Lily felt inexplicably restless. The beautifully packaged paper bag held not only the autographed album of the master she yearned for but also a pair of small, black, oversized men's sheepskin gloves, utterly unsuitable for her. She sighed helplessly, thinking of Julian, a man with a stern and profound demeanor, hard to refuse. She slowly walked towards the school. After a while, her phone rang. It was Eleanor Brown. Lily answered, but there was no response, just deep, intermittent sobs. She had never seen Eleanor cry in the half year they'd known each other, and she immediately became anxious. Tentatively, Lily called out, "Eleanor? What's wrong?" After a moment, Eleanor's voice came through, pleading like a child, "Lily... can you, can you come and keep me company in the studio?" "Of course, I'm on my way. Wait for me," Lily said without hesitation and immediately took a taxi to Eleanor's art studio in the east of the city. As soon as Lily Parker stepped into the studio, she wa
Lily put away her sympathy, fetched a spare blanket, and tucked Eleanor in. She then slowly began to tidy up the scattered mess around the studio. Once she had a moment to sit down, she glanced over to see Eleanor still deeply asleep. With nothing else pressing, Lily began to look around the small but fully equipped studio. The warm yellow walls were adorned with Eleanor's paintings, mostly of cozy subjects, and one side of the display cabinet held her published series of hand-drawn picture books. Lily had seen most of them; they were heartwarming, wordless illustrations, telling love stories through heartfelt lines, perhaps even Eleanor's own story. Although Lily wasn't privy to the intricacies of Eleanor's relationship with Oliver Sinclair, through these paintings, she could feel Eleanor's heart – throbbing, helpless, anxious, yet strong in love. Just as Lily was about to put a picture book back on the shelf, a photo fell out from between the pages – a family portrait. Eleanor was
Charlotte stepped back with disdain, whispering to the person beside her, "That's her, the one who ruined Isabella de Valois's engagement, eloped with Ethan Hart, and then clung to Julian Sterling, driving a man out of the country. What a shameless person." Such remarks, though seemingly harmless, were the most hurtful, especially when echoed by those unaware of the truth. Rumors spread like wildfire. Lily, not wanting to cause a scene, tried to leave with Eleanor, but Eleanor refused to budge. She glared sharply at Charlotte and retorted, "The upright need not fear a crooked shadow. Everyone knows who really messed things up. After all, what goes around comes around, and those who do wrong will eventually face their karma!" Charlotte, infuriated and seeking revenge for her sister Isabella, glared at Lily and spat, "I think the karma is for you. Now you're probably left with nothing, failing to secure either Ethan Hart or Julian Sterling. Don't delude yourself into thinking you can
The air was tinged with the distinct scent of tobacco. The lampshade's intricate design cast a dim, amber light, accentuating his handsome features. His dark, lustrous eyes held a mesmerizing glint, causing her to instinctively recoil until there was nowhere left to retreat. The contrast between the black satin sheets and her fair, flushed skin created a striking visual impact. Seeing her tremble adorably, he smiled, his lips curling up as he whispered, "Don't be afraid of me, my dear." He gently pried her arms crossed over her chest, intertwining his fingers with hers. The sight before him made his eyes shimmer with desire. He leaned down, kissing her lips tenderly, murmuring, "Lily... Lily..." His strong, athletic body pressed down on her, leaving her unable to escape, blossoming under his touch. His kisses trailed lower, inch by inch, consuming her soul. She tensed, trembling uncontrollably, unable to resist his overwhelming strength. She closed her eyes in resignation, hiding he
It was all a dream, leaving no trace.Julian Sterling woke up abruptly, sweating despite the cold winter night. Looking at his disheveled state, he cursed himself. How could he, a grown man, have such a vivid, sensual dream? Was it just because it had been a while since he'd been with a woman?Embarrassed by his own thoughts, he noticed the moonlight streaming through the curtains, casting a silvery glow.The other side of the double bed was empty, amplifying his sense of emptiness. Unable to bear the gnawing void, he threw off the covers and took a cold shower. Despite the chill seeping into his bones, the burning sensation in his heart lingered.Awake in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, he went to his study. He reviewed the agenda for the next day's meeting and responded to emails from international partners. Finally feeling a bit tired, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his nose. His gaze fell on a poster photo on the wall, and his usually sharp eyes softened. He sighed
On his way back to the family home, Julian drove with the car window half-open, letting the sharp, cold wind hit his face, helping him to think more clearly. He knew what his mother wanted to discuss and was already formulating his responses. Slowing down, he stopped at a chain flower shop and emerged with a bouquet of lilies, his mother's favorite. Placing them on the passenger seat, he continued his journey. After dinner, with his niece Olivia causing a ruckus, Catherine had to retire early to put her to bed. This left Julian alone with his mother in the living room, chatting intermittently. The bouquet of delicate and fragrant lilies sat in a white jade vase, a rare gesture of affection from Julian that his mother greatly appreciated. But despite her happiness, there were serious matters to discuss. Mrs. Sterling served Julian a bowl of lotus seed and lily sweet soup. He quietly sipped it, attentively listening for what was to come. Mrs. Sterling glanced at Julian and said, "I r
Julian spent another sleepless night, tossing and turning. It wasn't the family pressure that troubled him, but Lily Parker's attitude. No matter what he did, she firmly refused him. What else could he do? The next morning, he woke up early. As he descended the stairs, he heard Mrs. Thompson's voice, "Oh, my little treasure, don't cry, you're breaking my heart..." Listening closely, he heard soft sobs. Entering the dining room, he found his little niece Olivia crying. Frowning, he picked her up and kissed her, then asked Mrs. Thompson, "What happened?" Before Mrs. Thompson could answer, Olivia pouted, "Mommy lied, she said we'd go to the zoo, and now we're not!" Her childish voice was so endearing, her little braids bouncing as she spoke. How could anyone bear to see her upset? "Where's my sister-in-law?" Julian asked, gently wiping Olivia's tears. Mrs. Thompson explained, "With the New Year approaching, she was called early to the cultural troupe for a performance arrangement."
Julian Sterling, not wanting to drive himself while taking care of Olivia, had his driver take the car directly to Lily Parker's school, where she was already waiting at the gate. Julian, ever the gentleman, opened the car door for her. Without any fuss, Lily got into the back seat and was greeted by the sight of the little girl she had spoken to on the phone. Olivia was perched on Julian's lap, dressed in a bright red corduroy jacket with a bow tied at the collar, her little legs in black leather shoes swinging back and forth. Her face, as round as an egg, was adorned with eyes as big and bright as black grapes, unblinkingly fixed on Lily with curiosity. Lily was instantly charmed by this child who resembled a Barbie doll and reached out to pat her head, saying, "So you're Olivia? How old are you this year?" Olivia held up four chubby little fingers, leaning against her uncle's shoulder as she said sweetly, "Auntie, Olivia is four years old this year." The term 'auntie' made Lily