The next day, every book on her list was delivered to her home, along with the usual supplements, but Julian himself didn't appear again, not even a phone call. By then, she was nearly twenty-five weeks pregnant, easily fatigued, with severely swollen hands and feet, and her mood fluctuated constantly. There was no one to nag her about what she shouldn't do or eat.
Wasn't this what she had wanted? Why did she feel a sense of loss then? Before she could figure out what she truly wanted, an unexpected visitor arrived – Julian's elder sister, Charlotte Sterling.
Their meeting was a "coincidence."
Lily had heard of Charlotte's experiences, but seeing her in person was different from the image she had formed from photographs. Charlotte, with her neat, chic short hair and el
Julian Sterling was watching a cartoon program with his young son, Alexander. After an episode ended, a commercial break aired. Julian, who was feeling a bit sleepy, suddenly heard his son ask, "Daddy, what are they doing?" Julian squinted at the TV screen, and instantly, his drowsiness vanished.Little Alexander, innocently pointing at the TV, was referring to a commercial where a young man and woman were kissing – a rather common and normal scene in this era. However, for young Alexander, it was a bit too mature.Julian racked his brain for the right words and finally came up with what he thought was the perfect answer. "Son, you like sweet things, right?" "Yes, very much!" Alexander replied crisply, nodding his round little face vigorously. Julian, trying to educate him, said, "The girl in the ad has honey on her lips, and t
Two days passed.Lily Parker's right eyelid twitched continuously, as if she had a premonition about something.The caller ID on her phone showed Julian Sterling's number, but it was Lucas Hartley speaking in a loud, brash tone, sounding both angry and helpless: "Miss Parker, no, sister-in-law, can I call you that? Please forgive Julian, will you? Look at what he's been reduced to. He's been drowning his sorrows in bars every day, and just now, he even dared to drink and drive. Do you want him dead?"Her palms felt as cold as if they had been dipped in ice water. Biting her lip, she asked, "How is he?""He's not dead, but might as well be," Lucas exaggerated a bit, sounding annoyed. "His car ran out of gas, and he w
After that, life seemed to return to normal.Julian's forehead wound hadn't yet healed when he shamelessly started showing up at the Parkers' again. Henry and Margret Parker still treated him as if he were invisible, but they no longer sent him away or returned his gifts. Over time, Margret would occasionally say, "There's too much soup tonight; it'll just go to waste."Julian would then volunteer, "I'll have it. Don't waste your mother's cooking; I'll finish it all."Margret would pretend not to hear him, leaving him hanging. Soon, an empty soup bowl would appear on the table.Sometimes, Julian would boldly challenge Henry to a game of Go. Julian, having inherited his grandfather's skill, often outplayed Henry. How
Julian had always known about her fear of thunderstorms. Back when they lived in the high-rise apartment in Lorehaven, she would curl up in her room under a blanket, like a child, whenever she heard thunder. It always took him a long time to calm her down. How could he be at ease knowing she was alone at home?"Don't worry, it's just a thunderstorm. My place didn't lose power, so it's probably just a tripped breaker here. Where's the toolbox? I'll check the fuse box," he said, patting her back to comfort her. After making sure she was seated safely on the sofa, he added, "Stay here and don't move."Following Lily's directions, Julian found the toolbox in a wall cabinet. With a flashlight in his mouth, he quickly fixed the burnt-out fuse, and the lights came back on, brightening the room. After washing his hands, he found Lily clutchi
Startled, Lily instinctively pulled away and said, “Let’s just make something simple, like noodles. You don’t eat eggs much, so I’ll add some vegetables and shredded meat.” Then she busied herself with cooking, avoiding looking at Julian's expression. Amidst the thunderous roars, the only sound was the sizzling of the wok. It was like a silent rejection. Julian stepped back, watching her back intently. His eyes shone like obsidian, strong and bright, but there was a hollow weakness in their depths. Was it still not enough? They remained silent. Julian quietly finished a bowl of shredded meat noodles at the dining table, his throat tight, unable to taste the food. Lily sat on the sofa behind him, silently knitting a sweater. She had only recently learned and was not skilled, but she forced herself to focus on it, avoiding looking at the man sitting not far away. Somehow, his presence made even the loud thunder seem less frightening. After cleaning up post-dinner, it was already ele
Julian Sterling returned to the Parker residence from the construction site, immediately sensing an unusual atmosphere as he entered. Henry and Margret Parker glanced at him before returning their attention to the TV, clearly not focused on what they were watching. Julian, unaccustomed to this kind of tension for a long time, frowned slightly but quickly masked it with a smile. “Uncle, Auntie, I’ve ordered a massage chair for you both. It should be delivered soon. I’ve tried it; it’s very comfortable, especially for you, Auntie, with your back issues. It should be relaxing while watching TV.” His thoughtful words slightly softened Margret’s expression, but she still retorted sternly, “We don’t lack anything. Why spend money unnecessarily?” Julian, a skilled businessman, could charm with his words when he wished. He smoothly respo
Every time the topic of marriage came up, she changed her demeanor. Accepting him, didn’t that mean she planned to spend her life with him? Did she want to continue like this, having to knock on the door to see her own husband and child, calling her child’s grandparents 'Uncle' and 'Auntie'? He had never felt so powerless in his life. Today’s visit from the lawyer was a test of her attitude, and it had clearly backfired. Lily was taken aback by his question, then gave a bitter smile, “I don’t agree to marry because I don’t think it’s the right time for us.” A marriage without even a period of adjustment was unimaginable to her. “So when is the right time? Wait until our child is old enough to run errands? There are still two weeks until the due date, enough time for you to think. But we need to register before that!”
The next morning.Julian Sterling hadn't gone anywhere. He had spent the night in his car. As dawn broke, he woke up.He glanced at his watch. Every day at this time, Lily would go downstairs for a walk. Thinking of this, he cursed himself for his lack of backbone. His heart was burning with anger, yet he was still concerned about her. He hit the steering wheel in frustration, the horn blaring abruptly in the early morning.Lily had just stepped out of the complex when she heard the sound. She looked towards the parking spot and was startled to see him.He saw her too, composed himself, and walked over without a word. The intensity in his eyes seemed to penetrate her heart. He asked, "Do you know how hurtful your wo