"Mr. Sterling?" Lily Parker paused in astonishment. The world was inexplicably small. So small, in fact, that she kept running into him in the most embarrassing situations. And there he sat, nonchalantly, yet exuding an aura of superiority, his gaze piercing as if it could see through souls, making her feel oddly intimidated.In Lily's mind, asking for favors with money wasn't quite honorable, especially when the favor was from Julian Sterling, Ethan Hart's friend. It just didn't sit right. Her first instinct was to flee the scene, but her legs felt as though they were laden with lead. Why? Because she couldn't delay her father's issue any longer. She vividly remembered her uncle mentioning that if Julian Sterling were willing to help, the matter would be resolved promptly. There was no reason for her not to trust Julian.Suddenly, the gentle sound of wine being poured echoed in her ears, making her breath hitch.Julian lifted his wine glass, swirling the deep red liquid until it shim
Lily Parker was unnerved by his cold gaze. She suddenly felt embarrassed and for a moment, lost for words, managing only to give a strained nod. Julian Sterling lowered his eyelids and gave a derisive chuckle. Unexpectedly, he stood up, putting on his coat and headed for the door. Anyone could see that Julian was upset. Realizing this, Lily hurriedly stepped forward, her voice soft and pleading. "Mr. Sterling, I... I'm sorry... Please don't be angry. I was just too worried about my father..." She sounded desperate and her usually pale face, perhaps because of the alcohol, had a touch of rosiness. She looked up at Julian, but he avoided her gaze, his voice cold. "Maybe you've misunderstood something, Miss Parker. I'm not short on money. Right now... I just want a good meal, understand?" Without another word, he pulled the door open and left. Biting her lip, Lily quickly tucked the envelope back into her bag and rushed after Julian. Seeing that he didn’t object, she sighed in relief.
Suddenly, Julian leaned down and asked, "What's that place over there? Why are so many people gathered?"Following his gaze, Lily smiled and responded, "Ah, that's an old establishment known for its sweet cakes and dumplings. It’s a famous specialty of this region and you can only get the authentic taste here. That's why so many come, often buying them as gifts."Julian's eyebrows shot up with interest. "Sweet cakes? Are they good?" Without waiting for her response, he headed over. Lily, a bit amused, quickly followed. In no time, Julian emerged holding a large bag filled with various flavored sweet cakes. He couldn't resist opening the bag then and there, trying one. Savoring the sweet, melt-in-the-mouth delicacy, his eyes squinted in pleasure. "This is really good! Sweet but not overly so."Seeing Julian smile like a child over a simple treat made Lily wonder. Given his status, what delicacies hadn't he tried?She realized she truly couldn't figure him out.Exiting the pedestrian st
When Lily Parker first watched "Roman Holiday," she often wondered if Ann ever regretted her encounter with Joe. If their meeting was destined from the start to end with them never seeing each other again, should they have known better than to fall in love in the first place?However... emotions that can be controlled are never truly called love.Ethan Hart often teased her, saying that artists inherently possess a touch of absurd romance. Yet, when it came to her, she seemed so grounded in reality.Ethan would also say, "Lily, with me around, it's okay for you to be a bit more romantic."She believed that few women could resist such sweet words.Sadly, even the most romantic love stories and beautiful fairy tales are eventually destroyed by harsh reality. It makes one's steadfast beliefs vanish in an instant. Just like her relationship with Ethan, their fleeting happiness was like brilliant fireworks in the night sky, burning with a desperate beauty.Before she had the chance to feel
True to his word, he quickly arranged for Lily to visit Ethan in the hospital.The VIP ward was located in the south wing of the hospital, with guards stationed on every floor, ensuring tight security.Despite it being the height of summer, the corridor's chill seeped into Lily's bones, making her shiver involuntarily. Her frail silhouette, cast against the stark white walls, was fragmented by the light, appearing utterly powerless. A nurse led her to a VIP room at the end of the corridor, opened the door, and quickly left, leaving Lily alone in the quiet, private space.Lily stood at the doorway for a long time, not daring to approach the bed. She just stared blankly at the figure lying there, motionless. His usually bright, elongated eyes were now tightly shut. Even in the unflattering hospital gown, lying on the white bed, he looked as handsome as ever.Memories began to flood back.After the success party of their performance that day, he had unexpectedly blocked her path and said
