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Chapter 255
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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 melted completely 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 Julian come back?He put down the suitcase, removed the trench coat with one hand, and casually placed 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, her calf felt numb and would even cramp occasionally. Her brows furrowed in pain.After checking o
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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 it 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 glanced at his right arm, recalling the feeling of
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 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 I land this deal…"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 and composed 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 t
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
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 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 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 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.
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 350
Willow, feigning indifference, replied, "I think we should wait until our children are a bit older."Julian gently stroked her cheek, letting the remarriage topic drop for now. He then lowered his head to kiss Evelyn, who was currently nestled in his arms. She was clearly well cared for, with a soft, delicate face and chubby little arms, and holding her felt akin to embracing a cuddly stuffed toy.In the late hours, after the lights were turned off, Willow snuggled close to Julian, resting her head partly on his arm, and said softly, "I want to come back and look after the children, Julian. It feels like the right moment to do it now, since it'll just seem too sudden if I ask you to take over later."There was a prolonged silence before Julian asked gently, "Do you really want to leave the business world behind?"Willow, showing no lingering attachment to the business world, replied, "There are three little ones who need me to look after them at home. I mean, though the elders are
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 349
It was the dead of night, and at Radiance Manor—the most luxurious manor in Brindley—Julian and Willow were in the throes of passionate lovemaking when, jarringly, a phone started ringing from the suit pants that had been cast aside at the foot of the bed.It rang persistently, the insistent sound echoing throughout the bedroom. Julian had intended to ignore it, but Willow couldn't quite get back into the moment. She gently caressed his cheek and murmured, "You should answer it first—we can pick up where we left off later."Julian's gaze held a profound expression. He gave Willow a quick kiss on the corner of her mouth, then reached over and pulled his phone out of his pants. He glanced at the screen and noticed that it was a call from an unknown number. He then answered the call and said, "Julian Ziegler speaking."Having spoken briefly with the caller on the other end of the line, Julian glanced at Willow and said, "Got it. I'll be there shortly."He then hung up the phone and
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 348
Julian hardly ever drank this much. "I'm fine. It's not every day we get a night like this anyway."Willow, rarely this assertive, didn't back down this time. "You just had surgery not long ago. You're also not in your early 20s anymore, Julian."Julian, looking slightly tipsy, fixed her with a heated gaze and murmured, "I'll let you experience firsthand that a man in his early 30s is every bit as good as one in his early 20s."Upon hearing that, Willow's cheeks immediately flushed with embarrassment, murmuring, "Julian…"Julian's eyes were filled with love as he looked at her, taking her hand in his. Having toasted one last drink with one of the members of the project team, he decided not to push his luck with Willow and declared, "That's it for me! If I have another one, Ms. Harper will be displeased, and I might even end up sleeping on the couch tonight!"Those around them instantly hooted and hollered with amusement.Julian chuckled and exclaimed, "You bunch of rascals!"He
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 347
In the end, with the conclusion of the bidder conference, Nebula Group was officially awarded PrimePath Group's project. Michael turned on his heel and stormed out of the conference room.In contrast, the representatives from the other companies, being good sports, all went up to congratulate them. Given that Nebula Group was the biggest player in Brindley, Julian's direct participation in the bidding was a game-changer, giving them all a memorable lesson. It definitely provided them with plenty of fodder for future conversations and boasting.Meanwhile, those back at Nebula Group had already begun their celebration by popping the champagne.Julian and the other returned to the company, where Dexter immediately popped open a bottle of champagne and playfully doused Julian with it. Upon seeing that, those from the project team cheered and clapped enthusiastically. They had, after all, never dared to act this way toward Julian, who had always been perceived as cold and utterly rut
