Chapter 4

It was 9:00 pm when they left the Ziegler residence.

As Julian fastened his seatbelt, he asked casually, "What were you and Dexter talking about? You two seemed to be having a good time."

Willow replied softly, "Oh, just chatting about your childhood sweetheart."

Julian was rendered speechless.

After a brief silence, he reached over and lightly clasped Willow's hand. His voice carried a rare hint of gentleness as he said, "I never slept with her."

Willow leaned back against the seat, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

She knew very well that Julian's tenderness was only because she was in her fertile window. He just wanted to plant his seed in her womb.

It had nothing to do with love and even less to do with her.

She wondered if Julian would still try to hold on to this marriage if he found out she couldn't have children anymore. Or would he rush to sign the divorce papers and start searching for the next woman fit to be his wife?

He was putting in the effort tonight. He leaned in, his touch teasing, trying to stir her emotions.

Willow just felt pathetic.

Julian didn't love her. To him, she was a business asset and a vessel to bear his children. He didn't enjoy being intimate with her, yet every month, he came to her solely for the purpose of conceiving a child. How was that any different from an animal's instinctual mating?

She turned her face away from his approaching lips. Her voice was barely above a whisper, tinged with quiet sorrow as she said, "I meant what I said about the divorce, Julian. If you think I'm asking for too much, we can renegotiate."

Under the dim light of the car, Julian studied her face like he was trying to see through her skin and into her soul.

After a long silence, his voice turned cold. "I already told you. Divorce is not an option. Once we have a child, you won't have time for all these wild ideas."

Willow closed her eyes, exhaling softly. "What if I can't have kids?"

He frowned, brushing off the thought. "That's impossible. We both did full medical exams before we got married. Everything was fine."

Willow let out a bitter laugh.

The health report from four years ago was long obsolete.

Just like the vows Julian had made when he proposed. They had vanished along with his conscience, lost in the warmth of Catherine's embrace.

…

By the time they returned to Grandview Manor, it was nearly 10:00 pm.

Julian took a shower in the guest room. He had planned to convince Willow to sleep with him tonight, but a phone call interrupted his plans. He left in a hurry.

Willow figured he was going to see Catherine.

She didn't care. At least for tonight, she didn't have to deal with him.

Julian didn't come home that night.

The lights in Grandview Manor burned until dawn, but the man of the house never returned.

For the next week, he didn't come home at all.

Julian hadn't made any moves to proceed with the divorce either.

What was Willow doing during those cold autumn nights?

Most nights, she stood by her bedroom's floor-to-ceiling window, watching the sycamore leaves outside turn yellow. She wondered if she would have been happier if she had never given up painting, never married so young, and never stepped into the business world.

She hadn't made a single call to Julian. A man who chose to spend his nights elsewhere might as well be dead to her.

…

The next time they saw each other, it was at a business function at Veil Club—Brindley's most exclusive business lounge.

The moment Willow walked into the private room, she saw Catherine snuggled up next to Julian. She looked every bit the devoted little darling.

When Catherine noticed Willow's arrival, she simply lowered her head and started playing on her phone, as if Willow wasn't even worth acknowledging.

Annie bristled with anger, ready to lash out.

But Willow stopped her. "She's Mr. Ziegler's favorite now. Let her enjoy it while it lasts."

There was no seat for her beside Julian. Naturally, she wasn't about to sit on the clients' side, so she excused herself for a trip to the restroom, giving Julian plenty of time to deal with Catherine.

The restroom was bathed in dazzling crystal light.

As Willow washed her hands, the sharp sound of approaching heels echoed behind her.

Willow lifted her gaze and saw Catherine in the mirror.

Catherine stepped beside Willow. Her usual deference was replaced with a sharp-edged provocation. "I've moved back into the villa. Julian said I can stay as long as I want."

Willow shut off the faucet.

She stared at that youthful face in the mirror.

Catherine's face was so innocent and plump. It was nothing like her own, which carried the faint weariness of years spent in the business world. Youth was a wonderful thing.

And yet, Willow suddenly remembered that she was only 26.

She lowered her head and slowly twisted the six-carat wedding ring on her finger before speaking calmly, "Ms. Burke, if I were you, I'd stick to being Julian's well-kept canary. Stay quiet, keep him entertained, and ask for money.

"I certainly wouldn't go around broadcasting what happens in the bedroom. And honestly, why are you even here? This isn't the kind of place for you."

Catherine smirked. "Julian will protect me. He won't let me drink."

"Is that so?"

Willow smiled faintly. "You seem to misunderstand something, Ms. Burke. In Julian's world, money comes first. He keeps business and women separate. In a moment, he won't just ask you to drink. If it benefits him, he might as well hand you poison."

Catherine paled. "I don't believe you."

Willow's smile faded.

After Catherine left, Willow stared at her reflection in the mirror, lost in thought. The bravado she'd put on earlier felt laughable, even to herself. She knew that if she played her cards right, she could always remain Mrs. Ziegler. But that wasn't the kind of life or marriage she wanted.

