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Chapter 241
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 242
Noah laughed 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, Dexter laughed 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 glanced 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 Nebula 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 just laughed on the sidelines, but soon, his laug
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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."Melanie'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—about 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.Melanie wanted to push a little further, but Liam stopped her. He sighed and whispered, "Let the young ones handle their own affairs."With that, Melanie and Liam left the room quietly.The night was still and quiet, leaving only t
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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 repli
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 245
Just as she was about to ask, Willow shook her head. "I'm going to the hospital."With that, she opened a black umbrella and walked out of the villa.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 eerie feeling was something she hadn't felt in years.Th
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 246
Julian rarely shed tears, but at this moment, there was a glint of moisture in the corners of his eyes.Separated by a thin layer 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 was completely 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 ho
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 247
The quiet night went on.Willow could barely hold it together, but she still sat 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 falling into the food.Melanie was distressed as well. She comforted Willow softly and then glanced at Julian. That mangled arm of his was a constant reminder of her own foolishness. The marks on her face pained her even more.Melanie 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."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, Ju
Leaving You Bereft 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 black 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 black 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, accompanied by the faint squeaking of rats.That man pushed open a wooden door. With a dull clang, 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 replace the women's locks inside with something bigger and sturdier."Willow smiled faintly.As
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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 glare at Willow with her dim eyes filled with resentment.All she could do was make muffled whimpering sounds.Willow calmly dusted her collar, her voice still gentle. "Draw her blood and check for AZ."That man nodded in agreement. "Good idea. Her private life's been a complete 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 blazing, 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 lullabies…But unfortunately, because of Alicia, all of that was gone!After finishing her business, Wi
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 267
Willow said, "Let's talk about it when we're there."To her surprise, Julian bought her a handbag. It was a limited edition platinum 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't ladies 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
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 266
Julian and Willow fixed their gazes on each other's reflections in the mirror. Moments later, she hummed in response. "I'm almost done."She didn't tell him that she was pregnant because she was worried that it might come 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 pie. 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 toughest lady can't resist a persistent man. Learn from Julian's example! He's good at this."Everyone immediately fell silent. Then, Tyl
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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 and laced 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 Gabriella exist because we did it on this couch."Willow lay on her back, her black 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 was completely dark as it lingered on endlessly.…In the blink of an eye, it was winter. Mouth-watering aromas fille
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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 him 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 black 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 time she had openly brought up Alicia since they had been reunited. Lowering his head, he looked at her and responded gently, "W
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 263
Willow deliberately kept a distance from Julian during breakfast. Melanie could see that Willow looked pale and tired, and she poured the latter a bowl of soup. She asked in a concerned tone, "Did you sleep well last night? We can hire two more maids if it's too tiring for you to look after the baby."Gabriella 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 reading last night. So, 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. Melanie was the only one who looked embarrassed and unsure of how she should respond to Gabriella.
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 262
Willow picked up the scattered documents, only to catch sight of an acquisition proposal that involved a holding company 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 occasionally share the same bed, but nothing ever happened. There wasn't even any la
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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 glance 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 recommending you as the deputy project director. Keep it up, Rosabelle. You have a bright future ahead of you."She clinked her glass
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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 a company had purchased that 30% stake without even negotiating the price.The assistant sounded amazed. "That company must be seriously wealthy. They didn't even blink, spending over four billion dollars."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 b
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 259
With her in his arms, how could Julian possibly remain unmoved? But he couldn't give in.He gently comforted 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 flames. The bedroom was bathed in a warm glow, casting a golden glaze 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.He held her close and gently rubbed his palm against her back. He comforted 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 young l
