She ced it on the gray failing, which was soon statorid wet, it looked add depressing, Imich like her Lading love and the trendshap she was towed to ent The building across the street had a huge screen, and it was showing thetest news about cibson croups, Gersand had been investigated for severalids nerw First, it was Gibson Group. Then, Nataliee text. Would Jetfire be thetest victim, then? With the way things tumed out, Willow had to give it to Jn. No ne could he loved her deeply. At most, she was an unexpected of events in this lite from the rains Willow used to love Julian with all her beart and soul. However, she suddenly stopped, which upset him. That was all there was to it. The drizzle intensified and turned into a steady rain. The reddish cle at the corner of her eye was glistening, making it fand to distinguish from th Pulling out her phone, she stared at the amber on her seteen. Eventually, she dialed it after much deliberation. When her call was picked up, Willow adopted a light and casual tone. ¡°Jeffrey, let¡¯s go out They made a dinner appointment at a famous tvalian testaitant. It was 7 00 pms by the time thury sat across train each other, Willow had reserved the entire restaurant so no one would disturb them. She put a lot of thought into her appearance Tonigl. She a diamond watch wote a floral dress with ace¨Ctriminal bem and paired it with a pair of ck bigh heels, as for essories, she had a pair of diamond earrings and a Chopard jettiey also looked more elegant than usual. Although it was saitamer, he wore an Eborisian three¨Cpiece suit. He looked so handsome and wose that not even the waitresses.could resist stealing nces at hi The dishes were served one after another. Jeffrey raised a ss of wine and took a sip. Smiling; faintly, he said, ¡°The ham and ck trattles hrie are fantastic. You¡¯ll like it.¡± || Willow hummed in response. She lowered her head and slowly are. Truth be told, she did take her time to savor the taste. After all, she would never have another chance to share a meal with him. Jeffrey had saved her life once, and he was a friend to her. That was why she didn¡¯t want to drag him down with berannuse. Willow kept her head lowered the whole time, petfrey asked her grisly, it delicious?¡± Her voice sounded a little broken. ¡°It¡¯s fantastic!¡± Then, none of them uttered another word. The fact was that Jeffery had a pretty good idea about what was happening. Recently, Natalie had been acting strange, and she would asionally look shy. However, he didn¡¯t me Natalie for it. After all, even Willow, who was cold and aloot, sumbed to Julian¡¯s seduction. Natalie simply didit stand a chance. Willow didn¡¯t say it out loud, nor did pettrey. He had ns to send Natalie overseas, ever shaped a meal as men and women since they had They sat in the vestaurant quietly, enjoying the only Ivalian dimer they had ever shared. It felt like they had never known each other Be that as it may, everything had toe to an end. Willow and Jetfiry walked out of the restaurant. The countless neon lights across the sky cast a dreamy, steal glow on them, bathing everything in a fairytale He somehow got a couple of sparklers and asked her to hold them while he lit them up with one Ind. The glow from the sparklers one on Willow¡¯s delicate face and made her dress seem all the more enchanting. Jeitory kept staring at her. She spoke through the sparkle, her voice soft. ¡°Jelfiey, you¡¯re an excellent man ¡± The didn¡¯t catch what she was saying. Rubbing his left ear, he shed her a tender sandle Willow walked over to him. The sparklerinder hand was no longer important chei Raising her hand, she touched his left eat alfectionately and repeated benell jeffreychuckled. ¡°Not a lot of prople said that about Willow piecie ¡°Well, I¡¯m one of Then, tears glistened indier eyes. She came from a cold and lonely background, and she didn¡¯t have a lot of friends. She cherished her friendship with Jeffrey and Natalie. It was one of the few warn things she had in her life. It started drizzling in the night sky. The water dampened the sparklers and slowly put out their me. The neon light¡¯s glow also lost some of its brightness. The street gradually tuned cold and deste, foreshadowing the end of a meeting. They stood in the gloomy ¡°ill give you a ride home.¡± ¡°Jeffrey, I¡¯ll call arab myself. I want to. Jeffrey didn¡¯t insist on taking W on taking Willow back home. He had a pretty good idea how things would end for them The fact was that his deep love had little meaning in the adversity of a situation beyond his control. He simply had too many things to take into consideration. The Gibson family depended on him. However, lie had never regretted putting his life on the line for the sake of ady he loved, jeltiry walked away first. His broad silhouette slowly drified further away. Willow held a ck umbre and walked the other way. The reddish mole at themer of her eyes glistened against the rainy night. ¡°Farewell, Jeffrey Gibson.¡± Ack Rolls¨CRoyce was parked at the side of the road, Julian was sitting in it. He had been watching them the whole time. He saw how Jeffrey had lingering feelings for her and how alluring Willow had been. Needless to say, he saw bow peluctant they were to leave each other. julian witnessed all of this with nary an emotion on his face. The rain snaked the ground, tracing a light between the puddle and the road, much like Julian¡¯s feelings, sorrowful and downtrodden. He thought to himself that Willow would definitely have married Jeffrey if he hadn¡¯t meddled in their rtionship, Raising his head slightly, Julian gulped ceaselessly. Willow returned to her apartment and saw that julian had been waiting for her for a long time. He got out of his car and looked at her. ¡°Are you going to invite me upstairs for a cup of coffee?! She didn¡¯t respond to him. Sometimes, her silence was conse Both of them climbed the stairs without uttering a single word. After they got into the apartment, their clothes were both stained with ran Willow put her keys down and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll get you a clean towel and make you a cup of coffee.¡± had just turned around when he yanked her hand. In a whirl of motion, he pinned her against the wall Jeffrey held Willow¡¯s slender waist with one hand and pinched her chin with another. Then, he pressed his lips hard against hers The hem of her delicate dress was lifted forcefully before it dangled pitifully underneath the glow of the light Altar 115 This was the first time Julian had done something like this. Arching his toned body, he leaned in Willow¡¯s ear and spoke to her harshly, ¡°You love him, don¡¯t you? Did you put out this dress for Jeffrey Tene. Did you wear it for bina? Spirali, now!? The lights alsove Hem flickered willilly. Willow raised him head, her delicate neck sitt lening. Shestared. Judian, who waas hedde himmelt will rape, and spoke ina. Irinely tour that was meant to agliate him ¡°Yeah, I put it on just for him.¡± Julian napoved his eyes, held the back of her neck, and uttered belly, ¡°You asked for it?¡± The pain hadn¡¯t stopped. Instead, it intensified and formest fone a storm, inimicking the intense, fotcell coupling Hat went down in the apartment. Peace and quiet aliduct retum until it was dawns The bedroom was dimly lit, and a thin nket was draped over Willow¡¯s slender ligne. She said nonchntly, with her back turned in Jun, ¡°You¡¯ve gotten what After abstaining from sex for over six ina thes, he finally satisfied hishist tonight, the might¡¯ve been fuckaucat her radier, but Holding Willow¡¯s delicate shoulder, Julian Her body immediately sattened. Then, she sat upriglu headboard, she wore a nonchnt expressiononher face, ||||||||| a cigarette. She didn¡¯t usually but she needed it to bluff him now, Leaning spalost the for bother us me thing. Men like yo at deserve love at all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s better this way? I¡¯ll sleep with you whenever you love needs. It linsepsiblingscas ¡°pulian, the thing you should ado ismp? your list with love and spirakasif they are i Julian took Willow¡¯s cigarette away and Howard. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t smoke. If we don¡¯t get married, then who are we togacinthed She turned sideways to look at him and chairded. ¡°Friends Obviously, julian was infuriated. However, they had just gotten back together, an Fuspening ! the mood so, be changed the tople ¡°From what I heard, your action house is doing rather well. Also, didn¡¯t you want to go listed? I¡¯m going to invest a billion dors and take 10% of its shares.¡± Willow had no interest in his offer. Litting the nket, she slippeil out of bed. Thein, stir put on abathrobe and beaded to the bathroom. Not long after, the pitter- patterechoed from within, and her blumei voice sociled aft ¡°It¡¯s a bad idea to mingle professional rtionships with privateiones, Frould still digerm that mai ¡°with the way our rtionship is right now, it¡¯ll be wise to avoid getting too entangled with each other. I¡¯ll be a mess to mit angle it in the future,¡± Julian sat on the bed, and his face tuned ted with rage, Willow might have said that she wanted to keep things between them pentessional, but the truth was that she had transfered part of her shares to Jelly Why did she make an exception for Jeffry but not for him? With that said, Julian didn¡¯t throw a hit of expose Willow. In fact, he didn¡¯t even bring up Jeffrey, Instead, he followed her into the bedroom and helped her with the utmost affection he could moster, acting like the most considerate husband in the world. At the height of their estic tension, Julian held the back of Willow¡¯s neck, not hiding his intrations to it with her again. owever, she tumed him down and headed to the walk¨Cin closet. ¡°Totoo tired teado anythin Julian didn¡¯t for her to do it When she put on a clean bathtube, be locked his armus apunted bet waist and said, ¡°There¡¯s a bangurt this Saturday night. Will you be Willow looked emictor. She and Julian were in an infinuate embrace He might have seemed tender non she knewin better than anyone else. After all, she had been his wife for years. His intentions weren¡¯t that hard to guess Willow chuckled dryly ¡°Jeffrey anal Natalie will be there too, won¡¯t they? art she needed. the mirror, julian grinned faintly. His silence was all the answer she ue and stopped looking at him. Her voice was very soft when she spoke ¡°I¡¯ll go with you, Julian, I¡¯m feeling tired now I need to get some deep ¡° Altar 116 Julian could tell that Willow was chasing him out affectionate as befor ¡°I¡¯m going to leave now. Get some test. her ce. He didn¡¯t push his luck. He put on the clothes he wore when he came, and his voice was Willow kept standing and didn¡¯t move until she heard the door close. She stiffly removed her bathrobe and stared at the suggestive marks on her body. Julian had been particrly rough on her because of Jeffrey. It was as if he wanted to leave his personal mark on ber. She took a bath again and scrubbed her body three times. Then, she tossed her dress because Julian¡¯s musky scent was all over it. It was 3:00 am by the time Willow went to the rooftop. She stood there quietly and watched as the city went to sleep, feeling the loneliness enshrouding her A few years ago, Julian made her his wife. He was the only person in her life. Yearster, he made her his again, and her world became deste once more because of him. It might have seemed like Willow had wealth and social connections. However, she actually didn¡¯t have anything. She had never had the thing she¡¯d wanted to do the most. Tears welled up in her eyes as the city beneath her slowly went to sleep The sky was dark as Julian went back to the Ziegler residence. The ck Rolls¨CRoyce had just ground to a halt when Noah opened the car door and said respectfully, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, Mr. Ziegler Senior is waiting for you in the study,¡± Julian stepped out of his car and frowned. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Grandpa sleeping at this time of night? Noah chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve been back in Brindley for a week, but you have yet to swing by and check on him. He wasn¡¯t too happy about it.¡± Julian grinned and followed Noah to the study. The rich scent of aged wood filled the room, and the shadows of some tall nts were reflected on the window. Dominic was ying chess by himself, when he heard movements at the door, he couldn¡¯t help but say sarcastically, ¡°Finally home, are we? Your footsteps alone tell me that you¡¯re on top of the world. ¡°Good on you. You¡¯ve got to be the toughest guy in the family now.¡± Julian could tell what Dominic was hinting at. He gestured for Noah to exit the study while he walked over and sat across from the old¨Ctimer. Smiling nonchntly, he said, ¡°It¡¯s just a small achievement. It¡¯s nothing to be proud of.¡± Dominic stared at Jodian. He looked at thetter from all angles, and he still believed that palian was bewitched. He moved a chess piece across the chessboard and grunted, ¡°why, that¡¯s humble of you. The Gibson residence was almost bumed down because of you ¡°It¡¯s bad enough you screwed up Gibson Group, but you even seduced Natalie. It only took you several dinner appointments to charm her pants off. Aren¡¯t you worried that Willow will get upset?¡± Julian smilled warmly, ¡°Grandpa, you made it sound more serious than it actually is. Something bad happened to Jeffrey¡¯s family, and I wanted to express my concem. That¡¯s all What makes you think I was seducing Natalie? with that said, willow was a little bit upset, but I managed to soothe her.¡± Dominic was no longer in the mood. Tossing the chess piece, he sighed. ¡°Julian, I¡¯ve always been proud of how capable you are, but there were times when I was worried that you were roaling things toond for yourself. ¡°Youve a bit of dealing with everything by being cunning. Now, you¡¯re doing it to Willow. No one could take it. It¡¯s wise to avoid being too extreme.¡± Julian chuckled ¡°You¡¯re right, Grandpa. I¡¯ll keep an eye out for that bad habit,¡± Domini nced at him and brought up another tople. ¡°Dexter and Catherine were sentenced to imprisonment a few days ago. He¡¯s getting four years, and she¡¯ll be put bnd bars for two decades. ¡°Needless to say, Charlie and Nancy are going to raise hell about it. In fact, Tyler and are would also have something to say about it. Let¡¯s not forget that you¡¯re getting Willow to cottur Luck to your side. ¡°Handle it well, Julian. Don¡¯t let the family wrong Willow again. She has suffered enough.¡± chuckied ¡°Understood Leave il 10 tar, Grandpa COIN BUNDLE get more free Altar 118 Chapter 118 Someone walked to the balcony. It was none other than Julian. The moment he walked over, he saw Natalie logging Willow and solihing quietly, causing his eyes to darken When Natalie times around and saw him, she wiped her reddened eyes and left frantically as II she were running away from her worst fears. Julian nced at her for a while and chuckled nonchntly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Natalie ? the looked like she had seen a ghost when she new ine.¡± Willow asked, ¡°julian, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too cal to be? He shed her an enchanting suvile. ¡°Heally? Should I keep sweet¨Ctalking her tiend Willow.couldn¡¯t hold it in anynsone. Haising her hand, she pped Julian, but fie caught her hand. He wasn¡¯t angry, though. re upset, but are you seriously pushing me into anotherdy¡¯s arms? Do you want me to do the same things to Looking at her intensely, he said, ¡°I know you¡¯re up another woman that I did to you in bed?¡± Willow stack of chips. While the cards were being shuffled, Richard¡¯s wife, Kate Brown, faslied an enchanting sinile to Willow, revealing her dimples. Willow, your husband is such a catch. A lot ofdies tonight would¡¯ve eaten him up if they could. You¡¯re going to have to keep a close eye on him. ¡° Willow grinned faintly. ¡°Let him be. I can¡¯t exactly put a leash on him.¡° Heather chimed in yfully, ¡°He might be into it, though. Inoticed how clingy he was around you.¡± The poker game was actually a socialization of some sort. Willow was very good at poker, and she was pun¡¯s partner. So, the others were willing to let her win However, she would rather stay home with a warms.cup tra and a book in her hand night now. Fortunately, Heather wast wasthere. After a sound of poker, thedies were somewhat tired, but the men were still in the middle of their business prpottailons. So, they had no choler but to power. through anothermund, That was when the door to the private room swung open, and in came Dorthy, She was beside herself with rage. If anyone asked her, she would have told them that Jeffrey and Natalie were under Willow¡¯s spell. 11 was painfully clear that Willow hogged all the benefits to herself, and yet Natalle Insisted that she was the good person who sand ficed herself for the Gilbson family. Dorothy raised a ss of wine and sshed li on Willow¡¯s back, sading viciously, ¡°Lo you. You can¡¯t wor your way into the Cibson family. So, you went back and seduced julian. You might be able to fool Naralle, but you can¡¯t fool me Willow rose to her tert slowly. ¡°Do you actually care about Natalle?¡± Heather was also angered. ¡°You want Natalie to marry Julian, but have you ever paised to think about the kind of person he is? Can she hold onto him? You have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Dorothy¡¯s intentions had been exposed, and she was ashameil. Heather was worried that another issue would arise. She led Willow to the lounge and ordered someone to bring thetter some fresh clothes. Then, a apologized to Willow ¡°Mr. Giban was just caught Willow.duckded bitterly. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±
  • moment and got confused. Don¡¯t let her get to you.¡®
was hifian¡¯s fault. ming others for what he did wouldn¡¯t be right. More to the point, slowed Jeffrey hire ile, The way Heather sawit, Willow had it hard, and there was no end in sight for thetter¡¯s alir penonally Willow took off her dress, wrating nothing but her bra and underpants. All of a sudden, Heather¡¯s gaze froze. There was a reddish mole on the rear of Willow¡¯s glistening brightly under the light. Heather Trembled all over as she gently touched the mule and called out to Willow, whom she had met for the first time. ¡°Mis Ziegler, ate you 17 year old?¡± Altar 117 Julian drove over to Willow¡¯s apartment to pick her up at 7:00 pm, Saturday. She still wasn¡¯t downstairs. So, he leaned on the car and smoked. He had burned Through two cigarettes by the time she came, It was a private banquet. Willow didn¡¯t wear a formal outfit. Instead, she put on a Celine dress and a modest set of jewelry. However, Julian was happy with it. He was the only person who had known just how delicate and elegant she really was. Once they were in the car, he unwittingly turned around and frowned slightly. Her neckline was rather low, and her supple breasts were exposed a little. Julian buckled up. His eyes were brimming with lust. ¡°The party hall has strong air¨Cconditioning. I want you to put on my coat,¡± Willow knew about his dark thoughts all too well. She chuckled nonchntly in response. He mmed on the gas pedal and drove along the street, speaking to her tenderly during the whole drive. Her coldness and distant attitude didn¡¯t bother him at all. It was 8:00 pm by the time Julian¡¯s luxurious car drove into a vi, where the party was being held that night. He stepped out of the car and walked over to open the car door for Willow. The doorman can over and said respectfully, ¡°Ms. Ziegler, Mr. Wilson has been waiting for you for a long time Julian chuckled and gave the dooman his invitation while he led Willow into the brightly lit main hall. When they showed up together, the bustling hall was immediately thrust into absolute silence. All the party guests were surprised by what they saw. Did julian patch things up with Willow already? The thing about people was that they love making connections with those of higher social status. Now that the couple was back together, Willow was Mrs. Ziegler once more. So, the people who had given her the cold shoulder before wasted no time in befriending her now. Julian looked particrly dashing tonight. Whenever he grinned, faint dimples appeared on his cheeks, making him look especially charming. It was probably because he had a beautiful plus one with him. He was very friendly and approachable, and he didn¡¯t get mad when the nobledies addressed him by his first name. Meanwhile, Willow knew Julian¡¯s true colors. Unlike the other party guests, she didn¡¯t get entranced by his unique allure. While he was socializing, she grabbed a ss of champagne and went to the balcony for a breath of fresh air. All of a sudden, she heard a timid voice that wasced with a hint of sorrow from behind. She turned around and found herself looking at Natalie. Natalie was gorgeous tonight, wearing a yellow tiered dress. She was young, and her slim body could carry the dress effortlessly. There was a pair of diamond earrings that glistened brilliantly on her ears. tears Wallding of over, she leaned on Willow¡¯s shoulder gently. She was wracked with embarrassment The thing was, Natalie looked like she was on the verge ge of tears w because her mother had called her shameless. At the end of the day, the only person she could rely on turned out to be Willow. She was aware that thetter had gotten back together with Julian for her sake. She also know that he wanted her and Jeffrey to know about it today. Natalie sobbed and said, ¡°Jeffrey wants to send me overseas, and he¡¯s going to marry someone else. Willow, is it my fault? ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, would you have to get back together with Julian? Would Jeffrey live to marry someone he doesn¡¯t love?¡± Willow had no answer for it. Julian was running. Even if Natalie wasn¡¯t in the picture, he still would have found someone else to manipte her. Willow at her finger through Natalie¡¯s hair and said tenderly, ¡°It¡¯s good to spend Nataliebt her lips. ¡°My family is going to be fine, and so will jelliey, ri?¡± A wave of sorrow washes over Willow ¡°Yeah, they¡¯ll be fin noverseas, Look after yourself, oluy?¡± atalie couldn¡¯t hold it back anymoner. Thurwing herself into Willow¡¯s arms, she burst into tears. Slie deeply regretted falling for ton¡¯s charm and losing her simply couldn¡¯t control herself. Infact, something stined in her heart when sheid eyes on pan earlier ached with intense frai Willow keptforting Natalie the lowe wlut tter had gone through, and sher n korw Altar 119 illow wasn¡¯t suspicious at all, nor did she bother foced the way Heather addressed her. She nodded and fummmesd in response Heather¡¯s hand wastrembling, even more intensely now. He was wife in the wealthiest man in Yarrowinere, but her hands were shaking She was bring so careful with it as it s?se were dealing witha tovaluable treasure, Was Willow the beloved daughter she had lost? Heather¡¯s heart was filled with hope, but she was also afraid that it was all abig misunderstanding. Boulding her fingers across the back of Willow¡¯s head, she mummited, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler, there was a strand of gray hair over here. Let me plock it for your Willow was startled for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ve never realized that I have gray hair. Heather gently plucked off a strand of ck hair and let it rest on her palm. Then, she put on some fresh clothes for Willow. When she clected around to do the button, she slowed down, tears welling up fnberryes It willow was actually her daughter, then it would have been years siner thest time she¡¯d fastened the listtons for her littlegid. She didn¡¯t touch her little gid until 22 yearster. That moming dew timed into frost as they talked to each other. |¡°Mom, I want a lollipop ¡° ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll buy one for you, my dear, Hold my hand High.¡± ¡°Mom, the lollipop is so swert. I want to be with you forever.¡± Recalling the past almost made Heather have arternotional meltdown,st r found herself to hold it in. It was too eady to celebrate right now. She needed to do the DNA test ?n immediately and get to the bottom of this. She had to find her beloved daughter and give her everything she had. At that moment, Juljam Lam opened i edoor and came lit. He had probably heard about what happened. Heather hid the tears in her eyes and said, ¡°impable timing, Julian Stay with Willow. Somethinge up, and have to leave now.¡± He nodded and saw her out the door. Now that something like this had fuppened, there was no point to stay in the party. Julian and Willow bade their farewells to the Wilsons, who hosted the banquet. Richard and Kate apologized to them over and over, promising that they would never invite Dorothy to their future parties. Once they were in the car, Julian wanted to inspect Willow. She turned sideways and looked out the window, her tone nonchnt ¡°It¡¯s just a ss of red wine. Moreover, you were wrong in the first ce. It¡¯s only normal that Mrs. Gibson was angered.¡± ¡°Be mad at me, then ¡± He grabbed her hand and made her p his shing face. As her fingers touched his cheeks, she didn¡¯t strike him. It was kind of pathetic to do it this way. Julian stated at Willow¡¯s cheeks and gulped. ¡°Should we head backie Grandview Manor or your ne She grinned indifferently. ¡°pulian, is sex all you everthink about?¡± He frowned slightly, and his eyes darkened. ¡°Willow, you have too low an opinion of me. Do you think being alone with you is all about having sex? Willow couldn¡¯t care less about the answer to that question. Leaning on her seat, the responded icily, ¡°I¡¯ll have to take a rain check. There¡¯s an auction tomorrow ¡°Julian, I¡¯ve thought it through. You¡¯re not going to set me free either way. So, let¡¯s satisly each other¡¯s needs for a wide. In any case, It¡¯s a good deal. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re hideous or anything like that. ¡°But you ran forget about having a rtionship. Something like that is a luxury reserved for the rich and powertul. Meanwhile, I¡¯m just an orphan who doesn¡¯t. deter strone as dignified as you. Snowy along and picky ick you up. It¡¯s been a while Julian had a temble look on his face, but for suppressed his arger and responded, ¡°Once the auction is over, I¡¯ll bring 50 since you¡¯ve sera Snowy Doo Don¡¯t youandes your dog Needless to say, Willow missed wy The night was dark and serene. Timothy was sitting in the lounge and trading a document when Heather came home in a nash, looking disoriented and lost Altar 120 Timothy immediately held Heather¡¯s arm and steadied her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something unpleasant happen at the party? She slumped onto the couch Gripping his clothes tightly, she said in a daze, ¡°Timothy, I think I found my little girl. Trold you about her. She has a mole on her waist, and I saw it on Willow Tonight. ¡°Timothy, do you think she¡¯s the daughter I¡¯ve been searching for all this time? He asked anodously, ¡°Did you ask her about herbackground?¡± She nodded. ¡°All 1 know is that she lived with her grandmother. All they had was each other.¡± fat a coincidence What a Timothy put his hands on his back. He paced back and forth for a while before he stopped and said, ¡°We¡¯re going to need proof for it.¡± Prood? Heather took a silk handkerchief out of her pocket and unfolded it with trembling hands, revealing a strand of hair Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke. ¡°Imothy, I held myself back as best I could at the banquet. I made up an excuse and plucked a strand of her hair because I wanted to make it easy for me to reconnie with Willow,¡± He walked over and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Well, then. What are we waiting for? I¡¯ll ask someone to get the car ready and take you to a DNA testingb right Heather leaned against Timothy¡¯s chest and burst into tears. ¡°I¡¯m so scared that Willow isn¡¯t my little girl and that this is just another dream I¡¯m having.¡± Timothy replied in afoning tone, ¡°If she doesn¡¯t tumour to be your daughter, we¡¯ll search for her again.¡± He held her arm and steadied her, and they leaned against each other as they walked outside, the light stretching their shadows. An hourter, Timothy and Heather were sitting in a DNA testingb in Brindley. Monry could make anything happen. That was why someone rushed over to serve them, even if it was the middle of the night. `She handed the strand of hair to the doctor and had some of her blood drawn, feeling confident that anything was possible as long as she was sincere.. The doctor carefully packaged the sample and told her that he would have the results by 3:00 pm at the earliest. It was in as day that Heather felt let down. Timothy grabbed her by the shoulder and said tenderly, ¡°Let¡¯s be here after lunch tomorrow.¡± She didn¡¯t want to do that. With tears welling in her eyes, she said to him, ¡°I¡¯ve waited for this day for far too long, and I have a feeling that Willow is my little girl. ¡°Timothy, you have no idea how much she looked like my little girl when she smiled. Didn¡¯t you say that her eyes reminded you of mine 7- He searched his memories and found her words to be true. If she didn¡¯t want to leave, he wouldn¡¯t leave either so, he paid to stay at the lounge. The sky brightened as the darkness faded. It had been 16 hours now, and Heather was releurlessly tormented during the long wait. At longst, the DNA test results were revealed in the evening. The doctor was happy for her too. ¡°Mrs. Chapman, the test result determined that you are Ms. Harpby¡¯s biological mother,¡®¡® Heather took the report and read it over and over. Then, tears streamed down her cheeks. She was and she has been by my side the whole time. Only, I didn¡¯t recognize her for who she really is Timothy hugged Heather, feeling heartbroken. ¡°You won¡¯t be away from her anymore.¡± She sobbed uncontrobly, her cries filled with anguish, just how much suffering was Willow put though? Willow was just an orphan, and yet she married into the Ziegler family. Heather couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine low many times the others had gegarded her with disdain and helittled her openly. Take Dorothy, for example. She wrapped at Willow put because she felt like it Heather looked at Timothy with misty eyes. ¡°I want to see my daughternow. ¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus D Altar 121 At dosk, the setting son shone through the ck metal fence of the house in the southern suburbs, casting a warm light over the hedrangeas in the courtyard. titace was lying on a reclining chair, enjoying the evening breeze. Mautern was carefully peeling oranges right next to her. Suddenly, a gleaming ck car pulled outside the yard, Heather, supported by Timothy, stepped inside. trace nced up and smiled: ¡°What brings you here? Are you looking for Willow!¡± Heather¡¯s hair was disheveled. She stumbled forward, falling to her knees beside Grace¡¯s chair. Holding back her emotions, her voice trembled as she asked, ¡°Wistonia Lane Madam Harper, you once lived there, paying a rent of 100 dors a month. ¡°In winter, there was no hot water. If you wanted a waris bath, you had to walk miles to a public bathhouse.¡± titace¡¯s expression clunged Asil realizing something, she nodded heavily. Heather¡¯s nails dug into the chairas tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°22 years her mother on the streets.¡± trace trembled as she stood up. ¡°How do you know this?¡± Lago, you took in a five¨Cyear¨Cold girl. That day, she was holding a lollipop, searching for Tears streamed down Heather¡¯s face. She helped Grace back into the chair before dropping to the ground. She held Grace¡¯s hand and cried uncontrobly. ¡°That¡¯s because the little girl was my daughter. Willow She¡¯s my daughter! **Madam Harper, you took in my daughter and raised her into the woman she is today. If not for your kindness, we wouldn¡¯t have reunited¡± Heather dropped to the ground, ovee with emotion. All these years, she had spent so much time and effort waiting for this mon moment. Grace looked at Heather and wiped away bez own tears. ¡°When I found her, she had already been wandering the streets for five days. She was so thin that I was afraid she wouldn¡¯t survive Heather pped hensell across the face twice. Altar 122 Her hair was a mess, but her eyes burned with determination. Timothy wasposed. He helped Heather up and shook Grace¡¯s hand. ¡°Heather and I will never be able to thank you enough. If you have any bell un y requeats, please, just Grace sat in the cool summer breeze, her silver hair ttering gently. She saniled and answered, ¡°pat love Willow deeply. Knowing that Willow has people who Truly care for her makes me happy. the lus already given me everything else I need.¡± Heather dropped to her knees once again. With train in her eyes, she said solemmily, ¡°You truly are our savior.¡± After that, she use use to her feet and left with Timothy, wanting to find her daughter. Intheevening, Willow, who was at the airport, watched as a ne soared into the sky, heading west, Natalie was gone, making her way to Guscali. Before she left, she had called Willow, asking to see ber onest time. They met at a caf¨¦ inside the airport, where Natalie gutted her a harmonica, saying it had bern her most treasured childhood possession. Willow fagged her gently and watched her board the ne The setting sun bathed the sky in a golden hue, with the clouds looking like painted brushstrokes. ¡°Natalie, the world is vast and boundless. May you soar free at the office, Willow ced the art on a bookshell, letting it rest quietly et Auright tell, Annir knocked on the door. ¡°Ms. Harper, the auction will begin shortly. There are guillems op forbidding tonight, and all the seats are filled er is the renowned Ms. Yvette Thompson Hier style was popr among the wealthy guests.¡± Willow nodded, pleased with Andie¡¯s meticulous handling of the event. She changed into a ck evening dress, tied up her hair, and touched up her makeup before stepping into the auction ball. +25 Donu As expected, tonight¡¯s auction was a huge sess. Several well¨Cknown collectors sent representatives to bid on selected items at high prices, causing a frenzy that quickly went viral online. ¨C Just like that, Insight¡¯s reputation skyrocketed. A mund of apuse erupted as Willow took the stage with a ss of champagne in hand to deliver the closing speech. ¡°Thank you all for your unwavering support In the future, Insight will continue to bring in valuable collections. Thank you all.¡± The beautiful female host led the audience in apuse. Willow set down her ss and took a deep bow on stage. Just as she was basking in the moment, amotion arose from the cond out, ¡°Willow only climbed to the top by sleeping ng her way there! Without Julian Ziegler, she¡¯d still be a nobody ¡°The role of Mrs. Ziegler should have belonged to my poor daughter!¡± Amid the murmurs, Charlie, Nancy, Tyler, and Karen stepped onto the stage. Since both families children were convicted, they conspired in secret as they couldn¡¯t stand seeing Willow seed. Karen was particrly angry. Her son had not done anything harmful, so why was he sentenced to four years in prison? No one in Tyler¡¯s household had pleaded for Dexter Karen wanted the orphaned Willow dead and to expose her. Karen pointed her finger at Willow and spat, ¡°She¡¯s just an orphan who climbed into julian¡¯s bed, ruining the engagement between the zieglers and the Buckes. ¡°The sess in her career is all built by sleeping with a mun.¡± In reality, everyone knew about what had happened back then. However, when people wanted to condemn someone, they nevercked an excise. Besides, outsiders rarely cared about facts. All they cared about was gossip. Since this usation came from someone in the Ziegler family, it had to be real, Nancy cried and added, ¡°Willow Harper se er seduced Julian Ziegler.¡± she nudged charlie, wanting him to speak up. If he did, this would be settled once and for all Willow¡¯s reputation would be ruined, so she could never set foot in the Ziegler residence again. Charlie stared at Willow. His lips parted slightly. After a slight hesitation, he spoke against his will, ¡°That¡¯s right, Julian was supposed to be my son¨Cinw. This shameless woman stole my daughter¡¯s rightful ce.¡± The crowd erupted. Willow lowered her gaze slightly. Just because she was an orphan, everything she had worked for wasn¡¯t recognized. Now, she was even being used of something baseless. The man she had once admired as an artist tomed out to be nothing more than a hypocrite, Fortunately, she had saved that recording from back then. Back when she had loved julian, she had recorded his proposal. Later on, she couldn¡¯t bear to delete it. Everdually, when she stopped loving him, she had simply forgotten about it. suddenly, a sharp voice rang from the entrance. ¡°Who said that Willow is an orphan? Who said she must marry into the Ziegler family?¡± The light in the bashed at the person Standing there was Heather, covered in tears. She was holding a white sheet of paper in herhands. She shook her head and said, ¡°She¡¯s not an orphan. She¡¯s a woman of immeasurable worth ¡°Forget Julian Ziegler. She¡¯s even worthy of a prince¡± The people around thought she had lost her mind. Nancy inerted. ¡°This is our family matter! Heathri, May out of it. Heather walked slowly toward Charlie and pped him across the face She didn¡¯t bold back against that scumbag Then, she rassed the paper in her hand and announced, ¡°Willow Harper is my daughter. She¡¯s the rightful heiress of the Chipman Exosily. ¡± Altar 123 tultan stond quietly, wat hing as Willow¡¯s chaotic life was finally set right. He began to wonder if she had never gone missing as a child, she would have never She would¡± * grown up receiving the best education, living a life of privilege. Perhaps, in this lifetime, their paths would¡¯ve never crossed He would have stayed in Brindley, while she stayed in Yarrowite. They might have st stayed strangers who had just heard each other¡¯s names in passing He diduct dastuch her. Instead, he tumed and left silently, settling into the back seat of his car. The night julian, ever soposed and dignified, sat in the back seal and instructed Esther, ¡°Contact the Pat department. I want a post issued Estler udded. Then, tolian sent the proposal to Eather. When Esther read it, she was stummed.
  1. d. That was rather expreted move from juliars.
Tenndistester, Neb firmup published an official post, with a simple raption, ¡°My true love¡°. Attached to the post was a photograph of Willow, curled up on a soda and reading a book. The image exuded a peaceful and elegant vibe This post quickly went viral, Just like that, Jun ramed himself a new nickname The Ultimate Samp With a single phone call, Dominic summoned Jonback to the Ziegler residence. As Julian steppeit nut of the car, Noah gave him a beads up. ¡°Mr. Ziegler isying into Tyler and Karen right now. He¡¯s furious. If you ask me, Tyler¡¯s lost his damn buttoned his suit jacket and quickly walked toward the soon as he pushed the door open, he was met with the sight of Dominic wielding a belt. Dominic was hitting Tyler w Altar 124 while berating Karen. ¡°You heartless fools! Dexter nearly gor Willow killed. You¡¯re lucky that she didn¡¯t pursue the matter. ¡°Instead, you two have the audacity to team up with the Burkes to stir up trouble. Are you tired of living, or has life been too easy for you two? If you think the Ziegler family isn¡¯t good enough for you, pack your bags and leave. Save me the trouble of having to clean up your messes all the time!¡± Tyler just remained silent ache gazed at the floor. Meanwhile, Mnie was secretly happy. After all, she didn¡¯t furve a good rtionship with Karen. ¨C kind of man you raised!¡° Dominic continued his lecturing ¡°And the rest of you. Wasn¡¯t it julian who tricked Willow into marrying him back then? Look at what kind of Just then, Julianarrived. Dominic tossed the belt aside and sneered, ¡°Well, well Look who¡¯s here. Our very own Casanova, the former son¨Cinw of the Chapmans.¡± Mnie discreetly covered her nose with a handkerchief. ther a te before ring at Julian, Ina sarcastic tone, he continued, ¡°True love? I¡¯m amazed that you dared to post that. Even I feel embarassed. ¡°willow¡¯s grandinother is ill, and what did you do to Leonard? When Dexter was causing trouble, you didn¡¯t care for her one bit. ¡°We¡¯re lucky she survived. Otherwise, Timothy and his wife would i uld have never let our family off the look Julian picked up cbelt from the floor and ced it back in Dominic¡¯s hands. He sold gently, ¡°Grandpa, please punish me as well.¡± Dormiate squinted at him, then scoffed, ¡°I¡¯m sweating from all this yelling and beating. The you wait me to drop dead? Or do you have another scheme up in your Julian smiled faintly. ¡°There¡¯s something I need your help with, Grandpa ¡± Dominic crackled ¡°Haithe summisen in the west today? (thought you were brint and capable. Since when did you ask for help? cka not working anymore? You¡¯re afraid her patents won¡¯t approve, so now you want to use me. Any right?¡± dian lowered his gaze humbly. ¡°You¡¯re priceptive as always, Grandpa.¡± chelid phar b?rit uns hand tightly, deep in thought. Then, he asked, ¡°Do you really want to spend the rest of your line with Willow?¡± Dominic stared at him again Mnie interrupted, ¡°Why would the Chapman ever agree to this? They are the richest family in Yarrownorte, a ry bit as powerful as we are ¡°Timothy has no son, which means his entire fortune will go to Willow. There¡¯s no way they¡¯d take palian back as their son¨Cinw.¡± Mnie was talking in a sarcastic tone. Dominic shot Tyler and Mnie a re. ¡°You two idiots. I can¡¯t count on either of you to be useful.¡± With that, he flung the belt aside. In the end, Dominic decided that he¡¯d have to make a trip to Yarrownee himself. COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comment Altar 125 It was the middle of the night, but the Chapman residence in Yarrower was brightly lit. Laura personally came to the entrance to greet them Despite her age, Laura was pragmatic. She had always respected her son¡¯s choices in love, but the fact that he had no children to carry on his legacy had always been a lingering regret in het heart. Now, as she looked at Willow, she couldn¡¯t help but notice how perfect Willow was. She was pretty and intelligent, the full package Lama was utterly satisfied: She mattered, ¡°Emally, Toothy has someone to lobedit his name. This child has been raised well. Thedy who raised her in Brindley mast have done an excellent job. ¡°She¡¯s got the makings of someone who will aplish great things.!! Laura tumed to Heather with stul reproach. ¡°She has done is such a huge favor. Why didn¡¯t you bring her over to share our jev?¡± Heather quickly exined, ¡°Mom, Willow¡¯s grandmother just had a major surgery and is still recovering. When she¡¯s feeling better, we¡¯ll invite her over. ¡°Just now, I have sent some supplements to her on your behalf. theand she was quite pleased.¡± Laura chuckled and turned to Willow. ¡°Your mother may seem delicate, but she¡¯s a capable woman. You take after her.¡± Laura reached out and held willow¡¯s hand, taking a careful look at her from head to toe. Suddenly, her expression changed Laura turned toward Timothy with dissatisfaction. ¡°This is too in! It¡¯s far too in! What kind of youngdy dresses this modestly? ¡°She doesn¡¯t even have a single piece of proper jewelry on her! I bet the Zieglers mistreated her. Tomorrow, you and Heather are taking her shopping. Do not hold back one bit- Timothy agreed without hesitation. He exchanged a nce with Heather, both filled with warmth and affection. Laura found their disy of attection a little much. She parted Willow¡¯s hand and dered, ¡°Before this, since Timothy had no heir, many greedy rtives circled uns like vultures, eyeing his fortune. ¡°Now that you¡¯re back, I¡¯d like to see which of them dates to try anything now.¡± Willow¡¯s arrival truly delighted Laura. She quickly ordered all of the housekeepers to assemble and lineup. Laura instructed them to address Willow as Ms. Willow. As for her name, Laura insisted that she kept it as it was. Laura said that Grace¡¯s kindness should never be forgotten, so Willow would carry the name ¡°Harper¡± for the rest of her life. Who wouldn¡¯t want to be part of such a family? Willow felt as if she were inadream. That night, Heather personally brought her to her bedroom. Naturally, Heather tried to make up for be lost years by decorating the room in pink, reminiscent of a fairytale prices¡® IDOOL At , the mother and daughter had their first real moment alone together In such a condonable environment, Heather hugend Willow tightly, unwilling to let go. However, she understood that Willow was an adult, not the five¨Cyear¨Cold from before. Heather cupped Willow¡¯s face and studied her carefully ¡°You¡¯ve grown up so lovely. Your grandmother adores you. From now on, I won¡¯t let you suffer any er heart filled with admiration and longing Willow past let Heather hold her, her She had a mother now, and what a wonderful mothersh wo had endless things to talk about alter Timothy had finished discussing matters with Laura, he caine over and urged Heatlier to go get Thoughurlurta rather understood there would be plenty of tir d So, Hattare and Timothy both returned to the bedroom et in the finest hotel in Timothy took off his suit jacket and ced his handson Heather¡¯s shoulders. He said gently. ¡°Mom wants to hold a grand bansport Yarrowmeie It¡¯ll be a three day least where the entiteellycancane and celle ¡°She believes it will also bring good fortune for Willow. Heather was delighted to hear that. She turned around and helped Timothy unbutton his dress shirt. ¡°Before this, I was womed whether Mom would dislike Willow. Now, I can finally pot that fear to rest.¡± ¡± Altar 126 Tuty held Heather¡¯s past and ced it over his beast, his eyes filled with deep affection After so many years of muntage, they shared addeep bond Besides, he could feel his heart beating stongle, showing that he was este let bans ranty beconta the soll bed with their long held wish fulfilled, their lovemaking that night was evenmir passionate thou belon The entire city of Yawmere velebrated the chosen tausily resting with the daughter, The next day, Doininic Hosed his anical pestestle and anticed at the Chapuisantesidence at i A convoy of ck, busy seans polled in after another thighs the entiam When the housekeeper went to camnounce their attival, Laura was introducing Willow to her family must trienals. She chucklest and said, ¡°pidoet Willow and that Ziegler que abrade get ihonved? It¡¯s all in ck and white she trying to gebacken? ¡°He¡¯ll have to go to girat lengths, maybe even attend the constit The housekeeper cleared her throat and added, ¡°M. Ziegler seulou is here to propose marriage. ¡± However, considering that both tansiles bad deep business ties antibe fact that Dominic came all the way he idley, Lana agred to see him, albed The housekeeper n?dded anibwalked away. About five invitester, people statest entering o the living area with its in their banch, each bring valuable extravagant Launa just sipped her tea leisurely, unfazed by the situation. Vince all the gifts had beeisidelivered, Bde entered withchischilderkand grandchilden). The moment beentered, be greeted Lamaruthusiastically, ¡°Madani Chapusan, my dear inw, we tally muret ¡± Laura didn¡¯t even lits het gate. ¡°oh, Twouldn¡¯t dareim that title. I believe we¡¯ve former inwesc¡± Hearing that, Iomninde inumediately knew he¡¯diet a formidable opponent. When was thest time anyone had treated in that coldly? But since the Zieglers were in the wrong, Dominic swallowed his pride and forced a suile. ¡°The Tauschilden had a little disagreement, so Irosight toushere today to apologize personally. Levenbrought along his insensible ttives. They¡¯re for you to deal with¡± Dominic shot them a ir, and Tyler and Katen quickly stepped forwand stitily to offer their apologies. Deminte baked, ¡°You now blists!¡± ty ate you disciplining your family members be at the Chapman residence? cha Jumble Lautaset her teacup down and said sarcastically, ¡°M. Ziegler Senior, why are ce isn¡¯t big enough for these two ¡°As for the manage matters, since they are divorced, let¡¯s isot keep in touchs in protect their reputatious. There are plenty of fine young men in Yanownie. In Tact, Willow¡¯s mother is taking her to meet potential suitors tomorow¡± The two elders were evenly matched. at a slight disadvantage. Realizing that he was losing promil, Dominite shot julian a slump look. Dominic had been standing there sideidly the wlude tine, Jetting Paulnie do all the talking muli s?ddenly, a lussekeeper tundud tuu the living aura. ¡°Their¡¯va Mi. Bike outside, wishing to tueel Ma. Halper. He says his name is Charlie nuske, and that hurts Heather¡¯s expression darkened aswell. After all, anta, however, temaliedposed. She turned to the bonusekeeper and meeted, ¡°He¡¯s rted to Willow? Let him in Ed love to meet him. ¡°I¡¯d like to see how shameless he is and what he¡¯s capable of!¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Altar 127 A momentter, a housekeeper led Charlie and Nancy into the living hall Nancy was visibly displeased. Back in their youth, Heather had been no match for Nancy in any regard. But now, Nancy found herself needing to beg that wretched woman for something- Charlie kept his tone gentle, trying to smooth things over. Nancy sneered, ¡°Why are you trying to y the good guy? Back then, you were never as talented as her. If it weren¡¯t for my father¡¯s favoritism, you never would¡¯ve won that prestigious award ¡°It would have gone in that wretch instead. Charlie hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Stop it. Let¡¯s not talk about the past.¡± Nancy scoffed again. ¡°Sometimes, I actually pity her for mistaking you for a decent man.¡± As the two continued bickering, they stepped inside the Chapman residence. The Chapman residence was the most luxurious mansion in Yarrowmere. Even from the foyer, the decorations were overwhelming. The living room alone spanned Over 1,000 square feet. The dining hall was shaped like a dome, with natural lighting from all angles. It even had an automated lift system. Charlie and Nancy were momentarily stunned by the grandeur What surprised them even more was that the Zieglers were her before them. No wonder so many ck luxury sedans were parked outside¨Call with Brindley license tes. The moment Charlie¡¯s gaze , a wave of fatherly affection rose in him In Chadle¡¯s mind, a family like the Chapmans would surely be reasonable. With that belief, he respectfully talked to Laura, apologize for the intrusion today. I¡¯vee to fulfill a long¨Cheld wish to reunite with my long¨Clost daughter.¡± Laura Ignored him for a moment and sipped on her tea. After a while, she raised her gaze and said, ¡°A reunion? What a coincidence. Timothy and Heather had just reunited with their daughter, Willow. ¡°She¡¯s such a wonderful child. I adore her,¡± Charlie was visibly agitated. ¡°She¡¯s my biological daughter.¡± Laura raised an eyebrow. ¡°Your biological daughter? Isn¡¯t she serving time in prison? Who in this house is your biological daughter? ¡°Let me ask you this. Have you ever cared for her? Have you ever evented her a single meal? Have you ever personally taken ber to school, even once?¡± A hint of guilt shed across Charlie¡¯s face. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t Still, he desperately wanted to reunite with his daughter. With tears in his eyes, he tumed to Willow. ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡± Laura took a sip of the tea and said, ¡°Make it up to her? Did you even bring anything for her? Or did you just show up empty¨Chanded?¡± Charlie¡¯s face flushed red with embarrassment. Meanwhile, the Zieglers, who were standing aside, were enjoying the show, especially Tyler and Karen The Burkes had tricked them before, so they were more than happy if Laura humiliated them further. Just then, there was a s a sigh of relief when he was let off the hook Everyone stepped outside, just to be met with four luxury cars lined up at the entrance of the Chapman residence. There was a pink Rolls¨CRoyce, a ck Rolls¨CRoyce Gillinap, and two supercars worth a total of 50 million dors. Altogether, the cars were valued at over 100 milion dors The cars were gleaming, radiating wealth and prestige. Laurafeigned ignorance and tumed to Timothy. ¡°Timothy, was this your doing?¡± Timothy wrapped an arm around Heather¡¯s shoulders and chuckled. ¡°I just picked up a few new toys for Willow. It she likes the newer models, we¡¯ll gai her.¡± Laura praised Timothy. ¡°You did a good job on this. That¡¯s how you should love your children.¡± After saying that, her sharp gaze swung back to Charle Charlie besitated once again. Despite his fame, in reality, he was barely scraping by. There was no way he could afford soch he just kept quiet. Laura let out a chuckle. ¡°I thought ght you were here to take Willow back to a better life. Turns out, your pockets are empty, ¡°How dare youe here, trying to take away our child for free? I get it now. You¡¯re getting old, so you¡¯re worried you won¡¯t have someone to care for you. ¡°That¡¯s the reason why you came here to reunite with Willow,¡± Altar 128 Charlie was a well¨Cknown figure, When had he ever suffered such humiliation? +25 Bonus After some intemal struggle, be finally stated his purpose. ¡°The thing is, Willow and Catherine are half¨Csisters. Considering their blood blood ties, I hope you can spare ¡°In your dreams¡± Laura even spat on the ground in Charlie¡¯s direction ¡°You heartless, rotten bastard. Take your wife and get the hell out of here! Don¡¯t stay here and be an eyesore. I¡¯ll have to clean my eyes after looking at you. ackthen ¡°Do you think I didn¡¯t know what happened back then? You were in a rtionship with Heather, but because your wife¡¯s father was on the judging panel, you shamelessly switched sides. ¡°You even ndered Heather, using her of being unfaithful. Charlie, after what you did to Heather and Willow, how dare youe here to im your daughter? ¡°The only ce your family belongs is prison!¡± Laura was swift and decisive. She tumed to the housekeeper and ordered, ¡°Grab a broom and sweep these heartless people out of my house.¡± The housekeepers wasted no time and drove them out immediately. Charlie and Nancy fled in embarassident. Once she had taken care of that, Laura was still holding a broom In her hand. She looked over at the Zieglers and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think we can amodate you here, please leave!¡± Dominte had just seen what Laura was capable of. He rubbed his nose and stared at Julians. Julian had to take care of this himself. Soon, Dominic lett, with his children and grandchildren following behind. Laura parted Willow¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Your mother will pick someone better for you. If none Willow smiled softly or you. If none of thems fthem suit you, you can just stay single.¡± She liked the Chapinan family, not because of how wealthy they were, but because they treated her with genuine kindness. At dinner, Laura kept the conversation going. It was already 10:00 pm when they finally left the dining hall After bidding Heather goodnight, Willow took the quiet pathway leading to her bedroom in the southern wing. Her bedroom was the finest one on the second floor and had even been specially decorated in soft pinktones. She had long outgrown such aesthetics, but she was happy y to Indulge in her elders¡® wishes. When she pushed open the door and reached for the light switch, a warm hand covered her mouth. The familiar scent made her recognize him instantly. It was Julian. Willow was pressed against the wall, her voice muffled. ¡°How did you get in here?¡± Willow assumed that, given his shameless ways, he must have bribed one of the housekeepers. Surprisingly, he replied, ¡°I crawled through the doggy door.¡± Just as Willow was about to retort, something small and warm was ced into her arms. When she looked down, she saw Snowy staring at her lovingly with its deep, dark eyes. It even let out a soft whimper. No one could remain Indifferent to such an expression, especially for Willow, since Snowy had anved her before. Willow nudged him, and julian immediately released her. In a heartfelt voice, be said softly, ¡°Sonwy has missed you all this time. Don¡¯t you miss him?¡± of course, she had missed him. But julian didn¡¯t let her have him. Now that she finally had the chance to see Sonwy, Willow went downstairs and asked a housekeeper for some dog treats. It had been quite some time since Snowy hadst seen Willow, so he clung to her, unwilling to leave. Under the warm glow of the lights, Julian watched! d Willow intently, his longing clear. ¡°Are you really going matchmaking? Do you really not like me anyone? Willow was brushing Snowy¡¯s fun as she replied indifferently, ¡°What about you is there for me to like? Do I like the fact that you have flings with other women? Dot like that you¡¯re cold¨Chearted, or perhaps how obsessed you are withinoney?¡± Julian stiffened. ¡°Willow, there aren¡¯t any other women. Willow ignored him and continued grooming Snowy. Seeing this, Julian said, ¡°If you insist on attending the blind dates, line. You¡¯ll soon realize that no one suits you better than me.¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus D Altar 129 hree dayster, Willow retinted to Bundley. Heather had arranged a series of blind dates for he I meet anyone mutable. cher, Out of respect, Willow went along with it. However, she didn¡¯t meri Julian had run into her on a cosmple of asions, but as he had promised, he hadn¡¯t interferei A monthter, at Hidden Springs Restaurant, another blind date had just endeid. Willow went to the testroom to wash her hands betone heading home, The lighting was sott Willow¡¯s Lace mythe mirror was serene. For tonight¡¯s blindidate, she put on an elegant cocktail dress and tied upcher hair loosely. Atter washing her hands, she put on the diamond watch that she hatte moved eatliet When she looked up, she saw a mum in the minor, it was pun. He was wearing a ck button¨Cdown shit with stacks, but it wasn¡¯t patiently sisal. He was leaning agatust the wall, building acigarette between his fingers between putts. Willow ignored him and tamed off the faucet betone walking past him | halian blocked her path. Then, with a switt kick, he shat the resitanen door behind him. Willow¡¯s tone was cold.
  1. ¡°What are you
wie you doing? Julian stared¨Cdown at her, his gare deep and unteadable. After a long pause, he asked softly. ¡°How was your date tonight? Did you like him?¡± willow replied, ¡°He was tine¡± hilian chuckled. ¡°It that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you te han? This is already the fifth blind te, right? Have you found someone suitable yet: Willow scoffed. ~11 this one doesn¡¯t workout, I¡¯ll just findanesber Julian¡¯s expression darkened. He pulled her into his arms, lowering her face close to hers. ¡°When that guy was looking at you. When I saw the look in his eyes, I sweat, I wanted to rip him apart,¡± Trapped in his embrace, listening to his jealous words, Willow felt hetheart grow colder. She stared at his eyes and manured, ¡°Julian, do you want to hear the truth? For a woman like me who can¡¯t have children, I don¡¯t have that many choices. The ones who are suitable mually care about it, and the ones who don¡¯t might not be the ones I like. ¡°This isn¡¯t a supermarket where Lean just pick and choose like I¡¯in buying vegetables, Julian, since this isn¡¯t happening to you, you¡¯ll never understand.¡± As soon as she finished talking, her heart ached. She wasn¡¯t dead set on having children, but there was a difference between not wanting children and not being able to. Julian swallowed hard. For the first time, he felt as if his heart had broken into pieces. He could never make up for what he owed her in this lifetime. Making her his wife again had be his obsession. Willow turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand. His eyes pleaded with desperation. Suddenly, Julian¡¯s phone rang Liam calling him, and his voice was sugent. Julian,e home right now. Dad fell off his horse and is in bad shape. This might be the time we see him. After a short pause, Liam added. ¡°If it¡¯s possible, bring Willow bene. Dad really wants to see her.¡± / Willow could hear every word through the phone Lan¡¯s limbs went relid. He looked at Willow, his gaze filled with pleading Willow tonight of the past. During the nights when she had been gravely ill, Dominic stayed by her bedside, when Catherine caused trouble, Dominic stood his ground and shielded her Willow¡¯s voir trembled slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s po On the way back to the Ziegler residence, Juliandure like a madman Less than 30 minutester, the ck Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom pulled up at the Ziegler residence Julian quickly pushed out of the car and went straight to thaminic¡¯s As be led them inside, he said, ¡°Dad (out riding with some of his old friends. slip is wless, but today, he identally fell off the bo gine is minipletely shortened binding in He refused to stay in the hospital and kept saying he wanted to dark and heavy This eyes. He urged, ¡°o in Dad has been walling for you both Inside the bedroom, the members of the Ziegler family had gathered. Their quiet solos filled the coom. Dominic was in his final moments, yet he refused to go before seeing the people he wanted to ser He stubbornly clung to life. His eyes were tightly closed, but he refused to pass away. Dexter wasn¡¯ting back What about julian? Why hadn¡¯t julian and Willow returned? At that moment, the bedroom door was pushed open. Julianand Willow prickly rushed indde Jon Immediately dropped to his knees beside the bed and said softly, ¡°Grandpa, Hiught Willowhere Open your eyes and see. I bought her here to see you¡± Willow¡­.Willow¡­ Julian and Willow hade back? Dominic¡¯s cloudy eyes slowly opened. Its vision was blued, and his lineathing was was shallow and weak. Liam held back his grief and whispered in his ears, ¡°Dad, Julian and Willow are here. Do you have anything to say to them? Domime¡¯s breathing remained shallow. His words.. That was right. He still had things to say to them. After that, he could finally go see his wife. How many years had it been? He could only see his wife in les creams. He could still remember their wedding day, when the entire city celebrated with them. His wife was dressed in a beautiful power, sitting with pedect grace on their welding bel In a daze, Dominic seemed to see his wife. He could hear the joyful music of their wedding day, with the live band ying in the backgemud ¡°My love, Halled to raise our sons and grandchildren well. I let you down. ¡± lie thought to himself. A sudden surge of energy filled him. He sat up and looked at the family members gathered around his. First, he called for Tyler. Tyler pulled Karen with him and sat beside the bed. ¡°Dad.¡± Dominic reached out and patted Tyler¡¯s head, just as he had when Tyler was a child. He sald softly, ¡°I know you¡¯ve resented me all these years toe favoring Liam, but Tyler, in my heart, both of you are the same. You¡¯re both my sous. ¡± He didn¡¯t make any special arrangements for Tyler. Instead, he called for Liam and Mnie, ¡°I to swear that as long as you and Mnte are around, you must make room for Tyler and his family ¡± Liam knew that Dominie was experiencing a final burst of energy before passing. know on, you¡¯ll be in charge of the family. But Liam, I need you Liam fell to the ground and replied, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. I know what to do. I swear I won¡¯t abandon Tyler and Karen. When Dexter back, I¡¯ll ept him and even find him a good wife.¡± Mnie wiped her tears. ¡°Dad, please test.¡± But Dominic refused. He knew his time was up. No matter how unwilling he was, he had to quickly say hisst words. Noah brought forward an antique box and handed it to Dominic. Dominic held it for a moment before looking at Willow ¡°Willoweliver.¡± Willow sat down next to the bed, tears streaming down her face. Dominic was trembling as he teached out to wipe away her tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry Good glil, don¡¯t cry. Duminic smoothed her hair and said, ¡°Willow, you¡¯re so capable. It was Julian who let you down. But fortunately, you found your birth nother. ¡°Your life won¡¯t be as hard anymore. This is a gift from me. You¡¯ve spent four years here as fon¡¯s wife, but to me, you¡¯ve always been like my granddaughter¡± Inside the antique box were a few emeralds worth ten million dors That day, when Dominic returned from Yarrowmere, he was both anxious and relieved. The Chapmans were powerful, so no one would dare bully Willow anymore. The flickering lights east long shadows, their glowas fragile as a dying Haine, Dominic slowly closed him. He reached out his hands and grabbed his two sons hands, gently bringing them together. Tyler, Liam, I¡¯m going to see your mother now.¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Support Altar 131 Chapter 131 Dominic was gone. When he took hisst breath, he was still holding his sons¡® hands tightly. He didn¡¯t experience much pain. He didn¡¯t even hear the cries of his family. All he heard was the sound of the live band at his wedding. In front of him was a long, red carpet. At the other end, his wife, still young and beautiful, stood there walling for him. ¡°Tyler, Liam, I¡¯ll be leaving.. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad for me. I¡¯ve been blessed throughout my life. If I could, I would¡¯ve liked to stay a little longer, to make sure you all are well settled, so your futures would be easier. ¡°But my time has run out. No one gets to live forever. The world is a wonderful ce, but your mother is waiting for me on the other side. ¡°Julian, Willow, I don¡¯t know what the future holds for you, but I hope you will both be well. Wealth and powere and go, but inner peace is life¡¯s greatest treasure. ¡°Dexter, you¡¯ve always been a grandson I was proud of, but I won¡¯t be able to wait for you toe home. ¡°Life is full of regrets, but beyond that, it¡¯s remembrance. Next time, when you visit my grave, tell me that you¡¯ve made it home. At 10:20 pm, Dominic passed away. The er residence was filled with grief. A ck funeral ribbon was ced at the entrance of Dominic¡¯s room, saying, ¡°In loving memory of Dominic Ziegler.¡± Liam gathered the entire family for a moment of silence outside the bedroom. Everyone was in grief, but there were arrangements to be made. Liam and Julian stayed behind to receive visitors, while Tyler caught ast¨Cminute flight to Tarrington, where Dexter was serving his sentence. As the eldest grandson in the family, someone had to tell him about Dominic¡¯s passing. At 4:30 am, the first hint of sunlight shone across Tarrington. Dexter was in deep sleep when he heard a knock on his cell door. ¡°Inmate 72, you have a visitor. They say it¡¯s urgent.¡± Dexter rubbed his shaved head in a daze. He quickly put on his clothes and followed the guard to the visitation room. It was dim and narrow, with thick iron bars separating the inmates from the visitors. They had to talk through the iron bars between them. Tyler was dressed in ck. Under the dim lights, his expression was grim. Dexter sat down across from Tyler. When he saw his father¡¯s attire and expression, his heart skipped a beat. ¡°Dad, did something happen back home? Why are you here at this hour?¡± Tyler looked at Dexter in silence for a moment before finally speaking. ¡°Your Grandpa is gone. The house is thrown into chaos, but no matter what, I had toe here to tell you myself. ¡°Dexter, even at the very end, Grandpa had been thinking of you. Here¡¯s a letter for you. I have to rush back to Brindley immediately to send him off.¡± Tyler choked up when speaking. It was difficult for him to meet with Dexter, but he couldn¡¯t say migh. Furthermore, he wasn¡¯t in the mood. Soon after, Tyler left in a hurry, just as quickly as he hade. Dexter sat frozen in the dim room. He could only watch as Tyler walked away, slowly digesting the news he had heard. After a while, the words finally sank in. His Grandpa was gone. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and the veins on his forehead throbbed. He mmed his head against the iron bars repeatedly, his tears and saliva mixed as he screamed hoarsely, ¡°Grandpa! I was wrong! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Down the hall, Tyler wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. All he hoped for was that Dexter could finally understand Dominic¡¯s intentions. By 9:00 am, he had arrived back in Brindley, handling the funeral arrangements. Dominic had no daughters. After some discussion, the Zieglers decided to ask Willow to carry his portrait in the funeral procession. At first, they thought the Chapmans would disagree, after all, Willow was no longer rted to the Zieglers. Now, she had a different identity and was of high status. Sursingly, Laura was supportive of the decision. She said, ¡°Dominic had his ws, but at least he had a heart. Since he has taken care of Willow for a few years, let her do it.¡± Heather added, ¡°Just let her do what she needs for her own peace of mind.¡± And so, Willow stayed at the Ziegler residence, living in a guest room while assisting with the funeral. No one in the family objected, except for Karen. ¡°Willow and Julian are divorced! Why is she handling Dad¡¯s funeral? Other people will think that his daughters¨Cinw aren¡¯t doing their duties properly!¡± Tyler pointed at her and scolded, ¡°Shut your mouth! All you ever do isin and talk nonsense. This is Dad¡¯sst wish. He loved Willow like his own granddaughter. Just let her do whatever is needed!¡± Karen was too stunned to argue. Altar 132 Tyler personally came to apologize to Willow. ¡°Karen has a sharp ngue, but she isn¡¯t a bad person at heart. Willow, please don¡¯t take it to heart. Once the funeral is over, I¡¯ll thank you properly.¡± Willow¡¯s eyes grew misty. ¡°I¡¯m only here for Grandpa.¡± Tyler thanked her again. Then, he and Liam both entered Dominic bedroom and called out loudly, ¡°Dad, your sons are here to send you off.¡± The casket carrying Dominic was slowly carried out and ced in the mourning hall, ready for guests to pay their respects. All of Brindley¡¯s elites hade to bid farewell to Dominic. They all came tomemorate his contributions, to remember his love for his family, and to wish him peace on the journey beyond. For three whole days, Tyler and Liam were busy handling the funeral and attending to the guests. Julian appeared to be thinner, having spoken little aside from greeting and sending off guests. On the eve of Dominic¡¯s burial, Noah approached Julian and handed him a letter. Noah said softly, ¡°After the ident, Dominic knew things weren looking good. While he was still conscious, he told me to write this letter. I wrote down every word exactly as he said it. ¡°Mr. Julian, Dominic has always treasured you the most.¡± Julian took the letter and remained silent for a long time. When he came back to his senses, Noah had already left. Julian tore open the envelope and slowly unfolded the letter, which was written in Noah¡¯s handwriting. ¡°Julian, by the time you open this letter, I¡¯ll be gone. I feared I wouldn¡¯t make it, so I asked Noah to write this down for me. ¡°Julian, despite entrusting your father to take charge of the family. I¡¯ve always known he wasn¡¯t capable. He¡¯s too soft¨Chearted and indecisive. So, it¡¯s you to whom I truly entrust this family. ¡°Julian, the fall of any great family always starts from within. What happened with Dexter was a grave lesson in itself. So please, protect the Ziegler family¡¯s reputation. ¡°The family is already standing on shaky ground and cannot withstand any more turmoil. As for you and Willow, selfishly, I hope you two can reconcile, but ultimately, that rests on fate. ¡°In your younger days, you were so driven and ambitious. You said you liked Catherine, but you never thought of marrying her, iming she didn¡¯t meet the Ziegler family¡¯s standards or offer the necessary support. ¡°And yet, you married Willow. No one is perfect, and a change of heart isn¡¯t shameful. I only ask that you be honest with yourself. With love, your Grandpa, Dominic Ziegler.¡± Julian read the letter over and over again. Only when his eyes turned sore and dry did he put down the letter, carefully smoothing it out before keeping it. Qutside, the sound of funeral music and the mourning cries of Tyler and Liam could be heard. Julian opened his bedroom door and walked down the long, dimly lit hallway. Though it was summer, a gust of wind swept through, chilling him to the bone. At the end of the hallway, he pushed open the door to a guest room where Willow was staying. Willow hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet. She was sitting on the sofa, flipping through a photo album filled with Dominic¡¯s life. Her eyes were moist as she turned the pages. After tomorrow, Dominic would be buried, so she would never see him again. The door opened with a faint creak. She looked up and saw Julian. For the past few days, though Willow was staying at the Ziegler residence, she didn¡¯t have many interactions with Julian. Everyone was immersed in grief, unable to attend to other matters let alone personal feelings. A gust of wind stirred Julian¡¯s dark hair, making his features appear even more defined. He didn¡¯t say a word, but gently closed the door and walked toward Willow. He knelt down in front of her, wrapped his arms around her slender waist, and then buried his head against her. Willow stiffened slightly, looking down at him. After a while, Julian¡¯s low, hoarse voice sounded. ¡°Willow, Grandpa is gone.¡± Willow felt as if something was stuck in her throat. Julian didn¡¯t speak again. Instead, he just hugged her silently. At that moment, he wasn¡¯t the CEO of Neb Group, but just an ordinary person who had lost a loved one. His grief resonated with Willows. The night was still. The photo album on Willow¡¯sp quietly fell to the floor. Her hand hesitated for a moment before resting gently on Julian¡¯s shoulder. That scene lingered for a long time. The next day, Dominic¡¯s funeral was held. The earth was turned. Dominic was buried in the Ziegler family cemetery, alongside his wife. Before the earth was filled in, Willow put the photo album with the family portrait on top of the coffin. She said softly, ¡°Grandpa lovedpany, so he can look at it when he¡¯s bored.¡± Liam patted her shoulder gently and said, ¡°That¡¯s thoughtful of you.¡± Suddenly, the sky turned gloomy, and dark clouds rolled in. The members of the Ziegler family were all dressed in ck. After bidding farewell to Dominic, they were separated from him forever. Altar 133 After Julian was done with Dominic¡¯s funeral, he made his way to arrowingre and stayed there for over a month. Meanwhile, Willow remained at Brindley. Heather set her up on s Heather off and forbade thetter from doing it anymore, saying many blind dates that she grew numb to them. Grace told at all those blind dates were going to fry Willow¡¯s brain. For over a month, Willow and Julian didn¡¯t contact each other at a That wasn¡¯t to say that she didn¡¯t receive news about him, though. At the beginning of September, he returned to Brindley, and they into each other from time to time. Willow and Heather went outside for lunch. As fate would have it, they bumped into Jeffrey and his mother. Dorothy actually felt a little awkward when she saw Willow again. stead, Heather graciously offered to share a table with the two of them. During the meal, Heather noticed how restrained Dorothy was. She took the initiative to hold thetter¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I heard that things were looking up for Mr. Carter¡¯spany and that they have a wonderful project. The only drawback is that they were facing a shortage of funding. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Timothy about it when I have the chance. He could always make an investment in your husband¡¯spany.¡± Dorothy immediately felt uneasy. She couldn¡¯t help but feel deeply moved. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it.¡± Heather responded, ¡°We¡¯re rtives. We don¡¯t keep scores. Both Timothy and I want you guys to have a good life.¡± Dorothy felt relieved. Looking at Willow again, she felt like she had missed out on her. The fact was that Jeffrey had a shot at happiness, but she was the one who foolishly pushed Willow away. It had never urred to her that Willow had such a mind- blow background. Meanwhile, Willow and Jeffrey remained silent the whole time. When it was time to part ways, he handed her an invitation in the restaurant hallways. He said nonchntly, ¡°My engagement party is on the eighth of next month.¡± She took the embossed gold invitation and read the names printed on it. ¡°Jeffrey Gibson and Rosabelle Serra.¡± Willow knew that Rosabelle was the only daughter of the Serra family that owned a grouppany with the same name. Thetter was a sweet, pure young woman too. She gave him her earnest blessing and said, ¡°Jeffrey, congrattions.¡± His gaze was deep and intense. Dorothy walked over after she had paid for the meal, and she immediately saw the look on his face. Still feeling guilty, she lowered her voice and said to Willow, ¡°You and your mom are wee to Jeffrey¡¯s engagement party.¡± Willow nodded and responded politely, ¡°We¡¯ll be there, Dorothy.¡± Dorothy couldn¡¯t stop feeling mncholy, but regret wasn¡¯t going to change anything. In the end, they bade each other farewell and parted ways. After Willow took Heather home, she went back to the same old apartment. A white Rolls¨CRoyce Spectre ground to a halt in front of the apartment. She hadn¡¯t even stepped out of the car when she saw Julian¡¯s car parked at the usual spot. At the next moment, the door to the passenger seat swung open, and in came Julian, bringing the chilly wind with him. Thest time they met was at Dominic¡¯s funeral. It had been such a long time since they hadid eyes on each other. Copter 133 Willow stroked the steering wheel and said teily, ¡°Julian, 1 don¡¯t think I invited you.¡± He stared at her before he rummaged through the glovepartulent and pulled out an invitation. He nced at it and asked gently, ¡°Did you meet Julian? What did you two talk about?¡± Willow let out an exasperatedugh. ¡°What does that have to do with you? Julian, you don¡¯t own ine, and you need to learn how to respect me. ¡°Don¡¯t go through my stuff or question my personal life. I can make friends with anyone, and you no longer have any say in it.¡± Julian put the invitation down, his eyes darkening. ¡°Well, you own ne.¡± Pulling out a ck wallet from his front pocket, he took a bank card from it and said, ¡°My entire sry goes into this card. That¡¯s two million dors every month. I¡¯m giving you full control over it. All I ask is that you save me some money for cigarettes and gas.¡± Altar 134 Willow let out an exasperated chuckle. Julian was absolutely shameless. He followed her out of the car, tong her that he was hungry and he wanted her to make him something. Naturally, she wouldn¡¯t do it. So, he showed himself to the cramped apartment and said that he wanted to see Snowy Julian was so clingy that Willow couldn¡¯t have shaken him off, ever if she had wanted to. She went straight to her room, leaving him to pour his heart out to the dog. Julian acted as if he were at home. After he gave Snowy its drinking water, he fed it some snacks as well. Then, he headed to the kitchen and made himself some supper. He was actually hungry because he had just gotten back from his trip outstation. Snowy twirled around his long legs as it barked in excitement, its eyes brimming with fondness. It had been over 20 hours since Julian had slept, but he still bathed Snowy with his own hands. When it was time to sleep, the dogy on top of him as they both slept on the couch in the living room. The night was dark, and the air¨Cconditioner gave out a steady hum as it chilled the room. Willow came out for a drink of water in the middle of the night. She guessed correctly that Julian didn¡¯t leave. She got to thinking if she should¡¯ve stayed at Heather¡¯s ce. After all, he couldn¡¯t possibly harass her there. After Willow gulped down a ss of water, she walked past Julian. Underneath the dim light, she could see him lying on his back. Snowy curled up to the side of his head and snuggled up to him in its sleep. It even curled its tail around his neck. The way Willow saw it, Snowy had betrayed her. She ended to sneak back into her bedroom, but she was grabbed by a pair of strong arms. The next thing she knew, she fell into Julian¡¯s embrace. Willow struggled fiercely, but Julian held her arms and sped her fingers. He was undoubtedly stronger than she was. The darkness made his eyes look even deeper. As he gulped, he exuded this strong sense of masculinity. Then, he arched and kissed her affectionately as she looked at him. The moon¡¯s gentle light quietly shone into the apartment, illuminating the wall. Willow and Julian¡¯s silhouettes ovepped in the wildest and most tantalizing manner. After their passionate moment, Julian still wanted to go for another round. He had been abstaining for a while now. It was only normal that he wanted to do it again. However, Willow didn¡¯t want it anymore. She made him leave, her voice was raspy when she spoke. Julian was extraordinarily patient with her. Leaning into her ear, he said tenderly, ¡°You wrapped your arms around my neck when you wanted it, and yet you kick me out when you¡¯re done satisfying your lust. What a¡­¡± Willow was undeterred. She kicked him and asked him to leave. Julian was aware that she had to work through whatever was roiling in her heart. So, he didn¡¯t overstay his wee. As he rose to his feet, he said thoughtfully, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to your own rumination ande over tomorrow.¡± Willow didn¡¯t respond to him. About half an hour after Julian left, she hopped into the showers, washing away remnants of her earlier passionate moment. Then, she got herself a can of beer and went to the rooftop. The wind howled at dawn. Willow lit a cigarette and put it on the gray railing. Sipping the beer, she thought about Julian and herself as well as the impulsive and steamy moment they had just shared. For the first time, she lifted the cigarette, brought it to her lips, and took a puff. It was harsh, but the nicotine was nothing short of addictive. The same could be said for love and sex too. Willow was about to go downstairs, but her phone rang. She answered a call from an unknown number, and the man on the other side of the phone was an attorney. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, I presume. I have a Ms. Burke looking for you. She said that you would know who she is if I told you that she¡¯s doing time at Searheim. She¡¯s going to tell you the truth about everything.¡± Altar 135 Willow came downstairs from the rooftop. Before Julian left, he cleaned up the apartinent and made sure it was spotless. However, he still couldn¡¯t get rid of the faint, tantalizing air. Snowyy on the couch, its eyes dark and glistening. She walked over to pet it. Then, she sat on the couch for a long time, considering her options. Should she travel to Searheim to find out he truth, or should she remain ignorant of the truth forever? Half an hourter, Willow dialed Annie¡¯s number. ¡°Book me the earliest flight to Searheim tomorrow.¡± Annie was quite surprised. They didn¡¯t have any clients or business at Searheim. It was 8:00 am by the time Willow arrived at Brindley¡¯s airport. When she was waiting for her flight, she received a phone call from Julian, who invited her for dinner. He told her that he had reserved the best restaurant in the city. His voice was tender when he spoke. ¡°Willow, it¡¯s your birthday today.¡± Huh? It suddenly urred to her that she got to know about Catherine¡¯s presence on the same dayst year. It turned out that a year had passed since then. Gripping her phone, Willow responded gently, ¡°Julian, I¡¯ll see you tonight.¡± Needless to say, he was thrilled when he heard what she said. That was when an announcement could be heard from the speaker in the waiting room. ¡°Attention, all passengers boarding the flight to Searheim. We are going to start the boarding process for Flight TU3288. Please proceed to gate 36 for ticket check and boarding.¡± Willow ended the call and headed to the business ssne. Two hourster, her ne touched down at Searheim airport. The attorney who was picking her up was friendly and polite. ¡°Hi, Ms. Harper. I¡¯m Sean Franklin. You may address me by my Willow nced at him. ¡°Are you from Brindley?¡± Sean chuckled, but he didn¡¯t say anything. She didn¡¯t waste more words on him either. Instead, she stepped into the car. He made some arrangements, and she was able to meet with Catherine at 2:00 pm. When Willow saw Catherine, thetter was drastically different from how she used to look. Catherine¡¯s hair reached her ears, and she was so scrawny that there weren¡¯t any bby parts on her body. She stared at Willow for a good while before she spoke. ¡°I¡¯m aware that you are a Chapman now. Good on you.¡± Willow met her gaze and asked softly, ¡°What about the truth you promised me? I didn¡¯t take a flight all the way to Searheim to listen to your nonsense.¡± Catherine snickered. ¡°Willow, still sitting on your high horse, I see I really hate this look on your face. You don¡¯t have what it takes to be this arrogant. ¡°After I tell you the truth, you won¡¯t be this cocky anymore. Instead, you¡¯re going to see that you¡¯re the butt of the joke because you¡¯ve been living a lie. I have to say that I feel sorry and sad for you.¡± Willow grinned indifferently. ¡°My time is precious, and I didn¡¯te here to listen to your nonsense.¡± Catherine asked, ¡°Can I have a cigarette?¡± Sean gestured at the staff standing to the side. Then, he handed agarette to her and very thoughtfully lit it for her. She took a fierce drag and raised her gaze slowly. Fixing her gaze Willow, she said, ¡°Grandsburg.¡± Willow narrowed her eyes in response. Catherine leaned forward and stopped in front of the ck metal bars, looking a little excited. ¡°Thedy Julian yearns for is at Grandsburg. She¡¯s my elder sister, who was sheltered and pampered. He looked after her for seven long years. ¡°Do you think that Julia has feelings for me and is willing to support me financially? Well, that¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. My sister is the apple of his eye. ¡°She has some health issues. So, he sent her to Grandsburg for a treatment that costs tens of millions of dors every year. ¡°Julian proposed to you and told you that you were the one for him. Then, you gave everything you had to him like an idiot. ¡°You were left to sleep alone for several days every month, but you didn¡¯t know that he was in Grandsburg, keeping herpany as she went through kidney dialysis. ¡°When your grandma was undergoing surgery, he got Leonard to take a flight to Grandsburg. He did it because he was worried that I would die, and no one would be able to do a blood transfusion for thedy he loved. ¡°So, do you know why you¡¯re sad and pitiful now? You¡¯ve been living a lie, and you didn¡¯t even know the right person to direct your resentment to.¡± Altar 136 Chapter 136 ¡°Five years. That¡¯s how long Julian had deceived you for.¡± Willow felt chills all over her body. ¡°Do you have evidence to backp what you said?¡± Catherine wore a cold expression as sheughed, her voicepletely hoarse. ¡°There¡¯s a hospital next to Grandsburg Cathedral. You¡¯ll find everything about my elder sister¡¯s medical history there. ¡°Head over to Everlink Bank at Brindley. You¡¯re going to want to open strongbox 322 with the password ¡®574574. Once you see what¡¯s inside, you¡¯ll understand everything.¡± Willow gave herself some time to process it before she asked. ¡°Why are you telling me all this?¡± Catherine was dazed by Willow¡¯s question. She murmured, ¡°That¡¯s because a younger sister is destined to kill another younger sister.¡± Willow didn¡¯t understand what Catherine said at all. Instead, she walked back outside. The sun shone brightly, casting its brilliant rays to a spot at the end of the hallway. Meanwhile, Catherine gripped the ck metal bars and screamed hysterically, ¡°I¡¯m the one who loved him, and he, in turn, loved my elder sister. However, you¡¯re the one who stayed by his side. ¡°You stole someone else¡¯s happiness and made it your own. It¡¯s high time youwokee up to reality.¡± Willow walked out of the building, but Catherine¡¯s howls still echoed inside. They were so unpleasantly sharp that they could¡¯ve pierced the heavens. Raising her head, Willow gazed at the blue sky and said nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯d much rather I never had this happiness to begin with. 11 Ten minutester, Sean walked out, looking a little miserable. He looked at Willow and said, ¡°Don¡¯t let her get to the verge of losing her sanity.¡± Willow grinned indifferently. ¡°If you ask me, she had more rity now than she had ever had in her whole life.¡± Sean fell silent and said nothing. you. She¡¯s on Willow took a flight back to Brindley and arrived at 6:00 pm. She had a huge sum of money deposited at Everlink Bank. So, the bank manager made an exception and worked overtime when she asked to open the strongbox. ¡°Ms. Harper, are you here to take your jewelry?¡± Willow nodded in response. The bank manager unlocked the door to the safe and went back outside. She located strongbox 322 and keyed in the password. The door swung open, revealing an envelope within. She took it and opened it, and a stack of pictures fell to the floor. Julian and a youngdy were in all of them. Thedy was innocent and beautiful, and she was probably Alicia Burke. His eyes were brimming with affection and love when he looked at her as if she were the most important person to him in the whole wide world. It turned out that Alicia was thedy that Julian loved but could never get. This was what he actually looked like when he was deeply in love with someone. His handwriting was on the back of every single picture. ¡°Alicia and I at Saint Sofea Grand Cathedral.¡± ¡°Alicia has always wanted toe to Corealia National Tower.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the winter solstice. I went to Saint Lordamere¡¯s Basilica with Alicia.