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Chapter 263
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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 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 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 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 268
The next day, Julian went to the check-ups at the hospital with Willow, and all signs pointed to a healthy baby. Melanie 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 Melanie, 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 blame 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 d
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 269
At the southern suburbs of Brindley, golden lights danced across the surface of the lake as an unseen union took place. A heart-shaped floating lantern bobbed along the ripples of the lake. Willow stood on the shore and watched as it floated further and further away to a place that nobody knew the name of. She believed that Grace was at that place. "Grandma, it's me, Willow. I'm back. "I went to Stem Alley and checked on the place we used to stay. Skyscrapers stood in its place now, and things hadn't looked the same long ago, but the 100-year-old maidenhair tree was still where it had always been, tall and proud."Our place is right in front of it. I ordered beef stew on the same streets, but no one can beat your cooking."Grandma, Landon and Gabriella have grown a lot, and I got pregnant again for Landon's sake. My new baby has a name, and it's Evelyn Ziegler. "I miss you deeply, Grandma."Willow stood by the side of the lake for a long time. She didn't turn around until
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 270
Now, however, all Julian wanted was to shower Willow with love. He wanted her to be happy. On the last working day before the new year, Julian was sitting in the CEO's office at Nebula Group. He had just signed the last document and given it to Esther. "You can get off work after you distribute these documents to the relevant departments."She took it and chuckled faintly. "Alright. Mr. Ziegler, Happy New Year."He hummed in response, pulled out an envelope from his drawer, and said, "Here you go. Happy New Year."There was a 660-thousand-dollar check inside. Needless to say, Esther was thrilled to get it. She was willing to work 12 hours a day, six days a week, if it meant she could get more money.Just as she was about to leave the office, Julian suddenly felt dizzy, and his vision blurred. Esther was immediately shocked. "Are you okay?"He stared at her with unblinking eyes, and his mind suddenly blanked. He didn't regain his consciousness until over ten seconds later. He
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 271
Melanie quickly composed herself and said merrily, "I'm shopping for decor, and I'm looking at a clementine tree right now. If we put it in your house, it will brighten up the room."Julian smiled faintly. "It's up to you, Mom."She said in the same merry tone, "Julian, you're very easy to talk to today. Oh, I also bought a Louis Vuitton cashmere scarf just for Willow. I even picked a color that suits her. "She's pregnant now, and we have to make sure she keeps warm whenever she goes outside. Keep an eye on her, Julian. I won't let you off the hook if something goes wrong."Julian listened quietly until Melaine was done talking and hung up the phone. The evening light had almost faded. He lowered his head and looked at the cigarette between his fingers, keeping his thoughts to himself. Esther stood next to him the whole time, keeping him company.As the sky turned dark, Julian said gently, "Tell Dr. Somner that I can't do the surgery for the time being. Ask him to give me a pre
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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
