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
When they awoke, they were lying in the bedroom, nestled closely together like two spoons in a drawer. A sleek, dark blanket covered them, and from a distance, they looked like inseparable lovers, the scene as serene as a painting.Julian Sterling slowly opened his eyes to find Lily Parker, looking lovely as ever, nestled in his embrace, her eyes closed in peaceful slumber. She seemed like a docile little bunny snuggling up to its owner. A sense of indescribable contentment filled his eyes. This version of Julian, it felt as if it wasn't him but someone else. Perhaps it was the feeling of finally having what he desired; everything felt perfect.At that moment, Julian didn't realize that relentless possession would never yield true love.He nuzzled her ear affectionately, his hand resting intimately on her waist. She seemed ticklish, swatting his hand away unconsciously and curling up tightly, effectively pushing him away.Such a posture indicated a deep-seated need for affection. But
Receiving no response from her, Julian's patience finally wore thin. Pulling the blanket, he coldly said, "It's still dark outside. Sleep a bit more." His arms encircled her like iron bands. After a while, she heard his steady breathing. The tension in her body eased a little, and she finally succumbed to sleep. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.Close to noon, as he stepped into the bathroom to freshen up, she got out of bed. Hearing her movements, he emerged, looking into her eyes, asking, "Where are you going?"Lily averted her gaze, softly replying, "I'm going back to school. I have classes." She pushed all her resentment deep into a corner of her heart, trying to calmly face this man who had treated her worse than an animal and acted as if nothing had happened. If she had a choice, she'd send him straight to hell.Julian chuckled lightly. Going to class was just an excuse, wasn't it? She was truly trying to avoid him. He buttoned up his shirt, "Alright then, I'll
In the elevator, which was empty at the time, Lily sat down, hugging her knees and sobbing. Julian, Ethan, and Lucas were all friends. Her appearance in Julian's apartment, especially being seen by Lucas, meant he could easily deduce they had been intimate. Did that mean Ethan would find out? If he learned of her cold abandonment and her involvement with his friend, would he be disappointed in her?Lily felt a throbbing pain in her head. After leaving the apartment, she walked aimlessly. The midday sun was blinding, and she instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. The sunlight made her fingers appear translucent, revealing every bone. The owner of these hands once wished only to bear children for the man she loved, to care for her family, and to be a devoted wife and mother. Yet, even such a simple dream now seemed out of reach.She felt a momentary daze. Her mother often said that the Parkers had the temperament of scholars, which, in simpler terms, meant they were stubborn.
Not long after she returned, a courier delivered a brand-new phone. Lily recognized it from a massive advertisement in a mall. It was a top-of-the-line model, both in terms of features and design, making it exorbitantly priced. There was only one number saved in it. Naturally, who else could it be but Julian Sterling? Holding the phone, she felt as if she was holding a piece of molten rock, something that could destroy her with a mere touch. For three consecutive days, Lily didn't turn on the phone. She called home to tell her mother that her phone had been stolen and then spent her days in her dorm room, lost in thought. Aria found her behavior odd, but despite her inquiries, Lily remained silent, leaving Aria to respect her wishes. Who would want to revisit such a shameful and humiliating experience? Lily didn't want to think or do anything. She felt like a zombie. Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered the knowing look from the lady at the pharmacy when she picked up the m
Hearing her soft voice, Julian's expression eased a bit, and he even seemed a tad smug. "You should've said so earlier. Alright, let's go shoe shopping." They headed to the shoe section on the second floor. Lily Parker didn't genuinely intend to buy shoes, so she didn't fuss over her choice. She casually pointed to a pair, and Julian Sterling insisted she wear them immediately. She obediently changed into the new shoes, and to her surprise, felt a hint of happiness. Julian observed the faint smile on her flushed face, thinking she was happy because of him. His own smile broadened, and he impulsively bought several pairs of the season's latest sandals. He leaned in close, whispering warmly in her ear, "Look how beautiful you are when you smile. Don't always be so stubborn; it's unsettling. I'm actually quite easy-going, as long as you obediently listen to me." Lily responded with a docile smile, but internally, she found him laughable. How could such a despicable man feign kindness?
As per the schedule, the field trip group was set to visit the Wood Carving Mansion on the west side of the town today. It was said that during the Republic era, a favored concubine of a warlord had once lived there. The mansion also boasted a prized piano, which had everyone buzzing with excitement. They were all eager to feast their eyes on these historical treasures. However, Lily Parker felt an inexplicable unease, a sense of foreboding that she couldn't shake off. Using the excuse of feeling car sick, she decided to stay behind.Lily had barely lain down when she heard a knock on her door. Assuming it was Nathan Brooks, who had brought her some medicine earlier, she absentmindedly began speaking as she opened the door, "Nathan, is there something else?""Did you let that boy into your room?"The icy tone of the voice made Lily shiver involuntarily. Her first instinct was to shut the door, but how could her feeble strength match that of an enraged man?Julian Sterling quickly push
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