¡± ¡°Alicia isn¡¯t doing well. So, we celebrated the New Year in Cloudspite, Brindley, she suddenly felt like ying piano, and we did Moonlight Sonata together tonight. ¡°Afterward, she cried. I¡¯ve asked someone to move the piano to the storeroom and lock it up. That should keep her from seeing it and feeling sentimental.¡± Willow turned this particr picture around and saw an extremely familiar sight. It was Grandview Matior. She couldn¡¯t believe it, but it was undoubtedly Grandview Manor. She had never known that the manor had such an elegant name. Did Alicia name the manor Cloudspire? Willow also had no idea that there was a piano in the manor¡¯s storeroom. She did ask Julian to y the piano in the past, but he told her he couldn¡¯t do it, iming that he didn¡¯t have the talent to do it. However, he looked at ease with it in the picture. It turned out everything had been a lie. So, she had been living in a grand deception. The house she called home and the happiness she secretly cherished were nothing more than illusions As far as the others were concerned, she was treated as a charity case that everyone knew to regard with cold indifference. What did Julian think of her, then? Was she just pitiful and miserable, or was she an underdog who grossly overestimated her importance and somehow married her way into a prestigious family? Altar 137 Chapter 137 The sky was basked in the evening sun¡¯s gentle glow. Willow swung by Grandview Manor. ir was very happy to see he, thinking that she and Julian had patched things up. She immediately ran over and said, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler, you¡¯re home.¡± Willow forced a smile and responded, ¡°I left something in the storeroom, and I came here to take it.¡± ir didn¡¯t suspect a thing. Grabbing the key, she led Willow to the storeroom, saying, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since anyone went there. I¡¯ve no idea if the stuff inside got moldy. Let me take a peekrst, Mrs. Ziegler. Wouldn¡¯t want to make your shoes dirty.¡± They arrived at the storeroom¡¯s door as they spoke. Willow told ir that she wanted to go inside by herself. Thetter pondered on it for a while before she agreed to it. As she unlocked the metal oor for Willow, a foul, moldy stench wafted out of the storeroom. ir turned on the lights. ¡°Mrs. Ziegler, please watch your steps. Willow entered and quickly saw a piano in the corner of the room. The Eboris namete and its glisteningcquer finish highlighted its luxury, but the million¨Cdor piano was casually abandoned here simply because Alicia shed a tear. Willow snickered self¨Cderisively. What a fool she had been. For five long years, Julian had been treating her as a charity case, and yet she thought he was the best thing that could happen to her. Was there anything real left in her marriage? Was Julian going to keep it a secret from her if Catherine hadn¡¯t told her the truth? Did he n to look after Alicia for the rest of his lie At that moment, Willow¡¯s phone rang. It was Julian. She answered it, and she heard his tender voice. ¡°Are you done working? How about I swing by and pick you up now?¡± Raising her head slightly, she suppressed her sobbing and responded softly, ¡°I¡¯ll drive there myself.¡± Julian didn¡¯t suspect a thing and proceeded to tell her the time and ce for the meetup. Willow hung up the phone and slowly walked out of the storeroom. She said to ir, ¡°Don¡¯t let Julian know that I was here.¡± ir instantly knew that something was wrong. She wanted to ask about it, but she didn¡¯t dare to do it. Willow put thought into her appearance for tonight¡¯s date. Dressed in a custom ck gown with a daringly exposed neckline, she wore a full¨Cdiamond ne that brought out the sophistication and gracefulness in her. The restaurant manager led her to the restaurant. Julian was clearly stunned by her beauty. Grabbing her shoulder, gently, he said, ¡°The gown suits you well.¡± Willow grinned faintly. ¡°Thanks.¡± Julian couldn¡¯t hold himself back. Leaning forward, he pecked her lips, his eyes brimming with lust. Last night¡¯s sensual moments were such a treasure to him that he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about them for the whole day. Willow didn¡¯t stop him. In fact, she shed him a graceful smile. ¡°You made a reservation at the top restaurant in Brindley. Of course, I have to doll up and fit in.¡± They were the only people in the restaurant. A violinist was ying a beautiful melody, and the circr floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window offered a night view of the entire city. It was such a romantic setup. That wasn¡¯t even saying how mature and dashing Julian was. If this had happened in the past, Willo would¡¯ve thought that she won the game of life and had it all. Now, however, there was nothing but sorrow in her heart. The restaurant manager personally served them appetizers and the main course. He even brought them a bottle of fine vintage red wine, opened it, and left it there to breathe. Julian pushed the te of sweets to Willow¡¯s side of the table. ¡°Eat something first. It¡¯ll help with the wine.¡± She rested her chin on her hand and said, ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Julian¡¯ve never seen you this considerate. For that matter, you have never been this thoughtful and wouldn¡¯t have put this much effort fordies in the past.¡± Julian grinned. ¡°You¡¯re my wife. That sets you apart from the otherdies.¡± Then, he pulled out a pink diamond ring and grabbed a bouquet of white roses. Walking over to Willow, he leaned in and whispered in her ear, ¡°Willow, happy birthday. From here on out, let¡¯s celebrate all of your birthdays together.¡± Altar 138 Julian said such loving words as he slipped the six¨Ckarat pink diamond ring onto Willow¡¯s finger. It was rare and precious, dazzling with brilliance. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°I do. It¡¯s wonderful.¡± They had all the privacy they needed in the restaurant. Julian wanted to give Willow a smooch, but she avoided it. She lowered her head and ate the desserts, trying to hide the tears in her eyes. ¡°Julian, the dessert is very sweet. I like it a lot.¡± He held her gently, ¡°If you like it this much, we¡¯ll take some of it home.¡± Willow smiled gracefully in response. They shared a bottle of red wine, had the best Ivalian dishes, and rested in each other¡¯s embrace as they enjoyed Brindley¡¯s night view. The way she saw it, nody would be able to resist the romance and thoughtfulness Julian showed her tonight. The night was deep and serene. With Willow in his arms, he murmured lovely words to her, asking her to be his wife again. She didn¡¯t turn him down. She was giving him a chance toe clean to her. This would be hisst chance. Leaning on his shoulder, she looked out the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window and said gently, ¡°Julian, we didn¡¯t get to go on our honeymoon five years ago. When we get remarried this time, I want to go on a leisure trip. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Saint Sofea Grand Cathedral, Corealia National Tower, and Saint Lordamere¡¯s Basilica. These are all wonderful ces.¡± Julian rubbed his forehead and grinned faintly. ¡°You might have to wait for years before we can visit all these ces. My workload is endless now, especially when ites to Yarrowmere Justst week¡­¡± Willow interrupted him gently, ¡°So, you don¡¯t have the time for me. Is that it?¡± Julian finally sensed something unusual about her. Turning her around in his arms, he towered over her and looked into her eyes. His voice grew deep as he asked. ¡°What are you trying to say here exactly?¡± Willow didn¡¯t shy away from him. Instead, she looked squarely into his eyes. ¡°Julian, do you love me?¡± He didn¡¯t respond to her, which prompted her to curl her lips. Tears welled up in her eyes as she chuckled. ¡°Do you love Alicia, then? She wanted to go to all the ces I mentioned, but you seemed to have the time to take her there. ¡°If you love her so much, then why didn¡¯t you marry her? Why did you marry me instead? ¡°Julian, we shared some intimate momentsst night, but were you thinking about Alicia the whole time? After all, I am rted to her in some ways. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m worried about you. Worried that you might call out the wrong name.¡± ¡°Willow Harper!¡± Julian¡¯s voice wasden with anger. He would not tolerate anyone talking about his youthful love, even if that person was Willow. The next thing he knew, a stash of pictures was hurled onto the table. ¡°Alicia isn¡¯t doing well. So, we celebrated the New Year in Cloudsre, Brindley. She suddenly felt like ying piano, and we did Moonlight Sonata together tonight. ¡°Afterward, she cried. I¡¯ve asked someone to move the no to the storeroom and lock it up. That should keep her from seeing it and feeling sentimental.¡® ¡°Julian, I was never made aware that our home¡¯s actual name is Cloudspire. What¡¯s more, It¡¯s a home that you¡¯ve once shared with Alicia. ¡°Do you have more secrets that I¡¯m not aware of? ¡°Is it true that Alicia was kept in a hospital at Grandsburg and that you¡¯ve been supporting her financially for seven long years? Let¡¯s not forget that Catherine was just a cover¨Cup for her. ¡°Everyone knew about these things, and yet I was the only one kept in the dark. In fact, you took a flight to Grandsburg to meet your old me three days after I became infertile. ¡°You two were sharing intimate moments while I suffered in the obstetrics and gynecology department, wracked with guilt because I couldn¡¯t carry your baby. ¡°Julian. Are you just cold¨Chearted, or am I just too delusional?¡± Julian was about to exin himself, but she didn¡¯t give him the chance. Her lips were trembling when she took off the pink diamond ring. Lowering her head, she stared at it quietly for a while before dumping it into the wine ss. ¡°Goodbye, Julian. I never want to see you again.¡± Altar 139 Julian grabbed Willow¡¯s hand, looked into her eyes, and said in a serious tone, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. I¡¯ve never shared Grandview Manor with Alicia, and we have never crossed the line ve never slept with her.¡± She immediately shook his hand off and took a step back. The truth was just unbearably cruel for her. Willow no longer had the strength or intention to hide the misery her face. So, she allowed her tears to hang off the tip of her nose and smiled in a daze, exposing her unabashed sorry state to m. ¡°That means the love you have for her is pure and innocent, but it love nheless. ¡°Julian, back when we got divorced, you said in court that you wanted Grandview Manor and nothing else because it is a home we once shared. Well, you¡¯re wrong. It¡¯s not our home. It belongs to you and Alicia. ¡°On our first anniversary, things got slightly better for us. I asked you to y ¡®F¨¹r Elise¡® for me, but you smiled and said that you didn¡¯t know how to y the piano. ¡°There were a lot of people around us, and they knew that you could y the piano, and yet I was the fool who believed you. The fact was that you refused to y the piano because Alicia shed her tears. Her precious tears! ¡°Now that I think about it, I was such an idiot. I¡¯ve been living a lie! ¡°I put my life on the line and blocked the fatal blow for you. Whenever we slept together, it was only because you felt like it. As far as you¡¯re concerned, Alicia mustn¡¯t shed a tear, but it was perfectly fine for me to bleed and cry for you. ¡°In fact, Dexter threatened to kill me when he abducted me, but you merely dismissed him offhandedly. You said it was absurd that he would use me because you¡¯ve never loved me. ¡°Juli ¡®ve finally woken up from this lie. When have you ever thought of me as your wife? Julian still wanted to take a step forward and grab Willow¡¯s hand, but she kept retreating. Tears streamed down her cheeks ceaselessly, as if all the sadness and sorrow in her heart were brought on by none other than Julian. She murmured, ¡°Don¡¯te closer. Julian, stay away from me.¡± Willow suddenly turned around and headed outside. It wasn¡¯t that cold in the restaurant, but she felt chilly all over nheless. Once she was outside, the wind tousled her hair. The neon lights shone on her cheeks, turning the glimmers on them into a cascade of colors. Julian remained standing in the restaurant. He was dressed elegantly, but he had never felt this miserable before. Taking the pink diamond ring out of the wine ss, he wiped it dry with a white napkin. He could still vividly remember the resolution on Willow¡¯s face when she took the ring off and the thorough disappointment in her eyes. The pictures he had taken with Alicia were sprawled across the table, featuring Saint Sofea Grand Cathedral, Corealia National Tower, and Saint Lordamere¡¯s Basilica. These were all precious memories from his youthful love. Years had passed since then, the fact was that Julian had forgotten about most of it. However, Willow cared about it a lot. She was furious, anguished, and heartbroken. She wanted to leave and never see him again. What was worse, tonight was her birthday, and he¡¯d intended to get back together with her. It was deep in the night by the time Julian returned to Grandview Manor. When ir saw him, she was obviously being evasive. Standing at the door, he unbuttoned his suit and asked nonchntly, ¡°Did Willow drop by?¡± ir instantly panicked and came clean at once. ¡°Mrs. Ziegler sale she left something in the storeroom. She asked me to unlock it and went inside by herself. By the time she came out, she looked very out of it, like someone crushed her spirit.¡± Julian turned around and walked outside. The sky was dark when stopped in front of the storeroom. ir hurriedly unlocked the door, turned on the shlight, and entered it alone. The piano stood in the corner, its lid covered with thickyers of dst. As he ran his finger over it, he left a vivid fingerprint. Then, Julian lifted the lid and ced his lean fingers on the keys. expertly yed a melody, but it wasn¡¯t his usual song,¡± Moonlight Sonata¡°. Instead, it was ¡°F¨¹r Elise¡°. It was the song that Willow didn¡¯t get to hear all those years ago. As a matter of fact, she was merely 23 at the time. She¡¯d had her fantasies about love and rtionships. He was the one who shattered it with his own hands and taught her to navigate the treacherous world of business. For a while, Willow frequently drank alcohol. Tonight, she got drunk in the Veil Club. Leaning against the wall, she stumbled and wandered the hallways. With that said, she remembered that her driver was waiting for her in the parking lot, ready to drive her home. Julian showed up and stood in her way. Recently, she stayed at the Chapman residence, which made it difficult for him to see her. Heather shut the door on him, and Timothy merely gave him a call because they were partners in business. ¡°Julian, I¡¯m sorry, but I have to go along with Heather this time. It¡¯s two against one. If I went against her, I wouldn¡¯t even be able to go home.¡± His words rang with the happiness and bliss of a married man. Julian found it distasteful. Now that he saw how wasted she was, he couldn¡¯t help but feel terrible. After all, Willow had always been calm and disciplined. Rubbing her fair cheeks, he asked softly, ¡°Did I break your heart?¡± The golden light was dazzling and brilliant, exuding a sense of extravagance. However, the tears in her eyes were so clear that anyone could see them. Leaning against the wall, Willow raised her head and looked at Julian. Aside from the tipsiness, there was also a hint of despair in her eyes. Her lips trembled as she asked, ¡°Julian, why did I ever fall in love with you?¡± Julian¡¯s heart was on the verge of shattering into pieces. He had never felt anything like this. Bending over, he wanted to carry her in his arms. However, Willow wouldn¡¯t let him. She didn¡¯t want him to touch her. For that matter, she didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with him anymore. Be that as it may, he was physically stronger than she was, and she couldn¡¯t shake him off. Out of pure desperation, she grabbed the vase next to her and smashed him with it mercilessly. At the next moment, blood covered Julian¡¯s forehead before flowing down his eyelids, making for a frightening sight. However, he didn¡¯t seem to care about it. Taking the vase away from Willow, he put it aside and pulled her stiff body into his arms. He pressed his cheeks against hers as he squeezed her. ¡°Willow, it¡¯s not what you think. I do have feelings for you.¡± Altar 140 Radiance Manor was the most high¨Cend residence Brindley had to offer. The master bedroom on the second floor was adorned in dark Ivalian decor, entuating its luxury and ss. The night was chilling. Willow slept soundly on the dark bedsheet. The moonlight shone through the white curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. It was as if the bed was covered in a pale ss. Julian stood in front of the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. There was gauze wrapped around his forehead. The family doctor dropped by and treated him earlier. 1 The sounds of a car engine could be heard on the porch. Then, Esther led Liam and Mnie inside. The whole thing must¡¯ve gotten a little out of hand and startled them. Mnie walked over and checked out Julian¡¯s wound, feeling utterly heartbroken. ¡°Willow shouldn¡¯t have hurt you like this, no matter how unhappy she was.¡± Julian responded dismissively, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± She wasn¡¯t happy about it. ¡°Keep defending her and see where it gets you. This time, she cracked your head. Who knows what terrible things she¡¯ll do next time?¡± He frowned. ¡°Every married couple bickers.¡± She scoffed. ¡°You two aren¡¯t a married couple. Not anymore.¡± As Jul and Mnie talked, Liam approached the side of the bed and stared at Willow. Underneath the lights, her delicate brows brought out how beautiful she was. He couldn¡¯t help but fall into a trance. Reaching out, he rubbed her forehead lovingly and murmured, ¡°She looks just like her mother. This exins why I found her familiar when I first saw her. It turns out she¡¯s her daughter.¡± Then, Esther¡¯s voice could be heard from outside. ¡°The coffee is ready. You guys may take the conversation to the study.¡± Liam calmly wiped the loving look off his face. Liam, Mnie, and Julian were in the study. Liam sat on the couch, took a sip of his coffee, and said in a serious tone, ¡°Since Dad¡¯s gone, no one can rein you in anymore, huh? It has only been a few days, and you¡¯re already in this sorry state. What¡¯sing next? Are you guys going to start looking for trouble?¡± Mnie hurriedly went along with him. ¡°You two can¡¯t get along with each other. It¡¯d be better if you just called it quits. I have several wonderfuldies waiting in line for you.¡± Liam was immediately irritated by what she said. He snarled, ¡°Shut your trap! Don¡¯t take a page out of Karen¡¯s ybook and keep thinking about doing something shady. Are you trying to throw the entire family into chaos?¡± Hemanded authority in his household. So, Mnie didn¡¯t dare to say anything further. Meanwhile, Julian had remained quiet the whole time. Pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his suit pocket, he took one out and slowly smoked it. He didn¡¯t say anything until half of it was gone. ¡°Dad, Willow knows about Alicia.¡± Liam immediately fell silent, and so did Mnie. He also lit a cigarette as he said slowly, ¡°I told you. You can¡¯t keep it under wraps forever. Whatdy wouldn¡¯t mind something like this? ¡°Now that the truth is out, you have to really take care of her and avoid making another mess. For one, you are genuinely trying to win her heart back. ¡°Two, she is one of the Chapinans now, which means she has both power and prestige. You¡¯ll have to consider your steps very carefully.¡± Julian smiled bitterly. ¡°You got it, Dad.¡± Liam had more to say, but he sighed eventually. ¡°If only Dad were still around. We would still have a clear set of regtions then. They were all deeply disheartened when he brought up Dominic. Liam finished smoking, drank thest drop of his coffee, and said, ¡®Willow doesn¡¯t like this brand of coffee beans. Get the beans from Northaven instead. She loves those a lot.¡± Mnie was surprised at how fond Liam was of Willow. He probably didn¡¯t know what brand of coffee beans she liked, but it wasn¡¯t as if she could taste the difference. So, she merely assumed that he was being opportunistic because he had eyes for the Chapman family¡¯s influence and wealth. Later, both of them got into the car and left Radiance Manor. It was a half¨Chour drive, and they were bound to talk to each other. She couldn¡¯t help but want to feel him out. ¡°Willow couldn¡¯t have forgiven Julian, could she? He would¡¯ve been better off marrying Alicia.¡± The car swayed unsteadily, and the streetlights flickered through the windows. Liam was resting his eyes as he asked, ¡°Why would we want someone who¡¯s heavily ill in our family?¡± Mnie asked, ¡°Are you saying that you don¡¯t like Alicia?¡± Liam opened his eyes, lowered his head, and smacked his knees gently. He responded absentmindedly, ¡°The Burke family has two youngdies. Catherine might¡¯ve been the scheming type and stirred up a ho¡¯s nest, but I still disliked Alicia a lot more. I can¡¯t shake the feeling that she¡¯s gued by a heap of trouble.¡± Altar 141 Mnie protested, ¡°Liam, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re reading too much into it? Alicia is pure¨Chearted and wonderful.¡± Liam looked at her. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she strike you as a hypocritical youngdy?¡± Feeling rather speechless, she reprimanded him. ¡°Liam, you never fuss over the younger generation. What¡¯s more, you¡¯ve known her since she was a little girl.¡± He closed his eyes once more. ¡°Willow is still the better match for Julian,¡± Willow woke up early in the morning. She was sleeping on a bed she wasn¡¯t familiar with, but she was wearing a bathrobe from the brand she usually wore. There was even a faint scent of the shower gel that was also present in Grandview Manor. She had a hunch that this ce belonged to Julian. At that moment, the sound of a piano echoed from the lounge, and the melody was extremely familiar to her. It was a song that used to cause her emotional turmoil. Willow lifted the nket and got out of bed. Then, she walked over to the door of the lounge in her bare feet. Sunlight shone through the white curtain, illuminating the room brightly. A piano stood in front of a floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. Juhan was sitting at the piano and ying ¡°F¨¹r Elise¡°, a song that she once yearned for. Willow remained where she stood and quietly listened to it. He yed it impably, but she no longer wanted to hear it. Once Julian struck thest note, the lingering melody echoed in the air. He didn¡¯t rise to his feet. He was aware that Willow was behing him. Covering the lid, he said softly, ¡°Willow, our marriage isn¡¯t as miserable as you think. ¡°Alicia and I have known each other since we were kids. She was weak and fragile. So, I frequently looked after her. That¡¯s all. ¡°When I was 18 years old, I was abducted. She was only 16 years old then, and the abductors also took her. We were locked up in a dark room for a whole week. We were only given a loaf of bread every day. ¡°Every time, she would give me half of her portion, iming that she didn¡¯t have as big an appetite as I did. ¡°By the time we were rescued, the intense fear had taken a toll on her well¨Cbeing, and she developed a chronic illness. It was leukemia. ¡°Later, she suffered from kidney failure. I sent her to Grandsburg for the best treatment when I had the means to do so. There was a time when I was obsessed with getting her cured. ¡°However, it was clear to me that I would never marry her, even if she were perfectly healthy. I carry a much more important task on my shoulders. The Ziegler family depended on me to elevate its reputation and status. ¡°Willow, I put the past behind me a long time ago. The only sentiment I have for Alicia is to keep her alive. Guilt was probably what drove me all this time.¡± The way Willow saw it, Julian was a great performer. What a touching tale. s, it had nothing to do with her. The only thing she wanted to do now was to get changed into her own clothes and leave this ce. Their paths would never cross again in the future. She decided she would never get drunk because of Julian again. She had been overly sentimental for an extended period, and that was enough. Willow went back to the bedroom. She grabbed her clothes from the headboard and went to the restroom to get changed, only to find that the door was locked. She was aware that Julian did it on purpose. So, she took off her bathrobe in front of him without hesitation and slipped back into the dress she wore that night. They had been married for four years, and they had been naked in front of each other countless times. Stripping into her birthday suit now wasn¡¯t going to bother her. Willow¡¯s body gleamed in the morning light, exuding a faint, seductive glow. Julian stared at her intensely as he gulped involuntarily. He was a man with needs. There was no way he wouldn¡¯t feel anything when he witnessed her graceful body. Willow ignored him. She put on her shoes and headed toward the bedroom door. As she brushed past Julian, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. He pleaded with her humbly for the first time in his life. ¡°Don¡¯t leave. Stay with me. ¡°We can live here in Radiance Manor if you don¡¯t like Grandview Manor. This ce will be our new home. Let¡¯s start over. I mean it, Willow. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.¡± Willow struggled fiercely, but Julian maintained a firm grip on her and wouldn¡¯t let go. The assertiveness in his eyes was unmistakable when he looked at her. Amid their struggle, Esther rapped on the door. She sounded anxious as she spoke. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, something huge has happened! Catherine died in her cellst night!¡± Altar 142 Chapter 14,2 Catherine had died, her passing remaining a mystery. Her body was cremated in Searheim three dayster and waster brought back to Brindley for burial. Thereafter, the Burkes stormed into the Chapman residence, causing an uproar. Nancy, ovee with grief, insisted that Catherine¡¯s untimely demise was a direct result of Willow¡¯s trip to earheim. Heather sneered and retorted, ¡°Catherine¡¯s death was only a matter of time! She did do one good thing before she died, though ¨Cexposing the collusive activities of both families in fraudulent marital arrangements, leaving my daughter robbed of five precious years. And you actually have the audacity to make a scene here? If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s settle our old scores once and for all!¡± Charlie hurriedly held Nancy back, saying, ¡°That medical examiner had already confirmed that there were no signs of poisoning- Sean, having made a point ofing over, exined, ¡°Ms. Harper¡¯s visitation of Ms. Burke was entirely within legal parameters, and I also possess an audio recording of theplete interaction.¡± Nancy couldn¡¯t possibly allow the others to listen to the recording. Thus, she had no choice but to bury her face in her hands and break into sobs. Heather then returned to the small living room after sending the Burkes away. Willow, who was still brushing Snowy¡¯s fur, said thoughtfully, ¡°I think there¡¯s something quite unusual about Catherine¡¯s death. It seemed like she knew that she was going to die.¡± Heather pondered for a moment, realizing that what Willow said made perfect sense. She then sat beside Willow, stroking Snow fur as she said gently, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t me yourself for this, Willow. You ought to know that the ones truly at fault for Christine¡¯s death are Charlie and Nancy. Their failure to properly raise their child is the root cause.¡± In that instant, Heather experienced a profound sense of gratitude. She rejoiced in the fact that her beloved daughter had been raised by Grace. She then gazed lovingly at Willow and softly suggested, ¡°If Madam Harper doesn¡¯t want to live here with us, perhaps she could retire in Yarrowmere? I mean, Mrs. Chapman Senior is residing there, and I¡¯m sure they can keep each other Willow smiled gently and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t think Grandma would agree to it since she¡¯s rather fond of the house located in the southern suburbs, saying that I was the one who purchased that ce.¡± Heather gently patted Willow¡¯s hand and said with a smile, ¡°I understand Madam Harper¡¯s reasoning.¡± She then brought up Julian, asking, ¡°Is he still pestering you?¡± Willow hesitated briefly before replying softly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste my energy on people from the past anymore. I¡¯m also too busy to deal with personal issues since the auction house is getting ready to go public and is currently engaged in the recruitment of additional personnel.¡± Heather was extremely supportive of it, saying, ¡°It¡¯s great that you re focusing on your career. Timothy mentioned the previous day that he wanted you to join Aurelia Group to gain experience and eventually take over his position in a few years¡® time. I turned him down for you, saying that you have your own career and that his offer was irrelevant. Timothy actually got so upset after hearing that.¡± Heather naturally omitted the couple¡¯ster intimate interaction. Having enjoyed each other¡¯spany, Timothy brought up the idea of having a baby, reasoning that it would provide Willow with a remaining rtive after Grace and they themselves had departed. Heather was profoundly moved, realizing that Timothy genuinely loved her and understood what she was thinking. Their intimacy that night was marked by several passionate encounters. Atter Heather left, Willow remained by herself for a while. Then, her phone on the couch vibrated, signaling a message from lian, who was mostly seeking forgiveness and hoping for reconciliation. She remained unmoved, ignoring the message, rejecting his calls, and refusing to meet him. In the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor of Neb Group, Julian leaned on the circr couch, looking down at his phone with a trace of disappointment on his face¨CWillow still hadn¡¯t responded to him. It was then that Esther knocked on the door and asked, ¡°Are you attending the banquet tonight, Mr. Ziegler?¡± Julian, without looking up, merely replied, ¡°I¡¯ll be attending it.¡± Altar 143 It was a captivating evening in Brindley, with a multitude of celebrities gathering at the banquet hall in Evergreen Grand Hotel. Julian, dressed in his finest, was holding a ss of champagne as e socialized with the other guests in a rxed manner. His eyes would often wander to the entrance of the banquet hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of Willow. However, the banquet was well underway, and Willow was still nowhere to be seen. It was then he heard a familiar voice calling out to him, asking, ¡°What are you looking at, Julian?¡± Julian turned and noticed that it was Braxton Young, the CEO of Aegis Group, talking to him, so he smiled slightly as he greeted, ¡°Good evening, Mr. Young.¡± Braxton patted his shoulder and said with a teasing smile, ¡°I noticed that you had been looking a little out of it for a while now. What¡¯s the matter? Who are you expecting?¡± Julian replied with a polite smile, ¡°I¡¯m not waiting for anyone.¡± Braxton, observing Julian¡¯s striking and polished demeanor, remarked with a sigh, ¡°It seems like Liam has raised you well, Julian. You¡¯re sopetent at such a young age¨Cunlike my good¨Cfor¨Cnothing son, who¡¯s nothing but trouble.¡± Braxton¡¯s son was Caleb Young, notoriously known for being the scion of the Young family and a local troublemaker in Brindley. Julian, though only acquainted with Caleb by reputation, said politely, ¡°I¡¯m sure Mr. Caleb is a person of remarkable talent. I¡¯m certain that he¡¯ll achieve great things with proper guidance and the passage of time.¡± Braxton¡¯s eyes immediately lit up as he asked, ¡°You really think Caleb has potential, Julian? Why not let him study under you, then? He could learn valuable business practices and acquire your polished demeanor as well. He stands at an imposing six feet and the inches, and yet, he¡¯s always ying with guns and knives. How unsightly!¡± Julian couldn¡¯t help but picture a reckless, burly man. Given Braxton¡¯s sturdy physique, Julian¡¯s assumption of Caleb being a rough, brawny man was understandable. Though he inwardly considered Braxton¡¯s proposition maniptive, Julian still responded with a cordial smile, saying, ¡°I would be delighted to have Mr. Caleb learn from me, but I have a more suitable arrangement. You see, my missus operates a rather sessful business in Brindley and would be well¨Cequipped to take him under her wing. How does that sound?¡± Julian intended to assign Caleb as Willow¡¯s chauffeur and bodyguard. His towering height made him an ideal candidate for the job. Braxton was momentarily stunned before agreeing without hesitation, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of Ms. Harper¡¯s reputation. I have no doubt Caleb will be in good hands under her guidance.¡± Julian raised his ss of champagne with a smile and said, ¡°You can rest assured that Mr. Caleb will be in capable hands.¡± Braxton clinked his ss with Julian¡¯s with a faint smile. They both harbored ulterior motives, each scheming in their own way. In the hotel¡¯s underground parking lot, Julian remained seated in his car, scrolling through his phone. Though the banquet had already ended, he didn¡¯t manage to catch a glimpse of Willow, which prompted him to assume that Willow was deliberately avoiding him. It was then that his phone suddenly rang¨Cit was Alicia calling from Grandsburg. He hesitated for a moment before finally answering the call. He then heard Alicia¡¯s frail voiceing from the other end of the Jine, saying, ¡°I want to go back to Brindley, Julian.¡± Julian furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Is Grandsburg not to your liking? I¡¯ll make arrangements for the blood bank and kidney transnt.¡± Alicia sobbed softly, asking, ¡°You don¡¯t want me to go back to Brinley, do you? Is it because you¡¯re worried about upsetting her? You¡¯re well aware that Catherine has passed away, and my parents are getting old, Julian. How can you leave me all alone here to spend my final days without my family by my side, knowing it will leave my parents with regret?¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, Alicia,¡± Julian said tly before hanging up. ¡°J¨CJulian¡­¡± Alicia stammered before her phone slid from her gras. She was lost in thought for a moment before a faint smile graced her face, realizing that Julian no longer had any feelings for her. It turned out that he had fallen for Willow, the pawn he had personally handpicked. 212 Altar 144 Chapter 144 In the CEO¡¯s office of Neb Group, Julian sat at his desk, reviewing the documents. He was dressed in a light gray shirt and ck trousers, bathing in the sunlight streaming through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows¨Chighlighting his noble and handsome features. It was then that Esther suddenly knocked on the door and said, ¡°Mr. Braxton¡¯s son has arrived, Mr. Ziegler.¡± Julian, without raising his gaze, instructed, ¡°Please let him in.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before the sound of footsteps echoed through the office, followed by a nonchnt voice asking, ¡°You¡¯re Julian Ziegler, huh? My father told me toe find you.¡± Julian raised his gaze and was immediately stunned. He noticed that the man before him, towering at six feet and three inches, possessed striking features. He was wearing a ck shirt and a pair of dark blue ripped jeans, his physique resembling that of a model. Julian furrowed his brow as he wondered if the man before him was truly Braxton¡¯s son, Caleb, never expecting him to turn out this good¨Clooking. Though he was undeniably good¨Clooking, Caleb was uncouth. He directly sat on the desk and said, ¡°I heard my father saying that you wanted me to keep an eye on your wife. You rich folks are all a bunch of phonies. You have affairs behind your wives¡® backs, yet you¡¯re worried your wives can¡¯t meet your sexual needs.¡± Julian, unustomed to dealing with such insolence, said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ll just inform Mr. Braxton if you¡¯re not interested in this position. You may leave now, Mr. Caleb.¡± ¡°Hold on, Mr. Ziegler! I¡¯ll ept the job!¡± Caleb interjected, revealing a dazzling smile. He then grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and continued, ¡°Please give me your wife¡¯s address and phone number, Mr. Ziegler. I¡¯ll go attend to her right away.¡± 1 Julian regarded him for a moment before writing down the information on the paper. Caleb, chewing his gum, nced at the name, flicked the paper, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll head over to report for duty now, Mr. Ziegler.¡± Caleb¡¯s hasty departure infuriated Julian. He pointed toward the door and asked Esther, ¡°Is that actually Mr. Braxton¡¯s son?¡± Esther replied cautiously, ¡°It¡¯s definitely him. I verified his ID, and it unequivocally stated ¡®Caleb Young.¡°¡± Julian reclined on his seat, suppressing his annoyance. He then took out his phone and sent Willow a WhatsApp message, stating, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged a bodyguard for you. He¡¯s quitepetent. You can use him as both a bodyguard and a chauffeur. I¡¯ll take care of his sry. He¡¯s on his way to you now. His name is Caleb Young. He¡¯s the son of Mr. Braxton of Aegis Group.¡± Upon seeing the message Caleb had sent, Willow was momentarily stunned. She was just about to reply to the message when Annie suddenly rushed in, whispering, ¡°Charlie is here right now, Ms. Harper. He¡¯s demanding to see you. He¡¯s quite well known, so there¡¯s already a crowd gathering outside.¡± Willow immediately set her phone down. She then deliberated briefly before saying, ¡°Please let him in.¡± Annie nodded in response and promptly left. She then led Charlie in shortly after and said politely, ¡°Please have a seat, Mr. Burke. I¡¯ll go prepare some coffee for you.¡± Charlie, having lost his youngest daughter, Catherine, looked extremely haggard. It was his second timeing over here, and this time his feelings were entirely different from the first. He didn¡¯t know Willow was his daughter back then, but now that he did, he naturally felt a deep sense of affection for her, though Willow still refused to recognize him as her biological father. Willow remained seated behind her desk, showing no intention of sitting with him. Her demeanor toward Charlie was indifferent as he asked, ¡°Is there something you need from me?¡± Charlie hesitated for a moment, then said with some reluctance, came today because there¡¯s something important I need to discuss with you.¡± Thankfully, Annie brought in the coffee at this moment, providing temporary respite from his difort. Charlie took a sip of his coffee and continued, ¡°You¡¯re probably aware that aside from Catherine, you actually have another younger sister, Alicia, who¡¯s currently undergoing treatment in Grandsburg. She wishes to return home now that Catherine is no longer with us. Julian is against it, though. That¡¯s the reason why I came here to discuss this matter with you.¡± Willow smiled faintly and asked, ¡°How are your family¡¯s affairs any of my concern?¡± Charlie, his voice breaking, eximed, ¡°You¡¯re Alicia¡¯s sister, Willow! She has never done anything to harm you! In addition, she¡¯s a wonderful person. You may have resented Catherine, but Alicia is different¨Cyou¡¯ll definitely like her!¡± Willow held her forehead and said with a sneer, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Burke, but let¡¯s be clear here¨CTimothy and Heather¡¯s children are my only siblings. Your daughter is yours to deal with, so you¡¯d better not push your responsibilities to me!¡± Charlie¡¯s face shifted from ashen to livid, his fury barely contained. 17 Altar 145 Charlie fixed Willow with a gaze of profound disappointment as he eximed, ¡°You¡¯re just as heartless as your mother! How could you do this to Alicia? She¡¯s your sister, for goodness¡® sake!¡± Yet, before Willow could even respond to Charlie, someone tall suddenly sauntered into the office. He then tossed his backpack onto the coffee table, red at Charlie, and barked, ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Charlie raised his gaze, spotting a handsome youth before him. He felt a wave of disdain washing over him as he thundered, ¡°Do you have any idea who you¡¯re talking to?¡± Caleb sat on the coffee table and continued chewing his gum, looking like a hoodlum as he eximed, ¡°I know who you are! You¡¯re the one I saw at the fertility clinic a few days ago, right? I guess you¡¯re missing something important down there.¡± Charlie¡¯s face flushed crimson with rage as he snapped, ¡°Why, you I¡¯ll sue you!¡± ¡°Go on, sue me! You can take it up with my father¡¯s attorney! Oh, and in case you didn¡¯t know¨Cmy father is Braxton Young,¡± Caleb said as he threw a business card at Charlie. It was Jeffrey¡¯s business card. Charlie¡¯s speech faltered, realizing that Braxton, the CEO of Aegis Group, was the father of the young man before him. He absolutely couldn¡¯t afford to mess with him. It was after Charlie had left that Caleb settled onto Willow¡¯s desk and said, ¡°Your ex¨Chusband hired me to keep an eye on you because he¡¯s worried that you¡¯re being unfaithful.¡± Willow picked up the business card and asked softly, ¡°Are you acquainted with Jeffrey?¡± Caleed her suspiciously and asked, ¡°Is he your lover?¡± Willow ignored the question and handed him a form, saying, ¡°I need you to fill this out. You¡¯ll be working with Insight Corporation from now on. Your paycheck and benefits wille from us. You¡¯ll have nothing to do with Julian.¡± Caleb eximed, ¡°I never had anything to do with him in the first ce! I¡¯m not a freaking woman!¡± Willow remained silent, fixing her gaze on the business card. Caleb chewed on the tip of the ck pen, looking at Willow thoughtfully. Having filled out the form, he stepped outside to call Julian, saying, ¡°Your wife initially wouldn¡¯t take me in, but after seeing Jeffrey¡¯s business card, she immediately changed her mind. Is she and Jeffrey having an affair?¡± 1 Julian¡¯s expression turned grim as he dialed Braxton¡¯s number. He hadn¡¯t even gotten a word in when Braxton suddenly eximed cheerfully, ¡°There¡¯s no need for any further arrangements, Julian. Ms. Harper has decided to take in Caleb. He¡¯s now on Insight Corporation¡¯s payroll¨Ca reputablepany that¡¯s going to go public soon¨Cso he¡¯s set for life. ¡°Thanks for introducing Caleb to Ms. Harper, Julian. You don¡¯t need to worry about Caleb¡¯s affairs anymore since Ms. Harper¡¯s got it covered. I haveplete faith in her abilities¨Cafter all, she¡¯s one of your prot¨¦g¨¦s, right?¡± Julian was livid, practically seething. He tossed the phone aside, turned to Esther, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s Braxton ying at? Is this his way of clinging on to me?¡± Esther remained silent, not daring to speak. 1 Willow didn¡¯t offer Caleb any preferential treatment due to his background. She made him her chauffeur¨Ccum¨Cbodyguard, with the added task of carrying her bags, offering him a sry of 12 thousand dors a month. She had alsoid down a few simple rules, saying, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to walk ahead of me in public. You¡¯ll be required to wear a suit and tie. You must abide by trafficws, which means no speeding. You should also address me as Ms. Harper in public.¡± Caleb, in anguid manner, asked, ¡°Am I supposed to address yous Lady Harper in private then?¡± Willow resigned herself to Caleb¡¯s behavior. His vtile demeanor provided a convenient barrier against unwee visitors, though, so she chose to keep him around. She had also spoken wit Braxton, the CEO of Aegis Group, where their conversation was strictly professional, filled with business pleasantries. Caleb, sitting on the coffee table with his long legs stretched out, hewed his gum and said, ¡°You and Julian are basically the same¨Ctwo of a kind, both full of hypocrisy.¡± Willow said with a sneer, ¡°Thanks for thepliment. Please get out of my office now.¡± Caleb got upzily and left. He was just there to pass the time and keep Braxton happy, after all. He coincidentally managed to witness something interesting, though. It was already 8:00 pm. Willow massaged her temples and tossed the car keys to Caleb, saying, ¡°It¡¯s time for you to drive me home. Come on!¡± Caleb was in the middle of a game, intending to finish it. However, when he thought of Willow¡¯s frigid expression, he put away his phone and got up to follow Willow out. Julian was standing outside thepany. He leaned against a ck Rolls¨CRoyce, exuding an air of refined elegance, with a cigarette held between his fingers. His arm moved rhythmically, the glowing ember casting a red hue that seemed to scorch the surrounding darkness. Altar 146 Willow made no move to retreat. She walked up and met Julian¡¯s gaze. Her dark hair and white dress billowed in the sharp night wind, her striking crimson lips making the neon lights in the surroundings dim. She then said softly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? If it¡¯s about Caleb, I¡¯d like you to know that I¡¯m quite pleased with him.hanks for sending him over.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze hardened as he said, ¡°If it pleases you, then that¡¯s all that matters.¡± He seemed to have returned to his usual calm demeanor, no longer looking like the desperate man from before. He even added, ¡°If you¡¯re pleased with him, then I¡¯ll find a few better ones and send them over to you tomorrow.¡± Upon hearing that, Willow couldn¡¯t help but look at him differently, thinking that Julian was an absolute nutcase. Having thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle, Caleb reached out, pulled open the passenger door of the pink Rolls¨CRoyce, and dramatically announced, ¡°It¡¯s time to head home, Lady Harper.¡± Julian furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Did he just call you Lady Harper?¡± Willow walked over to the Rolls¨CRoyce and replied nonchntly, ¡°Is there an issue with that? If it pleases me, he can call me whatever I want¨Ceven ¡®darling.¡°¡± Julian remained silent. He simply watched as the young man he had handpicked got into Willow¡¯s Rolls¨CRoyce, chauffeuring her home and addressing her as ¡°Lady Harper¡°, He could have been the one saying it, calling her ¡°Lady Harper¡°-thedy of the house. Caleb, on the other hand, ran his hand over the steering wheel, eximing, ¡°What an awesome ride! You were brilliant out there ¨CJulian¡¯s expression was priceless!¡± Willow fastened her seatbelt and stated tly, ¡°You¡¯re not to call me Lady Harper again.¡± Caleb hit the gas and asked, ¡°Is ¡®darling¡® eptable then?¡± Willow was rendered speechless. Julian stood in ce for a while before letting out a soft scoff, thinking that Caleb was nothing more than an ignorant brat. He didn¡¯t need to take him seriously. Julian took the final drag of his cigarette before getting into his Rolls¨CRoyce. He then drove straight to Radiance Manor, which had be his primary residence nowadays. Having pulled up at Radiance Manor, one of the household staff, Jesse Schmidt, promptly approached, took his coat, and asked, ¡°Shall I prepare ate¨Cnight snack for you, Mr. Ziegler?¡± Julian hesitated momentarily before replying, ¡°I¡¯m not really hungry.¡± Jesse, having picked up on Julian¡¯s foul mood, wisely dropped the matter. Julian walked through the brightly lit room and ascended to the second floor, pushing open the master bedroom door. He couldn¡¯t help but feel that the absence of thedy of the house rendered the room stark and unweing. He then slumped onto the piano bench and flipped open the piano lid. Through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, the night stretched dark and endless. Then the rain began, a gentle drizzle that kissed the sycamore foliage. Those yellowed leaves glistened with moisture, amplifying the sense of bleakness. In the stillness of the night, Julian yed ¡°F¨¹r Elise¡± on the piano That piece, typically full of longing and happiness, now echoed with an even deeper sense of solitude. It was then that he suddenly recognized the truth¨Chis desire wasn¡¯t for Alicia, but for Willow. If Alicia had been a beautiful but unattainable dream, Willow was the real, palpable happiness he craved. He understood then that he, Julian, was no different from anyonese, wanting to seize the happiness within his grasp¨Cthe one he wanted to spend his life with was Willow. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a profound and consuming longing take hold of him at that very moment. It was two dayster when Liam visited Insight Corporation, bringing along a box of mince pies from Hearth Patisserie. He sat down, sipped his coffee, surveyed the grand surroundings, andplimented themvishly, saying, ¡°You¡¯ve reallye a long way in less than a year¨Cit¡¯s impressive!¡± Having replenished his cup, Willow said lightly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing much.¡± Liam¡¯s admiration for her grew more pronounced. Having chatted for quite a bit, he finally addressed the core of his visit, saying, ¡°I¡¯m aware that Julian¡¯s actions had caused you distress, and I get that some things can¡¯t be undone. I¡¯ve noticed that he¡¯s been in low spiritstely, though¡ªperhaps finally realizing what he had lost. Why don¡¯t you give him another chance, Willow? 4 ¡°You should alsoe by for dinner since Thanksgiving ising up. You can pay your respects to the old man while you¡¯re at it. It¡¯s almost the 100th day since his passing, after all.¡± Willow took a sip of her coffee and said softly, ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of disrespecting your wishes, Liam, but Julian and I have truly run our course. I simply can¡¯t ept Alicia being in the picture. In addition, I had already paid my respects to Dominic at the cemetery yesterday, leaving him a bouquet of daisies. I¡¯m sure he would have found them pleasing.¡± Her frankness left Liam with no room to argue. He was aware that the Ziegler family had wronged her regarding Alicia¡ªat first, they kept the truth hidden, andter, theycked the courage to reveal it. He stayed a little while longer before finally getting up to leave. He also reminded Willow to take good care of herself due to the recent chilly weather. Having heard that, Willow felt slightly taken aback, though she was rather moved by Liam¡¯s attention. It was only after Liam had left that Annie walked in and picked up the box of mince pies from Hearth Patisserie for closer inspection, saying, ¡°You know, these are rather exclusive. You¡¯d have to stand in line for two whole hours to get them if you don¡¯t order ahead.¡± Willow, not being a fan of sweet treats, said, ¡°You can take it with you if you like it.¡± Upon hearing that, Annie was absolutely delighted. Willow remained unaffected by Liam¡¯s visit and carried on with her work. She had even dismissed Caleb, who had dropped by at one point, thinking that he was quite needy for attention. That evening, Jeffrey called, inviting her to his pre¨Cengagement gathering, an event nned to introduce Rosabelle to his circle of friends. Altar 147 Though Willow had initially nned to refuse his invitation, Jeffrey suddenly said, ¡°You should reallye over, Willow. You see, Rosabelle is particrly looking forward to meeting you.¡± In addition, Jeffrey felt indebted to Willow for entrusting him with insight Corporation¡¯s affairs, which generated substantial revenue and a significantmission. Having given it some thought, Willow finally agreed to it. Her well wishes for Jeffrey and Rosabelle were genuine. Thus, on the following day, after a thorough and meticulous selection process, she chose a pair of his¨Cand¨Chers watches valued at six million dors as their engagement gift. It was after she had swiped the card and left the ce that Caleb eximed, ¡°How could you be so generous when ites to spending on your lover? I merely make 12 thousand dors a month, and you just blew six million dors on your lover! It¡¯s six million dors, for goodness¡® sake!¡± Willow red at him and bellowed, ¡°You should yell louder and make sure everyone hears you! And for your information, Jeffrey is not my lover!¡± Caleb scoffed, not believing her for a second. ¡°Why would you spend six million dors on him if he isn¡¯t your lover?¡± Willow didn¡¯t even bother to respond to him, merely sending him the address of the business lounge after getting into the car. Caleb hit the gas and grumbled, ¡°It¡¯s no wonder Julian¡¯s keeping tabs on you.¡± Willow couldn¡¯t help but find herself thoroughly irritated by Caleb¡¯s incessant chatter. It was after a ten¨Cminute drive that they finally arrived at the Veil Club. Caleb unfastened his seatbelt and was about to get out of the but Willow suddenly stated calmly, ¡°You¡¯ll wait for me in the car.¡± Caleb protested, ¡°Why should I wait in the car?¡± Willow¡¯s gaze swept over his 800¨Cdor suit, a strained smile gracing her features. ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re the chauffeur and you should behave like one. I mean, what kind of chauffeur attends a party alongside their employer?¡± Caleb¡¯s face flushed with anger as he snapped, ¡°I see how it is! You¡¯re just nning to mess around behind my back, right?¡± ¡°You hit the nail on the head,¡± Willow replied in a jovial manner, finding it quite entertaining to tease Caleb sometimes. Having said that, Willow made her way up alone and pushed open the door to the designated private room¨CRoom 216. Julian was unexpectedly present at the gathering too. It turned out he and Rosabelle were somewhat rted, and Rosabelle even quietly referred to her in a manner that suggested that she was still Julian¡¯s wife. In that instant, the atmosphere suddenly became visibly awkward Willow didn¡¯t make a big deal out of Rosabelle¡¯s form of address. She promptly presented the gift and conveyed her heartfelt congrattions. Upon opening the box, Rosabelle immediately recognized the gifts considerable value and was reluctant to ept it. Jeffrey, however, smiled faintly and said, ¡°You should just ept it. You just have to make sure not to mistake who¡¯s who again in the future.¡± Rosabelle blushed and murmured, ¡°Got it.¡± Having grown up together, those present in the private room could easily discern Julian¡¯s thoughts¨Che wasn¡¯t willing to let go of Willow. It was truly an unprecedented urrence. It appeared that Julian had developed feelings for Willow, and the des of their rtionship had subtly, yet unmistakably, reversed. Havinge all this way, Willow naturally had to take a seat somewhere. There were only two vacant seats avable in the private room¨Cone was beside Julian and the other was beside Jeffrey. She naturally opted to sit next to Julian. She had just sat down when Julian turned to look at her, giving her the kind of look only a man would give a woman. He then remarked softly, ¡°You look great in that outfit.¡± Willow replied indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s just what I wear for work.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her as he asked, ¡°Did you make a point of not dressing up because you¡¯re worried that Jeffrey¡¯s fianc¨¦e will be jealous?¡± ¡°Have you lost your mind, Julian?¡± Willow murmured, her patience wearing thin as she really considered leaving the ce. Julian, as if sensing her thoughts, grabbed her hand and whispered, ¡°You should stay a little longer. I¡¯ll take you home afterward.¡± Willow said coldly, ¡°I already have a chauffeur.¡± Julian couldn¡¯t help but grimace at the mention of the chauffeur. He was the one who had sent Caleb to Willow, after all. He was just about to say something when his phone suddenly rang. He nced at the caller ID before declining the call. Having guessed who the caller was, Willow offered noment and directed her attention elsewhere. Julian could tell that it was bothering her, so he exined softly, ¡°It¡¯s already over between us. I¡¯ll only offer her some financial assistance from now on, and I won¡¯t be visiting her in Grandsburg anymore. You have my word.¡± Yet, before Willow could even respond to Julian, the door to the private room suddenly swung open. In that instant, a stream of light poured in, brightly lighting up everyone¡¯s faces, and the person standing at the doorway was shown clearly¨Cit was Alicia. She stood there in a white dress, looking incredibly frail. She then called out to Julia, saying weakly, ¡°I¡¯m back, Julian.¡± In that instant, an absolute stillness permeated the night. Julian remained silent, gazing at the fragile figure before him. He had once convinced himself that he would never go back to Grandsburg to visit her again. He thought that if their paths were to cross again, it would likely be at her graveside. Yet here she was¨CAlicia¡ªback in Brindley after nine years. Having left Brindley for so many years, Alicia had finally returned. In that instant, Julian¡¯s mind was thrown into turmoil. He forgot entirely about Willow, who sat beside him, and the words he had just spoken to her¨Cthat he would never meet Alicia again, that everything between them was in the past, and that he would never return to Grandsburg. Altar 148 Those present in the private room immediately fell silent. Willow looked at Julian, the man she had once loved with all her heart, and felt a pang of irony. There had never been a ce for her in Julian¡¯s heart. His gaze suddenly held no room for anyone else after Alicia¡¯s return. Those vows and sweet nothings he had professed earlier seemed pale andughable at this moment. She truly pitied herself. Her youthful years had been squandered. er wound from the incident still throbbed. It was only natural for her to feel such pain, though. She had unreservedly poured her most precious youth and deepest emotions, without holding back, into Julian, only for him to repeatedly drag her sincerity through the mud. She then smiled faintly, a sense of relief washing over her. She had chosen to leave, to give up what had once meant everything. She knew that she was the object of much attention, some offering sympathy, others merely seeking amusement. It didn¡¯t matter to her, though, as her only thought was to remove herself from this scene, to leave this nauseating scene of a past love rekindled. She couldn¡¯t bear to witness it any longer. It was, quite frankly, repulsive. She promptly rose to her feet and moved past Julian, who remained utterly unaware of her presence. His gaze was locked onto Alicia, his emotions raging beneath the surface. That opulent hallway had turned into her execution ground. She felt eviscerated by the ghost of Julian¡¯s youthful affections. Her dignity had been obliterated. Their marriage had been a mere solo act for her. It had always been Alicia for Julian, through and through. Alicia didn¡¯t even have to try¨Csimply standing there and softly uttering ¡°Julian¡± would reignite their past romance. Julian¡¯s gaze was also utterly fixed on her, brimming with affection. Willow knew that Julian had never looked at her in such a way. Jeffrey hurried after her, but Willow gently brushed his hand away and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright¨Cthe chauffeur is waiting for me.¡± He hesitated briefly before finally letting Willow go. In a short while, Rosabelle came over and asked worriedly, ¡°Do you think we should go after Willow?¡± Jeffrey¡¯s gaze was profound as he replied, ¡°I¡¯m certain Willow will pull through this¨Cshe¡¯s tougher than she looks, after all.¡± Rosabelle then leaned gently against Jeffrey¡¯s side with her eyes glistening with unshed tears, finally realizing that love could actually cut this deeply. Having left the Veil Club, Willow watched as Brindley¡¯s neon tapestry softly lost its brilliance. She then settled into the car, resting against the leather seat as she said softly, ¡°I want you to drive around the city for a while. I don¡¯t feel like going home yet. TI Caleb set down his phone, crossed his arms, and remarked with a huff, ¡°You¡¯re getting all mopey because your lover is getting hitched, huh? You look absolutely pathetic! Why would you spend six million dors on him? You should have just spent that money on me instead!¡± Willow, still leaning against the seat, instructed, ¡°Just drive.¡± Caleb was just about to say something when a figure emerged from the Veil Club in a hurry¨Cit was Julian. It was a profoundly dark night, and Julian¡¯s face tightened with worry as he scanned the area for Willow¡¯s car. It was a pink Rolls -Royce, so Julian located it without any trouble. He quickly strode toward it, with a slender figure in a white dress trailing him. Caleb muttered in disbelief, ¡°What the hell?¡± In an instant, Julian reached the car. He rapped on the car window and called out Willow¡¯s name, wanting to offer her an exnation. He had a premonition that if he let Willow leave that day, she would never return to his side. Her car still remained locked, though, preventing him from speaking to Willow. Through the barrier of the car window, he could just make out a glimmer in the corner of Willow¡¯s eyes. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she had been crying. He instantly yelled, ¡°Willow! Please roll down the car window willow! You have to hear me out!¡± Willow had no interest in hearing his exnation, so she directly ordered Caleb to drive. Caleb was just about to step on the gas when Alicia came staggering toward them. She cried out to Julian in a heart¨Cwrenching voice, eximing, ¡°I don¡¯t want to return to Grandsburg, Julian! Why can¡¯t we be together now that you¡¯re divorced? You obviously love me, Julian!¡± Altar 149 Caleb nced at Willow and asked, ¡°Where did this piece of worke from?¡± Julian banged hard on Willow¡¯s car window while Alicia moved forward, trying to tug at his sleeve. Julian brushed her aside, sending Alicia crashing right into amppost sign and cutting her forehead on the sharp metal edge. Her fragile constitution immediately caused her to lose consciousness on the spot. Julian was momentarily taken aback before he hurriedly scooped Alicia into his arms and frantically called out her name. Alicia¡¯s face was deathly pale, with her lips trembling uncontrobly. There was a steady flow of blood trickling from the gash on her forehead. Julian nced at Willow¡¯s car, then at Alicia in his arms. He gritted his teeth, opened his car door, put Alicia inside, and then sped off toward the hospital. Though his heart longed for a future with Willow, he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of harm befalling Alicia. Caleb turned to Willow and asked, ¡°Is that the hypocrite¡¯s old me?¡± There was still a trace of tears in the corners of Willow¡¯s eyes as she said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t concern yourself with my personal affairs.¡± Caleb immediately yelled, ¡°You actually still like him? What¡¯s so great about that two¨Ctiming scumbag? Why not go for me instead? I mean, I¡¯m from a loaded family, I¡¯m young and attractive, and I¡¯m definitely in much better shape than him. In addition, I¡¯m a total spendthrift, so you would actually be the one in charge of the Young family. I bet that would drive Julian insane! Willow turned and regarded Julian quietly. It was only after a long silence that she finally eximed, ¡°How delusional!¡± Having stepped on the gas, Caleb still wouldn¡¯t let up as he eximed, ¡°I¡¯m being serious here! I¡¯ve never been this interested in a woman before, so you should be honored!¡± Willow offered him no response whatsoever. She was concerned that Heather would worry about what had transpired, so she made up an excuse about going back to her apartment. She then switched off her phone, telling no one her whereabouts. She stood on the apartment¡¯s rooftop, silently working through the pain the rtionship had brought her. Though she had repeatedly convinced herself that it was all in the past, Julian wouldn¡¯t let her move on. It was a peaceful night in the city, and Willow, d in a ck jacket, stood with her long, dark hair whipping around her in the fierce night breeze. Caleb came up behind her and offered her a can of beer, saying, ¡°Have a drink. It¡¯s guaranteed to have you out like a light until the sunes up.¡± Willow merely nced at the can of beer, not epting it. ¡°It¡¯s clear that only the weak use alcohol to drink their sorrows away.¡± Caleb, feeling called out by Willow¡¯s remark, retorted, ¡°Is this your way of telling me that you¡¯ve never had a drink before? I don¡¯t buy that for a second!¡± Though she¡¯d had drinks in the past, Willow kept that information to herself. Caleb walked over to her, took a swig of his beer, and grumbled, ¡°What¡¯s so great about him anyway? He¡¯s such a phony! Is that really your type, someone so disingenuous? He even looks like my old man!¡± Willow smiled faintly and said, ¡°You should probably call him ¡®Dad the next time you see him, then.¡± Caleb retorted, ¡°In his dreams!¡± In the VIP ward of Heartwell Hospital, Alicia had been treated and was no longer in critical condition. In the hallway outside, Julian frantically tried to reach Willow, but her phone was turned f. She hadn¡¯t gone back to the Chapman residence, nor had she gone to the house in the southern suburbs. Julian, feeling increasingly anxious, decided to go and search for Willow. Julian, thinking that Alicia was no longer in danger, decided that it was time for him to be upfront with her. He calmly stated his decision in the VIP ward, ¡°I¡¯ll take you back to Grandsburg once you¡¯re feeling better. You shouldn¡¯t return to Brindley again. It¡¯s what we previously agreed on, after all. I¡¯m really sorry, Alicia, but ¡®m in love with someone else now.¡± Upon hearing that, Alicia¡¯splexion drained of all color. Julian held her gaze for a moment longer, then turned to leave. In the very next instant, Alicia reached out and embraced him, clinging tightly to his back as she sobbed, saying, ¡°You can¡¯t leave me, Julian. I won¡¯t let you go after her!¡± Altar 150 Julian immediately stiffened, Alicia¡¯s gentle, drawn¨Cout cries from behind gradually broke through Julian¡¯s defenses as she said, ¡°It¡¯s so lonely living in Grandsburg, Julian. I see nothing but the sky and that one church from the hospital balcony. ¡°I would lie in bed every day and hear the pigeons flying by; my signal that morning had arrived. I could also deduce that it is nightfall once they return to their dwelling at the church. It was a cycle that repeated endlessly, month after weary month, year after deste year. ¡°In the past, I could still look forward to your visits every month. I would collect all my thoughts and stories for an entire month, just to share them with you. It brought me so much joy back then, even though I knew you were always thinking about work, thinking about Neb Group¡¯s future. I chose to ept that then. You eventually stopped visiting me, though, just because your wife didn¡¯t like it. ¡°Catherine¡¯s already dead, Julian! If they still can¡¯t find a kidney donor for me, I probably won¡¯tst much longer either. I don¡¯t want to die alone in Grandsburg, Julian. I want to stay in Brindley. I can¡¯t stand waking up every day to the sound of pigeons pping their wings anymore. It¡¯s driving me insane! I don¡¯t want to face death alone, Julian. I¡¯m begging you please let me stay.¡± Julian¡¯s resolve faltered after hearing the woman he once loved in his youth plead with such desperation. He turned around and lowered his gaze to Alicia. She had a white bandage covering her forehead, with the blue and white hospital gown hanging loosely off her slender shoulder, emphasizing her delicate and sickly appearance as tears flowed freely down her face. Julian couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of emotion wash over him as he recalled his history with Alicia. He remained silent for quite a while before murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s already over between us, Alicia. It has been so many years now, and time has changed us irrevocably.¡± Upon hearing that, Alicia¡¯s eyes fluttered shut, a tear slipping down her cheek. Her lips trembled as she murmured, ¡°I know.¡± Yet, what she knew with even greater certainty was that Julian had finally conceded, allowing her to stay in Brindley. It was 4:00 am when the Burkes arrived at the hospital. Their family reunion was, understandably, a bittersweet asion. Julian saw to all the arrangements and then quietly slipped away. It was around 5:00 am when Julian arrived at Willow¡¯s studio apartment. He pushed the door open only to find a faint sliver of light piercing the darkness and no one inside¨CWillow wasn¡¯t there. He then walked into the kitchen and noticed that the kettle had recently been used, and a can of beer was missing from the fridge. It seemed that Willow had recently returned here. He then went up to the rooftop of the apartment and found that dawn had already begun to break, casting a pale, whitish hue across the eastern horizon, edged with the delicate colors of dawn. He noticed the deserted rooftop, with only a ttened beer can lying discarded in a corner. It was then that the sound of a message notification rang. Julian took out his phone and noticed that it was a WhatsApp message from Caleb, stating, ¡°Hey, Julian. I¡¯m off to drop Ms. Harper at her family¡¯s ce. You clearly didn¡¯t appreciate her, so I¡¯ll dly step up. Your ex barely has any flesh on her, though. What¡¯s up with your tastes?¡± His messages were also punctuated with a sly grin emoji after every sentence, making one feel extremely infuriated. Julian stared at the messages several times, growing increasingly rritated. He had been the one who sent Caleb over to Willow, who had now be his constant source of annoyance. Julian was convinced that Willow had gone to Yarrowmere. He immediately reached out to Esther and asked her to arrange for a private ne to fly out to Yarrowmere the first thing in the morning. Having ended the call, he returned to the apartment. It felt cold and abandoned, the dark couch still echoing with the memory of theirst intimate entanglement. Julian never made it to Yarrowmere, though. It was around 7:00 am when Alicia experienced a medical emergency and required resuscitation at the hospital. Her primary physician from Grandsburg, Andrew Gabler, arrived shortly after, so Julian had to arrange an immediate consultation with other medical experts. It was a whole ordeal thatsted around 20 hours, but at least Alicia was finally stable. It was a weekter that Willow returned from Yarrowmere, bringing with her a selection of local specialties for Grace, all of which had been thoughtfully chosen by Laura. Grace beamed with delight, praising Laura for her kindness andmenting on how fortunate Willow was. It was already October¨Cthe heart of autumn¨Cand the evening sun set in a ze of red. Willow was on her way home, waiting at a traffic light, when she received a call from an unknown number. Altar 151 A soft voice came from the phone, ¡°Willow, let¡¯s meet.¡± Alicia? Since the other party had made her move, Willow wouldn¡¯t back down either. ¡°Sure. Half an hour. Sinistra Cafe.¡± Weekend traffic was bad. Willow arrived at the cafe a few minuteste. Alicia was already there. She sat by the window, wearing a white dress, her ck hair draped over her shoulders¨Cdelicate and beautiful. Willow walked into the cafe, spotted Alicia easily, and sat across from her. After six years of rivalry, today was a face¨Cto¨Cface showdown. Alicia had an innocent look, but the inner corners of her eyes were sharp. She calmly sized Willow up, her gaze finallynding on Willow¡¯s handbag. It was a Hermes Birkin that cost 1.2 million dors. Willow followed her gaze and smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s a gift from my mother.¡± Alic¨ªa forced a smile. ¡°At my age, I don¡¯t suit those things.¡± Just then, the server brought over two cups of coffee. Alicia smiled sweetly. ¡°These are made with Geisha beans. It¡¯s quite good¡­ Try it.¡± She was clearly showing off. Willow said nothing, but the server smiled and chimed in, ¡°I saw Ms. Zieglere in just now, so I specially used Northaven beans¡­ Ms. Ziegler, let me know if you need anything. The manager mentioned it¡¯s been a while since yourst visit.¡± Willow gave a serene smile. ¡°Alright.¡± Alicia¡¯s pride took a hit. She was clearly embarrassed. She lowered her head to sip her coffee to cover it up. After a while, she spoke gently, ¡°I heard you¡¯re in the art business now. If you want, I can persuade my father to consign his paintings to your gallery for sale or auction. You¡¯re probably well aware of his artistic aplishments.¡± Willow smiled. ¡°Ms. Burke, I run a business. I actually had his work evaluated by professionals. They are too expensive, with a high chance of going unsold. Most auction houses wouldn¡¯t dare take them on.¡± In other words, Willow was not interested. After a few rounds of back and forth, Alicia still hadn¡¯t gained the upper hand. She lowered her head and gave a soft smile. ¡°Your career¡¯s doing well, but a woman needs love, too. By the way, Julian agreed to stay. I¡¯ll be staying in Brindley for treatment.¡± Willow smiled again. ¡°Whether you stay in Brindley for treatment or to die has nothing to do with me. Julian and I are no longer married. We¡¯re both free to do as we please. You don¡¯t need to unt your happiness. And also¡­¡± Willow pulled out a stack of documents. ¡°This is the debt the Burke family owes me¨Ccourt¨Cordered. You still owe 66 million dors. Of course, you can ask Julian for the money. But if you want to keep up your sweet little angel image, that might not be easy.¡± Alicia¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°We¡¯re sisters. Why do you have to go so far? There wasn¡¯t a trace of friendliness in Willow¡¯s eyes. She looked at Alicia and spoke softly, ¡°Only biologically. I¡¯m Timothy¡¯s daughter now. The Chapmans¡® eldest child. I have nothing to do with the Burke family. ¡°It ites down to awsuit, the most I¡¯d owe Mr. Burke is 1,200 dors a month in child support. It¡¯s just like feeding a dog¡­¡± Alicia finally cracked, her lips trembling with anger. ¡°You don¡¯t have a shred of kindness in you.¡± ¡°Kindness?¡± Willow brushed her bangs back and chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong, Ms. Burke. I¡¯m a ruthless capitalist. But I can pay for this coffee,¡± Willow paid the bill and left straight away. She headed to the parking lot, opened her Rolls¨CRoyce, and got in As soon as she sat down, the phone in the console rang. Julian was calling. Willow nced at the screen, blocked the number, stepped on the gas, and drove off. The luxury car made Alicia envious. If Julian had been willing to marry her back then, would it have to this? 2 Altar 152 Chapter 152 1 Alicia returned to the hospital. As soon as she pushed open the door to her room, Charlie looked overjoyed. ¡°Alicia, we found a suitable kidney match. It¡¯s your biological sister. She signed a voluntary donor form a few years ago and gave a sample. We didn¡¯t expect it to be a match! ¡°Ah, our family¡¯s finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I talk to your sister and ask her to donate a kidney to you. Alicia, you¡¯re going to be healthy again.¡± Alicia forced a smile. ¡°She might not agree. Nancy quickly scolded her daughter, ¡°What kind of sister wouldn¡¯t save her own sibling? Catherine gave so much to you without hesitation. If Catherine could do it, then she should, too.¡± Alicia leaned back against the bed, looking delicate and weak. ¡°I¡¯m just worried Julian will have a hard time with it.¡± Charlie thought for a moment and spoke in a calm tone, ¡°Julian¡¯s always been deeply devoted to you. He¡¯ll be on your side. As for Willow, we¡¯ll make it up to her in other ways. Just wait for this healthy kidney with peace of mind.¡± Nancy was all smiles. Still, Alicia hesitated. Charlie saw this and instinctively felt that Alicia was kind and thoughtful, far better than Willow. But deep down, the one he most wanted to love and protect was still Willow. (1) Willow wouldn¡¯t answer Julian¡¯s calls or see him. So, Liam stepped in. He personally called Timothy, suggesting that since the kids were having issues, maybe both families should sit down and talk it through. It was better to clear things up than let them hang in the air, affecting their careers. Timothy thought about it carefully. It made sense. Late at night, after an intense round of intimacy, he brought it up while theyy in be,d catching their breath. Timothy told his wife about the idea. Heather thought it over and agreed. She was willing to settle things with the Ziegler family. The next day, Liam got the go¨Cahead and was thrilled. He called Victoria and gave instructions after a pause, ¡°Book the best private room at Vanderbilt for tonight. I¡¯m hosting important guests. I need ten seats. Go with the top¨Cshelf wine list. Also, be sure to order the steamed salmon. Willow loves it.¡± Victoria smiled. ¡°Got it, Mr. Ziegler.¡± After settling everything, Liam pped his thigh. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Timothy gave me this courtesy. I¡¯ve really put my pride on the line for Julian.¡± Thanks to Liam¡¯s coordination, both families had dinner together at Vanderbilt at 7:00 pm that night. Since the Ziegler family was hosting, they arrived at 6:30 pm. In the elegant private room, Julian held a teacup with his long fingers. He looked calm, sipping slowly, but in truth, he was anxious. Liam refilled his cup. ¡°Have a proper talk . But Julian, I think you need to take a stand when ites to that Burke woman. What woman wants to share her man?¡± Julian frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t have feelings for Alicia anymore.¡± Liam nodded. ¡°Good.¡± Just then, the private room door opened. A server led the Chapman family of three in. ¡°Mr. Ziegler is already here.¡± Julian set down his cup and looked toward the door. Willow was here. She wore a simple dress with no expensive jewelry, looking understated and elegant. Julian stared at her intently, like trying to see beneath her skin. But in the end, reason won out. He respectfully greeted them, ¡± Timothy, Heather, please sit here. Willow, you can sit here.¡± Timothy smiled cheerfully. ¡°Willow will sit with us.¡± Julian didn¡¯t object and let the Chapmans sit wherever they liked. Altar 153 Julian¡¯s every move was poised and effortless, full of the bearing of someone born to lead. Timothy couldn¡¯t help but sigh. This marriage between their children was truly a pity. On the way over, he and Heather had asked Willow. Willow had no intention of getting back together. She said there was no point in salvaging it. If that were the case, then this would just be a proper farewell dinner with everyone parting ways with dignity. During the meal, Timothy casually chatted, but the underlying message was clear. How could someone like Julian not catch on? But he didn¡¯t let it show. He kept gently serving Willow food. ¡°This salmon is your favorite. Dad ordered it, especially for you. Eat up. You look like you¡¯ve lost weight.¡± Willow frowned. ¡°I can take it myself.¡± Julian remained considerate. ¡°Tell me what you want, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± His shamelessness made Liam and Nancy break into a cold sweat. Timothy was even a little impressed. Julian really knew how to y humble when it counted. He was ruthless in his own way. As the dinner was hitting its stride, amotion came from outside the private room. It sounded like someone was looking for Willow. Liam stepped out to check. ¡°Who is it?¡± Then, he froze. It was Charlie and Nancy. While Liam stood there stunned, the couple barged in. As soon as they saw Willow, Charlie teared up. ¡°Willow, you have to save your or sister. If you¡¯re willing to donate a kidney, Alicia can live a healthy life.¡± Everyone was still in a daze when Charlie excitedly announced, ¡°It¡¯s a match! Willow¡¯s kidney can be transnted to Alicia. ¡°Willow, Alicia will always love and respect you. And if you ever have health issues, Alicia will take care of you.., You can count on that.¡± Willow set down her spoon and sneered. ¡°What does her illness have to do with me?¡± Charlie¡¯s expression changed. ¡°But you signed a donor form! You were willing to donate to strangers. How can you refuse your own sister?¡± Willow¡¯s tone became even more contemptuous. ¡°That was for idental donation, not cutting one out while I¡¯m alive. Anyway, I don¡¯t have a sister. You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Charlie never imagined she would respond like this. He thought family was supposed to help each other. Before he could say more, Nancy started crying and yelling, using Willow of being heartless. Mnie, who adored Alicia, couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°If she¡¯s your real sister, you should save her.¡± Liam red at her. ¡°Don¡¯t get it twisted.¡± Before the words even settled, Heather was already on her feet. She looked around at everyone in the room with a sneer on her face. Then, she walked straight over to Charlie and Nancy and pped them both hard. ¡°That¡¯s for being heartless.¡± Then, she turned to Mnie. Mnie thought she wouldn¡¯t dare hit her, thinking her status would protect her. However, a mother defending her child had no such fear. Heather pped Mnie square across the face. ¡°That¡¯s for not knowing right from wrong. Willow lived with the Ziegler family for years. Do you have any idea how much she suffered because of ou?¡± After the ps, Heather raised her voice, enunciating every word,Let me make this clear right here and now. Willow will not give her kidney or a single drop of blood. ¡°Anyone whoys a hand on Willow isying a hand on me. If that happens, I swear I¡¯ll tear them apart. I¡¯ll drag them down to the depths of hell.¡± 1 Everyone present was stunned into silence. Altar 154 Mnie held her face in disbelief. ¡°Did you just hit me?¡± Heather sneered coldly. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? You throw around the word ¡®real sister¡® like it means something. Who said she¡¯s her sister? ¡°Since you like that cursed woman so much, have your son marry her. You can donate your kidney to her. Why should my daughter be used as a favor? ¡°I¡¯m saying this now. If anything happens to Willow, none of you is walking away.¡± Timothy gently pulled her into his arms. ¡°I¡¯ve got you.¡± Mnie still wouldn¡¯t let it go. She turned to Julian. ¡°Look at this. Is this the woman you want to win back? She¡¯s humiliating me.¡± Nancy took the opportunity to chime in, ¡°What kind of sister doesn¡¯t save her own family? Julian, if you care about Alicia, you should-¡± Julian¡¯s expression was unnaturally calm. ¡°Willow is part of the Chapman family. She has nothing to do with the Burke family. You¡¯re all crossing the line.¡± Charlie and Nancy froze. Wasn¡¯t Julian supposed to care most about Alicia? Heather stepped in front of Julian. Her voice was quiet but firm. ¡°Julian, Alicia is your past, not Willow¡¯s. Willow already gave you years of her youth. That¡¯s enough. ¡°If your m¡¯t let go of Alicia and if you can¡¯tpletely cut ties with her, then stop dragging Willow into this. My daughter does need to beg for love, and she sure as hell doesn¡¯t need the Ziegler family¡¯s money. This ends here. Let each other go.¡± Julian looked pale. For a moment, he really did think about walking away from Alicia for good. But if he could truly do that, why would he have stayed in Grandsburg for nine years? He couldn¡¯t watch Alicia wither and die. He was stuck with no way out. After a long silence, Julian looked at Willow. Willow lowered her eyes, smiling faintly. ¡°Julian, don¡¯t stress yourself out. I never nned to get back with you anyway. Let¡¯s leave it at that.¡± Then, she walked out with Timothy and Heather. Charlie and Nancy, still focused on the kidney donation, tried to chase after them, but Julian stopped them with a quiet warning. The next second, Julian flipped the entire table of fine dishes. With a loud crash, broken ss and scattered food covered the floor. It was a wreck. Everyone was stunned. Charlie and Nancy stood there, humiliated. Mnie trembled, her voice shaking. ¡°Julian¡­¡± Even Liam was frozen. He had never seen his son lose control in public. Julian had always been reserved, never this raw or defeated. Under the dazzling lights, Julian lookedpletely wrecked. He turned to the people in the room. ¡°Mr. Burke, did you ever really see her as your daughter? You did even hesitate before asking her for a kidney. That¡¯s a kidney, not some piece of clothing or jewelry. It¡¯s a living organ in her body. ¡°And Mom, are you out of your mind? Willow and I were married for four years.¡± Mnie realized she had made a huge mistake. Her lips moved, but no words came out. Julian¡¯s voice was soft. ¡°I loved her.¡± He said that and then walked out of the room, leaving Mnie behind, calling after him bitterly. The night wind hit his face. It was as cold as ice. Julian didn¡¯t know where to go. For the first time in his life, he feltpletely lost. He wandered the streets aimlessly. His phone rang over and over¨Cit was Alicia calling. (1) Eventually, he picked up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Julian. I didn¡¯t know my parents would do that. Did it make things harder for you? Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let my sister donate a kidney to me. ¡°They went overboard. I¡¯ll talk to them¡­ Julian, can youe over? I¡¯ll exin everything. I¡¯m really worried about you.¡± Altar 155 After a moment, Julian spoke in a quiet voice. ¡°Alicia, get some res.¡± He hung up. That night, he drove back to Radiance Manor. As he stepped into the entryway, a housekeeper habitually asked if he wanted ate¨Cnight meal. Julian shook his hand lightly, then slowly walked up to the second floor and pushed open the master bedroom door. He had never felt this drained. He didn¡¯t turn on the light or even take off his clothes. He justy down on therge bed and covered his eyes with his hand. Hey there inplete silence. It rained in the middle of the night. The rain pattered softly, like drops hitting straight at the heart. Julian felt dejected. His thoughts blurred as he remembered all thosevish, carefree years. The truth was, they had all been spent with Willow. Now that she was gone, all that remained in his world was ash. He didn¡¯t want to give up, but Heather¡¯s words kept echoing in his mind. ¡°Julian, Alicia is your past, not Willow¡¯s. Stop dragging Willow into this. If you can¡¯t let go of Alicia, let each other go.¡± Theorners of Julian¡¯s eyes gradually dampened, too. In the dim light, he whispered, ¡°Willow, I¡¯m giving your life back to you.¡± From now on, he would stay in the abyss while Willow would be free and happy. It was 8:00 pm on a Tuesday night. Willow finished up her work and stepped out of the office. Outside, Caleb immediately stood up. ¡°Heading home?¡± Willow gave a nod, frowning. ¡°Why are you wearing jeans again?¡± He kicked out a leg, speaking with deliberateziness. ¡°I¡¯m young and full of energy. What¡¯s wrong with jeans?¡°/ She walked outside. ¡°Next time, 200 dors will be deducted from your paycheck.¡± Caleb grumbled under his breath. ¡°How many paychecks have you even given me? You sure are generous with your lover. You gave him six million in one shot. If you gave that to me, I¡¯d treat you real good.¡± Willow gave him a sideways look. ¡°What exactly can you do?¡± He puffed out his chest. ¡°I can do plenty-¡± But before he could finish, his eyes locked onto someone in the lobby. It was Julian. Tonight, Julian was dressed to the nines. He wore a dark gray shirt and an expensive, tailored suit paired with a ck silk tie. A suit was a man¡¯s best look. After years of marriage, he knew at least a bit about Willow¡¯s tastes He walked toward her, eyes fixed on her, voice low and soft. ¡°Have dinner with me. I¡¯ve made the reservation.¡± Caleb crossed his arms and eximed, ¡°Ms. Harper¡¯s busy. Hey, why don¡¯t you go find that old me of yours? What, is she dead now? Julian ignored the loudmouth and gently took Willow¡¯s hand. ¡°Just give me two hours. I won¡¯t bother you again after that.¡± Caleb bared his teeth. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m really good in a fight.¡± Julian¡¯s voice stayed calm. ¡°I¡¯m a ck belt in karate. Try me.¡± Caleb immediately fell silent. Julian looked at Willow again. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you back after dinner.¡± Willow looked up at him quietly. After a moment, she pulled her hand away without saying anything, walked to the parking lot, and opened Julian¡¯s car door. Julian followed. After getting in, he reached over to fasten her seatbelt, but Willow stopped him cold. ¡°It¡¯s just dinner. Nothing more.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly. Then, he stepped on the gas. Back on the steps, Caleb waved a fist in the air, muttering, ¡°Why the hell did I chicken out just now?¡± Altar 156 It was the same restaurant. They finished the meal that they had finished thest time. Julian had clearly gone out of his way to organize this. The dishes were even more refined than before, the wine was his best vintage, and even the restaurant looked different. In front of the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows stood an expensive grand piano. Everything spoke of a farewell. The silver candlesticks flickered. In the soft light, they looked at each other calmly. It had been seven years since they¡¯d first met. Julian poured Willow half a ss of red wine and said softly, ¡°Have a little wine. I bought it specially for this. Tonight¡¯s caviar is excellent, too. I tried it before they served it.¡± Willow asked quietly, ¡°Why?¡± He gave a faint smile. ¡°You mean, why go through all this trouble? Because if Jeffrey has it, I have to have it too.