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Chapter 302
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 303
Gabriella said, "We already have a lot of money."Landon flushed. "I'll be a doctor, then."Gabriella was silent before whispering, "Mommy said she'll handle that. She just wants us to grow up happily."Noah couldn't help feeling moved as he listened to them. He wiped his tears, thinking that Willow had truly raised them well.…The atmosphere at the Ziegler residence was subdued because of Julian's condition. However, since it was Good Friday, Dexter bought some sparklers to celebrate Easter.He got out of his car in the twilight. He and Julian were cousins, so they had similar builds and features. Gabriella mistook him for Julian because of the shadows and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. "Daddy!"Dexter didn't correct her. She deserved to have something to be happy about. He himself had a daughter—Eleanor had given birth to Maisie for him—but he rarely got the chance to see her. Eleanor had a heart of stone.It took Gabriella a while to realize she had the wrong per
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 304
Julian's face was out of focus in the twilight. Willow's smile slowly faded as she stared at him longingly. Things at Kono weren't peaceful, and she didn't know when she would return.Liam got out of the car and looked at Julian. Then, he turned to Willow and said, "Let's go, Willow."Willow suddenly shouted, "Happy Easter, Julian!"It wasn't a simple greeting—it was a promise. A promise that she would return with Leonard, that she wanted him to wait for her.Julian smiled faintly. He couldn't see her, but he knew she was downstairs. For some reason, he felt rather anxious as he waved in her direction. "Happy Easter, Willow!"A tear rolled down Willow's cheek, but she didn't wipe it away. She looked at him one last time before getting into the car. She was afraid she'd lose the nerve to leave if she stayed any longer.The expensive car started moving again. Willow wasn't going to Kono alone—Nebula Group was sending a 40-member team with her. Meanwhile, Dexter would be in charge o
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 305
Melanie was even more upset at the mention of Julian. She became choked up and said, "He's been like this for days—he sleeps almost round the clock. But whenever he wakes up, he asks whether you and Liam are back. He might not remember anything, but he still worries about you guys."Willow's face was pale as she looked up at the tree branches that reached up to the second floor of the main wing. She'd only been gone for over a month, but it was as if she were in a different world.There was no time to waste. She turned to Leonard and said, "Let's head upstairs so you can check on Julian."He nodded. He was both guilt-ridden and grateful. He'd been trapped in Kono—if Willow and Liam hadn't arrived to save him, he would never have gotten away. It was highly likely he would've died there.He owed them his life, and there was nothing he could do to truly repay them.Everyone headed upstairs with Willow and Liam bringing up the rear. Melanie tearfully held them both as they approached
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 306
Willow braced herself for the pain before smiling wanly. How could she not have been afraid?There were moments when she wanted to back down and felt weak. However, Julian was waiting for her. He had no hope of survival if she couldn't bring Leonard back.The nurse admired Willow's courage and tried to be as gentle as possible, not wanting to put the latter through more pain.After having the bandage changed, Willow put on a clean set of clothes and hurried back to the VIP ward. Julian was still asleep.Melanie helped Willow onto a chair and said tearfully, "After you and Liam left, Julian waited downstairs every day for you to return. I thought he was getting better, but I later realized it was because he was worried. He held on for a long time—every night, he would spend hours underneath the tree. He also kept asking Noah for updates on you two."Later, his body couldn't take it anymore, and he started sleeping throughout the day. Now that I think about it, he's already been asl
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 307
Two days later, Julian underwent surgery. It went on for a long time, and Leonard gave it his all. His scrubs looked like they'd been soaked in water, and the other doctors and nurses were no better off. They, too, gave the surgery their best.Even until the evening, the Zieglers waited in the corridor outside the operating theater. None of them dared to leave, especially Liam and Melanie.Willow's waist was injured, so Karen got her a chair and told her to sit while they waited. Landon and Gabriella clung to Heather, looking tearful.Evelyn was the only one who smiled sweetly—she had no idea what was going on, after all. Karen pressed their faces together, looking worried.Just then, hurried footsteps rang out at the other end of the corridor. Everyone turned to see Esther hurrying toward them.She nodded in greeting before approaching Willow and bending down. She whispered, "Someone leaked the news of Mr. Ziegler's operation. All the shareholders are now waiting for news. What i
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 308
"Thirdly, I will soon disclose the key growth drivers achieved under my leadership at Nebula Group so that our shareholders can rest easy. I, Willow Harper, am perfectly capable of leading the company to new heights," Willow said.A female reporter asked a sharp question. "How should we interpret your tweet from before the new year, then? The one that says 'Julian.'"Willow smiled. "Think of it as PDA between a couple. I am still very much in love with Julian, so I won't rule out the possibility of our relationship blossoming into something more. I'll remember to give you a gift if anything comes out of this."The reporter was stunned. Willow had easily deflected her attack—she was no match for the former.Afterward, Willow strode into an elevator while protected by bodyguards. Esther followed her closely. Meanwhile, Dexter was dumbstruck.He could understand Willow had acted like this to protect the company, but he couldn't deny that she was truly ruthless, just like Julian. No w
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 309
It was late at night when Willow arrived at the hospital. Julian had been under observation in the operating theater for about half an hour before being transferred to his VIP ward when the doctors were sure he was fine. He was still asleep, and a nurse was putting him on an IV.Liam was speaking to Leonard. Melanie sat by Julian's bed and wiped his face with a towel while drying her tears. Tyler and Karen had left—they'd brought Evelyn home with them. After all, she was a baby and needed to sleep.Landon and Gabriella were still around. They clung to Julian's bedside and looked at him expectantly.Leonard chuckled. "He'll probably only wake up tomorrow."They didn't want to leave, though. They wanted to stay at the hospital and pleaded tearfully for permission.Willow entered the ward and rubbed their heads while instructing Esther to arrange for a room to be set aside for them. They could rest there when they grew tired. That delighted them.Then, they went back to staring at J
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 310
Eleanor wore an expensive suit, and her hair was tied back. A pair of diamond studs completed the look, making her look beautiful and intelligent. Despite having given birth, her figure was still slender.Dexter looked at her, his voice a little hoarse as he asked, "Why haven't you gone home yet? What about Maisie?"She hadn't expected to run into him here. She'd only come up to take a breather because of some work troubles. Who would've known that she'd bump into an old flame? They rarely saw each other in private, after all.Dexter stared at her before asking, "Am I still worthless to you?"Eleanor smiled without answering. To this day, he still didn't understand that his status or achievements meant nothing to her. She had other reasons for refusing to get back together with him.She approached him and held out a hand. "Loan me a cigarette."He handed her one and lit it, but asked, "Why are you smoking? Is work troubling you?"She held the cigarette between her fingers and to
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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
