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
Lucas Hartley once said that people of their status could have everything, learn anything, except how to love. They were doomed to a rocky path in romance, so it was best to avoid love at all costs. Once trapped, there was no escape. It seemed he was right.Julian still went to the hospital. There she was, Lily Parker, lying frailly, her gaze landing on her stomach where his child was growing. At that moment, nothing else mattered. She didn't love him, but his love for her was enough. She didn't want the child, but he did. Whether it was demanding, extravagant, or a plea, he must have gone mad. He had been crazy about her since their first meeting, doing things he never imagined he would.He thought perhaps Lily was the calamity in his absurd life, sent to redeem him.Lily,
The two remained motionless for a long time before Julian spoke in a deliberately slow tone, "I don't gamble." His cold voice carried a hint of mockery as he stared at her unblinkingly. He was accustomed to controlling everything and wouldn't allow any unexpected situations.Leaning tiredly against the pillow, Lily said with a mix of weakness and irony, "I never thought the all-powerful Julian Sterling would be afraid."Julian glanced at her with a half-smile, then suddenly leaned in close, his face against hers, whispering in admission, "Yes, I'm afraid. I'm afraid of losing you."Lily's heart raced, her face flushing as she turned away. She was utterly at a loss with his unpredictable behavior.Julian, however, go
That night, sleep eluded them both. Julian had made up his mind not to let go, no matter how cold Lily was towards him. And Lily, for her part, endured his presence. But as fate would have it, events and resolutions that were meant to occur would still unfold. And it seemed that destiny was on Lily's side. She might not have been able to handle Julian, but someone who could was about to enter the picture—Julian's mother. On that day, after Julian Sterling had taken care of everything, he mentioned he had urgent matters to attend to outside of town. Coincidentally, it was also the day his mother arrived at the hospital to see Lily Parker. The timing was impeccable, the intention clear without words. A pot of Pu-erh tea was brewed on the small coffee table. After Julian's mother and Lily were each served a cup by the secretary, who then left, the room filled with the delicate fragrance of the tea. Julian's mother, sitting opposite Lily, had her black hair meticulously combed back int