¡± She lowered her head and gave a light smile. It had been a long, long time since they had gotten along like this. Maybe because they knew this was the end, they no longer bothered to argue. Whether they loved each other or cared for each other, none of it mattered anymore. After this dinner, they would go their separate ways. That was it. There was nothing special about it. He just wanted onest date. He didn¡¯t say anything dramatic, and she didn¡¯t say anything spite They just sat and ate quietly together. She didn¡¯t have much of an appetite. This past week, her appetite had been off. Maybe she¡¯d eaten something bad. Willow excused herself to the restroom. Later, Julian yed a piece¨CChopin¡¯s Nocturne Op. 9. Willow didn¡¯t stop him. She just sat there, watching Julian at the piano in front of the window. Everything she once hoped for, Julian was now willing to give her, but after all that had happened, it seemed meaningless. She even smiled slightly when he finished. Outside, far away, someone set off fireworks. One by one, the giant bursts lit up the night sky, dyeing it in the most brilliant colors. Just like tonight¡¯s farewell and the dinner Julian had carefully arranged, it was grand and ceremonial. But no matter how dazzling the fireworks were, they always faded The night was calm and deep. They walked through a crowded street. It seemed like some foreign holiday. Songs yed, and couples wandered the streets, flirting andughing. ¡°Willow, back then, I guess we skipped the dating part,¡± Julian suddenly said. Willow looked up and was just about to respond. However, Julian had already leaned in, face drawing close. Their breaths mingled, and before she could react, he cradled the back of her neck and kissed her gently. It was so gentle, but she couldn¡¯t break away. Neon lights zed above, the crowd bustled around them¡ªit all felt surreal. It was like they were in love and that this was a reunion, not a goodbye. Julian kissed her for a long time and then slowly let go. His gaze deepened. ¡°I¡¯m going to buy a wand. Wait for me.¡± If Jeffrey had it, he had to have it, too. Willow thought he was childish. In all seven years of knowing him Julian had never done something this immature. She let it go for onest time. Julian took off his tie and gently covered her eyes. ¡°Cover your eyes. When you¡¯re holding the wand, there¡¯ll be a surprise.¡± Willow finally smiled, still letting it go. So, with Julian¡¯s ck tie over her eyes, she stood there in the bright lights, waiting for him toe back with a wand¡­ But a long time passed, and he never came back. Willow blinked lightly. She knew¨CJulian wouldn¡¯t being back. C Altar 157 hapter 157 Chapter 157 The neon lights above dimmed gradually, and everything around seemed to quiet down. The silk tie grew damp, little by little. She and Julian were finally over. In the distance, Julian stood under the soft glow of the streetlights just like he used to¨Celegant and poised. He silently watched Willow, watching her standing there alone. ¡°Willow, I lied to you again. I said, if Jeffrey has it, I need to have it, too. But how could I be like anyone else? Even if it¡¯s goodbye, it has to be different. ¡°Deep down, I want you to always remember me to remember the way the wind smelled like me tonight, to remember that I gave you more than just pain and tears. ¡°Willow, no matter how hard it is, it¡¯s time for us to truly go our separate ways. Willow, I¡¯m giving your life back to you now.¡± Julian turned and walked away. He lit a cigarette, brought it to his lips with trembling fingers, and took a drag. He told himself that this was it. They would part on good terms. He would set her free. The pale smoke was thest warmth he left her. Julian cried. A shimmer appeared at the corner of his eye¨Ctears that had never fallen before. He walked quickly through the crowd under the fading neon lights. He wiped at his face as he went, thinking, ¡°I¡¯m Julian Ziegler. How could I cry? I must be hallucinating.¡± He knew he couldn¡¯t have his cake and eat it, too. He shouldn¡¯t be regretful, right? He would have no regrets. But deep down, a voice echoed, ¡°Julian, happiness was right there within reach. Do you even know what love is, Julian? ¡°That day at Yarrowmere, when you told Willow maybe Snowy liked Dad more¨Cthat moment, that was love between you and Willow. All those times in her apartment? How could that not be love? ¡°It had never beenpletely emotionless. Feelings do grow with time. But there was no going back now.. ¡°Julian, if you had another chance, would tonight still end this way? If you had another chance, you would never have let Willow lose her ability to have children because of you. ¡°At least when she left, she wouldn¡¯t have to suffer from others judging her. She wouldn¡¯t hold onto it so tightly. ¡°Julian, if you had another chance, you would have found a way to make her a little happier. So, even if you parted, when she looked back, it would be filled with good memories.¡± One city¨Cwith two people heading in opposite directions. Julian drove to Lake Tolpond. He sat in the car, smoking for half the night. Later, he bought a whole bundle of sparklers. By the edge of Lake Tolpond, surrounded by colorful neon lights, he stood in what was his bted offering of love. Only now did he truly understand that his feelings for Alicia had be nothing but guilt and obligation. Before passing, Dominic left him a letter. ¡°Julian, falling for somegne else isn¡¯t shameful. I hope you¡¯ll be honest with yourself.¡± At the time, Julian didn¡¯t take it seriously. He liked Willow, but how could that be love? It was just an attraction between a man and a woman, just the bond of marriage. That was all. Now, he¡¯d finally woken up. Back then, the first time he saw Willow, he already liked her. But he convinced himself it was only because he wanted Alicia to be like her¨Chealthy, confident, full of life. The truth was, it was all his pride. He just couldn¡¯t ept that he could be so shallow as to fall for someone else. So, he kept making excuses, convincing himself. However, the fact was that he had fallen for Willow a long time ago It had always been Willow. It had been Willow from the start. Altar 158 At 5:00 am, Julian was called back to the city by a phone call. Alicia¡¯s condition had worsened. Complications red up, and after two hours of emergency treatment, she was finally out of danger. Julian hadn¡¯t slept all night. He eventually passed out on the couch from exhaustion. He had a dream. He dreamed he was back at Lake Tolpond, dreaming of that evening sky painted in vivid sunset colors. He and Willow sat side by side on the concrete railing of the dam. Willow had a painting kit strapped to her back, and on the canvas was a young Julian. ¡°Julian, we will never betray each other or abandon each other for the rest of our lives, right?¡± ¡°Of course! You¡¯re the most important person in my heart.¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s get married, Julian.¡± ¡°Willow¡­ Willow,¡± Julian murmured softly, gently running his hand over Willow¡¯s back. She came back. She hadn¡¯t left. Willow had said they would never betray or abandon each other. She still remembered the vows they made¡­ Alic froze, stunned. She had been happy to hear that Julian and Willow had broken up, thinking that she was the one who mattered the most in Julian¡¯s heart. But now, even in his dreams, Julian was calling out Willow¡¯s name. How humiliating was that?¡± Julian jolted awake, still shaken. Looking down, he saw it wasn¡¯t the same soft warmth he felt from his dream, but Alicia. Julian pulled back, pressing his hand to his forehead. ¡°Alicia, it¡¯s you. Are you feeling better?¡± Alicia sat on the couch nearby, her voice soft. ¡°A bit better. But I know I¡¯ve only got about six months left. ¡°Julian, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t expect to cause you and my sister to break up. If I had known, I would¡¯ve tried everything to stop my parents. I would¡¯ve never let them do something that ridiculous. It¡¯s perfectly normal for her to refuse the donation.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze darkened. At that moment, Alicia¡¯s doctor, Andrew¨Cthe young physician from Grandsburg¨Ccame over to discuss her condition. Andrew said, ¡°If we can¡¯t find a suitable kidney donor soon, Ms. Burke¡¯s body might no longer be fit for the transnt.¡± Julian silently read through the medical report and said nothing. Alicia bit her lip quietly. At 2:00 pm, Julian had a meeting at thepany, so he left the hospital. On his way out, he passed by Andrew again. The young man had a familiar scent¨Csomething like an expensive citrus perfume, which Willow used from time to time. Julian couldn¡¯t help but nce at Andrew again. +25 BONUS Charlie and Nancy came to take care of their daughter. The first thing Nancy asked when she saw Alicia was, ¡°What did Julian say? Is Willow willing to donate her kidney?¡± Aliciay back on the bed, her dark hair spread across the pillow. Se replied lightly, ¡°It¡¯s not like a kidney is a piece of clothing. She won¡¯t agree that easily.¡± Nancy immediately came up with a n. ¡°We¡¯re not asking for it for free! We can let her name her price¨Ca house or five million dors, she can choose.¡± Alicia didn¡¯t bother responding. Charlie, more pragmatic, hesitated and said, ¡°The Chapman family isn¡¯t short on money. Willow herself is wealthy, too. It looks like her business is doing pretty well. Her auction house is getting ready to go public.¡± Nancy scoffed. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have gotten where she is without Alicia¡¯s sacrifices.¡± Alicia said bitterly, ¡°But Willow doesn¡¯t see it that way. She thinks it¡¯s all because of her own ability.¡± Nancy continuedining, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you keep Julian around?¡± Alicia replied faintly, ¡°He had work. How could I insist? But he¡¯lle to visit in a few days. There¡¯s no one else around him. If he¡¯s not here, he has nowhere else to go.¡± Nancy urged her daughter to seize the chance,pletely forgetting that Alicia¡¯s health was already failing. Julian left the hospital. On his way downstairs, though the sun was shining, Julian felt chilled to the bone. He returned to Radiance Manor, changed into formal clothes, and headed to thepany for meetings. He handled business as usual and attended events as usual¡­ In front of others, he was still the picture of elegance and confidence. But only he knew that a part of his heart had already begun to rot. Altar 159 Every now and then, Julian would visit Alicia in the hospital. But more often, he preferred to be alone, quietly thinking about Willow. There was a period when Julian lost control. He went to the club every night to drink. There was a young woman there. Her features resembled Willow¡¯s especially the faint red beauty mark at the corner of her eye. When she poured his wine, Julian would lean back on the couch, quietly staring at that mark, eyes dark and unreadable. He went for a full week, running up over a?nillion dors in red wine. The club manager noticed what was going on and called the woman aside. He needed a favor from Julian and figured, since Julian had no one around, he might as well send someone in. The manager spoke to the woman in a low voice, ¡°If you serve drinks here for a year, you¡¯ll make 20 grand tops. But if you get in with Mr. Ziegler, it¡¯s silk sheets, mansions, and servants. It¡¯s the kind of life most people can¡¯t even dream of.¡± The woman bit her lip. ¡°Mr. Ziegler has always been proper.¡± The manager chuckled. ¡°He likes that little beauty mark by your eye. He¡¯s clearly reminded of someone.¡± The woman blushed a little but was still willing to act. She pushed open the private room door. Julian was on the couch, scrolling on his phone. The woman, now briefed, knelt halfway down so that the beauty mark was right in his line of sight. Sure enough, Julian set down his phone. Her pale, delicate hand rested on his leg. She looked up and murmured, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, I¡¯ve got one just like this on my waist. Do you want to see it?¡± For a young woman to offer herself like that, any man would find it hard to refuse. Julian stared at her for a moment. 1 Then, he stood up and grabbed his coat. However, he still used the tablet to order 200 thousand dors worth of red wine and said tly, ¡°I¡¯m taking these with me.¡± This meant that he wasn¡¯ting back. The young woman froze, unsure of what to do. Julian¡¯s tone turned colder. ¡°That¡¯s not what I came here for.¡± With that, he walked out. The manager was waiting outside. One look at Julian¡¯s face told him not to push. Julian spoke quietly, ¡°Don¡¯t make things hard for people and stop teaching them this crap. They were born to good parents and not raised to be used like this.¡± The manager felt ashamed. Julian didn¡¯t linger, headed downstairs, and got into the car. The driver loaded the red wine into the trunk, got in, and casually asked, ¡°Sir, back to Radiance Manor?¡± Julian sat in the backseat, eyes closed to rest. After a while, he gave an address. It was the apartment Willow had lived in. The driver was surprised but drove there anyway. When they arrived, Julian told him to leave first. He carried a few bottles of wine upstairs. He had a key, so he unlocked the door and walked in 12 The apartment was cold and quiet, clearly untouched for a long time. He set down his coat and started cleaning. He spent an hour making the ce spotless. He boiled water, made coffee, and even ordered a bouquet of flowers¨Cwhite ca lilies, Willow¡¯s favorite. He made the ce feel like home again. That night, Julian didn¡¯t leave. He curled up on the couch where he and Willow had once held each other, a soft wool nket over him. The scent of Willow still lingered. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Late at night, he dialed her number. He had forced himself to hold back so many drunken nights. But this time, he lost it. The phone rang for a long time¡­ Willow picked up but said nothing. Julian stayed silent for a while, too, then finally asked, voice trembling, ¡°How have you been?¡± After a pause, Willow said coolly, ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Wait! Willow, wait,¡± Julian called out urgently. After another stretch of silence, he spoke in a low voice, ¡°I just wanted to hear your voice. Is that not allowed either?¡± Hepeated himself, ¡°Willow, I just want to hear your voice.¡± The night was still. His heart felt heavy and soaked. Willow¡¯s voice was slightly hoarse. ¡°Julian, there¡¯s no point anymore. That¡¯s it. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Soon after, the beeping of a disconnected line echoed from Julian¡¯s phone. His handsome, refined face was filled with nothing but restraint and loss. Altar 160 The end of October arrived in the blink of an eye. Alicia¡¯s condition kept deteriorating. She was afraid she wouldn¡¯t and a matching kidney donor in time, so she suggested traveling the world before it was toote. However, Julian objected. He told her to wait for a bit more. She realized that even though he was physically with her in the hospital, his heart wasn¡¯t in it. This put her on edge¨Cshe wanted his heart to be hers. On Saturday, a famous stage y featuring a star¨Cstudded cast was being performed in Brindley. Alicia managed to get two box seat tickets and invited Julian to watch the y with her. He reflexively turned her down. ¡°You¡¯re not in good condition. You should stay at the hospital.¡± She¡¯d already changed her clothes. She lowered her gaze and allowed her tears to flow at his words. ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I want to go out. I haven¡¯t watched a y in ages, Julian. ¡°Do you want the final moments of my life to be spent cooped up in this hospital ward as I wait for death to take me? I¡¯ll be careful. I promise I won¡¯t let any viruses get to me when I¡¯m outside.¡± Julian took pity on her. He¡¯d promised to care for her for life, but he had to admit he¡¯d neglected hertely. His expression softened, and he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go together, then.¡± Alicia a most wept with joy. She linked arms with him and said light¨Cheartedly, ¡°Let me get a cardigan! If it gets too cold, I can always wear your suit jacket. I love the scent of tobo on you, Julian.¡± He felt she¡¯d misunderstood him, but didn¡¯t correct her since her time was running out. He merely smiled faintly. The performance being put on at 8:00 pm at Brindley Theater was the renowned stage y Thunderp. It was said that the full main cast would be performing, and many of Brindley¡¯s celebrities were in attendance to show their support. Tickets were nearly impossible to get, and the theater¡¯s backstage was filled to the brim with flowers from fans and admirers. Heather loved the y and brought Willow to watch it with her. Caleb had insisted on tagging along and was especially attentive, going out of his way to buy some snacks for them. When Heather saw that they were all sour, she asked Willow, ¡°Why are you so obsessed with these nowadays? Just the sight of them makes my teeth ache.¡± Willow had only recently developed a love for them. She popped one into her mouth and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that sour. Do you want some, Mom?¡± Heather waved her hands. ¡°No, thanks. I honestly can¡¯t handle them.¡± Caleb handed her a fruit tter and fanned her gently with a paper fan, his actions almost ingratiating. Even someone of Heather¡¯s age couldn¡¯t help admiring a young man like him. It was a bonus that he was the son of the Young family. As the three of them chatted andughed, Willow suddenly noticed two familiar figures in the box opposite hers¡ªJulian and Alicia. They sat side by side, and Alicia had Julian¡¯s suit jacket over her shoulders. She clung to his arm and leaned against his shoulder intimately. They looked like a loving couple. Just then, Julian saw Willow. As their gazes met, he seemed to remember something and pushed Alicia away. His gaze turned anxious, and he seemed to want to exin something to her. Willow smiled calmly and averted her gaze. They¡¯d long since divorced, so it was none of her business who he chose to be with. He didn¡¯t need to exin anything to her. Caleb saw them, too. He chewed his gum aggressively, seemingly wanting to do the same to Julian and Alicia. Julian frowned at the sight of him. Alicia felt neglected. She turned to look in Willow¡¯s direction and asked considerately, ¡°Do you want to go over to say hi, Julian?¡± He said coolly, ¡°No. The y¡¯s starting soon,¡± She fell silent. Then, she pulled his suit jacket tighter around her and curled up in it like a fragile animal. She leaned against him agam. Altar 161 After a short while, Alicia coughed a few times. Julian got her a ss of water. Willow knew Alicia was deliberately putting this loving act on for her¨Cshe wanted to make Willow back off. It was too bad it wouldn¡¯t achieve the desired effect because Willow was already thoroughly disappointed in Julian. Still, Alicia¡¯s existence pissed Willow off. Just as thetter told herself to stick it out until the y was over, Heather said coolly,¡± We really need to get our fortunes told before we leave the house in the future. It¡¯s too easy to run into bad luck otherwise.¡± Willow smiled. ¡°Did you pick up Timothy¡¯s sense of humor, Mom? Caleb leaned close. ¡°You mean our dad!¡± She red at him, but Heatherughed. Willow was outstanding and capable; someone as cheery and goofy as Caleb wasn¡¯t a bad match for her. He was handsome and had a good figure with an infectious smile. Heather was only thinking that, but Caleb was serious about having her as a mother¨Cinw. He ran around, ensuring her every need was cared for. Of course, he had a hidden agenda¡ªhe would marry Willow so that she could take over the family business for him¡­ It was great! Willow knew nothing about his ns. She felt a little ufortable after having the snacks and excused herself to the restroom. Heather told Caleb to go with her. However, his phone rang when they got to the restroom, and he gave Willow a heads¨Cup before leaving to answer the call. She entered the restroom alone. However, as soon as she went in, someone shut the door behind her¨Cit was Julian. He pined her to the wall while cradling the back of her neck with his hand. He didn¡¯t do anything out of line. All he did was stare into her eyes before saying hoarsely, ¡°Willow.¡± She tried and failed to break free. Then, she asked calmly, ¡°What is this supposed to mean? Didn¡¯t we already say our goodbyes, Julian? Why are you still pestering me? There are probably thousands of people in this theater; you could¡¯ve acted like you didn¡¯t see me, and that we were strangers. ¡°Why did youe after me? Or did you want me to congratte you after that loving act you put on before me? I¡¯ll do as you wish, then. I wish you and Alicia all the happiness in the world and that you¡¯ll be together until death takes you.¡± Her words were harsh, but her eyes gleamed with a hint of tears. It was much too cruel for her to have wasted four years of her youth on a man who wasn¡¯t worth it. Julian paled. He wanted to exin, but ultimately released her. He let go of the woman he wanted and backed away, saying softly, ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± What did it matter? He¡¯d lost Willow¨Cno, he¡¯d cast her aside. He couldn¡¯t find any excuse for himself to get her back. He slowly backed away, leaving the restroom and Willow¡¯s life. His heart twisted painfully as he strode past the door. Willow was left alone in the restroom, the harsh lights making her look ashen. Suddenly, her stomach turned, and she bent over the sink as she dry¨Cheaved. Then, she leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor, her strength leaving her. She looked down and gently ced a hand on her belly. As a woman, she knew what this meant. She¡¯d been getting frequent nauseous spells and odd cravingstely¨Cit turned out they weren because she¡¯d eaten something bad, but because she was pregnant: She was pregnant, and it hade after she and Julian had parted ways! Willow counted the days and realized she¡¯d conceived on that night in the apartment. Julian had slept with her twice that night and had ravished her. Tears streamed down her face as sheughed and cried. She was pregnant; she was going to be a mother! She couldn¡¯t believe this was happening to her. Altar 162 Chapter 162 The restroom door was pushed open, and Caleb entered. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Willow leaning against the wall with her hand on her belly. There was something sacred and saint like about the look on her face¨Chis mother was also like that when she looked at him. He went crazy. ¡°Are you pregnant? How can you be carrying Julian¡¯s child? Didn¡¯t you guys fucking end things? How could he have knocked you up?¡± This was his first time having feelings for a woman and wanting to marry her. Willow and Julian had finally severed ties, yet here she was, pregnant with his child. He was so furious that he wanted to storm off. In fact, that was what he did. He stomped out of the restroom, mming the door shut behind him. Then, he returned a few secondster after having talked sense into himself. He crouched beside Willow and carefully felt her belly. Then, he looked up at her. He was secretly pleased when she didn¡¯t stop him. She had to have feelings for him¨Cwhy else would she let him touch her belly? Caleb said gruffly, ¡°Have the baby, and I¡¯ll raise him! He¡¯ll take my surname and call me his father. That jerk¡¯s genes shouldn¡¯t be too bad, so this brat can take over my family¡¯s business when he grows up. He won¡¯t have to worry about going hungry, at least.¡± Willow¡¯s face was still wet with tears, but sheughed at Caleb¡¯s words. She reached out to rub his head. ¡°I can raise the baby myself, silly.¡± He was only three years younger than her, but to her, he was still like a child. She was only 27 years old, yet she¡¯d been through too mh in life. Caleb said stubbornly, ¡°I don¡¯t care about that! I¡¯ll save half my sry to raise the child!¡± Willow had nothing to say in response. She was still a little ufortable, so she asked Caleb to help her to the corridor so she could get some fresh air. It was quiet in the night as they walked along the corridor. Caleb looked at her in concern. ¡°Do you need to go to the hospital? What if the baby was smothered earlier? Does it need to get oxygen?¡± Willow smiled faintly. ¡°You know a lot, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m fine, really. Women are generally weaker in their first trimester.¡± After a while, he asked hesitantly, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not going to tell him?¡± He was worried he wouldn¡¯t be able to be the baby¡¯s father! She shook her head. As she was about to speak, hurried footsteps rang out in the distance. It turned out Julian had returned to his and Alicia¡¯s box to find her having an asthma attack. He¡¯d hurriedly hoisted her into his arms before rushing her back to the hospital. He was practically running as she curled up weakly in his arms, her face as white as a sheet as she mumbled something. Heforted her in a low voice, saying, ¡°You¡¯ll be fine, Alicia. Don¡¯t be scared¨Cyou¡¯ll be fine once we get to the hospital. I¡¯m here, okay?¡± He brushed past Willow. He¡¯d seen her and noticed how pale she looked, but he didn¡¯t have the time to stop. It didn¡¯t even ur to him that she could be pregnant. And so, they brushed past each other and missed out on each other in that empty corridor, thanks to Julian repeatedly letting Willow down. An ambnce was already waiting outside the theater. It was there to pick Alicia up. Julian carried her in. He only had time to look back at the theater¡¯s second floor after handing her over to a doctor. He could vaguely see Willow¡¯s figure from where he stood. She seemed unwell, but he didn¡¯t have the chance to ponder the matter as the ambnce sped off. Willow¡¯s figure became smaller until it disappeared from his line of sight. Caleb and Willow stood beside the window. He asked softly, ¡°Are you going to regret not telling him?¡± She shook her head. She took some time topose herself before returning to the box and watching the rest of the stage y with Heather. Thetter knew about what had happened with Alicia¨Cthere¡¯d been such a ruckus that it would have been impossible to miss. Still, she didn¡¯t mention anything before Willow. She firmly believed in treating one¡¯s ex¨Chusband as if he were dead. She never would¡¯ve expected Willow to be pregnant, though. Back at the Chapman residence, Willow did a pregnancy test to be sure. Then, she told Timothy and Heather about it. They were silent for a few seconds before reacting with joy, especially Heather. She felt a mixture of joy and sadness and could barely speak. Willow smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll start to show once I wrap up my work and get things on track. When the timees, I¡¯ll head to Yarrowmere and stay there until I give birth. I won¡¯t let the Zieglers hear about this.¡± Heather agreed. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Timothy was excited. He rubbed his hands as he looked at Heather. ¡°Am I going to be a grandfather? Things are going to be lively at home, Heather!¡± Altar 163 Tears filled Heather¡¯s eyes. ¡°They sure are.¡± No one was happier than her. She was a mother and also a woman she knew how painful it was for a woman to be unable to conceive. Now that Willow was pregnant, she didn¡¯t care whether or not Julian was the father. What mattered was that her daughter carried the child; it was Willow¡¯s. She and Timothy discussed the child¡¯s future, from its gender to the color of its clothes. They even talked about which school the child would attend. Willow was moved to bits. No one had mentioned anything about Julian being the father, and no one had advised her to reconsider having the child. All they thought about was how they could give the child the best possible life. She lowered her head and gently caressed her belly. The baby would grow up well and lead a happy life¡­ She was going to be a mother! Later that might, Willow leaned against the couch in the lounge with a hand on her belly. She imagined the baby¡¯s future. Just then, there was amotion at the door. She heard the vague sound of a maid speaking through the noise. She got up to see what was happening. She poked her head out of the lounge to see Caleb standing in the corridor with a suitcase. He said resolutely, ¡°I¡¯m moving in here from now on. I¡¯m going to man up and bear the responsibility need to. From this moment on, I¡¯m a part of the Chapman family!¡± The mad covered her mouth andughed. Willow put a hand to her forehead and shook her head. ¡°You really are a child who¡¯s yet to grow up.¡± Caleb¡¯s gaze darkened. He said gruffly, ¡°I¡¯ve long since grown up!¡± Alicia¡¯s condition stabilized after being taken back to the VIP ward at Heartwell Hospital. She curled up in bed as she listened to the doctor¡¯s advice. ¡°Ms. Burke really isn¡¯t in a condition to leave the hospital. That should be avoided from now on.¡± Julian nodded. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll pay attention to that in the future¡± Once the doctor left, Julian looked at Alicia and said gently, ¡°You should stay in the hospital and get all the rest you need from now on, Alicia. It¡¯s better for your condition.¡± She leaned against her knees and shook her head, looking lost. ¡°Nothing will make my condition better. Is there nothing in my life other than taking medication and doing dialysis? I can¡¯t even sit through a stage y. I want to paint!¡± She got out of bed and went to her easel, which held an unfinished painting. The scene was of a church in Grandsburg and the white doves outside the window. She started crying after a few brushstrokes. ¡°It¡¯s been nine years, Julian! I¡¯ve painted so many paintings, but they¡¯re all of churches and white doves. I haven¡¯t seen any other colors¨Cmy world only has white and gray. I miss us taking photos at Corealia National Tower and admiring the snow at Cloudspire¡­ ¡°Can you take me to see these things onest time if I can¡¯t get a kidney for a transnt, Julian? Take me to the ces I want to go. I want to see Saint Sofea Grand Cathedral and Corealia National Tower again. ¡°If I die during the journey, bring my ashes back and bury them in the suburbs outside Brindley. I want to wake up to sunlight and fresh flowers, not cold architecture. Can youe with me for thisst trip, Julian? ¡°I don¡¯t me you for not choosing me back then¨Cwe both had our reasons and difficulties. But now, I hope you cane with me on the final leg of my journey.¡± Alicia shut her eyes, feeling heartbroken. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about how reluctant Julian had been to leave Willow even as shey in an ambnce. Perhaps due to her heartache, some blood trickled down the corner of her lips, looking ghastly against her pale skin. The woman Julian had loved in his youth was close to death, and the sight racked him with guilt. He¡¯d once given up on Alicia and banished her abroad for nine years. But now, she was about to leave this world. He couldn¡¯t let her go so pitifully. He stood there silently as he weighed his options. Alicia wrapped her trembling, weak arms around his waist. ¡°You once told me you loved me, Julian. Don¡¯t be so cruel to me, please. Throughout the nine years I was in Grandsburg, you pursued her and enjoyed yourself with her¡­ ¡°You can still see her once I¡¯m dead, but you¡¯ll no longer get the chance to see me. Alicia Burke will cease to exist in this world; your Alicia will no longer be around.¡± Julian lowered his head to look at her ashen face before softly agreeing to her request. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll stay by your side for yourst journey, Alicia.¡± He was dazed as he spoke. He knew what this meant¨Cthat there was no chance of anything ever happening between him and Willow. In truth, he wasn¡¯t choosing Alicia over Willow. He was choosing to make up for the nine years he¡¯d abandoned Alicia. She looked up at him, her face wet with tears. This time, the tears were joyful. C Altar 164 hapter 164 Julian returned to the Ziegler residence the next morning and told dam about his ns, which stunned thetter. Liam put down his teacup and said, ¡°Julian, I¡¯ve always felt that you still stood a chance with Willow, but it¡¯ll be hard to say whether that will be the same if you go on this trip with Alicia. Just he thought of this will make Willow ufortable¡ªhow can she still ept you in the future? Have you thought this through?¡± Julian was silent for a long time before he smiled bitterly. ¡°You knw what, Dad? I once desperately wanted a child. I figured an adorable child would make Willow change her mind ande back to me; I thought she would give me a chance to make things up to her. ¡°Yet the heavens aren¡¯t even willing to help me with that. There¡¯s no hope between Willow and me now. I might as well help Alicia fulfill her final wish.¡± Liam knew Alicia wasn¡¯t far from death. He sighed and said, ¡°Go ahead with it if you¡¯ve thought things through and won¡¯t regret this.¡± Julian wanted to say something else, but Liam waved a hand and let the living room. He walked past two rows of birch trees to reach the study Dominic used in life. After silently paying his respects, he sat cross¨Clegged on the couch and started ¡°chatting¡± with Dominic. ¡°Dad, Julian said he wants to travel with Alicia. She¡¯s so sickly now that she¡¯ll definitely die halfway through the trip¨Chis reputation is pretty much done for! ¡°No matter how capable and handsome he is, no young woman from a proper family would want to marry him, let alon¨¦ Willow. I¡¯ve done my best, but it seems Julian and Willow just aren¡¯t meant to be.¡± He was genuinely regretful, and his eyes gleamed with a hint of tears. Just then, Mnie barged into the room, her hair unkempt. ¡°You have to stop Julian, Liam! You can¡¯t let him take Alicia on this trip!¡± Liam smiled coldly. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Alicia always been your favorite? Why do you want to stop Julian this time?¡± Mnie did indeed like Alicia, but thetter was going to die. She would be nothing but an inkblot on Julian¡¯s sterling reputation! She needed Liam to think of something to stop this. Liam smiled bitterly. ¡°What can I do? Julian is the one letting women down one after another. Alicia is full of trouble, yet he just has to get entangled with her.¡± Mnie copsed on the couch, muttering, ¡°Everything would be fine if there were a child in all of this. That would be enough to keep Willow and Julian around; this family wouldn¡¯t be falling apart¡­¡± She started weeping. Liam let out an exasperatedugh. ¡°You¡¯re only learning to appreciate what you once had now? This isn¡¯t how you acted back then.¡± Mnie sobbed. ¡°I just feel horrible for Julian.¡± Still, no matter how bad she felt, she couldn¡¯t stop Julian from preparing to go abroad. However, he wanted to see Willow once more before he left. Three dayster, there was a dinner at Moonlit that Willow couldn¡¯t turn down. Caleb hadined about it the whole day, upset that she didn¡¯t trust him to handle it. He only realized how naive he was when facing the sly foxes during the dinner. He felt like amb up for ughter, but Willow seemed perfectly at ease. At the end of the dinner, an important figure made a toast to Willow. She had no choice but to clink sses with him because this had to do with thepany bing publicly listed. Caleb sat beside her, his palms mmy with sweat from his nerves However, she smiled calmly and said, ¡°There¡¯s no way I can let you drink alone, Mr. Weller.¡± She poured some scotch into her ss and downed it as everyone cheered. She smiled without saying anything. Annie caught the cue and said, ¡°Ms. Harper isn¡¯t feeling well¨CCaleb, why don¡¯t you help her to the restroom for a breather? I¡¯ll drink on her behalf as an apology, Mr. Weller.¡± Altar 165 Annie was great at holding her liquor. She didn¡¯t even bat an eye as she downed two sses of scotch consecutively, and everyone cheered. Willow backed out of the private room before running to the restroom and spitting out the scotch she¡¯d drunk earlier¨Cshe hadn¡¯t swallowed, but some of it had gone down her throat. She gargled and forced herself to heave it out. She was weak by the time she was done. Caleb felt worthless. Aside from throwing a few punches and mouthing off, he couldn¡¯t evenpare to someone like Annie. He rubbed Willow¡¯s back gently and said, ¡°I¡¯ll work hard in the future! I¡¯ll learn everything I can so you won¡¯t have to push yourself. All you¡¯ll need to do is kick back and rx at home.¡± Willowughed. ¡°Don¡¯t act like there¡¯s actually anything between us.¡± ¡°There is!¡± he muttered. After some thought, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll be able to do everything that Julian can do now. I¡¯ll be even more powerful than him in the future!¡± That took her aback. Why had he suddenly brought Julian up? The mention of him made her remember hearing about him wanting to take Alicia on a trip to fulfill her final wish. She was his darling, after all. Willow smiled faintly, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. In fact, a sense of sorrow clouded her. Caleb was upset when he saw her like that. ¡°Are you thinking about him again?¡± ¡°No.¡± She straightened up, supporting herself on the sink counter. ¡°The dinner should be over soon, so let¡¯s head back and see Mr. Weller off. Things should be settled after this.¡± He held her to support her, looking cautious and caring. A tall, stoic figure stood outside the restroom. It was none other than Julian. The light from the chandelier above him entuated his good looks. He was dressed in all¨Cck¨Chis shirt, pants, and coat were the same color, and some water droplets were on them. That was how Willow knew it was raining outside. Julian¡¯s gaze was dark as he stared at Willow, but he didn¡¯t step forward. Instead, he said his goodbyes. ¡°I¡¯m going on a trip, Willow. I¡¯m leaving tomorrow.¡± She smiled. ¡°I know. You¡¯re going on a trip with her.¡± He fell silent briefly before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t drink so much in the future¨Cyour stomach can¡¯t handle it. Keep an eye on her, Caleb. She can¡¯t take anything that¡¯s too cold or spicy. Remember to make her a warm drink in the winter and remind her to take hot baths. She¡¯ll sleep better that way. ¡°Willow, if you meet a good guy, don¡¯t let him go. Don¡¯t give up on the right to love and be loved because of me. There are many wonderful men out there; I¡¯m not all there is. Call me when you find the right person so I can prepare your wedding gifts. Take care, okay?¡± He smiled bitterly after saying what he needed to say. Once he and Willow parted this time, they would be no more than strangers. Caleb couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He waved a fist as he stepped forward and snarled, ¡°Take care of her yourself, you asshole! You don¡¯t even know that she¡¯s-¡± ¡°Caleb!¡± Willow shouted, stopping him. He lowered his fist, but his lips continued trembling with rage. ¡°You know nothing, you bastard!¡± Willow shook her head. She didn¡¯t tell Julian about her pregnancy or say her goodbyes¨Cthere was no need for that. Instead, she slowly walked away, leaving the man who¡¯d let her down one too many times. Outside the window, the raindrops fell like fine needles. The neorights were dim and hazy, looking like something out of an illusion. Willow closed her eyes. People would drift apart and be reunited, but there was no denying that life was full of partings. Chapter 166 Altar 166 The night was as thick and heavy as a love song filled with sorrow ulian stood where he was as he watched Willow leave. He was the one who¡¯d chosen to give her up, so why did he feel like he was about to cry? He felt weighed down by them and was almost unable to breathe. Hadn¡¯t he prepared himself for this? Hadn¡¯t he been ready to say goodbye? It turned out that farewells weren¡¯t something one could prepare for. One could only feel the sorrow they brought. Julian left Moonlit, his dark clothes blending in with the night. He got into the backseat of his Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom and told the driver to take him to Willow¡¯s apartment. It was hisst night before leaving. He changed the ca lilies to fresh ones and made a cup of Willow¡¯s favorite Mendhling coffee. Then, he walked around the apartment while sipping on it. Someone was helping to pack his luggage, so he didn¡¯t need to worry about anything being left out. Still, he couldn¡¯t help feeling like he was missing something. What was it? Later, he realized that his heart was what was missing. He¡¯d left his heart in Willow¡¯s apartment; even he couldn¡¯t take it with him 4 It waste at night, but he still called Esther. She¡¯d just gotten into bed and had no choice but to get dressed again before driving to Willow¡¯s apartment. Julian opened the door and handed her a key. ¡°I¡¯ll be away for a month or two. When I¡¯m gone, I want you toe over once a week to clean the ce and change the flowers. Get white ca lilies¨CWillow likes them.¡± Esther took the key. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Ms. Harper going toe by?¡± Julian sipped his coffee and said softly, ¡°She hasn¡¯t been here in a long time.¡± Esther sighed inwardly, filled with mixed emotions over the situation. Still, she didn¡¯t darement on her superior¡¯s private life. She soon left after tucking the key away. Julian remained at the apartment, sitting on the couch from night to day. He kept imagining Willow suddenly entering the apartment and asking, ¡°What are you doing here, Julian?¡± But it didn¡¯t happen. She wouldn¡¯te to this apartment anymore. The rain didn¡¯t stop. The droplets drenched the leaves outside, making them cling to the windows. There was something broken about them. Julian kept fiddling with his phone but ultimately didn¡¯t make the call. The sky slowly turned bright, and an rm rang in the distance. Julian slowly got up and turned off all the lights before shutting Willow¡¯s bedroom door. It creaked slightly, but the sound was enough to make him stand there for a long time. He returned home to retrieve his luggage before heading to the hospital to pick Alicia up. Then, they would head to the airport. She was ready and waiting for him. Charlie and Nancy were even happier than her¨Cthey thought this meant they would be linked to the Ziegfer family through marriage. However, Julian treated them coldly. Charlie was disappointed when he realized the former would no longer give them the same treatment as before. When Julian started the car, Charlie and Nancy couldn¡¯t help but weep. Alicia would return in an urn. Julian drove to the airport. Alicia kept talking to him, but he barely responded. The despondency in his face told her that his heart and soul were still with Willow. Still, it was enough that she bad him with her, albeit only physically. He turned on the radio, which happened to y a sad song called This How We Lose Each Other¡°. The lyrics went like this: ¡°We just brushed past each other. He said nothing when he left. But do the silent ones not cry? Is there anything else to regret? Regret is not having the time to say goodbye¡­¡± Julian lowered his gaze and turned the radio off. Alicia leaned back in the front passenger seat and bit her lip as she asked, ¡°The song reminded you of her, didn¡¯t it?¡± He was silent for a few seconds before saying, ¡°Worrying over nothing will only make your condition worse, Alicia.¡± ¡°I have no choice but to worry! Have you fallen for her, Julian? Are you in love with her?¡± she snapped. He gripped the steering wheel tightly and focused on the road, not answering her. Altar 167 Chapter 167 Alicia looked away. Julian would never have been so cold to her in the past. Mnie arrived at one of Brindley¡¯s high¨Cend gynecology hospitals with a pile of gifts. She was there to visit a friend¡¯s daughter, who¡¯d just given birth to a healthy baby boy weighing eight pounds. The baby¡¯s family was overjoyed and wanted to throw a party to celebrate. Mnie was envious. She wanted to have grandchildren, too. Just then, the chauffeur pointed in a direction. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Madam Willow? Is she ill? Why is she at the maternity hospital?¡± Mnie was taken aback. She looked in the direction the chauffeur had pointed to see that it really was Willow. Heather was by her side, and they had a tall man with them. They wereing out of a clinic. Mnie harbored a grudge against Heather for the p thetter had given her. She thought Heather was there to see a doctor for a gynecology issue and didn¡¯t even think Willow had anything to do with it. Women were all into gossip, and Mnie was no exception. She waited until Heather and Willow were gone before primping her hair and heading to the clinic they had left. As one of Brindley¡¯s prominentdies, she carried herself with authority and arrogance. The moment she entered the clinic, she asked, ¡°Was the older woman who just left here for a gynecology checkup? Was she down with something regr, or was it bad? ¡°1 The female doctor was in the middle of updating her medical records and frowned at Mnie¡¯s words. ¡°What are you talking about this is an obstetrics clinic, not a gynecological one!¡± Mnie pondered that. Heather couldn¡¯t be pregnant, could she? She didn¡¯t believe the doctor and insisted on seeing the medical records. The doctor was irritated by her persistence and mmed the medical records on the desk. ¡°Take a look at it yourself! Ms. Harper is just pregnant, yet you want to spread rumors about her being sick. ¡°I¡¯m warning you¨Cthere are legal consequences to bear for ndering others like this!¡± Mnie was stunned. Ms. Harper? Wasn¡¯t Heather the one seeing the doctor? She trembled so violently that even her facial muscles started twitching. She quickly skimmed through the medical report before copsing onto a chair. 1 Willow was pregnant. Pregnant! Yet, Julian was on his way to the airport to leave the country with Alicia. They were probably on the highway at the moment. Mnie whipped out her phone and dialed Julian¡¯s number, but he d put it on silent modest night and hadn¡¯t changed it back. She called him several times, but they all went unanswered. It would be toote to do anything if things continued dragging out like this. Her grandchild would be without a father! Mnie¡¯s knees were weak. She staggered out of the clinic with a hand on the wall for support, but she didn¡¯t forget to take Willow¡¯s medical records. The doctor shouted at her, but she was unfazed. She said dazedly, This belongs to my daughter¨Cinw. She¡¯s carrying my grandchild.¡± Tears streamed down her face as soon as the words were out of her mouth. She staggered forward and cried to the chauffeur, ¡® Lewis, take me to the airport now! Now!¡± Lewis Samson was startled. Mnie grabbed his arm tightly and said, ¡°Julian is going to be a father. We have to stop him before he boards the ne!¡± She couldn¡¯t care less about her image at the moment. She took her heels off and ran down the hospital¡¯s corridor, her expensive furs bristling in the wind. They jumped into the car, and Lewis put the pedal to the metal as they headed to the airport. Mnie kept urging him to drive faster. He did as he was told and even ran three red lights. Julian and Alicia were at the airport by 10:10 am. He carried two suitcases as she followed him through the VIP passage. They would soon board a private jet to Mene, the world¡¯s fashion capital. Just before entering the security checkpoint, Julian stopped to look outside the airport, his gaze unfathomable. Then, he said to Alicia, ¡°Let¡¯s head inside.¡± They got in line for the checkpoint. Just then, a loud screech echoed throughout the hall. ¡°Julian, you can¡¯t go!¡± Altar 168 Julian was taken aback. He turned around to see Mnie. She looked like a mess. Her hair was all over the ce, and her makeup was smeared from her tears. She was nothing like the high¨Csocietydy she prided herself on being. Julian thought she was there to bid him goodbye, so he waved at her before walking past the security checkpoint. Mnie panicked and ran toward him, shouting, ¡°You can¡¯t go, julian! Willow is pregnant! Pregnant! You¡¯re going to be a father; I¡¯m not lying! You¡¯re going to be a dad!¡± Meanwhile, Julian stood on a step at the security checkpoint with his arms raised as a staff member checked him. He vaguely heard Mnie shouting something about a pregnancy and being a father. He frowned. Beside him, Alicia smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the boarding lounge, Julian.¡± Just then, Mnie charged over, looking disheveled. She held a medical record, and tears streamed down her face as she shouted across the crowd, ¡°This is the record of Willow¡¯s prenatal checkup, Julian! I took it from the hospital!¡± Julian paled beneath the harsh lights. Willow was pregnant? After a long moment, he strode toward Mnie, picking up the pace until he reached her. Then, he took the medical record from her, his hands trembling as he read it. ¡°Name: Willow Harper, 27 years old. ¡°Diagnosis: Seven weeks pregnant. ¡°Patitis advised to take folic acid.¡± The report only contained a few simple sentences, yet Julian read them repeatedly. Mnie said shakily, ¡°This is a child of the Ziegler family, Julian. Whether it¡¯s a boy or a girl, they¡¯re your flesh and blood. You can¡¯t act rashly.¡± Julian¡¯s hands fell to his sides as tears filled his eyes. He¡¯d seen Willow yesterday¨Cshe¡¯d just vomited her guts out, yet he¡¯d told her he was leaving and that there were many good men in the world. He¡¯d told her she didn¡¯t need to revolve around him and that he would even prepare wedding gifts for her when she met the right guy. At that moment, she¡¯d already been carrying his child in her womb What could she have been thinking at the time? She had to have hated him for being cruel and heartless! Julian stopped hesitating. He said to Mnie, ¡°You take Alicia back to Heartwell Hospital. I¡¯m going to see Willow.¡± Mnie was relieved to hear that. She nodded vigorously. ¡°Go on!¡®ll make sure Alicia is back safe and sound.¡± He turned to look at Alicia. She stood there in a white dress and said tearfully, ¡°You promised you would make this final trip with me, Julian.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to break my promise Alicia.¡± He turned to leave. She grabbed his arm, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded, ¡°Don¡¯t be so cruel to me, Julian! You can still be a good husband and father when youe back¨Call I ask is for you to give me two months! Can¡¯t you do that?¡± He pried her hands away, his voice hoarse as he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Alicia.¡± He strode off. Behind him, Alicia screamed, ¡°Don¡¯t go! Can¡¯t Ipare to her in your heart? Don¡¯t you even have the slightest bit of pity for me anymore?¡± Unfortunately, she was unable to make Julian stay. He was off to see Willow. The fall sky was dark and tinged with violet under the weight of leadlen clouds, and a ck Rolls¨CRoyce sped along the highway. It was 2:00 pm when Julian found Willow. She sat on a wooden bench and looked up at a towering Ferris wheel. Whenever it moved, children would cry out. It was a joyous scene. She couldn¡¯t help thinking that she would also bring her child out for fun on weekends and holidays. They would be delighted. Julian approached her, crunching the fallen leaves beneath his feet He kept his footsteps light because he didn¡¯t want to startle her. So, by the time she noticed him, he had already crouched before her. He looked up at her, his voice hoarse beyond belief as he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Willow. I¡¯m so, so sorry.¡± He gently held her and buried his face against her belly as he trembled all over. Altar 169 Beneath Willow¡¯s belly, in her womb, she carried her and Julian¡¯s flesh and blood. Her belly was still t, but Julian could feel like he could sense the life pulsing underneath it. He did the math and figured she¡¯d conceived during that time at the apartment. That was the only time they¡¯d slept together in the past months, and they¡¯d been engrossed in each other. Willow guessed that Julian had learned the truth. She saw the repentant look on his face and chuckled softly. ¡°There¡¯s no chance of forgiveness between us, Julian. If not for this child, you would¡¯ve already left to fulfill your true love¡¯s dying wish. ¡°You should¡¯ve anticipated how we would turn out the moment you decided to leave¨CI¡¯m sure you thought things through before making your decision. We¡¯re adults, so we should be well aware that there¡¯s no turning back sometimes. I know that, and you do, too.¡± She continued, ¡°When I saw you and Alicia arm in arm at the theater the other day, I couldn¡¯t help thinking what a perfect pair you two made. I suppose that¡¯s what first loves are like. See? I was serious about giving you my blessings. ¡°I won¡¯t stay in the same spot and wait for you forever, Julian. I wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive myself if I were to forgive you. To tell you the truth, things were over for us the moment Leonard went to Grandsburg.¡± Willow was absolutely right, but Julian still wanted to ask for a chance. She didn¡¯t give it to him. ¡°There¡¯s no point threatening me with anyone anymore, Julian. I¡¯m treating you the way you treated me. Is there anything wrong with that?¡± He was dressed in all¨Cck and didn¡¯t move from his position on his knees before her. He looked humbled and submissive. At that moment, he was willing to give her everything he had. The yellowed leaves filtered the sunlight from above. Alic watched him and Willow from a distance, her face pale. She found it hard to ept how lowly Julian was making himself look. As far as she remembered, he¡¯d never looked this fragile and broken. This was a side he would show only to Willow; this was how loving they were. What about her, then? What was she, in the grand scheme of things? No, she hadn¡¯t lost to Willow. She¡¯d lost to a baby. Beside her, Mnie said cautiously, ¡°Let me take you back to the hospital, Alicia. Julian is almost 30 and must want a child. You¡¯re still the one I favor.¡± Alicia turned to her and smiled faintly. ¡°I should be happy for Willow since she¡¯s pregnant.¡± Mnie was relieved to hear that. ¡°You¡¯ve always been so understanding, Alicia.¡± She had other things on her mind, so she left after dropping Alicia back at the hospital. Charlie and Nancy had just cleaned up the VIP ward at Heartwell Hospital when they saw Alicia being sent back. They were stunned. Nancy asked tentatively, ¡°Was the flight dyed?¡± Aliciay on the bed. After a while, she said indifferently, ¡°Willow¡¯s pregnant, and Julian wanted toe back to care for the baby. I can¡¯t deny she¡¯s lucky, getting pregnant at this time.¡± Nancy gaped, ¡°I thought she couldn¡¯t have children. Where did the babye from?¡± Alicia said, ¡°It¡¯s not a deception. She¡¯s eating for two.¡± Charlie pped, looking happy. ¡°That means I¡¯m going to be a grandfather!¡± Alicia sneered. ¡°She doesn¡¯t even acknowledge you as her father, let alone her child¡¯s grandfather. Your love for her is wasted, Dad.¡± Charlie was disappointed by that. After he and Nancy left the hospital that night, they got home and talked until the wee hours. They couldn¡¯t help feeling frustrated. Things were hot and heavy at the VIP ward in Heartwell Hospital, though. Alicia wrapped her arms around a toned man¡¯s neck as she savored the feeling of him pistoning into her. Her long legs stretched out from underneath the sheets, illuminated by the dim lights in the room. It was a scious sight. The scent of sex permeated the air. After climaxing for onest time, she copsed on the pillows, her hair spreading like a halo behind her. ¡°Fuck off.¡± The man wasn¡¯t sated and leaned close, wanting another round. However, she shoved him away. She wasn¡¯t interested in him- he was only there to satisfy her sexual desires. He had to get lost once he¡¯d done that. Altar 170- Mnie left the hospital and headed home. As soon as she got out of the car, she asked Noah, ¡°Where¡¯s Liam?¡± He had to hold back hisughter when he saw the state she was in te pointed at the study and said, ¡°He¡¯s speaking with Mr. Tyler.¡± Mnie couldn¡¯t care less about her appearance at the moment. Her grandchild was all that mattered. Tyler and Liam were discussing work in the second¨Cfloor study over some tea. Julian would be gone for two months, and there was a lot of work at thepany to be dealt with. Someone had to take the reins, and Liam wanted Tyler to go into the office. As they talked, Mnie barged into the room, looking unkempt and disheveled. As soon as she entered, she cried, ¡°Liamn!¡± He was startled. He stared at her for a long time before saying, ¡°People would think you were newly widowed with the way you look.¡± Only then did Mnie notice Tyler. She was a little embarrassed as she said, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here too, Tyler.¡± She tidied her hair before saying to Liam, ¡°I have good news. Willow is pregnant.¡± ¡°What?¡± He shot to his feet. ¡°What about Julian? He¡¯s gone abroad What are we going to do?¡± Tyler found the situation challenging, too. Mnie held her head high and kept them in suspense as she picked up Liam¡¯s cup of tea and sipped it. ¡°I had Lewis immediately take me to the airport when I learned the news so I could stop Julian. You have no idea how risky things were earlier ¨Che was already at the security checkpoint! Thank God I managed to catch him.¡± She led smug as she spoke. Liam stepped forward to hold her hand, looking delighted. ¡°Good job!¡± Tylerplimented her too. ¡°You were quick on your feet, Mnie.¡± She couldn¡¯t help looking even more smug. Liam strode out of the study, looking pleased as he stood before the railing on the second floor. He looked down at Sebastian and said, ¡°Dad¡¯s mourning period is over, so it¡¯s time to change the decorations. Put up some cheery ones so we can celebrate Julian bing a father!¡± Sebastian was happy to hear that. Soon, the Ziegler residence was decorated festively. There were bright colors everywhere. Liam and Tyler even paid their respects to Dominic and told him the good news. Once they were done, everyone discussed heading to the Chapman residence to make a formal apology. Naturally, they had to prepare gifts. Mnie was already doting on her grandchild and picked the best items from the storeroom to be given to Willow to boost her health. Even Karen added a few things instead of getting jealous. Dusk approached, and crimson clouds drifted across the sky. A convoy of ck luxury vans slowly pulled into the Chapman residence. As soon as the cars stopped, Mnie pped a hand over her mouth and tried to hold back her tears. She saw Julian on his knees outside the manor. It wasn¡¯t convenient for Timothy to be around, so he was hiding. Meanwhile, Heather was venting her anger on Julian. She not only berated him but also his family. It had rained that afternoon, but Julian hadn¡¯t budged from where he was. His shirt was soaked from the rain and clung to him. There were still water droplets that hung from his handsome face. Caleb had grabbed a stool and sat in a corner as he watched the show with interest¨Che couldn¡¯t believe Julian would one day end up in such a predicament. 122 Mnie¡¯s heart ached for Julian, and she turned to Liam tearfully, Liam¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t the only one who felt bad. Liam¡¯s heart also ached at the sight of Julian, his outstanding son, kneeling before. someone else¡¯s home so submissively. Even the passing maids were pointing at him and whispering about him. Still, he knew what to do and what not to do. He said harshly, ¡°Let him stay there¨Cno one is allowed to help him up! It¡¯s what he deserves. He has to let them vent their anger!¡± Altar 171 Liam¡¯s attitude instantly changed when he turned to face Heather He said amicably, ¡°Heatlier, feel free to punish fun however you want since he¡¯s made a mistake. I came here with my amily to see Willow and the baby.¡± He waved a hand, and Sebastian instructed the men to get the gift out of the vans. They were all expensive, rare items. Heather smiled faintly with one finger on her temple. ¡°What does Zieglers? Take the things back¡ªwe can taise the child ourselves. with someone else.¡± Liam remained polite. ¡°He didn¡¯t end up leaving the country.¡± he Chapman family¡¯s good news have to do with the doesn¡¯t need a father like Julian, who has the nerve to elope Heatherughed coldly. ¡°Saying that is like telling me a man did cheat if he took off his pants but failed to stick it in another woman because he couldn¡¯t get it up.¡± Liam cleared his throat awkwardly. Heather didn¡¯t want to waste her time and energy on them anymore and said, ¡°Shut the gates! Caleb, see them out.¡± Caleb dusted himself off and got up. He strode to the Zieglers, towering over them with his tall frame. ¡°My mother¨Cinw has made herself clear¨Cplease leave, everyone. Don¡¯t worry about Ms. Harper¡¯s child because I¡¯ll be around to care for and love them. ¡°Once the baby is born, I¡¯ll raise it like my own. It won¡¯tck anything, whether in terms of shelter or sustenance. Save your concern for something else.¡± Mnie almost had an aneurysm when she heard that. The baby had Ziegler blood in its veins¨Chow could she allow Caleb to raise it Fortunately, Liam was still rational. Judging from how Julian was still on his knees, he didn¡¯t think Caleb stood a chance. So, he and the rest of the Zieglers retreated, leaving Julian kneeling before the manor. Mnie was reluctant to leave him there even after getting into the car. Liam told her off for being too weak. ¡°You can¡¯t win big without taking risks. Do you want to have a grandchild or not?¡± ¡°I do,¡± she said tearfully. He dried her tears and said, ¡°You did well stopping Julian at the airport, but you can¡¯t continue being so silly. You¡¯re going to be a grandmother soon.¡± She sounded aggrieved as she said, ¡°All I can do is support Julian. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± It started raining again as night fell. It wasn¡¯t heavy, but the droplets didn¡¯t stoping. The temperature dropped to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but Julian remained on his knees with his back straight. He was still in the clothes he¡¯d worn earlier and had nothing to shield him from the rain.. Caleb leaned over the balcony on the second floor as he looked down at Julian. As he chewed gum, he couldn¡¯t help thinking that thetter wasn¡¯t to be trifled with. Julian had been there for a day and night without eating or drinking anything¨Cthis trick would have worked for anyone! It was a sly move. Fortunately, Willow hadn¡¯t taken pity on him. Caleb would have thrown a fit if she had. The steps outside the Chapman residence were brightly lit. Julian kneeled before them, a water droplet hanging from his nose. He didn¡¯t speak as he remained unmoving, silently pleading with Willow to stay with him, forgive him, and give him another ? chance. The night grew deeper, and the surrounding area became silent. A that was left was the pattering of the rain. The Chapman residence¡¯s door slowly opened, and Willow came out with an umbre. The raindropsnded on it, the sound loud enough to rip the silence of the night apart.. Julian looked up at her, his face soaked by the rain. She said indifferently, ¡°You should go.¡± However, he reached out to grab her wrist. He¡¯d been on his knees for a day before being given the chance to speak, and his voice was shaky as he said, ¡°You¡¯ve always been the one toe to me, Willow. From now on, I¡¯ll go to you. Whether or not you want me, I¡¯ll forever be your husband.¡± Altar 172 Willow looked down at Julian and took in his humble attitude. If no for all the pain and suffering she¡¯d experienced because of him, she would probably have been moved to bits. He was one of Brindley¡¯s most unattainable men was there any woman who didn¡¯t want him? It was too bad he¡¯d hurt her one too many times. Her heart was in pieces. Julian was like a bottle of venom disguised as honey. He looked nice but was highly poisonous. Willow was scared of the consequences and didn¡¯t dare have a taste of him anymore. She murmured, ¡°Forever is a long time¡ªcan anyone guarantee anything for that long? Leave, Julian, and don¡¯te here anymore.¡± She pulled her wrist out of his grip and went back inside the house allowing the darkness of the night to swallow her up, leaving Julian with nothing but a vague view of her green pajamas. He remained on his knees as thunder rumbled in the sky. The raindrops continued to fall, making him feel like he was being shot by arrows as theynded on him. When Willow got to the second floor, she saw Caleb standing on thending and ring at her. She sidestepped him and asked, ¡°What are you doing up sote? Is it because I haven¡¯t given you enough work?¡± He followed her, suppressing his anger as he muttered, ¡°You went down to see him. I can¡¯t believe you did that! Is it because you¡¯ve taken pity on him?¡± She ended not to understand him. ¡°Have you joined some group that focuses on catching people red¨Chanded? Should I pay you overtime for this?¡± Caleb helped her to her room, his head drooping as he said sullenly, ¡°Whatever it is, you¡¯re not allowed to see him anymore. You¡¯re not allowed to be nice to him or reconcile with him. Do you hear me?¡± Willow wanted to continue teasing him, but her heart ultimately softened. She rubbed his head and said, ¡°I was already married for two years at your age, Caleb. I¡¯ve weathered many storms in my career, and I¡¯m now pregnant with my ex¨Chusband¡¯s child. ¡°We¡¯re not a good match, no matter how you look at it. Stop wasting time on me and move back home tomorrow, okay?¡± He refused to leave. He said, ¡°Come on, I was just joking! Don¡¯t tell me you took me seriously. My dad has given the green light for me to stay here¡ªhe wants me to pick up a thing or two from you. You¡¯re not allowed to object!¡± She couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no to him when he was being so cute. Julian left the following morning. He kept appearing on the news for the next week due to Neb Group¡¯s acquisition of anotherpany. He seemed to be ill¨Che was haggard but still as handsome and regal as ever. He was the center of attention wherever he went, and all eyes were on him. Caleb hid all the newspapers so that Willow wouldn¡¯t see anything to do with Julian, and she indulged him. After a few days, the leaves of the maple trees in the mountains turned crimson. Willow and Heather headed to Cornerstone Chapel to pray for the baby. Heather made a donation to the chapel and asked one of the priests, Soren Halston, to choose a blessed name for the baby and keep it safe for life. Beforeing to the chapel, she and Timothy had talked things over and decided the baby would take the surname Harper as a gesture of gratitude to Grace. Soren rolled his rosary beads and smiled. ¡®It¡¯s better for the child to take the Ziegler surname. It¡¯ll help keep the child safe from cmity and turn misfortune the other way around.¡± Chopter 172 Heather wondered whether the Zieglers had somehow bribed him to speaking up for them. As she and Willow left the chapel, they chatted and realized they had the same thoughts. The sum was setting, and the leaves looked like they were on fire the sun¡¯s rays shone down on them. From afar, they looked like crimson clouds. When they got to the parking lot, they saw that the car they¡¯d take to the chapel was missing. Heather thought the chauffeur had driven down the mountain to buy some cigarettes and was thinking about berating him when she got home. Just then, a pleasant voice rang out. ¡°I told the chauffeur to leave. Mom, Willow, let me take you guys home.¡± Heather and Willow turned in the direction of the voice and saw Julian standing beside a ck car. He wore a gray coat over a ck shirt and pants, and the silver watch on his wristpleted the look. He was handsome and regal Heather appraised him. She had to admit he cleaned up well. Julian opened the door to the backseat, looking like the perfect gentleman. ¡°I fell sick a few days ago and didn¡¯t visit because I didn¡¯t want to pass it on to Willow. I¡¯m all better now, though. Mom, please get in.¡± Heather couldn¡¯t help thinking that he was admirable in the way that he could humble himself so. Still, there was no way she was getting into his car. She was trying to think of a way to counter his move when a shy pink Rolls¨CRoyce pulled over before them. The window rolled down to reveal Caleb¡¯s spirited face. He hopped out of the car and opened the door to the backseat. Then, he grinned and said, ¡°Mom, after you.¡± Heatherughed. Even Willow couldn¡¯t help smiling. Life truly was more cheery with Caleb around. Chapter 173 Altar 173 Even under such circumstances, Julian could remain calm andposed. He considerately shut the door after Heather and Willow and reminded Caleb to drive safely. ¡°Willow is pregnant, so be careful when you drive. Don¡¯t make any emergency stops. Caleb gnashed his teeth angrily. He was such a faker! Just then, Julian¡¯s phone rang. He nced at it but didn¡¯t answer. That alone was enough for Willow to guess who was calling. Julian said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll deal with it.¡± She didn¡¯t say anything. His and Alicia¡¯s business had nothing to do with her. Caleb stomped on the elerator and sped off, deliberately leaving Julian with a mouthful of exhaust fumes. Still, thetter stood there with the maple leaves as his backdrop, watching as the car disappeared from sight. The crimson background only made him seem that much more outstanding. Julian headed to Heartwell Hospital. Charlie and Nancy were there,forting Alicia and telling her that Julian wouldn¡¯t abandon her. She leaned against the headboard and allowed her tears to silently flow. At that moment, the ward door swung open. Nancy turned and said in delight, ¡°Speak of the devil! Look who¡¯s here, Alicia!¡± Julian entered the ward. Nancy greeted him as warmly as she would her son¨Cinw, but he reacted coldly. He asked her and Charlie to leave because he wanted to speak to Alicia in private. Charlie and Nancy were taken aback. They knew this couldn¡¯t be good, but didn¡¯t dare stay there lest they upset Julian¡ªAlicia was only hanging on because of his money. Julian only turned to look at Alicia once Charlie and Nancy were gone. ¡°Alicia.¡± Her tears fell as she smiled bitterly. ¡°What are you doing here? Aren¡¯t you going to be a father? Weren¡¯t you refusing to see me and answer my calls?¡± He stood there in silence for a brief moment before saying, ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to say these things, but I now think it¡¯s important to make things clear.¡± She snapped, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear them!¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯m in love with her, Alicia. I once thought what we had was unforgettable, but I was wrong. When I first saw Willow at Lake Tolpond on that evening, she wore a white dress, and her hair cascaded over her shoulders. ¡°She was painting there, and I thought what I felt in that moment was just fleeting admiration because she looked like you. I also thought I only considered her a partner in politics and power, and a wife with whom I could share my honor and disgrace. ¡°It wasn¡¯t until I saw her cry and leave that I realized the kind of love that truly bes etched in your bones is the type that you marry. I¡¯d already fallen for her when I married her, but I refused to admit it.¡± Julian looked Alicia in the eye. ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s changed, Alicia. I¡¯ve fallen for someone else, and I don¡¯t want to let her down anymore. I¡¯ll continue paying your medical bills, but I won¡¯t drop by anymore. You can speak to your parents and the doctor about everything else. Sorry is all I can say.¡± Alicia¡¯s face was wet with tears. The sight would¡¯ve broken the old Julian¡¯s heart, but the current Julian merely watched her for a while before leaving without hesitation. He had to be desperate to get to Willow! How could she deserve such treatment? Was it just because she was pregnant with his child? It wasn¡¯t easy for her to conceive, yet Julian had still knocked her up. Was he that bewitched by her body? Had he fucked her time and time again so he could get her pregnant? The mere thought of that drove Alicia out of her mind. Julian opened the door to leave. Nancy had been eavesdropping at the door and felt awkward at being caught. All Julian said was, ¡°You can speak to Esther about anything from now on. She¡¯ll handle it.¡± Charlie and Nancy understood that this meant he¡¯d made his choice. He¡¯d chosen Willow and would no longere to the hospital to see Alicia. Charlie thought he could throw his weight around and shamelessly said, ¡°Alicia and Willow are sisters¨Cthey won¡¯t be petty enough to hold this against each other. Besides, you and Alicia have a bond that was built in your youth. That¡¯s not the same as your rtionship with others.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze turned frosty. Charlie didn¡¯t dare say anything else when he saw that. Julian headed downstairs and got into the car. Before starting the engine, he texted Willow. ¡°I¡¯ve spoken to Alicia and won¡¯t have anything to do with her in the future. Trust me once more, Willow. Please.¡± He waited for a response for a long time, but it seemed his text had been ignored. Willow never replied. Altar 174 Chapter 174 Willow¡¯s frostiness didn¡¯t deter Julian. He continued pursuing her In the middle of the month, Laura came down with something, so leather and Timothy returned to Cloudspire to care for her. They spent about two weeks there. Willow was due for a prenatal checkup on this day. Braxton had summoned Caleb home, so she was on her own. She was taken aback as soon as she entered the clinic. Julian was there, talking to the doctor. He sat with his back straight, and the gray shirt he wore seemed particrly nice on him. He exuded regality, and he was easy on the eyes. He stared at Willow for a while when she came in before turning to the doctor and saying, ¡°My wife is here.¡± The doctor was reminded of something when she saw Willow. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re Ms. Harper¡¯s husband. That means the woman who took the medical records is your mother! She acted out of line, but I suppose it was because she was concerned.¡± Willow smiled faintly. She knew what Julian was capable of he must have turned on the charm and bewitched the doctor. It was clear from the way the doctor looked at Julian that she thought he was a good husband and father. Willow was used to it. Instead of exining, she headed to the clinic¡¯s inner room for her checkup. The doctor was professional. She listened for a heartbeat and checked Willow before smiling gently. ¡°This one is strong.¡± Her words hinted at something, and Willow guessed the baby was a boy. If she could tell, so could Julian. Once the checkup was done, he followed Willow out of the clinic and said lowly, ¡°It¡¯s a boy, so how about we name him Landon as agreed? Landon Ziegler.¡± She wanted to refute him, but remembered what Soren had said having the baby take the Ziegler name would protect him from cmity. Julian misunderstood her silence. He thought she¡¯d softened her stance and was agreeable to his suggestion, so he said excitedly, ¡°This is our first child, Willow. I hope the next one will be a daughter; we can name her Evelyn!¡± Willow said icily, ¡°You can give birth to as many children as you want!¡± She headed to where the Chapman family¡¯s chauffeur had parked the car, but realized Julian had sent him on his way again, She was about to snap at Julian when her calf suddenly cramped. The pain made her wince. ¡°Does it hurt? I¡¯ll massage it for you.¡± Julian lifted her off her feet and made a beeline for his car. The backseat was spacious enough for him to crouch before Willow as she leaned against the backseat. He held her calf and massaged it with such skill and familiarity that it was clear he¡¯d picked it up from somewhere. 1 It was fall, but Willow wore a dress without any stockings. Julian held her calf, unable to stop himself from being aroused by the smoothness and suppleness of her skin. He remembered theirst time sleeping together¨Che¡¯d held her calves on the couch that night just like he was at the moment. The light was dim inside the car, and his gaze darkened. He asked, ¡®Do you feel better? Does it hurt anywhere else? I¡¯ll massage you there, too. I¡¯ve read a lot of bookstely, Willow. I want to care for you and the baby.¡°¡± Willow pulled her leg out of his grasp after the pain subsided. She said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t need your care.¡± She opened the door to get out, but he grabbed her hand and stopped her. Then, he leaned close to her and pinned her to the seat. She wasn¡¯t in time to resist. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± His face was inches from hers, and his tall nose pressed against hers. Their breathing mingled, and the atmosphere turned amorous. The car was silent save for Willow¡¯s erratic breathing. Julian closed the distance between them and sealed her lips with his, kissing her hard. He knew how to get people where it hurt and knew the baby was what mattered most to Willow. So, as he deepened the kiss, he ced a hand on her belly, reminding her that she couldn¡¯t struggle too much. He smelled faintly of aftershave and tobo, which was oddly pleasant mixed together. His kiss was aggressive and domineering, which most women would dly sink into. However Willow only felt repulsed. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears when Julian ended the kiss and pulled away. She immediately raised a hand to p him, the sound ringing out crisply in the car. He hadn¡¯t had enough of her. He¡¯d gone for a few months without getting his fill of Willow, and she was all the more attractive now that she¡¯d gained some weight from being pregnant. It reminded him of their passionate lovemaking in the past. He took a while to calm down, still gentle despite the p. ¡°It¡¯s almost noon. What do you want to eat? If you don¡¯t want to eat outside, I¡¯ll take you home and cook for you. The fridge at the apartment is always stocked.¡± Willow shoved him aside before leaning back. Tears filled her eyes as she snapped, ¡°Nothing is going to work, Julian! Nothing you do will change this situation. We¡¯re over¨Ccan you understand that? Do I need to exin to you what being over means?¡± Julian dried her tears and said tenderly, ¡°I know what it means, but I don¡¯t want to give up. Don¡¯t cry, Willow. You¡¯re breaking my heart,¡± She was much more emotional than usual, perhaps because her hormones were all over the ce. She tilted her head back and asked in frustration, ¡°Do you know when I hated you the most, Julian? I was fine with you wanting to part ways, and I wasn¡¯t bothered by you taking Alicia away. ¡°You¡¯re free to do what you want; I can¡¯t stop you. But when you came back and kept apologizing after learning I was pregnant- that was when I hated you to the core! What exactly am I to you? I¡¯ll have the child and raise it myself. I don¡¯t need you around!¡± She pened the door, feeling smothered. Then, she was taken aback when she saw the person standing outside. Altar 175 Chapter 175 Natalie was outside the car. Willow said, ¡°Natalie!¡± Then, she stepped forward to hug Natalie. It¡¯d been about half a year since they¡¯dst seen each other, and she¡¯d missed her. Natalie leaned against Willow¡¯s shoulder and savored the warmth of her body. Then, she looked up and said, ¡°I only got toe back for a week because Jeffrey¡¯s getting married. I immediately asked around and came to see you when I heard you were pregnant. This is a gift for the baby from Jeffrey She held out an intricate box. Willow opened and me. like something Natalie would have bought. reveal a glimmering anklet, which evidently hadn¡¯t been cheap. It didn¡¯t look Willow stared at it for a while before tucking it away. Julian got out of the car and saw the anklet. He knew it was from Jeffrey and was bitter when he saw the sorrow on Willow¡¯s face. Still, he said, It¡¯s a thoughtful gift.¡± She ignored him. Meanwhile, Natalie stared at him fearfully, looking like she¡¯d seen a ghost. She was genuinely afraid of his tricks. Willow treated Natalie to a meal after epting the gift. Naturally, Julian wasn¡¯t invited. They headed to a restaurant specializing in local cuisine. Natalie almost teared up as she savored the familiar vors. 4 Willow asionally ced food on her te, wanting her to eat more. At that moment, she resented and hated Julian. If not for what he¡¯d pulled, Natalie wouldn¡¯t have been forced to leave. ¡°That was delicious.¡± Natalie sighed in satisfaction as she rubbed her belly. Willow oured her a drink. However, she was more curious about the baby and wanted to know whether it was a boy or a girl. Willow smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll know when it¡¯s born.¡± Natalie rubbed her t belly, looking happy. When it was time to pay the bill, they were told that Julian, who was waiting outside, had already taken care of it. No matter how cold or indifferent Willow was, he refused to leave her side and stuck to her like a piece of gum. Natalie couldn¡¯t helpmenting how someone like him had to act like such a doormat. Jeffrey¡¯s wedding reception was at night. Natalie wanted to check out some gowns with Willow, but Heather had already picked something out for thetter, saying that she had to take the opportunity to dress to the nines before she started showing. That evening, Natalie and Willow hugged each other in a parking lot. The setting sun, which looked like a fireball, dyed the sky. crimson. Natalie got into a car, and Willow waved from outside with a faint smile. The former rolled down the window and said, ¡°I¡¯ll see you on Saturday night.¡± Willow¡¯s smile widened. ¡°You¡¯ve grown up. You¡¯re a properdy now.¡± That only made Natalie feel more reluctant to part. Unfortunately, the driver drove off, taking her away. Willow turned to get into her own car. As Julian opened the door for her, he said, ¡°Let me know if Jeffrey needs help with anything.¡± Sheughed coldly at that. ¡°Thest time you ¡®helped,¡® he ended up needing to get married. His bride is your distant cousin, too! Who would ever dare ask you for help in the future?¡± He said gently, ¡°They had the liberty to date whoever they wanted, didn¡¯t they? It¡¯s not like I can force them into marriage. Or is this because you feel ufortable?¡± She shot him a look. ¡°You¡¯re nuts.¡± He wasn¡¯t fazed. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up on the day of the dinner.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Let¡¯s go, Lee.¡± The ck car sped off as Julian watched. Meanwhile, Alicia watched him from a distance. She watched as the man she loved with all her heart fawned over someone else. Why? Why was he so stubborn and obsessed with Willow when she treated him like trash? What was it about Alicia that couldn¡¯tpare to Willow? Why had he chosen Willow over her? Alicia couldn¡¯t ept this. She couldn¡¯t! Nancy found her and linked arms with her. She said tearfully, ¡°Let¡¯s go home, Alicia.¡± Alicia refused to leave. She continued muttering, ¡°Why can¡¯t Ipare to her? Why did he choose her? Why does he keep choosing her over me?¡°. Nancy¡¯s heart ached at the sight. Suddenly, she had an idea. ¡°Jeffrey Gibson is getting married, right? With your father¡¯s connections, we won¡¯t have any issue getting an invitation. ¡°We¡¯ll dress to the nines andpletely outshine Willow when the timees. With your noble upbringing, she¡¯s no match for you in terms of looks and talent.¡± 1 Alicia begrudgingly agreed. She said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to steal the spotlight. I just want to win Julian back.¡± Nancy understood that. ¡°No one would feel good after having their over taken away. I fully support you.¡± She wasn¡¯t just saying that¡ªher support came in the form of cold, hard cash. She and Alicia kept Charlie in the dark as they headed to Maison Novelle, the best salon in Brindley. It was renowned for having ess to nearly every luxury brand in the world. Nancy rarely visited stores like these because the items were too expensive. One could easily spend several million dors in a single visit. That day, however, she strutted into the store like she owned it. She took off her sunsses and pointed at the haute couture gowns hanging elegantly on the disy racks. She said confidently, ¡°Take all of those down for my daughter to try on. Money is not an issue as long as it suits her.¡± The salon manager attended to them personally and smiled. ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am. Pleasee this way, Ms. Burke.¡± Alicia tried all the gowns the staff brought her, but none of them particrly caught her fancy. She pointed at a dusty pink Dior gown disyed in the window and said, ¡°I want to try that one, too.¡± The manager smiled. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that one is unavable. It¡¯s an off¨Cseason custom piece¨Ca special offering by the brand for VVVIP customers. It¡¯s not open to the public.¡± Nancy wasn¡¯t happy to hear that. ¡°We¡¯ll pay extra to buy it, no matter the price.¡± The manager¡¯s smile remained in ce. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s not about the money. Ady had the gown custom¨Cmade for her daughter, so there¡¯s no way she¡¯ll sell it. Besides, the brand has strict regtions. For exclusive couture like this, everything from who wears it to where it¡¯s worn is carefully managed.¡± Nancy and Alicia caught her underlying meaning¨Cthey weren¡¯t worthy of the gown. Later, Alicia tried on another white piece. It would sh with the bride¡¯s gown, but she felt stunning in it, The only regret she had was that she would look even more outstanding in the dusty.pink Dior. Once Alicia and Nancy were gone, the salon manager sighed in relief. She hated dealing with customers who thought they could Chapter 175 make every request under the sun because they had some money. ** +25 BONUS Just then, a woman who looked like a secretary entered the store. She smiled and said, ¡°Mrs. Chaptrian sent me to pick up her daughter¡¯s gown.¡± Altar 176 Chapter 176 Jeffrey and Rosabelle¡¯s wedding was on Saturday. The church wedding was held in the morning, and the reception dinner was at Westera Estate. It was November, so the Gibson family had spared no expense in ensuring the venue would be at afortable temperature. That night, the ce was filled with the elite and the famous. The guests made a dazzling scene of flowing gowns and sharp suits. Charlie and his family arrived early. Alicia had been away from Bridley¡¯s social circle for many years, so most people had no idea who she was. There was no denying her good looks¨Cseveral chi men approached her to ask for her number. However, she remained aloof and turned them all down. Nancy was even more so. She said coldly, ¡°My daughter doesn¡¯t make friends with just about anyone.¡± For a moment, they were the center of attention. But on the other side, Rosabelle¡¯s family was upset. This was her big day, yet Alicia had arrived in white. Was she deliberately trying to steal the show? Rosabelle didn¡¯t hold it against her, though. She looked at Jeffrey and said, ¡°I¡¯ll change into my red gown.¡± He asked Natalie to go with her. Natalie quite liked Rosabelle and happily went with her. Shortly after they left, the Chapmans arrived. Coincidentally, the Zieglers arrived at the same time, almost as if they¡¯d timed their appearances. The Chapmans and Zieglers were important guests, so Jeffrey and Gerard made sure to focus their attention on them. Will showed up in the dusty pink Dior gown, which showed off her slender figure. Her hair had been trimmed to just below her shoulders, and it was styled so the ends curled inward. She looked beautiful and demure. Julian had never seen her look so gorgeous. He stared at her, unable to look away. After a long time, he said lowly, ¡°You look beautiful in this.¡± Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t herpanion. Caleb was. Thetter wore a ck suit and looked dashing. He clung to Willow and said, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to look at him, or I¡¯ll get mad.¡± She was amused and exasperated. Before she could say anything, a gentle voice rang out. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were the one who bought this gown, Willow. As expected of my sister¨Cit looks amazing on you, and it¡¯s much more expensive than mine.¡± Alicia was pissed. She¡¯d put in so much time and effort to prepare for the wedding dinner, yet Willow had captured everyone¡¯s attention upon showing up. Willow had even worn the gown that was supposed to be hers, and Julian couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. Willow didn¡¯t answer, and neither did Timothy and Heather. They didn¡¯t want to be associated with Alicia. Caleb stepped forward to shield Willow. ¡°Get lost. Who do you think you¡¯re calling your sister? My mother¨Cinw only had one child; Ms. Harper has no siblings.¡± His protectiveness warmed Willow. She reached up to straighten his bow tie. A few days ago, Braxton had called her, and she¡¯d agreed to slowly show Caleb the ropes when it came to managing a business. It was partly because she¡¯d found it hard to say no to Braxton¡¯s enthusiasm and partly because she genuinely thought of Caleb as a brother. He enjoyed her tenderness and said, ¡°You¡¯re really warming my heart.¡± Just then, Braxton called out to him in the distance, saying that he wanted to introduce him to some people. Before leaving, Caleb red at Alicia and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you daretch onto just about anyone.¡± For a moment, Alicia felt utterly humiliated. She turned to Julian, who frowned at her. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She grimaced. ¡°You don¡¯t even want to see me now? I didn¡¯t mean to show up before you. I just didn¡¯t want to be locked up in the ward all day. I felt smothered and wanted toe out for a breather.¡± Mnie cleared her throat. ¡°It¡¯s better for those who are ill to get more rest.¡± Alicia didn¡¯t protest. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that, Mrs. Ziegler.¡± Mnie¡¯s heart softened. ¡°You¡¯ve always been obedient.¡± Willow didn¡¯t want to watch their performance, so she left with Heather and Timothy to greet the Gibsons. She gave Rosabelle the wedding gift she¡¯d prepared¨Cshe and Jeffrey were friends, so she hoped he would have a happy marriage. Rosabelle was innocent and endearing. She clung to Jeffrey and smiled sweetly. Willow said earnestly, ¡°Congrattions, Jeffrey.