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 346
Upon seeing Julian, Eleanor went completely still, knowing that her defeat in PrimePath Group's bidder conference was inevitable.Michael firmly held her hand, his eyes conveying a deep conviction as he said, "I believe you won't let me down, Eleanor."Upon hearing that, Eleanor felt a wave of cold air wash over her.It was then that Julian and Esther took their seats next to Eleanor. Having exchanged a polite nod with Eleanor, Julian feigned surprise at seeing Michael, saying, "It's been a while, Mr. Hall. You're looking as distinguished as always—unlike the last time, when you looked like a swollen mess."Having heard what Julian said, Michael's lips trembled almost imperceptibly.Julian, looking thoroughly pleased, settled into his seat.Esther leaned in and whispered, "It seems like we're the ninth one to present our bid, placing us directly after Ascent Group."Julian nodded in understanding.It was then that Preston Padilla, the key figure from PrimePath Group, stepped fo
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 345
Dexter seethed with a desire to triumph over Michael, after all.In the early hours, Willow began the scheduled meeting, but after five minutes had elapsed, Dexter's seat was still unoccupied.Having noticed that, Willow turned to Julian and instructed, "Please go take a look in the storeroom."Julian nodded his assent, readily following Willow's instruction. He made his way to the storeroom in a couple of minutes and bypassed the fingerprint lock. He then noticed that the space within was silent, though the subtle sound of someone breathing could still be detected.Dexter, likely overcome by exhaustion, had inexplicably fallen asleep in the storeroom, holding "Julian," the AI robot, in a tight embrace. That sight inexplicably sent a chill down Julian's spine.Dexter remained asleep, undisturbed by the slight movements. He was even issuing a command to the robot in his dreams, murmuring, "Did you miss me, Julian?"Julian landed a solid punch on Dexter, exclaiming, "It's already m
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 344
In the aftermath, Michael, wearing a white bathrobe, leaned against the headboard and smoked his cigarette. Khloe snuggled against him, being incredibly affectionate and wheedling, her ultimate aim being for Michael to financially support her on the side.Michael lowered his gaze, and the finger holding his cigarette softly brushed against her cheek. Khloe looked up at him, allowing him to do as he wished.It was common knowledge that men had always preferred the gentle and compliant type.Michael had never kept women around. He was very displeased with Eleanor, though. He could tell that Eleanor still had a thing for Dexter, which, for a self-made man like Michael, felt like a huge slap in the face. Thus, in order to get back at her out of spite— and with Khloe being good in bed and easy on the eyes—he agreed without much hesitation.In their social circle, it wasn't uncommon to keep a woman or two on the side. In addition, his subsequent marriage to Eleanor would only be a marria
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 343
Julian smiled faintly and said, "It must have been someone who was always around, then."Upon hearing that, Liam was completely dumbfounded. It took him a while before he blurted out, "You've actually known all along, huh, Julian?"Julian turned slightly and flicked his cigarette ash, thinking that it would have been impossible not to know about it. Liam's partiality for Willow had been so clear since Willow's reunion with her family. It was only Melanie, in her obliviousness, who had failed to notice it. Those who were aware simply played along, thinking that what happened in the past had no place in the present.Julian quipped, "You should probably be a bit more subtle going forward."Liam's face flushed with embarrassment as he quickly made up a reason to retire to his room.Julian's surroundings had fallen silent once again. His gaze drifted into the dark depths of the night as he slowly took a drag of his cigarette, his thoughts drifting between the past and what lay ahead, o
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 342
In the hush of the night, a black car slowly pulled into the Ziegler residence, where Tyler and Karen had been waiting anxiously at the entrance.Upon seeing Dexter unharmed, Karen gave him a firm smack on his shoulder and exclaimed, "You gave your father and me such a fright! You can't go breaking the law—no matter what!"Having stepped out of the car with Willow, Julian smiled gently and said, "Dexter only acted in such a manner out of deep affection."Tyler sighed softly and said, "I seriously can't thank you enough, Julian. If it weren't for you, Dexter might have gotten himself into real trouble again."Julian, maintaining his smile, exclaimed, "You give me too much credit, Uncle Tyler! I'm certain Dexter knows what he's doing."Tyler had instructed the household staff to prepare some late-night snacks, but Julian, after giving it some thought, expressed his worry about leaving his three children alone and decided to return home with Willow instead.It was only after their c
