Julian Sterling's grip was firm, his solid hand tightly clutching Lily Parker's delicate wrist. Regardless of the expressions of those around, he forcefully pulled her out. The club was frequented by the elite, and as they made their way out, many greeted Julian with a flattering "Mr. Sterling." However, he acknowledged no one. A single cold "Move" from him was enough to send shivers down their spines, ensuring they didn’t dare approach any closer. Julian was a man naturally looked up to. Lily felt pain, a prickling sensation all over. The leg that Preston Harrow had kicked felt as if it had split open, every step she took was agonizing, like being pricked by a needle. And her hand, numbed by Julian's forceful grip, felt nothing. In her dazed state, she wondered, she had already bowed her head in submission, why wouldn't they just let her be? She stared at the man before her, who seemed utterly indifferent to her feelings. Anger bubbled inside her. She tried to shake off his grip, b
Lily felt drained, lacking the energy to argue further. As for right and wrong, the heavens knew. The alcohol in her system made her feel weak and unsteady. Slowly, she pulled herself up using the towel rack, wanting to escape this place. She realized that continuing this confrontation would only give him more opportunities to hurt her. Being naive once or twice was forgivable, but persisting in it was simply irredeemable.Julian watched her pale face intently, his voice deep and resonant. "And what about me? How do you feel about me?"Lily turned away, evading his question. "Mr. Sterling, you're naturally Ethan's friend. Helping me is a favor, and not helping is understandable. You've assisted me several times before, and I'm grateful.""Mr. Sterling," he mused, the formal and distant address grating on his nerves. He almost wished she'd shout his name in anger instead. The thought startled him. Had he gone mad?"Aren't you still seeking my help? That student of your father's, what's
It's said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, the most revealing part of a person's true emotions. At this moment, Julian Sterling's dark, luminous eyes were filled with an unmistakable desire.He wanted Lily Parker.A man's innate desire to conquer and possess a woman is a primal instinct. Born into privilege and accustomed to being looked up to and flattered, Julian saw Lily's distance and disdain as a challenge to his authority. In his thirty years of life, he had never been so thoroughly rejected.The flames of passion burned fiercely in his eyes, threatening to consume everything in their path. She stared back at him, her heart racing, almost leaping out of her chest. Just as he leaned in, she panicked and tried to dodge to one side, but he quickly pulled her back. Her breath caught, and she placed her hands on his chest, feeling an alarming warmth. His tanned skin radiated a wild, intimidating energy that made her tremble uncontrollably. In terms of strength and stature,
He looked down at her arrogantly, his eyes devoid of warmth. His towering presence cast her in shadow, and the overpowering aura he exuded sent her into a panic, prompting her to scream. However, her cries only seemed to excite him further. With a swift motion, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her against the wall. In a defiant move, she slapped him hard across the face.He paused for a moment, then a cold smirk spread across his lips. Holding both her wrists above her head, he pressed her firmly against the wall. The burning sensation on his face from her slap seemed to fuel his aggression, and he bit down on her lips, showing no mercy. She whimpered in pain, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at the menacing man before her. Her struggles only seemed to heighten his sense of conquest. Yes, at that moment, all he wanted was to dominate her, to have her completely subdued beneath him. His gaze was as fierce as a wild beast's, and his heavy, heated breaths fell upon her e
Caught off guard, he managed to turn his face away just in time, but the lamp's crystal embellishments scratched a long gash across his chest. Bright red beads of blood quickly welled up, dripping onto her pale skin. The stark contrast of the crimson against her white flesh awakened the savage nature within him, obliterating any remaining trace of tenderness she had managed to evoke.Suddenly, he released the grip on her hands, sliding them down to her slender waist, holding her tightly. Without warning, he invaded her world.She didn't want him? He was Julian Sterling, the well-known fourth heir of the prestigious Sterling family in the capital, a man of power, talent, and good looks. Why would she reject him? A soft, prideful part of his heart felt shattered by her defiance, the pain spreading rapidly. Fine, he had never encountered something he couldn't have in his life. If she wasn't willing to give herself to him, he was determined to take what he wanted.In an instant, a searing
Lily felt as if she had been thrown into a blazing fire. The scorching flames seemed to consume her, the searing pain attacking every nerve, every inch of her skin. The pain was unbearable, yet she couldn't scream out. Her mouth tasted bitter, a sensation that spread from the tip of her tongue down her throat and into her very core, making it hard for her to breathe.She struggled desperately, resisting with all her might. Just when she thought she had escaped the abyss, she found herself plunging into the depths of a vast, bottomless ocean. The surging waves crashed against her, one after another, and the icy coldness seeped into her warm body, bringing with it a bone-chilling despair.Suddenly, a glimmer of hope appeared in the distance. Using all her strength, she swam towards it, only to find Ethan standing on the shore. But why was he looking at her with such cold eyes? Just as she was about to call out to him for help, in the blink of an eye, the figure transformed into Julian.
Startled, Lily reached out, her fingers touching the cold bedsheet. Slowly, she opened her sore eyes to see a beautifully decorated ceiling. She stared blankly for a moment, trying to comprehend where she was. The intricate patterns overhead seemed like poisonous vines, wrapping around her, constricting her heart, making her feel suffocated.Yes, she remembered now. This was the lair of that demon, and she had become his unfortunate prey. The shame of the previous night still lingered on her body, along with the pain he had inflicted. Why wouldn't he let her go? Why her?Was it karma? Had she committed sins in her past life to deserve this fate with such an arrogant man in this one?Her eyes were dry and stinging, no tears left to shed. She wanted to move, but every joint, every muscle screamed in pain, pulling at her from all directions. Pulling the silky sheet around her, she gingerly stepped out of bed, shivering as her skin met the air. She was clean, as if someone had bathed her.
Lily screamed, glaring at the man so close to her. How could he be so audacious? Wasn't he afraid she'd expose his deeds?As if reading her thoughts, he chuckled coldly. Holding her wrists tightly with one hand and gripping her chin with the other, he calmly said, "Just stay with me. What can't you have if you're on good terms with me? Don't waste your time on pointless endeavors. You probably don't even know which way the courthouse doors open. Don't make a fool of yourself."Upon hearing his words, Lily, with eyes blazing in fury, managed to push Julian to the ground. She sat atop him, her fists flying as she struck him repeatedly, her actions wild and unrestrained. She cursed and hit him as if possessed by madness. Yet, Julian remained motionless, watching her with cold eyes as she took out her anger on him. For a long while, he observed her. Her punches and slaps felt more like playful taps to him, not causing any real pain. He could have dismissed them as a lover's playful quarre
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