¡± He nodded, his gaze dark as he looked at her. The deep, unforgettable love he¡¯d harbored for her was now buried in a corner of his heart. It would only surface in the deep of the night, reminding him of his youth. Willow excused herself to the restroom after exchanging pleasantries. She needed to touch up her makeup¨Cthe blinding lights had made it wear off slightly. In the opulent restroom, a steady stream of water flowed from the gold faucet. Altar 177 Willow was about to leave after touching up her makeup when someone entered the restroom. It was none other than Alicia. Their gazes met in the mirror, and Alicia broke the silence. ¡°You and Jeffrey have history, don¡¯t you?¡± Willow looked at her calmly. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Alicia walked over to the sink and turned on the faucet to wash her hands. She said softly, ¡°I don¡¯t understand why Julian chose you over me. I¡¯m the one who grew up in an affluent family, and you were abandoned and left in the wild, having to pick up trash to survive. ¡°It must be because you¡¯re good at acting pitiful. You know how to win his sympathy! But do you think he¡¯ll still love you and treat you well when he sees your cruel side?¡± Willow had an idea of what she was up to. Sure enough, Alicia pped herself hard, leaving a clear handprint on her face. It looked ghastly. Willow smiled. ¡°Trying to frame me, are you?¡± Alicia also smiled. ¡°How can you say I¡¯m framing you when you¡¯re the one who hit me? Julian will be here soon, and he¡¯s going to see your cruel side.¡± ¡°Is that so? I don¡¯t care about that, though.¡± Willow pped Alicia with all her might after saying that. It instantly made thetter¡¯s other cheek swell up. Alicia was stunned. ¡°How could you hit me?¡± Willowdeered. ¡°Why can¡¯t I? I¡¯ve had it up to here with you, and let me tell you why I can hit you¨Cbecause I¡¯m Willow Harper, the doughter of the Chapman family, and because the Burke family still owes me tens of millions of dors! ¡°Are those reasons enough for you? Besides, being pped twice will only make your precious Julian pity you more, won¡¯t it?¡± Alicia trembled all over, her eyes glistening with tears. She¡¯d never been this humiliated in her life. Just then, footsteps came from outside the restroom. After a while, Julian entered and immediately saw the ring handprint on Alicia¡¯s face. He frowned. Willow turned to wash her hands. She said indifferently, ¡°I pped her. You can take her away now.¡± Alicia¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Julian, are you going to stand there and watch as she bullies me?¡± He stared at her for a while before turning to Willow and saying tenderly, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with this and be backter. If the dinner is over by then, I¡¯ll visit you at the vill?.¡± Alicia screeched, ¡°Julian Ziegler!¡± His gaze turned frosty. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you back to the hospital. Alicia wrapped her arms around her knees as she leaned against her bed in Heartwell Hospital¡¯s VIP ward. She mumbled, ¡°How did I be like this, Julian? Isn¡¯t it because you pushed me too hard? I love you, but you fell for Willow. You promised you wouldn¡¯t love anyone but me. You promised!¡± She looked up at him, her face pale underneath the harsh lights. ¡°This is all because I love you, Julian.¡± Julian¡¯s expression was hideous. He looked at her and said, ¡°We¡¯re over, Alicia. Money is all I can give you now¡ªI can arrange for someone to care for you for the rest of your days. Willow is pregnant, and I swore I wouldn¡¯t let her and the baby down anymore. Don¡¯t pull something like this again.¡± He pulled out a checkbook from his pocket after saying that and wrote a check for 80 million dors. That was more than enough to pay for whatever time Alicia had left. He turned to leave after dealing with the matter, but Alicia scrambled out of bed and wrapped her arms tightly around him from behind. She pleaded with him not to leave and talked about giving her body to him. She said dazedly, ¡°Have your way with me, Julian! My body is pure and it¡¯ll be yours to the day I die. It has only ever been yours!¡± Julian grabbed her wrists and pried her hands off him, gently pushing her away. ¡°Calm down, Alicia.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t! I love you, Julian!¡± she cried. She couldn¡¯t make him stay, though. His mind was on Willow; he was in a hurry to see her. Alicia pressed her face to her pillow as her tears flowed. Julian hurried back to the dinner, but Willow was already gone¨Cshe¡¯d left for Padstow. The weather wasn¡¯t the best that night, so it was midnight by the time he arrived there by ne. It waste at night, and he looked tired as he knocked on Willow¡¯s hotel room door. It took a long time for someone to open it. Chapter 178 Altar 178 Chapter 178 Annie was the one who opened the door. It waste at night and cold in Padstow, yet Julian only wore a thin coat. It was evident this trip was an impromptu one. She appraised him before saying, ¡°Ms. Harper is asleep. I¡¯m sure whatever you want to say can wait until tomorrow.¡± Julian couldn¡¯t wait, though. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait in the lounge for her to wake up.¡®¡± Just then, Willow came out of the bedroom. She wore a cotton robe and her hair fell softly onto her shoulders. There was a hint of fatigue in her eyes. She looked at Julian for a while and then said ¡°Come in.¡± He followed them into the room. Annie made a cup of tea before going to her own room. He looked at Willow in the dimly lit room and said, ¡°It won¡¯t take long. Alicia only has about three months left.¡± Willow didn¡¯t look impressed. ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t die? Are you going to keep dragging me and the baby down as sacrifices for the love you harbored as a youth, Julian? You¡¯re not her husband, yet you¡¯ve done everything a husband would. ¡°It¡¯s been nine years¨Cwhatever feelings you had for her should¡¯ve long since faded by now. You im to love me and that the baby means everything to you, but you have no idea how crowded this rtionship is because there are three people in it. Don¡¯te to me ever again if you can¡¯t let her go.¡± Julian left Willow¡¯s room and got one of his own. Warm water poured down on him in the bathroom, and he leaned forward with one hand on the wall. The droplets trickled down his toned body. After a hile, he turned off the shower, cutting off the stream of water. He lowered his head, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. The woman he¡¯d protected with all his heart for nine years had turned into his burden, and the marriage he¡¯d once scorned had be a precious treasure he coveted but couldn¡¯t get. The power he¡¯d schemed and manipted to obtain seemedughable under the circumstances. Yet it was as he¡¯d initially said he knew he wasn¡¯t worthy, but still wanted to have it. He wanted Willow. Julian¡¯s phone rang where he¡¯d left it in the bedroom. He walked out of the bathroom and checked it, but didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he grabbed his cigarettes and lighter before heading to the window. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. The tendrils of smoke that came from it blurred his face, making it hard to read his expression. Willow hade to Padstow for work. Insight wanted to hold an auction in the city but had failed to secure a location thus far. So, Willow hade to negotiate that. One night, she treated the relevant people to a meal. It snowed that night, making the city look like it was made of fragile ss. Willow pulled her hair into an updo and put on a ck coat with arge brooch pinned to it. She looked elegant and ssy as she got into a ck car. Annie shut the door for her before getting in. As the car started moving, Annie turned to look at Willow. ¡°It¡¯s too bad Caleb isn¡¯t with us. At least we¡¯d have another person to help field the drinks.¡± Willow smiled. ¡°He¡¯ll need more practice with that. One drink is basically enough to take him out.¡± Annie nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Harper. I¡¯ll make sure to take care of things tonight!¡± After a brief silence, Willow said, ¡°Annie, you¡¯ve been with me for five years now, haven¡¯t you? Once Insight goes public, you won¡¯t need to apany me for all this socializing anymore. You¡¯re a young woman¨Cyou should have a life of your own. I¡¯ll give you 5% of thepany¡¯s original shares.¡± Annie¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°What are you talking about, Ms. Harper?ve always been by your side for these things.¡± When they arrived and started wining and dining, Annie realized she¡¯d underestimated the situation. Everyone in Padstow could hold their liquor, and she was no match for them. They were all enthusiastic, too. She was worried she¡¯d be unable to help Willow fend them off if she were to get drunk. The other assistant was pretty much a gone case, but they¡¯d still yet to get the green light for the venue they wanted. The person in charge, Steven York, kept moring for Willow to drink with him. He waved his ss around and said business deals were all secured over drinks¨Che didn¡¯t care who he was dealing with. They had to drink regardless of their identity and status. Annie was about to stop him when the door to the private room swing open. Julian strode in. The moment he entered, Steven shot to his feet. ¡°Mr. Ziegler! What are you doing here?¡± Julian took off his coat and handed it to a server to hang up. He smiled and said, ¡°Call me Julian. My wife told me she had a business dinner tonight but didn¡¯t mention it was with you, Mr. York.¡± Steven had never met Willow before, so he was gobsmacked to learn about her rtionship with Julian. Julian rolled up his sleeves and sat beside Willow, lookingpletely at ease. He picked up the ss Steven had ced before Willow and said, ¡°She¡¯s pregnant, so I¡¯ll drink with you.¡± He downed the drink. He was handsome, so the sight of him tilting his head back as he drank was a pleasant one. There was something docile about the way he acted. Steven knew he¡¯d offended Julian but didn¡¯t let it show. He kept his smile in ce and said, ¡°Who would¡¯ve known that we were all family here? I didn¡¯t expect you to be able to hold your liquor so well, Julian. Tonight, we¡¯re drinking till we drop!¡± Julian smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll follow your lead, Mr. York.¡± Steven looked around at the people with him. ¡°I¡¯m sure all of you know who Julian is¨Cthe CEO of Neb Group, which is worth hundreds of billions of dors! I¡¯m going to drink my heart out with him tonight!¡± Already drunk, he clutched his ss and spoke to Julian like they were close friends. Later, he even distributed a box of cigarettes. Naturally, Julian wouldn¡¯t be a buzzkill. He turned to Annie and said, ¡°Take Ms. Harper to the lobby and wait for me there. Take the chance to sober up.¡± She looked at Willow. Thetter bade Steven goodbye, and he hurriedly said, ¡°Take care.¡± Once she was gone, he uncapped his pen and immediately signed the agreement approving the venue for the auction. Then, he continued drinking with Julian. Julian had honed his alcohol tolerance over the years, so Steven was no match for him. Thetter flopped onto the table in a drunken haze half an hourter, still moring that he hadn¡¯t had enough and wanted fnore Julian¡¯s face was only slightly flushed as he walked out of the private room. His ck coat was draped over his arm, and he looked dashing. Even the passing servers couldn¡¯t help sneaking looks at him. After a moment, he found Willow in the lobby. She stood before the ss doors and stared into the distance. Altar 179 Julian stopped beside Willow, She said softly, ¡°It¡¯s snowing so heavily. There¡¯s no snow in Brindley.¡± It had been a long time since they¡¯d had such a calm conversation, and Julian¡¯s heart softened. ¡°Brindley only starts snowing at the end of December. After about two weeks of that, I¡¯ll take you up the mountains so we can admire the snow.¡± Willow didn¡¯t say whether she was okay with that. Instead, she turned to look at him. He handed her the agreement Steven had signed. ¡°Mr. York has signed this.¡± She took it and flipped through it. Then, she said, ¡°Thanks for tonight.¡°. He wanted to tell her that she didn¡¯t need to thank him because they were married, but he decided against it because he figured she would refute him. So, he said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go back to the hotel.¡± Julian was in Padstow for personal reasons, so he didn¡¯t have a car at the ready. He hitched a ride with Willow and Annie back to the hotel. The chauffeur said, ¡°It¡¯s still possible to drive now, but it¡¯s gonna be difficult when the snow bes thicker. If you¡¯re stuck here because of the weather, you can take the opportunity to see the sights. We do have some lovely ces here.¡± Julian leaned against the backseatzily, slightly drunk from the alcohol. The faint scent of it permeated the car. It was dark in the car, but lights asionally shone in from outside, briefly illuminating it. It was snowing again outside, which made for a romantic scene. It was a feeling like never before. Julian couldn¡¯t resist reaching out to hold Willow¡¯s slender wrist. She was evidently startled and tried to pull away, but his hand slid from her wrist to her hand, holding it in his. Shewed away, feeling a little embarrassed. He turned with her and watched her silently. He admired her fragile beauty. It was snowing outside, but his heart was on fire. The chauffeur drove slowly due to the snow, so it took them an hour to get back to the hotel. Julian walked Willow all the way back to her hotel room. As he watched her enter the room, he said, ¡°Take a warm bath and have a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± She had mixed feelings about the whole thing. In the end, she smiled the tiniest of smiles. He couldn¡¯t help smiling in return when he caught it. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see you smile nowadays.¡± Even after returning to his room, Julian couldn¡¯t help thinking about Willow¡¯s smile. Perhaps it was because she was about to be a mother, but he felt like she was gentle no matter what she did. Even when berating him, he found her tender and loving. He was desperate to kiss and make up with her. He wanted to live with her and their child¡­ their Landon. He was in such a good mood that he took a photo of the night view and sent it to Willow. Sharing everything was also a way to show one¡¯s feelings for another. He looked out at the snow and figured they could probably stay in Padstow for a few more days, judging from how heavy the snowfall was. Just then, Julian¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Charlie, which he rejected. Charlie didn¡¯t give up and called again. When Julian finally answered, Charlie said shakily, ¡°This is thest time I¡¯m begging you. Please talk some sense into Alicia, if only for the half¨Cloaf of bread you shared! ¡°I swear this is thest time¨CI won¡¯t bother you in the future, no matter what happens to her! Her mother and I are truly out of ideas. Alicia is on the hospital¡¯s roof and refuses toe down!¡°! The night outside was dark and eerie. A hint of resignation rose in Julian¡¯s chest because of that half¨Cloaf of bread. He clutched his phone tightly and growled, ¡°This is thest time.¡± He hung up and left without telling Willow because he was afraid would upset her. He figured she would still be in Padstow when he returned the following night. He would never have expected this decision to turn into one he would regret for life. It would lead to consequences he could never undo. Late that night, Julian took a car to a neighboring city before flying back to Brindley from there. Altar 180 Chapter 180 As the night went on, the snow in Padstow wasing down heavier and heavier, piling up to almost 20 inches deep. Willow woke up in the middle of the night, surrounded byplete stillness. At first, she didn¡¯t notice anything strange. Then, her phone vibrated. It was a call from overseas, but she hadn¡¯t heard it ring.. She checked the phone settings, but it wasn¡¯t on silent. Willow froze for a moment. She got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, turning on the faucet. The water was running, but she couldn¡¯t hear anything. She had lost her hearing. Willow blinked for a moment before running to nie¡¯s room, waking her up. Annie opened her eyes in a daze and said something, but Willow couldn¡¯t hear a word¡­ She stared nkly at Annie. When Annie finally realized something was wrong, she nearly burst into tears. ¡°Let¡¯s get you to the hospital now.¡± However, the snowstorm outside was relentless, paralyzing the traffic in Padstow. No driver dared to take a car out in this weather. Annie tried to hail a cab for ages without sess. Suddenly, she thought of Julian! That¡¯s night, Julian was staying at the hotel. He would definitely have a solution. Annie went to the front desk to get his room number, then rushed over and pounded on the door with all her might. But there was no response from inside. The long hallway was filled only with the sound of her frantic knocking and the muffled fall of snow outside. Annie figured that Julian had returned to Brindley. She stopped looking for him. Instead, she called Timothy. Once the call connected, she cried out, ¡°Mr. Chapman, Ms. Harper can¡¯t hear anything. We¡¯re trapped in the hotel and can¡¯t get out.¡± Timothy was shocked. He calmed Annie down and told her to keep an eye on Willow. Then, he immediately woke Heather up and rushed toward Padstow. They took a private jet to a neighboring city, then transferred to a helicopter that flew them near the hote In the snowy night, Timothy and Heather braved the blizzard, trekking half an hour on foot to reach the hotel. On the way back to the helicopter, Timothy carried Willow all the way there. By then, Willow was dizzy and extremely weak. Heather¡¯s heart ached as she stroked Willow¡¯s head, calling her name gently. ¡°Willow, my little girl. Mommy¡¯s here. Everything will be fine. Timothy, why don¡¯t you take a break? Let me carry her.¡± But how could Timothy bear to let go? He carried Willow onto the helicopter, drenched in sweat. Still, he was careful not to touch Willow¡¯s belly. He had to protect both mother and child. After all, he was the child¡¯s grandfather. As dawn broke, the helicopter slowlynded on the hospital¡¯s rooftop, with doctors already standing by. After a thorough examination, the doctor fell silent for a long moment before speaking softly, ¡°It¡¯s too 181 Willow couldn¡¯t hear anything anymore. Her world had fallenpletely silent. But Julian didn¡¯t know that. The snow in Padstow had finally stopped. Heather gently cupped Willow¡¯s face, her voice choked with sobs.¡¯ll take you best doctors there. We¡¯ll definitely find a way to cure this.¡± back to Brindley for treatment! They have the Willow tried tofort her. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine.¡± The words were simple, but because she couldn¡¯t hear, her voice came out slightly distorted. Heather almost broke down right then and there, but she held it together. As a mother, she had to be strong for moments like this. That very day, Timothy and Heather brought Willow back to Brindley. Timothy had already made arrangements with top¨Cnotch specialists to consult on Willow¡¯s condition. They couldn¡¯t afford to waste any time. As long as there was the slightest chance, they wouldn¡¯t give up. At 2:00 pm, the Chapman family¡¯s ck car entered the hospital. Ahead of them, a small crowd had gathered, causing amotion. There was even the faint sound of a woman crying. Willow Couldn¡¯t hear any of it. She only saw the driver stop the car and get out to disperse the crowd. When the people finally moved aside, she caught sight of two familiar figures¡­ It was Julian and Alicia. Alicia¡¯s face was streaked with tears as she stood barefoot, with blood on her hospital gown. She looked like she had just tried to kill herself. Julian held her tightly in his arms, his face twisted in pain, as though he was suppressing some powerful emotions. Perhaps he was fighting back his emotions, after all, she was his childhood sweetheart. Willow just stared at them quietly. Her world was still, impossibly quiet. The autumn leaves from the maple trees were falling, but she couldn¡¯t hear the sound of the falling leaves anymore. Willow couldn¡¯t help but think back to the year before. It was the same situation, but it was Catherine back then. Now, it was his childhood sweetheart¨CAlicia. Alicia leaned weakly against Julian¡¯s shoulder, crying her heart out. Julian hesitated for a moment, but still gently patted her shoulder. Willow couldn¡¯t tell what he just said. She didn¡¯t want to watch anymore. She reached out and pressed the button, the car window slowly rising. Just then, Julian looked up and saw her. He froze for a moment before pushing Alicia away. He quickly ran toward Willow. He knocked on the car window, desperate to exin.. Willow couldn¡¯t hear him. She merely stared at his anxious face, gently tracing his features with her fingertips through the window. Then, she put on a faint smile. Julian continued pping the car window. ¡°Stop the car! Willow, let me exin!¡± Willow simply smiled at him. Watching his lips move, she could guess what he was saying, but she couldn¡¯t hear a word.. She no longer could listen to Julian¡¯s apology, but maybe that was for the best. The car started pulling away, crushing the fallen leaves beneath its tires. When Charlie and Nancy saw the Chapman family¡¯s car, they desperately tried to block its path, nearly getting run over. These past few days, Alicia had attempted suicide several times. Charlie was at his wits¡® end. He had no other choice but to risk everything to stop the car. When Charlie saw Willow, he fell to his knees in front of her, sobbing as he pleaded, ¡°For the sake of our shared blood, please save your sister! ¡°You can have more children in the future, but you only have one sister. If you donate a kidney to Alicia, I swear I¡¯ll take her away. We¡¯ll never bother you and Julian again.¡± Heather was filled with fury. Back then, how could she have fallen for someone like this? She stepped forward and pped Charlie across the face, screaming at him. ¡°Charlie Burke, do you hear what you¡¯re saying? If you want a kidney so badly, go find one yourself. Don¡¯t even think about harming my daughter!¡± Nancy sobbed and shouted, ¡°Heather, how can you be so heartless Alicia is a living, breathing person!¡± At that time, Julian rushed over. When be saw the absurd scene unfold in front of him, he berated Charlie and Nancy. Then, he turned to Willow and said gently, ¡°Just ignore them. Go get some rest. I¡¯ll look for you once I¡¯m done.¡± Willow couldn¡¯t hear what he just said, but she could guess. She then lowered her gaze, lost in thought. After a while, she bent down and grabbed a pair of scissors from the car¡¯s glovepartment. Under everyone¡¯s stunned gaze, she cut off a lock of her dark hair. The lock of hair fell to the ground¡­ Willow spoke, but her voice was distorted. ¡°When I was born, I only had Mom, so my upbringing was lonely. Inever knew I had a father named Charlie Burke, who loved and raised two daughters, Catherine and Alicia. ¡°He didn¡¯t have a daughter named Willow. When Mom was sick, and I was homeless on the streets, where were you? ¡°When I almost starved to death, picking up bottles with Grandma, where were you? How dare you say that I share the same father with Alicia? ¡°How dare you acknowledge me as your daughter? I have never had any rtionship with you! Now, I¡¯m cutting off a lock of my ¨C hair as a ritual. ¡°I¡¯m returning everything I owe you. From now on, we¡¯ll go our separate ways. Stop calling me your daughter, and stop saying you¡¯re my father. ¡°You make me sick. Your whole family disgusts me! As for you, Julian, I have nothing to say.¡± Her voice was strange, but it was stillprehensible. Heather cried uncontrobly, wishing she could rip Charlie into shreds. The color on Julian¡¯s face gradually faded¡­ What happened to Willow? What happened to his Willow? Why was she speaking differently than usual? What was going on? Altar 182 Chapter 182 Julian¡¯s face was ghastly pale. Annie stepped forward with a grim expression, her voice colder than ever. ¡°Let me tell you what happened! After you rushed back to Brindley tofort Alicia, Ms. Harper lost her hearing due to barotrauma. The snowstorm that night in Padstow was so severe at everywhere was covered in thick snow. ¡°We couldn¡¯t get a ride anywhere. Back then, I naively believed the you were in the hotel. I thought if I asked you for help, you¡¯d certainly figure something out. ¡°After all, you¡¯ve always been so capable, haven¡¯t you? However, you were back at Brindley. ¡°I had no choice but to call Mr. Chapman. Mr. Chapman and Mrs. Chapman immediately rushed to Padstow in the middle of the night. ¡°Mr. Chapman, a man in his 50s, carried Ms. Harper in his arms for half an hour through the snow, which was about 20 inches deep, to get to the helicopter. ¡°When they arrived at the hospital, his clothes were soaked through. Mrs. Chapman¡¯s legs werepletely numb, and she couldn¡¯t feel a thing. ¡°But neither of them put Ms. Harper down, because to them, she was their family, their life. ¡°I¡¯m asking you now, what is Ms. Harper to you? The doctor said it was toote! He said that if we¡¯d gotten there earlier, maybe her hearing could¡¯ve been saved. 1 ¡°But now, there¡¯s a chance Ms. Harper might never hear again. Julian Ziegler, listen carefully, she might never hear again. If she goes off, her speech will be stranger over time. ¡°Will you still love her then? Will you still ask her to give you a chance? ¡°You won¡¯t! The only thing you love is the perfect Ms. Harper. Only a wless person could stand by your side. ¡°To you, her love has never been worth a damn thing!¡± After finishing her words, Annie broke down in tears. Annie had been working for Willow for years, so she had witnessed all the pain and suffering that Willow had endured¨Call for this man standing before her. It wasn¡¯t worth it. When Heather heard Annie¡¯s words, she held Willow tightly and cried. Julian¡¯s expression was one of unprecedented despair and regret. Willow couldn¡¯t hear anymore. If he hadn¡¯t returned to Brindley and stayed in Padstow, she might not have turned out like this. He reached out, wanting to touch her face gently. But Willow took a step back, not letting him touch her. She just stared at him like he was a stranger, and even a trace of hatred was in her eyes. That night, she told him, ¡°If you can¡¯t let her go, then don¡¯te looking for me.¡± But Julian¡¯s promises had always been a joke! Everything that happened in the car that night was nothing but a.moment of infatuation. In the end, the person who mattered most to him had always been Alicia. Willow turned around and got into the car, She still had to see the doctor. She didn¡¯t have time to watch Julian wallow in regret. Julian wanted to follow her, but Timothy stopped him. All this while, Timothy had always admired him, but this time, he said, his voice restrained, ¡°Julian, stay here.¡± Timothy and Heather stepped inside the car, which drove away, leaving Julian and the Burkes behind. Charlie was still in a daze.. His mind was still reeling from the shock of Willow cutting ties with him. He had originally thought that by acknowledging Willow as his daughter, Alicia could be saved. Then, they could all live happily as a family. Was he wrong? But that child couldn¡¯t hear anymore. She even said she didn¡¯t want to acknowledge him as her father. Could blood ties be severed like that? In an instant, Charlie seemed to have aged ten years. As for Julian, he chased after the Chapman family¡¯s car. ¡°Julian!¡± Alicia shouted as she grabbed Julian¡¯s hand. Panic surged in her heart as she felt like she was about to lose him. She had a feeling that if he left this time, he would never belong to her again. But Julian shook off her hand. His face had never been colder. Alici froze. Ch Altar 183 Altar 183 apter 183 Julian turned to Alicia and asked softly, ¡°Isn¡¯t this enough? Alicia, what else do you want?¡± Originally, he could have been happy. Willow and the child would have stayed by his side, surrounded by happiness. Even if he was burdened with countless sins, he could¡¯ve had the chance to grasp happiness. But now, that was gone. After Alicia¡¯s repeated acts of self¨Charm and unreasonable demands, his patience had finally run dry. In the end, he and Willow had finally reached this point of no return, Julian¡¯s voice was low and hoarse. ¡°Alicia, we¡¯re done.¡± He turned around and walked away, ignoring Alicia¡¯s cries behindim. She fell to the ground in tears. ¡°Julian¡­ Julian¡­¡± But he never looked back. The team of specialists remained helpless when it came to Willows condition. They were simply toote. This type of neurological disorder, triggered by the weather and atmospheric pressure, was extremely rare. There was no effective treatment at present. Moreover, Willow was pregnant, so she couldn¡¯t be given medication rashly. Heather was heartbroken, while Timothy could onlyfort her, promising On the surface, Willow appeared calm. to seek out the best doctors. But who could truly remain indifferent after losing their hearing? Yes, she could still use hearing aids, but it wouldn¡¯t be the same. No matter what, she wouldn¡¯t be the same as before. Apanied by her parents, Willow left the consultation room. Julian was waiting at the door, his face devoid of color. When he saw Willow walk out, his voice trembled as he called out softly, ¡°Willow.¡± Heather could no longer hold back anymore. She said sadly, ¡°She can¡¯t hear you anymore. What¡¯s the point of calling her? ¡°Julian, the Ziegler family is like a monster that devours people until there¡¯s nothing left. You¡¯ve devoured everyst bit of Willow. ¡°But I ept it. Since you don¡¯t love her, can¡¯t you just return her to me and Timothy intact? We will take care of and cherish both Willow and the child. You don¡¯t need to concern yourself with her anymore.¡± Julian replied softly, ¡°I¡¯ll find the best doctors to treat her.¡± Heater replied coldly, ¡°We, the Chapman family, can do the same. Julian couldn¡¯t refute. All he could do was watch her walk away with her parents. That evening, Julian returned to the Ziegler residence. As the car stopped, Julian got out and stared at the sky, burning red as the sun set. Noah walked over and said, ¡°Mr. Liam is in Dominic¡¯s study, waiting for you.¡± Julian gave a slight nod and followed Noah to Dominic¡¯s study. Along the way, the autumn wind picked up, causing the withered leaves of the trees on both sides to rustle¡­ After a while, Noah pushed open the study door, inviting Julian in The study was bathed in the golden glow of dusk. Liam was looking at the portrait of thete Dominic with a serene expression. +25 BONUS When Julian stepped in, he spoke softly, ¡°Earlier, your mother, Tyler, Karen, and I all went to the Chapman residence. No matter how much we apologized and pleaded, they refused to meet with ¡°She was once your wife, and now, she¡¯s carrying your child. No matter what, she shouldn¡¯t be treated as a second choice. ¡°Julian, you can¡¯t always get everything in life. Let her be free, at least for now. She¡¯s the one who¡¯s carrying the child, and that¡¯s tough.¡± Julian understood what his father meant. Liam wanted film to give up, to set Willow free. But he didn¡¯t say a word. He just walked toward Dominic¡¯s portrait and closed his eyes. When he left, Liam was struck by a bad feeling. His instincts were telling him that his son was about to do something drastic. However, Julian refused to say a word. He just opened the door and stepped out. Outside, Karen stood there, with tears in her eyes. She asked, ¡°Julian, will Willow¡¯s hearing recover?¡± Julian fell silent for a moment. He didn¡¯t know, but he would do everything in his power to make it right. Altar 184 Late at night, in the Chapman residence, the moonlight shone through the white curtains, spilling onto the ivory white bed, wrapping the woman¡¯s body in a robe made of moonlight. Willow was sound asleep. Suddenly, a tall figure stepped into the room, bathed in the moonlight. He approached the bed gently and crouched down next to it. Since Willow couldn¡¯t hear a thing, she was unaware. Julian knelt before her, listening to her shallow breathing while staring at her pale face. After suppressing the urge for so long, he finally raised his hand and stroked her fragile features. If he could turn back time, that night, he would never have returned to Brindley. her be gripped by fear in the middle of the night. would¡¯ve stayed by Willow¡¯s side, not letting Every time Julian closed his eyes, he would recall the way Willow spoke. When he remembered how her voice was distorted, it tore him apart inside. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! Willow, I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Julian¡¯s voice trembled, his eyes glistening with tears. When Willow woke up, she was in a vi. 4 It wasn¡¯t Grandview Manor, nor was it Radiance Manor. Instead, it was apletely unfamiliar ce. Shes on the huge white bed, staring nkly ahead. Her intuition told her that this was Julian¡¯s domain. Barefoot, she stepped off the bed and pushed open the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows leading to the balcony. As she looked out, the vi was enormous and decorated luxuriously. There were dozens of bodyguards dressed in ck, standing guard all around the vi. They sealed off the entire area like an imprable fortress. Willow guessed that Julian had taken her away, but she couldn¡¯t tell whether she was still in Brindley or not. It was cold outside, so she didn¡¯t stay on the balcony for long. She returned to the bedroom and leaned against the headboard, quietly waiting for Julian¡¯s arrival. While waiting for him, everything felt so quiet, as if time had stopped. About ten minutester, Julian entered the room. It was freezing outside, but inside the room, it was warm like spring. Julian wore a light gray shirt and ck cks. Under the morning light, his sharp features were particrly defined. He walked over, knelt beside the bed, and gently took her hand. Willow sat there in a white bathrobe, her long, dark hair flowing down her back. It exuded a fragile quality about her. She didn¡¯t say a word, but just lowered her gaze and stared at him. Julian said gently, ¡°What would you like for breakfast? A specialist will being this afternoon to check on you. Willow, I believe that if I search the world for the best doctors, we¡¯ll find a way to restore your hearing.¡± Willow didn¡¯t respond and just continued looking at him in silence. Her world was quiet, so she couldn¡¯t hear a word Julian was saying It wasn¡¯t until a whileter that Julian realized that Willow could hear him. His heart ached. He had already prepared a whiteboard and mark and showed it to her. cing them by the bed. He quickly wrote down what he had just said to her He even promised he would look after her personally. After reading the words on the whiteboard, she turned away andy down in bed, coldly ignoring Juliani. She didn¡¯t want his care! Julian climbed into bed andy down behind her, gently holding her shoulder. Then, he wrapped his arm around her, resting his palm over her lower belly, caressing her softly. Willow didn¡¯t like his touch. She sat up and wrote a w words on the whiteboard. ¡°Let me go.¡± Julian stared at those words for a long time. He lowered his gaze and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll find the best doctors.¡± But even the best doctors could do nothing about her condition. Willow¡¯s condition could only be healed by time, or by the mercy of heaven itself. Julian turned into a madman trying to save her. To cure her, he spared no expense in bringing various renowned doctors to treat Willow Willow remained cold and indifferent toward him, unwilling to ept his care and refusing to share a bed with him. At night, Julian would sleep on the sofa, keeping watch over her and their unborn child. Every day, a dedicated obstetrician woulde to check on her health and prepare a nutritious meal for her. Altar 185 Willow was forced to stay here, subjected to Julian¡¯s arrangements Every day, she simply sat there in a daze. After a while, she couldn¡¯t help but think that it wasn¡¯t just her who was sick. Julian was sick too. In fact, they were both sick. At the vi, everything seemed peaceful, as if it weren¡¯t affected by the outside world. But outside, things were an absolute mess. About half a monthter, Liam somehow caught wind of what was going on and showed up at the vi. In the study on the second floor, the faint scent of tea lingered in the air. It was Earl Grey, Liam¡¯s favorite. But right now, Liam wasn¡¯t in the mood for tea. He pointed angrily at Julian and roared, ¡°Send her back immediately! ¡°You can¡¯t just take someone¡¯s daughter away like this after just leaving just a message. How am I supposed to exin to Timothy and Heather? That¡¯s their biological daughter!¡± The crystal chandelier sparkled, casting its light on Julian¡¯s expressionless face. ¡°Dad, Willow is my wife.¡± Liam l¨ªt a cigarette, pacing back and forth for a long while before stopping. She hasn¡¯t been your wife for a long time. Why didn¡¯t you do something sooner? You took care of Alicia¡¯s illness for nine years, and she¡¯s still alive. ¡°But you neglected your wife to the point where she can¡¯t even hear now. Put yourself in their shoes, would you trust your daughter to a man like that? Send her back immediately!¡± Julian lowered his eyes, his longshes casting a shadow over his handsome features. ¡°Dad, I can¡¯t do it.¡°. Liam stared at his son. From a young age, Julian had been extraordinary. He was far more capable than Liam, but he was so strong that those around him would end up hurt. Seeing that his words weren¡¯t getting through to Julian, Liam¡¯s anger boiled over. He grabbed the ashtray next to him and hurled it at Julian. There was a bang, and blood instantly streamed down Julian¡¯s forehead. Mnie¡¯s heart was broken, her voice trembling. ¡°Julian, just listen to your father once and send Willow back! She¡¯ll never forgive you. ¡°Stop wasting your time forcing things. After the child grows up, it won¡¯t be toote to reconnect then!¡± Julian quietly wiped away the blood, his gaze locked on his father. He insisted. ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t want to let go! Liam had never seen Julian like this. It was rare for him to be that insistent and obsessed. It was almost pathological. 1 Liam suppressed his fury and calmed himself down. After a while, he looked up and said, ¡°Just treat her well and make sure she¡¯s alright. ¡°Nothing can happen to her again. I¡¯ll figure out a way to deal with Timothy.¡± Liam made this decision partly out of love for his son, and partly because he genuinely liked Willow. Mnie was timid and wanted to say something, but Liam took her away, not giving her the chance to do so. 1/2 The study door closed quietly behind them. Blood was still oozing from Julian¡¯s forehead, but he just wiped it away casually. With his bloodstained hands, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. His hands were trembling as he drew one out and ced it between his lips. He lit the lighter and brought it to the cigarette, but for a long time he couldn¡¯t light the cigarette. That was because his hands were still shaking uncontrobly. Then, Julian¡¯s hands fell to his sides. The unlit cigarette was still between his lips when a line of blood trickled from his forehead, slipping down the corner of his eye. He breathed heavily as his body trembled. Later, he washed the blood from his hands, roughly treated the wound, and then returned to the master bedroom. Willow wasn¡¯t there. But from the bathroom came the sound of running water. She was taking a shower. Willow couldn¡¯t hear a thing and was pregnant. Julian was afraid something might happen to her, so he pushed open the bathroom door and stepped inside. The bathroom was filled with steam, and Willow was showering. Altar 186 The pregnancy hadn¡¯t made Willow¡¯s body bigger. She was still slender with her dark hair cascading down her shoulders. The hot water streamed down along her shoulder des, trailing down to the small dip of her waist. There, a small reddish mole stood out. ¡°Let me help you.¡± Julian grabbed her by the shoulders, wanting to help her bathe. Willow was startled, so she instinctively pped him across the face. After striking him, she pressed herself against the warm ceramic tiles, her lips trembling as she stared at him. Since she couldn¡¯t hear him, she didn¡¯t know what Julian¡¯s intentions were. She was afraid that he was trying to initiate sex with her. After all, it had been quite some time since he hadst done it. Julian¡¯s handsome face was turned to the side. It was quite embarrassing. After a while, he let out a self¨Cdeprecating smile and began writing on the palm of her hand. Only then did she understand that he was offering to help her bathe. She refused, but how could she out¨Cmuscle him, especially when she was pregnant? In the misty bathroom, Julian¡¯s sharp features were unreadable. He carefully washed her body, moving his warm palms around her lower abdomen, filled with longing and affection. Inside her was their child. She was over three months pregnant, but her belly was still t, with no sign of a bulge. Julian looked up and saw her emotionless face. Then, he leaned down and ced a gentle kiss on her lower belly. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. At that moment, he wished she would just hold him, even if it was just for a second. At night, Willow sat quietly on the bed, leaning against the headboard silently in a white bathrobe. The bedroom door opened, and Julian walked in. His tall frame was d in ck silk pajamas, making his sharp features an ear even more striking, exuding a sense of allure. Willow thought he would sleep on the sofa, just like always. Unexpectedly, Julian lifted the covers andy down behind her. She tried to push him away, but he wrapped his arms around her tightly, forcing her to settle obediently inside his embrace. Night fell, and the world around them was quiet. For Willow, her world was frighteningly silent. In Brindley, snowkes began to drift down in the night, but she didn¡¯t know that. She was trapped in Julian¡¯s carefully constructed greenhouse¨Cin a world that only had him. She couldn¡¯t hear, and he couldn¡¯t understand her thoughts. Even in a tight embrace, they felt miles apart But Julian didn¡¯t know that. He just held her tightly. For a brief moment, he had the illusion that they were still living in Grandview Manor. Willow still loved him, and they were still husband and wife. The next morning, he would wake Willow up and make passionate love to her. Once they were done, she would be too tired to go to work. He leaned on his side, teasing her about her poor stamina while greedily wanting her one more time. Later, he had to carry her to the bathroom to help her wash up. At Neb Group¡¯s morning meeting, Julian would deliberately call her ¡°Ms. Harper¡°. Back then, she wasn¡¯t yet the vice CEO of Neb Group. They relied on each other, and their newlywed life was fresh and exciting. There was a time when they were truly happy, but he hadn¡¯t cherished it. Julian lowered his head and gently kissed the back of Willow¡¯s ears right where her warm pulse beat. However, she would never respond to him again. She would never wrap her arms around his neck and softly call out his name again. Willow might never hear again, yet he hadn¡¯t even told her the words ¡°I love you¡°. ¡°Willow, I love you.¡± When he said that, tears rolled down his cheeks. He said it over and over again, but Willow couldn¡¯t hear him. His Willow couldn¡¯t hear a thing. She justy there quietly, only aware of something warm trailing down her neck, making it ufortable. Later, her fingers were tightly inteced with his. Julian held her hand tightly, lowering his head to kiss her almost frantically. As he kissed her, he kept calling out her name.¡® Willow, Willow, Willow!¡± 11 The two young bodies clung to each other in a hopeless embrace. He breathed shakily against her neck, his voice on the verge of breaking. ¡°Willow, talk to me, will you? I don¡¯t care if it isn¡¯t clear. As long as you¡¯re willing to talk to me, just one word, one word would do.¡± Willow looked up at the endless darkness, her eyes glistening with tears. She couldn¡¯t hear, and her world was terrifyingly silent. Willow wasn¡¯t happy. Even though Julian tried his best to please her, she wasn¡¯t happy. The next morning, the garden was nketed with ayer of white snow. When the wind blew, it shook the branches of the pine trees, causing the snow to fall. In the sunroom on the first floor, Willow leaned back against the soft chair, watching the snowy scenery outside through the ss. There wasn¡¯t the slightest trace of joy on her face. Julian considerately draped a small nket over her and said, ¡°Be careful not to catch a cold.¡± Willow just continued staring silently at the scenery outside. Suddenly, she reached for Julian¡¯s hand and began writing in his palm. In that instant, Julian was overjoyed. Finally, Willow was willing tomunicate with him. T20 BONUS But the very next second, his smile froze. Because what Willow wrote was, ¡°Let me go.¡± Julian¡¯srge hand wrapped around hers. He smiled gently and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go make dinner for you in a bit.¡± Willow read his lips and guessed what he had just said. She felt disappointed, so she stared at him for a long time without speaking. She remained quiet, not willing to make even the faintest sound. She forced herself to eat for the sake of the child in her womb. She endured Julian¡¯spany, but she couldn¡¯t control her physical reactions. She was over three months pregnant, well past the early days of morning sickness. However, after every meal, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from running to the bathroom. She would retch until tears blurred her vision, and her body was left utterly drained. Julian crouched down, wanting to pick her up, but she pped his hand away. She looked up at him, and for the first time, she was willing to make a sound. But after being deaf and silent for so long, the words that came out of her mouth were unclear. Julian stared at her nkly, the color draining from his face. In that moment, his entire world crumbled. When Willow tried to speak, her words were broken and unrecognizable. He was so stunned that he couldn¡¯t ept it. He couldn¡¯t ept that his Willow had be like this. Slowly, Julian knelt before her, his hands trembling as he reached out to caress her face. Tears welled up in Willow¡¯s eyes. Her lips trembled as she tried to express her thoughts word by word. ¡°I¡­ want¡­ Grand¡­ma¡­ Snowy¡­¡± Altar 187 The night was quiet and serene. Julian stood alone in his study, staring out at the endless snow outside. His mind kept reying the scene of Willow¡¯s distorted speech, as well as her tear¨Cstreaked face that was filled with despair. Willow herself must¡¯ve found it unbearable! Julian looked at the night sky, his gaze unreadable. He realized that he seemed to never have truly made Willow happy. All he ever did was hurt her, disappoint her, and make her cry. This wasn¡¯t how loving someone was supposed to be. The next morning, Julian didn¡¯t appear in her room. Willow washed up on her own. Even if she barely had an appetite, she still walked out to find something to eat for the sake of the baby she carried. As she opened the bedroom door, she froze. Grace was standing outside the door, holding a basket in one hand and Snowy in the other. She stared at Willow with her gentle, loving eyes. Willow stood there in a daze before her lips trembled. In a broken, trembling voice, she called out, ¡°Grand¡­ma¡­¡± Grace understood her words. She walked into the bedroom, then set Snowy down. With trembling hands, she picked out two of the biggest hard¨Cboiled eggs from the basket, stuffing them into Willow¡¯s hands. Grace said, ¡°You loved these the most when you were little. They have kept you healthy and strong. Everything¡¯s fine at home. Your parents miss you and are worried about you.¡± Willow couldn¡¯t hear Grace¡¯s words. Her world remained silent, but she could understand what she was saying. With tears in her eyes, she slowly peeled the egg and put it in her mouth, savoring it bit by bit. Grace kept wiping the tears off her face, mumbling words Willow couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Early this morning, he sent someone to pick me up. ¡°I was in such a rush that I didn¡¯t have the time to cook more eggs for you. I even had to sneak the dog out for you.¡± Willow couldn¡¯t hear, but every time Grace spoke, she just gave a faint smile. Grace had always been a strong, resilient woman. But now, her heart ached more than ever. Her precious Willow had suffered too much. Grace didn¡¯t want to cry in front of Willow, afraid of making Willow feel worse. After their brief reunion, Grace led Willow downstairs, cooking a few simple dishes herself in the kitchen. For the first time in a while, Willow ate heartily. She didn¡¯t even rush to the bathroom after the meal. During the day, Grace would cook for her. At night, Grace would bathe Willow just like she did when Willow was a little girl. Grace told Willow that she¡¯d grown into a fine youngdy and was about to be a mother. With Grace around, Willow was getting better. Her cheeks filled out, and her body grew healthier as she put on some weight. But that wasn¡¯t enough. Grace wanted to take Willow away from here. In the study, Julian sat alone, smoking. For an entire week, Grace apanied Willow. Willow put on some weight, and her smile even returned. When she smiled, she was beautiful. The door opened gently, and Grace stepped inside the study. Julian looked up and quickly stubbed out his cigarette. He stood up and greeted her, ¡°Grandma.¡± She didn¡¯t correct him. Grace was a wise woman. She sat down across from Julian on the single¨Cseater sofa. He kindly advised him, ¡°You should cut down on smoking. It¡¯s bad for your health. You¡¯re not even 30 yet. You¡¯re still in your prime.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes grew misty. He pressed the cigarette butt harder into the ashtray and replied, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Grace held a tiny pair of handmade baby shoes. Despite her poor eyesight, Grace insisted on making a pair offortable shoes for the unborn child. As she worked on the shoes, she continued casually chatting. ¡°My Willow has always been like a weed since she was little. No wind could blow her down, and no rain could drown her. ¡°When you two got married, to be honest, I didn¡¯t agree with it. Your worlds were too different. But Willow liked you. ¡°And I thought, since Willow was so capable and lovable, she¡¯d surely earn her husband¡¯s love and her inws¡® respect. ¡°Now she can¡¯t hear, but her heart isn¡¯t blind. You need to let her experience the normal world. If you keep locking her away like this, she¡¯ll surely fall ill. ¡°Will she still be the Willow you love if that happens? As for your rtionship with her, that¡¯s up to fate. It can¡¯t be forced.¡± 212 Altar 188 ¡°Julian, you¡¯re not even 30 yet. You still have plenty of chances to have children of your own. I¡¯m begging you, for the child¡¯s sake, please let her go. ¡°Willow isn¡¯t that weak. She can still write and see. She¡¯ll raise the child to be well¨Cmannered and capable. Just let here home. I promise you¡¯ll still get to see the child.¡± Grace said a lot, and Julian just listened quietly until the very end. He neither agreed nor disagreed. He took the tiny pair of shoes from Grace¡¯s hands. They were for London. The shoes were sky blue and adorable. The soles feltfortable to touch. Grace showed a kind smile and said, ¡°I know you care about Willow. If it¡¯s meant to be, life will find a way to bring you back together. Otherwise, when you have another child someday, I¡¯ll sew them a pair of shoes too.¡± Julian choked up. ¡°Grandma.¡± Grace reached out and patted his arm gently. ¡°I know you¡¯re a good boy. Just send her back the way you brought her into the Ziegler residence back then. Her parents are waiting for her at home.¡± Julian tilted his head back, covering his eyes with his arms. After a long time, he spoke softly, ¡°Even if Willow never forgives me for the rest of her life, I won¡¯t marry anyone else. I¡¯ll raise this child with her.¡± Grace sighed quietly. Julian wasn¡¯t even 30 yet. How could he possibly stay single forever? That night, Julian stepped into the bedroom. Inside, there was a faint, milky scent lingering in the air, which resembled the smell of babies. He sat on the edge of the bed, his heart softening. Even though he knew Willow couldn¡¯t hear him, he still spoke softly. With the tiny pair of shoes in his hand, he said in a low voice. ¡°Grandma made these for Landon. Her needlework is amazing. When you were little, did you wear shoes made when you were running through the streets? ¡°Willow, did you suffer a lot growing up? Grandma said I should let you go, and you¡¯ll live a good life. ¡°But I¡¯m terrified that the moment I let you go, you¡¯ll fly away from me.¡± Julian slowly pulled her into his arms. r, too, Her body was soft, fitting perfectly against his chest. He moved his hand to rest on her belly, gently touching where their child was. He knew that she was awake, but she just didn¡¯t want to respond to him. But that was okay. Soon, she would be free. From now on, he would care for her and the child discreetly. He would not force her to do anything she disliked. Suddenly, his palm moved ever so slightly. Something tiny stirred beneath it. Julian froze for a moment before a rush of joy surged through him 324 It was Landon. Their baby had just kicked for the first time. Their child could move now. He couldn¡¯t wait to tell Willow. She couldn¡¯t hear him, but she could feel it too. She looked down at the gentle movement in her belly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears in the darkness. Julian knelt beside her, raising his head to gaze at her. Then, he lowered his head and kissed Landon through her belly. ¡°Landon, I¡¯m your daddy!¡± Julian held Willow¡¯s hand, shaping words with his lips. ¡°Landon just moved.¡± Willow didn¡¯t respond. Julian pulled her hand closer gently, tracing a few words into her palm slowly. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Her lips trembled slightly, and tears spilled uncontrobly from the corners of her eyes. Julian wiped her tears away, only for his to fall quietly. He just smiled and gently caressed her belly. He whispered, ¡°Willow, I¡¯m sorry. I hope you¡¯ll be happy.¡± Altar 189 The snow in Brindley had finally melted. That morning, a convoy of a dozen ck cars escorted Willow and Grace back to the Chapman residence. Years ago, this was how Julian had married Willow. And today, this was how he was sending Willow home, just like how Grace had insisted. No matter how it ended, he and Willow married each other legally The polished ck cars entered the Chapman residence one after another and slowly came to a stop. Inside the dimly lit car, Julian turned his head to look at Willow. He didn¡¯t say a word, but simply reached out to gently ce his hand on her stomach, feeling the child inside of her. After a while, he grabbed her hand and held it gently. No matter how reluctant he was to let go, he had to. He had promised Grace to set Willow free. Grace had brought Willow home. Timothy and Heather had been waiting outside for a while. When Willow stepped out of the car, Heather, with tears brimming in her eyes, pulled Willow into a tight embrace. She reached out a hand to hold Grace¡¯s hand as her voice choked up. ¡°Madam Harper, thank you so much.¡± Grace held her basket and let out a cheerful smile. ¡°I¡¯ve raised Willow myself since she was a little girl.¡± Heather ran her hands over Willow, making sure she was unharmed. But the moment she remembered Willow couldn¡¯t hear her, sorrow overwhelmed her once again. Julian just stood quietly nearby, watching as Willow was helped into the house by the Chapmans. He didn¡¯t follow her in. He simply stood there, watching her disappear into the world she belonged to. Out of nowhere, Caleb stormed toward Julian and swung a fist straight at Julian¡¯s face. ¡°You bastard! Why did you leave Padstow that night? Even if things turned out the same, it wouldn¡¯t have been the same. Do you get that?¡± Julian took the punch head¨Con. He stumbled a few steps backward, and cold sweat beaded across his forehead. Still, he forced himself to stay standing. He gazed at Willow with a faint smile and mouthed to her, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Willow just stared at him quietly. The sun was dazzling, reflecting off the ceramic tiles of the vi¡¯s rooftop, scattering bright lights that blurred their faces. Julian took a step forward, wanting to see her more clearly, but Willow had already turned around and walked into the vi. Caleb blocked his way, swinging his fist and baring his teeth in warning. All Julian could do was let out a bitter smile. Back inside the house, Heather held Willow¡¯s shoulders and checked her over and over again. Caleb crouched down before Willow. He had always been a troublemaker, always iming that he would marry Willow as a joke. But now that Willow couldn¡¯t hear, his heart ached. ¡°I was only gone for a few days. How did things end up this way? It¡¯s my fault!¡± +25 BONUS Riddled with guilt, Caleb pounded his own head in frustration. Willow quickly grabbed his hand and pulled it away. She shook her head and smiled at him faintly. Caleb lifted his head and said in a rough voice. ¡°I¡¯ll study hard from now on. I¡¯ll also help around here so you won¡¯t have to worry anymore.¡± Since Willow couldn¡¯t hear, he wrote it down on a piece of paper for her. Willow smiled softly. Willow felt grateful that after losing her hearing, she had Grace, her parents, and a loyal follower by her side. That afternoon, Julian returned to the Ziegler residence. Outside the study, Mnie covered her mouth, sobbing quietly. ¡°When the child is born, does that mean he won¡¯t be living with us?¡± Julian smiled faintly. ¡°Willow will take care of the child, but he¡¯s still my child.¡± Mnie broke down in tears. Inside the study, Liam¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°She will carry the baby for nine months. After going through all that pain, why do you think she¡¯ll let you raise the child? ¡°It¡¯s not like she can¡¯t raise the child. From what I see, Willow¡¯s grandmother did a really good job raising her, turning her into someone outstanding, with all the right values.¡± Altar 190 Mnie didn¡¯t dare say another word. She simply gestured for Julian to go in. Julian stepped into the study. Tyler stood before Dominic¡¯s portrait on the wall and said, ¡°Light these candles for your Grandpa, may his soul rest in peace. ¡°Let¡¯s hope he watches over Willow, for her to hear again, and for the safe birth of the child.¡± Julian took the candles and lit them up respectfully. When Liam saw Julian¡¯s expression, as well as the obvious bruises on his face, his heart ached. He patted Julian¡¯s shoulder lightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s normal for you to make mistakes when you¡¯re young. ¡°Just make sure you don¡¯t repeat them in the future. Willow may be raising the child, but you have to take responsibility. If you want to be with another woman, at least wait until the child is three.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t remarry,¡± Julian said calmly. Liam hesitated, wanting to say more, but in the end, he said nothing. Willow¡¯s child was destined to be outstanding, in both character and appearance. If Julian never remarried, then Willow¡¯s child could still inherit the Ziegler family legacy. Julian had been away for days, causing manypany matters to pile up. After a meal, he had to rush back to thepany. Noah held a ck umbre for him as they walked, murmuring. ¡°This weather is so unpredictable. It just rains and winds whenever it pleases. ¡°It¡¯s getting cold, so you should take care of your health.¡± Julian smiled faintly and was about to open the car door when he heard a soft voice behind him. ¡°Julian.¡± He froze for a moment before turning around. Alicia was standing quietly in the drizzle, holding an umbre. Beside her was a flustered housekeeper. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, Ms. Burke insisted on seeing you. She¡¯s not well, so I was worried something might happen.¡± Julian let go of the car door. He stared at Alicia quietly. After a long while, he finally spoke. ¡°Alicia, stoping over. We¡¯re done.¡± Alicia blinked. ¡°Now that she¡¯s ignoring you, you don¡¯t want me either? We could go back to how we were in the past, back to when it was just the two of us.¡± Julian paused for a moment before replying, ¡°Alicia, love isn¡¯t about choosing between two options.¡± Without lingering, he got into the car and drove away. The ck Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom passed by Alicia¡¯s side, sshing up a small puddle of water. The days that followed were remarkably peaceful. Willow couldn¡¯t work, but Insight was being handled by Annie. As for Caleb, he was learning quickly, growing at an impressive pace. Even Braxton himself had thought of calling Willow to thank her, but when he recalled she couldn¡¯t hear him, he didn¡¯t know what to do. In the span of a month, Willow only saw Julian once, which was during her prenatal checkup. That day, Heather was apanying her, but Julian had arrived early, waiting outside the clinic. Seeing them approach, Julian simply nodded as a greeting but didn¡¯t follow them inside. Half an hourter, Willow emerged from the consultation room. Julian, who had been leaning against the wall, immediately straightened up and asked gently, ¡°How¡¯s the baby?¡± He gestured as he spoke, using standard signnguage. Willow understood and opened her handbag, pulling out an ultrasound for him. Julian took it, studying the tiny figure on the ultrasound printout. It was so small, yet he could tell it was Landon. A gentle expression appeared on Julian¡¯s face. That was Landon, his and Willow¡¯s child. ¡°Grow strong, Landon! Your great¨Cgrandmother made you a pair of shoes by hand!¡± After that, he reluctantly returned it to Willow and then escorted them to the car. He didn¡¯t try to pester her. Heather just watched from the side quietly. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that Julian¡® seemed to have really let go of Willow. Altar 191 Neb Group¡¯s year¨Cend banquet was scheduled for thest weekend of the year. At 2:00 pm, in Neb Group¡¯s CEO¡¯s office, Julian sat behind his desk, flipping through documents. Dressed in a white shirt and ck tailored pants, he looked striking. Despite everything that had happened this year, Nebu¡¯a Group¡¯s profits had risen by 15%, which was an impressive feat. Esther knocked before stepping inside the office, holding a stack of documents for his signature. Once everything was signed, she asked, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, the PR department is waiting for you to decide on the official photo.¡± In the past, it had always been a photo of both Julian and Willow. Even if their rtionship was strained behind closed doors, they were still undeniably photogenic. But sincest year, Julian had been appearing alone. Hearing that, Julian lifted his head to look at Esther, lost in thought. After a while, he pulled out his phone and selected a photo. ¡°Use this one. As for the caption¡­¡± Esther leaned over to take a look and smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s adorable. This was probably the most romantic thing Julian had done! Esther left with the photo and headed straight for the PR department. Half an hourter, Neb Group¡¯s official ount posted their new PR photo. It was a tiny pair of blue shoes with the caption, ¡°Landon¡°. Instantly, the entirety of Neb Group erupted. Everyone knew Julian was going to be a father, and the mother of his child could only be Willow. Within ten minutes, thousands ofments flooded in, all congratting Julian. Inside the office, Julian held the phone in one hand and gently stroked the photo with the other. He was quietly wondering if Willow would still visit Neb Group¡¯s website and see thepany news. He paced back and forth but ultimately didn¡¯t: I send her a message. At 4:00 pm, Esther knocked again, reminding him that it was time to leave for the hotel to attend the banque put on his tailored suit jacket and grabbed his ck cashmere coat before leaving. earsal. Julian As the car passed by Brindley za, Julian lowered the window from the backseat to look at the scenery, only to spot Willow there. She was sitting on a bench, gazing up at the Ferris wheel. Even from the distance, Julian could see the light in her eyes. The pregnancy had softened her entire being. ¡°Stop the car,¡± Julian ordered. Once the car came to a stop, he stepped out of the backseat Esther stayed behind in the car. Julian quickly walked over and crouched in front of Willow with his tall frame. Then, he gently grabbed her hand. Willow lowered her gaze, only then realizing his presence. Julian noticed her hands were cold, so he draped his coat over her shoulders and rubbed her hands to warm them. Then, he traced a few words in her palm. ¡°Where¡¯s Caleb?¡± He knew Caleb had been apanying her everywheretely. Willow nced at him and noticed his perfectly put¨Ctogether look She guessed he was on his way to thepany¡¯s year¨Cend banquet. She turned her head slightly. Julian followed her line of sight and saw Caleb queuing up at a cafe. His hulking figure stood out like a sore thumb in the crowd. 1 Julian felt a pang of jealousy but said nothing. For the past week, Willow had been staying at Grace¡¯s home in the southern suburbs. Julian wrote another line on her palm. ¡°The banquet ends around 8:00 pm. I¡¯ll head over to the southern suburbs and bring some supplements for Grandma.¡± Willow shook her head gently. Julian¡¯s expression was soft as he lightly brushed her baby bump, wanting to take a look at it. Willow couldn¡¯t speak, so these days, they didn¡¯t even argue anymore. Julian rarely appeared. asionally, he¡¯d send her a message or two, but she would often see them the next day. Even when she didn¡¯t reply, he wouldn¡¯t press her. For the past month, he¡¯d hovered between crossing boundaries and maintaining his distance. Willow figured that this was probably how they would spend the rest of their lives. The child was the only connection between them. Julian didn¡¯t feelfortable leaving Willow alone, so he waited until Caleb returned. When Caleb returned, he was holding two cups of tea. The moment he spotted Julian in his ck and white suit, crouching before Willow, he couldn¡¯t help but be furious at how good Julian looked. Caleb handed a warm cup of tea to Willow, gently removing the lid for her. Then, he removed the lid on his own cup with unnecessary force, ring at the hypocrite in front of him. When he saw Julian touching Willow¡¯s baby bump, he became jealous. Even if Julian was the father, it didn¡¯t mean he could do anything! Julian didn¡¯t care about it. He just stood up and smiled. ¡°Make sure she gets home early. It¡¯s getting cold.¡± Caleb couldn¡¯t help but refute, ¡°I know how to take care of her better than you do.¡± Julian merely smiled. He got up, ready to leave. The setting sun cast its glow over him and enveloped Willow. He couldn¡¯t help but lightly brush her hair. He whispered, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Julian didn¡¯t know then that this parting would be thest time they would meet like this, nor did he expect how much he would have to give, just to return to Willow¡¯s side again. The towering Ferris wheel turned slowly behind them, casting moving shadows. It looked like something out of a dream, as well as a childhood fairytale she had once read. Willow stared at Julian¡¯s retreating figure. For reasons she couldn¡¯t exin, a wave of sorrow rose from deep within her. It felt like a farewell, as if it was thest time they would meet like this. However, just calling out his name felt impossibly difficult for her Her faint smile lingered in the orange glow of the sunset, warm and serene. Caleb still felt jealous. He raised the tea in her hand and said, ¡°Drink up before it gets cold.¡± Then, he muttered under his breath, ¡°Well, he¡¯s not that bad lool Willow just smiled faintly. After a while, Caleb sat beside her. He adjusted the coat draped ov Do not wear another man¡¯s jacket, even if he¡¯s the child¡¯s biologi ¡°How could he post that PR photo with the caption ¡®Landon¡®? It¡¯s The sunset faded, and the dark clouds slowly filled up the sky. Then, he muttered under his breath, ¡°Well, he¡¯s not that bad looking either. He¡¯s very tall, with defined abs and pecs.¡± Willow just smiled faintly. After a while, Caleb sat beside her. He adjusted the coat draped over her shoulders, stillining, ¡°It smells like cigarettes! Do not wear another man¡¯s jacket, even if he¡¯s the child¡¯s biological father. ¡°How could he post that PR photo with the caption ¡®Landon¡®? It¡¯s so cheesy.¡± The sunset faded, and the dark clouds slowly, filled up the sky. Altar 192 Neb Group reserved four floors of the Gloriosa Hotel and had their annual year¨Cend banquet there. However, things were different this year. Tyler, Karen, Liam, and Mnie were all here. Julian was uncharacteristically low¨Cprofile tonight. After he had given the opening speech, he¡¯d basically stepped out of the spotlight. It might¡¯ve been because he was still wearing a wedding band or the photo released by the public rtions department. In any case, nodies flirted with him, even though he was single, which gave him a moment of peace. With that said, Julian still had to socialize with certain people. Various shareholders of Neb Group aimed to marry their daughters into the Ziegler family and elevate their family status. At first, Mnie swapped pleasantries with them, but Liam shot her a lookter. He was hinting to her that Julian and Willow might get back together. So, Julian wasn¡¯t in the market for girlfriends. When they had a private moment, she said softly, ¡°Julian will be 30 years old soon. He can¡¯t afford to wait any longer.¡± Liam red at her again. ¡°Men age like fine wine. The older, the better. You know nothing. Moreover, Willow still has a baby in her belly, and yet you¡¯re already asking Julian to get a new girlfriend. ¡°Did it ever ur to you that you¡¯ll make her feel disheartened? What kind of a grandmother are you? Clueless idiot.¡± Tyler also chimed in and said, ¡°Mnie, I have to say that you didn¡¯t think it through this time.¡± She reacted by being overly coy and apologized to Liam. Ever since Dominic passed away, Liam¡¯s words carried authority in the family. So, she didn¡¯t dare to cross him. The banquet had gone halfway when Julian summoned Esther and softly asked her something. She responded gently, ¡°The driver is waiting for you in the underground parking lot. The stuff you prepared for Madam Harper is in the trunk as well. Everything is in ce now.¡± Julian raised his hand and checked his watch. It was 7:50 pm. Turning to his parents, he said something to them. Then, he delegated some tasks to some top management staff and left with Esther. He was going to swing by the southern suburbs to visit Grace. It was the day before New Year¡¯s Eve, and he wanted to visit Willow. Esther walked next to him and reminded him dutifully. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, watch your steps. Don¡¯t trip and fall.¡± Julian responded nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯ve merely drunk a couple of sses of champagne. I¡¯m fine.¡± Esther grinned. ¡°But you seem to be in a good mood today.¡± Really? As a matter of fact, she seemed to have a point. Julian bumped into Willow today, and he would get to see her againter. Also, he would get to rub Landon through her tummy. As for her ears, she was still not in shape for medicines. Once Landon was born, he would search high and low for tamous modern and traditional treatment doctors. Julian had made it his mission to cure her hearing so she would have no regrets. If he couldn¡¯t do it, he would be her ears for the rest of his life. A hint of tenderness shes across his face. Esther believed that Julian had changed. He wasn¡¯t as unsympathetic as he used to be. Instead, he was stoic, responsible, and protective. Perhaps it was because he had someone he actually loved, and that changed his entire demeanor. In any case, she was happy for him. They chatted casually as they arrived at the car. She opened the door to the backseat and covered the top part of the car with her hand, saying, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, be careful not to bump your head.¡± He was about to step into the car when he heard a tender, female voice from behind him. ¡°Julian.¡± Turning around, he found himself staring at Alicia. She wore thick clothing today, wrapping her scrawny body with a long ck puffer coat, revealing only her red cheeks. When she stared at Julian and his elegant attire, there was longing in her eyes. ¡°Julian, I¡¯m leaving. I want to go back to Grandsburg and spend thest moments of my life there. My dad, mom, and Dr. Andrew will go with me. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t do anything silly again. I¡¯ll spend whatever is left of my life in peace and quiet. I acted willfully and dragged Willow down with mest time, and I¡¯m very sorry for that ¡°Julian, this is goodbye.¡± Alicia¡¯s eyes were misty as she took steps backward, making her way to the exit of the underground parking lot. Julian remained quiet the whole time. This would probably be thest time he saw her. From this point on, she would stay in Grandsburg for the rest of her life. When she eventually died, the only thing that would send her off to the afterlife would be the grand cathedral¡¯s bell. Julian felt a sliver of pity for Alicia. After all, he used to love her when they were young. The listening ck limousine slowly drove out of the underground parking lot. Soon, it was bathed in the neon lights¡® vibrant glows. Alicia was standing underneath a brightly lit spot, cupping her cheeks. She extended her hands, trying to g down cabs. However, it was the night before New Year¡¯s Eve, and none of them were willing to stop for her. The ck limousine pulled over next to her, and the window was lowered, revealing Julian¡¯s dashing face. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a ride. It¡¯s on the way.¡± Alicia felt a surge of joy in her chest and bit her lips. ¡°I appreciate it¡± After she got into the car, she sat timidly across from him and didn¡¯t say anything the whole time. He also acted as if he were trying to avoid suspicion. The ck limousine tore through the streets, looking luxurious and dazzling. Back in the southern suburbs, Grace would make several baked goods to usher in the New Year. Altar 193 Back when Willow was a little girl, she looked forward to the New Year. Grace would let the baked goods cool off in the evening and stash them in the basement, where she kept the cabbages. Now, that ce was basically Grace¡¯s treasure trove. She was traumatized by poverty. So, she would always buy some cabbages at dirt¨Ccheap prices during winter if she could afford it. Every day, she would buy some meat and pair it with spaghetti. That would be a meal for her. She had always picked and cleaned the meat meticulously so that Willow would get the nutrition she needed. Grace spent wisely and saved up whenever she could, and that was how she raised Willow and sent thetter to school. She had never married anyone in her life, but she said that she didn¡¯t have any regrets. After dinner, their maid went back home to spend time with her familly. Grace packed the baked goods away in a white cloth and tied it up before she moved them to the basement, where the cabbages were stored. Initially, none of the houses in the southern suburbs had basements. She was the one who hired someone to secretly dig one out for her. It wasn¡¯t spacious. After she put away the cabbages and baked goods, there was only enough room for a single person. Grace turned around and continued her work meticulously. She even forbade Willow from moving the food and only allowed her to quietly watch from the ssidelines Willow loved watching Grace as thetter worked. She loved the baked goods, and the cabbages smelled wonderful as well. Grace smiled, her eyes narrowing. ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to wolf all of them down. I¡¯ll make you a couple of pulled pork sandwiches tomorrow morning.¡± Willow grinned in response. She couldn¡¯t hear anything, and she had no idea that a ferocious fire was roaring into the sky behind her. The mes were very close to where she stood, and they threatened to set her aze. Grace was startled and immediately grabbed a bup sack, intending to bring Willow with her and charge out of the fire. However, the mes were unusually intense. It quickly extended its fiery clutches toward them. The red, orange mes resembled the evening sun hanging high in the sky. Willow gripped Grace¡¯s arm tightly. She recalled that there was a door at the side of the basement that led to the backyard. They would be safe if she could find it. She couldn¡¯t hear anything at all, and she relied purely on her memories as she felt around and eventually found the doorknob, all while keeping Grace close to her. The doorknob was searing hot, and it almost scalded her hand. However, she needed to save herself and Grace. So, she threw caution to the wind and did everything she could to turn it. However, she just couldn¡¯t open it. Someone had locked it from the outside. The mes spread so menacingly that it looked like it was about to consume them and burn them to a crisp. Tears welled up in Grace¡¯s eyes. The fire was everywhere, and it was inching closer like a terrible beast trying to gobble Willow up. She couldn¡¯t stand the thought of her precious granddaughter dying a fiery death. Willow was not even 30 years old, and she had an adorable baby in her belly. Grace was set to be a great¨Cgrandmother in another six months or so too. Grace was trembling when she took Willow¡¯s hand and led her back to the basement without much trouble. God must have been looking out for them. Then, she hid her in the basement the same way she did when thetter was young. ¡°Stay here with the cabbages, Willow. That way, you¡¯ll grow as tall as they are soon. ¡°After you finish these cabbages, you¡¯ll have be older by another year. ¡°Woah. Are you already going to primary school next year, Willow? ¡°Willow, I¡¯ve saved up this money for your tuition fee. Here¡¯s 820 dors, and there¡¯s some extra for you to buy some milk. I¡¯ll give you another 120 dors each month for it. I¡¯ll give you everything the other kids have too. ¡°There¡¯s an angel watching over you as you grow, Willow.¡± Willow went to the basement first. Extending her arm, she gripped Grace¡¯s hand and intended to pull thetter inside as well. However, a thick cloud of smoke was rushing at them, threatening to overwhelm them. Grace looked at Willow onest time with her weary eyes. She decided that she wouldn¡¯t go into the basement. The thick ck cloud was going to consume them at any given moment. There was simply no time. If she went into the basement as well, she would only end up costing Willow and Landon¡¯s lives as well. Willow looked into Grace¡¯s eyes, and she immediately understood what decision thetter had made. She shook her head violently and climbed up the basement. She would never let her grandma die. Never. ¡°Willow!¡± Grace let out a piercing cry and mmed the basement door shut. Then, she threw herself onto it so no smoke could slip under and suffocate Willow. Grace hadn¡¯t married anyone or had any children of her own in her entire life, but Willow was as good as her daughter. The thick cloud of smoke rushed at her ferociously, but she showed no signs of fear at all. Then, she thought she saw a gilded white carriage manifesting out of the ck smoke, and her dad was sitting on top of it. He was here to wee her to the afterlife. ¡°Willow. My dad¡¯s here to pick me up.¡± She thought to herself. ¡°I¡¯m going to leave with him now. From here on out, you¡¯ll have your own baby to look after, and I know that you¡¯ll never feel lonely again. ¡°You¡¯re tough, Willow. You can survive and thrive anywhere life takes you. Don¡¯t feel sad for me. I spent all my life with you, and that makes it worth living.¡± The edge of the me licked Grace¡¯s flesh before it ruthlessly consumed her whole. Then, a faint, weak voice reverberated in the air. ¡°The sky is bright, and the moon is so high. And precious Willow¡¯s sleep drew nigh.¡± Altar 194 Willow leaned on the stone b, and the sounds got clearer by the second. She could almost hear the sound of the crackling mes as they consumed everything in a frenzy. She almost seemed to hear Grace¡¯s weak voice. Thetter was uttering the same luby that she used to sing when she was putting her to sleep. ¡°The sky is bright, and the moon is so high. And precious Willow¡¯s sleep drew nigh. ¡°The sky is bright, and the moon is so high¡­¡± Eventually, Grace¡¯s voice faded. Willow pushed against the stone b with everything she could. She wanted to get out, but Grace put her weight on it, preventing her froming out. The basement might¡¯ve been cramped, but it gave her a fighting chance at survival. Willow pressed against the stone b with both her hands as blood trickled downward and fell to the floor, drop by drop. She wasn¡¯t sure when it started, but tears were already streaming down her cheeks. Eventually, the sky turned dark. It was like one of the summer evenings, with a hint of coolness and the hum of cicadas. She sang quietly. ¡°The sky is bright, and the moon is so high. And precious Willow¡¯s sleep drew nigh. ¡°Morpheus, will you spare her from your woes? Precious Willow sleeps below. ¡°Soon she¡¯ll rise, into a tall girl will she grow.¡± Willow heard it. She could finally hear it. Leaning against the stone b, she hummed the luby Grace used to sing her when she was a little girl. Meanwhile, an olddy let out blood¨Ccurdling screams over and over above the basement. An hourter, the fire was finally put out. The firefighters discovered Grace at the basement entrance. She was still stiffly blocking the holes in the stone b. Timothy and Heather entered the house as well. The moment she saw Grace, she threw herself at thetter, yelling, ¡°Madam Harper!¡± The me consumed Grace and took her away from the rest of the world. Heather cried so much that she couldn¡¯t even sit upright. Then, she anxiously searched for Willow. Shortly after, they heard a thumping noise from the basement. The firefighters lifted the stone b, finding Willow inside. Her palms were covered in blood, and she had scratches all over her, giving rise to a gruesome sight. Willow pushed everyone out of the way and slowly took steps toward Grace. She lifted the piece of cloth from thetter¡¯s face and carefully brushed the gray hair aside. She didn¡¯t dare to shed tears, fearing that they would drop on Grace¡¯s cheeks. Thest thing she wanted was for her sadness to bind thetter to the mortal world. Willow wiped Grace¡¯s face clean with trembling hands as she kneeled next to thetter. Then, she gently sang the luby that Grace used to sing to her all the time. ¡°The sky is bright, and the moon is so high. And Grandina¡¯s sleep drew nigh. ¡°Morpheus, will you spare her from your woes? My Grandma sleeps below. ¡°Soon she¡¯ll rise, into a new form will she grow.¡± Much time had passed. Willow was still down on her knees, and her body was still bent down as she hugged Grace, who had given her a shot at life. Heather kneeled next to Willow. She med herself for the tragedy. She should never have left Willow and Grace alone at home. Instead, she should have thought of all the possibilities. The door at the rear of the basement was locked. That was proof that someone was after Willow¡¯s life. However, Willow was sure of one thing. Something like this would only happen once. She wouldn¡¯t let it happen again. A white cloth was draped over Grace¡¯s skinny frame. Willow got down on her knees and bowed deeply, saying her farewells to thetter. ¡°Mom, I have to head somewhere now. You need to stay back and look after Grandma.¡± Heather was immediately stunned. Did Willow hear what they said? Before she could ponder it, Willow had walked out of the smoking ruins. It used to be a ce where she and Grace called home, but she was robbed of it now. Someone would pay a heavy price for this. She would make sure of it. Heather shoved Timothy and cried out, ¡°I¡¯m going to stay here, but you have to follow Willow and make sure nothing happens to her.¡± He needed no further prompt and immediately took off after Willow. The night was dark, and a ck limousine was tearing through the streets, heading for Heartwell Hospital. Aliciay on a hospital bed in the VIP ward. The doctors had just narrowly wrestled her from the Grim Reaper¡¯s clutches. Julian was taking her back to the hospital, but she had a sudden asthma attack when she was getting out of his car. He couldn¡¯t have just left her at the side of the road. So, he had no choice but to take her to the nearest hospital, and that took two hours of his time. Now that Alicia was fine, Julian pulled out his phone and checked the time. To his surprise, it was already 10:20 pm. Grace and Willow would have gone to sleep by now. Julian said to the Burkes nonchntly, ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± Charlie and Nancy thanked him, but he responded with the same nonchnce he demonstrated a minute ago, ¡°It¡¯s no problem.¡± Then, Julian stared at Alicia. ¡°Take good care of yourself.¡± She anxiously got out of bed and immediately embraced him. Her voice was trembling when she spoke. ¡°Julian, I know our rtionship has etched itself in your heart. There¡¯s no way you¡¯ve forgotten about it, right?¡± He frowned and was about to push her away when he suddenly looked at the door and got petrified. Willow was standing right there. She wore mourning clothes and was covered in blood. When she walked toward him, her eyes were brimming with iciness. There wasn¡¯t any emotion on her face. She merely raised her hand and pped him in perfect calmness. ¡°I stopped caring about who you love a long time ago, but your youthful love has finally cost me the person closest to me.¡± Willow pped Julian once more. She broke the skin on her palm this time, but she didn¡¯t feel any pain at all. All she knew was that she had lost Grace. Grace was the most important person to her, and she had lost her Willow¡¯s lips trembled. Then, she sprang into action maniacally, intending to skin Julian alive. He did everything he could to pull her into his arms, but he couldn¡¯t subdue her. She had snapped and was overwhelmed by her emotions. Julian¡¯s heart clenched. Did Willow get her hearing back? Was she wearing mourning clothes because Grace had moved on to a better ce? How did this happen? Willow wept and sneered. ¡°Are you thinking about how something like this could¡¯ve happened?¡± Alicia chimed in gently, ¡°Willow, could this have been a misunderstanding?¡± Willow pped Alicia hard and yanked thetter¡¯s hair before mercilessly throwing her to the floor. ¡°It¡¯s one unexpected incident after another. Don¡¯t even try to tell me those were just coincidences either! ¡°There¡¯s the abduction, leukemia, and kidney failure. Then, Leonard just had to rush to Grandsburg, and Catherine died out of nowhere. Lastly, there¡¯s my grandma¡¯s death. ¡°Are you going to tell me that you have nothing to do with all of these? I¡¯m going to look into the bottom of all these. ¡°Alicia, I know you¡¯ve applied for a visa, but I sent someone to make a police report. You won¡¯t get away, and you won¡¯t be able to get back to Grandsburg. If you die, you¡¯re going to die here at Brindley!¡± Julian¡¯s voice was hoarse as he asked, ¡°Do you suspect that Alicia is behind all of those?¡± Willow knew that he wouldn¡¯t believe it. After all, he used to love Alicia when he was younger. He would suspect the entire world before he suspected her. She turned around slowly and faced Julian, asking softly, ¡°Are you feeling heartbroken? If you are, feel free to p me for her sake. I¡¯m standing right here, and I won¡¯t fight back. This is your chance to show your undying loyalty to her.¡± ¡°Willow Harper!¡± She raised her head, suppressing the sorrow in her heart. Tears were streaming down her face as she pped him mercilessly. ¡°Julian Ziegler, from here on out, I want you to stay the hell away from me. I do not want to see you again for the rest of my life, as well as in my afterlife. You¡¯re the person I hate the most!¡± At the next moment, a stream of fresh blood flowed down her feet staining her dress and her calves. Altar 195 Nancy screamed, ¡°It¡¯s blood! She¡¯s having a miscarriage.¡± Julian¡¯s heart clenched. Lowering his head, he saw blood staining Willow¡¯s mourning clothes, giving rise to a frightening sight. He stepped forward, intending to carry her in his arms. ¡°Willow, I¡¯m going to take you to the hospital.¡± However, she wouldn¡¯t have any of it. She didn¡¯t want him anymore. She rejected his very presence. Taking a step back, her face turned pale. ¡°Don¡¯te closer. Julian, it doesn¡¯t matter if the baby is dead or alive. It has nothing to do with you!¡± Willow didn¡¯t stop retreating until Timothy caught her and steadied her. Her feet were trembling uncontrobly, and blood was flowing down her thighs relentlessly. However, she insisted on walking on her own as she slowly left the ce and got away from Julian. Willow held onto the frame of the door underneath the bright light. Her waist ached so much that she couldn¡¯t stand upright. It wasn¡¯t as if she didn¡¯t love her unborn baby, but she had just lost Grace, who had shown her nothing but kindness and love. Willow simply couldn¡¯t take too many things into consideration. At this moment, she was left with nothing but rage and despair. The night darkened. The vivid image of the streak of blood on her legs had shattered Julian¡¯s heart. Willow was sent to the emergency room. Timothy had to carry her in his arms as he took her there. At that moment, she had already lost consciousness. She was hurt and bruised all over, and her palm was injured beyond recognition. The doctor said that it was incredible for a pregnantdy to have held on this far. Timothy was aware of Willow¡¯s intentions. While he waited for her outside, he confirmed the case¡¯s development and made sure that Alicia couldn¡¯t get out of the country for the time being. Once all that was done, he continued to wait. Later, scattered footsteps could be heard from the end of the hallway. It was Julian. ¡°Hi, Timothy,¡± he said softly. A mix of emotions washed over Julian. In fact, he should¡¯ve made his way to Grace¡¯s funeral and paid his respects. However, he couldn¡¯t possibly leave Willow, given the state she was in. He was worried sick about her. Timothy didn¡¯t say anything. He remained standing in the quiet hallway as he pulled out a cigarette and smoked it. He had always been calm, but his eyebrows were knitted tightly now. A breeze swept through, scattering the blue smoke. Julian stood at the door of the operating room and stared at the light above it. He was so anxious that he couldn¡¯t even sit. His mind kept reying the moment when blood flowed down Willow¡¯s legs. Eventually, Timothy finally broke the silence and said, ¡°Willow has suffered too much. I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll be able to keep the baby.