She was tired. Tired enough to flip the damn table.

By the time Willow returned to the private room, the seat beside Julian had already been cleared. She slipped into it naturally, picking up their old performance of a loving couple.

Catherine sat far away, looking pitiful. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears.

Julian frowned. "Did you really have to be so hard on her?"

Willow didn't answer. He had no idea that every word he spoke in Catherine's defense felt like a blade slicing into her. He felt bad for Catherine, but what about her? What about all the years she had spent at his side, fighting battles with him?

What did that count for?

She was bleeding inside, but her expression remained calm. With a polite smile, she suggested Catherine have a drink with one of the clients. The man was clearly interested in her innocent charm.

Catherine, knowing she had Julian's favor, kept making excuses.

Under the crystal chandelier, Julian's handsome face darkened. The storm brewing in his eyes was undeniable.

Of course, he knew Willow was doing this on purpose.

Julian swirled his glass. His eyes were on Willow, but his words were meant for Catherine. "Project Aurelia is a multi-billion-dollar collaboration. No matter what, Ms. Burke, you should at least show Mr. Smith some courtesy."

Catherine didn't dare refuse anymore. Her lips trembled as she muttered, "Okay."

As she reluctantly raised her glass, Willow sat beside Julian, watching the scene unfold.

Julian put on a poker face, while Willow couldn't shake the feeling that she was playing the wicked woman who had buried his grand love.

They married at a young age and had been through a lot together. But at this moment, they had forgotten that entirely.

…

Late at night, in the underground parking lot, Annie held Willow steady and opened the car door. "Careful, Ms. Harper. You drank a little too much tonight."

Willow rubbed her temple and murmured, "I was in a bad mood."

Annie understood. Julian had crossed the line tonight.

Project Aurelia had been Willow's from the very beginning. She had built it from the ground up, secured every resource, every connection. And yet Julian had brought Catherine here tonight, right under her nose. No wonder Willow was pissed.

At least Catherine had ended up in the hospital. That was satisfying.

Just as Willow was about to get into the car, a strong hand grabbed her wrist.

Before she could react, she was shoved against the cold, sleek surface of a black SUV with a loud thud.

The car's imposing presence only made her seem more fragile and alone.

It took Willow a moment to steady herself from the pain. Then, she lifted her gaze to Julian's stormy expression and spoke softly, "Give us a moment, Annie."

Annie hesitated, but one look at Julian's expression made her swallow any protest. She only dared to whisper, "Mrs. Ziegler isn't feeling well."

Willow's eyes reddened slightly.

The moment Annie left, Julian snapped. He grabbed Willow's chin and demanded, "Why did you have to be so hard on her? She's in the hospital right now, getting her stomach pumped. Willow, I told you. She's just a respected elder's daughter. I was only looking out for—"

The sharp crack of a slap cut him off.

Willow's palm stung, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Looking at Julian, she smiled bitterly. "Does looking out for her require you to bring her into the bed? Julian, are you completely shameless, or do you really think I'm that stupid?"

Julian's handsome face was whipped to the side.

Slowly, he turned back, running his tongue along the inside of his cheek. His gaze locked onto Willow, dark and murderous, yet his tone remained eerily calm. "Is this how badly you want my love? Enough to do whatever it takes?"

Willow scoffed, mimicking his tone. "Don't flatter yourself."

Julian finally seemed to calm down.

After a long pause, he reached out and gently traced her face. "You're not as obedient as you used to be back then, Willow. What's so bad about playing the perfect wife? Why don't you want to have a child to secure your place? Why do you care so much? Why must you always go against me?"

The night air was cold. Willow's face was streaked with tears, but she didn't even feel them.

"Back then? So, you do know it's in the past? Julian, do you really think we're still the same as before? Back then, there were no other women hanging around you.

"Back then, you still came home at night. Back then, you weren't tracking my ovulation just so I could pop out a child for you. So tell me, Julian. Was it you who changed, or was it me?"

After four years of sharing a bed, they had finally dropped all pretenses.

Julian studied her, the woman who had walked through the battlefield of power and ambition by his side for the past four years. After what felt like an eternity, his gaze darkened, like he had made a decision at that very moment.

The night was still, like the funeral of a love long gone.

Julian let go of Willow and took a step back. "Starting tomorrow, you're off Project Aurelia. As for your position in the company, I'll discuss it with the board and make the necessary adjustments."

Willow let out a chuckle.

The first thing he did after achieving success was to cut her off.

Deep down, they both knew that Catherine wasn't the real issue between them. Julian was simply burning the bridge, trying to push Willow back into the role of the perfect wife, whose sole duty was to bear his children. He called it love, but in reality, it was a lifelong cage.

Love… Children…

Something inside her snapped.

A bone-deep exhaustion washed over her. She suddenly felt that everything she did in the past had all been one-sided. Loving Julian wasn't fate; it was a curse.

She didn't want to hide it anymore.

She would tell Julian that she, Willow Harper, could never have children.