Julian had never imagined that a phone call, unrelated to him, would ruin the positive image he had worked so hard to build, rendering all his efforts futile. He first took his niece back to the family compound, not in the mood to go to the office, and headed straight to his apartment. Perhaps due to the exhaustion of the day and lack of sleep the previous nights, as soon as he got home, he flopped onto his bed and soon fell asleep. In his sleep, he drifted in and out of dreams featuring Lily, himself, and some blurry, forgettable images. When he woke up in the evening, he ordered a takeaway pizza. While eating, he transferred the photos he had taken during the day from the memory card. He had taken over a hundred pictures, mostly of Olivia, but of course, there were some of them too. Suddenly, his gaze froze on one particular photo. He was holding Olivia in one arm, with Lily smiling next to him. The image was incredibly warm... If only things could always be like this. Julian th
"Auntie!" Lily turned around to see Julian and Olivia standing not far away, waiting for her. It seemed fate always brought them together. She told herself that today would be the last time. Once back in her hometown, she would cut off all ties here, treating it all like a long, bittersweet dream. The art exhibition was crowded and stuffy. After just one round, they were sweating. Julian, who disliked crowded places, suggested leaving. Lily was more than eager to leave, feeling uneasy around him, fearing his kindness was a facade and that he might suddenly lash out at her. When they reached the leisure area on the first floor, Olivia started to act up, refusing to leave without having some sweets. Julian sternly warned her, "Eating too many sweet things will make all your teeth fall out." Whether his words were educational or not, they amused Lily. Who loved sweets more than Julian Sterling himself? It was like the pot calling the kettle black. As she smiled faintly, recalling Jul
On the white hospital bed, Lily Parker lay in a drowsy slumber, feeling as if her throat was burning and something was unbearably tight around it. In her haze, she weakly tried to remove the constriction but winced at the sharp pain on the back of her hand. Then someone held her hand, and she couldn't sleep anymore. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Eleanor Brown looking at her worriedly. Staring at the IV in her hand for a long time, she gradually remembered what had happened before she passed out. "You're finally awake," Eleanor sighed in relief. She pressed the call button for the doctor and adjusted the bed to a comfortable position for Lily, thoughtfully placing a pillow behind her back. "Eleanor..." Lily's voice was so weak and hoarse it was barely audible. Eleanor tucked her in and sat down beside the bed, speaking gently, "Your neck is injured, and it has affected your vocal cords. It's best not to talk for now." Eleanor, perceptive as always, knew what Lily wanted to ask ju
The events of the previous day still haunted her.The desperate criminal, cornered, had brandished a knife at the police, threatening them. Lily had been choked unconscious by his strong grip. Julian Sterling arrived with eyes as cold as glaciers. He had asked Eleanor to take care of the child and spoke with the police, who were trying to disperse the crowd and calm the criminal, waiting for the right moment to act. In a flash, Julian had pounced from behind, overpowering and twisting the man's arm until it seemed to break. The criminal's face twisted in pain as he screamed. Julian, his eyes blood-red like a demon from hell, continued to pummel him until he was restrained. If not for the intervention, the criminal might not have survived.Eleanor had followed the ambulance to the hospital, and Julian had come too, holding the child who cried incessantly. At the hospital, the doctors confirmed the child was just scared, but Lily had injured her throat. Seeing the bruises on Lily's neck
Lily Parker leaned back against the soft pillow, her hospital gown hanging loosely on her frame. She lowered her head, extending her slender hand from the wide sleeve to gently touch her abdomen. Was there really a child growing there? Her menstrual cycle had always been irregular, often occurring only once every two months, each time bringing pain so intense it was likened to childbirth. She had sought medical advice and while medication regulated her cycle somewhat, it would revert to its erratic pattern once she stopped taking it. Even traditional medicine seemed only a temporary fix. It was said that with such conditions, conception could be challenging. Her mother had comforted her, saying she had experienced similar issues in her youth but things normalized after becoming a mother. These past few months, her period hadn't come, and initially, she attributed it to the stress of recent events, not giving it much thought. She had harbored suspicions, but surely... Her breath hitc
At noon, Margret Parker arrived, bringing Lily's favorite fruits and a comforting meal of millet porridge mixed with pickled radish. Lily, restricted to a liquid diet, managed to eat two hearty bowls. Margret rubbed her frozen hands together, looking at her daughter with a mix of love and concern, "Look at you, how thin you've become! Your father and I were terrified yesterday. What would we do if something happened to you?"Lily's eyes filled with deep remorse, "Mom, I'm sorry... How's dad?"Margret replied, "He's much better, just a bit unsteady on his feet. He's always been the stoic type, not much for words, but he's been worried sick. I didn't let him come because of his mobility issues. We were planning to go back home in a few days, but with your current condition, I'm afraid we can't leave just yet.""It's just a minor injury, I'll be out of the hospital soon," Lily said hoarsely, deciding to keep her pregnancy a secret for now. She just couldn't bring herself to speak of it.
Wouldn't have experienced this pain. "Shut up!" Julian suddenly flung the towel in his hand, knocking over a thermos on the coffee table. The inner lining shattered, scattering across the floor, filling the air with the scent of porridge. A nurse, hearing the noise, entered uninvited, only to be yelled at and chased out by Julian's fierce demeanor. Anyone would have fled from such a sight. Lily involuntarily shivered, her cold fingertips unconsciously picking at the bedsheet to hide her nervousness. Julian glared at her fiercely, his eyes filled with raw anger. But when he saw the bandage around her neck, recalling the harrowing incident from the day before, his heart softened. His face showed a complex expression. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he spoke more gently, "Don't ever say that again." From the beginning of their encounter, no one knew what would happen. A game of possession had unknowingly changed its course. She was the one he wanted to settle down with. She was g
Indeed, nothing could be hidden from him.This position allowed her to hear his strong, forceful heartbeat. Julian Sterling was undoubtedly dominant. Sometimes overbearing, sometimes gentle, he easily captured many women's hearts. They had been together for nearly half a year; to say he had no effect on her would be a lie. But his proclamation of love for her – how much of it was genuine, how much was comparison, and how much was defiance? And for her to fall in love with him was even more difficult.Lily lifted her head, his lips just grazing her cheek. The warm sun, breaking through the clouds, cast a soft shadow on his slightly stiff back, his face expressionless. She turned her gaze away towards the room's disarray, reflecting the hardships she had endured over the past year. After a moment of silence, she asked, "How do yo