¡± His fingers trembled. Suppressing his emotions, he recounted the tragedy at the southern suburbs in front of Julian. Then, he said, ¡°Madam Harper died a horrible death because she wanted to save Willow. ¡°What are the odds, Julian? Although the culprit has yet to be found, the whole thing is not what it seemed. The vi¡¯s front and back gates were locked. This is definitely not a freak ident.¡± Julian responded in a hoarse voice, ¡°I¡¯m aware of that. I¡¯ll look into it.¡± Timothy stared at him intensely. ¡°What if your childhood friend has something to do with it? How will you handle it then?¡± Julian responded softly, ¡°If Alicia did this, I will give Willow an exnation.¡± Timothy leaned on the wall and fell silent for a brief moment. Then, he said, ¡°No matter what the truth is, it¡¯s over between you and Willow.¡± As a matter of fact, Julian knew deep down that she would never forgive him for this. It didn¡¯t matter if Alicia was the one who did it. He waited in front of the operating room door and kept his head raised as he stared at the light above it. Half an hourter, Liam and Mnie got the news and hurried over. The moment Liam saw Julian, he immediately shouted, ¡± You jerk!¡± Mnie also said with misty eyes, ¡°You were supposed to have a baby, Julian. This wouldn¡¯t have happened if you hadn¡¯t made a detour and had gone straight to the southern suburbs instead. ¡°I know that Alicia is important to you, but she¡¯s nothingpared to your baby!¡± s. No amount of reprimands would fix the hot mess they were in now. All Julian wanted at that moment was for God to show him some mercy. He was willing to pay any price as long as it meant his baby was safe. The night darkened. Timothy received several phone calls throughout the night, and they were all from Heather. They discussed Grace¡¯s funeral and talked about Willow¡¯s situation. She felt heartbroken over what happened to Willow, but she had to stay by Grace¡¯s side. The old woman had suffered a horrible death. She shouldn¡¯t be left alone right now. Laura kept an open mind. Even though it was the middle of the night, she was willing to hold a funeral at the Chapman residence. Heather wore mourning clothes and kept praying to the heavens. She even kneeled in front of Grace¡¯s casket and cried her eyes out. The night was as dark as it was long. Back in the hospital, the operating room light finally turned off at 2:30 am. The doctor walked out and shook his head at Timothy. Julian¡¯s face immediately turned pale. Was Landon lost to him? It was true. He and Willow had lost the baby. Just this afternoon, he was thrilled that he had a son and even looked at the shoes Grace made for Landon. In the blink of an eye, they had lost both Grace and Landon. Julian¡¯s expression had never been this ashen in his entire life. At the next moment, the operating room door swung open, and Willow was wheeled out on a hospital bed. Her face was devoid of color, and her eyes were shut tightly. She seemed to know that Julian was here. When they wheeled past him, she asked the nurses to stop. The night was eerie and unsettling. Willow slowly opened her eyes, which looked as lifeless as a corpses. Staring at him, she said softly, ¡°I¡¯ve lost the baby. ¡°Julian, without the baby, there¡¯s nothing that connects us anymore.¡± Altar 196 Willow had suffered a miscarriage, but she hurried back to Grace¡¯s funeral without getting any rest. When she got there, she still wore her mourning clothes and kneeled next to thetter¡¯s casket as she burned some of the letters she had handwritten to Grace. A breeze swept through, lifting the burned remains of the letters and scattering them to the wind in the dark. Willow lowered her gaze as tears dropped one after another. ¡°Grandma, I hope you know how much I miss you. Be happy wherever you are now. I will write you a letter on every big day.¡± The funeral banner pped in the wind, its loud snaps reminding her of the sound the axe made when Grace used to chop wood. ¡°Willow, dinner will be served in another two hours. The spaghetti is going to taste absolutely divine this year.¡± Willow¡¯s heart ached so much that she couldn¡¯t breathe. She could no longer hear Grace¡¯s voice. Raising her head, she looked at the dark sky and screamed thetter¡¯s name at the top of her lungs. Be that as it may, it wasn¡¯t going to bring Grace back. Her appearance and smile were sealed in a ck¨Cand¨Cwhite picture for eternity. She would also continue to live on in Willow¡¯s memories. Timothy and Heather did everything they could for Grace¡¯s funeral. Laura also came all the way to the southern suburbs to attend it. The Chapmans turned away everyone from the Ziegler family, including Liam, Mnie, and even Julian. They were prohibited from taking onest look at Grace. The two families might have been coborative partners, but they had a fallout in the end. Eventually, it was time for them to bury Grace¡¯s body. The sky was dark, and the earth held its breath. The Chapman family¡¯s rtives and friends made their way here to pay their respects to Grace. She had always been cheerful, and she came from the south too. So, Timothy made a point to buy a batch of potenti and nted them around Grace¡¯s grave. The bed of potentis looked tender, gentle, and beautiful. As they swayed gently with the wind, they soothed the living¡¯s grieving hearts. Willow plucked a pink flower off and ced it in front of Grace¡¯s tombstone. She forced a faint grin and said, ¡°Grandma, look after yourself, wherever you are now.¡± A ck car was parked outside the cemetery. Julian wasn¡¯t allowed to go inside. So, he watched from afar as Willow wore ck attire and wept in front of the tombstone. She was much skinnier, and the ck coat hung off her small frame. He stared at her belly, and his eyes gradually darkened. He also burned a handwritten letter for Grace at the side of the road. The wind was strong and lifted up the ashes, obscuring his eyes. Julian was dressed elegantly, but he kept kneeling at the side of the road. When he burned the letter, he kept clutching onto something. His fingers slowly opened, revealing the half¨Cburned shoes that Grace had made for Landon. Holding the shoes tightly, he leaned forward and hunched in difort. No words could describe the regret and resentment in his heart. If he hadn¡¯t taken Alicia to the hospital that day, Grace and Landon would still be alive. For that matter, Willow wouldn¡¯t have grown this skinny either. However, regret wouldn¡¯t change anything. Warm tears streamed down Julian¡¯s cheeks. He was having severe stomach spasms, but he didn¡¯t feel any pain. Behind his neatly trimmed hair, some strands of gray hair were barely visible. Julian¡¯s hair turned gray in no time, and he wasn¡¯t even 30 years old yet. After the funeral, the police came out with a conclusion for the case rather quickly. The arsonist was a young man in his 20s who didn¡¯t have a proper job. However, he killed himself out of pure guilt by jumping into a river. Willow couldn¡¯t ept this oue, and the Chapman family shared her sentiment. The thing was, the culprit was dead, which made the investigation much harder. Fortunately, Alicia was still prohibited from going overseas. Charlie and Nancy used various methods to get her out of the country, but they couldn¡¯t seed. They looked to Julian for help, but he refused to see them. A few more days, and it would have been the New Year. Mnie actually fell ill because she lost her grandson. Her body was searing hot, but she was still calling out to his name gently, ¡°Landon! Oh, Landon. My poor boy.¡± Liam was disheartened when he heard her mutterings. He did something out of character andforted her. ¡°You¡¯ve been dreaming.¡± After she woke up from her dream, her back was covered in sweat. She said with a frightened expression, ¡°Liam, I dreamed that Landon was still with us. He was alive and well in Willow¡¯s belly. It¡¯s just that he couldn¡¯t get any nutrition because she wouldn¡¯t eat anything. ¡°Landon is so skinny and petite that he looked downright pitiful. Liam, we should drop by Willow¡¯s ce and persuade her. He will have a chance to grow up properly if she¡¯s willing to feed herself.¡± Liam felt like someone had stabbed his heart. ¡°It was just a dream. Landon is gone.¡± He missed his grandson too, but destiny had just yed them for a fool. Mnie leaned on Liam¡¯s chest and wailed at the top of her lungs. At that moment, Julian arrived home and coincidentally heard her crying. His face immediately turned pale, and he remained outside for a long time. Eventually, he decided he would leave. It was New Year¡¯s Eve today. The faint but cheerful cracking of fireworks could be heard in the distance. Judging by the joyful sounds, everyone was gearing up for the arrival of a brand new year. Be that as it may, the Ziegler family had just lost Landon, and Mnie had fallen ill as well. They were simply not in the mood to celebrate it. Julian walked in the inpatient building¡¯s hallways and made his way to the outpatient building¡¯s exit. To his surprise, however, he bumped into Willow. She was still in ck attire, and Heather was with her. She was so skinny that her chin was sharp and defined. Julian slowly walked over and stopped next to Willow. He gulped twice before he said gently, ¡°It¡¯s very cold out. Why didn¡¯t you wear thicker clothes? You have just gone through a miscarriage. You have to stay warm.¡± Willow lowered her gaze, trembling slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t need your concern.¡± Then, she left, walking ever so slowly as if she had just recovered from a major condition and had her energy drained away. Heather stood by Willow¡¯s side and remained quiet the whole time. They treated Julian as if he were a stranger, exhibiting no signs of emotion around him. It faithfully reflected what Willow had said that day. Without Landon, they no longer had any connections to each other. After she had walked away, Julian waited for a long time before he whirled around. Looking at her retreating figure, he suddenly called out her name. However, Willow didn¡¯t turn around. Instead, she walked slowly until she disappeared from his sight and his world. The sun outside was dazzling, and there was a stinging feeling in Julian¡¯s eyes. It must have been the sun¡¯s blinding rays, he thought to himself. ?? Altar 197 Willow was very frail. Heather had to hold her arm and help her get into the car. She looked at the ultrasound report in her hand, which showed that she was actually pregnant with two babies. One of them hid behind the other during thest scan, and that was why it avoided detection. Willow was pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. That was right. Her babies were still alive and well, but she had no intention of telling Julian about it. She decided she would move to Yarrowmere when she was done with matters rted to the listing. By all means, she wouldn¡¯t return Brindley anymore. Her babies would grow up in Yarrowmere, and they would take her family name. They would be hers and hers only. Willow stared at the report for a long time. Heather held her hand and said to her gently, ¡°You have to eat more. Both of your kids need nutrition to grow up strong and healthy.¡± She nodded in response. Turning sideways, she looked out the car window. The sun was bright, and Julian was standing far away from her. By the time they met each other again, they were basically strangers to each other. Their marriage had given her nothing but a broken heart and a loss of hearing. However, her ears always rang in the middle of the night. She had made some adjustments, but it didn¡¯t help much. It was evening by the time Julian returned to the Ziegler residence. Dominic had moved on to a better ce, and Mnie had fallen ill. Meanwhile, Liam stayed in the hospital to keep herpany. It was supposed to be a New Year¡¯s Eve dinner, but things were quiet and lonely in the Ziegler family. Tyler, Karen, and Julian were the only ones at the dining table. Of course, there was Noah as well. The dinner ended hastily, and Julian walked back to his private bedroom as the crescent moon shone its gentle rays on the hallway. He missed Willow dearly on forlorn nights like this. However, the thought of her gave rise to regrets. He was once again reminded of the heart¨Cwrenching night. He had been losing sleep recently because he kept dreaming about Grace and Landon. Julian had kept the shoes with him, and he would look at them whenever he missed Landon, fantasizing about a world where histe, unborn baby was still alive. Julian stood on the balcony alone. Pulling out a packet of cigarettes from his jacket pocket, he took one of them out and put it between his lips. He waited for a good while before he finally lowered his head and lit it. Blue smoke rose in the air and blurred his vision. Julian was reminded of New Year¡¯s Evest year. He also gave Willow an amulet here, wishing her peace and happiness. However, the hits just keeping for her. It almost seemed like bad things had kept popping up ever since Alicia had wanted to return to Brindley. Willow had said that Alicia was behind everything that happened. A trace of doubt rose in Julian¡¯s chest. Too many coincidences suggested a deeper intention. The thing was, he had known Alicia for over a decade, and it was hard for him to picture her as someone ruthless. He frowned at the notion. When he was about to dial a number, his phone rang. It was Liam. Liam asked Julian about the situation at home before asking thetter to swing by Heartwell Hospital. He was close to the head of the inpatient department, rk Twain, who prescribed Mnie some medicine that would treat her condition. Heartwell Hospital? Julian was immediately startled, but he agreed to it eventually. After he had hung up, he finished smoking his cigarette and walked downstairs. He stepped into the dark of night and drove to Heartwell Hospital. rk was on the same floor as Alicia. After Julian got the medicine, he was about to leave. As he walked down the stairs, a nurse called out to him. ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Ziegler. The medical bill for Ward 512 is stacking up. Will you be settling it for her?¡± That was where Alicia was staying. Julian had stopped caring about her ever since that tragic day. Esther also wasn¡¯t convinced anymore. It had only been a few days, and she couldn¡¯t pay her medical bills already. The whole thing was preposterous to Julian. Perhaps that was just how destiny worked. He felt a mysterious force leading him to Ward 512. He arrived at the ward alone and found the door slightly ajar, which meant that someone was probably in there. He opened the door gently, only to be stunned by what he saw¨Ca sexually charged scene. Thedy¡¯s dark hair was damp with sweat, and her feet twitched in pleasure. Meanwhile, the man was panting heavily as she moaned and begged for him to be gentler. Every movement they made spoke of immersion and passion. Alicia and Andrew¡¯s figures were entangled most sensually. Julian watched quietly. He was perfectly calm, but he seemed to be experiencing some kind of turmoil as well. He wasn¡¯t some naive, clueless young man. In fact, he could tell that they had probably been sleeping with each other countless times before. Just how long had Alicia and Andrew been doing this? Was it a year, two years, or nine years? Julian had been taking flights to Grandsburg and staying by her side during the hemodialysis every month. Had Andrew always regarded him as some sort of idiot? Alicia was no longer the pure¨Chearted youngdy he used to know. Instead, she was a promiscuous young woman who indulged herself in the pleasures of the flesh. How absurd. In fact, Julian didn¡¯t even know it when he was deceived. He hadn¡¯t had the courage to suspect Alicia to this day, even if Grace and Landon had died. However, reality had really shown him. He actually wronged and harmed Willow over and over for a contemptible person like Alicia. Julian didn¡¯t alert the couple in heat. He stood at the door, lit a cigarette, and brought it to his lips. Then, he smoked it leisurely and even rested his gaze on Alicia and Andrew, calmly letting then finish their night of passion. Altar 198 Alicia and Andrew were having hot, passionate moments with each other until she suddenly saw Julian. He was standing by the door and seemed to be looking at her calmly. However, there were some emotions in his eyes that he kept to himself. She could see disdain and revulsion in them, as well as some other emotions that she couldn¡¯t decipher. Alicia frantically pushed Andrew off. She was barely clothed when she got off the bed and ran over to Julian. Then, she begged pitifully, ¡°Julian, this is a misunderstanding. Dr. Gabler drugged me and made me do this.¡± Andrew curled his lips into a mocking grin. He slowly put on his clothes before walking out of the ward. As he brushed past Julian, he chuckled and added, ¡°I¡¯m just one of her many boy toys. Julian didn¡¯t do anything. The only thing he wanted to do now was find out if Alicia was behind the horrifying fire in the southern suburbs. Also, had she been actually ill all these years? His expression was cold and distant. There was no intimacy to be found here. Alicia knew that he was doubting her now, and she giggled. Then, sheughed so hard that tears streamed down her cheeks. She looked at her old me and spoke in a soft, ghostly tone. ¡°Since you¡¯ve seen it, there¡¯s no need to hide anything anymore. That¡¯s right. Like what you saw, I¡¯m no longer the pure- hearted young woman you once knew. ¡°I have boy toys, and I have plenty of them. I enjoy the sensual thrills they give me, and I love the feeling when I¡¯m having sex. ¡°All of these are things that you weren¡¯t willing to give me. All you did was put me on a pedestal like I was some kind of saint. You missed the fact that I was a woman with needs too. ¡°These men loved me and my body, and they were willing to do anything for me. All I had to do was wag my finger, and they would be myp dogs. (1 ¡°The thing is, I wasn¡¯t like this before. Do you want to know who turned me into who I am today? ¡°It¡¯s you, Julian! You¡¯re the biggest hypocrite there ever was. If you didn¡¯t love me and didn¡¯t intend to marry me, then why did you keep looking after me? ¡°You even pretentiously told me that it wasn¡¯t because I wasn¡¯t good enough for you. Instead, it was because you needed a virtuous and supportive wife who could help you secure absolute authority in the Ziegler family. ¡°Is it my fault that I know nothing other than painting? I couldn¡¯t marry myself into your family. So, I had to figure something out for myself. ¡°Yeah, I orchestrated the abduction. I deliberately saved half of the bread and gave it to you. You were supposed to be grateful, change your mind, and agree to marry me. ¡°But I didn¡¯t count on that godforsaken ce to get me leukemia, and I had certainly underestimated just how heartless you could be. ¡°You keep saying that you owed me, but all you did was send me to Grandsburg. Then, you married another woman and slept with her. What¡¯s worse, she¡¯s actually my half sister. What a twist! ¡°Catherine was nothing more than fodder. I hate that she was born in the first ce. If she hadn¡¯t existed, I would¡¯ve been able to hog all the love and resources my parents had. ¡°I was aware that she loved you. So, she volunteered to be my walking blood bank. In fact, I didn¡¯t need her at all, but I couldn¡¯t get enough of the feeling I got when I tortured her. It was fantastic!¡± Julian snarled icily, ¡°You¡¯re a psycho!¡± Aliciaughed maniacally. ¡°Yeah, fam. I became nuts because of you and the way you were in love with someone other than me! ¡°Here I was, thinking that someone as selfish as you would never fall in love with ady. But I was wrong, dead wrong ¡°You were so humble around her, like a pathetic dog, begging for its master to grace it with a nce. You were absolutely despicable! ¡°In fact, I couldn¡¯t stand the look on your pathetic face, so much so that I wanted to kill her, just to see your heart shatter into a million pieces.¡± Julian enunciated, ¡°So, you were behind the ident that night!¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Alicia let out a maniacalugh. She even leaned close to him and whispered as if they were lovers, ¡°Do you think I¡¯d leave behind clues for you to dig up dirt on me? Do you expect me to make it easy for you to put me behind bars? ¡°Julian, you¡¯re the one who made me into what I am today. I would have cut out your heart to see what it was made of if I could. How could you have been so ruthless?¡± He immediately pinched her chin so hard that he nearly crushed it. He mercilessly threw her to the ground andughed. So, that was all there was to it. Julian didn¡¯t want to marry Alicia, and she¡¯did out an intricate n to get back at him. The kidnapping was fake. She used to be a fragile but wonderful woman, but that was just her being a liar. She even got leukemia because of her own foolishness. Meanwhile, he ran here and there for ten long years because of her condition. He even lost his shot at happiness that used to be within his reach. Julian tossed the cigarette butt and put it out with his leather shoes He chuckled nonchntly. ¡°Alicia, that¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. I¡¯m the one who has to give it to you. You disoriented my whole life because of your sudden impulses and your feelings for me. ¡°In the end, you turned it into a love I would never forget just because I didn¡¯t want to marry you.¡± Julian gradually regained hisposure and continued, ¡°The investigation will keep going, and we will use every memory recovery technique on you. ¡°It¡¯s fine if we can¡¯t get to the bottom of the case. I¡¯ll still send you to a mental hospital and keep you there for the rest of your life. You¡¯re going to fit in there just fine, Alicia.¡± Alicia started feeling panicked. She grabbed his sleeves and said tenderly, ¡°Julian, you won¡¯t do that to me, will you?¡± He shook her off roughly and refused to look at her. She was too filthy for his eyes. Shortly after, two men came in, subdued, and handcuffed her. Alicia struggled violently as tears streamed down her face. Looking at Julian¡¯s retreating figure, she cried out for his name. Julian walked into the empty hallway. The ceiling light shone down on him, lighting up his emotionless expression. Still, tears were glistening at the corners of his eyes. He walked farther and farther away, and Alicia¡¯s cries gradually got out of earshot. It turned out that a pointless reason was enough to tear his family apart. Grace and Landon were gone forever, and Willow didn¡¯t want him back anymore. The truth had finallye out, but how was Julian supposed to look Willow in the eye? How was he supposed to face his unborn son? Altar 199 As Julian walked out of the building. He thought he could still hear Alicia¡¯s blood¨Ccurdling, cries in the hallway behind him. However, his surroundings were cerily silent as if there were countless demons lurking in the dark. He didn¡¯t believe in the existence of deities, but he believed that the demons had manifested in greed, before infiltrating his soul. He got where he was today because of the darkness within his heart. anger, and delusion If he hadn¡¯t been so focused on power, he would have known his feelings for Willow much sooner. Then, he wouldn¡¯t have let a woman who loved him deeply suffer for four long years. What was worse, she even ended up losing Grace and Landon The great priest, Seraphion Lumas, once said that those who were fierce and antagonistic would harm the people around them. Happy endings would always remain out of reach. The wind roared in the night, lifting Julian¡¯s hair and chilling him to the bone. The glow from the streetmp stretched his shadow on the street. He sat in the cooling car as he recalled everything that had happened in the past ten years over and over. He had no idea how he would exin all this to Willow. For that matter, he didn¡¯t even know how to process all the information. It was downright absurd. Alicia used to be the apple of Julian¡¯s eye, but it turned out to be a grand deception at the end of the day. Every time he took a flight to Grandsburg and stayed at her side, Willow was crying and suffering. Julian sat there for a long time. He wanted mechanical voice. to ¡°We¡¯re sorry, but the number you have dialed cannot be reached.¡± make a phone call to Willow, but she had blocked him. All he heard was a cold, Julian blinked gently as he stared offi space. He slowly leaned on the steering wheel. Faint sounds of fireworks could be heard from afar. Things were lively over there, but it had nothing to do with him. He only had boundless regret and resentment for thepany. Even if he somehow managed to redeem himself, he would still be burdened with sin. Julian¡¯s phone rang. It was Liam. ¡°Julian, have you gotten the medicine?¡± He responded softly, ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a minute.¡± Liam noticed there was something unusual about Julian. Before he could ask, however, thetter had hung up. About half an hourter, Julian gave the medicine to Mnie, looking lost. He left immediately after. Liam took off after him and asked, ¡°Julian, what¡¯s the matter? You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡± The night grew darker, and Julian looked forlorn. Turning around, he looked at Liam and didn¡¯t speak for a long time. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve wronged Willow terribly.¡± Liam fell silent for a while. When he was about to say something, Julian was already gone. Julian went up the mountain and made his way to Cornerstone. The walls within the chapel were pristine, and there was a stafue of the deity in the heart of the sanctuary, exuding authority and benevolence. Seraphion sat at the chancel, his eyes shut in meditation. It seemed like he was waiting for something Julian walked over to the altar and got down on his knees in front of the deity statue. He pulled out the worn¨Cout shoes from his clothes and raised them before the statue with trembling hands. His voice was soft and shaky as he spoke. ¡°Mr. Lumas, I¡¯d like to perform a prayer for myte unborn child.¡± Seraphion opened his eyes slowly, his gaze as merciful as the deitys as he looked at Julian, who was in grief. The moment he spoke, his voice was booming. ¡°If I asked you to shed your worldly desires, would you do it?¡± Tears streamed down Julian¡¯s cheeks, staining the marble floor of the chapel. He raised his voice and responded, ¡°I will¡± Seraphion remained as calm as the surface of theke and asked again, ¡°What about if I ask you to lower your pride or shatter your very being? What if you can never see the woman you love so deeply? Would you do it?¡± Julian closed his eyes gently and answered as loudly as he did before, ¡°I will.¡± His voice reverberated throughout the sanctuary. The priest was gone, and he was left alone in there, kneeling. He repented and atoned for his sins repeatedly. Julian prayed to the heavens, begging for them to take Landon in if they ever saw him. Altar 200 Julian prayed sincerely to the heavens. Landon wasn¡¯t even born and waspletely innocent. If God wanted to punish anyone, he should be the sole target. He didn¡¯t care if it meant he could nevere back from it or if he would be ripped to a million pieces. All he wanted was for the angels to give Landon a ce to stay in the afterlife, After Julian returned from the chapel, he fell heavily ill, leaving the doctors clueless and powerless to stop it. He didn¡¯t get better until two weekster. It was evening, and the sky was bathed in an orange glow. A glistening ck limousine slowly drove into Radiance Manor. After the car was parked, the driver got out and opened the door for Mnie. She had a delicate food container in her hand that held the mushroom soup she had made. A maid stepped over and said, ¡°Mrs. Ziegler.¡± Mnie passed the food container to the maid and asked as she climbed up the stairs. ¡°Is Julian feeling better? Tell Esther to stop sending documents over for the next few days. He has a bad fever, and he¡¯s in no shape to work. Are the shareholders trying to work him to death?¡± The maid responded timidly, ¡°Esther is on leave today.¡± Mnie felt better after she heard it. The maid knocked on the door for her and tactfully went downstairs, giving Mnie and Julian some space. Julian was in the lounge, wearing ck pants and a gray turtleneck sweater. It might have seemed likefortable and casual wear, but his face was still pale as he sat on the couch and flipped through the documents. Mnie was about to nag him, but her gaze unexpectedly turned to the side, and she saw the shoes. Putting down her stuff, she walked over and picked them up. She couldn¡¯t help but gently touch them. ¡°If only Landon were still with us¡­¡± She trailed off before she continued, ¡°It¡¯s almost been 20 days since he and Madam Harper left us. I¡¯ve been having dreams about him every day, and he¡¯d call me ¡®Grandma¡® every time.¡± Julian poured himself a bowl of soup and had it slowly. After a long time, Mnie put the shoes down and sat next to him. quietly keeping himpany. After a brief moment, she said, ¡°I know you can¡¯t move on from Willow, and I won¡¯t push you to do anything. But you have to look for another wife after a year or so. You¡¯re only 30 years old, and you can¡¯t just remain single forever.¡± Julian looked at the bowl of soup and frowned. ¡°I won¡¯t marry anyone again.¡± Mnie asked, ¡°What about the Ziegler family¡¯s lineage?¡°. He immediately lost his appetite and put down the bowl. Taking a piece of tissue, he wiped his hand and responded, ¡°They¡¯ve still got Dexter. He could give father an heir.¡± Mnie stubbornly said, ¡°Maybe you can think about Natalie. She¡¯s a nicedy. Weren¡¯t you once close to her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any romantic feelings for her.¡± She fell silent for a good while before she said softly, ¡°I know you¡¯re in love with Willow, but she won¡¯t take you back anymore. Actually, I could have epted her if she were willing to get pregnant with your baby. ¡°In fact, I would¡¯ve been fine with it even if you guys decided to adopt a kid. But the fact is that she doesn¡¯t want to get back together with you.¡± Julian didn¡¯t say anything to her. Instead, he picked up the document and continued reading it. Mnie picked up the shoes, held them in her palms, and rubbed them gently. She wanted to lighten the mood a little. So, she told him about a gossip she heard at the hospital. ¡°A few days ago, when I was in the hospital, the nurse let it slip that a pregnantdy was having twins. It sounded like thedy came from an insanely wealthy family. ¡°The thing is, she was almost five months pregnant, and yet it didn¡¯t show. ording to my experience, she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to keep her babies.¡± Julian remained quiet for a while when he heard what she said. Then, he asked, ¡°What experience did you have?¡± Mnie fell silent. She chuckled dryly and said a few more words before she left, leaving him to nk out alone. When Landon was miscarried, Willow was over four months pregnant, and he could kick a little. Altar 201 Chapter 201 At the end of January, Julian received a phone call from 618 Soutne, Brindley, which was where Brindley Asylum was located. Alicia had been interrogated for a month, and she actually remained tight¨Clipped the whole time. However, a certificate of mental illnessnded her in the asylum. Her doctor, Jonathan Crane, was a middle¨Caged man in his 40s. He was tactful and sensible and would immediately inform Julian about hertest developments. They were on the phone now and his voice was deep andposed. ¡°Just moments ago, Ms. Burke had a miscarriage.¡± Julian was sitting on a couch in front of a floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window in his office at Neb Group. With his phone in his hand, he wore an emotionless expression, and his voice was nonchnt when he spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in half an hour.¡± Jonathan nodded. ¡°I know what has to be done. Leave it to me, Mr. Ziegler.¡± Half an hourter, a ck Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom slowly drove into Brindley Asylum. The car door swung open, and a pair of long and lean feet stepped out. It was Julian. Jonathan came over and stayed next to Julian as they went inside. He spoke as they walked. ¡°The bleeding startedst night. Some lunatics were seen riding and hitting her when it happened. It waspletely uneptable. I¡¯m willing to bet this is why she miscarried. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Burke requested that she be sent into a single room, but our asylum doesn¡¯t have many resources, to begin with, and we didn¡¯t have such luxuries for her. So, we had no choice but to make her stay in a room designated for four people.¡± Julian turned sideways and nced at Jonathan, who grinned. They stopped in front of a room as they chatted, and thetter spoke as he opened the door. ¡°Ms. Burke has just undergone surgery. So, she is only semiconscious. Mr. Julian, you will have some private space with her.¡± The moment Julian opened the door, a stench of blood rushed at him. Alicia was lying on top of a narrow bed. Her face was pale, and her clothes were stained with a lot of blood. As sheid her eyes on the man who used to treat her like the most valuable treasure in the world, warm tears slid down her cheeks. She knew that Julian would detest her after the truth was exposed, but she had never thought he would be this ruthless. He surely knew about how miserable her life was in the asylum, and yet he allowed it to happen. Tears kept streaming down Alicia¡¯s cheeks. Extending a bloodstained hand, she tried to hold Julian¡¯s wrist. s, she couldn¡¯t. He merely stood by the door and cast a frigid nce at her. ¡°Julian, I love you and only you. I know what I did wrong. Will you please forgive me? We used to be so close in the past. Set me free from the asylum, and I promise I will never set foot in Brindley ever again.¡± Julian closed the door. Lowering his head, he took a cigarette out, put it between his lips, and lit it. The smell of nicotine drove away the stench of blood. Amidst the faint smoke, Julian swept his eyes across the room before settling his gaze on Alicia. His voice was devoid of emotion as he spoke nonchntly. ¡°Once you¡¯re out of this room, you¡¯ll be sent back to the four¨Cperson room. Everyone locked up in the asylum is certifiably insane, and there¡¯s no telling what they would do. ¡°Oh, let¡¯s not forget that they have mental conditions, which means they are free from legal liability I¡¯ll wager that your time wille to an end within half a year.¡± Alicia trembled all over. ring at Julian, she gnashed her teeth and cried out in a shrill voice, ¡°Julian, that¡¯s ruthless!¡± He pinched her chin and looked at her frigidly. ¡°The prison or the asylum. Make your choice.¡± Shey on a bloodstained bed, panting lightly. Then, sheughed. She wouldn¡¯t make any choices. Never! She¡¯d be dead in either of those ces. Julian would never spare her, but there was a silver lining. He must¡¯ve been living in torment as well. His wife left him, and his unborn child was lost to him. He might as well have burned in the depths of hell. Julian let Alicia go, walked over to the sink, and turned the faucet on. He slowly washed blood off his hands, scrubbing it clean. As he did that, she tilted and fixed her gaze on him. Once he was done and walked toward the door, she started squirming vigorously. She didn¡¯t want him to leave. He couldn¡¯t leave her here! s, Julian didn¡¯t even turn back. He opened the door and exited. A beam of sunlight trickled into the room, radiant and blinding. Alicia found herself staring at his figure vacantly. In her daze, she seemed to hear pigeons pping their wings. At night, Julian drove to the southern suburbs of Brindley. He stood silently next to the river as he ced numerous floatingnterns on its surface. They drifted far away,ing together in the distance as a cluster of dazzling light. Julian remained where he stood and watched, surrounded by darkness and silence. The lights in thenterns went out one by one. He hoped that Grace and Landon would find a resting ce in one of them. He thought to himself, ¡°Landon, remember to hold your grandma¡¯s hand tightly. Don¡¯t let go.¡± Altar 202 It was March, and things were busy at Neb Group. Julian invested all of his time and energy into his work, propelling thepany to new heights. At the end of the month, Julian attended a banquet. He might have lost some weight, but he still looked dazzling in a ssic ck¨Cand¨Cwhite tuxedo. Countless women looking for a husband could barely hold themselves back. He had a ss of champagne in his hand, but he was weighed down by loneliness. He could no longer see the one person he yearned for. Braxton walked over and said with a smile, ¡°Julian, what are you doing here alone? There are plenty ofdies who would love to socialize with you.¡± Julian grinned nonchntly. ¡°Mr. Young, you¡¯re too kind.¡± Braxton saw the look on Julian¡¯s face and knew thetter was uninterested. So, he changed the topic. ¡°Julian, thanks to your rmendation, Caleb looks more mature and manly now. On top of that, he could hold his own most of the time too. I have you to thank for all of this.¡± Julian felt dazed for a moment when Caleb¡¯s name unexpectedly showed up. Thetter was still working for Willow. Julian was in low spirits, but he had years of experience in the world of business, and he had mastered his craft a long time ago. Maintaining a sophisticated expression, he responded, ¡°Caleb owes it to his extraordinary talents as well. I have virtually done nothing. If anything, the person you should thank is my¡­¡± Julian barely stopped himself from saying that Willow was his wife. She had cut him out of her life and swore not to see him anymore. After that tragic, fateful day, they had lost contact with each other. Timothy acted as a bridge ofmunication between them for Alicia¡¯s case. She had blocked him on her phone and returned every supplement he sent her. On top of that, Willow virtually didn¡¯t step out of her ce, and she didn¡¯t show up on business asions. It was like she had disappeared from his world. Julian might¡¯ve been a master of social interactions, but he could no longer bring himself to keep a smile on his face. Eventually, he said to Braxton, ¡°I¡¯m really not doing well. Please excuse me.¡± Braxton hurriedly responded, ¡°Don¡¯t let me keep you.¡± Julian left the banquet. He dismissed Esther and strolled the streets by himself. The sprawling neon lights entuated his loneliness. Never had he thought that he would run into Willow by chance. She wore a loose pink maxi dress with a ck coat draped over her shoulder and a pair of ts on her feet. Her face was visibly pale as Caleb carefully helped her into a car. ¡°Willow,¡± Julian called out to her. He knew he shouldn¡¯t have done that, but he couldn¡¯t control himself. Willow turned around. The wind howled. Julian exuded such sophistication that he was the undisputed embodiment of nobility. She looked at him in silence, not uttering a single word. Julian¡¯s lips parted. He wanted to tell Willow that Alicia was locked up in an asylum and that the investigation for the case was still going strong. Eventually, however, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything, He could get to the bottom of the case, but Grace was lost to them forever, and so was Landon. His rtionship with Willow was gone for good as well. Tears welled up in his eyes. He wanted to take a step forward, but he was held back by nerves and hesitation. Willow remained quiet the entire time. Eventually, she turned around and left without so much as gracing Julian with a faint smile. As she walked past him, he grabbed her hand in the heat of the moment and said, ¡°Willow, I¡¯ve given Landon a¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to say his name. Let me go, Julian!¡± Julian was holding her lean wrist, but he slowly loosened his grip. The lingering warmth made it difficult, but he eventually let her go. Caleb nced at Julian before he opened the car door and led Willow into it. She sat on the backseat, and Julian could see the glistening tears in her eyes through the ajar door. Was she this sad because she saw him? It had been two months since her miscarriage. Why didn¡¯t she regain any weight? Why was she this skinny? Then, the ck limousine slowly drove past Julian. It caught the glow from the neon lights and reflected it on him, entuating the loneliness that was eating him on the inside. The past memories came flooding,pletely overwhelming him. ¡°Willow, do you want my love that badly?¡± ¡°Willow, love is a luxury in the Ziegler family. It is something that would never have, and neither will you!¡± ¡°Willow, I have everything that Jeffrey could possibly offer you. ¡°However, I¡¯m destined to be different from all the others. I hope you will keep me in your mind forever. The wind carries my scent in its soft embrace tonight. Sorrow and tears aren¡¯t the only things I have brought into your life. I hope you¡¯ll remember that.¡± ¡°Willow, I will now let you live your life. You can have it back.¡± The past was carried away by the wind. Breathing wasn¡¯t supposed to be painful, but it was for him. Julian grinned ever so faintly and fell into deep thought. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll let you live your life. ¡°You are free.¡± Altar 203 It was spacious in the limousine. Caleb wore a suit, and he was kneeling in front of Willow. After a brief moment, he said gently, ¡°Be my wife. I¡¯ll look after you and your babies. I¡¯ll work hard so you won¡¯t have to worry about money.¡± Willow didn¡¯t ept his proposal. Rubbing his head fondly, she said, ¡°Caleb, there is a scar on my heart. People like me can never bring happiness to anyone, and I want you to be happy. To me, you are¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a young, naive man anymore!¡± Caleb shouted in a gruff voice. He grabbed her hand and made her fondle his bulging abs. Then, he wanted to guide it downward. However, Willow shook his hand away before she rubbed his head in silence again. He became anxious and said, ¡°I turned into him for your sake, but you still don¡¯t love me. Tell me what I did wrong, and I¡¯ll change again. Alright?¡± She shook her head in response. Looking at the man who was fiercely loyal to her, she said gently, ¡°Caleb, you¡¯re you. You¡¯re not somebody else. ¡°Compared to your love, your service is more important to me. I need you to protect Insight. Also, I want to see you grow into the man I know you can be.¡± Deep down, Caleb was actually a masochist. He derived gratification from what she said, even if he put on a sulky expression. ¡°And you¡¯ll have my service. I will do everything I can to make your gallery go listed. If I¡¯m not sure about something, I will ask you or Jeffrey. ¡°However, I have to be the first man in your mind if you ever want to find a husband for yourself. Jeffrey has a wife. So, he is out of the picture. You cannot consider him anymore.¡± Willow was both exasperated and amused. What was Caleb talking about? With that said, she couldn¡¯t help but giggle. Caleb said, ¡°That¡¯s more like it. You look marvelous when you smile. You shouldn¡¯t wallow in dejection. It gives the impression that you can¡¯t move on from him, and that¡¯s infuriating to see.¡± Willow felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She rubbed his head and said, ¡°Gotcha.¡± A weekter, Insight went listed. Willow was six months along. Her belly would¡¯ve been bulging out if she hadn¡¯t been hurt that badly. Now, it was barely showing. Once she put on a loose dress, it would be practically unnoticeable. She would ring the bell in public today, but this would be thest time she showed herself in the open. She would take a flight to Yarrowmere in the afternoon and stay there for good. Annie opened the door to the lounge. She stared for a long time before she spoke up softly, ¡°Ms. Harper, it¡¯s time.¡± Willow checked her appearance for thest time before she followed Annie out of the lounge. The venue was bustling with people. People of high society in the industry got here to show their support, even some of the avid and capable collectors showed up to greet her. Insight was bathed in an incandescent glory. Later, Willow got up on the stage. Jeffrey and Caleb stood by her side. Annie was there too. She had a ss of champagne in her hands, even though she didn¡¯t drink it. One by one, she introduced the people standing with her to the public, announcing the shares they owned in Insight on the day her gallery went listed.. Rosabelle apuded for Jeffrey from the audience. Braxton wore a relieved expression as he looked at Caleb, who had secured massive sess. However, warm tears welled up in Annie¡¯s eyes. She knew that Willow would leave after this. Willow only gave herself 30% of Insight¡¯s share, and she relinquished the authority to run the gallery to Annie and Caleb. As she stood on the stage, she asked everyone to look out for both of them, saying that she considered the duo to be her family. Her eyes were brimming with fondness as she bowed slightly. Perhaps she had hung on for this long because she wanted to give her friends some closure. After all, Willow had always been the same person she used to be. Raising her ss of champagne, she silently bade her friends farewell. She was about to leave on the day of great celebration, but there woulde a day when they saw each other again as long as Insight endured. A round of apuse could be heard from the audience. Julian was here too. He sat among the audience and looked at Willow quietly. There were a lot of people standing with her, and she had treated them with intimacy. They meant a lot to her, but there was a time when Julian was the most important person in her life. In fact, Willow also saw Julian. Their gaze met for the briefest moment before she quickly turned it elsewhere. She couldn¡¯t even be bothered to look at him properly. Julian¡¯s stunning face remained emotionless, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing briefly. Later, the ceremony concluded, and Willow walked off the stage. As fate would have it, she needed to walk past him. Countless eyes were glued onto them at this moment. All of them wanted to see what would happen between the old love Julian was aware that they were at the heart of the attention and that he had every reason to keep himself under control. However, this might be the only chance for him to talk to Willow. So, he raised his head as she walked past him, looked at him, and said softly, ¡°Willow, congrattions.¡± She paused for a second. Then, she walked away without a single word. At the end of the day, they merely brushed past each other, and words were left unspoken in theirst moment together. They were married for four years and had a baby together, and yet things ended between them in the bleakest way possible. Julian remained where he sat for a long time. An unspeakable loneliness could be seen in his striking features. The reporters took pictures of him in this miserable state, but he could care no longer, too weary to cover it up. Five minutester, Esther walked over, hunching herself and speaking in a soft voice. ¡°Everyone¡¯s gone. Mr. Ziegler, we should leave too.¡± Only then did Julian leave. As he got up and walked away, he bumped into someone he knew in the central courtyard. It was Jeffrey and his wife, Rosabelle, and they were whispering to each other. She was pregnant, and she had just told him about it. He had his arm around her waist, and it looked like he was in a joyous mood. Then, she nestled her head on his chest, her face- turning here and there as if she couldn¡¯t have enough of the sensation. It was very clear that she loved and relied on him. Julian stood aside and waspletely engrossed by the sight. He didn¡¯t even hear it when Esther called out to him. He searched his memory and found that Willow was never this intimate with him. They were never this loving and blissful. It wasn¡¯t that Willow didn¡¯t love him or refused to rely on him. For that matter, it wasn¡¯t because she wasn¡¯t young enough to do something like this. In fact, she was only 22 years old when they get married. The faulty with Julian. He never gave her the opportunity to be this way with him. He kept urging her to grow up into the tough, independentdy he wanted her to be. He had shaped Willow into who she was now with his own hands, and yet he wished she would be a little bit more naive and childlike. At the very least, Willow wouldn¡¯t have suffered this much. Their marriage wouldn¡¯t have been haunted with this much sorrow and regret if he hadn¡¯t forced her to grow up. X Altar 204 Chapter 204 Julian stepped into the car. Esther sat on the passenger seat. She turned sideways and said softly, ¡°Thepany¡¯s monthly meeting will be held in half an hour. Mr. Ziegler, here are the materials for your perusal.¡± Julian halfheartedly leafed through it. He felt a little restless. It was like something was going to happen. Putting the document down, he ryed an order to Esther. ¡°Cancel the meeting and make it tomorrow.¡± Esther was immediately stunned. After that, Julian drove alone to Willow¡¯s apartment. For a while now, he would swing by the apartment whenever he couldn¡¯t contain the yearning in his heart. He would spend his time cleaning the ce and making a meal. He would convince himself that she was still with him and that they were still happily married. In his fantasy, she opened the door, surprised him, and said, ¡°Julian, I¡¯m home.¡± How he longed to hear it. However, a word from her felt like a wish too distant for him to grasp. As usual, Julian cleaned up the apartment, reced the vase with some fresh white ca lilies, and had some food ingredients delivered to the doorstep. Peace would onlye to him when he was busy with something. A few minutester, a steady chopping sound echoed from the kitchen. Julian made Willow¡¯s favorite food, ribs. Carefully coating the ribs with flour, he lowered them into the pan with hot oil. Amid the crackling of the frying pan, he thought he heard someone opening the door. His body went stiff at once. Then, he let out a self¨Cderisive chuckle. Willow would nevere here. She ha about this ce. He was the hopeful fool who thought of this ce as their home. bably forgotten Julian went back to frying the ribs. One by one, he lowered them into the pan. Without warning, he turned the gas off and turned around slowly. Willow stood in the living room, still in the same outfit she wore when she rang the bell earlier today. A white floral dress fluttered over her knees, and a ck zer was draped over her shoulder. She had a small suitcase in her hand, and it looked like she was going on a trip. She probably came here because she needed to get an important item. Julian stared at her for a brief moment before he suddenly asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Willo fell silent and said, ¡°Faeria.¡± Then, she headed to the bedroom to get something. The apartment would go up for sale. Aside from some important personal belongings, she intended to leave everything behind. Before long, Willow was done packing her stuff. When she exited the bedroom, Julian was still standing there. He gave her a soulful look with a hint of longing lingering in his eyes. ¡°Share a meal with me. The dish is about to be done.¡± Willow cast a nce at the kitchen, which was filled with warmth and the bustling of everyday life. It was the simple, quiet life she used to yearn for. However, it meant nothing to her right now Turning her gaze to Julian, she said nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯m going to sell this apartment off. You will give your key to Annie and stoping here! ¡°Julian, this isn¡¯t our home. Your home lies in Grandsburg.¡± Willow was done talking and intended to leave. But then, a pair of arms wrapped around her. Julian pulled her close from behind, burying his face against the curve of her neck, his voice trembling. 172 ¡°Don¡¯t go! ¡°Willow, don¡¯t leave me. We¡¯ll give it another shot, and this time I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Willow remained unwavering. Pushing him away, she left without a single word. Julian cried out in a hoarse voice, ¡°Willow!¡± Still, the door mmed shut. Willow had left him without a trace of hesitation. He remained where he stood for a long time before he went back to the kitchen and looked out the window. It was evening, and the sky was bathed in an orange glow. It reminded him of the day he proposed to her. Julian lowered his head and turned the gas on once more. Then, he started cooking as if Willow had never been here, and he didn¡¯t know she was leaving the country in the first ce. He convinced himself that his ignorance would make her stay in Brindley and that he still stood a chance of bumping into her in the city. Once Julian was done cooking, he made two cups of Mendhling coffee. It I was her favorite brand. He settled into the cozy living room with the white ca lily the same way as when Willow was still around. on one side and an ajarptop on the other. Everything was set up From this day on, Julian never saw Willow again. She went to Altar 205 Chapter 205 Julian paid a high price and bought Willow¡¯s apartment. He still dropped by every week as he had always done. He¡¯d make a meal and a cup of coffee. asionally, he would even spend the night here. Tonight, he slept on Willow¡¯s bed. It was raining in spring, and he listened to the steady pitter¨Cpatter outside. One drop after another, rainwater fell on lush branches and leaves. Before long, they were glistening with rainwater. From time to time, Julian would run into Annie at business asions. She had done a marvelous job running Insight. Seeing her was like seeing Willow all over again, and it always took him an eternity to quell the tremors in his heart. The same thing happened at tonight¡¯s banquet. Julian was smoking on the balcony by himself. The door to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling ss was pushed open, and someone stepped through it. It was none other than Annie. He stared at her quietly, and it took him a long time to light the cigarette in his hand. He made it sound casual when he asked, Is she doing welltely?¡± Annie looked at the horizon and responded nonchntly, ¡°She¡¯s doing great. She has a boyfriend now.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. His lean fingers trembled faintly with the cigarette between them. After a while, he asked in the same casual tone, ¡°Is it Caleb?¡± Annie grinned nonchntly. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask, but she was in a rtionship.¡± Julian dropped it. He raised the cigarette, put it between his lips, and took a fierce drag. He had never felt t. and he let it show on his face. It took him a while to finally murmur, ¡°She¡¯s starting over. That¡¯s good.¡± Annie smiled. ¡°I think so too.¡± ejected in his life, Then, she left gracefully, leaving Julian alone. The air was thick with swirling smoke. If loneliness had a scent, this would probably be it. Spring was gone, and summer came. It was the beginning of May, and Julian needed to make a trip to Yarrowmere. Before he left, he returned to the Ziegler residence. He offered a prayer to Dominic and shared a meal with Liam and Mnie. People had left the Ziegler residence one or another, and the ce felt colder and more deste. After the meal, Mnie pondered it before she decided to open the door to Julian¡¯s bedroom. He was packing up his suitcase. After some hesitation, she pulled out some pictures and put them on the coffee table. ¡°These youngdies stood out from the others, and I picked them the way you like it. All of them resembled Willow in some ways. ¡°Your dad and I didn¡¯t want to force you, but you¡¯ve been alone for months. Aside from Esther, you haven¡¯t let anydy get close to you. ¡°We¡¯re really worried about you and how you wallow in your loneliness day after day. Trust me. It¡¯s always better to have someone who cares about you and looks after you.¡± Julian didn¡¯t even cast a nce at the pictures. He responded icily, I will not marry again.¡± Mnie wanted to say something, but she bit her tongue. Eventually, a sigh was all that she could manage, Liam was about to wipe an antique tea set when she went back to their bedroom. He heard the door opening and asked, ¡°What did Julian have to say about it?¡± She sat on the couch, drowned in mncholy. After a long time, she said, ¡°He didn¡¯t even look at the pictures. All he said was that he would never marry again. ¡°Liam, I wasn¡¯t being pushy. I¡¯m just heartbroken. He¡¯s just slightly over 30 years old, and yet he¡¯s already on the path to being single for the rest of his life. ¡°I might not be happy with it, but I would¡¯ve been able to live with it if he were a yboy. But he just has to make himself suffer forever. ¡°Liam, I can¡¯t even imagine what it must feel like to be this way for a lifetime. Julian is only 30 years old, and yet his hair has turned gray.¡± Liam fell silent at first. Then, he walked over, stopped behind Mnie, and gave her a gentle massage on the shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s still got decades ahead of him. Perhaps he might figure it out someday. Also, Julian and Willow might¡¯ve parted ways, but he¡¯s going to Yarrowmere. Emotionally and logically, he has to swing by the Chapman residence and bring them some gifts. ¡°The holiday ising. He had better not make them feel disappointed.¡± Mnie thought about what Liam said and nodded. Then, she raised her head and said, ¡°I wrote some letters for Madam Harper and burned them. I cried my heart out back then. ¡°Liam, Landon is going to be alright with Madam Harper, right?¡± His eyes glistened with tears as well. ¡°I know he will be. She will look after him. Just look at how much she loved children.¡± Mnie wiped her tears. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get to it right now and let Julian take some gifts to the Chapman residence. We have to give them something too.¡± Altar 206 The next day, Julian took a flight to Yarrowmere. An emergency came up at thepany. So, the presents Mnie prepared were left in the vi for days. He didn¡¯t have the chance to bring them to the Chapman residence. Julian leaned on the chair in the CEO¡¯s office in Neb Group¡¯s branch at Yarrowmere and rubbed his eyebrows gently. Esther opened the door, came in, and ced a stack of documents on his work desk. Her voice was soft when she spoke. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, please sign these.¡± Julian opened them and started signing. He asked casually, ¡°I dont have any business functions tonight, do I?¡± Esther shook her head. ¡°Everything has been ounted for at all ces. There¡¯s an opening ceremony of an art festival this Saturday. As the special guest, you have to give a speech on stage.¡± Julian nodded slightly in response. Events like these were organized because the municipality needed to pull in some funding. Thepany paid for it, and he was just there to keep up appearances. Once he was done signing, he closed the documents and said, ¡°You¡¯re going to the Chapman residence with meter.¡± Esther immediately understood what he was hinting at. ¡°The presents are in the vi. After we get off work, I¡¯ll go back there with you first.¡± Julian hummed in response. It started drizzling in the evening. After a while, it still didn¡¯t let up, making it a poor choice to visit anyone. He stood in front of the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window and stared at the overcast weather for a good while. Then, he told Esther to go back to the hotel first. Once the sky had turnedpletely dark, Julian drove to the vi by himself in the dark of the night. He sat in the car, looked out the window, and gazed into the pitch ck. The glistening drops of water reflected the faint glow of the neon lights in the city, entuating the lean contours of his face. He pulled out a cigarette and put it between his lips. Then, he lit it and smoked leisurely. His arms rose and fell as he took several puffs, tracing the air with the lit end of his cigarette. A ck limousine was on the nextne with its window in the backseat lowered halfway, revealing ady with delicate, fair, cheeks. She was checking her surroundings anxiously. It was Willow. Her maid had taken Snowy out on a stroll earlier in the afternoon and identally lost it. She had put out a reward advertisement and searched for it for a whole day, but she just couldn¡¯t find it, no matter what. At that moment, Willow was less than three feet from Julian. If he had tilted his head a little, he would¡¯ve seen her and her bulging belly. s, he didn¡¯t. His striking features were enshrouded by a gray cloud of smoke, and he was nking out. The traffic light turned green, and all the cars started moving, Julian stepped on the gas pedal and brushed past Willow in the rainy night. Behind him, she leaned on the window and called out to Snowy. Her voice was gradually drowned out by the pitter¨Cpatter of rainfall, and the distance between her and Julian grew greater and greater. Half an hourter, Julian¡¯s car pulled into the vi slowly. The car door swung open, and a maid came over with an umbre. He frowned as he stepped out of the car. ¡°Why do I hear barking? Who kept a dog?¡± The maid immediately exined, ¡°A dog with white fur ran into our garden in the afternoon, and it was covered in dirt from head to toe. At first, we didn¡¯t recognize it and chased it away, but wouldn¡¯t leave. In fact, it even wagged its tail at us. ¡°Then, we took a closer look at it and realized it was actually the same dog you kept, Mr. Ziegler. How did ite all the way to Yarrowmere?¡± Julian was immediately stunned. He asked hastily, ¡°Where is it?¡± The maid pointed at the main hall. ¡°It¡¯s right in there! It refused to let us bathe it. Had some meat and water. It¡¯s licking its own paw while lying in the doghouse as we speak. I wonder if it¡¯s waiting for you toe home, Mr. Ziegler.¡± Julian walked briskly, entered the vi, and made his way to the main hall. Snowy sniffed the air. Then, it immediately rose to its feet and shook the mud off. With a loud howl, he took off and approached him. The filthy dog ran around him in circles intimately. Raising its head, it looked at him, its gaze filled with love and fondness. Altar 207 Julian grabbed Snowy by the back of its neck and carefully held it in his arms. The maid standing next to him said, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, it¡¯s going to make your shirt filthy.¡± The thing was, Julian didn¡¯t care about it at all. He rubbed Snowy¡¯s head fondly as waves of intense emotions rose in his chest. Willow loved Snowy deeply. She would never have left it behind if she had gone overseas, which was to say that she was actually still in the country. What was more, she was in Yarrowmere. She had been in Yarrowmere all along. Snowy stared at Julian adorably. When it noticed that he wasn¡¯t saying anything, it yapped and nestled its head against his chest, instantly ruining his 20¨Cthousand¨Cdor suit. He held the dog in one hand and pulled out his phone with the other. After he dialed Esther¡¯s number, he said, ¡°Get in touch with Willow anonymously and tell her that her dog was found. Arrange for her to meet with me tomorrow afternoon.¡± On the other end of the call, Esther hadn¡¯t the foggiest idea what had just happened. However, she was an excellent staff member, and it just took her a minute to piece it all together. Willow must¡¯ve resided in Yarrowmere and lost Snowy in the afternoon. It ran all the way to Julian¡¯s vi, and he had to rely on the dog just to meet with her. So, Esther used the phone in the hotel and arranged a meetup with Willow. Naturally, she was able to provide Snowy¡¯s pictures. A dog with white fur had its paws firmly on the edge of a small, pink bathtub, waiting for someone to bathe it. She¡¯d made an outrageous demand and asked for ten thousand dors. Will didn¡¯t even suspect a thing Back in the bathroom, Julian took off his coat and tossed Snowy into the small bathtub. It narrowed its eyes and rested its paw on the contentment. of the tub, enjoying the massage it was giving itself. It even whimpered in Julian was scrubbing Snowy when he involuntarily thought about Landon again. If his baby boy were still with him, he would¡¯ve been able to y with the dog. Julian¡¯s gaze darkened at the notion, but he quickly smiled faintly, even though there was a heavy weight in his heart. After he bathed Snowy and dried its fur, it was still narrowing its eyes. As he watched, a flood of mixed emotions surged in his heart. Holding its head, he pecked it and said, Willow, I miss you deeply.¡± The next day, Willow arrived at the coffee shop at 2:00 pm. As she waited inside, she had a ss of water on one side and a paper bag with ten thousand dors on the other. She also had two assistants with her. Although thedy who found Snowy outrageously asked for ten thousand dors, Willow was still very grateful that she was bringing it back to her. The sunlight in the afternoon was warm and gentle. Willow leaned on her seat with a serene look on her face. The weather out there was nice, and she wore a light¨Ccolored long dress. Her hair cascaded on her shoulder casually, making her look gentle and graceful with a soft charm. The agonizing mncholy that used to haunt her was almost nonexistent. Julian was standing outside and looking at Willow through a ss taken aback by the sight of her bulging, rounded belly. Was that Landon in there? Landon had survived. His precious, baby boy was safe and sound in Willow¡¯s belly. He was about to be born and be a part of the world. Julian was swept away by his emotions, his gaze fixated on her. Eventually, Willow noticed him too. It was the briefest nce, and yet it felt like an eternity had passed as their gazes met. They were both shocked as they locked gazes. None of them said anything. Instead, they looked into each other¡¯s eyes. They shared so many memories, and yet all of them paled inparison to the bittersweet feeling rising in his chest now. No memory could possibly describe what he was feeling now. After a long time, Julian entered the coffee shop, slowly walked over to Willow, and stopped in front of her. His voice was so hoarse when he finally spoke. ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to Faeria? Weren¡¯t you supposed to be with Caleb? What are you doing here?¡± Altar 208 The sunlight was harsh, and Julian¡¯s eyes glistened with faint tears. He wished so badly that he could touch Landon with his own hand and feel his baby¡¯s presence. However, he didn¡¯t have the right to do it. Staring at Willow, he asked softly, ¡°Landon is going to be born soon, right? Has he been activetely? Can you feel his little hands through your belly? Has he been naughty? Is he a good boy? His voice choked up toward the end of his sentence: Willow had a nonchnt expression on her face. She was emotionless as she looked at Julian, who couldn¡¯t contain his feelings, and spoke in a frigid tone. ¡°This has nothing to do with you. Landon is mine, and mine only. He will be a Harper and have no ties to you. None whatsoever. ¡°Julian, do you want to know what was on my mind on the night that Grandma passed away? ¡°I didn¡¯t want to see you or hear your voice again for the rest of my life. I wouldn¡¯t have known Alicia if it weren¡¯t for you, and Grandma wouldn¡¯t have had to die so tragically. ¡°We might not be able to live infort and wealth. Our lives might turn out to be normal and mundane. We might have to work our fingers to the bone for a pathetic pay and store some food to get through the winter. ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t have existed without Grandma. She gave me my name, and gave her life for me. Do you know where you were when she was desperately protecting me and Landon? ¡°You were with the very culprit, clinging to every word of admiration and adoration she said to you. ¡°Julian, all I wanted at that moment was for you to die.¡± Once Willow had calmly said her piece, she carried Snowy in her arms and left. As she said, she would never see Julian again for the rest of her life. Her twins might¡¯ve been safe and sound in her belly, but there was no need for her to see him anymore. Countless heads were turned in the coffee shop, but Julian paid no mind to it. Just as she was about to walk out, he asked. Willow, what do I have to do to redeem myself? What needs to be done before you will forgive me?¡± Willow turned around and asked, ¡°Can you bring Grandma back to life?¡± Julian couldn¡¯t. As he watched her leave, it felt like someone poked at his heart with countless needles. It turns out he still dreamed of happiness and bliss all this time. He was eager to reconcile with her. He clearly knew that it was a luxury, that he didn¡¯t deserve, but he still yearned for the terrible illusion that was hope. Before long, news got out to Brindley that Willow was still pregnant, and the Zieglers shed tears of joy when they heard about it. Mnie hand¨Cwrote a letter for Grace and went to the cemetery to burn it. Afterward, she talked to Grace as tears slid down her cheeks. ¡°I haven¡¯t been kind to Willow and you in the past, and it has since eaten me up on the inside. If you still bear a grudge over that, take it out on me. Our kids are still young. You have to give them your blessing. I¡¯m truly grateful that you saved Willow and Landon. If she had died as well, Julian would¡¯ve gonepletely mad, even though he isn¡¯t exactly acting himself right now.¡± The sun in the sky shone brilliantly, and the delicate potentis swayed with the wind. Once Mnie was done burning the letter, she wiped her tears and bowed deeply at Grace¡¯s tombstone. She wished she had a pair of wings so she could fly to Yarrowmere now, but she wanted to buy some clothes for Landon. After all, she was his grandma. Liam was a man, and as such, he didn¡¯t have any taste in fashion. So, Mnie decided to shop alone. Landon was a little boy. She had to pick some blue outfits for him, and she couldn¡¯t forget the yellow ones either. He would look adorable in them. She was certain that Willow and Julian¡¯s baby would be adorable and look good in any outfit. For the entire day, she beamed with happiness. Ever since the tragic incident, the Ziegler family has been gued with gloominess and mncholy. Today marked the long- awaited end of all of that. Liam and Tyler got drunkst night. They made their way to Dominic¡¯s tombstone and cried their eyes out. They were genuinely heartbroken, having held back the surging tide of emotions for far too long. To Mnie¡¯s surprise, she ran into the Carters at the baby shop. Rosabelle was pregnant, and Dorothy went shopping for baby supplies with her. They were in the middle ofparing form brands when Mnie unexpectedly barged into the store. Altar 209 Dorothy was very upset when she unexpectedly ran into Mnie. She would never forget what Julian did to the Gibson family. Even if a long time had passed since then, she was still riled up when she saw one of the Zieglers. In fact, she was so angry that she identally pricked her finger on the edge of the metal disy rack. Blood immediately gushed out and dropped to the floor. Dorothy quickly took pieces of tissue and put pressure on her finger. She even pulled out her hemostatic medication and popped it into her mouth, deathly afraid that something bad might happen There was a good reason for her to be this careful. She was Rh¨Cnegative, which was a rare blood type. Mnie had been friends with Dorothy for many years. Naturally, she knew about it as well. Neither of them could stand each other, and Dorothy was injured too. So, she hurried out of the baby shop. Once they had gone far away, it suddenly urred to Mnie that Willow was Rh¨Cnegative too, and thetter would go intobor in half a month. Ladies literally risk their lives as they give birth to kids. Anything could¡¯ve happened, and Mnie wondered if the Chapmans prepared the right blood for it. A subtle unease gnawed at her heart, but she forgot about it once she was done buying Landon¡¯s clothes. Once she got back to the Ziegler residence, she showed Liam her purchases. For once, he showed approval. After he felt the clothes, he praised her for having good taste, which filled her heart with pride. After Mnie folded and kept away the clothes, she said, ¡°I¡¯m going to wash them with my own hands and stick them in the dryer. That way, it¡¯ll be veryfortable when Landon puts it on, and he won¡¯t have an allergic reaction either. ¡°Sellers these days never make it clear. So, it falls to us adults to be careful and meticulous.¡± Liam watched as Mnie bustled around. She seemed so much more graceful and virtuous that a warmth stirred in his ch Walking over to her side, he ran his fingers across the clothes and spoke again. ¡°Willow is pregnant with twins. That¡¯s two kids, but you only bought enough clothes for one.¡± Mnie couldn¡¯t believe what she just heard. ¡°Twin Liam nodded and gently ced his hands on her shoulders. ¡°Willow has been through a lot with the twins. Think about what happened that night. For that tragedy alone, the Ziegler family owes her for the rest of her life.¡± They had been married for years. Naturally, Mnie knew him very well. She asked softly, ¡°Liam, what are you trying to say?¡± Liam fell silent for a while before he responded, ¡°Julian and I talked about it, and we decided to surrender the twins to Willow. It¡¯s up to her and destiny if she will even let us carry them in our arms.¡± Mnie was dumbstruck. ¡°Are you saying that I can¡¯t even hold my grandson?¡± He sighed gently. She was dazed for a long time before she clenched her fists and hammered his chest. Tears were flowing as she shouted, ¡°Liam, you jerk! I finally have a grandson, and you gave him away without a fight. The twins are Julian¡¯s children! We are their grandparents!¡± Liam sighed again. ¡°Madam Harper died because of Julian. Willow can never move on from something like that.¡± Mnie was dazed for a long time. Gripping the clothes, she said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll buy some pink clothes for the baby girl tomorrow. ¡°Liam, I know you think it¡¯s impossible for Julian and Willow to get back together, but the twins are his children. As their father, he can¡¯t just abandon them because of what Willow said. +25 BONUS ¡°I don¡¯t care if the twins don¡¯t carry the Ziegler family name. They are a part of our family. Period. You two need to take some responsibility. ¡°If you don¡¯t n to do anything, I will travel to Yarrowmere myself. If Willow doesn¡¯t want to see me, I will just look at her from afar and offer her my help if she needs something. ¡°The way I see it, ady needs every bit of help she can get with pregnancy andbor.¡± Liam saw tears falling out of Mnie¡¯s eyes and couldn¡¯t help butfort her. ¡°I¡¯m not prohibiting you from going. I¡¯m just telling you to get in the right mindset.¡± She wiped her tears off and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t rip the babies away from Willow.¡± Altar 210 It was raining heavily in Yarrowmere that night. Willow sat on the living room couch as her hand rested gently on her pregnant belly, her gaze somewhat lost in thought. Due toplications with one of the two babies she carried, the doctor had suggested an early hospital stay, with the possibility of an emergency C¨Csection to ensure the well¨Cbeing of both mother and babies. Heather busied herself with packing nearby, getting ready for the Hospital stay the next morning. Upon noticing Willow¡¯s absentmindedness, Heather walked over and gently held her hand, saying, ¡°It¡¯ll be alright, Willow. Timothy has already contacted the blood bank, too. Though Rh¨Cnegative blood is rare, they have adequate supplies. And in case of an early C¨Csection, I¡¯ve already contacted Mrs. Gibson, who shares the same blood type and has kindly offered her assistance in an emergency.¡± Willow gently caressed her belly and murmured, ¡°I¡¯m just worried about the babies.¡± That devastating fire had not only imed Grace¡¯s life, but it had also impacted the health of Willow¡¯s unborn child. It was to the point where the doctor had strongly advised ending the pregnancy, foreseeing potential health issues at birth. Willow couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it, though, especially since Julian had always affectionately referred to the unborn child as Landon,¡± the one for whom Grace had lovingly made tiny baby shoes. Thankfully, after six months, the baby¡¯s health showed improvement. Heather¡¯s heart ached a little, realizing that the child who had been in Willow¡¯s womb for nine months was almost ready to enter the world. It was no longer just a fetus but a baby in every way that mattered. Having chatted for a while, Heather returned to her room, leaving Willow in the care of two healthcare nurses. Having read for a while, Willow decided she wanted some fresh air on the balcony. Then, the nurse carefully draped a light shawl over her shoulders and advised softly, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t stay out there for too long since it¡¯s quite chilly tonight.¡± Willow nodded in assent. Though the rain didn¡¯t reach the balcony, the mingled scents of damp soil and falling rain filled the air, bringing Wow a sense of peace andfort. She rested a hand on the railing, the other gently cradling her pregnant belly, her features softened with a tender expression. She then offered a silent prayer for the safety and health of her two unborn children. Her thoughts were also filled with Grace. She had hoped that once the twins turned two months old, she could bring them to Brindley to visit Grace, who would have been delighted to see them Had she still been alive, Grace would have definitely made baby clothes for the twins as well. Her eyes couldn¡¯t help but well up with tears at the thought of Grace¡¯s kindness and familial love before her gaze unintentionally settled on the front gate of the Chapman residence That rainy night resembled a vast nightscape painting stretched across the expanse. She noticed a tall, slender figure d in ck standing in front of the front gate of the Chapman residence, his white shirt a solitary ssh of brightness. Though he was far off, Willow knew instantly that it was Julian. 1 It was following that incident that Julian made it a point toe to the Chapman residence daily or apany her to the hospital, always keeping a respectful distance and simply watching her. Willow merely regarded him silently from a distance. It was clear that the feelings she had once had for him were now almost entirely gone. Her thoughts of Julian were consumed by the memory of that fiery night, the devastating image of Grace¡¯s death, and a profound, unending hatred. She had no desire to see him. She held her pregnant belly and said to the nurse at her side, ¡°I would like to head in now.¡± Having heard that, the nurse gently supported Willow into the house. Julian stood outside the front gates of the Chapman residence in his white shirt, with a ck trench coat worn over it. He remained in the downpour without an umbre, his gaze fixed on the spot where Willow had vanished. It was at that moment that the drizzle felt like needles striking against his skin, like fragments of painful memories piercing him one by one. It was alreadyte into the night when Julian finally returned to his vi. Upon entering the living room, Julian noticed Mnie surrounded by eight suitcases, instructing the household staff to take them upstairs. She was meticulously sorting out the baby clothes and toys in one of the suitcases. Julian moved closer, his hand lightly grazing baby clothes and toys before asking softly, ¡°What brings you here sote?¡± Mnie nced at him sideways and replied, ¡°It rained, so my flight got dyed.¡± Upon seeing Julian¡¯s deste state, Mnie asked gently, ¡°How about a little something to eat? I can prepare some mac and cheese for you. I know you¡¯re going through a rough period right now, but even if Willow can¡¯t forgive you immediately, the birth of healthy babies, especially twins, is wonderful news. ¡°You need to stay strong and help look after them as they grow up, Julian. You see, familiarity breeds fondness, after all. I believe that over time, be it a year, two years, or ten, Willow will eventuallye around.¡± Julian merely smiled faintly in response. Mnie set down the things she was organizing and then went into the kitchen. Julian, on the other hand, gently caressed the tiny clothes. They were all a lovely shade of pink and looked incredibly cute. It wasn¡¯t long before Mnie appeared with a bowl of mac and cheese, which she had topped with Julian¡¯s favorite toppings. Julian took off his trench coat and sat down at the dining table. He then silently ate his mac and cheese with his head lowered. Mnie continued to organize the baby clothes, meticulously folding each item with a tender expression. She then grumbled to Julian, saying, ¡°I asked your father toe along, but he absolutely insisted on waiting two more days. I n, no matter honestly think there¡¯s a vixen back in Brindley who has him so under her spell he can¡¯t bring himself to leave. how urgent things are back in Brindley, surely it can¡¯t be more important than Willow delivering the babies, right?¡± Having finished his mac and cheese, Julian instinctively reached for a cigarette. Mnie immediately stopped him, saying, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to smoke in the vi. You wouldn¡¯t want the baby clothes smelling like cigarettes, right? In any case, from this point forward, you¡¯re not allowed to smoke in front of Willow or the children.¡± Julian chuckled briefly before returning the cigarette to its pack. It was then that his phone suddenly rang¨Cand it was Esther who had called. Esther said urgently, ¡°Ms. Harper went intobor early.¡± Upon hearing that, Mnie dropped the baby clothes in her hands. She had finally realized what was happening, only to find that Julian had already left the vi with the car keys. Altar 211 Chapter 211 It waste into the night at the Obstetrics and Gynecology hospital in Yarrowmere. It seemed as if a huge chasm had opened up in the sky, unleashing torrential rain that scoured the world below until it gleamed with an unsettling rity, a scene both otherworldly and strange. In the delivery room on the second floor, Willow had been lying on the delivery bed, breathing in and out steadily under the medical staff¡¯s instructions, pushing with all her might to give birth to her babies. It was around 12:00 am when Willow¡¯s water broke, and almost immediately, the first baby began to enter the birth canal. It was past the point for a C¨Csection by the time they arrived at the hospital, leaving her with no choice but to deliver both babies naturally. It was thundering outside while Willow was lying on the delivery bed, her bodypletely drenched in sweat. Heather remained by Willow¡¯s side, holding her hand firmly and repeatedly calling out hier name, offering her physical and emotional support. She was incredibly worried, understanding tha, childbirth was a life¨Cthreatening experience for a woman. Timothy, taking precautions, had already organized a private jet to fly Dorothy to Yarrowmere. He was at the airport, awaiting hernding, though the torrential rain that night left him uncertain about the flight¡¯s on¨Ctime departure. Heather was very worried as well. Under the blinding light of the delivery room, Willow¡¯s face glistened with fine sweat. Her breathing came in ragged gasps as she battled the intense pain of childbirth. Though she could feel the baby being pushed out of her and the distinct feeling of its vitality, the pain was so intense it made her feel faint and disoriented. In her pain¨Cinduced delirium, Willow seemed to hear Grace¡¯s voice, gently reciting a familiar poem from her childhood close to her ear, saying, ¡°The sky is bright, and the moon so high. And precious Willow¡¯s sleep drew nigh. ¡°Morpheus, will you spare her from your woes? Precious Willow sleeps below. ¡°Soon she¡¯ll rise, into a tall girl will she grow.¡± Willow blinked weakly, tears spilling from the corners of her eyes before letting out an involuntary, strained cry, yelling,¡± Grandma! I¡¯m in so much pain right now! Where are you, Grandma?¡± It was then that she cried out again with even greater intensity¨Cit was the raw expression ofbor as the baby fought its way down. There was a sudden burst of hurried footsteps echoing outside the delivery room¨CJulian had finally arrived. Laura, who had been waiting outside the delivery, saw Julian and Mnie approaching and remarked coldly, ¡°I guess you do have a sliver of decency left in you toe over here. I thought you¡¯d be fast asleep at home,¡± Mnie set aside her pride and cautiously inquired about Willow¡¯s situation. Laura wasn¡¯t in the mood for taunts, so after a brief silence, she said softly, ¡°If it were under normal circumstances, Willow would have delivered both babies without any issue. Yet, due to that incident, her body was harmed, causing the baby boy inside of her to not develop properly. In the end, Willow had to risk everything to carry him to term. I mean, we still don¡¯t know what the baby¡¯s condition will be once he¡¯s born.¡± 1 Julian¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. He stood before the delivery room door with his forehead pressed against the cool ss, listening to Willow¡¯s soul¨Cwrenching cries. It was then, amidst those cries of agony, that he couldn¡¯t help but think back to that year when she had cramps in her lower abdomen. She had held his hand back then with tears streaming down her face as she whispered, ¡°I¡¯m scared, Julian.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but think that Willow must have been just as frightened now as she was then! Having that thought in mind, Julian stated softly, ¡°I¡¯ll go in and stay with her.¡± Laura murmured, ¡°Her mother¡¯s in there with her. You should just stay put and wait here.¡± Mnie, with tears in her eyes, said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t agitate Willow now, Julian. You should just let her concentrate on delivering the children.¡± Julian rested his fist against the door as he stared at the fogged ss, the movement in his throat betraying his inner turmoil. It wasn¡¯t long before Esther hurried to the hospital. She had also managed to mobilize the medical resources in Yarrowmere, having transferred almost the entire supply of Rh¨Cnegative blood from the blood bank to the hospital. That night felt interminable, with Willow¡¯s piercing cries and tears apanied by the relentlessbor pains. Though drenched in sweat, she felt as though she were burning alive. In her hazy state, she seemed to drift into a dream. In her dream, scenes from the past danced before her eyes¨Cthe lollipop from her childhood, the beef stew with cabbage that Grace used to make, and the vibrant sunset clouds over the river that evening. In her dream, Grace rode toward her in a white, goldced carriage, looking as graceful as a crane in flight. She tried to reach out to her as she passed by, only to hear Grace chuckle and say, ¡°I have to go now, so you shouldn¡¯t hold me up anymore, Willow.¡± Willow¡¯s face was wet with tears. She cried out for Grace, but Grace kept going, never looking back. It was then that a nurse eximed with urgency, ¡°It¡¯s a code red¨Cthe patient is experiencing a severe hemorrhage!¡± There was a torrent of blood pouring from between Willow¡¯s legs, staining a wide area of the delivery bed sheets crimson. Having heard that, the obstetrician, Maria Mahoney, directed calmly, ¡°Get a blood transfusion started for the patient right away we have to stabilize her blood pressure.¡± Having said that, she leaned close to Willow¡¯s ears and whispered, ¡®You have nothing to worry about since there¡¯s plenty of blood avable in the hospital. You just need to stay strong and believe that we¡¯ll be able to deliver your baby safely.¡± ¥¸ Altar 212 Willow¡¯s entire body was drenched in sweat as she gasped for air, her eyes growing increasingly dazed. Heather cried, ¡°You have to hang in there, Willow!¡± It took all her strength, gathered over what felt like an eternity, for Willow to turn her head and say softly, ¡°I¨CI¡¯ll hold on. I¡¯m going to have this baby.¡± She then let out a blood¨Ccurdling scream as she tightly gripped the bedsheet, wracked with pain. There was a flurry of activitymencing within and beyond the confines of the delivery room. Maria stepped out of the delivery room with a grave expression and exined solemnly, ¡°I¡¯d like to inform you that she is currently suffering from a major hemorrhage. You should prepare yourselves for the worst. If absolutely necessary, we¡¯ll have no choice but to sacrifice the first baby to ensure the survival of the mother and the other baby.¡± Laura remained stunned for a long time before releasing a long, heavy sigh. Mnie¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears, while Esther held her close and offered her firm support, encouraging her to remain strong. Julian¡¯s hands were balled into fists, a prominent vein pulsed on his forehead, and his body was as rigid as a taut bow. Yet, the situation took a turn for the worse as Willow¡¯s hemorrhage wouldn¡¯t cease. If it persisted, the avable Rh negative blood in the blood bank wouldn¡¯t be enough, and all three lives would be in grave danger. Julian¡¯s gaze was intense as he looked at Maria and said softly, ¡°You have to save the mother first, no matter the circumstances.