Chains of Desire, Bonds of Love

Unable to hold back, Lily began to cry uncontrollably. It was as if she was venting all the pent-up feelings of repression, indignation, and humiliation she had been harboring for so long. The bitter tears made her beautiful eyes appear even more pitiful.With a smile, Julian remarked, "My dear Lily, why the tears? Aren't you afraid I might be heartbroken?" Gasping for breath, her voice shaky, Lily pleaded, "Mr. Sterling, I beg you..."His playful demeanor vanished instantly. It was as if the gentleness from a moment ago was merely an illusion. He coldly stared at her, "Beg me for what? Haven't I let you have your fun? Is it that you're unwilling to give up, or did you think that by finding wings you could fly? Did I give you permission?" He scoffed and sauntered over to a genuine leather sofa, casually leaning back. "What are you still doing standing there? Come here!"Lily's face turned as pale as paper. She took a few difficult steps forward, forced to approach the devil himself,

To his relief, it wasn’t one of his matchmaking prospects, but his cousin, Isabella. Seeing that the housekeeper was still setting the table, Julian took a seat beside Isabella, crossed his legs and asked, "What brings you here today? Something up?" Having spent a few years abroad for her studies, their relationship was neither close nor distant. He remembered her as a child, two little braids bouncing as she ran after him. As she grew up, she had become more reserved, losing some of that endearing childlike charm.Isabella always had a refined and delicate beauty. Today, dressed in a pale yellow chiffon dress, she looked even more serene. She slightly furrowed her brows, seeming a tad displeased at Julian's probing demeanor. She replied softly, "Nothing in particular. I just came to visit Aunt and Uncle."Julian Sterling quirked a playful smirk, teasing her, "Why the long face, Isabella? Someone owes you money or what? Ouch!" He yelped as his mother's foot found his shin. Mumbling un

Isabella hesitated, her gaze fixed on the road ahead without uttering a word. Julian chuckled condescendingly. One hand on the steering wheel, he playfully tousled Isabella's hair with the other, saying dismissively, "Come on, if you have something to say, just spit it out. Why the formalities between us?" His years navigating the treacherous waters of business and politics hadn't been in vain. He could read the slightest shift in anyone's thoughts, let alone Isabella, whom he'd known since childhood.Julian's eyes narrowed to slits, his gaze nonchalantly fixed on the road, seemingly waiting for Isabella's response.Isabella appeared distant, her lips pressed together as if debating internally—should she speak or not?The night's shadows painted an alluring darkness within the car. Periodically, the iridescent lights from outside would streak across Julian's inscrutable face, casting it in an even more imposing and enigmatic light.Seeming to make up her mind, Isabella suddenly smiled

He struck a match, its faint glow dancing in his eyes. With a flick, he extinguished it and said, with a hint of arrogance, "Aren't I treating everyone tonight? Let's get going, I won't wait forever." He left with the same air of pride that always defined him. For a moment, Lily thought his lingering glance was meant for her, and she chided herself for being so fanciful. In the VIP lounge on the second floor of the nightclub, Lucas Hartley, Dylan Hayes, and others were flirtatiously chatting up their dates. Ethan pulled Lily into a corner, whispering sweet nothings into her ear, with her soft laughter occasionally filling the room. Isabella seemed lost in thought, sipping her drink. Lucas teased Julian, "Do you want me to find you some company tonight? You look a bit out of sorts." Julian, inexplicably irritated, shot back with a punch, "Get lost! Don't act like I'm as shallow as you. I prefer my own company. Just go cool off and stop bothering me." Rubbing his nose, Lucas returned

The phone on the table buzzed incessantly. Ethan didn't even spare it a glance. Eventually, tired of the disturbance, he switched it off. At that moment, the gentle chime of windbells announced Lily's entrance. She mischievously winked and waved at him.With twinkling eyes, she settled beside him. Deliberately, she leaned in, taking a playful sniff at his neck, and then patted his head approvingly. "Good, my 'Maestro' hasn't been tainted by the smell of money today. Well done!""Maestro" was a nickname Lily had given Ethan. While his primary business was in media and culture, he played the piano exceptionally well. Lily had first met him when she was assisting a classmate with a music score for a CD. A random collaboration had sparked their romance. At first, she was reserved and reluctant to his advances, but over time, she opened up, revealing her chirpy and jovial self. This change gave Ethan the perfect opportunity to win her heart. If anyone asked Ethan why he liked Lily, it migh