Ethan and Lily had known each other for two years. Yet, despite their best efforts, they had only managed to spend a mere two hours alone together. In this world, everything comes at a cost. There's always a trade-off.Lily resolutely promised Ethan's family that she would sever all ties with him. In return, the investigative team finally took Henry Parker's case seriously, acknowledging the evidence he presented. After many days, the dean personally visited him in the hospital, expressing the institution's unwavering trust in his character and ethics. However, the public remained skeptical about Henry's defense. As long as the key figure, Connor Reeves, remained hidden, the case couldn't be fully resolved.But in this vast world, how easy was it to find someone intentionally hiding? Despite her best efforts and seeking help from various contacts, Lily found no trace of Connor. It was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth. Out of desperation, she called Jame again, hoping t
Yet, it seemed as if no one had heard her. The room continued its chatter, and Julian showed no reaction.Isabella, however, clapped her hands gleefully, pointing to the grand Steinway piano in the corner, "You all are so basic, always indulging in pop music. Classical is the trend now. Why don't we have Lily play something for us? Her piano pieces are said to be 'so divine, they're rarely heard on earth.'"Serena Winters chimed in with a laugh, feeding Preston a grape, "Indeed, our professors always said she had the potential to shine in Warsaw. It'd be a shame not to listen."Isabella smirked, "Would you mind playing something for us, Lily?"Lily didn't smile. She turned to look at Julian, who was leaning against a cushion. The lighting was too dim to see his face clearly. Even the most naive would realize that tonight's performance was merely a charade to mock her and appease Isabella. She could only hope that once their amusement was satiated, they would spare her family further t
Glass after glass, each one felt like a stab to her heart. Her senses were numbed, her face a mix of sweat, wine, and tears.Ethan, why won't you wake up? You told me to trust you, that you'd protect me. Why am I left alone to face all of this? Giving up isn't that hard, right? Look, I've done it. As long as I don't listen, don't see, don't think, it won't hurt. You hate seeing me in pain, so you'll forgive me, won't you?Lily was surprisingly composed given the circumstances. She managed a smile, "What more do you want from me to appease your grudges?" Lifting her gaze, she met Julian Sterling's deep, dark eyes. He just stood there, arms crossed, observing her with an indifferent detachment. Why had she been so naive to even consider trusting him?"Enough!" Lucas Hartley couldn't stand it any longer. He scoffed, "You all should know when to stop. For Ethan's sake, you can't go this far. Do you really want to destroy her?" Although he felt it wasn't worth it for Ethan to be so affecte
However, Lily seemed indifferent to his efforts, which only added to his frustration. One day, as Lily was tearfully watching a movie, Julian, feeling neglected, couldn't stand it anymore. "Why watch these kinds of movies? They're so unproductive, and you'll ruin your eyes crying." He didn't find the movie touching at all; in fact, he disliked any movie that made her cry.Lily gave him a look and said with a nasal voice, "You go watch your financial reports and economic news, and don't bother me!" Julian immediately shut up but still stayed by her side. In the movie, the heroine tells the hero that they should walk a hundred steps away from each other, and if they look back and still see each other, she would listen to him.Lily was feeling emotional when Julian, in a mood-killing moment, said, "Why walk? Just hug her and kiss her un
Julian began to understand after Charlotte's talk. Just when he was at a loss for how to make amends, a timely call from his mother, Mrs. Sterling, came to his rescue. Mrs. Sterling called Lily directly. Lily was somewhat surprised and nervously answered, "Mom." "Lily, have your parents gone back?" "Yes." "Then why haven't you and Julian come back for dinner? Are you two having a quarrel?" Lily stuttered in response, "No, no, we're just busy, sorry, Mom.""I don't think it's just being busy. I asked Julian, and those rumors in the newspaper are all false. Don't worry too much about it," Mrs. Sterling reassured. "Yes, I'm fine, Mom. Don't worry about me," Lily responded. Mrs. Sterling was referring to the previous day's entertainment headlines, which speculated about Julian's new love interest. Lily had to admit, seeing that report did unsettle her for a moment.