¡± Though he truly did love his unborn children, Julian couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing Willow. Mnie¡¯s eyes were glistening with unshed tears as she said, ¡°Yes, the mother¡¯s life is the absolute priority.¡± Maria nced at them before turning and heading back inside. If the baby wasn¡¯t delivered within the next half hour, its chances of survival were slim, necessitating the prioritization of Willow¡¯s life. It wasn¡¯t long before the situation spiraled further out of control; Willow was hemorrhaging badly, teetering on the brink of shock. Her life was hanging by a thread. In addition, the blood supply that had once been sufficient was now nearly exhausted, and with it being sote, securing a donor with the necessary rare blood type seemed nearly impossible. Heather¡¯s soft, choked sobs could be heard from within the delivery room. Julian had been on the phone the whole time, urgently calling Yarrowmere¡¯s best obstetricians toe to the hospital. He was determined to go in and be by Willow¡¯s side after ending the call¨Cin the event of the worst, he wanted to be there, leaving nothing unsaid. He wished to apologize to Willow. He wanted to say something¨Cperhaps that he would never remarry, that he was willing to do anything for her. Yet, anything he could think of saying seemed shallow and insincere at this point. He had, after all, wronged her way too many times in the past. His worry had taken over. In that instant, Julian braced himself for the worst because Willow had no blood left for a transfusion. It was then that the rain stopped. It was pitch ck outside, with only the leaves in the trees catching the faint glimmer of lingering rain. It wasn¡¯t long before the sound of hurried footsteps approached from the end of the corridor. Timothy had arrived with Dorothy, apanied by Jeffrey and Liam. Dorothy, who hade in a rush, looked weary from travel. Though she had agreed long ago to donate her blood to Willow, her movement immediately slowed down as soon as she caught sight of Julian. In the hush of the corridor, Dorothy fixed Julian with a burning gaze and said through gritted teeth, ¡°I have no desire to save your child, Julian. I truly wish I could rip you to shreds as I recall what you did to Jeffrey and the Gibson family. ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay for it today, Julian. If you want me to donate my blood for Willow¡¯s transfusion, you¡¯ll have to kneel before me -in front of everyone present¨Cand grovel at my feet three times to atone for your past transgressions. I doubt you¡¯d ever do it, though¨Cgiven how proud you are.¡± It was a cold and quiet night, as the wind stirred with remnants of the past, whispering things long buried. Julian fixed his gaze on Dorothy, who was standing before him, and said softly, ¡°I once swore before the altar that for Landon to arrive safely in this world, I would cast aside all avarice, malice, and ignorance. I would pay for my wrongdoings in full, and 1 would allow myself to bepletely ruined if it caine to that. I, Julian Ziegler, am willing to do absolutely anything!¡± In the midst of the bustling corridor, Julian slowly kneeled before Dorothy. He then prostrated himself on the floor and eximed hoarsely, ¡°Willow is innocent, so please save her!¡± Having said that, Julian groveled three times before Dorothy, groveled three times toward the Gibson family, and groveled three times toward Jeffrey. Upon hearing that, Dorothy¡¯s eyes glistened with tears. She finally found some sce in her anger being released, a release for what happened to Jeffrey. Mnie immediately burst into tears. Her face was wet with tears as she cried, ¡°J¨CJulian!¡± Julian remained prostrate on the floor, tears beading at the tip of his nose before falling. Having abandoned all pride and dignity, his voice was humble and sincere as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of Willow and the unborn child! I¡¯ll bear the weight of all wrongdoing alone!¡± Dorothy struggled to keep her emotions in check, her voice trembling slightly as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll consider this ount settled.¡± Altar 213 It wasn¡¯t long before blood flowed, drop by drop, through the transparent tube into Willow¡¯s veins. It could be seen that, under the stark re of lights, she was soaked in sweat, as if she had been lying in a pool. She weakly opened her eyes and gazed at the figures above. Through the hazy vision, she seemed to have noticed Julian¡¯s face. She was somewhat bewildered, wondering if the person before her was really Julian. What was he doing here? Hadn¡¯t he gone to Grandsburg? Hadn¡¯t he insisted on going? She gently blinked her eyes, her vision slowlying into focus on Julian¡¯s face. In her pain¨Cinduced haze, she thought she had gone back five years in the past¨Cback to when they got married. She reached out her slender hand and grabbed Julian¡¯s shirt, her voice sounding raspy and choked with tears as she pleaded, ¡°Please don¡¯t go to Grandsburg, Julian. Please don¡¯t go, alright?¡± Julian was stunned for a moment before realizing that Willow wasn¡¯t fully lucid. He kneeled, sped Willow¡¯s hand, and said softly, ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. I¡¯ll stay right here with you and our baby. You have to hang in there, Willow. Your safety and our child¡¯s safety are all that matter. I won¡¯t fight for custody; our child will always be by your side.¡± Upon hearing Julian mention the child, Willow¡¯s gaze sharpened momentarily. She gripped the bedrails tightly with both hands and sat up unsteadily. She then looked down at the bright red blood staining the bedsheets. It was so reminiscent of the mes that night¨Cthe mes that had taken Grace¡¯s life. She suddenly felt a searing wave of pain engulfing her, causing her to throw her head back and cry, ¡°Grandma! Grandma!¡± Her high¨Cpitched scream echoed as the baby boy was delivered. He didn¡¯t make any sound, though, which greatly startled Maria. She quickly picked up the newborn, rhythmically patting his back and bottom. Then, sheid him down and beganpressing his small chest, repeating thepressions and pats. He had turned cyanotic, and he still hadn¡¯t uttered a sound. Willow continued to be wracked bybor pains, since her second child had yet to arrive. Thus, her remaining energy was directed toward the ongoing delivery. Julian watched Maria¡¯s relentless efforts to revive the baby. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears, with tears pooling at the corners. That was his son, Landon, after all. How could his heart not ache with worry? However, he held back his emotions, fearing it would distress Willow and rob her of the strength to deliver their daughter. 1 He kneeled before Willow and gripped her hand tightly. His voice was trembling with emotion as he said, ¡°You¡¯re so close, Willow¨Cjust a little more. Our baby is almost here.¡± In the delivery room, the smell of blood hung thick in the air as the night wore on. It was around 4:00 am when the second baby was finally delivered with her powerful cry filling the delivery room and her tiny legs kicking with life. Her height reached an impressive 21 inches, and her weight was also well within a healthy range. Willow was lying on the delivery bed, her breathing in ragged gasps. She yearned to hold her children, but her body waspletely spent; even the thought of opening her eyes felt like a monumental task. It wasn¡¯t until the evening of the third day that Willow finally awoke. In the bright and cozy VIP ward of the hospital, a soothing milky scent hung in the air, apanied by the soft, babbling sounds of a baby. 1 Willow turned her head to the side, wanting to catch a glimpse of her children. In the pink bassy a plump newborn sleeping soundly, her skin red and tender. She was probably having sweet dreams, as a fleeting smile would sometimes appear, and the subtle dimples were very much like Julian¡¯s. Heather was watching the baby tenderly in the bass. Upon noticing Willow stirring, Heather hurriedly approached her, gently adjusting the nkets. Her eyes filled with concern as she looked at Willow¡¯s sallowplexion and said, ¡°You¡¯re finally awake, Willow. Though the doctor had reassured me that it was due to exhaustion, I was still so worried sick.¡± Willow nced at the bass and asked matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°And where¡¯s the other baby? Is he getting fed in the nursery?¡± Heather momentarily fell silent. Having realized that something was amiss, Willow¡¯s voice trembled with rising anxiety as she asked again, ¡°Where¡¯s the other baby, Mom?¡± Heather finally broke down, holding Willow tightly as she choked back sobs. ¡°That baby was stillborn. Though the doctor had tried her hardest to save him, in the end, there was nothing more that could be done.¡± Willow remained seated on the bed, her gaze vacant. It was only after a long time had passed that she wrapped her arms around herself, her fingernails digging into her flesh, though she felt no sensation whatsoever. She then lowered her head and kept it away from view before letting out quiet, sorrowful cries. Her crying was terribly muffled so as not to frighten her newborn daughter. In addition, even amidst the delirium of childbirth, she was well aware that Landon was the first one she had given birth to. Grace had even personally prepared tiny baby shoes for Landon. How could he not be here anymore? She had clearly gone through so much pain to bring him into the world. She could even feel the baby¡¯s presence amidst the excruciating pain. He had been so yful and adorable during his time in her womb, often reaching out his little hand to gently touch her. She then recalled the ultrasound technician mentioning that the baby boy was tall and exceptionally good¨Clooking What happened to her darling Landon? Where had he gone? Willow refused to believe it, stubbornly wanting to see Landon. Heather gently supported her frail body, tears glistening in her eyes as she said, ¡°Julian has taken the baby away to Brindley. He had likely asked the priest at the chapel there to find a final resting ce for the little one.¡± Julian had held Gabrie Harper in his arms¨Cthe second baby Willow had brought into the world¡ªjust before they left for Brindley. Mnie, her eyes brimming with tears, even gave Gabrie a final feeding of milk, murmuring many heartfelt words, while Liam gently wiped away his own tears beside her. Though they were reluctant to go, Julian and others still left in the end. It was raining in Yarrowmere when they departed in their private jet along with six doctors on board. Willow listened silently before whispering, ¡°I need to see my son. He¡¯s my child¨Cthe one I carried for nine long months and brought into this world. I have to see him; otherwise, I¡¯ll never be able to find peace for the rest of my life. I¡¯m begging you, Mom. Please let me see him.¡± Heather wept uncontrobly, her voice trembling as she cried, ¡°You can¡¯t see him anymore! He¡¯s gone, Willow!¡± It was then that Willow slowlyprehended the weight of those words. It took her quite some time before she finally threw back the nkets and stumbled out onto the balcony, where all she could see were the verdant hills and clear streams outside. It was raining relentlessly, causing a thick fog that shrouded everything nearby. It was impossible for her to make out what was in the distance, much less discern where Brindley was or find out where Landon had gone. 2/2 Altar 214 In an instant, ten days had passed. Julian had to go to Neb Group in Brindley in the evening to attend to a few urgent matters. He had barely stepped out of the elevator when Esther approached him, looking concerned. ¡°Ms. Harper is here, Mr. Ziegler.¡± Julian¡¯s steps faltered. He looked intently at Esther¡¯s face, remaining silent for a long time. It had been two years since Willow left Neb Group, never once returning. If she hade today, it could only be because of Landon. He stood still for a moment, then asked softly, ¡°Where is she right now?¡± Esther hurriedly replied, ¡°I have arranged for her to wait in your office since Ms. Harper still hasn¡¯tpleted her postpartum recovery. I noticed that she looked terribly sallow¨Cprobably due to postpartum fatigue¨Csince it has only been ten days since she¡¯d given birth.¡± They chatted for a while before finally arriving at the entrance of the office, where Esther pushed open the door and tactfully excused herself. Julian walked in and gently closed the door behind him, creating a hushed atmosphere. In thete May weather, Willow was dressed in a loose¨Cfitting dress with a light wool shawl draped over her shoulders. It was clear that she still hadn¡¯t regained her health, as her face was etched with exhaustion and her chin was drawn so sharply it looked almost fragile. He walked over and kneeled before Willow, his voice soft and slightly hoarse as he said, ¡°You¡¯re still in your postpartum recovery, Willow. Why did you suddenlye over here? How¡¯s Gabrie? Is she taking her feedings well? Is she sleeping through the night?¡± Willow offered no reaction. She fixed her gaze on Julian and asked tly, ¡°Where¡¯s Landon? I want to see him.¡± Julian swallowed hard, the movement of his throat barely noticeable. Willow repeated her question, her voice sounding colder than before as she asked, ¡°Where is Landon? I want to see him now. He¡¯s the child I gave birth to after nine long months. You can¡¯t just take him away without any exnation and deny me even a single glimpse.¡± Julian lifted his gaze to meet hers. He remained silent for a while before saying hoarsely, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you there.¡± It was already evening in Brindley, with the sunset casting a golden glow and the evening clouds merging in a soft, luminous haze. In the chapel deep in the mountain, the deep, resonant sound of bells rang out, echoing across the hills. It was then that a ck sedan slowly ascended the winding mountain road, eventually reaching Cornerstone. The chapel was surrounded by the fragrant smoke of burning candles, along with the clouds tinged with soft sunset hues encircling the area, creating an atmosphere of profound peace. Having pulled up at the chapel, Julian turned to Willow and said gently, ¡°You should pull your shawl tighter. It can get quite chilly up here.¡± Willow remained silent. She tightened the shawl around herself and stepped out of the car. She then followed Julian into a vast and solemn columbarium, its high walls lined with orderly square miches¨Ceach about three feet square¨Ccontaining small, personal offerings or artifacts. In the most prominent niche, a pair of tiny, blue baby shoes had been carefully ced, and directly below them sat a small baster urn, its surface gleaming and clear. 1 Willow reached out, her hand trembling uncontrobly as she picked up the tiny baby shoes and gently caressed them. She then touched the cool surface of the baster urn, wondering if Landon was truly in there. Her thoughts then turned to Landon, a silent conversation in the hollow space of her grief. ¡°Is it really you, Landon? It¡¯s Mommy speaking, Landon. Is it cold there? Is it scary? It¡¯s so cold in the mountains, Landon. Do you have anything to keep you warm there? Is anyone there to talk to you? Is there afortable rib for you to lie in there?¡± She held the urn close as her tears fell drop by drop, wetting the sooth surface of the exquisite baster. Julian¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. He remained silent, merely reaching out and gently wrapping his arm around Willow¡¯s shoulder. She was still in her postpartum period, so he was worried that she would cry herself into exhaustion. Willow asked Julian to step outside, saying in a daze, ¡°I¡¯d like to have a moment alone with Landon.¡± Upon hearing that, Julian¡¯s heart ached with sorrow. He still turned and walked out of the columbarium in the end, though, giving Willow the space she needed to be alone with Landon. It was already dark outside, and a gust of cold wind suddenly swept through the columbarium. Willow remained unfazed, though. She gently removed her shawl and wrapped it snugly around the small baster urn, hoping her warmth would reach Landon, making him feel as if he were still nestled in her embrace She then tightly held onto the urn, tears streaming down her face. ¡°It¡¯s the only thing I can do for you now, Landon. Have you found your great¨Cgrandmother there? I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll take good care of you, make you some delicious stewed greens with pasta, and bake some fluffy, delicious bread for you. I¡¯m certain she¡¯ll also knit you some warm clothes with her softest yarn. ¡°Can you hear me, Landon? Can you hear Mommy¡¯s voice? How about a poem, Landon? How does that sound?¡± She had tears streaming down her face as she recited the poem Grace used to recite to her in her childhood, ¡°The sky is bright, and the moon so high. And precious Landon¡¯s sleep drew nigh. ¡°Morpheus, will you spare him from your woes? Precious Landon sleeps below. ¡°Soon he¡¯ll rise, into a tall boy will he grow.¡± She suddenly broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrobly. She couldn¡¯t help but question why Landon had lived such a short life. Her own arrival into the world had been so bleak, and throughout her pregnancy, she had envisioned a life for him overflowing with beauty and joy, promising him every happiness. Yet, the heavens had snatched him away from her. Why had the heavens inflicted such relentless torment upon her? Why had it taken Grace and Landon from her? Chapter 215 Altar 215 In the dead of the night, a white mist crept up the mountainside, swirling and obscuring the entire summit. Uponing out of the columbarium, Willow was utterly lost in her grief, her frail body swaying unsteadily. She kept repeating Landon¡¯s name under her breath, still drowning in her immeasurable pain. Upon seeing Willowe out in such a state, Julian quickly approached her and took off his coat, draping it over her shoulders. Willow fixed him with a vacant gaze. Her eyes held no spark of life only a deep, abiding sadness. She gently brushed his hand away, wanting neither hisfort nor his presence. His ck coat then slid off her shoulders andnded on the ground. Julian swallowed hard, his throat moving noticeably as he said hoarsely, ¡°You should take care of yourself even if you¡¯re still upset with me, Willow.¡± Willow looked ahead into the night, her voice steady and unwavering as she said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business whether I¡¯m in good health or not, Julian.¡± Julian picked up the coat, still intending to drape it over her. Willow flung his hand away with all the strength she could muster. However, her body, still recovering from childbirth, couldn¡¯t withstand such emotional turmoil, causing her to suddenly copse on the spot and lose consciousness. It waste into the night when Willow finally regained consciousness. It was dark all around, and a faint scent of ca lilies drifted in the air. She reached out and switched on the wall sconce revealing a room that was both familiar and alien to her. It turned out she was at Radiance Manor. She noticed that Julian was nowhere to be seen and found that it was rather quiet downstairs, too. She then tried to look for her phone to call her chauffeur toe and pick her up, but she couldn¡¯t find it anywhere. She figured Julian had taken her phone. It was then that she suddenly felt a swelling sensation in her chest. She then nced down and noticed a faint dampness on thepel of her white bathrobe. That ache in her chest returned, steady and persistent. Willow gently bit her lip and held her chest as she stepped into the bathroom. She slowly loosened her bathrobe, carefully relieving the excess. Her reflection in the mirror revealed a figure that hadn¡¯t gained the expected fullness from breastfeeding but rather had be noticeably thinner. It was terribly painful, a constant, gnawing ache that brought tears to Willow¡¯s eyes. Through the insistent throbbing, she couldn¡¯t help but think of Landon, realizing that she had never gotten the chance to see him after he was born. She was so lost in her heart¡¯s sorrow that she didn¡¯t even register the sound of a car pulling into the courtyard downstairs. In the hush of nightfall, a pair of ck cars drove into the courtyard, one after the other. Julian alighted from the car, a subtle trace of fatigue etched on his features as he issued a few short directives to Esther. Esther¡¯s appearance speaks volumes of exhaustion, the dark circles around her eyes strikingly prominent. However, with her huge annual sry in mind, she steeled herself and said through gritted teeth, ¡°You can rest assured that I¡¯ll see to it that everything is handled properly, Mr. Ziegler.¡± Julian nodded and ascended the steps, heading into the vi. Though the lights were shining brightly in the living room, they couldn¡¯t dispel the gloom surrounding Julian. He then asked softly when one of the household staff, Jesse, approached to take his coat, ¡°Is Mrs. Ziegler awake? Has shee downstairs?¡± Jesse replied truthfully, ¡°It seems like there was some movement upstairs just now. I was just preparing to go upstairs and check on it when you returned.¡± Julian¡¯s steps faltered momentarily before he instructed Jesse to have dinner ready in 30 minutes. Having said that, Julian proceeded to the second floor. In the upstairs hallway, the night wind gently tousled his dark hair, momentarily revealing the silver mingled within. His heart at that moment was andscape beyond words. He desired to see Willow, yet a sense of trepidation held him back, akin to the apprehension of returning home after a long absence. He finally opened the door to the master bedroom, noting that the room was brightly lit and Willow wasn¡¯t in bed. He heard a faint noiseing from the bathroom, though, so he surmised that Willow was in there. He gently closed the door behind him, then reached up to unfasten the two buttons on his shirt as he moved toward the bathroom. His footsteps made no sound on the thick carpeted floor, leaving the upant within the bathroompletely oblivious. Having appeared in the bathroom doorway, both he and the upant inside were struck speechless, frozen in surprise. Julian broke the silence after a moment, asking, ¡°Are they engorged and painful?¡± Willow gently gathered her bathrobe around her and said tly, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Julian silently walked into the bathroom and encircled Willow from behind. She tried to resist, but her attempt was futile against his surprising strength. He rested his head on her slender shoulder, his gaze lifting to meet their conjoined reflection in the mirror. His eyes looked like pools of concentrated ink. In the next instant, Willow began to struggle, but Julian effortlessly restrained her with one hand. He then lowered his head and murmured soothingly in her ear, ¡°I¡¯ve learned how to do this properly. I¡¯m not trying to take advantage of you, so you should stop struggling.¡± In the bright re of the lights, their shadows mingled and blurred. Willow turned her face away, a wave of shame washing over her. She didn¡¯t dare to cry out, fearing that the household staff would rush up and witness such a humiliating scene. She had tears brimming in her eyes as she couldn¡¯t bear being treated in such a manner by Julian. It was only after some time had passed that Julian stopped his actions and gently helped her with her clothing. He hadn¡¯t been rash or done anything out of line, as he had truly sought to relieve her pain. Under the bright lights, Willow¡¯s voice trembled as she asked, ¡°Have you had enough? Can you let me go now, Julian?¡± Julian tightened his arms around her, his voice low and husky as he murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t want to let you go since chances like this are rare. I know you despise me and hate me with all your being. I still love you very much, though, and I still yearn for us to find our way back to each other, Willow. Please let me take care of you and Gabrie. If that¡¯s too much to ask for, please just allow me to see Gabrie.¡± Willow had brought two children into the world, Landon and Gabrie. Landon was no longer alive, so Gabrie had now be the sole object of Willow¡¯s affections and emotional dependence. Willow lowered her gaze and said indifferently, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Upon hearing that, Julian immediately froze in ce. Willow turned within his embrace and gently pushed him away. Her tone was strikingly calm as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll be taking Gabrie abroad once she¡¯s one month old, with very little chance of returning. There will be no father in Gabrie¡¯s life¨Cat least, not a father like you, Julian.¡± Having said that, Willow turned to leave. Julian¡¯s face drained of all color. He abruptly grabbed her wrist, his posture shifting to one of near supplication as he pleaded, ¡°I won¡¯t bother you, so please don¡¯t leave. Please, at the very least, let me see Gabrie every now and then. I¡¯ve only held her once since she came into this world, Willow. I¡¯m begging you, Willow!¡± Willow lowered her gaze and retorted coldly, ¡°And whose fault is that? If it weren¡¯t for your darling Alicia and if it weren¡¯t for the havoc you weed into our lives, Grace would still be breathing, and Landon might have lived. I had made it clear back then that I would repay your actions in kind, Julian. It¡¯s the fair thing to do.¡± Having said that, Willow walked out, leaving Julian standing before his reflection. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes reflecting nothing but utter despair. He had no one to me but himself, after all. Altar 216 Willow didn¡¯t stay for dinner. She instead asked Julian to return her phone. Julian simply remained silent. Willow fought back her emotions and asked softly, ¡°Are you nning to lock me up again, Julian? I don¡¯t have my grandmother anymore, though.¡± Upon hearing her mention Grace, Julian couldn¡¯t help but feel a sharp ache. He swallowed hard and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home. I¡¯ll return your phone to you at your doorstep.¡± Having heard that, Willow didn¡¯t bother to argue with Julian, merely changing into the clothes she had worn earlier. Jesse, who evidently sympathized with Willow¡¯s postpartum recovery, brought a thick shawl and thoughtfully draped it over her. Her voice trembled as she offered her a fewforting words Will¨®w couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of grief washing over her. She settled into the car, her eyes brimming with tears. Though utterly exhausted, Julian still insisted on driving her home himself. He knew that this fleeting time together held immeasurable worth and understood that such opportunities might not present themselves again. He changed his clothes, walked downstairs, and noticed that Willow was sitting in the back seat. He promptly opened the car door and asked softly, ¡°Can you please sit in the passenger seat?¡± He longed to talk to her, just the two of them. He wanted to hear her talk about Gabrie. She remained in the back seat with her frail figure shrouded in the gloom, making no attempts to respond to his request. He swallowed hard before finally closing the car door and settling into the driver¡¯s seat. It was rather silent during their drive back to the Chapman residence. Julian nced at the rearview mirror and asked softly, ¡°Is she eating properly? Is she sleeping soundly at night? Who does she look like more¨Cme or you?¡± Willow turned her face away, gazing into the night beyond the car window. Gabrie¡¯s features mirrored Julian¡¯s, particrly the smooth contour of her face and the faint dimples, which were strikingly like his. She was also remarkably tall for her age, suggesting that she would reach at least 5¡¯7¡± as an adult. She remained silent about it, though, unwilling to share such information with Julian. It was a very quiet night, and it was even quieter within the confines of the car, with Julian¡¯s voice punctuating the silence every now and then. It was half an hourter that Julian¡¯s car finally pulled into the Chapman residence. Upon opening the car door, Maya Schofield and Hattie Moore, the household staff of the Chapman residence, immediately stepped forward. They almost respectfully called out to Julian before they quickly held it back. They gently supported Willow out of the car, and one of them whispered, ¡°Mrs. Chapman is currently upstairs, attending to the baby. It seems like she¡¯s hungry at the moment, so please head upstairs to check on her, Ms. Harper.¡± 1 Willow turned to Julian and demanded, my phone back.¡® Julian raised his gaze and quietly looked toward the second floor, his eyes full of longing. He longed to hold Gabrie in his arms, having been told that she was a strikingly beautiful and healthy child. However, Willow didn¡¯t allow him to do such a thing. He leaned over to get the phone from the car and passed it to her. His voice was a low rasp as he asked, ¡°Can I see her, Willow? Can I hold her for a while?¡± Julian¡¯s request found no purchase with Willow; her resolve was unwavering. She took the phone and, with the support of the household staff, slowly made her way into the brightly lit vi. Julian remained standing in the shadows behind her, looking utterly deste. Yet, even this moment of solitude was fleeting, as the insistent ringing of his phone broke the silence. He took it out from his pocket, noting that it was the hospital calling him. His voice wavered almost imperceptibly as he answered, ¡°Julian speaking.¡± Having heard that, the caller on the other end of the line spoke briefly. Julian looked up toward the second floor of the Chapman residence, where Gabrie was staying. His eyes were brimming with tears, but even so, he still opened the car door, sat in the driver¡¯s seat, and started the engine. In the darkness of the night, the ck car sped away from the Chapman residence. It was roughly 20 minutester that Julian¡¯s car drove onto the premises of a private hospital, and following a series of turns, it wound its way to a small, secluded building located furthest inside. Julian opened the car door and stepped out, hurriedly making his way to the second floor of the building. It was a floor dedicated to only one room- -a nursery. 1 In the confines of the clear incubator, a newborny quietly, with several tubes attached to his small frame, and gauze covered his belly where the umbilical cord had been. His limbs were thin and undeveloped, resembling those of a frail little frog. He was , huddling in the incubator, gently stirred his fragile body. His small chest was rising and falling withbored breaths, a tiny warrior determined to survive. Mnie kneeled on the floor and gazed at Landon, her eyes brimming with tears. She then said, ¡°You have to tell Willow about this, Julian! I mean, Landon is her own flesh and blood! You can¡¯t keep this from her forever. In addition, the Chapmans are nning to send her abroad. What if Landon¡¯doesn¡¯t make it? She never have the chance to see Landon again. That¡¯s a regret that¡¯ll haunt her forever!¡± Julian lowered his gaze, his voice rasping beyond recognition as he said, ¡°He only has a 1% chance of survival, Mom. How can I tell her that? It would definitely crush her. It would eat away at her steal her rest, and drown her in agony. I¡¯d rather she hold resentment toward me; at least after the initial pain, she can live a decent life. ¡°I¡¯m certain that going abroad is the best thing for anew, after all.¡± the moment. It would be a chance for her to escape the pain and start Mnie¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears as she looked at Landon in the incubator. He wasn¡¯t much to look at ¡ªbut he was a Ziegler and her precious grandson. She silently hoped that Grace, who might be in heaven at the moment, would so small, so thin protect Landon and ensure his safe development. It was beyond anyone¡¯s expectations that Landon would spend ten months within the confines of the incubator, ten months during which Julian maintained a tireless watch, around the clock, before Landon finally showed signs of life and growth. In the stillness of thete night, Willow made her way upstairs in the Chapman residence. Heather was coaxing Gabrie at the moment, trying to lull her to sleep. Having heard the footsteps, she knew that Willow had returned. She sighed internally but turned around with a faint smile, saying, ¡°You¡¯re finally back, Willow. Gabrie has been missing you terribly. I fed her twice, but she was clearly waiting for you, only taking a few sips each time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll feed her,¡± Willow said softly, slipping off her shawl. She then walked over, picked up Gabrie, and unfastened her clothes. Upon catching Willow¡¯s familiar scent, Gabrie eagerlytched on and began to nurse hungrily, the gentle sounds of her swallowing audible in the stillness. Having stayed with Willow for a little while, Heather silently made her way downstairs to prepare Willow¡¯s postpartum meal. Timothy looked at Heather and murmured with a sigh, ¡°I can¡¯t help but wonder if this decision we¡¯ve made is the right one.¡± Heather lowered her gaze, pondering for a moment before saying, ¡®You ought to know that Willow¡¯s body simply can¡¯t take it anymore, Timothy. As much as I despise Julian, I can¡¯t gamble with Willow¡¯s well¨Cbeing. If this drags on for months, I¡¯m worried that she¡¯llpletely fall apart.¡± Timothy could only sigh in response. It was deep into the night, and everything grew still when Willow finally managed to fall asleep with much effort. She dreamed of Landon walking toward her, calling her ¡°Mommy¡± in his sweet soft voice. He nestled against her, telling her that he didn¡¯t feel well and that it was lonely being by himself. ¡°Landon¡­ Landon¡­¡± Willow murmured restlessly in her sleep, her voiceced with distress. She kept calling out Landon¡¯s name until the nurse roused her from her sleep. It was only after noticing the tear¨Cstained pillow that she suddenly realized that it had all been a dream. Yet, the Landon in her dream felt so real and full of life, like a living, breathing four¨Cyear¨Cold boy. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder, while in a daze, if that was what Landon would look like as a four¨Cyear¨Cold boy. She was emotionally and physically drained, so she got up in the middle of the night to check on Gabrie. Her little one was fast asleep, smelling sweet and feeling soft to the touch. She reached out and gently traced the delicate contours of Gabrie¡¯s face, noting that her daughter was growing into such a beautiful child. She thought that if Landon were still alive, he would undoubtedly be just as handsome and adorable. Though she was still in her postpartum recovery period, Willow still made weekly trips to see Landon in Cornerstone. She had personally knitted a tiny two¨Cpiece outfit for him, made using the finest cashmere yarn. She had stayed upte many nights working on these clothes, her eyes turning bloodshot and bing sore as a result. Though the others had advised her to take a break, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do so. It was the only thing she felt like she could do for Landon, after all She also bought a variety of toys for Landon, selecting items suitable for newborns up to four¨Cyear¨Colds. She carried these items to the chapel and arranged them next to the baster urn. It had been over two weeks, and her tears had finally run dry. In her spare time, she found sce in the flickering candles and religious scriptures, kneeling in prayer for Landon throughout the night. In the mountains, the chapel bells rang out loud and clear. In the chapel, Willow prostrated herself before the altar, tears streaming down her face. It was early in the morning when she stepped out of Cornerstone and found Julian in the parking lot. There was mist swirling through the mountains at the moment. Julian, in a white dress shirt and ck cks, leaned against the car, smoking his cigarette. His cigarette smoke drifted upward, making his handsome features appear obscure. Willow looked intently at him, vaguely registering that Julian appeared to have lost a noticeable amount of weight. It seemed that he had been waiting for her, as he hurriedly walked toward her as soon as he saw her. It was after a long while that Julian finally broke the silence and said hoarsely, ¡°I heard that you¡¯re leaving for Faeria next week¡± Willow remained silent. She gathered her shawl more closely and opened the door of the ck car belonging to the Chapman family. Julian¡¯s voice,ced with desperation, called out from behind her, pleading, ¡°Please let Gabrie stay with me for a week, Willow! It¡¯ll be so hard for us to see each other again once you¡¯re in Faeria, and with me being so busy here.¡± Willow¡¯s hand tightened on the handle of the car door. She fixed her gaze on the mist swirling in the mountains and said softly, Altar 218 It was Timothy¡¯s idea to send Willow to Faeria, as the June climate in Faeria was known to be mild, conducive to healing. Heather would travel with her, with the intention of looking after Gabrie until she was six months old. Timothy had already bought a vi there and had also set aside ample funds to guarantee a luxurious lifestyle for Heather and Willow. Heather managed to arrange everything within a week. She had packed all the clothing and necessities for herself and Willow, covering all seasons, along with Gabrie¡¯s food, feeding supplies and diapering essentials. Though she was still a baby, Gabrie¡¯s belongingspletely filled fourrge suitcases. Heather saw to all the arrangements herself. Having taken care of everything, she looked at Gabrie¨Cher ever lovely granddaughter¨Cbefore rubbing her sore waist and returning to her room. Upon stepping inside, Heather noticed Timothy standing on the balcony, a cigarette in his hand and a deep frown creasing his forehead. She was rather taken aback, as Timothy rarely smoked at home, let alone with such a troubled expression. They shared a rather loving rtionship, so she naturally walked up behind him, gently caressed his arm, and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Timothy?¡± Timothy stretched out his arm, put out the cigarette, and smiled as if nothing was amiss. ¡°It¡¯s nothing! I was just a little bothered by something, so I thought I¡¯d have a smoke. You shouldn¡¯t read too much into it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being unusually verbose, Timothy.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Timothy asked with a grin. He then put his arm around Heather¡¯s shoulder and redirected the conversation to Gabrie, saying that he wanted to see her. 1 Heather¡¯s attention was immediately diverted. She leaned against Timothy¡¯s shoulder and said gently, ¡°It¡¯s already sote; the little one is already fast asleep now.¡± Timothy continued to coax Heather, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll see her first thing in the morning, then! I¡¯ll have Gabrieughing heartily tomorrow! I¡¯m certain she¡¯ll love it!¡± Heather brushed it off with a chuckle, saying, ¡°I think Gabrie is rather aloof. You¡¯ll be the one looking like a fool if she doesn¡¯t burst outughing.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind being a fool for my own granddaughter!¡± Timothy eximed. He couldn¡¯t help but think that Gabrie was exactly like her father, Julian, and that aloofness was something innate. Heather, sessfully misled by Timothy, went to the closet to get her bathrobe and then proceeded to the bathroom for a shower. She was truly exhausted after a long and busy day. Timothy might have fooled Heather, but Willow was not so easily deceived. Though the news had been kept under wraps, Willow had still gotten wind of it¨CAurelia Group was experiencing a financial crisis, necessitating a 20 billion loan from the bank to address the deficit. However, given the poor economic climate, finding a creditworthy guarantor had proven difficult. In the living room on the second floor, Gabrie slept peacefully in her pink crib. Willow, holding the side of the crib, gently caressed Gabrie¡¯s face. Annie, standing hesitantly to one side, eventually informed Willow, ¡°It seems like Aurelia Group¡¯s financial crisis has been brewing for about two or three months now. It¡¯s highly likely that Mr. Chapman didn¡¯t want to upset you during your pregnancy, so he kept it from everyone at home.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite a significant sum¨C20 billion dors. Those with the financial standing to guarantee such a loan would have been few and far between,¡± Willow murmured. She held a 10% stake in Neb Group, an asset valued at over 40 billion dors. These shares were non, transferable, though, rendering her unable to act as a guarantor. In addition, Insight Corporation was still a rtively smallpany, with its market 13 value barely exceeding five billion dors, making it even less qualified to act as a guarantor. Nevertheless, Timothy had been good to Heather and had shown her great affection. He had even chosen to send them to Faeria after the crisis. This familial bond alone had been enough for Willow to decide she couldn¡¯t simply ignore the situation. That very afternoon, Willow visited the ounting firm and calcted all her liquid assets, including the real estate and stocks she could liquidate. The total amounted to roughly three billion dors. Willow, unconcerned with preserving her wealth, withdrew all of her avable funds. She also instructed her ountant to expedite the sale of her real estate holdings. Her personal financial advisor, with concern, advised a more cautious approach. However, Willow merely smiled faintly in response. She had kept all these things from Heather as well. Having gathered three billion dors over two days, Willow waited for the right opportunity and then pushed open the door to Timothy¡¯s study, noting that the room was thick with cigarette smoke and Timothy¡¯s face was etched with exhaustion. There was also a crystal ashtray on the desk filled with discarded cigarette butts. Upon seeing Willow, Timothy promptly extinguished his cigarette and smiled gently, saying, ¡°It¡¯s already quitete, Willow. Why are you still awake?¡± He initially wanted to open the window to air out the study, but knowing that Willow was still in her postpartum recovery period, he decided against it. Willow walked over and emptied the ashtray, saying, ¡°You should try to cut back on the cigarettes, Dad. They¡¯re not good for you.¡± Timothy was momentarily stunned, followed by the welling of tears in his eyes. Willow had just called him ¡°Dad.¡± Heather¡¯s reunion with Willow happened when Willow was already grown and a sessful businesswoman. Thus, having her address him, the stepfather, as ¡°Dad¡± felt rather awkward to her, though Timothy had always yearned for it. Now that his desire was fulfilled, his happiness was intertwined with a poignant sadness. Willow and Heather would be staying in Faeria from then on. Their return remained uncertain. Timothy had lied to Heather, telling her that their stay in Faeria would be for half a year. He wasn¡¯t even sure if Aurelia Group would survive the financial crisis. If it didn¡¯t, Timothy would shoulder the consequences alone. He surmised that ensuring the well¨Cbeing of Heather and Willow in Faeria would be thest thing he could do within his power. He had no idea that Willow had known the truth all along. Having emptied the ashtray, Willow ced it back on the desk, retrieved a crisp check from her pocket, and ced it before Timothy. It bore the significant sum of three billion dors. Timothy was momentarily speechless. He naturally refused to ept it. Willow had toiled so hard for it; she had faced so much adversity. How could he bring himself to take her money? Willow insisted that he keep the check, saying softly, ¡°That money you¡¯ve set aside in the Valoisian bank is more than enough to sustain Mom for the rest of her life. Please be assured thate what may, I¡¯ll look after Mom and ensure that she doesn¡¯t fall into poverty or endure hardship, Dad.¡± 1 Herpany, Insight Corporation, was still generating ie, and even if things went south, her capabilities remained a strong asset. She could readily earn a multi¨Cmillion¨Cdor annual sry in a high¨Clevel executive role. She also understood that these three billion dors were a pittance, far from sufficient to alleviate Aurelia Group¡¯s financial crisis. It was then that her phone suddenly rang. It was Julian on the line. It was the dead of night, and the silence was profound. It was so quiet that even the sound of breathing was distinct on either end of the phone. There was a moment of silence before Julian said softly, ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been short on funds recently and have divested several properties. Is this connected to Aurelia Group¡¯s financial crisis?¡± Willow cut straight to the chase, asking, ¡°Is this your doing, Julian¡± +25 BONUS Julian, on the other end of the line, smiled faintly and replied, ¡°You think too highly of my abilities, Willow. You ought to know that Aurelia Group is a financial behemoth worth hundreds of billions of dors. It¡¯s not something I could manipte at will. And besides, Timothy is your family. Why would I do such a thing to him?¡± Though Julian denied it, there was a certain reservation in his tone Having been his wife for years, Willow understood this nuance. Thus, she remained silent, waiting for him to say more. It didn¡¯t take long before Julian broke the silence, proposing a deal with Willow. Altar 219 It was pouring the following day when a ck car pulled up outside Neb Group¡¯s building. The driver circled to the back to open the door, and Willow got out with an umbre over her head lowever, the downpour was so heavy that a patch of her jacket was soon soaked. Esther was waiting for her by the car. She led Willow to the office on the top floor and got her a ss of milk. Then, she said, ¡± Mr. Ziegler is in a meeting, but he should be here soon. Please have a seat and wait for a while.¡± With that, she left the office. Willow didn¡¯t sit. Instead, she stood before the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows and gazed out at the scenery of most of Brindley. Rain veiled the view in a soft, gray mist and soaked the streets¡­ Perhaps also dousing the embers of one¡¯s youth and ambition. She stared outside for so long that time seemed to blur, making her feel like that day was no different from years ago. In a daze, she felt like she was taken back to the past, when she was still Neb Group¡¯s vice CEO. She was so out of it that she didn¡¯t even notice the door opening. Julian shut the door and stood there, watching her. He was still as handsome as always, and Willow was still young. The only difference was that they were no longer married; she was about to leave him. Willow would soon leave for Faeria. Who knew how long she would stay there? Would she even return? When Julian spoke, his voice was a little raspy. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you sit while waiting? You¡¯re still in postpartum recovery¨Cyou need to be careful.¡± Willow returned to her senses and slowly turned to look at him without saying anything. He headed to the couch and invited her to sit. Then, he warmed the ss of milk and said, ¡°Take this to warm yourself up. The A/ C is on full st.¡± She looked at him stoically. ¡°Don¡¯t bother beating around the bush, Julian. Name your conditions.¡± He held the ss, feeling somewhat upset. After a moment, he said, ¡°We don¡¯t get to see each other often. Are transactions and deals all that¡¯s left between us?¡± ¡°What else could there be?¡± ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right. You despise me now, after all.¡® ¡°I Julian put down the ss and looked at Willow. Then, he returned to his usual businesslike behavior. ¡°I can act as a guarantor for Aurelia Group. Knowing what Timothy is capable of, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll soon be able to lead thepany past this crisis. ¡°My condition is simple¨CI want us to live like a married couple for three days before you leave for Faeria. I¡¯ll let you go once it¡¯s time.¡± Live like a married couple for three days? Tears filled Willow¡¯s eyes, and she sounded broken as she asked, ¡°Have you lost your mind, Julian? Grandma and Landon¡¯s lives lie between us. Do you think we can still be together?¡± He got up and crouched before her, looking as he always had¨Che was still the same Julian who struck a good deal. He ced a hand on her knee and said gently, ¡°Think it through. All you need to do is bring Gabrie with you and stay with me for three days¨CAurelia Group¡¯s crisis will soon be averted. Isn¡¯t that a win¨Cwin situation? You respect Timothy, and he treats you well. Isn¡¯t that the case?¡± Willow pped him, but he didn¡¯t get mad. He caught her hand and swooped in, gripping her jaw and kissing her hard before she could react. Even when she turned away, he followed. It was still pouring outside, so it was dark in the office. Julian refused to let the kiss end. Willow grabbed his hair and pped him countless times, but he was unfazed. All he wanted to do w¨¢s savor this stolen moment of passion. After a long while, he buried his face against her neck as he panted. His tall nose pressed against her supple skin, and he nuzzled her tenderly. He knew this was a cheap move, but it was also his only chance to be with Willow and Gabrie. He wouldn¡¯t regret this, no matter how deeply Willow hated him. He knew she would agree. They¡¯d been married for so long¨Che knew her like the back of his hand. Willow wasn¡¯t doing any better than he was. Her face was turned away as she tried to catch her breath. Her dress was a mess underneath her thin jacket. She was still recovering frombor, and Gabrie couldn¡¯t finish the milk she produced. She would start leaking if she didn¡¯t feed Gabrie every two hours. 3 Altar 220 Willow went to the restroom to tidy up. This time, Julian didn¡¯t disturb her. When she came back, she said, ¡°I want to see the guarantee letter.¡± Julian¡¯s heart skipped a beat. After a moment, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve set a dinner appointment with the bank manager of Yarrowmere¡¯s Harkive Bank. We¡¯ll sign the letter tonight.¡± Willow smiled faintly. ¡°Nothing escapes your control, does it?¡± Julian also smiled, but it was bitter. He walked her down to her car. As the door shut before him, he continued staring at her through the window. His gaze was filled with his deep longing for her. That night, Joe Paxton, Harkive Bank¡¯s manager, flew to Brindley Julian brought him to Moonlit, where they downed several bottles of hard liquor before the guarantee letter was signed. The bank would release the funds to Aurelia Group the following day. Water flowed from a golden faucet in the opulent restroom. Julian leaned against the wall with his head thrown back. His face was red¨Cit was clear he¡¯d had too much to drink. Esther carefully supported him and said, ¡°Your body isn¡¯t as strong as it used to be. You¡¯re killing yourself by drinking so much.¡± He pulled out a box of cigarettes and opened it. Taking one out, he put it between his lips, lighting it. His gaze darkened as he took a drag. ¡°Mr. Paxton wanted to drag things out for a few days, but I don¡¯t have time for that. ¡°Willow will be leaving for Faeria in a matter of days, so this is myst chance to spend time with her. I¡¯ve only ever held Gabrie once, and that was a month ago. Who knows what she looks like now?¡± Esther felt sorry for him. Julian looked up at the smoke he blew out and said, ¡°Send the signed letter to Willow and tell her the funds will be released tomorrow.¡± She nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. I¡¯ll take care of everything.¡± 1 Later that night, Willow received an electronic copy of the signed letter. She looked it over several times before putting her phone down. Heather was nearby. When she saw the look on Willow¡¯s face, she asked, ¡°What were you looking at? Why do you look so preupied?¡± Willow smiled. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± She walked over to Heather and gently rocked the cot. After a long moment of consideration, she said, ¡°Julian wants to see Gabrie, Mom. I¡¯m thinking of bringing her over to his ce for a few days before leaving for Faeria. Let¡¯s meet at the airport then and board the ne together.¡± Heather was stunned when she heard that. She looked at Willow for a long time before determining that thetter wasn¡¯t joking. She didn¡¯t say whether she agreed or disagreed. All she did was ask ¡°Are you thinking of getting back together with him?¡± Willow shook her head. ¡°He just wants to see Gabrie.¡± Heather found this fishy, but it also made sense. She thought Willow was just taking pity on Julian. She wanted to discuss this with Timothy, but he¡¯d taken an afternoon flight to Yarrowmere and would only be back the following morning. She asked, ¡°He didn¡¯t threaten you, did he?¡± Willow smiled. ¡°That¡¯s a stretch, even for him.¡°. That cleared Heather¡¯s doubts. Still, she was worried, so she arranged for two nurses to follow Willow and Gabrie over. She wanted to drop Willow off, but thetter said it was fine for the driver to take her there. Early the following morning, when the nts were still damp with dew, two ck cars slowly drove into Radiance Manor. Once they stopped, Julian opened the back door of one of the cars. Willow got out of the car with Gabrie in her arms. Gabrie was almost a month old, and she was so tiny that her head was the only thing that was vaguely visible from the swaddle. Julian¡¯s gaze was dark as he looked at Willow. Then, he gently parted the swaddle, wanting to look at Gabrie. Altar 221 Chapter 221 Gabrie was awake in the swaddle. She had wless skin, bright eyes, and tiny dimples. She looked just like Julian. Every father had a soft spot for their daughters, especially since Gabrie kept staring at Julian with her twinkling eyes. She could see clearly now and seemed to be curious about him. He stared back at her as his heart melted. He carefully took Gabrie from Willow¡¯s arms, feeling like something was lodged in his throat as he held her close. She was so soft and light. Julian couldn¡¯t help but lower his head and press it to Gabrie¡¯s cheek. She smelled sweet and had that unique scent that only babies had. It was a smell that filled him with joy. Tears filled his eyes, which was unlike him. This was what blissfulness felt like. Esther quietly wiped her tears. She was just a regr employee, but she¡¯d formed a bond with Julian after working with him for so long. She hoped beyond hope that this moment of bliss wouldst forever. She said softly, ¡°It¡¯s chilly in the morning. Let¡¯s bring the baby upstairs.¡± Julian kissed Gabrie softly and looked at Willow. ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs. I¡¯ve prepared a nursery for Gabrie.¡± Willow wanted to say it wasn¡¯t necessary because they would only be there for three days. Ultimately, she decided against it. On the second floor, the southernmost bedroom had been converted into a pink nursery. It was a soft shade that softened one¡¯s heart. Therge room didn¡¯t just have a cot. There was also lovely and romantic. 2 ww round princess bed withceting that cascaded around it. It looked Julian gently ced Gabrie into the cot. After removing the swaddle, he saw that she wore a onesie in the pattern of a cow. Her legs were long and straight, but her tiny feet looked like mushrooms. They were adorable. He caressed her hair and looked at Willow. ¡°I think she¡¯s going to be a brte.¡± Willow had taken her jacket off and was starting to unpack Gabrie¡¯s things. She made a soft sound of agreement and said, ¡± Her hair¡¯s pretty thick.¡± Julian turned back to Gabrie. He grabbed her tiny foot and gently nibbled on it- ¨C was softer than jelly. didn¡¯t have teeth yet, so the action was endearing. This tickled Gabrie. She kicked her feet and happily revealed her gums. She Julian adored her. He kept staring at her, and she kicked her feet even more excitedly, seemingly sensing his love for her. After a while, her face crumpled, and she burst into tears. Her tiny diaper seemed to bulge, and an odd smell permeated the air. Julian was taken aback. Meanwhile, Willow calmly grabbed a new diaper. ¡°She¡¯s peed herself. She¡¯ll be good to go once her butt is cleaned and diaper is changed.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes twinkled. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± He wanted to care for Gabrie as best as he could for the next three days¨Che wanted to fulfill his responsibility as a father. He also wanted to spend as much time as possible with her. Who knew whether he¡¯d still have the chance to be with her in the future? Instead of objecting, Willow asked, ¡°Do you know how to do it?¡± He rasped, ¡°I went to sses.¡± As it turned out, men could also be excellent stay¨Cat¨Chome dads. Julian had always been smarter than everyone around him, and he looked like he knew what he was doing as he cleaned Gabrie with warm water. She didn¡¯t fuss or cry. On the contrary, she kept giggling. Chapter 221 Then, she pooped squarely on Julian¡¯s palm, letting out a terrible smell. Julian froze. He watched as she stretched her legs and beamed at in, looking sweet and free of worries. Esther covered her mouth as sheughed. ¡°She knows how to pick the best spot,¡± The two nurses alsoughed. Julian didn¡¯t let this faze him. He carried Gabrie with one hand and filled a tub with more water to clean her again. He felt a mixture of bliss and sorrow as he did this¨Cdays like these were numbered. He wanted to plead with Willow to stay by his side¨Cto keep Gabrie with him. However, he was reminded of Landon. Perhaps it would be better for Willow to leave the country. Gabrie was hungry. Honestly, all babies needed were food, sleep and someone to clean up after them. They didn¡¯t need anything else. As Willow fed Gabrie, Julian gave her space and waited on the balcony after washing his hands. He gazed out at the trees in the backyard and saw that some of them had grown fruit. Esther came to report to him about some official matters. When she was done, she said, ¡°If there¡¯s no other way, you can temporarily leave thepany in the hands of a managerial team. Your body won¡¯t hold out for long if you continue like this.¡± Altar 222 Julian touched his box of cigarettes but held himself back. He sighed and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to have anyone else in charge of thepany unless there¡¯s no other option. You know how manypanies with billions in worth have been ruined by those pests, right? Besides, the shareholders would never agree.¡± Esther fell silent. Her heart ached for him. He lowered his voice and asked her a few things, to which she answered, ¡°There hasn¡¯t been anything out of the ordinary.¡± Despite that, he would still visit Landon every night and speak to thetter through the incubator. That night would be no exception. As for Gabrie, he also had ns for her. She was his flesh and blood, and he would ensure she grew up without worries, even if he couldn¡¯t be by her side. He wanted her to spend the rest of her life in bliss and do only what she loved. All that mattered was that she was happy. No one would expect her to grow up to be an heiress who would push herself harder than anyone else. Julian sat behind his desk in his study. He spoke to Liam on the phone and curbed his and Mnie¡¯s desire toe over and visit. He only told them to drop by on thest day to see Gabrie. Amaid knocked on the door just as he hung up. ¡°Sir, Mr. Lawless is here.¡± Zachary had arrived. Julian said calmly, ¡°Bring him here.¡± Shortly after, the door swung open, and Zachary walked in. He sat on the couch and opened his briefcase to pull out a document. ¡°This is a mediapany directly under your control. The 60% stake you own will be fully gifted to your daughter, Gabrie Harper. She¡¯ll haveplete authority to do whatever she wants with it when she turns 18.¡± He couldn¡¯t helpmenting the situation¡ªa man as devoted to his career as Julian had thrown his rationality out the window after falling in love. He didn¡¯t even want his empire anymore. Julian¡¯s 60% stake in the mediapany was worth over 80 billion dors, yet he was giving it all to an infant who wasn¡¯t even a month old. Of course, Zachary also felt envious. Some people were just born into such privilege. He pushed the document to Julian. ¡°Please sign in the ces I¡¯ve marked.¡± Julian thumbed through the document before signing and stamping it. Zachary left behind a photocopy of the document before leaving silently in the night. After Zachary left, Julian sat alone in the study for a while longer before heading to the nursery. It was quiet in the night, and he smelled the faint scent of flowers in the air. It smelled nice. He knocked on the nursery door and entered to see Willow feeding Gabrie. Thetter was curled up in Willow¡¯s arms, her eyes shut as she ate, looking satisfied. Julian shut the door and approached them. He crouched and gently stroked Gabrie¡¯s face. Willow didn¡¯t shy away from him. His heart melted, and he tenderly caressed Gabrie¡¯s hair as he looked up at Willow. ¡°How many times do you need to feed her ¡® in a day? Does she wake up at night? Does she fuss?¡± Willow said, ¡°She¡¯s a good girl. She needs to be fed twice during the night.¡± Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°She¡¯s like you. You must¡¯ve also been a good girl as a baby, Willow.¡± She didn¡¯t respond to that. She was still cold to him¨Cshe¡¯d onlye for the 20¨Cbillion¨Cdor guarantee, after all. Naturally, he sensed this and smiled bitterly. He ced the photocopy of the earlier document on the bedside table and stroked Gabrie¡¯s hair again. ¡°Take good care of yourself and Gabrie abroad. Thispany is my gift to her. If possible, take a few photos of her now and then so I can see her.¡± Willow looked up at him. He smiled faintly and said, ¡°I know you don¡¯t want it, but it¡¯s something I¡¯m giving to my daughter. No matter how we turn out, I will always be Gabrie¡¯s father.¡± Willow didn¡¯t refute him. Whatever love they¡¯d shared was well and truly dead; she was out of strength to argue with him. Later that night, Julian left the house after receiving a phone call. I was 3:00 am when he returned, and his heart was filled with so much bitterness that he couldn¡¯t share with anyone. He went to the nursery to check on Gabrie. The faint smell of milk permeated the room, and it was so blissful that it washed away the despair in his heart. He¡¯d just suffered a devastating blow. He wasn¡¯t invincible¨Che was also human, and he would feel despair so overwhelming that he had no idea what to do. Unexpectedly, Gabrie was awake in the darkness. She looked at him with bright eyes. The sight made Julian¡¯s heart twist painfully. He bent down to pick her up, holding her close as he pressed his face to hers. He¡¯d never been the type to cry, but tears streamed down his face at that moment. The tear streaks seemed to stand out in the darkness. Altar 223 Willow and Julian had agreed to live like a married couple for three days, but Julian was busy throughout those three days. Even when he was at home, he spent most of his time attending to work in his study, At night, he was rarely home. He would leave the vi every night and return before 5:00 am. After showering, he would fall asleep with Gabrie in his arms. He would sing her lubies. He only had three short days with her, so he gave her his all¨Che exhausted himself physically and mentally just to be with her. He wanted her to grow up with memories of a father¡¯s warmth, no matter how brief it was. On Julian¡¯sst night with Willow, he returned home, overwhelmed by his despair as usual. He sat in the car, feeling drained as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. His hand trembled as he smoked his way through half of it. Each time he saw Landon felt like thest. He¡¯d hired the world¡¯s best doctors to save Landon, whom he knew was in pain. He was such a tiny baby, yet he constantly teetered on the edge of death as hey in his incubator. The doctors had advised Julian not to force this, but he couldn¡¯t let go. His darling Landon shouldn¡¯t disappear from this world. Julian didn¡¯t know how long he would have to stick this out, but he knew that he wouldn¡¯t give up as long as he lived and as long as Landon continued breathing. Julian sat in the car for ten minutes before getting out. It was hisst night with Willow. He walked into the bedroom and showered before changing into a white shirt and ck pants. He even put on a tie that Willow had picked for him. Then, he headed to the nursery and kissed Gabrie tenderly. He fed her, making her stomach bulge. He rubbed it gently, utterly reluctant to part with her. After that night, he would have to see his daughter leave him. Who knew how long it would be until they saw each other again? Perhaps she would be all grown up and even taller than Willow. Perhaps she would be beautiful and have countless admirers chasing after her. Julian desperately wished he could be by her side as she grew up. Tears filled his eyes as he picked her up and ced her on the bed between him and Willow. Then, he held Willow¡¯s hand gently. The night was almost terrifyingly silent. He knew Willow wasn¡¯t asleep. He wanted to say a few generous things, but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. They had children together, and he would always think of her as his wife. But their love, hatred, and the tangled web of emotions between them would fade with their parting. After a long moment, he shifted closer to Willow and rested his face against her shoulder, saying lowly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Willow.¡± That night was so long and yet so short. Tyler, Liam, and their wives prepared to leave the Ziegler residence to head to Radiance Manor so they could see Gabrie. No one knew how long they would be apart from Gabrie, so they¡¯d prepared plenty of clothes for her. Four cars were already waiting outside the house, but Mnie was still checking herself in the mirror. She wanted to leave Gabrie with a good impression. She was about to head downstairs when her phone rang. After answering it, she hummed and hawed in hesitation before sighing and agreeing. Then, she told Liam that she had to first visit a friend¡¯s daughter who¡¯d been hospitalized. It wouldn¡¯t be toote for her to head to Radiance Manor after. That angered Liam, He berated her for not getting her priorities straight. Mnie ran a hand through her hair. ¡°The driver just needs to make a detour. It¡¯s not going to affect anything.¡± Chapter 223 He didn¡¯t want to waste his time and breath on her, so he got into the car. He couldn¡¯t wait to see Gabrie. Mnie got into another car and hurried off. Half an hourter, Tyler, Karen, and Liam arrived at Radiance Manor. The two men could control themselves when they saw Gabrie, but Karen¡¯s heart melted at the sight of her. She held Gabrie close and cooed over her, calling her a gorgeous girl. She even gave thetter an emerald bangle that she herself had worn for decades. Willow didn¡¯t want to ept it, but Karen insisted. Thetter didn¡® want to let go of Gabrie, but still showed her to Liam. ¡± Look at what a gorgeous girl she is, Liam. She looks just like Julian¡® Liam held Gabrie, feeling emotional as he looked at her. However, that was all he could do. Julian had made the wrong moves, but at least he was willing to bear the consequences. He couldn¡¯t hold Willow back forever. Altar 224 Liam held Gabrie and yed with her. He waspletely like his usual stoic self. She smiled in his arms and revealed her gums. He secretly cursed Mnie for her bad luck. Gabrie was adorable) Time was almost up, yet Mnie didn¡¯t show. Liam couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask Willow to wait any longer, so he reluctantly returned Gabrie to her. At the same time, he said, ¡°Mnie¡¯s out of control. I have no idea where she¡¯s gone off to.¡± Willow merely smiled. She and Mnie were on bad terms, so this didn¡¯t bother her. Now that their parting was imminent, Liam was tempted to ask Willow to give Julian another chance. However, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and ultimately remained silent. It was toote for things to change. Julian entered the room at 10:00 am. He wore an expensive suit fit for a banquet, clearly wanting to leave Willow and Gabrie with the best impression possible. However, it didn¡¯t seem to ur to him that this would be thest day in his life that he would be this perfect. No matter how reluctant he was for them to part, the time would eventuallye. He held Gabrie close, kissing and cuddling her for thest time. Liam¡¯s heart broke at the sight, and he secretly wiped his tears. Karen said, ¡°They should get going. There¡¯s bound to be some traffic on the highway on the weekend. They don¡¯t want to bete for their flight.¡± Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. He looked at Willow and said hoarsely, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you guys to the airport.¡± A ck car waited outside the house. There was a baby seat in the backseat, and Gabrie was buckled in. Willow sat beside her to care for her. Liam, Tyler, and Karen stood outside as they tearfully waved Willow goodbye. She watched them with mixed emotions. When she¡¯d married Julian a few years ago, she¡¯d dreamed of living a happy life with them. She¡¯d genuinely considered them her family, but the conflict and everything that had happened had changed that. Still, now that she was about to leave, those feelings seemed to fade away. She smiled faintly and waved them¨Cand herself- goodbye. The car slowly moved. It made a circle in the garden before leaving the manor. The morning sun shone bright. It shone down on the tar road of the highway, illuminating the path ahead. It was silent in the car. In the cramped space, only Gabrie¡¯s sweet breathing spoke of warmth and tenderness. Julian finally broke the silence after a long moment. He pleaded softly, ¡°Can you asionally let me see Gabrie? I won¡¯t disturb your life.¡± Willow turned away, only making a soft sound of agreement after a long time. That was enough to make Julian feel overjoyed. He was about to say something else when he saw a ck c?r hurtle at them from diagonally opposite them. The license te made it clear the car belonged to the Ziegler family. In those few seconds before the collision, he guessed who was in the car. It was headed straight for the backseat, so it was clearly going for Willow and Gabrie. There was also a clear sense of recklessness in it. In the split second that the cars passed each other, Julian saw a familiar face, albeit crazed. At that moment, he had a choice¨Cas long as he didn¡¯t stray from his path, he could get away untouched. He wouldn¡¯t even have a scratch on him¡­.. However, there was a deafening crash in the blink of an eye. Julian¡¯s car crashed head¨Con into the oing car, and the impact was so devastating that the Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom¡¯s front was almost shattered. 16 Julian was also shattered¨Cliterally. He was in the driver¡¯s seat, and his arm was crushed beyond recognition. Ripped flesh and gushing blood stained his suit, which he¡¯d picked out just for Willow and Gabrie. If this was thest time they were seeing each other, he wanted Willow to remember him at his best. Now, he no longer looked good. He would never look good again. He remembered how Willow had mentioned he was the most handsome person she¡¯d ever met during their first meeting Tears streamed from Julian¡¯s eyes as he endured the overwhelming pain, wanting to turn to look at Willow and Gabrie. However, it was too much to bear. Aside from his crushed arm, he was also covered in injuries from head to toe. Hey down and allowed the sun¡¯s rays to bathe him. His right arm was almost non¨Cexistent now. He shut his eyes and dazedly remembered his conversation with Soren. ¡°Julian, are you willing to set aside your pride and arrogance? Are you willing to bear the consequences of your sins, even if it will crush your body and soul?¡± That night, he¡¯d prostrated himself on the floor and said resolutely, ¡°I am willing.¡± Altar 225 Mnie sneaked back to the Ziegler residence at 2:00 pin, looking disheveled. It was eerily quiet at home; the ce seemed empty. None of the Zieglers seemned to be around. She grabbed a passing maid and asked, ¡°Is Liam home yet?¡± The maid was taken aback. Then, she started crying when she saw was Mnie. Choked up, she said, ¡°You should hurry to the hospital, Mrs. Ziegler! Mr. Julian got into an ident, and his arm was crushed. We don¡¯t know whether he¡¯ll be able to keep it- he¡¯s still in surgery.¡± Mnie was stunned. She couldn¡¯t care less about how unkempt she looked as she hurried to the hospital. The Ziegler family¡¯s rtives and friends stood outside the operating theater, looking grim, especially Liam. He was utterly despondent. She staggered to him and grabbed his arm with trembling hands, asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Julian? Where is he? Tell me where he is, Liam!¡± Instead of answering her, he backed away. Meanwhile, Tyler cried, ¡®You¡¯ve made a huge mistake this time, Mnie! The car that crashed into Julian belonged to the Ziegler family¨Cyou know very well who did it!¡± Mnie¡¯s face turned ashen. She mumbled, ¡°Someone told me Alicia wanted to see me and that she was doing horribly. I thought I would just give the nurses on duty some money to help make things better for her¨CI was just trying to help! I didn¡¯t expect Alicia to knock me out!¡± Tyler sighed heavily. Mnie looked up, her face covered in tears. Will Julian¡¯s arm be fine? What about Willow and Gabrie? Are they okay?¡± Tyler said, ¡°Gabrie¡¯s fine, and Willow only passed out. Julian forbade us from telling Willow the truth about his condition, and Liam has spoken to the Chapmans. Willow and Gabrie will take a flight to Faeria at 8:00 pm tonight.¡± Mnie sobbed. ¡°But Julian needs them by his side now!¡± Liam hadn¡¯t spoken thus far but now broke his silence. ¡°How can you want to force them to stay when you¡¯re the one at fault? Are you even human? ¡°Let me make myself clear today¨CJulian might be my son, but Willow is also like a daughter to me! She has the right to seek her happiness, and this is what the Ziegler family owes her!¡± Shame washed over Mnie, and she buried her face in her hands. Karen was also a woman, so she couldn¡¯t help but pity the former when she saw her sobbing with such devastation. She helped Mnie straighten her appearance and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re worried and full of guilt. This matter may have been suppressed for now, but the media has still heard about this. ¡°Countless reporters are waiting outside, and we can¡¯t let them see us in such disarray. It¡¯s all the more important for us to stay strong at a time like this; we need to ease Julian¡¯s burden.¡± Mnie¡¯s tears didn¡¯t stoping. ¡°I¡¯ll make up for my mistakes. Julian¡¯s arm had been crushed beyond recognition, and the surgery to save himsted well into the night. The light outside the operating theater finally went off around 7:00 pm, and the doctor came out while removing his mask. The Zieglers hurried forward. Liam had weathered many storms in his life, but he couldn¡¯t keep the tremor from his voice when he spoke. ¡°How is Julian¡¯s arm?¡± The doctor had aplicated look on his face. After some thought he said, ¡°The surgery is considered a sess, but the damage is too extensive. Many of the patient¡¯s neurons are already dead. We reconstructed the arm, but it¡¯ll be difficult for him to use it normally. We¡¯ll have to observe him.¡± This was a devastating blow; Liam staggered backward. Mnie Wnted to weep but didn¡¯t dare make a sound. She tried her best to hold back her tears. Fortunately, Tyler stepped up to take charge. ¡°There¡¯s always a chance to bounce back from this as long as he remains alive. Medicine is so advanced now¡ªthere¡¯s bound to be a way. Let¡¯s see how Julian is doing when he wakes up. No one is allowed to look depressed around him, alright?¡± Julian¡¯s anesthesia wore off at 7:50 pm, and he slowly regained consciousness. He found himself surrounded by white walls and the smell of disinfectant. Intense pain shot through him, and he remembered the car crash.de inumbled, ¡°Willow¡­ Gabrie¡­¡± Mnie hurried to him and held his left hand. She said, ¡°They¡¯re fine: Per your request, they should already be boarding their flight and preparing for takeoff. Willow doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re this badly injured.¡± She wanted to be strong, but couldn¡¯t stop herself from weeping when she saw him covered in wounds. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, Julian. This wouldn¡¯t have happened to you if I hadn¡¯t been so foolish!¡± A trace of dazedness flickered in his eyes. He looked out the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window at the city lights twinkling in the silence of the night. They looked like stars. It was on a night like this and at that very hour that Willow would board a flight with Gabrie and leave Brindley for Faeria. Julian seemed to hear a ne fly above the hospital. He could hear the roar of its engine. He shut his eyes without a word, not even bothering to ask about his arm and whether he would be left disabled. He thought about everything he¡¯d once had and lost¨Cit ultimately boiled down to Willow. She was gone and would be free. Meanwhile, he would stay where he was and continue atoning for his sins. He would wait until the day she returned. Altar 226 Chapter 226 Three years passed in the blink of an eye. It was yet another September, and the leaves had turned a beautiful shade of gold in the fall. Julian ran into Willow at a banquet. He had no idea she was back¨Ctheirmunication was kept to a minimum, and she rarely revealed her whereabouts. All he knew was that she¡¯d spent the past three years in Faeria caring for Gabrie and refining her painting skills. The banquet hall¡¯s bright lights sparkled, casting an elegant glow on Julian¡¯s figure. However, the suit that should have been crisply tailored was draped loosely over his shoulders, hiding the horrific injuries he¡¯d sustained during the car crash It had been three years, but he could only do simple things with his right arm and hand. He¡¯d gradually gotten used to doing everything with his left hand. He held a ss of champagne and quietly watched Willow with the crowd between them. She wore a short dress with an embossed pattern that showed off her figure. Her hair was pulled back in an updo, revealing her slender neck. Pearl earrings were her only essory, and she exuded a mature charm. Perhaps Julian¡¯s gaze was too intense¨CWillow looked in his direction after a while. She was evidently taken aback, not having expected to run into him. She wanted to avert her gaze, but thought that was too deliberate, so she gave him a faint smile. No matter how deep her hatred for him was, she¡¯d lost the strength to keep it going after so many years. Life had to go on, after all. Julian approached her, never taking his eyes off her the whole time. He looked at her almost greedily. It had been three years, and he¡¯d been busy throughout that time¨Cbusy with physiotherapy, busy caring for Landon, busy dealing with Neb Group. He¡¯d barely had time to think of her, let alone visit her in Faeria, But now that he was seeing her again, the longing he¡¯d buried deep within surged and overwhelmed him. He almost couldn¡¯t control himself. He and Willow were only a few steps from each other. She was so close that he could see the makeup on her face and the slight moisture in her eyes. The past had faded with the wind, but a reunion would still remind them of the pain they¡¯d experienced, despite their covering up the truth with smiles. After staring into each other¡¯s eyes for a long time, Julian was almost choked up as he said, ¡°Long time no see, Willow.¡± She smiled. ¡°Long time no see, Julian.¡± They were divorce,d but were still parents of their children. They would almost havemon topics to talk about¨Chad Gabrie returned with Willow? Would they be settling down in Brindley? Still, a banquet wasn¡¯t the best ce to discuss these matters. Besides, someone suddenly joined them. ¡°Ms. Harper.¡± Willow looked at him. ¡°What a coincidence seeing you here, Mr. Sherman.¡® The man was Patrick Sherman, a heavyweight in the world of art collection. He was also one of Insight¡¯s most important clients. He¡¯d always kept a low profile in the past but had actually deigned to attend this banquet. Julian¡¯s gut told him Patrick was pursuing Willow. Sure enough, Patrick, who was always stoic and aloof, smiled winsomely. ¡°It¡¯s no coincidence¨CI came because I knew you were back in Brindley.¡± For a moment, the atmosphere turned a little odd. Still, Willow had seen plenty in the world of business. She soon glossed over the topic and apanied Patrick as they tasted the champagne and talked about interesting things they¡¯d seen abroad. Naturally, she had no time for Julian. The dazzling lights and gathering of social elites soon drowned Julian¡¯s solitude. Willow went to the restroom. When she came out to wash her hands, she saw Julian smoking while leaning against the wall. The door of the restroom swung shut. Willow knew this meant Julian had something to say, so she turned on the faucet and slowly washed her hands. She looked at him in the mirror. His suit jacket was still thrown over his shoulders, and his right arm looked inconvenienced. He held the cigarette with his left hand. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your arm?¡± He looked down at his right arm and said indifferently, ¡°I got into a minor ident earlier and got a slight fracture. I¡¯ll be fine after some rest.¡± Willow didn¡¯t suspect anything. She was calmer than expected after being reunited with Julian- almost as if she¡¯d run into an old friend. Her tone was polite and gentle as she said, ¡°Gabrie couldn¡¯t get used to the weather there and kept having nasal allergies, so we came back.¡± She¡¯d initially been hesitant to return, but Heather and Timothy had persuaded her, telling her that it was better for Gabrie¡¯s future if they were to settle down in Brindley. After some thought, Willow said, ¡°Gabrie has a school entrance interview in a few days¡ªyou should go with me. I¡¯ll let Esther know the date and ime beforehand.¡± ¡°You can contact me directly,¡± Julian said firmly. ¡°Do you still have my number?¡± She didn¡¯t answer. She lowered her head and focused on washing her hands. The past echoed like a mournful song, reying softly in the quiet night. He could tell she was thinking about things better left forgotten, so he stopped pushing her. He stubbed out his cigarette and moved to stand at the counter with her. He looked at her face in the mirror and asked the question that had been guing him all night. ¡°Is Patrick Sherman pursuing you?¡± Willow didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°He¡¯s expressed the intention¡± Julian watched her closely, not wanting to miss even the most minute of her emotions. It was almost as if he wanted to see right through her. After a heartbeat, he asked, ¡°How do you feel about it, then?¡± Chapter 227 Altar 227 Chapter 227 Willow turned off the faucet and met Julian¡¯s gaze in the mirror. She said indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t think my personal life has anything to do with you. He swallowed. ¡°You¡¯re right. It doesn¡¯t.¡± She turned and left. As she brushed past him, his right arm twitched underneath his suit jacket. Ultimately, however, he did nothing and allowed her to leave. He looked at himself in the mirror and smiled self¨Cdeprecatingly. What could he do to win her back? His right arm was a mess of patchwork, and he couldn¡¯t even hold a ss of water properly. What right did he have to ask a woman in her prime to stay by his side and endure the odd looks others would give them? Willow had plenty of men to choose from. Why would she settle for him? Later that night, a ck car slowly pulled into Radiance Manor. The car stopped, and the driver circled to the back to open the door. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, we¡¯re back.¡± It was dark inside the car. Julian sat in the backseat, still engrossed in the agony of his past. The driver¡¯s words yanked him out of his reverie, making him get out of the car. As soon as he entered the house, a maid hurried forward and said, ¡°He refused to go to bed, no matter how we coaxed him. He¡¯s been asking for his mother.¡± Julian headed upstairs. The easternmost bedroom on the second floor belonged to him and Landon. Julian¡¯s right arm was disabled, and he was always busy with work. Despite that, he¡¯d refused to leave Landon to be raised at the Ziegler residence. He¡¯d insisted on keeping thetter by his side. Landon was throwing a tantrum. He¡¯d burrowed underneath the sheets and had refused toe out. Julian entered the bedroom and took off his suit jacket, Then, he sat by the bed and reached underneath the sheets to pull Landon out. Thetter was small in size and looked cherubic. He liad been frail since birth and had spent ten months in an incubator, barely clinging to life. He was the son Julian treated like a treasure and had carefully nursed back to life. He looked just like Willow, and Julian would almost be momentarily dazed whenever he looked at him. Landon tearfully curled up in Julian¡¯s arms. ¡°Today Thalia Sherman asked me why I don¡¯t have a mommy. A few other kids also made fun of me.¡± Julian couldn¡¯t help thinking of Willow. He gently stroked Landon¡¯s face and kissed him. ¡°Of course you have a mommy.¡± ¡°I want to see her, then.¡± Julian fell silent. Then, he smiled and said, ¡°Alright¡± Landon wanted to push for more information but merely pouted when he saw the look on Julian¡¯s face. Then, he grabbed his pillow and got ready for bed. Julian was about to help him take his clothes off when he stood on the bed and wriggled out of his sweater. ¡°I can do it myself, Daddy.¡± Julian watched him in surprise. Landon proceeded to burrow underneath the sheets and wriggle closer to Julian like a little caterpir. He missed his mother, but he was even more afraid of making his father sad. Whenever he asked for his mother, Julian would look sad. Was it because his mother couldn¡¯te back anymore? He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about this and even muttered about it in his sleep. Julian caressed Landon¡¯s face gently as a lost look appeared on his face. Mnie dropped by early the following morning. Life hadn¡¯t been good to her over the past three years. Her stupidity had cost Julian an arm, so`she was racked with guilt whenever she saw him. To this day, Liam refused to move back into their bedroom. He¡¯d slept in the study since the ident. She helped Landon get dressed before taking him to kindergarten. When she returned, Julian had yet to leave for work. He was poring over some documents in the study. She used bringing him a drink as an excuse to join him there. She sat on the couch and looked at him, saying, ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t urge you, but we can¡¯t leave Landon like this forever.¡± Julian didn¡¯t speak. Mnie continued, ¡°You¡¯ve never had the heart to tell her, so maybe we¡¯ll never need to. Perhaps a half¨Csibling would help the doctor said there¡¯s a 50% chance it¡¯ll work, right? I¡¯ve found someone who¡¯s pretty nice, and she¡¯s aware of the situation. She adores Landon, too.¡± The fall morning¡¯s sun¡¯s rays streamed in through the window andnded on Julian, casting a golden glow over him. He finally put down his pen and said, ¡°I ran into herst night. Willow, I mean. She¡¯s back.¡± Mnie was overjoyed. ¡°That¡¯s great! You can talk to her, and Landon will be saved!¡± Julian merely pulled out a cigarette with one hand and stuck it in his mouth, lighting it. He took a few drags before saying softly, ¡°Arrange for me to go on blind dates. There¡¯s a 50% chance, right?¡± Mnie was taken aback. Then, she cried, ¡°Julian!¡± He lowered his gaze to look at his tattered arm. He smiled self¨Cdeprecatingly and said, ¡°Even I¡¯m ashamed when I look at myself now.¡± Altar 228 Chapter 228 Julian wasn¡¯t in the best of moods. Over the past three years, he¡¯d imagined countless scenarios in which he and Willow would be reunited. However, none of them had included her already having someone else in her life. The moment he saw Patrick, all his thoughts about wealth and power were pushed out of his mind. Being able¨Cbodied was enough to defeat him. He could care for himself without any problem, but his crushed arm would be in full view once his shirt was taken off. No woman would dare open their eyes when in bed with him. And if that woman happened to be Willow, Julian knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to ept the shock in her eyes if she were to see what he¡¯d be. He would rather her impression of him remain wless. Mnie¡¯s heart twisted painfully, and her guilt surged when she saw the look on Julian¡¯s face. When had he ever been this self¨Cdeprecating and unconfident? He¡¯d always been prideful and bold. Still, no amount of guilt would change anything. Her stupidity was what had cost him his arm -she¡¯d led to him losing the confidence to pursue the woman he loved and the happiness he deserved. He, Willow, and the children were supposed to be a happy family of four, yet they were now apart from each other. Mnie left, feeling downtrodden. Before that, she gave Julian a photo, which he only picked up after a long time. It was of Sacha Cantrell, the heiress of a family who owned a medium¨Csized enterprise. She was a college professor. She looked gentle, and based on that alone, seemed like a wonderful woman. It was a waste for her to be paired with him. He smiled bitterly before smoking his cigarette. The glowing red tip red and dimmed with each drag, like his restless, wavering heart. A couple of dayster, Willow met Caleb and Annie for lunch. Thetter two were dating, and Braxton adored Annie. They met at Hidden Springs Restaurant and were excited to see each other after three years apart. Willow saw how level¨Cheaded Caleb acted as he ordered the food and turned to Annie, saying, ¡± You¡¯ve got some skills.¡± Annie poured her some tea and smiled, ¡°You set a good foundation.¡± Caleb wasn¡¯t happy to hear that. ¡°The Young family has good genes, okay?¡± It was interesting to see him and Annie poke fun at each other. Willow watched them, feeling like her youth had slipped away too quickly. Then again she¡¯d never had the chance to joke around with a partner like this¨Cshe¡¯d married Julian when she was just 22, after all. Her eyes dimmed at the thought of him. Annie noticed her sudden glumness and held her hand.¡± Why didn¡¯t you bring Gabrie? It¡¯s been almost a year since Ist saw her.¡± Willow perked up and smiled. ¡°Her grandmother brought her to an amusement park.¡± Annie was about to say something when Caleb harrumphed and pointed in a direction with his jaw.¡± Isn¡¯t that the bastard? Looks like he¡¯s on a blind date. He¡¯s maintained a low profile for the past few years, but I guess that hasn¡¯t stopped him from secretly searching for a new wife.¡± Willow turned and followed his line of sight. Sure enough, it was Julian. It seemed he was indeed on a blind date. He and the woman maintained an appropriate distance as they sat opposite each other, and it looked like they d picked their outfits carefully¨Csuitable for first meetings. Julian wore a suit, but he had a ck leather glove on his right hand. Caleb hadn¡¯t kept his voice down, so Julian and his date heard him. They looked in Caleb¡¯s direction; Julian zeroed in on Willow and was unable to tear his eyes away from her. For a moment, the atmosphere turned a little awkward. Sacha, who sat opposite Julian, followed his line of sight and also saw Willow. She guessed he was no longer in the mood to continue with their date, so she politely ended their dinner. ¡°Let¡¯s speak some other time since you have something to attend to, Mr. Ziegler.¡± He retracted his gaze and hoarsely agreed. Once he saw Sacha off, he turned around and headed straight to Willow. He asked, ¡°Having dinner with friends?¡± Caleb had never liked him, so he sneered at that. ¡°¡®Friends¡® doesn¡¯t cut it. I¡¯m Ms. Harper¡¯s ex- boyfriend.¡± Annie scooped a mouthful of food and stuffed it into his mouth, shutting him up. He had no choice but to chew vigorously to vent his irritation. She knew a bit about what had happened three years ago, so she looked up at Julian and invited him to sit. Then, she got him an extra set of cutlery and some of the food he liked. He was pleasantly surprised, but Caleb was even more upset. He sounded even more sarcastic than usual as he said, ¡°Looks like your tastes have changed after a few years. You seem to like nd things nowadays.¡± He was taking a jab at Julian¡¯s blind date. Altar 229 Chapter 229 Julian had never taken Caleb seriously. He didn¡¯t take his eyes off Willow, but his words were directed at Caleb. ¡°Everyone¡¯s preferences change with time. Yours have changed, too, haven¡¯t they?¡± Caleb gnashed his teeth angrily, but Annie was both amused and exasperated. How could he possibly stand a chance against Julian when it came to arguing? She hurriedly dragged him away after giving Willow a heads¨Cup. ¡°We¡¯re gonna go. You two take your time catching up.¡± Willow smiled helplessly as she watched them leave. Julian looked at her. ¡°I thought Jeffrey would be the first person you¡¯d meet for a meal upon your return.¡± She said, ¡°You¡¯re right. I ate with him and Rosabelle two days ago.¡± He fell silent. After a brief silence, he asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me know you wereing back? Why didn¡¯t you ask me out for a meal?¡± She looked into his eyes. When she realized he wasn¡¯t joking, she smiled faintly. ¡°Is it even necessary for us to eat together, Julian? Grandma and Landon are gone, and all our love and hatred have faded after three years. ¡°We¡¯ve both moved on and are leading new lives. Since you¡¯ve started going on blind dates, you should stop saying amorous things that don¡¯t carry any weight. Just act as you normally would, okay?¡± She even paid Sacha apliment. ¡°The woman from earlier looked pretty nice.¡± She seemed to have truly let the past go and moved on. She no longer loved or hated him. Julian fell silent. He pulled out a box of cigarettes from his pocket but merely ced it on the table because no one was allowed to smoke in the restaurant. He looked at it for a while before forcing a smile. ¡°She is pretty nice.¡± What else could he say? Could he tell Willow he was going on blind dates and looking to get married again because Landon¡¯s condition required umbilical cord blood? Would she think he was forcing her to be with him again? Would she look at him scornfully again? He was desperate for the bliss she could bring him, but was willing to let her go. Still, she deserved to know about Landon. Julian racked his brains for the right way to tell Willow about Landon. He wanted to give her a buffer so she could ept that Landon was still alive; he didn¡¯t want her to have a breakdown and embarrass herself in a restaurant. His face carried a trace of nostalgia under the dazzling lights. He started, ¡°Willow, our-¡® He was interrupted by her ringtone. She said, ¡°Sorry. I need to take this.¡± She answered the call¨Cit was from Patrick. His daughter, Thalia Sherman, had gotten into trouble at kindergarten. It seemed she¡¯d bullied another kid Patrick was busy, so he wanted to ask Willow to help him. He was one of Insight¡¯s biggest clients and had spent over a billion dors over the past three or four years. It was perfectly eptable for him to ask Willow to clean up after him, let alone Thalia. Patrick¡¯s voice was loud, so even Julian heard him over the phone. Once Willow hung up, he deliberately asked, ¡°Was that your boyfriend?¡± She couldn¡¯t be bothered to deny. She wanted to ask for the bill, but he stopped her with his left hand and looked at her. ¡°We don¡¯t get to eat together every day. Take this as me weing you back.¡± The lights illuminated his face, making him look just like he had in the basement garage all those years back. Hisshes were lowered slightly, casting shadows on his handsome face and making him seem more tender than usual. Willow couldn¡¯t help feeling dazed. Memories of the past washed over her, but they were filled with sorrow and unhappiness. She kept herposure and smiled faintly before insisting that she wanted to pay. Then, she left. Once she was gone, Julian looked down at the tableden with dishes. Only then did it ur to him that she hadn¡¯t touched the food since he¡¯d taken his seat. It turned out it wasn¡¯t that Willow didn¡¯t hate him anymore. She¡¯d just gotten better at pretending that she didn¡¯t. Still, who could he me? His youth, his happy family, his children, and his arm¡­ Who could he me for all of these things? He slowly got up and left the restaurant, getting into a ck car. At that moment, his phone rang. It was a call from Landon¡¯s kindergarten. Chapter 230 Altar 230 Chapter 230 Sunnybrook Kindergarten was Brindley¡¯s most upscale kindergarten. A year¡¯s tuition was 200 thousand dors. The children who studied there were from families that were rich, powerful, or both. None of them could afford to offend anyone else. When Willow arrived at the kindergarten and made her way to the principal¡¯s office, she found two children inside. One was Thalia, and the other was a little boy who looked small for his age. He was tiny and had wless skin. He looked gorgeous. Setting aside his good looks, Willow couldn¡¯t help finding him familiar. She felt like she¡¯d seen him before, and he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her the moment he saw her. It was almost as if he wanted to run to her but was doing his best to restrain himself¡­ mainly because Thalia had thrown her arms around her. Thalia looked up at Willow and acted cutely, albeit tearfully. ¡°Willow.¡± Willow rubbed her head but couldn¡¯t help looking at the little boy again. Thalia turned to Landon and stuck her hands on her hips, saying, ¡°This is Willow. She¡¯s going to marry my daddy in the future and be my mommy!¡± Children¡¯s words couldn¡¯t be taken seriously, so Willow didn¡¯t bother refuting her. She merely rubbed Thalia¡¯s head and said, ¡°I heard you two got into a fight and that you made him cry. Let¡¯s apologize to him, okay?¡± Both children didn¡¯t have mothers, and what had started as an argument had turned into a fight. Landon was smaller in size, so he hadn¡¯t stood a chance against Thalia. He¡¯d even cried. Thalia had won the fight and preserved her dignity. She walked to Landon and said generously, ¡± I¡¯m sorry, Landon. I won¡¯t fight with you anymore. If anyone dares bully you in the future, tell me their names, and I¡¯ll beat them up for you.¡± Landon didn¡¯t respond. He continued looking at Willow with tears in his eyes. Willow was dumbfounded. The blood drained from her face, and she could barely stand. She didn¡¯t even know how she approached Landon and crouched before him, looking at his familiar face. Her fingers trembled as she reached out to touch his face, and her voice was shaky as she asked, ¡°Is your name Landon? What¡¯s your father¡¯s name?¡± He bit his lip, looking a little stubborn. After a while, he said in a small voice, ¡°Daddy is Mr. Handsome.¡± Willow¡¯s face was already wet with tears. She held Landon by the shoulders, almost positive that he was her son. Still, she was afraid she was mistaken and would scare him. She trembled violently, desperate to know whether he was her Landon. Was he still alive and well? Landon also cried. He did it even more delicately than a little girl would; he looked like a crybaby. He was still mad at Willow because she¡¯d held Thal earlier. Amid their impasse, one of the teachers entered the room and said, ¡°Landon, your father is here.¡± Willow was kneeling on the floor and slowly turned around at the teacher¡¯s words. She saw Julian standing silently at the door. The sun was behind him, so it was hard to discern the look on his face. Still, it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine that he probably looked as broken and sorrowful as Willow did. The hurt of their past still affected them deeply and refused to leave them alone. The former lovers looked into each other¡¯s eyes as the past faded with the wind. Tears streamed down Willow¡¯s face as she looked at Julian, her gaze a mixture of hatred and guilt. She turned back to Landon and held him gently, not daring to even apply the slightest bit of force. She held her precious treasure close¨Cthe child shed lost and found. ¡°Landon¡­ I¡¯m so sorry. I thought you were¡­ I¡¯m your mother, Landon!¡± Her tears soaked into Landon¡¯s clothes; this was wholly unbing. However, Willow didn¡¯t care. What could bring more joy and overwhelming emotion than being reunited with something one had thought was lost forever? Landon was her son, the child she thought she¡¯d lost after carrying him in her womb for months. Had the heavens heard her prayers and returned him to her? Landon held himself back for a long time before finally reaching out to wrap his arms around Willow. He said in a small voice, ¡°Mommy.¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back her emotions anymore. She¡¯d bottled them up for too long¨Cthis feeling of reiming something she thought lost forever was both ecstatic and heartbreaking. She couldn¡¯t calm down. Ultimately, Julian had to approach them and lift Landon up with one arm. He wanted to pat Willow¡¯s shoulder with his right hand, but it couldn¡¯t move anymore after being raised slightly. His eyes dimmed, and he smiled bitterly. Willow finally calmed down after a long time. She looked at Julian and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± He could guess what she wanted¨CLandon¡¯s custody. Instead of immediately turning her down, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home¨Cback to Radiance Manor, where we can talk.¡± That wasn¡¯t her home, but they did need to speak somewhere private. Besides, Landon kept looking at her pleadingly as tears glimmered in his eyes. He kept his arms wrapped around Julian¡¯s neck as he did this. Willow clenched her jaw before following Julian into his car. The backseat was spacious, and there were documents in every space, It was clear he often worked in the car. He noticed her looking around and exined, ¡°I stopped driving after my earlier ident.¡± Landon curled up in his arms, looking like a clingy baby. Willow couldn¡¯t help finding this surprising after calming down. Julian didn¡¯t seem like the type of father who would dote endlessly on his son, but it was clear Landon meant more to him than life itself. He¡¯d definitely raised Landon like he was a precious treasure. In the future, when Landon grew up to be tall, broad, and one of Brindley¡¯s most important scions, he would want nothing more than to forget that Thalia had ever beaten him up. Back at Radiance Manor, Landon had fallen asleep after his outburst. It was clear Julian was inconvenienced when he tried to get out of the car. Willow was about to take Landon from him when the driver opened the door. He ced a hand above the door and said, ¡°Be careful when you get out, sir.¡® Julian got out while holding Landon with one arm. Then, he walked up the steps to the house. Willow stood behind him and watched him silently. She felt like there was such a sense of familiarity to this that it was almost as if she¡¯d dreamed of this scene countless times. It was like Julian had always held Landon with one arm since he was a baby. She shook her head and told herself she was overthinking things. 1 The maids were surprised and delighted when they saw her. ¡°You¡¯re back, Mrs. Ziegler!¡± Altar 231 For a moment, Willow was overwhelmed with emotion. It took her a while to find her voice. When she finally spoke, it was hoarse. ¡°I¡¯ve been back for a few days. Julian and I are divorced now You don¡¯t have to call me ¡®Mrs. Ziegler¡® anymore Jesse looked a little sad but still smiled with warmth. ¡°If you get a chance, bring Ms. Harper over for a meal. We¡¯ll make something she loves.¡± Willow¡¯s eyes welled up. She nodded with a quiet hum. The household staff here had all been with her since Grandview Manor. They had been through years together¨Cthere was no way she didn¡¯t feel a bond with them. After exchanging a few words, she followed Jesse upstairs. The master bedroom was still and quiet. Julian carefully ced Landon on the bed and took off his jacket. Beneath it, he wore a white T¨Cshirt with a yellow duck print, which made his pale cheeks look even softer and more delicate. He looked like the picture of innocence. He turned onto his side, nestled into the familiar scent around him, and drifted off to sleep. His body curled into itself, a posture that resembled that of a newborn. Willow sat beside him. She reached out to gently brush her fingers across his forehead. Her heart was filled with the joy of having him back. Yet in that joy, there was fear¨Cfear that it was all just a dream. That she would wake up, tears soaking her pillow, and Landon wouldn¡¯t be there. Tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes, eventually spilling down her cheeks. She didn¡¯t care about looking disheveled or falling apart. This was her son¨Cher Landon. The boy she had nearly gone blind from crying over. She tried so hard to keep her emotions in check. Slowly, she leaned forward, burying her face into his soft belly through the nket. His body still held that sweet, milky scent unique to young children. He was so tender, so delicate. He must have suffered so much growing up. Willow closed her eyes tightly. She didn¡¯t want to imagine it, but her mind couldn¡¯t help it. Julian reached out, almost putting an arm around her shoulders. But at thest second, he let his hand fall away. He quietly turned and left the room, heading for the study. Outside, the September sun zed bright, but inside him, everything felt barren and cold. Just moments ago, all he had wanted was to hold her. She had looked so broken, so in need offort. Julian nced at his right arm, and his dark eyes dimmed with a flicker of despair. He wasn¡¯t the man he used to be. A man half¨Ccrippled, who, even in bed, would need the woman to take the lead. The sky grew darker. Golden light from the setting sun poured through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, casting the room in warm orange light that burned like fire. Julian stood by the window in silence. He wore a crisp white dress shirt tucked into ck trousers, a lightweight ck coat draped over his shoulders. Bathed in the warm glow, his features looked sharper, colder, touched by the severe lines of solitude. There was a knock on the door outside the study. Julian knew it was Willow. His voice was raspy as he said, ¡°Come in.¡± As the door creaked open, he stubbed out the cigarette between his fingers and cracked a window for air. ¡°Landon¡¯s still asleep, right?¡± he asked quietly. Willow gave him a small nod. She walked over to the couch and sat down. Even now, her legs still felt like jelly. Willow had just sat down when her eyesnded on a photo on the coffee table. The person in the picture looked familiar. It took her a moment to remember¨Cshe had seen her at the restaurant earlier that day, her name was Sacha. She looked at the photo for a little longer. Noticing her lingering gaze, Julian¡¯s expression grew more intense, his voice low as he asked, ¡± Does it bother you?¡± Willow lowered her gaze, her voice growing colder ¡®You¡¯re overthinking this. Julian slowly walked back to his desk and sat down clearly disturbed, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket, holding it between his fingers. He knew what Willow was about to ask, so he decided to exin without her needing to voice it. As he spoke, his brow furrowed, shadows darkening expression ¡°When Landon was born, his entire body was bruised. He could hardly breathe. The doctors said there was only a one percent chance he would survive. ¡°They urged me to let him go, to let him pass in peace. But I couldn¡¯t, I couldn¡¯t give up on him. I knew it was selfish, even cruel, but Landon is our flesh and blood. | |: : ?? ? ? 1:|:|:|:|:|: 23 ¡°If there was even the slightest chance¡­ I wasn¡¯t going to give up. ¡°But I was afraid I was going to break you. I gave you hope, made you suffer day and night, only to have it all end in heartbreak.¡± Julian¡¯s voice caught in his throat, and for a moment, he couldn¡¯t continue. He couldn¡¯t keep the emotions inside. Finally, he put the cigarette to his lips, lit it, and took a deep drag. The smoke curled around him, clouding his sharp features and adding to the heaviness in the room. Altar 232 Chapter 232 The soft orange sunlight filtered through the windows, casting the room in a warm haze. For a moment, it felt like the past hadn¡¯t happened at all like the pain and scars had never existed. Through the pale veil of smoke, Julian¡¯s eyes darkened as he looked at Willow. ¡°I know you hate me. I know you want Landon back. But Willow¡­ I can¡¯t let him go. ¡°It¡¯s not about favoring one over the other. It¡¯s not about gender. ¡°Landon is my entire world.¡± Because, at this point, Landon was all he had left. Seasons came and went. In the span of three years, Landon had spent ten months inside an incubator. After the crash, Julian was bedridden for two months. When he was finally able to move around, he transferred himself to the same hospital where Landon was. Every night, he would drag his broken body out of bed just to check on his son. He never once regretted the arm he lost function in. As long as Landon lived, nothing else mattered. He just wanted Landon to live. When Landon was finally stable enough to leave the incubator, Julian brought him home. Day after day, he took care of him¨Cfeeding him, holding him, keeping him alive. Piece by piece, he raised his fragile baby into the child he was now. Julian¡¯s eyes glistened with tears. The cigarette trembled slightly between his fingers His voice cracked with the weight of it all. He gathered what was left of his pride just to say what he had never dared to before. ¡°If you want Landon back¡­ Let¡¯s get married again.¡± Dusk was falling. The glow outside faded from burnt orange to a dusky purple. Memories echoed quietly between them, thick and trelenting. Willow sat in the shadows, tilting her face up to him Her expression was calm andposed, with neither joy nor sorrow on her face. She said, ¡°Julian, you know that¡¯s impossible. Time dulls things, sure. The hate isn¡¯t as sharp as it once was, but it¡¯s still there,¡± They were tied together only because of their son, because of Landon. Julian didn¡¯t argue. He just looked at her. There was something unmistakable in his gaze¨Can ache, a tenderness, a longing that never quite faded. They had loved each other once, but they had never fallen in love at the same time. When she loved him, he had been lost in a fantasy with someone else. By the time he turned back to her, her love for him was already gone. The study fell into silence. Then came a soft click of the doorknob. The door opened. Landon had woken up and found the bedroom empty. Still a little dazed, he hugged his pillow to his chest, his tiny bare feet padding across the floor as he searched for Julian. When he pushed open the door and saw Julian, his face lit up, and he threw himself into his arms. ¡°Daddy,¡± he whispered, snuggling into his chest. His body was warm and soft from sleep, even his hair still fluffy and tousled. Julian grabbed a small nket from the side and wrapped it gently around Landon¡¯s tiny frame. He held him close, rocking him softly with quiet patience, waiting for the little one¡¯s post¨Cnap grumpiness to fade. The look in his eyes was pure tenderness¨Clike he was holding the most precious thing in the world. Willow¡¯s heart clenched. She wasn¡¯t even sure why she felt that way. Maybe it was because of Landon, or maybe it had something to do with Julian. Willow didn¡¯t want to make things harder for Landon, but she also couldn¡¯t bear to be apart from him. Her voice softened as she said, ¡°I¡¯m thinking of bringing Gabrie over for dinner. Would that be alright? The kids haven¡¯t met yet.¡± She wasn¡¯t really asking Julian¨Cit was about Sacha If Julian and she were already together, then as the ex¨Cwife, she knew her presence might be inappropriate. Julian¡¯s voice came out low and hoarse. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem.¡± Willow stepped out of the study and dialed Heathers number. Her emotions were overwhelming, a tangled mess of joy and grief, and the moment she spoke, her voice cracked. ¡°Mom, can you bring Gabrie over to Radiance Manor in a little bit?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll have someone bring her over.¡± ¡°Landon¡­ He¡¯s alive. Mom, he¡¯s here. He¡¯s such a sweet boy, so well¨Cbehaved. He looks so much like me¡­ Mom, he¡¯s really here.¡± In the empty hallway, Willow covered her mouth with one hand and finally broke down, sobbing uncontrobly. There was no word in the world that could capture what a mother would feel in that moment. Only tears could carry the weight of such grief and joy colliding. Behind her, Julian walked over with Landon¡¯s little hand in his. His heart felt heavy and raw. He looked down at Landon. ¡°Go to your mom.¡± Landon padded over quietly, then wrapped his little arms around Willow from behind. He held on tight, warm and small, and murmured in his soft little voice, ¡°Mommy.¡± Chapter 233 Altar 233 As the sky darkened, the sound of a car approached from the courtyard below. The car slowly came to a stop, and inside were the nanny and Gabrie. It was the first time she would meet Landon, so Gabrie had brought a small cake to share. As the car door opened and she was just about to step out, a tall, handsome man was already standing there, his gaze fixed on her. Gabrie immediately recognized him. Gabrie froze for a moment, her small face looking especially pretty in the fading light. Of course, she was beautiful¨Cshe was Julian¡¯s daughter. Every inch of her was perfectly shaped, as if from a mold. Julian knelt, not saying a word as he gently hugged Gabrie, his youngest daughter. He held her close, burying his face in her warm neck. When Gabrie left, she was just a baby. Now, she had grown up, and she was bright and beautiful. Any father would have loved their flesh and blood. Although Gabrie had grown up abroad, deep down, she was still a traditional child and couldn¡¯t quite handle such a disy of affection. But he was her father. Gabrie had always been a tough little girl, but now her face crumpled, and she looked like she was about to cry. Julian tightened his hold on her, feeling the sting of the reunion after years of separation. At this moment, he hated himself. If it weren¡¯t for him, his child wouldn¡¯t have had to lose out on the love of both a father and a mother. They would have grown up in aplete family. After a long silence, Julian finally regained hisposure. He took the small cake from Gabrie. ¡°Is this for Landon?¡± he asked. Gabrie nced over at Landon, who stood a full head shorter than her. She refused to see him as her brother. Somehow, she proudly said, ¡°This is for Landon. I¡¯m going to protect him and help him fight.¡± She threw a tiny punch in the air and gritted her little white teeth, looking fierce and proud. She looked just like Julian. Landon¡¯s face flushed red. He was a shy little guy, and eventually, Gabrie coaxed him into calling her ¡°E¡± a few times. Julian watched Gabrie, seeing so much of himself in her, but also so much of Willow. He felt a sense of pride welling up inside him. He picked Gabrie up with one hand and started walking toward the brightly lit dining room. Landon followed obediently behind him, always sticking close to his father at home. A momentter, Julian set Gabrie down on a dining chair, ready for dinner. Gabrie blinked up at him. ¡°What happened to your hand, Daddy?¡± Julian nced at his arm and casually said, ¡°I was in a small car ident a couple of months ago. It¡¯ll take about a year and a half to heal.¡± Children were easy to trick, even if she was very clever. It was rare for Willow to join them for dinner. During the meal, Julian fed Landon, probably because he felt he owed his son so much. He truly indulged him, and Willow didn¡¯t want toment she didn¡¯t want to make things awkward in front of her own child. Gabrie stuck her tongue out and teased. ¡°Landon, you¡¯re embarrassed? You¡¯re four and still need Daddy to feed you?¡± Landon blushed, embarrassed. He dug into his food but soon leaned against Julian again. He looked like a soft, sweet baby, even more delicate than a girl. But Gabrie liked him. Landon was pretty, smelled nice, and looked like a porcin doll. After dinner, Gabrie offered up the small cake and generously shared it with Landon. She also insisted on sleeping with him. Landon looked to his father, his face full of hesitation. But deep down, he also wanted to sleep beside Gabrie. Julian considered for a moment and arranged for them to sleep in the nursery. The guest room next door was avable for Willow to stay in. Willow didn¡¯t object. In the face of this reunion, theplicated love and hate between her and Julian seemed insignificant. As night fell, she gently cared for the two children, who had fallen asleep side by side. Gabrie held onto Landon, her face pressed agains his neck, her breathing even and calm. Landon, too, slept soundly. This was the scene Willow had longed for, and now that it had finallye true, she couldn¡¯t bear to close her eyes. She wanted to stay up the entire night just watching them. Julian stepped into the room, ncing at the two sleeping children. He asked softly, ¡°Are they both asleep?¡± Willow nodded and rose to return to her room. She didn¡¯t want to be alone with Julian in thete hours, so she mentioned that they could talk tomorrow. But as she passed by him, Julian suddenly reached out and gently pushed her against the door The door softly clicked shut. Willow¡¯s back was pressed against the door, her body trapped by his, as his hand cupped her neck. He leaned in, gazing at her with deep, unreadable eyes. After a moment, he slowly closed the distance, as if about to kiss her- Willow quickly turned her face away, her voice trembling. ¡°Julian!¡± He pursued her, his gaze bing even more intense, filled with emotions she couldn¡¯tprehend. Before she could protest further, his lips found hers. Their kiss was intense, turning into a tangle of limbs. Even the shadows around them seemed to echo with the heat of the moment. Julian¡¯s pulse raced, his neck burning with heat, veins standing out in sharp relief. The warmth was so intense that it made Willow nearly lose her footing. She could only manage a soft, hoarse whisper, trying to regain his sanity. ¡°Julian.¡± He paused, his dark eyes holding her captive. The masculine allure of him was almost overwhelming. After a long while, he slowly pulled back. Willow quickly pushed him away and hurriedly left locking herself in the guest room next door. Her back pressed against the door, her heart racing She lightly touched her lips, remembering the intensity of the kiss and the emotions it stirred in her. But the more she thought about it, the more she fell guilty. Between her and Julian, aside from their children, there should be nothing else. Tonight, Willow needed to process everything, to pn for what was toe. Landon was still alive, and she was overjoyed. She took a rxing bath, changed into a soft,fortable robe, and stepped out onto the terrace to look at the distant pine trees. She had been here before, thinking of it as a prison, but tonight, her heart felt light and at ease. Her phone rang, and she nced at the screen. It was Patrick asking about Landon. Willow answered, her voice softer than usual, more gentle, exuding a distinctly feminine warmth. Across the terrace, Julian stood silently, watching her. He noticed the softness of her demeanor and the spark inside him that had been smoldering eignited. His throat tightened as he returned to the bedroom to take a quick shower. His white shirty scattered on the floor. Julian looked down at his right arm, a flicker of shame passing through him. But with Willow in this house, something within him had been stirred something primal, something he couldn¡¯t resist. In the bathroom, the steam enveloped him, hiding the turmoil he was feeling. Soon, everything calmed down. Julian leaned against the wall, droplets of water rolling down his chest as he closed his eyes, lost in thought, Altar 234 Using one hand, Julian slipped into a bathrobe and stepped out of the bathroom. The night of their long¨Cawaited reunion promised to be sleepless. He finally had some rare moments of peace, time to think about Willow, even though she was just in the next room. But they were no longer a couple, and disturbing her at this hour would be crossing a line. Besides, she still held a grudge against him. By the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows in the living room stood the grand piano. Julian took a bottle of red wine from the cab and poured himself a ss. Leaning against the piano, he sipped the wine, gazing out the window, lost in thought, reflecting on the past. The good and the bad, the sweet moments of love and the lingering pain, all weighed heavily on Julian. He looked down at his damaged right hand, trying to lift the mug to his lips, but his hand trembled. After a long struggle, the transparent cup fell to the floor. The deep red wine spilled onto the beige carpet, staining it a bright hue. Julian stared at the stain, lost in the memory. For a moment, the past felt more bitter than the wine. The next morning, before Willow could make her appearance, Gabrie had already woken Landon
  1. up.
She treated him like a doll, carefully dressing him in his tiny clothes and slipping on his shoes. The only thing she didn¡¯t do was brush his teeth. Landon blushed, but he was happy. He liked having Gabrie around. He thought she was even prettier than Thalia. In the dining room downstairs, Julian and Willow sat with Gabrie and Landon for breakfast. Gabrie had a tight hold on Landon, making sure he was well taken care of. He sat up straight, concentrating hard on eating, his little hand holding the spoon so cutely. In fact, Willow wanted to hold him and feed him. She had never had the chance to feed Landon before. Julian noticed the longing in her eyes and softly said, ¡°Let him eat on his own. It¡¯s good that he¡¯s bing independent. At kindergarten, the teachers feed him at lunch.¡± Willow gently patted Landon¡¯s head. ¡°Landon, you¡¯re such a good boy.¡± Landon, pleased by the praise, flushed even more and dug in with more enthusiasm. Gabrie rested her chin in her hand. ¡°Landon, you look like a little girl when you blush.¡± Landon puffed up his cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m not a little girl! I¡¯m a big, strong boy!¡± But he was still too small to show off any muscles. Gabrie quickly apologized, then eximed that she wanted to attend Sunnybrook Kindergarten, so she could look after Landon all day long. Willow nced at Julian. ¡°What do you think?¡± Julian thought for a moment before agreeing. ¡°That sounds good. It¡¯ll be more convenient for drop- offs and pick¨Cups.¡± As Willow and Julian were discussing their ns, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway interrupted their conversation. A few momentster, Mnie walked in. Landon obediently called out, ¡°Grandma.¡± Mnie, eager to hold her precious grandson, suddenly froze. Her eyesnded on Willow, then on Gabrie. At the dining table, the family of four sat together in perfect harmony. This scene was one she had always dreamed of. For countless nights, Mnie had imagined Willow bringing Gabrie back, so they could all be reunited with Julian. Now, seeing them sitting together, Mnie couldn¡¯t quite believe her eyes. She blinked and wiped her eyes, making sure she wasn¡¯t imagining things. Once she was sure, covered her mouth, trying not to cry. Julian was already used to Mnie¡¯s reactions. she Although Willow¡¯s rtionship with Mnie wasn¡¯t the best, she still made sure Gabrie greeted her. ¡°Gabrie, this is your father¡¯s mother.¡± Gabrie raised her hand proudly. ¡°I know. Daddy¡¯s mom is Grandma.¡± The room fell silent for a moment. But Mnie wasn¡¯t bothered. She walked over to Gabrie, her eyes glistening with tears. ¡°You¡¯ve grown so much! You look like Julian. I¡¯m so happy to see you.¡± Gabrie lifted her little chin, then looked at Landon. ¡°Landon, you don¡¯t look like Julian¡­ So, does Grandma not like you?¡± Another silence fell over the room. The maids couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Gabrie was clearly outwitting Mnie. Mnie, though flustered, did her best to maintain herposure. With a strained smile, she replied, ¡°Oh, I like Landon just as much¨Cjust the same.¡± Chap Altar 235 Mnie finally couldn¡¯t hold back. Her voice trembled with emotion. ¡°From the moment you were born, I never got to hold you properly. I¡­ missed out. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Mnie wanted to hug Gabrie, but hesitated. She wasn¡¯t sure if Willow would mind or if Gabrie would feel shy around her. Before she could decide, Gabrie hopped down from her chair and wrapped her arms around Mnie in a warm, confident hug. Her voice was sweet and clear. ¡°Hi, Grandma.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes instantly welled up. The guilt that had been buried deep inside for years rose sharply to the surface. She hugged Gabrie tightly. After a long pause, she looked up at Willow. ¡°You¡¯ve raised her so well. She¡¯s beautiful, clever¡­ and just so lovely.¡± Mnie had always been reserved, rarely expressive with her emotions, yet she couldn¡¯t resist nting two firm kisses on Gabrie¡¯s soft cheeks. Then, almost impulsively, she slipped off therge diamond bracelet on her wrist and pushed it into Gabrie¡¯s hands. ¡°My jewelry vault is packed with treasures. One of these days, you¡¯lle over and pick out whatever you like. I¡¯m going to turn you into the most dazzling little princess,¡± she said, her voice gentle but excited. Julian sipped his ck coffee and interjected gently ¡°Gabrie¡¯s only four.¡± Mnie gave him a look of pure annoyance. She had already decided she would pour all her love into Gabrie. It wasn¡¯t just because Gabrie looked so much like Julian¨Cit was also the quiet gult she carried toward Willow, the apology she could never quite voice, Showering Gabrie with affection felt like a way to make up for it. Willow¡¯s voice was even. ¡°He¡¯s right. She¡¯s just four¡± Though her tone was neutral, the chill behind the words was unmistakable. It was just enough to dim Mnie¡¯s excitement. Mnie nced between Julian and Willow. She could tell Julian hadn¡¯t told her the whole truth. Her anxiety grew, words teetering on the tip of her tongue¨Cbut she held them back. She had set up countless blind dates for Julian, but deep down, she knew that nothingpared to having the children¡¯s real parents raise them. Especially when Julian was still so in love with Willow. After breakfast, they dropped Landon off at school and brought Gabrie along for her entrance evaluation. Gabrie tested near genius level for her age. The school staff weed her with open arms, thrilled to add her to their ss. They ced both kids in the same ss. Gabrie immediately dered that she would take care of Landon and even insisted on helping him nap during rest time. Raising children was always full of surprises, but Gabrie was the kind of surprise that felt like a gift. Everyone adored her. As they said their goodbyes, Gabrie stood at the ssroom door and waved at Willow and Julian with a proud little grin. ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of Landon!¡± 1 Landon clung to her side, his face flushed, cheeks soft and pink. Julian felt a swell of pride as a father. Once they got back in the car, he turned to Willow, unable to hide the smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Gabrie¡¯s amazing. Our child really is something else.¡± But once the children were gone, Willow¡¯s warmth faded noticeably. Julian felt it immediately and fell quiet. He told Benjamin to take her back to the Chapman residence. The car pulled away smoothly. Inside, the space felt cramped and dimly lit. Two people who had once shared a deep love now sat in silence, bound by the weight of old wounds and things left unsaid. In the quiet hum of the ride, their breathing grew more noticeable, their heartbeats louder. It was impossible not to think aboutst night¡¯s kiss¨Cwild, desperate, and unforgettable. The chaos of the moment had been so overwhelming that the small details were overlooked, like Julian¡¯s frantic energy, a clear sign that he had been abstinent for years. What trapped her wasn¡¯t just his body, but the unfulfilled hunger, the pent¨Cup need. The atmosphere slowly shifted, bing charged with tension. Julian¡¯s throat tightened as he could no longer resist. He reached out and gently took Willow¡¯s hand in his. Willow recoiled, struggling to pull away, but Julian held on tightly. He turned to her, his gaze locking with hers, his eyes bloodshot with a certain intensity. Willow turned her face away, taking a moment to regain herposure before speaking coldly, ¡± Julian, I¡¯m considering someone else. I won¡¯t do what you did, trying to juggle two rtionships. ¡°It¡¯s unfair to the other person. I think you understand what I mean. Julian knew exactly who she was talking about¨CPatrick. She was considering him. He wondered why she seemed to be drawn to men with seven¨Cletter first names, like Patrick and Jeffrey. It was almost as if there was some unspoken connection between them, a pattern he couldn¡¯t shake off. Chapter 236 Altar 236 Chapter 236 Willow arrived home to find Heather anxiously waiting for her. She hadn¡¯t slept well the entire night, worried about her. Upon seeing her return, Heather quickly made a cup of coffee and invited her to sit down for a chat. As they chatted, the subject turned to Landon. Willow smiled, though a trace of sadness lingered in her eyes. She spoke softly, ¡°Landon and Gabrie were born together, yet he¡¯s a whole head shorter than Gabrie, and so much thinner. It¡¯s clear he¡¯s stillcking essential nutrients. He needs proper nutrition and care to improve.¡± Upon hearing this, Heather also felt a pang of sadness. She spoke inly, expressing the need to take better care of him. After a brief pause, Heather hesitated before broaching a delicate topic¨CWillow¡¯s romantic life. She knew about Patrick and how he had visited Willow many times while she was in Faeria. Patrick, a collector with a strong passion for art, had much inmon with Willow, and they always had stimting conversations. Before she returned to the country, Willow had been slightly swayed by him. But now, with Landon, things had changed. Heather wanted to know what was truly on Willow¡¯s mind. The aroma of coffee filled the air. Willow¡¯s demeanor was calm and gentle, and after a moment of contemtion, she spoke, ¡°Julian and I are over. As for Patrick, there will be no future there either. ¡°My focus now is on Landon. I¡¯ve missed so much with him, and I want to make up for all those lost days.¡± a Heather tightly grasped Willow¡¯s hand. After a moment of hesitation, she chose not to speak the truth. As Timothy¡¯s wife, she knew about the car ident that had left Julian crippled. She also felt indebted to him for once guaranteeing a 20 billion dor loan. Deep down, she had softened. Yet, she didn¡¯t want Willow to feel that she had to repay Julian. She only wanted her daughter to be happy. Just then, Heather¡¯s phone rang. It was Dorothy¡¯s call. In a couple of days, it would be Rowena Gibson¡¯s third birthday. Her parents, Jeffrey and Rosabe, were hosting a party, and Dorothy had invited Timothy¡¯s family to attend. The two families were rted, so Heather epted the invitation warmly. After hanging up the call, she and Willow sat together, discussing what gift to buy for Rowena. At Neb Group, in the CEO¡¯s office, Julian sat in his office, holding the invitation that had been delivered by a messenger from the Gibson family. He looked at the gold¨Cembossed writing on the elegant card. Beside him, Esther sighed. ¡°Time flies. Rowena is already three. I still sometimes see Mrs. Gibson out with her. The little girl looks just like her father quite the beauty.¡± When Julian heard Rowena¡¯s name, he thought of his cousin, Rosabe. After Rosabelle had given birth to Rowena, she had gone back to work. The transformation from a young, innocent girl to a focused businesswoman had been quick. There were always rumors in the business world about how distant Rosabelle and Jeffrey¡¯s marriage had be and how their rtionship seemed to be growing more and more strained. Julian put the invitation down and picked up a file to review, but found himself distracted. His thoughts kept wandering back to Willow, and then to Jeffrey and Patrick. Julian suddenly looked up from his desk and said to Esther, ¡°Have the sign on the seventh floor removed. Change the number.¡± Esther blinked. ¡°You don¡¯t want to call it seven? Then what should we call it?¡± Julian furrowed his brow. ¡°Can¡¯t you think of something creative?¡± ¡°Something like¡­ L6+1, or L8-1. Anything, just not the number seven.¡± Esther was stunned. He thought, ¡°Is that¡­ even allowed?¡± Still, she followed his instructions. Even the elevator buttons were altered per his request. Anywhere the number 7 appeared was changed to ¡°+1¡°. By the end of the day, the employees at Neb Group were buzzing with gossip. Still, Julian couldn¡¯t resist showing off his kids. The official Neb Group ount posted a single photo on Twitter¨Can elegant white swan gliding across ake. The caption simply read-¡°Gabrie & Landon.¡± Long¨Ctime employees immediately recognized the names, Gabrie and Landon were Julian¡¯s children. Reclining in his chair, Julian casually scrolled through thements beneath the post. Then, the office door swung open. He didn¡¯t need to look up. Only one person would bage in without knocking¨CDexter. Julian calmly tucked away his phone and nced toward him. Dexter leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed a mocking smile on his face. ¡°Why are you sending me to Yarrowmere for a six¨Cmonth business trip? ¡°You¡¯ve always handled the business there. What¡¯s changed? Willow¡¯s back, and now you¡¯re out of your mind again.¡± Julian remained calm, even gentlemanly. ¡°I have two children to take care of. I don¡¯t have the time for Yarrowmere. ¡°You¡¯re single¨Cperfectly suited for the job. Besides, you¡¯re still under scrutiny. I¡¯m pretty sure if I mention it to Uncle Oswald and Aunt Nadia, they¡¯ll pack your bags and send you straight to Yarrowmere.¡± Altar 237 Dexter gritted his teeth. ¡°Julian, are you nning to keep me under your thumb for the rest of my life?¡± Julian smiled, his tone calm andposed. ¡°Wasn¡± it your choice, Dexter? Who was it that came to my bedside, begging and crying, promising to serve me for life and dedicate themselves to Neb? What¡¯s this? Are you regretting it now?¡± Dexter ground his teeth. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go to Yarrowmee!¡± Once Dexter left, Julian¡¯s mood improved significantly. On one hand, he had both children by his side, and on the other, he felt an overwhelming sense of anticipation. He didn¡¯t think Willow would like Patrick. Patrick¡¯s appearance was a bit rough, which didn¡¯t align with Willow¡¯s tastes. Julian thought to himself, ¡°If I focus on my recovery, maybe I can get back to normal.¡± It was just a matter of being a little less attractive. 1 In the afternoon, Julian had an inspection to conduct. He left the office with Esther. He didn¡¯t expect to run into Willow, nor did he expect it to shatter the confidence he had just built. The autumn sun zed in the sky. In the afternoon, Willow went out to buy a birthday gift for Rowena. She carefully selected a limited edition set of garage kits that the store clerk said were hard toe by¨Ceven money couldn¡¯t guarantee a purchase. After paying for the gift, Willow checked the time¨Cround 3:00 pm. Gabrie and Landon finished school at 4:00 pm, so she nned to grab a coffee before heading to pick them up. She had just received a message from Julian asking her to pick up the kids, as he was caught up in a meeting. Willow was happy to do it. She was about to get in the car when a voice called out to her, ¡°Ms. Harper.¡± Willow looked over and froze. ¡°Mr. Sherman?¡± Dressed in a sleek ck hunting jacket, he clearly had just returned to the city. He walked over and nced at the gift in her hands, quickly deducing it was for Rowena. a However, what he wanted to talk to her about was something more personal. Patrick had always been respectful, never crossing any lines, but today he couldn¡¯t hold back. Thalia had been crying at home, saying how good¨Clooking Landon¡¯s father was, and that Willow couldn¡¯t be her mother anymore. 1/22 Step by step, Patrick moved closer to Willow. She leaned back against her car, knowing exactly what Patrick was about to ask. She was ready to turn him down, but before she could speak, his lips were already on hers. Patrick¡¯s neatlybed hair framed a face that, though rugged, still held a certain handsomeness. His gaze toward Willow was gentle, far from harsh, He liked Willow for her gentleness, her tender nature. He was willing to spoil and indulge her. He leaned in, his voice low and seductive. ¡°How long are you going to keep running from this? When are you going to stop pretending? You know what I feel.¡± Willow didn¡¯t pretend to be oblivious. Her slender body pressed against the car, her hands gently resting on Patrick¡¯s arm. She tilted her head back to meet his gaze. There was a hint of affection in her eyes¨CPatrick had always treated her so well. But still, she rejected him. ¡°Mr. Sherman, don¡¯t wait for me.¡± She understood the pain of waiting for someone and the agony of longing. With Landon now in her life, she knew it was best not to keep Patrick waiting. A rtionship took time to build, and that just wasn¡¯t something she had right now. After she spoke, she tried to pull away, but Patrick held on. His eyes were filled with deep affection, and he wasn¡¯t about to give up on her. A ck RV was parked by the roadside for quite some time. Julian happened to pass by. He was pleasantly surprised to run into Willow, but the hug she shared with Patrick took him off guard even more. As a man, Julian could easily tell that Willow wasn¡¯t indifferent toward Patrick. There was a trace of regret in her eyes. It reminded him of the way she once looked at Jeffrey, caught between affection and friendship. Julian sat quietly in the car, observing them. It was as though something inside him had cracked wide open. He was no longer the same Julian. His physical and emotional state had both changed. His phone buzzed. It was Mnie, Mnie¡¯s voice came through the line, saying that the Cantrells had reached out. If he wasn¡¯t interested in Sacha, they would start arranging other blind dates for her. She had thought that this matter would be resolved But just as she was about to hang up, Julian spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯m going to give it a try with Sacha.¡± Altar 238 As dusk settled over Radiance Manor, Willow dropped Landon off at home. The towering banyan trees cast their shadows over the house, blocking much of the light spilling from within. The deep blue sky peeked through the dense branches, leaving patches of darkness across the ground. Willow got out of the car, lifting Landon from the back seat, reluctant to let go. Landon was sweaty but still smelled like a baby, sweet and fresh. Willow kissed him repeatedly, never ready to part, but she knew she couldn¡¯t stay the night. Landon didn¡¯t want her to leave either, holding onto her tightly. His small face, bathed in the soft evening light, looked especially fair and delicate, endearing her even more. At the top of the stairs stood a tall figure¡ªJulian. Willow raised her eyes and met his gaze. He had been standing there for a while, seemingly with something to say. She gently patted Landon¡¯s head and said softly, ¡°Lando, go inside first. Your dad and I need to talk. Landon¡¯s face flushed slightly. ¡°Mommy calls me ¡®Lando,¡± he thought with uncontained joy, hopping excitedly as he ran toward the door. A maid was already there to greet him and take care of him. Willow watched him go inside before walking toward Julian. The two of them locked eyes in the dusk, the scent of osmanthus lingering in the air. Julian¡¯s eyes were deep and thoughtful as he studied Willow¡¯s fair face. She had softened over the years. It was as if all the sharp edges that had once defined her were gone. She radiated a gentle elegance, like a pearl that had grown smoother with time. After a long pause, Julian finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of subtle affection, ¡°You asked mest night if it would be alright to bring Gabrie over for a meal. Willow, I¡¯m nning to start a rtionship with Sacha, and we might get married soon. But don¡¯t worry, this won¡¯t affect your visits to Landon He¡¯ll always be your child¡± His words were unexpected After all, justst night, he had seemed to struggle with letting go of the past. They had even shared a lingering kiss Turns out, it was just a man¡¯s hormones at y It was good that Willow hadn¡¯t taken it seriously. After all these years, with love and resentment both faded, it was easy to face the situation calmly 1 Willow considered his words for a moment before offering a sincere suggestion. ¡°Well, congrattions then! If Landon¡¯s presence affects your new marriage, I¡¯m happy to take care of him¡­ You can leave him with me.¡± Julian¡¯s voice grew hoarse as he responded, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of him. He¡¯s used to being with me.¡± Willow didn¡¯t argue. As she was about to leave, she turned and spotted Landon hiding near the doorway, clutching the wall with tears in his eyes. Her heart softened, and she rushed over to hug him, speaking gently, ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up from school tomorrow.¡± Landon clung to her tightly. Willow cupped his little face, kissed him again and again. It wasn¡¯t until Julian walked over and lifted Landon into his arms that she reluctantly pulled away. As she walked away, her emotions wereplicated. Life always had its surprises, like reuniting with Landon, or Julian¡¯s sudden decision to remarry. Willow left, and Julian stood on the steps, holding Landon in his arms. He stood there for a long time, watching until she disappeared from view. Landon wrapped one arm around Julian¡¯s neck and gently wiped his eye. He whispered, ¡°Daddy, did you cry?¡± Julian was as stubborn as ever. ¡°No, it¡¯s just some dust in my eyes.¡® Landon cupped Julian¡¯s face and softly said, ¡°Let me blow it away for you, Daddy.¡± The small face was so close, and it reminded Julian so much of Willow. At that moment, he couldn¡¯t help himself. He tightly hugged Landon, squeezing him close. Landon struggled, gasping, ¡°Daddy, I can¡¯t breathe Landon said one thing, but his actions betrayed hing His arms stayed tightly wrapped around Julian. They had been each other¡¯s world for years, and Landon loved Julian deeply. The two of them walked together toward the glowing lights of the house, their shadows stretching behind them. Julian¡¯s voice was soft as he spoke, ¡°might be marrying someone else soon.¡± Landon hesitated for a moment, then said, ¡°If you ally like her, I guess I can ept it. But I still like Mommy and E the most ¡± Julian reached out to touch Landon¡¯s soft cheek His heart ached a little. Two dayster was Rowena¡¯s birthday. Gabrie had caught a cold, so Willow didn¡¯t bring her along. Still, she couldn¡¯t help thinking about her the whole time. She nned to drop off a gift, grab a bite, and then leave early to bring Gabrie her favorite cake. The party was extravagant, as usual. But Willow wasn¡¯t in the mood to socialize. Before leaving, she made a quick stop at the restroom. That was when she stumbled upon Rowena. Compared to Gabrie and Landon, Rowena was about six months younger. She was sweet, tiny, and looked like a little fairytale princess. Willow¡¯s heart melted. She couldn¡¯t help but smile as she crouched down beside her. ¡°Rowie, what are you doing back here? Your grandma¡¯s probably looking for you. Want me to take you back to her?¡± Altar 239 Tears streamed down Rowena¡¯s tiny cheeks as she sniffled, ¡°I want my Mommy¡­¡± Willow gently wiped away the tears on Rowena¡¯s face and kissed her softly on the cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± She knew where the Gibsons¡® private lounge was, so she carried Rowena in her arms to look for Jeffrey and Rosabelle. It seemed that since the banquet had begun, the couple hadn¡¯t appeared. This made Willow feel a sense of unease. The door to the lounge wasn¡¯t fully closed, leaving a gap. As Willow approached, she could hear the sound of someone arguing inside, loud and heated. It was unmistakably Jeffrey and Rosabelle. Willow didn¡¯t want to eavesdrop, especially not when Rowena was here. She held Rowena past the door and soothed her gently, ¡°Looks like Mommy and Daddy aren¡¯t here. How about we go look somewhere else, okay?¡± Willow was good with children. Rowena immediately cheered up and stopped crying. Behind them, the man and woman inside the lounge continued arguing. The night sky was dark as ink. Jeffrey stood before the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, gradually falling silent. He hated arguments. After a long pause, he looked at the dark sky and said softly, ¡°Today is Rowena¡¯s birthday. No matter how busy you are, couldn¡¯t you have chosen another day to work overtime? ¡°It¡¯s been a month since she started kindergarten, but have you picked her up even once? No, you didn¡¯t. You keep workingte in your office, choosing to be a career woman. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you liked? Career women?¡± she asked. The silence grew heavier. Jeffrey turned around and fixed his gaze firmly on her. Rosabelle was dressed in a white suit. Instead of looking like she was here to attend her daughter¡¯s birthday party, she looked like she was headed to a business meeting The youthful look on her face had vanished, reced by a polished sharpness that bore some resemnce to Willow from years ago. After a moment, Jeffrey asked hoarsely, ¡°Who told you that I liked career women?¡± Liking someone had always been unrted to status, only about feelings. He had no idea what gave his wife the impression that he preferred career women. Could all these years of growing apart and arguments actually ster from such a ridiculous idea? Jeffrey put his hands on his hips and paced back and forth. ¡°Get that thought out of your head. I don¡¯t have that kind of preference.¡± ¡°But you love her. You sacrificed so much for her, and you¡¯re still not over her. During the years she¡¯s been in Faeria, you¡¯ve gone on business trips there every six months. ¡°But you didn¡¯t go there for work. You just wanted to see her,¡± Rosabelle said. As soon as she finished speaking, her heart ached. Her husband had always loved someone else, but she had no way topete or fight for his love. Jeffrey was infuriated. ¡°Rosabelle, do you even know what you¡¯re saying? Whenever I went to Faeria, it was for work. I¡¯ve never once seen her.¡± Rosabelle lowered her head and chuckled bitterly. ¡°Maybe not, but your heart was already there.¡± Jeffrey felt that he could no longermunicate with her, so he just stormed out of the lounge, leaving their argument unresolved. But when it came time to cut the caketer, they were back to ying the loving couple, showing no signs of having an argument moments earlier, just like Willow and Julian in the past. Willow carried Rowena with her, consciously looking for Dorothy. Eventually, she found her. In the corridor, Dorothy was also searching for Rowena anxiously. The moment she saw Willow, she heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°So, Rowie was with you! I just stepped into the restroom, and when I came out, she was gone. Thank you, Willow.¡± Willow lowered her head and patted Rowena¡¯s head gently. ¡°Go on, go to Grandma.¡± Rowena rushed over and threw her arms around Dorothy¡¯s neck, burying her aggrieved face into her grandmother¡¯s shoulder like a delicate little doll. Rowena reminded Willow of Landon, who was like a soft little stuffed toy. She adored Rowena. Dorothy carried Rowena and walked with Willow toward the banquet hall, casually chatting along the way. After all these years, Dorothy thought about it for a moment before apologizing to Willow. She said softly, ¡°Back then, I was acting out of anger. When you were inbor and things went wrong, I forced Julian to kneel before me. ¡°I only did that to get back at him. I thought a man like him would never give up his pride and dignity. But unexpectedly, he actually knelt in front of everyone. ¡°Willow, I didn¡¯t know what to feel at that moment was satisfied, but also saddened. I¡¯ve watched Julian grow up. Seeing him begging me, my anger subsided, but I also felt a twinge of guilt.¡± Willow was stunned. What was Dorothy talking about? When she had a difficultbor, Julian had knelt and begged? Just as she was about to ask more, a tall figure came walking down the corridor. It was none other than Julian. Altar 240 Seeing Julian again, Willow was overwhelmed with emotion. Dorothy¡¯s words echoed in her mind. ¡°When you were inbor and things went wrong, I forced Julian to kneel before me. I only did that to get back at him.¡± Years had passed, and Julian had never mentioned i. Even though Julian had always been relentless and calctive, he had never brought this up to Willow. Under the dazzling lights, Willow stood there in a daze. Dorothy, ever perceptive, immediately realized Willow hadn¡¯t known about this. Realizing her slip of the tongue, she quickly picked up Rowena and walked away. The long corridor suddenly felt empty with just the two of them remaining. Julian was still as he always was, with a suit jacket draped casually over his shoulders. Under the lighting, his lean features were entuated, carrying the charm of a mature man. He slowly approached Willow, his voice gentle. ¡°You came alone?¡± Willow just stared at him quietly. A breeze drifted through the corridor, lifting strands of Julian¡¯s dark hair, revealing a few silvery threads underneath. So, Julian actually had gray hair now. In that moment, Willow felt as if a lifetime had passed. They had known each other for ten years, yet she felt as if she had lived her whole life. Julian had knelt for her. But what did it matter, knowing now? The past couldn¡¯t be rewritten. Her grandmother wouldn¡¯te back to life, and whatever they had between them had long turned to dust. Perhaps only her hatred for him had dissipated a little. Willow let out a faint smile. But even in that smile, How much bitterness and grievance were buried within? After a moment, she replied, ¡°Yes, I came alone.¡± Actually, she had already vaguely guessed that the conflict between Jeffrey and Rosabelle had something to do with her. Regardless of whether it was her intention or not, she wanted to stay away from it. She kept her distance from Jeffrey as she understol Rosabelle. She just loved him too deeply. Loving someone often made people lose their minds, just like Willow had in the past. The night was still young, but Willow left early. Julian remained in the corridor, tall and elegant, the same image as always. They didn¡¯t even say goodbye, ending the encounter without a word. Their love and hatred that were once so intense seemed to have been deliberately buried deep within. For the next two weeks, Julian made time to go on dates and meals with Sacha. He looked like he was preparing to get married. The Cantrells ran a mid¨Csized business, worth around tens of millions. Though Julian was a divorc¨¦e with a child and even had a minor physical disability, Neb Group was wealthy and powerful. Even just a sliver of its resources could elevate the Cantrells to a whole new level. So, truth be told, Sacha was still considered to be marrying up. At first, Sacha was content. She nned every date carefully, wanting to give Julian the best experience. She put her heart into winning him over, bringing him to Brindley¡¯s finest restaurants, ssical concerts, and romantic candlelit dinners. On the Saturday evening that marked their 20th day of dating, Sacha even reserved the entire evening at the best restaurant. She had even prepared herself to ept Julian¡¯s proposal. As a woman, she felt that it was important to have a sense of ceremony. Coincidentally, the Ivalian restaurant she booked was one that Julian had reserved before¡ª Brindley¡¯s most extravagant revolving restaurant. The moment Julian stepped in, a look of reminiscent appeared on his face. This restaurant held too many memories for him and Willow. There were good ones, the bad ones, the sweet ones and the bitter ones. It was here that Willow had thrown that stack of photos in front of him as she cried sadly. It was here that she said she wished she had never met him and that they wouldn¡¯t meet ever again. 1 Chapter 241 There were just too many memories. That piano in the restaurant¨CJulian had once yed it. Julian lifted the piano lid and sat down, ying a familiar tune with one hand. Memories of the past echoed in the restaurant, lingering for a long time. At the corner of his eyes, a faint glint of emotion shimmered. Willow was a regret, a heartache, and a mark he could never erase. She was unforgettable for life! Sitting at the dining table, Sacha stared at the man she had fallen for. However, her gaze dimmed. She thought that through effort and pleasing Julian he mighte to like her, even if just a little. But the man before her was filled with longing for his ex¨Cwife. He couldn¡¯t hide his feelings for Willow, nor did he want to hide them. Sacha decided not to do wrong to herself anymore. She had had enough. She grabbed a napkin and wiped away her smudged eyeliner. Her voice wasced with sadness as she faced the refined man across from her. ¡°Julian, I don¡¯t want to marry you anymore. I mighte from a modest family, but that doesn¡¯t mean I have to degrade myself. ¡°Not only do I have to be a stepmother, but I also have to sit here and watch you put on a romantic performance. Who are you putting on a show for? ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to show me a little respect? Can¡¯t you just pretend for a bit? You¡¯re such a jerk! As for the 300 thousand dors spent to book this ce, you can pay for it yourself!¡± The more Sacha spoke, the more furious she got. She grabbed a ss of juice and threw it straight at Julian¡¯s face. Julian just closed his eyes slightly. Then, realizing what she had done, Sacha regretted it and panicked. She quickly grabbed her handbag and bolted. The night was quiet and still. Julian wiped the juice off his face. He couldn¡¯t help but think that he would probably have to go on blind dates again. Both families learned about the fallout quickly. Mnie called Julian tofort him, partly to test the waters. She was hoping that Julian would take the initiative and pursue Willow again, so the family of four could be reunited. But Julian refused calmly, ¡°Mom, what can I offer her? How do I give her happiness?¡± Hearing this, Mnie fell silent. Time flew, and soon it was already the holidays. After getting Willow¡¯s permission, the Zieglers picked Gabrie up, reuniting her with Landon. Since it was the holidays, Julian stayed home with the kids. Noah, who was now working under Julian, had personally crafted two small swings for the children. The two children sat in the swings under the autumn breeze, their joyousughter ringing far¡­ Dexter returned from Yarrowmere, dressed in all ck with a canvas bag slung over his shoulder. His face was dark, as if he had just crawled out of a coal mine. As he closed the door to his Range Rover, he could hear the sound of childrenughing from afar. Then, he saw Julian ying with the children, painting a picture of a happy father with his kids. That image was really dazzling to Dexter¡¯s eyes. He strode over and rummaged through his bag before pulling out several treats. ¡°Landon, Gabrie, your dear uncle brought you yummy treats.¡± Landon hopped off the swing and ran over to Dexter He gave Dexter a loud, smacking kiss on the cheek before picking out two pieces of candy. Gabrie quickly followed behind Landon. This was her first time meeting Dexter, but perhaps he shared some resemnce with Julian, she didn¡¯t shy away. She also carefully picked two pieces of candy from Dexter¡¯srge palm. Dexter looked at Gabrie and was filled with fondness. He pulled her over for a kiss. Then, with one child in each arm, he dered, ¡°Uncle¡¯s taking you two to ride the big horse.¡± As they walked off into the distance, Noah turned to Julian in confusion. ¡°We have a big horse here? Since when?¡± Julian leanedzily against the swing and replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t he the horse?¡± Altar 241 There were just too many memories. That piano in the restaurant¨CJulian had once yed it. Julian lifted the piano lid and sat down, ying a familiar tune with one hand. Memories of the past echoed in the restaurant, lingering for a long time. At the corner of his eyes, a faint glint of emotion shimmered. Willow was a regret, a heartache, and a mark he could never erase. She was unforgettable for life! Sitting at the dining table, Sacha stared at the man she had fallen for. However, her gaze dimmed. She thought that through effort and pleasing Julian he mighte to like her, even if just a little. But the man before her was filled with longing for his ex¨Cwife. He couldn¡¯t hide his feelings for Willow, nor did he want to hide them. Sacha decided not to do wrong to herself anymore. She had had enough. She grabbed a napkin and wiped away her smudged eyeliner. Her voice wasced with sadness as she faced the refined man across from her. ¡°Julian, I don¡¯t want to marry you anymore. I mighte from a modest family, but that doesn¡¯t mean I have to degrade myself. ¡°Not only do I have to be a stepmother, but I also have to sit here and watch you put on a romantic performance. Who are you putting on a show for? ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to show me a little respect? Can¡¯t you just pretend for a bit? You¡¯re such a jerk! As for the 300 thousand dors spent to book this ce, you can pay for it yourself!¡± The more Sacha spoke, the more furious she got. She grabbed a ss of juice and threw it straight at Julian¡¯s face. Julian just closed his eyes slightly. Then, realizing what she had done, Sacha regretted it and. panicked. She quickly grabbed her handbag and bolted. The night was quiet and still. Julian wiped the juice off his face. He couldn¡¯t help but think that he would probably have to go on blind dates again. Both families learned about the fallout quickly. Mnie called Julian tofort him, partly to test the waters. She was hoping that Julian would take the initiative and pursue Willow again, so the family of four could be reunited. But Julian refused calmly, ¡°Mom, what can I offer her? How do I give her happiness?¡± Hearing this, Mnie fell silent. Time flew, and soon it was already the holidays. After getting Willow¡¯s permission, the Zieglers picked Gabrie up, reuniting her with Landon. Since it was the holidays, Julian stayed home with the kids. Noah, who was now working under Julian, had personally crafted two small swings for the children. The two children sat in the swings under the autumn breeze, their joyousughter ringing far¡­ Dexter returned from Yarrowmere, dressed in all ck with a canvas bag slung over his shoulder. His face was dark, as if he had just crawled out of a coal mine. As he closed the door to his Range Rover, he could hear the sound of childrenughing from afar. Then, he saw Julian ying with the children, painting a picture of a happy father with his kids. That image was really dazzling to Dexter¡¯s eyes. He strode over and rummaged through his bag before pulling out several treats. ¡°Landon, Gabrie, your dear uncle brought you yummy treats.¡± Landon hopped off the swing and ran over to Dexter He gave Dexter a loud, smacking kiss on the cheek before picking out two pieces of candy. Gabrie quickly followed behind Landon. This was her first time meeting Dexter, but perhaps he shared some resemnce with Julian, she didn¡¯t shy away. She also carefully picked two pieces of candy from Dexter¡¯srge palm. Dexter looked at Gabrie and was filled with fondness. He pulled her over for a kiss. Then, with one child in each arm, he dered, ¡°Uncle¡¯s taking you two to ride the big horse.¡± As they walked off into the distance, Noah turned to Julian in confusion. ¡°We have a big horse here? Since when?¡± Julian leanedzily against the swing and replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t he the horse?¡± Altar 242 Noahughed heartily. ¡°Dexter does dote on the kids.¡± Julian, however, looked unmoved. He believed that Dexter had rushed back all the way from Yarrowmere just to watch him make a fool of himself. As expected, after dinner, Dexterughed and mocked him in the study. ¡°Julian, you got rejected! I can¡¯t believe it. You should reflect on yourself. Could it be that your cold and pretentious act pushed her over the edge?¡± Julian lounged back against the sofa, his crisp white shirt highlighting his gentle features. He nced at Dexter and said calmly, ¡°You sound like an expert, and yet, you¡¯re past 30 and still single. Oh, wait, I remember now. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Ms. Sutton from Neb Group deeply in love with you in the past? But you decided to sacrifice yourself for a political marriage. And now, you¡¯re still unmarried.¡± When it came to verbal sparring, Dexter had never been a match for Julian. After all, Julian was simply too cunning. Noah justughed on the sidelines, but soon, hisughter died down. A housekeeper rushed in, flustered. ¡°Gabrielle ate something with beans, and she¡¯s having an allergic reaction. Madam Mnie is freaking out.¡± Julian was also allergic to beans. He quickly ordered, ¡°Call Dr. Alex Winston. Have hime right away.¡± The housekeeper quickly hurried off. A child falling ill had everyone on edge. Even Dexter stopped joking around and went over to check on her. In the bedroom, Gabrie¡¯s small arms were covered inrge patches of red rashes. She justy there, visibly ufortable. Mnie was heartbroken and filled with guilt. She had assumed that since Landon wasn¡¯t allergic, Gabrielle wouldn¡¯t be either. Willow and Alex arrived almost at the same time. Alex was indeed skilled. After giving Gabrie an injection, the rash began to subside within half an hour. Gabrie looked much more at ease as she leaned into Willow¡¯s arms. After an exhausting ordeal, she slowly dozed off. Willow wanted to take Gabrie home, but Mnie gently stopped her. With tears in her eyes, Mnie pleaded, ¡°If you send her home like that, Mrs. Chapman Senior will surely me me for not knowing how to care for Gabrie. ¡°Besides, she¡¯s already unwell. Moving her around will just make her feel worse.¡± Willow thought it over and eventually agreed. Mnie was overjoyed. She was, after all, a woman of status. She wasn¡¯t particrly skilled at caring for children. When she saw Willow carefully looking after Gabrie and Landon, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of warmth and guilt. If not for her past foolishness, perhaps Julian would be fine now and maybe even strong enough to pursue happiness. Mnie decided to probe a little further. She sat on the sofa beside them and chatted casually, ¡°Julian and the Cantrell girl didn¡¯t work out. He¡¯s still single.¡± Willow had already heard about it, but she just kept quiet. Liam, who was sitting nearby, couldn¡¯t hold back from firing a shot at his wife. ¡°What do you mean that it didn¡¯t work out? It was that girl who dumped Julian! ¡°If I were in her shoes, I would¡¯ve dumped him as well!¡± His words displeased Mnie. What was wrong with Julian? The reason he went on blind dates and considered remarriage was for Landon¡¯s sake. Otherwise, he would definitely have remained celibate. Mnie¡¯s heart ached for Julian. She snapped and blurted, ¡°Willow, Julian didn¡¯t betray the vows. He went on blind dates and considered remarriage for Landon¡¯s sake. Landon needs¡ª¡± Suddenly, the bedroom door was pushed open gently. Julian stood in the doorway. Altar 243 Julian stepped into the room. He sat down by the bed, reaching out to gently touch his children¡¯s soft cheeks. He said softly, ¡°Landon needs someone to take care of him. That¡¯s why I thought about remarrying.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes were filled with tears. She wanted to say something, but held back. She couldn¡¯t understand why Julian continued to suppress everything inside him. Why didn¡¯t he ever tell Willow about what happened back then¨Cabout his crushed arm, about Landon¡¯s illness? If he had, at least the family would be whole, and Landon wouldn¡¯t need a stepmother. The dim and yellow lighting illuminated Julian¡¯s gentle expression. He didn¡¯t want Willow to feel wronged. She had already endured so much pain in her life, and he had once promised her freedom. Mnie wanted to push a little further, but Liam stopped her. He sighed and whispered, ¡°Let the young ones handle their own affairs.¡± With that, Mnie and Liam left the room quietly. The night was still and quiet, leaving only the former lovers and their two adorable children. Willow went into the bathroom to wring out a warm towel to wipe Gabrie¡¯s body. After tending to every inch of her skin carefully, she tucked Gabrie in carefully. Gabrie looked much morefortable and slept soundly. Her big head and small body made her adorably disproportionate, and the unique milky baby scent she carried made one want to scoop her up and breathe it in deeply. Willow looked at her with affection and couldn¡¯t help but lean down to kiss Gabrie¡¯s forehead. When she straightened up, she identally bumped into a solid chest. It was Julian. Willow was startled. By then, Julian had already slipped an arm around her slender waist. His face was so close that their breaths intertwined. He stared deep into her eyes and whispered, ¡°You¡¯ve epted him?¡± Willow froze for a second before realizing he was referring to Patrick. She didn¡¯t answer directly. Instead, she replied, ¡°I¡¯m not in the right mind for that right now.¡± She tried to pull away, signaling for him to let go. Julian¡¯s long fingers caressed her waist, reluctant to part. But in the end, he let go. Willow knew about his failed blind date. After his sudden touch, she couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Julian, you must be starving.¡± Men could never take provocation well. The moment she said that, Julian¡¯s gaze darkened, and his voice went hoarse. ¡°Then would you give it to me? Now that we¡¯re single, there¡¯s no burden.¡± In the dark of night, the hunger in his eyes sent a chill down her spine. Willow sat back down on the sofa, picked up a book, and pretended to read it. ¡°I don¡¯t have that need.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. But in the end, he restrained himself. After all, Gabrie was still sick. That night, Willow stayed by both children¡¯s side and barely got any rest. Only when dawn began to break did she drift off for a moment. Then, a familiar scent filled her nose. She opened her eyes abruptly, only to see a handsome face inches away from hers. Julian was leaning over, trying to drape a nket over her. He was so close that their noses nearly touched. He whispered, ¡°If you¡¯re tired, go rest in the room next door. I¡¯ll stay with the kids.¡± Willow didn¡¯t want to sleep in a Zieglers¡® bed, so she declined gently. Julian had no choice but to give up. He didn¡¯t sleep either and just stayed with Willow and the children. Only in these quiet moments could he steal a trace of warmth, pretending that they were still a family. In the morning, Alex confirmed Gabrie had fully recovered. With a smile, he said, ¡°Just be cautious in the future and avoid the intake of beans.¡°¡® Willow¡¯s heart finally settled. She knew Alex was a pediatric specialist and decided to walk him out personally to ask for parenting advice. Alex was easygoing and answered all her questions patiently. After bidding Alex goodbye, Willow went back upstairs to bring Gabrie home. Altar 244 Suddenly, a voice rang beside Willow¡¯s ear. ¡°Willow¡± She turned around to look and saw that it was Dexter. After the incident back then, Dexter had been in prison. By the time he was released, Willow had already gone abroad. Thus, they hadn¡¯t seen each other in five years. Dexter walked over slowly as he looked at Willow¡¯s face. Though she looked a little tired, she was still as gentle and lovely as ever, a far cry from the aggressive figure he remembered. Perhaps, he had never really hated her. He had only resented her for not choosing him. But those kinds of thoughts could only be buried deep in his heart. She had children with Julian, so she was destined to be tied to him for life. Dexter¡¯s voice was low and deep. ¡°It¡¯s been so long, and I still haven¡¯t had the chance to apologize to you in person. Willow, I¡¯m sorry for everything. If you ever need anything from me, just say the word and don¡¯t hold back.¡± Willow was filled with mixed feelings. After a long pause, she replied calmly, ¡°Dexter, I¡¯m not used to seeing this side of you.¡± Dexter gave a big grin and replied, ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± Upstairs, on the balcony of the master bedroom, Julian had a light coat draped over his shoulders, quietly smoking as he stood in ce. The thin mist of smoke slowly curled upward. A gust of wind swept through, dispersing the haze and clearing his view of the scene downstairs. As a grown man, Julian could easily read the intent behind Dexter¡¯s eyes. There was a pathetic trace of regret. He didn¡¯t interfere, as there was no point in meddling with something that would have no oue anyway. Still, he couldn¡¯t deny the jealousy he felt inside. Now, even Dexter could show a smile to Willow, and yet he, Julian, could not! In the days that followed, Julian continued going on blind dates, but none of them worked out. He knew the problem was him, that he just couldn¡¯t let go of Willow. Every time he saw her, something inside of him stirred. He couldn¡¯t stop his thoughts from running wild. As autumn deepened, Willow¡¯s life settled into a steady rhythm. With two children by her side, her heart was full and content. However, she slowly distanced herself from Julian, only asionally catching a glimpse of him when picking up or dropping off Landon. 12 She¡¯d heard that Julian was still going on blind dates, seeing four in a month. What energy! Willow didn¡¯t pay it any mind and just focused on raising the kids. After school, she¡¯d take them out for delicious food before sending Landon back to Radiance Manor. Julian rarely workedte these days, so Willow could tell he genuinely cared for Landon. On Friday, the sky was shrouded in a light mist, looking like it was about to rain. Willow left early to avoid the traffic. At 4:00 pm, she arrived at the kindergarten. To her surprise, Gabrie was waiting alone. The teacher said that Julian had picked up Landon earlier. Willow was taken aback. Julian would never pick Landon up and leave Gabrie behind. She assumed Landon must¡¯ve gotten hurt and decided to swing by Radiance Manor to have a look. Inside the car, Gabrie was quiet and sullen the whole time. When Willow was about to start the car, she asked carefully, ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s an autoimmune disease?¡± Willow turned to look at Gabrie and asked, ¡°Who told you that?¡± Gabrie¡¯s little face carried a hint of sadness. She bit her rosy lips and said, ¡°This afternoon, Landon had a nosebleed. Daddy rushed over to take him to the hospital. He and the teacher were talking softly, but I was hiding nearby and overheard them.¡± Tears welled up in Gabrie¡¯s eyes. ¡°The teacher said that if Landon¡¯s condition gets worse, he¡¯ll have to take a break from school.¡± All the color drained from Willow¡¯s face. But she still maintained reason, not wanting to scare Gabrie. She forced a smile and said, ¡°That won¡¯t happen. Landon will be fine. Landon¡¯s Daddy will protect him. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± Gabrie didn¡¯t look convinced. Willow first dropped Gabrie home. Heather took one look at Willow and could tell something was wrong. X Altar 245 Just as she was about to ask, Willow shook her head ¡°I¡¯m going to the hospital.¡± With that, she opened a ck umbre and walked out of the vi. Once in the car, she immediately called Julian. As soon as the call connected, she asked him hoarsely, ¡°Julian, where¡¯s Landon? Where is he?¡± Before Julian could respond, Willow¡¯s tone sharpened. ¡°Julian, how much longer are you going to keep this from me? What else are you hiding from me? ¡°Right now, I want to know where Landon is. I want to know where my son is!¡± The autumn rain drizzled, tapping on the windshield From the other end of the line came Julian¡¯s voice, hoarse and ragged. ¡°Hope Garden Hospital.¡± It was the weekend, so the traffic was terrible. Every stoplight felt like it was working against her. By the time Willow arrived at the hospital, it was almost 7:00 pm. She walked into the children¡¯s ward, and it felt as if she¡¯d stepped into a different realm. That ceric feeling was something she hadn¡¯t felt in years. The VIP ward was spacious and bright, Landony quietly on the white hospital bed. His face was pale, and his little hands were curled into tight fists beside his pillow. Willow slowly walked to the bedside. She crouched down to hold Landon¡¯s tiny hand. On the back of it were injection marks from the IV. When she looked closely, she noticed quite a few older needle scars as well. But she¡¯d never noticed. What kind of mother was she? Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she wiped them away quickly. She couldn¡¯t cry at this time. What if Landon woke up and got scared? She just stared at Landon, desperately suppressing her emotions. After a long while, she stood up and walked toward Julian. He was standing by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, his face etched with pain. Behind him, the lingering autumn rain blended into the dark, damp night. Both of them were standing so close that Willow had to lift her head just to look at him. His features were etched with sorrow. Suddenly, Willow pped him hard across the face. After hitting him, her whole body was trembling. After all, Landon was her life. She hated Julian intensely. With a choking voice, she asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me? Why did you hide it from me? Are you remarrying for the cord blood? ¡°Did you know the chances of a match between half siblings are only 50%. What if it doesn¡¯t match? What will you do with Landon? Are you going to make him wait in despair?¡± 2 Julian¡¯s eyes were darker than the night sky outside. After a while, he finally spoke, ¡°Do you really want to know? Fine. I¡¯ll tell you.¡± As he spoke, he looked directly into her eyes. He slowly removed his ck leather gloves and unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his mangled arm to Willow. That arm, withyers of its sh piled up, was disfigured and ugly. There wasn¡¯t a single patch of smooth skin left. It was a shocking sight. Julian lifted the arm slightly and muttered bitterly, ¡°It can¡¯t even function normally. Willow, with an arm like this, what right do I have to ask you to have another child with me? ¡°How could I ask you to spend the rest of your life with me? It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to save Landon. It¡¯s that I felt like I owed you too much. If I could, I¡¯d be willing to trade my life for his.¡± Willow was still in shock. After a while, she reached out her hand slowly. Trembling, she touched the hideous scars. Suddenly, fragments of memory flickered through her mind. On the highway, a ck car, she and Gabrielle were sitting in the backseat. The moment the car crashed, she¡¯d passed out. Her voice cracked. ¡°It was that car ident, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Julian didn¡¯t answer her. He simply raised his arm and pulled her into his embrace. For the first time in three long years, he finally held her. He felt like he¡¯d survived a catastrophe and finally regained what was lost. Only now could he let go of the fear that had haunted him since that day. Altar 246 Julian rarely shed tears, but at this moment, there was a glint of moisture in the corners of his eyes. Separated by a thinyer of fabric, Willow¡¯s cheek pressed tightly against his chest. She clutched that mangled arm of his, mixed emotions filling her mind. At that moment, a feeling of love and hate intertwined. Finally, Willow lost her control. She buried her face deeper into his chest as she pounded her fist against his chest. She cried out incoherently, ¡°Julian, I hate you! Why didn¡¯t you let me continue hating you? You¡¯re the person I hate the most!¡± Her voice waspletely hoarse. Finally, she couldn¡¯t even speak at all. After More than ten years of love and hate and several years of marriage, all of the feelings had turned into an overwhelming mess. No one else in this world could make her love so fiercely and hate so bitterly. He wouldn¡¯t even allow her any peace in her life. Just like that, he barged back into her world forcefully. She¡¯d tried to run, but it was hopeless. Only Julian had the power to stir her heart back to life from cold ashes. Whether it was love or hate! Outside the window, the rain gradually subsided. The tree branches glistened in the darkness of the night. The two finally pulled apart from the embrace. Willow took a few steps back away from Julian. She slowly looked up, tears still lingering in her eyes. But her gaze was more determined than ever, just like when she¡¯d epted his proposal, years ago. She said, ¡°Julian, let¡¯s have a child! We¡¯ll do IVF.¡± She knew that IVF was painful and that childbirth carried risks. But Landon was her son, her flesh and blood. She¡¯d already missed so much. For Landon, she was willing to do anything. What was the pain of childbirth,pared to that? For Landon, she would do anything! Julian¡¯s eyes darkened. Just as he was about to speak, Willow pped him across the face once again. Her whole body was still trembling. She stared at him and cursed, ¡°Julian, you¡¯re an absolute bastard!¡± She suppressed her emotions and continued, ¡°I¡¯ll move into Radiance Manor. As for when I¡¯ll move out, we¡¯ll talk about it after Landon recovers. I haven¡¯t forgiven you. I¡¯m only doing this for Landon. Even though they hadn¡¯t sorted things out, she had to carry another child. How could Willow not hate him? And yet, the moment she closed her eyes, all she could see was Julian¡¯s mangled arm. It was shocking and unforgettable. Outside the door, Mnie stood holding a thermal container, covering her mouth to muffle her sobs. At longst. Finally, she could atone for her mistakes, and Julian had another shot at happiness. No one knew how terrified she¡¯d been that Julian had thrown his entire life away, ruining himself and another girl in the process. Mnie wanted to give them space, but Landon had to eat. She wiped the tears off her face and knocked on the door. When she walked in, Julian¡¯s shirt was still unbuttoned, and Willow was still crying. Mnie just walked in. As an older person, she knew how to carry herself. She acted as though nothing had happened. She opened the thermal container and said gently, Luckily, the kitchen made a few extra dishes. Willow, go wash your face and eat here. Don¡¯t starve yourself.¡± As she spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but choke up. She wanted to make up to Willow by giving her the love and kindness she¡¯d once failed to show her. She would even treat Willow like her daughter, caring for her and treating her well. Altar 247 The quiet night went on. Willow could barely hold it together, but she still s down at the table. No matter how hard the food was to swallow, she forced herself to eat every bite. She was no longer the Willow of the past. Now, she was Landon¡¯s mother. But the sorrow was overwhelming. Her tears kept fling into the food. Mnie was distressed as well. Sheforted Willow softly and then nced at Julian. That mangled arm of his was a constant reminder of her own foolishness. The marks on her face pained her even more. Mnie couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. She wept and said, ¡°That day, I was supposed to send you two off. But I must¡¯ve been out of my mind. ¡°I answered a call and got caught up thinking about Alicia, whom I watched grow up. I couldn¡¯t bear to see her suffer, so I wanted to send her some money to improve her meals. 