Even as a young boy, too proud to ask for help, he would just softly call her "sister," and she would relent. As he grew up and became a man in his own right, he no longer needed her help.Charlotte sat down again, "Now you're worried, but where was this concern earlier? Do you really want to lose your wife before you're happy?" "I won't divorce her. She can't make me," Julian said stubbornly.Charlotte shook her head disapprovingly. With that temper, it's a miracle things haven't fallen apart already. "What you need to do is keep Lily's heart. What's the use of just keeping her physically? Mom just asked about Lily; I guess she doesn't know about your issues, does she?""How could I tell her?" Julian nodded, then curiously asked what else their mother had said.
Marriage is like a besieged city; those outside want to get in, and those inside want to escape. — Qian ZhongshuAfter Sophia Sterling had her fill and fussed around Lily Parker for a while, she gradually fell asleep.Lily rested her hand on the bedside, half-leaning against the bed frame, and gazed thoughtfully at her son, who bore a striking resemblance to Julian Sterling.Her mother's words still echoed in her ears, "It takes a hundred years to share a boat, a thousand to share a pillow. Marriage isn't child's play; it's not something you enter or leave on a whim. These young people are just being reckless." Her mother's eyes were full of disapproval. "Lily, don't you agree?"Recently, TV dramas
As if remembering something, she picked up her suitcase, unzipped it, and pulled out a gray sweater that was still unfinished, with a ball of yarn attached. It was clear from the style that it was a men's sweater.She touched the pattern on it and said, "I secretly learned to knit this from Aria. I wanted to surprise you on your birthday. It's not very well done. I kept dropping stitches at the beginning, and it's badly damaged."She held up the sweater for him to see, a hint of a smile on her lips, though it was a smile filled with bitterness.Julian Sterling cleared his throat and, regardless of whether she wanted it or not, pulled her tightly into his arms, repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry, Lily, I was wrong... I'm so sorry..."
The air in the room seemed to freeze."What did you just say?" Julian Sterling spoke softly but held Lily Parker's wrist tightly, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "I didn't quite catch that. Say it again."Lily lowered her gaze and took a deep breath. "I said, we should..." She hesitated.The all-too-familiar scent overwhelmed her as he swept her into his arms. He kissed her deeply, shutting down all the words she didn't want to hear, trapping them between their entwined lips and tongues.She widened her eyes and struggled weakly. Her feeble punches landed on him, neither hurting nor bothering him. She eventually collapsed into his embrace, allowing him to do as he pleased.
These past few days, Julian's god mother had been visiting their home. She doted on Julian the most, and since she couldn't attend their wedding, this was her first time meeting Lily, and she naturally scrutinized her daughter-in-law with a discerning eye."Sweetie, your husband isn't complaining of being tired. Why are you?" Julian bit her lip gently and spoke slowly, then lifted her nightgown, sliding off her undergarments and caressing her, before gently entering her.Her sweetness drove him wild. It had been so long since they'd been together, and his passion couldn't be contained. He pushed into her again and again, making her whimper in pain and pleasure. He held her down, much like a butterfly pinned and ravished.He still craved more, lifting her legs onto his should
Lunch was served in the art gallery's attached restaurant, and Amelia Hamilton's parents also joined. It was her first exhibition as the gallery's director, and this meal served as a small celebration, with many friends and acquaintances filling up the table. Lily Parker ate her meal quietly, responding politely to any questions and maintaining her composure. Although Mrs. Sterling felt that Lily's performance could have been better, she found it quite satisfactory. At the very least, there was nothing to criticize.Towards the end of the meal, Julian Sterling called Lily on her phone. The restaurant was noisy, so Lily politely excused herself and went to the foyer to answer the call."Where are you? It sounds lively over there," Julian's voice sounded somewhat lazy, as if he had just woken up.
As the cool spring night settled in, Julian pulled the blanket higher, covering them both. He whispered softly, "Enough 'buts.' I'm here for everything, and you can always trust me. It's getting late, and I have an early morning meeting. Let's get some rest, okay?"Julian Sterling, the unwavering head of the family, held a position that was beyond reproach, even in matters of the heart. In his world, his words were law. Just a few days after their wedding, Julian decided to embark on a business trip to Singapore, which would keep him away for half a month.Lily Parker constantly reassured herself, reminding herself that she had married this man and integrating into his family was her duty. After all, those in high positions were just ordinary people, and with effort and determination, she could surely adapt. However, reality had diff