1 ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that Alicia would knock me out cold? By the time I woke up, a few hours had passed. ¡°By the time I rushed to the hospital, Julian was already in surgery. He wouldn¡¯t let me tell you. These past years, he hasn¡¯t been doing well. ¡°Willow, if you¡¯re angry, then take it out on me. Jn sincerely wants to make amends. Can you forgive him and give him one more chance? ¡°I know I¡¯m asking a lot, but after watching him these past years, as his mother, I can¡¯t bear it anymore.¡± Mnie¡¯s weeping echoed inside the room. Outside the rain was heavy, as if trying to crush the earth. In the middle of the night, the final drop of water sll from a leaf,nded with a quiet plop. Landon woke up, calling out ¡°Mommy¡± in a daze. Willow quickly walked over and hugged him in her arms. She gently patted his back, helping him wake up from his sleep. Landon¡¯s beautiful eyes were still half¨Cclosed as he asked softly, ¡°Mommy, am I going to die?¡± Willow felt her throat tighten. She forced a smile a whispered, ¡°Of course not. You¡¯ll be fine and grow up with Gabrie.¡± In that half¨Cawake state, children always spoke the ruth. of ¡°What about Mommy and Daddy? I don¡¯t want othedies. I want Mommy. I want to live with you. Please don¡¯t leave. I really miss you.¡± Willow¡¯s heart shattered. She held him tighter, and her voice choked with emotion. ¡°Mommy¡¯s not leaving. I¡¯ll always stay with you.¡± Landon nestled in her arms. He had been raised by Julian, but seeing other children with their mothers made him long for a mother. Now that his mother was here, and that she was beautiful and gentle, Landon loved her. Nearby, Julian¡¯s heart ached. He couldn¡¯t help but reach out to stroke Landon¡¯s head. With a hoarse voice, he whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t leave. Stay.¡± Neither of them slept that night. Early in the morning, Willow asked the attending physician about Landon¡¯s condition. The doctor exined that it was best to operate early for an autoimmune disease like this, preferably before the age of four and a half. Once it waspleted, it wouldn¡¯t affect the child¡¯s growthter on. After hearing that, Willow looked at Julian. ¡°Going on blind dates? What the hell were you thinking? That was the first time she had sworn at him. Julian, instead of being offended, found it exhrating. He secretly wondered if he had been suppressing for too long that he¡¯d be crazy. Three dayster, Landon was discharged from the hospital. Heather personally helped pack their belongings. Willow folded Gabrie¡¯s clothes and gathered her beloved toys. Though she had to take care of Landon, she hadn¡¯t forgotten about Gabrie. She would love them both equally. At the same time, Heather said to Willow, ¡°I did some digging. That lunatic who hit the car was diagnosed with mental illness. She was sent to a psychiatric facility. ¡°To prevent her from escaping, they¡¯ve chained her up. Honestly, she¡¯s living a life worse than death, but that makes me feel a little better.¡± Altar 248 Chapter 248 Willow was stunned momentarily, her gaze drifting toward the window. Suddenly, she wanted to see Alicia. Dusk fell, and the sky was filled with purplish clouds. A ck luxury car slowly drove toward the gates of the private hospital. Because arrangements had been made in advance, the person in charge was already waiting at the entrance. When the car stopped, that man gently opened the door. ¡°Ms. Harper.¡± Willow wore a thin ck trench coat, her dark hair tied up. She looked as if she were attending a funeral. She nodded faintly and followed that man to a dark corridor. It was damp and chilly, apanied by the faint squeaking of rats. That man pushed open a wooden door. With a dull ng, the green paint peeled off, showing that the door had been neglected for quite some time. That man smiled. ¡°Our funding¡¯s a little tight here. Once we get more money, we¡¯ll renovate. We¡¯ll also rece the women¡¯s locks inside with something bigger and sturdier.¡± Willow smiled faintly. As the door slowly opened, she saw someone from the past. Alicia was sitting on the bed in nothing but thin clothes. All four of her limbs were chained, restricting her movements to nearly nothing. Not only that, a horrifyingly foul odor filled the single room. That man was worried and said, ¡°Ms. Harper, this ce is filthy. I doubt you¡¯ll befortable here. Just take a quick look and be on your way.¡± Willow reached into her handbag and took out a check for five million dors. She said coldly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you needed money for renovation? Use this to take good care of Ms. Burke for me.¡± That man understood immediately, grinning as he took the check, As he left, he added, ¡°If this lunatic goes crazy, just call me. I¡¯ll stuff a rag in her mouth.¡± With that, the door was gently closed. Sitting on the cold metal bed, Alicia¡¯s eyes were cold and vicious. She looked disheveled, jealous of Willow¡¯s radiance and wealth. Why? Why was Willow the one who got everything? Alicia let out a chillingugh. ¡°Willow, why didn¡¯t I knock you dead when I had the chance?¡± Willow stepped closer, her gaze sweeping over Alicia¡¯s pitiful state. And yet, it wasn¡¯t enough. Not only did this lunatic kill her grandmother, but she even doomed Landon to a life filled with hardships from a young age. She even shattered Willow¡¯s family. She deserved a life worse than death! Willow had no expression on her face. She just looked at Alicia¡¯s body from head to toe and noticed the tattered clothes that barely covered her and the suspicious bruises scattered across her skin. Willow could tell that Alicia¡¯s days here were torture. A young, attractive woman, even one as filthy as Alicia, would still attract men¡¯s attention. Willow¡¯s gaze made Alicia feel like she was nothing like a superior being looking down at her lowly life. That was right. Willow was actually humiliating Alicia. ¡°What a pity that I didn¡¯t die! You¡¯re also lucky you didn¡¯t die on this bed. This means fate is kind enough to let me witness you in this sorry state! ¡°Alicia, I¡¯ve never met a woman more cruel and twisted than you. All in the name of love, you were willing to manipte and murder your own sister. Hearing that, Alicia chuckled. ¡°You mean that idiot Catherine? Yes, I used her and killed her. So what? ¡°Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re better than me, Willow. You and I are sisters as well. Don¡¯t you want me dead too?¡± Alicia looked deranged, as if she had nothing left to lose. Willow lowered her gaze and said softly, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. I don¡¯t want you dead. I want you to live a life worse than death! ¡°This ce is perfect. I¡¯ll make sure they take good care of you, so you¡¯ll live till you¡¯re a hundred. ¡°For the rest of your life, you have plenty of time to carefullypare whether life here is better than when you were in Grandsburg. My dear sister.¡°. Altar 249 Alicia went mad, screaming and cursing wildly. She even tried to spit at Willow. Someone rushed in, stuffing a dirty rag into her mouth. She could only re at Willow with her dim eyes filled with resentment. All she could do was make muffled whimpering sounds. Willow calmly dusted her cor, her voice still gentle. ¡°Draw her blood and check for AZ.¡± That man nodded in agreement. ¡°Good idea. Her private life¡¯s been aplete mess anyway.¡± Willow gave Alicia one final look. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure you stay alive. You¡¯ll stay here until you die of old age.¡± After saying that, Willow turned and left, ignoring the whimpering and cursing behind her. Outside, the sunset was zing, painting the world in scorching light. Willow looked at the sunset and felt like she could see Grace¡¯s kind smile as she cooked in the Kitchen. She could even hear her gentle voice singing old lubies¡­ But unfortunately, because of Alicia, all of that was gone! After finishing her business, Willow returned to the Chapman residence and began moving out with Gabrie. Naturally, the two children were thrilled. Willow wanted to take care of Landon personally, so she remodeled one of the children¡¯s bedrooms. Thankfully, the 800 square feet room was spacious enough to fit two beds. There was still enough space for a small study, where Willow could read and draw with the kids. Of course, the matter of IVF had also been set in motion. Later that night, after the children had fallen asleep, Willow pushed open the study door. The room was quiet. Julian sat behind the desk, flipping through the documents. These past years, he¡¯d been raising Landon alone, so he would handle his workte at night. Over the years, he had lost a lot of weight, but his charm remained. a Hearing the door open, he looked up at her and asked gently, ¡°Are Landon and Gabrie asleep?¡± Willow nodded slightly. Julian could tell that she had something to say, so he capped his pen with one hand, then tugged at the corner of his suit jacket with the other. He sat down on the sofa and motioned for her to join him. Seeing the gentle look on her face, his voice unconsciously softened. ¡°I¡¯ll have the maid make two cups of coffee. Let¡¯s talk while we drink. Didn¡¯t you love Mendhling coffee?¡± Willow declined. ¡°I¡¯m prepping for pregnancy, so I shouldn¡¯t drink coffee. And Julian, we¡¯re having this child for Landon. Once the child is born, we¡¯ll still go our separate ways.¡± Julian¡¯s smile remained gentle. ¡°I know. To you, I¡¯m just a fertility tool.¡± Willow yelled, ¡°Julian!¡± The night was quiet, and Julian¡¯s eyes grew solemn. After a moment of careful consideration, he spoke softly, ¡°Willow, how about we try naturally? ¡°IVY is hard on your body. I won¡¯t take advantage of you. If you agree, we¡¯ll treat it like a task, nothing more. I won¡¯t do anything that makes you ufortable.¡± Willow rejected him and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get a trigger shot next morning.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes darkened. He didn¡¯t bring it up again. He didn¡¯t want Willow to think he was a lecher who only thought about such things. Even though, truthfully, he did think of it every night. All he said was that he¡¯d apany her to the hospital the next day. The next morning, Willow helped the children get dressed. Landon had a jacket he particrly liked and insisted on wearing it to kindergarten. Willow doted on him, so she went to the master bedroom to get it for him. She made a mental note to move Landon¡¯s wardrobe into the children¡¯s room for convenience in the future. At 7:00 am, Julian would¡¯ve already been up by now! Willow didn¡¯t think much of it and pushed open the bedroom door. Inside, it was pitch ck. The ckout curtains blocked out all the morning light. Even though it was daytime, the inside of the room still felt like midnight. There was also a musky scent mixed with the unique male scent¡­ Altar 250 Willow frowned slightly. Suddenly, her body was pressed against a searing heat. A man¡¯s hand covered hers, followed by a flurry of movements. Amidst the chaos, his burning face. hovered across her neck, his voice was husky as he asked, ¡°What are you doing, running into a man¡¯s bedroom first thing in the morning?¡± Willow couldn¡¯t break free, but she roughly guessed that Julian had a fever. His body was pressed tightly against hers, but he didn¡¯t cross the line. This kind of contact was enough to make her legs go weak. Especially since they shared countless memories of intimacy. Willow¡¯s voice was strained as she spoke, ¡°I came to get Landon¡¯s jacket.¡± His thin lips brushed against her delicate neck. A momentter, he shifted upward and found her lips, kissing her deeply. His voice was blurry and hoarse. ¡°Then your timing couldn¡¯t be better. Don¡¯t move, let me kiss you.¡± Willow swung her head side to side, but she couldn¡¯t shake Julian off. He arched his body and kissed her passionately, like he hadn¡¯t touched a woman in his life. He held her hand andced his fingers between hers, kissing her until they lost all reason. In fact, men were simple creatures. When they lost their minds, their words became meaningless. Julian was no exception. He clung to Willow, his dark eyes revealing the dangerous charms of a mature man. He leaned close to her ear, whispering like a lover. He told her that they could try for a baby right now, and there was no need for artificial insemination. With a click, the lights turned out. Willow shoved him away hard. She turned around and grabbed the doorknob, about to leave. But before she could, his arms were already wrapped around her waist. Julian finally calmed down. He rested his head on top of her delicate shoulder, slowly calming down his passionate desires. His voice was low and hoarse. ¡°From the moment you agreed toe back and agreed to have this child, I finally dared to hope again. ¡°My mind is filled with crazy images once again. Willow, I¡¯m no saint, and I want to do things with the woman I love. ¡°Let¡¯s remarry. Not for Landon, but out of responsibility! I know that even with several children, you can find someone amazing. ¡°But Willow, I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t find happiness elsewhere. Marrying anyone else would only be for the sake of having children. ¡°I don¡¯t want to do it with someone else, and I don¡¯t want to marry someone else! I don¡¯t want to hold anyone else, I just want to hold you.¡± Finally, Julian said it. ¡°All these years, I haven¡¯t touched another woman. Not a single one. This arm is mangled and ugly, but I¡¯ve worked hard on rehabilitation, so that one day, I can still hold you and the children. ¡°Willow, anything you like, I can satisfy you. I can give you the life you want.¡± Neb Group had already hit a trillion¨Cdor market cap. Julian was now the wealthiest man on the continent. Everything he once dreamed of, he had achieved. But in the end, he realized the thing he wanted most was still Willow, the woman who once stood beside him through thick and thin. He wanted to win her back, to make her smile, to bring her back to his side¡­ Altar 251 When Willow looked down, she could see the look in Julian¡¯s eyes-gentle and full of lingering emotion. But instead of being moved, a sense of sadness arose within her. She tilted her head slightly, forcing back the tears in her eyes. Her voice was hoarse as she asked, ¡± Julian, how am I supposed to forgive you? Tell me, how can we still be husband and wife? ¡°For days and nights, I cried until I had nothing left. My heart was shattered, and I couldn¡¯t even piece it back together. If I hadn¡¯t been so blindly in love with you back then, Grandma would still be alive¡­¡± Willow lowered her gaze, tears glistening in her eyes. Julian¡¯s heart softened instantly. He was starting to understand Willow¡¯s feelings. She med herself deeply and attributed the biggest mistake to herself, so she couldn¡¯t forgive herself. With his rough fingertips, he gently wiped her tears. But her skin was so delicate that the corners of her eyes turned red immediately, making her look heartbreakingly fragile. Julian couldn¡¯t help himself and leaned in to kiss her tender skin, which only made it turn even redder. They were so close, and both were trembling all over. Initially, it was only Julian¡¯s one-sided longing, but now, they were both immersed in the memories of the past In a low, soft voice, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. If the kids see this, they¡¯ll think I bullied you.¡± Willow tried to calm herself down, but she was crying so badly at the moment that she couldn¡¯t keep a straight face. Julian found it rather endearing. He couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°You weren¡¯t like this before. Now, you¡¯re such a crybaby.¡± Willow ignored him and turned around. At the same time, there was a knock on the door, followed by Landon barreling in. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Willow¡¯s red eyes, as if she had been crying. He quickly reached out, trying to reach her. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ll wipe off your tears.¡± Willow scooped him up into her arms, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Her voice choked. ¡± I wasn¡¯t crying I wasn¡¯t.¡± Landon¡¯s small arms hugged Willow tightly as he nozzled close to her. Beside them, Julian¡¯s heart stirred. He quietly slipped on his shirt, buttoning it up with one hand. However, his eyes never left his wife and son. How he wished this moment couldst forever. After breakfast, the two dropped the kids off at kindergarten. When they were leaving, they ran into Patrick in the parking lot outside. Patrick hade to drop off his daughter. When he saw Willow and Julian walking side by side, a trace of pain flickered in his eyes. He walked over to Willow and asked, ¡°Can we speak privately for a moment?¡± Willow nodded and turned to Julian. ¡°Wait for me in the car.¡± In the past, Julian would never have allowed this. But now, he had no right to refuse. All he could do was stay in the car as he watched Willow speak in private with another man. A short whileter, Willow and Patrick sat across in brightly lit caf¨¦. Since it was early in the morning, there weren¡¯t that many patrons around, making it perfect for a conversation. Patrick didn¡¯t waste any time. ¡°Are you nning to remarry him?¡± Willow looked down and gently stirred the coffee in her cup. She didn¡¯t tell him the whole truth. After all, the tangled mess between her and Julian wasn¡¯t something that could be put into a few words. Since there was no future between Patrick and her, Willow thought there was no reason to talk about it. She thought for a moment before speaking, ¡°For the children¡¯s sake, I¡¯ve thought it through. I¡¯ve decided to remarry him.¡± She looked up with a hint of moisture in her eyes. ¡°Mr. Sherman, I know you¡¯ve always been good to me. But in the end, rtionshipse down to destiny. ¡°It just seems that we¡¯re not destined to be with each other.¡± Altar 252 Patrick frowned. ¡°Destiny? I don¡¯t believe in that nonsense.¡± He wanted to ask Willow if she had feelings for him, but when he saw the tears in her eyes, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do so. Look at him, making a woman cry like that. What right did he have to talk about liking her? Patrick picked up the coffee on the table and finished it in one go. He looked at her intently and said, ¡°If he ever lets you down again,e find me.¡± Willow smiled faintly and nodded. But deep down, she knew she never would. After all, they weren¡¯t destined to be together. Willow got back into the car. After the car started, Julian leaned back against the seat, handling some simple tasks on his phone. He said casually, ¡°You seem to like him quite a bit.¡± Listening carefully, there was a faint tension in his voice. Willow turned to stare out the window and replied indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Julian didn¡¯t press further. He lowered his head and returned to his phone. Roughly five minutester, he suddenly reached over and grabbed her hand. His forceful grip startled her. ¡°Julian!¡± The inside of the car was dim, and Julian¡¯s gaze was deep and unreadable. His voice was hoarse and low. ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to like anyone else!¡± 1 He knew he shouldn¡¯t say it, but he still did. ¡°Willow, you¡¯re mine.¡± Willow tried to break free and snapped back mercilessly. ¡°Julian, are you done being so horny in the middle of the day?¡± Julian¡¯s eyes darkened with a flush of red creeping. How could it ever be enough? He missed her so much that it hurt! Half an hourter, the car pulled up at a hospital. Willow¡¯s assistant had already made an appointment in advance. Willow met with the doctor in charge, Dr. Sommer. She flipped through Willow¡¯s medical records, nced at her, and then at Julian. ¡°If neither of you has an active partner, I¡¯d still rmend natural conception. IVF has many drawbacks, and generally, we don¡¯t rmend it the first choice. Would you like to reconsider? Willow shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re divorced.¡± Dr. Sommer smiled. ¡°If you both don¡¯t have partners, it doesn¡¯t vite any moral code. I¡¯m your mother¡¯s friend, so I¡¯m giving you the most suitable advice from a personal standpoint.¡± Then, she looked at Julian, who nced at Willow, waiting for her to make a decision. In the end, Willow still opted for IVF. Dr. Sommer didn¡¯t try to change Willow¡¯s mind. Afterpleting the necessary tests, they began preparation for the trigger shot. It hurt badly, but Willow endured it. When it was done, she got off the bed slowly. Her lower back and knees were both aching. Julian had been waiting right outside. The moment she stepped out, he rushed over to support her. She was in so much pain that she didn¡¯t even have the strength to push him away. In a rare moment, both of them leaned against each other as they walked toward the car. Once inside, Willow curled up, feeling ufortable. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and the back of her blouse was soaked through. She¡¯d still have to get several more of these injections, but all she could do was grit her teeth and bear it. 1 A mother¡¯s pain threshold had no limit. In a state of pain, she seemed to be lying in Julian¡¯s arms. She rested her face against his chest, and her nose was filled with his pleasant scent of aftershave and fresh soap. As her eyes were about to close, she heard Esther¡¯s voice. ¡°It seems like Ms. Harper¡¯s body is particrly sensitive to such injections. If it doesn¡¯t work, you may need to consider natural conception instead. This suffering is too much.¡± Julian murmured something in a deep voice, but Willow didn¡¯t catch it. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep. Altar 253 By the time Willow woke up, she wasn¡¯t in Radiance Manor, but in the executive lounge in Neb Group¡¯s CEO¡¯s office. This was her first time here. Even back when she was married to Julian, she had never been here. The 600-square-foot space was clean and sleek, dominated by shades of ck and grey. This was Julian¡¯s usual style. Willow sat up and noticed her clothes were gone, reced by a ck dress shirt and men¡¯s athletic shorts, probably something Julian had left here years ago. The waistband was a little loose, but with the drawstring tied, she could wear them. Willow didn¡¯t bother wondering who changed her clothes. In any case, she felt much morefortable now, so she didn¡¯t care. After getting out of bed, she walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window and picked up a photo frame from the shelf beside it. It was a photo of her and Julian that was taken nearly four years ago. She was pregnant with Landon and Gabrie, and they were sitting on a bench beneath the Ferris wheel. That day, Julian had passed by on his way to a banquet. Under the twilight, he crouched down in front of her, reaching out to touch her belly. Although the photo had been taken from a distance their gentle expressions were unmistakable. It was all because of the babies in her womb. But that night, Willow had lost her grandmother. Suddenly, the door behind her creaked open, and Julian stepped in. He whispered, ¡°Esther took this from inside the car She did a great job.¡± Willow gently brushed her fingers against the phot. Her expression was calm, and so was her voice. ¡°Julian, I know you¡¯ve done a lot to make amends. ¡°You sincerely wanted to be a good husband and a good father, but Grandma¡¯s nevering back.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze deepened. At the same time, the lounge door was pushed open, and a familiar voice rang out. ¡°Julian, how dare you remove my deputy? I need him. Do you expect me to go to Yarrowmere alone? It wasn¡¯t anyone-it was Dexter. As soon as Dexter said that, he saw Willow, who was wearing Julian¡¯s shirt and shorts. He knew they were preparing for a child, so were they trying day and night? A hint of deeper meaning appeared in Dexter¡¯s eyes. He looked at Willow and smiled faintly,¡± Willow¡¯s here too.¡± Willow didn¡¯t bother exining. She wasn¡¯t a young, innocentdy after all, so she didn¡¯t need to justify herself. Julian wouldn¡¯t either. He simply frowned and said, ¡®If you¡¯ve got something to say, do it outside.¡± Dexter looked embarrassed and went out first. Julian then looked at Willow and said gently, ¡°Get some rest. I¡¯ll call you when lunch is ready.¡± Inside the CEO¡¯s office, only Julian and Dexter remained. The curtains draped over the floor-to-ceiling windows, blocking out the daylight, making the office dim. Julian loungedzily in his leather chair with a suit jacket draped over his shoulders. A beam of light struck the tip of his nose, making his entire face appear more sharply contoured. Dexter leaned on the sofa, quietly observing. Even he had to admit that Julian was ridiculously good -looking. Just a casual nce was enough to leave an impression on a man. Julian yed with a solid gold lighter, his tone calm. ¡°You didn¡¯te all the way from Yarrowmere just to catch a live show, did you?¡± Dexterposed himself and said, ¡°Why did you remove Mr. Lowe? Julian, I don¡¯t have anyone reliable left in Yarrowmere. Do you want me to take office with nothing?¡± Julian¡¯s expression softened under the light. Dexter snorted, ¡°Stop ying tricks. I¡¯m not going to bring up your public disy of affection under broad daylight.¡± Julian sat up slightly, opened a drawer, and pulled out a thick stack of personnel files. ¡°This is your new deputy in Yarrowmere, Ms. Sutton. You know her. In fact, she¡¯s more than that.¡± Altar 254 Dexter froze on the spot. Eleanor Sutton? That name felt like a relic from a distant past. He hadn¡¯t seen her since getting out of prison, nor had he asked about where she was. Perhaps, he had never truly loved her. Julian¡¯s expression disappeared as he watched his cousin in silence. ¡°The position of vice CEO in Yarrowmere was something I promised her. As for you, if you don¡¯t want to stay in Yarrowmere, I can arrange for someone else to take over. ¡°You can return to Brindley and live your previous life of debauchery. But I¡¯m telling you, Eleanor gave birth to your daughter. You should at least bring her to Grandpa¡¯s grave.¡± As soon as Julian said that, Dexter red at him. He knew his cousin better than anyone. Ever since his release from prison, Julian hadn¡¯t said a thing. Now, he had suddenly decided to do this? Either Julian thought Dexter was in the way, or he¡¯d noticed something. Grinding his pearly white teeth, Dexter growled, ¡°Julian, you¡¯re as shameless as ever!¡± Julian smiled at him brightly. ¡°Dexter, if you were any more ambitious, I wouldn¡¯t have to work his h would I?¡± With that, Dexter left, booking the earliest flight out to Yarrowmere. Julian leaned back against the chair, rubbing his temples with his fingers, and he let out a sigh. It wasn¡¯t an easy task to uphold the Ziegler name. And Dexter was really hopeless. By lunchtime, Julian entered the lounge. Willow had already changed back into her clothes. She stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, her figure looking straight and slender. For a moment, Julian felt like he¡¯d stepped into another time, as if all the things hadn¡¯t happened, and that Willow was still the vice CEO of Neb Group. He couldn¡¯t help but walk over to hug her gently from behind. He murmured affectionately, ¡°Just now, Dexter said I was publicly disying affection in broad daylight. ¡°But Willow, after all these years of marriage, we¡¯ve never been intimate during the day.¡± Willow replied coldly, ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, you can find another woman. I won¡¯t stop you.¡± Julian felt a little disappointed. He truly loved her, so he wouldn¡¯t treat her badly just because he couldn¡¯t be sexually satisfied. He¡¯d still treat her gently and take care of her and the children. When Willow resisted, he¡¯d say it was for the children¡¯s sake, that even if they were just temporary, they had to y the part well. Willow felt like he was born to be an actor. At Radiance Manor, the autumn sun was setting, painting the courtyard with a fiery shade of red. On the lush greenwn, Landon and Gabrie were kicking a ball around while Snowy ran circles around them. Snowy was so thrilled that its tail wagged rapidly Then, it darted back toward its mother, gazing up with eyes filled with affection. Willow sat nearby and watched the children. Jesse brought her a shawl and said gently, ¡°Madam Mnie said that you¡¯re still weak, so it¡¯s important to keep yourself warm.¡± Willow wrapped the shawl around herself. She checked the time and smiled faintly. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Ziegler? Is he in the study?¡± Jesse smiled and replied, ¡°He¡¯s cooking spaghetti for the kids. Landon loves it, so whenever Mr. Ziegler has time, he always cooks for him. He really adores the kids Willow¡¯s heart stirred. In her memory, Julian had never lifted a finger in the kitchen. Moreover, was it convenient for him to cook? As the sky slowly turned dark, Willow made her way to the kitchen. As she got closer, she saw the kitchen lights, as well as the sound of the knife chopping up vegetables¡­ Altar 255 The kitchen was quiet, with only Julian standing by the counter, preparing the ingredients. He was wearing a ck shirt and ck trousers, showing off his broad shoulders that made him look poised and distinguished. His silhouette was striking, the kind that women would go crazy for. This scene was something Willow once longed for, but now, it only brought a sense of nostalgia and sorrow. She stood by the door, silently watching him prepare the food. It looked like he was preparing some sd, spaghetti, and roasted pork chops. Even with one hand, Julian¡¯s movements were precise. It was clear he¡¯d cook for Landon often. His expression was calm and focused,pletely different from the Julian of years past. Right now, Julian no longer cared for fame and fortune. Instead, he looked like a perfect househusband. Willow didn¡¯t disturb him and left quietly, but Julian still sensed her presence. He nced up and said gently, ¡°Just wait a little longer. Dinner will be ready soon.¡± Willow found it cloying. After thinking for a bit, she decided to make it clear. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this. Just let the chef handle it. You don¡¯t have to treat me so nicely, either. We¡¯re just temporary partners, after all They weren¡¯t even nning to register the marriage. They were just living together for Landon¡¯s sake. Julian lowered his gaze. The soft lights cast shadows on his face as he forced ae. ¡°I know. Ijant treat you better. After all, women bear the greater burden during pregnancy and childarth.¡± Willow had nearly lost her life giving birth to Landon and Gabrie. In fact, Juliar siL from that. If it weren¡¯t absolutely necessary, he wouldn¡¯t let Willow go through pregnan He continued chopping the ingredients and said, ¡°Besides, apart from love and marriage, we are still mily I want to take care of you and make you happy.¡± Willow didn¡¯t say another word. She gently pulled her shawl tighter and quietly stepped out of the kitchen. Outside, the clouds drifted across the sky, creating a dazzling scene. At the end of the month, Julian made a trip to Yarrowmere to clean up Dexter¡¯s mess, so Willow took care. the children alone. Late at night, it began drizzling. Willow leaned against the headboard, telling the children a bedtime story. Landon and Gabrie were both slowly drifting to sleep. Meanwhile, Snowy grew more animated, its big ck eyes wide open and alert. Eventually, Gabrie couldn¡¯t hold on and fell asleep. Landon quietly snuggled into Willow¡¯s arms, pressing his tiny face against her chest to soak in her warmth. He asked softly, ¡°Mommy, are we going to have a baby brother or sister soon? Why do you and Daddy want another baby?¡± Willow hugged him gently and replied, ¡°That¡¯s because both you and Gabrie are so cute, that Daddy and I want another adorable baby. Do you want a baby brother or sister?¡± Blushing from thepliment, Landon burrowed deep into her embrace. After a while, he replied softly, ¡°I want a baby sister. She has to be smaller than me, so I¡¯ Willow kissed his cheek. ¡°Landon, you¡¯re going to grov Having received her attention, Landon closed his eyes c Willow, and even his breathing was faintly sweet. In the dark night, the rain hit the window, making thei At the door to the children¡¯s room, Julian stood, worn a ck trench coat was covered in fine droplets. 2 He had just rushed back from Yarrowmere and happene want a baby sister. She has to be smaller than me, so I¡¯ll protect her.¡± Willow kissed his cheek. ¡°Landon, you¡¯re going to grow up big and strong, just like Daddy.¡± Having received her attention, Land¨®n closed his eyes contentedly. He wrapped his little arms around Willow, and even his breathing was faintly sweet. In the dark night, the rain hit the window, making the night more silent. At the door to the children¡¯s room, Julian stood, worn and weary. He had a suitcase in his hand, and his ck trench coat was covered in fine droplets. 2 He had just rushed back from Yarrowmere and happened to hear Willow¡¯s conversation with Landon. Altar 256 Willow said that she¡¯d gotten pregnant because she wanted a baby. Just like Landon, that single sentence gave Julian a sense of redemption. His heart meltedpletely at that moment, and his eyes brimmed with affection. It had been a long time since he felt this way. Perhaps it was because he felt a sense of home, which reignited a flicker of hope inside of him. Inside, Willow finally coaxed the kids to sleep. She quietly got out of bed and walked back to her room. When she turned around, she froze in her tracks. Since when did Juliane back? He put down the suitcase, removed the trench coat with one hand, and casually ced it on top of the suitcase. Then, he stepped inside the bedroom. ¡°Everything¡¯s settled. I missed the kids, so I rushed back overnight. I¡¯ll go check on them.¡± Willow nodded, then settled onto the couch and picked up a parenting book to read. After a while, hex calf felt numb and would even cramp asionally. Her brows furrowed in pain. After checking on the kids, Julian walked out and happened to see Willow massaging her leg. He walked over and sat beside her, gently lifting her calf onto hisp. With one hand, he gently massaged her leg. ¡°Did you get the shot today?¡± Willow nodded and gently pulled her leg back. ¡°We can do the surgery in a few days. Keep your schedule open for that day. It¡¯s also best if you quit smoking and drinking.¡± Julian didn¡¯t respond immediately. He just stared at her in silence under the warm glow of the light. Ata while, he said softly, ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work this time, let¡¯s conceive naturally.¡± A conversation like that, when they were by themselves, made Willow feel uneasy. Julian¡¯s gaze deepene filled with gentle affection that only a man could carry. A momentter, he pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a pair of pearl earrings. His voice was a little hoarse. ¡°It was quitest minute, so I didn¡¯t know what to get. But these match the dresses you usually wear. Do you want me to put them on for you?¡± Willow wanted to decline. She didn¡¯t want things between them to be more ambiguous than they already were. But when her gaze fell on his right palm, the words caught in her throat. She couldn¡¯t say a single one. Julian wasn¡¯t wearing his leather glove. The smooth pearls resting on his rugged palm formed a stark contrast. He picked up the earrings clumsily and carefully put them on Willow. The bright pearls made her skin look even more radiant and tender. For the first time, Julian seemed like a husband returning from a business trip, bringing his wife a gift. (Charter 200 +15 BCHUS Willow¡¯s long, dark hair was draped over her shoulders. Paired with the white robe she was wearing, she looked like a soft cloud. Julian couldn¡¯t help but lightly brush her cheek with hisinger, murmuring affectionately, ¡°It looks beautiful. It suits you well.¡± The night had a way of softening people¡¯s hearts. Willow¡¯s throat tightened. She didn¡¯t say a word, but gently picked up his hand, focusing on his rugged palm After a while, he unbuttoned his cuff and rolled up his sleeve, revealing most of his arm to her. It was battered and ugly. Willow¡¯s fingertips brushed across the arm. When she touched a raised section, Julian¡¯s body trembled slightly, his gaze bing even deeper. With a hoarse voice, he said, ¡°Willow, I don¡¯t need your pity.¡± Willow looked up at him, her eyes shimmering while she tried to say something. Julian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple boobed as he swallowed hard. Suddenly, as if he couldn¡¯t hold himself back anymore, he pulled her into his arms with one arm, lowering his head to kiss her lips fiercely and madly. Willow tilted her head back. By the time she came to her senses, she was pounding his chest, calling out his name intermittently. ¡°Julian, let go of me!¡± 1 BONUS Altar 257 ¡°Let go¡­ Julian ignored her plea. His eyes were filled with affection as he cupped her face with one hand, as if wanting to devour her whole. He even grabbed her arm, looping around her neck. He wanted her to watch how he kissed her. Everything turned chaotic in an instant. All the repressed love and hate erupted at once, turning into physical entanglement. Outside, a drizzle fell softly. In the end, they didn¡¯t cross the final line. Willow leaned against his shoulder, her voice soft and desperate. Julian, I still hate you.¡± Julian¡¯s shirt hung loose. He held her slender body in his arms, his voice husky and emotional ¡°I know Willow, I know.¡± As soon as he said that, tears slid down her cheeks. She didn¡¯t want him to see her at her most vulnerable state. Later that night, Julian returned to the master bedroom. He dumped the suitcase into the walk-in closet and headed to the bathroom. As the hot water washed over him, he nced at his right arm, recalling ire feeling of Willow¡¯s touch earlier. They had been married for years, so he could sense her heart softening. But she still couldn¡¯t let go of the past. After that night, it was clear that Willow was avoiding him. During the day, it was fine when Julian was at work. But at night, when he came to see the childrer always pretend to be washing up or applying skincare products, trying to avoid being 2with hi One evening, the children were asleep. Julian got up and noticed the light was on in the walk in closet, He walked over quietly as the thick carpet muffled his footsteps. Willow was applying her skincare products absentmindedly. Julian leaned against the dressing table, fiddling with the jewelry pieces ced on top, which were the ones she often wore. The pair of pearl earringsy cold and untouched. He asked her gently, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you wear them these past few days. If you don¡¯t like them, I can pick out something else for you next time.¡± Willow looked at him in the mirror. After a moment, she replied, ¡°No need for that.¡± Julian¡¯s gaze deepened, hitting the nail on the head. ¡°After thinking about it for a few days, you decided not to forgive me, haven¡¯t you?¡± His bluntness nearly made Willow lose her temper. Julian continued softly, ¡°But you still feel sorry for me and want to pity me, don¡¯t you?¡± Willow lifted her head to meet his eyes. After a long pause, she resumed applying her lotion, her tone * 15 ROMUAL §Ó§à§ß§Ú indifferent. ¡°Julian, you really haven¡¯t changed at all. When you wail something, you¡¯ll do anything to get it. And when you don¡¯t want it, you¡¯ll just discard it mercilessly,¡± Julian didn¡¯t deny it. He lowered his head, watching her intently. He whispered, ¡°Then, do you still like me?¡± Willow didn¡¯t answer and continued with her skincare routine. In the blink of an eye, the day of the surgery arrived. After a month of living together, their rtionship had changed slightly, carrying a hint of attraction within the hatred. At 9:00 am, the cky luxury car slowly pulled up in the hospital parking lot. Before getting out of the car, Julian held Willow¡¯s hand. ¡°If you¡¯re scared, you can still change your mind.¡± The egg retrieval through IVF was painful andparable to childbirth. Julian understood and was worried about her. But after so many injections, Willow couldn¡¯t give up. She opened the other car door and stepped out, julian had no choice but to follow after her. Unexpectedly, they ran into Jeffrey and Rosabelle in the hospital. Rowena was sick. Jeffrey was carrying Rowena in his arms. She had a pitiful look on her face as she clutched Rosabelle¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t go to work today, okay?¡± Rosabelle stroked Rowena¡¯s head gently. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you to fall asleep and only go to work after tha Altar 258 Jeffrey frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t you take a day off to spend with your child?¡± Rosabelle replied faintly, ¡°I have an important business dinner today. If Ind this deal. +15 BCHUS Jeffrey stared at his wife quietly, as if he no longer recognized her. After a long silence, he murmured,¡± Rowie needs her mother.¡± Rosabelle naturally retorted, ¡°She needs her father, too Why don¡¯t you quit your job and be a full-time dad? Why should I sacrifice my career?¡± Jeffrey said nothing more, and the couple parted on a sour note. He held Rowena in his arms, watching Rosabelle get into the car and leave. Watching her capable andposed demeanor, he knew she had always believed that he didn¡¯t love her. But how could he not love her? He was just waiting for her to grow up! Wasn¡¯t his tolerance and patience a form of love? After a long moment, Jeffrey nuzzled Rowena. ¡°Daddy will stay with you.¡± Rowena had been diagnosed with mild autism and needed adult supervision at all times. But Rosabelle wasn¡¯t willing to quit her job to care for her. Jeffrey was also incredibly busy, but Rowena was his only child. And for her, he was willing to sac..fice his career. That very afternoon, Gibon Legal Group changed its managing partner. A weekter, Jeffrey took Rowena on a trip around the world, visiting over 30 countries. By the time they returned, a year had passed Meanwhile, Willow was watching the estranged couple from a distance. A trace of sorrow crept in Even such a loving couple could turn resentful. Was happiness too easy or too hard to obtain? What was the norm? Beside her, Julian gently put his arm around her shoulders and murmured, ¡°That¡¯s because they don¡¯t truly understand each other.¡± Willow simply nced at him. Later, she underwent the procedure, which was just as harsh on the body as childbirth. When she came out, herplexion turned pale and waxy. Julian supported her and asked Esther to arrange a private resting room as they waited for the results. After a while, Dr. Sommer came to deliver the news in person-it had failed. Disappointment washed over Willow¡¯s face. She quickly asked when they could try again. Dr. Sommer stared at the medical report, thought for a moment, then offered a heartfelt suggestion. ¡°Why don¡¯t you two try conceiving naturally? The chances are better. I know it¡¯ll be tough for you two mentally, but it¡¯s all for the child, and it¡¯s less suffering. Willow didn¡¯t say anything more. In the car on the way back, her face was turned toward the window, and she remained silent. 416 BONUS Esther sat in the front seat, not daring to make a sound. As a seasoned assistant, she could tell Willow was about to blow up. The car slowly pulled into the vi. Julian had a meeting originally, but he was worried about Willow. So, he canceled the meeting and stayed at home to apany her. In the afternoon, all the housekeepers were taking their midday break. Liam had also picked up the children. Julian was holed up in the study, catching up on work. asionally, he would check in on Willow. She wasn¡¯t sleeping in the children¡¯s room, but in the master bedroom. He knew what it meant. She was willing to have sex with him! What he¡¯d wanted for so long was suddenly within reach, and yet, Julian felt hesitant. It had been four years, a full four years. Thest time had been in Willow¡¯s small apartment. That time led to the birth of Landon and Gabrie. It had been so long that he felt out of practice. By evening, Julian returned to the bedroom to check on her. He sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking her cheek as he whispered, ¡°Willow, eat something.¡± A slender, smooth arm gently hooked around his neck. Then, her soft body pressed into his chest. Altar 259 With her in his arms, how could Julian possibly remain unmoved? But he couldn¡¯t give in.. He gentlyforted the woman in his embrace, telling her that Landon still had time. He reminded her that she had just undergone IVF, so her body wasn¡¯t in the right condition for sex¡­ Slowly, Willow calmed down. The orange sunset reflected on the window like mes. The bedroom was bathed in a warm glow, casting a golden ze over the man and woman. Willow didn¡¯t push him away, and her delicate arms remained looped around his neck. In truth, she was scared. As parents, how could she not feel afraid? After years as husband and wife, Julian naturally understood her. It was obvious that Willow had been crying. 1 He held her close and gently rubbed his palm against her back. Heforted her gently, ¡°With me here, Landon will be fine.¡± Willow looked up at him. At that moment, she was utterly gentle, which was something he hadn¡¯t seen in all their years of marriage. She was acting like a youngdy Unable to hold himself back, Julian cupped her face and kissed her. His kisses went from the corner of her eye and then down to her red lips. Willow was startled, but she didn¡¯t resist. Therefore, the kiss deepened. Julian arched his body slightly, tensing his back muscles and his arms. Their shadows on the wall behind the headboard ovepped. After the kiss, Willow came to her senses an turned her face away. Julian didn¡¯t press her further. He knelt by her side, gently brushing her smooth cheek with his fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, okay?¡± Willow felt embarrassed. Suddenly, there was a knock on the bedroom door. It was one of the housekeepers. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, Ms. Barker is here. She said she has something important to discuss with you.¡± Esther? Julian frowned. He then straightened his body and stared straight into Willow¡¯s eyes. But his words were directed to the housekeeper outside the bedroom. ¡°Tell her to wait in the study.¡± The housekeeper quickly left. Julian¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the study.¡± Willow rested against the headboard, feeling fragile. It felt like she had returned to the early days of their marriage. When Julian left the bedroom, his heart had softenedpletely. Even when he reached the study, the gentle expression lingered on his face. Esther had always thought he was good-looking, but at that moment, he was different. He looked like a man who had fallen in love and was nourished by it. Chopter 259 Julian sat down behind the desk, casually fiddling with a cigarette case. His other hand wasn¡¯t wearing a leather glove. He had never hidden his condition in front of Esther. The orange sunset enveloped him from behind, making bis expression appear hazy. ¡°What¡¯s so urgent that you had toe now?¡± Esther hesitated for a moment before answering, ¡°You told me to keep an eye on Gibson Legal Group. This afternoon, something happened. Mr. Gibson is nning to cash out his shares. There¡¯s talk he may be leaving the country.¡± Julian was Rosabelle¡¯s distant cousin, so he had some knowledge of the Gibson family¡¯s affairs. Rowena had fallen ill, so Jeffrey was probably bringing her for a change of scenery and to seek medical treatment. However, the sale of Gibson Legal Group was a pity. Julian took a nce at Esther, then momentster, he made a phone call. On the other end was the head of a wholly owned subsidiary of Neb Group. Julian issued the instruction to acquire 30% of Gibson Legal Group¡¯s shares for 4.5 billion dors. Once he ended the call, Esther couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why did you buy it?¡± Julian gave a faint, bitter smile. ¡°I owe Jeffrey. Besides, isn¡¯t he in a hurry to cash out? Let¡¯s give these shares to Rowena in the future. Consider it a little gesture from her uncle.¡± Altar 260 Esther was shocked. How was that a little gesture? In the evening, at Serenity Manor, Jeffrey was taking care of Rowena when he received a call from his assistant, informing him that apany had purchased that 30% stake without even negotiating the price. The assistant sounded amazed. ¡°Thatpany must be seriously wealthy. They didn¡¯t even blink, spending over four billion dors.¡± Jeffrey held his phone, already guessing who was behind it. Besides Julian, there weren¡¯t many people in Brindley with that kind of wealth. He could also guess why Julian had bought it. It was nothing more than settling an old debt. The assistant continued, saying that the check would be delivered the next day. Jeffrey simply nodded. After hanging up the call, Rosabelle returned home. She was wearing a white suit, clearly exhausted from the day. She took off her heels the moment she stepped into the entryway and asked, ¡°Are you on the phone? How¡¯s Rowie today?¡± Jeffrey set his phone down and sat beside Rowena, helping her build with toy blocks. Rowena kept her head down, sulking and pretending not to see her mother. Rosabelle walked over and gently stroked Rowena¡¯s head. ¡°Are you mad at Mommy?¡± Rowena replied softly, ¡°No.¡± Rowena smiled gently. ¡°Then can Mommy y with you?¡± Jeffrey, who was sitting beside, suddenly said softly, ¡°Rosabelle, I sold my shares in Gibson Legal Group. n to take Rowena around the world.¡± ¡°What?¡± Rosabelle was stunned. She looked at her and couldn¡¯t believe what she¡¯d just heard. Did he just sell his stake and say he wanted to travel the world with their daughter? She lowered her voice. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you talk to me about this first?¡± Jeffrey replied, ¡°This is me talking to you. Rosabelle, we can always rebuild our careers, but we only have Rowena. I asked my assistant to book three tickets to Auralia.. Think about it. Rowie needs both of her parents.¡± Three tickets¡­ Rosabelle looked at Rowena. Perhaps she¡¯d spent too little time with her, so she wasn¡¯t as close to her as she was to Jeffrey. Even though Rowena clearly wanted to, she just stared at Rosabelle, too stubborn to speak her mind. Rosabelle¡¯s heart ached. She knelt down and gently wrapped her arms around Rowena, resting her cheek against Rowena¡¯s soft face. The night deepened. After a bout of passion, Jeffrey leaned against the headboard, smoking in silence and lost in thought. After a while, he nced down at his wife. Her slender figure was wrapped in the sheets, turned away from him. He couldn¡¯t tell what she was thinking. Jeffrey reached out and nudged her gently. ¡°What do you think?¡± Rosabelle¡¯s voice was a little hoarse. ¡°I need to think about it. Jeffrey, family is important to me, but so is my career. You don¡¯t understand. ¡°Ever since I stepped into the workce, I feltplete I was no longer that girl who used to wait for you toe home every day.¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t respond, continuing to smoke silently. After he finished the cigarette, he stubbed it out, went into the bathroom, and washed away the sweat from before. Rosabelle knew he was upset. She slipped out of bed and entered the bathroom quietly. From behind, she wrapped her arms around him. ¡°Are you mad?¡±. Jeffrey was silent at first. Then, her embrace tightened. Finally, he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He pressed her wall against the warm wall and fixed his deep gaze on her. ¡°Rosabelle, you keep doubting whether I love you. But let me ask you. Do you still love me? ¡°Rosabelle, what do you love more? Your career, your family, or your husband? Do you even know yourself?¡± Altar 261 Rosabelle was stunned. She¡¯d never thought of this question before. Ever since she¡¯d married Jeffrey, loving him was like an instinct. Her life revolved around him, but she had never thought about whether she still loved him! For a whole week, Rosabelle couldn¡¯t stop thinking about whether she should resign and go abroad with them. On Friday afternoon, at 2:00 pm, Rosabelle wore an elegant white dress to a business luncheon at a hotel. She was standing beside her boss, Harvey Jones, socializing with clients. She stole a nce at her phone, noticing a message from Jeffrey. ¡°Rowie and I are waiting for you at the airport.¡± Rosabelle was momentarily lost in thought. Harvey noticed and asked with a smile, ¡°Something urgent?¡± Rosabelle shook her head. Harvey nodded and said, ¡°The project is almost finalized. Next week, at our morning meeting, I¡¯ll be rmending you as the deputy project director. Keep it up, Rosabelle. You have a bright future ahead of you.¡± She clinked her ss of champagne with his gently. Harvey admired Rosabelle. She was beautiful, young, and talented. It was a pity that she had married young. News of her pending promotion had already been known among her colleagues. They quickly came to congratte her one after another. That was probably the highlight of her career. She thought she¡¯d be happy, but as she saw her reflection the floor-to-ceiling windows, she froze for a moment. Was this her choice? To choose her career, giving up going abroad with Jeffrey, which could cost her the marriage? Suddenly, a familiar silhouette appeared in the reflection. It was Julian. Rosabelle was surprised. She turned around immediately to look at him. ¡°Julian?¡± He was dressed in formal attire. He looked around the crowd before his gaze returned to Rosabelle. He said softly, ¡°I was just passing by! Rosabelle, Jeffrey should be at the airport by now. Are you choosing to stay?¡± If she left the corporate world now, it would be nearly impossible for her to climb back to this position in the future. Julian smiled faintly, as if he were looking at Willow of the past. ¡°Rosabelle, do you know what I regret the most? It¡¯s bringing Willow into the business world. She could¡¯ve been an artist, but she became a businessperson like me. ¡°Even though she was sessful, I think she regrets it deep down. If I could go back in time, I¡¯d rather she be free and do whatever she wanted! ¡°Rosabelle, think carefully about your dreams. What do you really want?¡± Rosabelle stood frozen. Her dream was to be a violinist. Even though she wasn¡¯t gifted, she could at least be a teacher. Teaching children how to y the violin was her dream. She loved kids. But that drearn was washed away by her love for Jeffrey. She¡¯d forgotten the reason she loved him, and the core of loving someone should begin with loving herself She had changed into someone else entirely, and that version of her wasn¡¯t someone Jeffrey liked A single tear slid down her cheek. She wiped it away and looked at Julian with a bittersweet smile. She handed her ss to a passing server, then grabbed the fem of her dress and ran toward the exit of the banquet hall. Right at the door, she bumped into Harvey. He smiled. Rosabelle, let me introduce you to a few valuable contacts.¡± Rosabelle bowed slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Jones. I¡¯m resigning.¡± Harvey was dumbfounded. 1 Rosabelle felt a lightness she had never experienced before. She lifted her dress and continued running downstairs. At the entrance, a car that Julian had prepared for her was already waiting. Julian stood by the window, watching Rosabelle climb into the vehicle. His eyes were misty as he let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Perhaps he was getting old and sentimental, doing a bit of good where he could. But Rosabelle didn¡¯t make it in time. There was a traffic jam on the highway. By the time she arrived at the airport, the boarding time had passed. With tears in her eyes, she called Julian. He arranged a private jet for her, but unexpectedly, Jeffrey had changed his route. He had taken Rowena to Panorma instead. He had thought Rosabelle had chosen career over family. They missed each other. The next time they met was a whole yearter. In the evening, the golden sunset painted the clouds in a warm glow. Julian stood in the courtyard of the Ziegler residence, answering a call from Rosabelle. She was crying really hard. In a rare moment, Julian patiently listened to her sob through the phone. Once she was done, he said, ¡°Wait for him. Jeffrey wille back with Rowena. Besides, you¡¯re both legally married. What are you afraid of?¡± Rosabelle choked with sobs. ¡°But I miss Rowie.¡± That was something Julian couldn¡¯t help her with. As he was speaking, the sound of a car pulling into the courtyard echoed through. It was Willow, returning with the two children. As soon as the car came to a stop, Landon and Gabrie jumped out and ran toward Julian. Julian ended the call with Rosabelle and picked up the kids one by one. Landon had been eating well, so his cheeks were rounder. He also looked genuinely happier these days. As for Gabrie, she had be more independent. Mnie loved taking care of her. Willow got out of the car, tucking her long, ck hair behind her ears. She said, ¡°Let¡¯s light a candle for Grandpa.¡± 115 BONUS Today was Dominic¡¯s birthday. Julian and Willow had brought the children back specifically for this. Just as they were! talking, a Range Rover entered the courtyard. It was Dexter¡¯s car. However, he was alone in the car. Willow was aware of the situation with Eleanor, so she looked at Julian and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Eleanor and the childe back with him?¡± Julian smiled faintly. ¡°Guess he hasn¡¯t sorted things out yet.¡± Julian stepped out of the car. Gabrie ran over immediately and greeted him warmly. ¡°Uncle Dexter!¡± Dexter pulled a piece of candy out of his pocket and peeled it open for her. When he saw Gabrie¡¯s little face, it reminded him of Eleanor¡¯s child, causing him to be lost in thought. Gabrie cupped Dexter¡¯s cheeks and nted a kiss on the tip of his nose. ¡°This sweet kiss is a reward for you.¡± Dexter¡¯s eyes reddened. On the side, Julian scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re not young anymore. Try not to embarrass yourself.¡± For once, Dexter didn¡¯t fire back. Willow noticed what was going on, but she just smiled and said nothing It was rare for the Zieglers to have a moment of peace together these days. At night, Willow tucked the children into bed and returned to the bedroom. Julian was sitting on the reading over some documents. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Was it your idea to send Eleanor to Yarrowmere? I didn¡¯t know y Aik matchmaker.¡± Julian nced up at her. ¡°Are you asking about Dexter or Jeffrey?¡± Willow smiled and sat across from him on the other sofa. ¡°Which one would you like to talk about?¡± Under the lights, Julian¡¯s gaze deepened, but his voice remained gentle. ¡°Neither. Are the k is asleep?¡± Suddenly, Willow felt a little uneasy. After being married for so many years, she knew him well enough to recognize that look. And today¡­ was one of her fertile days. Altar 262 Willow picked up the scattered documents, only to catch sight of an acquisition proposal that involved a holdingpany acquiring Gibson Legal Group. Willow was surprised, staring at it for a moment before quietly putting it back down. Julian seemed to guess what she¡¯d seen and said casually, ¡°Rosabelle missed her flight. She rushed to the airport but couldn¡¯t find him, and was even crying on the phone this evening.¡± Willow remained indifferent. Julian softened his voice, making it gentle. ¡°What? Are you still trying to keep your distance?¡± Willow couldn¡¯t stand being provoked and said coldly, ¡°Why would I do that? We¡¯re no longer legally married.¡± Julian stared straight at her. After a while, he smiled apologetically. ¡°That was poorly said. I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Harper. Please don¡¯t be mad at me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be mad about,¡± Willow replied before going into the bathroom. These days, they would asionally share the same bed, but nothing ever happened. There wasn¡¯t even anyte-night embracing. Theyy side by side, properly separated as if they were in separate beds. Tonight, it was inevitable that something would happen Willow spent a long time in the shower. Once she was done, she took nearly another half an hour applying skincare, and by the time she was done, it was close to 11:00 pm. She assumed Julian had already fallen asleep. However, he had taken a shower in the guest bhroom was now sitting against the headboard, reading a financial report. He was truly diligent. Hearing footsteps, Julian looked up. His gaze followed her silently. She had deliberately chosen a two-piece pajama set that was conservative, afraid of arousing him. Julian understood what she was thinking, so he didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, he reached out and turned off the bedsidemp. In an instant, the room plunged into darkness. In the darkness, Willowy down beside him. Soon, the room was filled with a rustling noise. Then, there was the sound of Julian¡¯s restrained breathing, as well as Willow¡¯s faint whimpers. It was nearly all silent. Amidst the chaos, Willow touched Julian¡¯s mangled arm. His gaze deepened, and he cupped her face with one hand and kissed her¡­ There was no forey, and it was purely for the sake of conceiving a child. After a moment of back and forth, they finished their business. Willow didn¡¯t resist, but she barely felt anything. They were both suppressing their emotions, not daring to enjoy it. To them, enjoyment would be a sin. Afterward, Julian held Willow close, his chiseled features buried in her hair. His voice was low and husky as he murmured her name. 1 Later, they even showered separately. Willow had intended to sleep in the guest room, but Julian grabbed her hand and looked at her intensely.` This isn¡¯t some one-night stand, so there¡¯s no need to sleep separately. Besides, we might not seed on the first try.¡± In the past, she¡¯d always had trouble getting pregnant. This time, Julian felt just being able to conceive within six months would be considered lucky. Willow didn¡¯t insist anymore. She was honestly exhausted. Lying on the bed, she instinctively turned her back on him. He got closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. After thinking for a moment, he asked softly,¡± Feeling okay?¡± Willow mumbled, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Julian smiled. After that, they didn¡¯t speak anymore. They justy quietly, watching the moon outside the window. The room fell silent, with only the steady thudding of two hearts. As dawn broke, a little figure climbed into the bed. It was Gabrie. She nestledfortably in her father¡¯s arms. Julian woke up and looked at his daughter with eyes filled with affection. Gabrie reached out her little hand, gently brushing his chin. The fresh stubble pricked her fingers, and she giggled like a little mouse. Julian had always doted on his children. Gabrie¡¯s body was soft, feeling like a toy in his arm. It was heart-melting. This was his and Willow¡¯s flesh and blood. Julian whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t wake Mommy.¡± Gabrie¡¯s bare feet pressed against Julian¡¯s abs, as if she were stepping on a washboard. She tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Mommy looks really tired¡­.¡± Usually, Willow would already be awake at this hour. But today, she was sound asleep. Julian thought for a moment before replying, ¡°Mommy workedtest night.¡± Gabrie excitedly replied, ¡°I know! Mommy must¡¯ve been reading. She loves reading at night!¡± Julian raised an eyebrow, his expression calm andposed. ¡°Gabrie, you¡¯re so clever.¡± Then, Gabrie gave her father a sweet kiss. Altar 263 Willow deliberately kept a distance from Julian during breakfast. Mnie could see that Willow looked pale and tired, and she poured thetter a bowl of soup. She asked in a concerned tone, ¡°Did you sleep wellst night? We can hire two more maids if it¡¯s too tiring for you to look after the baby.¡± Gabrie raised her hand up high and cried out in a crisp voice before Willow could say anything. Grandma, I know the answer to your question! Dad told me that Mom was tired from readingst night. 30, she slept like a log. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ask Mom to read fewer books and sleep earlier instead!¡± Landon was busy digging into his food. He thought to himself how hardworking his mom had been, and he had to learn from her and feed his belly. Meanwhile, the grown-ups fell silent. Liam, Tyler, and Karen kept their heads lowered and ate their food. Dexter shot Julian a vicious look. Mnie was the only one who looked embarrassed and unsure of how she should respond to Gabrie. Eventually, she stuffed a piece of oat bread in thetter¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you two to school and let your mom take a break.¡± The grown-ups continued to be as quiet as a mouse. Julian gently pushed the bowl of soup to Willo said, ¡°It¡¯s good for you. It nourishes you and replenishes fluids.¡± She lowered her head and finished the entire bowl in silence. Julian and Willow had sex almost every single night after they went back to Radiance Manor. Just like before, there was tension in the air, and they were both restricted but desperate. Most of the time, she would go to the nursery and sleep there after the passionate momen watching the kids. They very rarely cuddled afterward, and they would never talk to each other the way married couples usually would. That said, the hidden, suppressed tension between them made it more addictive to him. It was deep in autumn, and the white dewdrops turned into frost. A monthter, Willow still wasn¡¯t pregnant, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. They were sitting in the backseat. Julian believed she was getting overly anxious. Holding her hand gently, he said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t give yourself too much pressure. It¡¯s only a matter of time before you¡¯re pregnant.¡± Willow shook his arm away, reached out, and grabbed a book about effective ways to get pregnant. She had gotten too obsessed with the whole deal, but Julian had no idea how to console her. The ck limousine cruised along the road. Outside the car window, the busy traffic of the city bustled underneath the gentle glow of the morning sun. Julian suddenly told Benjamin to take them to the apartment: Thetter might¡¯ve been surprised, but he did as he was told nheless. Benjamin stepped on the gas pedal and turned the car around. Willow was so absorbed in her reading that she didn¡¯t notice they were going in a different direction. She didn¡¯t snap out of her focus until the car pulled over outside the apartment and the huge sycamore tree came into view. Turning sideways, she looked at Julian. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± He tapped the back of the driver¡¯s seat, and Benjamin tactfully got out of the car, leaving the former couple alone in the car. The light was faint in the car, and the muted glow outlined their blurred features. Julian turned sideways and said softly, ¡°Willow, I know you still hate me. Actually, you don¡¯t have to restrain yourself. ¡°You can still hate me when there¡¯s no one around. Take a free shot at me or give me an earful, if that¡¯s what you want.¡± Willow stared at him for a long time. Then, she grinned nonchntly. ¡°Julian, I¡¯m not a naive youngdy anymore, and I no longer have it in me to love or hate someone. What we¡¯re doing is wrong and sinful.¡± She couldn¡¯t bring herself to say the rest of it, but Julian knew what it was. She didn¡¯t dare to enjoy their intimate moments. The way she saw it, it was sinful, and that made her repress her desires. The more she did that, the harder it was for her to get pregnant. Reaching out, Julian held Willow by the back of her head and drew his face very close to hers. He saitly ¡°Try to forgive me, okay? I don¡¯t care if you have to fake it. It¡¯s better than this. Then, he added, ¡°Let¡¯s try to be a married couple for real!¡± Something glistened in Willow¡¯s eyes underneath the faint light. Julian wiped the tears off for her t opening the car door and leading her into the apartment The door to their unit swung open. The first thing they saw was a bouquet of white ca lilies. The ce remained untouched by time. Everything was just the way she remembered it to be. Julian embraced Willow from behind and murmured, ¡°I know you don¡¯t like it at the Ziegler residence or Radiance Manor. So, we¡¯re going to stay here from here on out. ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel like you¡¯re doing something wrong, and we don¡¯t have to pretend like a lovely couple in front of the kids. We¡¯re the only ones in this apartment.¡± Willow swept her eyes across her surroundings, and her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Julian!¡± He tightened his grip on her. The sunlight cast its soothing rays into the apartment, and the white curtains in the bedroom fluttered gently. Everything happened naturally as if it were meant to be Julian and Willow¡¯s figures were entwined in the most intense and tantalizing ways possible. Their love, hatred, yearning, and regrets were poured out in this passionate moment as they let their desires and emotions overwhelm them. Altar 264 It was evening, and the sun¡¯s fading light poured into the bedroom. Willow dozed off from pure exhaustion. Julian had his pants on, and his shirt was draped over lin casually, with only two of its buttons done. One of his arms might have been damaged and looked hideous, but it did nothing to diminish his virility and stunning appearance. They were trying to make a baby. So, he didn¡¯t smoke. Instead, he stared at the setting sun as he rubbed her ck hair and reminisced about the hot, passionate moment they had just shared. Willow slowly woke up. Unlike before, she didn¡¯t turn her back to him. This time, she remained leaning against Julian¡¯s chest with his broken arm in her sight. She stared at it for a brief moment and asked softly, ¡°Why did you do it?¡± He was immediately stunned. Afterward, he guessed what she was asking about. This was the first freshe had openly brought up Alicia since they had been reunited. Lowering his head, he looked at her and responded gently, ¡°Willow, I might have done it out of guilt, but a big part of what drives me is love.¡± Julian loved Willow and Gabrie. Back then, he chose love out of pure instinct. He didn¡¯t want her to feel burdened either. He owed her too much, and thest thing he wanted was for her to choose to stay back under those circumstances. Thest three years had been torturous for him, but he still had Landon. Willow dropped the matter. Reaching out, she pulled open Julian¡¯s shirt and looked at the scars on fi ¡°Did you go to the physical rehabilitation?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping at it, and my grip seems to be getting strongertely.¡± Julian¡¯s voice turned slightly deeper. ¡°But the scars will always be there. Not even skin grafting can get rid of it.¡± The setting sun shone an orange glow on Julian, making him look gentler. His wounds no longer looked that menacing. Some parts of his arm popped out and seemed a little hideous. Willow ran her fair and lean fingers across the parts, causing Julian to suddenly tremble. His eyes were suddenlyced with inexplicable feelings. Then, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. When he had his fill, he held the back of her neck and said gently, ¡°Don¡¯t touch there anymore.¡± Willow was speechless. Julian didn¡¯t try to sleep with her again this time. Instead, he took a shower and made a meal for her. The apartment was like a cave, and they were spending time together like a couple in love. While he was cooking, she made two cups of coffee. He reminded her and said, ¡°It¡¯s best if you leave it. Pregnantdies can¡¯t have coffee.¡± Willow responded nonchntly as the coffee machine whirred. ¡°They¡¯re all for you. Aren¡¯t you working overtime tonight?¡± Enarser Sta $15 BONUS Julian turned sideways and stared at her, his eyes concealing his thoughts. Both of them were very at case whenever they stayed in the apartment. Their painful past was never brought up, and they didn¡¯t say anything that would dampen the mood. For that matter, they didn¡¯t discuss their future either. All they did was share a life and a bed. From time to time Willow would even help Julian with his work in the middle of the night. When he came out of the bathroom, he saw her on the couch, holding and reading a stack of documents. She even imitated his signature and signed some of the internal papers. Julian took them and nced at them. Then, he said naturally, ¡°Why, Mrs. Ziegler, your imitation was impable.¡± Then, both of them were immediately stunned. It had been such a long time since he had called her that. Thest time he did, they were still married to each other. He had always called her ¡°Mrs. Ziegler¡± mocking tone, warning her not to fantasize about the concept of love. Now, however, Julian was the one who yearned for Willow¡¯s love. His desire was so intense that it physically hurt him. He wore an affectionate expression and said, ¡°I¡¯m used to calling you that. Old habits die hard, and all that. She lowered her gaze and said, ¡°You should sign them yourself.¡± She wanted to leave, but he grabbed her wrist, pulled her into his arms, and both of them rto the couch. Rubbing her fair cheeks fondly, he spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Are you going soft on me?¡± Altar 265 ¡°I¡¯m not. Let me go!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t lie to me. Willow, we¡¯ve been married for years!¡± Julian looked into her eyes as he continued to fondly rub her cheeks. His gaze was so deep andced with tenderness. He didn¡¯t stop touching her until his hand stopped at her belly. His tone was sentimental when he murmured, ¡°Do you still remember it? Landon and Gabrie exist because we did it on this couch.¡± Willowy on her back, her ck hair cascading on the couch. There was a vulnerability to her allure, soft and haunting. Julian¡¯s eyes were brimming with lust. Lowering his head, he kissed her lips and said in a hoarse voice, ¡± Let¡¯s give it a shot.¡± What did he mean by that? Willow wanted to ask him, but he didn¡¯t give her a chance. What happened next was unprecedented moments of madness, intensity, and eroticism as he unleashed his full desires on her. The night waspletely dark as it lingered on endlessly. In the blink of an eye, it was winter. 1 Mouth-watering aromas filled the hallways of the Ziegler residence during the winter solstice. The maids were busy baking pies for the festive holiday. Willow was teaching Landon and Gabrie how to draw in the warm, cozy study. The little girl drew a handsome man, but Landon couldn¡¯t make out the guy in the portrait, despite having stared at it for a long time. She said with a proud expression. ¡°It¡¯s Dad.¡± Willow took the portrait over and nced at it. She couldn¡¯t help but smile and say affectionately, ¡°I can see the resemnce.¡± Herpliment made Gabrie swell with pride. That was when the door to the study swung open, and in came Julian. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Gabrie gave him the drawing she made and said merrily, ¡°I drew you, Dad. Mom praised me and said that it looked like you.¡± Julian looked at the portrait before turning his gaze to Willow. Then, he said slowly, ¡°I can see the resemnce.¡± Gabrie suggested that she would draw Landon¡¯s portrait. Tears immediately welled up in his eyes. He didn¡¯t want to look like that. Having a bearded face terrified him. As the kids made a fuss, Julian nced at Willow¡¯s painting. She also drew a man. He took a closer look and deliberately said, ¡°I¡¯ve been staring at it for a while now, but it looks nothing like the actor you¡¯re going for. She scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re not as funny as you think you are.¡± Julian chuckled, dropped the topic, and asked the kids to get downstairs for pies, Gabrie rubbed her belly and said, ¡°I want eight pies.¡± Landon¡¯s face was red. ¡°I want six.¡± Julian swooped Landon up with one hand, but Gabrie wasn¡¯t jealous at all. Instead, she followed him and went downstairs. Willow stayed behind to wash the painting brushes before putting them in the dry holders. Usually, she loved the faint scent of paint, but it was unbearable today. Reaching up, she clutched her chest tightly. Then, she couldn¡¯t hold it back and dry-heaved a little. Once everything calmed down, she was slightly stunned. Willow had given birth before, and she knew what this meant. It was likely that she was pregnant now. There was a new life in her belly, and it was her third child with Julian. She was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. Three months. Her baby¡¯s timing was impable. Willow looked at her reflection in the mirror and rubbed her belly gently. After a while, she grinned faintly. If she were actually pregnant, she would name this child Evelyn Ziegler. May a new hope dawn in the family with her birth. She hoped that her third child would be a little girl. Landon had always wanted a younger sister. When he grew up, he could protect her. Willow¡¯s welled eyes up with tears at the thought of Landon. A strong wave of emotions washed over her, and it was hard for her to calm down. At that moment, she heard footsteps in the study. Then, Julian¡¯s voice echoed, sounding tender as he spoke. ¡°Are you done? We¡¯re waiting for you to get started on the meal.¡± Then, his figure showed up in the mirror. Altar 266 Chapter 266 Julian and Willow fixed their gazes on each other¡¯s reflections in the mirror. Momentster, she hummed in response. ¡°I¡¯m almost done.¡± She didn¡¯t tell him that she was pregnant because she was worried that it might to nothing, but she was definitely fired up about it. When she was eating the pies, she was a little out of it too. Julian gave Willow some pies. ¡°Have some. It¡¯s your favorite.¡± She smiled faintly, lowered her head, and ate a piece of pe. Karen noticed that things were going great between Julian and Willow. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little jealous. Turning sideways, she said to Dexter, ¡°When are you bringing Eleanor and the kid back? Your dad and I want to spend some time with our grandson too.¡± Dexter responded sulkily, ¡°She doesn¡¯t want anything to do with me. What can I do about it?¡± Karen got anxious. ¡°Even the toughestdy can¡¯t resist persistent man. Learn from Julian¡¯s example! He¡¯s good at this.¡± Everyone immediately fell silent. Then, Tyler ced a piece of meat on her te and said, ¡®Eat your food and stop spouting nonsense!¡± Karen protested, ¡°I¡¯m just asking Dexter to learn from Julian. What¡¯s wrong with that? You always said that families are supposed to love and care about each other. I¡¯m just practicing what you said.¡± This time, no one responded to her. Julian drove his family home in the evening. Gabrie chattered excitedly in the car, asking, ¡°Dad, what, does it mean when Great¨CAunt Karen said ¡®even the toughestdy can¡¯t resist a persistent man?¡°¡± He nced at Willow before he exined it patiently. ¡°I love your mom, and I¡¯ve been persistently pestering her every day. That¡¯s what she meant.¡± She was speechless. Gabrie pped. ¡°Oh, I know. It¡¯s how things work between Landon and Thalia. He has a crush on her.¡± Julian lowered his head and looked at Landon. ¡°Is that te?¡± When he lowered his head, his cheeks were sleek and prominent, and his straight nose effortlessly stood out. His side profile was nothing short of divine. Gabrie was dazed as she stared at Julian. He was striking! Landon¡¯s face reddened. ¡°No, I don¡¯t have a crush on her¡± Thalia might have been tall and pretty, but she was fiere, and she knew how to fight. That said, Julian suddenly had a wicked taste for mischief. Looking at Willow, he put on an open¨Cminded tone and asked, ¡°Will you agree to it if Landon wants to marry Thalia in the future? ¡°It just so happens that you and Patrick are kind of close. If they really got married, you guys would be closer than ever.¡± Willow knew what Julian was ying at, but she chose to ignore him. The car was dimly lit. Gabrie and Landon were ying with each other. Julian looked at Willow¡¯s perky checks and couldn¡¯t resist holding her hand. Not too bold or reckless, just gently holding it in his palm. This moment was probably the embodiment of happiness and bliss. The car swayed gently as it cruised on the road. It was close to 7:00 pm by the time they arrived at Radiance Manor. Gabrie and Landon were exhausted and already fast asleep. The car door swung open, and Julian carried his little girl in his arms. Willow bent over and wanted to swoop Landon up, but he stopped her. 1 ¡°I¡¯lle back and get himter. He¡¯s quite heavy, and you¡¯re not feeling well. Don¡¯t tire yourself.¡± His tender voice blended into the orange glow of the setting sun seamlessly. Willow lowered her gaze and fell into deep thought. She had been sharing intimate moments with him for days and nights. That wasn¡¯t even mentioning the fact that they were raising their kids together. It would be a bald¨Cfaced lie to say that she didn¡¯t have any feelings for him. Later that night, the restroom was brightly lit. A pregnancy test wasid on the sink, and two pink lines slowly surfaced on it. Willow¡¯s lips trembled. Before long, tears welled up in her eyes. She was really pregnant. Landon and Gabrie slept soundly in the stillness of the night. Willow took turns kissing them. When she stood up straight, Julian wrapped his arms around her slender waist and spoke next to her ear. ¡°How about we go to my room? I have something to give you.¡± Willow pondered on it and said, ¡°What a coincidence. I have to tell you something too.¡± Julian stared at her intently. ¡°What is it?¡± Altar 267 Willow said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it when we¡¯re there.¡± +25 BCNUS To her surprise, Julian bought her a handbag. It was a limited edition tinum Birkin. Only 50 of them were made in the entire world, and it wasn¡¯t even on the shelves of the stores in Brindley. The lights shone brightly. Julian lowered his head, his eyes brimming with tenderness. ¡°Do you like it? Don¡¯tdies love handbags?¡± Willow did love them, but she wasn¡¯t that into them. She took it and thanked him. Julian loved seeing the satisfied look on her face. He stared at her perky cheeks and gulped. ¡°I don¡¯t have meetings or business gatherings tomorrow. How about we go to the apartment? Are there any dishes you want to eat? I¡¯ll ask Esther to get the ingredients ready.¡± Willow raised her head and zoned out a little when she saw the affectionate look on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Julian¡¯s voice sounded a little hoarse. Are you upset by what Aunt Karen said earlier today?¡± She shook her head gently. Looking at him, she said softly, ¡°Julian, I¡¯m pregnant!¡± Julian was immediately stunned. She said again, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant! It¡¯s probably five weeks now, and I¡¯ll probably go intobor in September next year.¡± For five seconds, nothing happened. Then, he pulled her into his arms with one hand. She nuzzled her face against his shoulder and felt the warmth of his body through his thin shirt. Her voice sounded broken when she spoke. ¡°Julian, we shouldn¡¯t do it¡­¡± He interrupted her gently, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be intimate or pretend to be a lovely couple. We shouldn¡¯t go to the apartment again just to sleep with each other again. Is that what you¡¯re trying to say?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Her voice drifted from his shoulder, so soft and tender. ¡°Julian, Landon¡¯s condition will be fully cured once the baby is born.¡± Lowering her head, Julian looked at Willow. His voice was deep and affectionate when he spoke. ¡°Is that the only reason? What about us? Are you really moving on from me?¡± The night remained quiet for a long time, Willow leaned on Julian¡¯s shoulder and responded gently, ¡°Julian, don¡¯t make it hard for me!¡± Her words effortlessly made his heart go soft, Moreover her eyes were glistening from tears. In the past, Julian would have remained assertive and stubborn, even if his heart did go soft. Now, however, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to treat Willow that way. He couldn¡¯t stand it if she shed a tear, and he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of putting her in a difficult situation. His heart would break into pieces if someone made her sd. Julian wiped Willow¡¯s tears away, but fresh tears just kept pouring out. Lowering his head, he kissed them away, but he never pulled back. Instead, he slowly made his way to the tip of her nose and kissed her with * affection. He held the back of her neck, raised her head, and made her kiss him on the lips. At that moment, her fragility and his dominance stood in stark contrast. After the kiss, Willow¡¯s nose turned red. Her eyes wereced with something that only both of them knew. There were regrets, mncholy, and an indescribable shamelessness. She slowly pulled away from his embrace. Tears still lingered at the corners of her eyes, and her voice sounded very hoarse. ¡°This is the end of the line, Julian! Julian didn¡¯t stop her. Standing beneath the brilliant light, he cast a tender nce at her. There was a smile on his face, but his eyes told tales of a broken heart. The short, sweet life they shared in the apartment felt like a dream. However, it was time for them to wake up and return to reality. Julian kept a faint smile on his face as he fell into deep thought. ¡°Willow, I told you that I would set you free. So, I¡¯m not going to put you in a difficult position.¡± He never stopped smiling, and yet the tears still came. Fate had brought them together and torn them away from each other. Was this the end of the road for them? They had a new life on the way, and yet not even that was enough to wash away the faint sadness. 1 Willow went back to her room and leaned her back on the door, her eyes were also glistening with tears. Under the weight of a mncholy night, two hearts broke into a million pieces. Altar 268 The next day, Julian went to the check¨Cups at the hospital with Willow, and all signs pointed to a healthy baby. Mnie was overjoyed when she learned about the news She sprinted to the study and told Liam about it. To her surprise, he already knew about it long ago, and He was still carefully wiping his precious antique. She flew into a rage and bellowed, ¡°All you do is wipe these old pieces of crap. You never showed any interest in our son¡¯s life!¡± Liam turned sideways, looked at Mnie, and responded slowly, ¡°They¡¯re not nearly half as old as you.¡± She slumped into the chair and wept quietly. ¡°I know I¡¯m old and not as young or beautiful as your assistant. And I know that you think I¡¯m a fool. You still me me for what happened a few years ago! ¡°But, do you think for a second that I wasn¡¯t crushed by what happened? ¡°Julian was in my belly for ten long months when I was pregnant. He was born a perfect boy, and yet one of his arms is ruined forever. Do you think that it doesn¡¯t break my heart? ¡°I know you me me, but enough is enough! ¡°I would¡¯ve given my life if it meant Julian would get his arm back.¡± Liam put down the antique case and stared at Mnie. For the past few years, he had indeed been ignoring her. Now that she was crying in front of him, his heart went soft a little, but he didn¡¯t intend to patch things up with her. 1 As she said, one of Julian¡¯s arms was ruined, and he would never be able to let it go. Sometimes, it just wasn¡¯t possible to forget and forgive. When Mnie was done crying, she packed up some supplements and went out to visit Willow. In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the year. On the night before New Year¡¯s Eve, Julian was going through his family archive in the CEO¡¯s office of Neb Group. Esther entered his office. He knew that it was her, and he asked, ¡°Has the money been transferred?¡± Starting four years ago, Neb Group stopped holding year¨Cend banquets and distributed the budget to every single employee instead. Esther nodded. ¡°The finance department is working on it as we speak.¡± She paused a little and asked, ¡°The public rtions department is asking if you want to post a publicity photo this year.¡± Julian raised his gaze and looked at her. After a brief moment, he picked out a picture from his phone. It was the painting that Gabrie made of an actor. ¡°Dad¡± was the caption. Esther felt quite speechless. It seemed like Julian had gotten more abstract over the years, That said, the truth was that anything he did would be praised to high heaven. After all, he was their boss. The moment the publicity photo was published, the , to say +25 BCNUS the least. ¡°It¡¯s that time again, fellows. Our CEO is showing us his blessed life once more.¡± ¡°Mr. Ziegler looks so happy with a son and a daughter. He¡¯s making me think about getting married.¡± ¡°From what I heard, Gabrie looks like her dad, and Landon resembles his mom. Now, that¡¯s what I call perfect genes!¡± Normally, Julian wouldn¡¯t have cared about thements, but he went through them one by one today, and his heart was filled with warmth. He went off work early today. The ck limousine pulled into a big vi underneath the evening sun. Once the car was parked, Benjamin opened the car door for him. Julian held a box of cake in his hand and walked through the door. He called out to the kids as he changed into a pair of indoor slippers. Normally, they would¡¯vee running at him much sooner, but things were very quiet in the vi today, quiet and forlorn. A maid came over and said, ¡°Someone from the Ziegler residence came and took the kids away this afternoon.¡± Julian raised his gaze when he heard what she said. ¡°Where¡¯s Willow? Did she go along with them?¡± The maid took his thin coat and responded with a smile. ¡°Mrs. Ziegler didn¡¯t leave with them. She went out around evening, but it probably wasn¡¯t a dinner appointment, judging by the modest and simple outfit she wore.¡± Julian¡¯s expression turned paler as seconds went by. Then, he changed back into his leather shoes, put on a thin coat, and went out again. GET IT NOW The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!