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
What did he mean by 'up to you'? This was clearly a veiled threat!Lily was so agitated she could barely breathe. She knew what he meant. Nathan Brooks and the others would only be at the wood carving tower for a couple of hours. What would they think if they came back and saw Julian Sterling? She could already imagine their judgmental stares. Would they talk behind her back, saying she was fickle and shameless?"Where are we going?" She finally relented, realizing she couldn't resist him.Julian, now resting with his eyes closed, replied languidly, "You'll know when we get there. My car is just outside the town."Lily Parker slumped her shoulders, feeling drained as she mechanically packed away her neatly arranged toothbrush and towel in the bathroom. Her mind was blank, unable to process anything.While she was tidying up, Julian Sterling silently watched her, his gaze lingering on her slender figure for a long time.When she had audaciously suggested they "clear things up" between
Wrapping his arm around Lily, Julian said with a smile, "This place is quieter and more rustic. The previous town was too commercialized, overcrowded. I couldn't tell if we were there to see people or the scenery. Didn't you find it stifling?"Lily thought to herself, *Anywhere without you would be paradise.*She remained silent, her face expressionless. Julian glanced at her coldly, leading her through the alleyways. In front of some old houses, locals set up stalls selling unique items from the town—embroidery, food, clothing, and more. As they passed a shop selling wooden clogs, they happened upon a young couple having a disagreement.The girl pouted, "I want to buy them! Walking on the wet stone paths after the rain in these would be so fun."The boy shook his head, "No. Haven't you heard? If a man gifts shoes to a woman, they'll drift apart. It's bad luck for the relationship. If you want them, buy them yourself."The girl immediately fell silent.Lily felt a dull pain in her wri
The hotel they were staying at was just outside the small town, a mere ten-minute walk. Naturally, they shared a room.Lily was incredibly anxious. Every time she was alone with him, she was reminded of that ruthless night, the heart-wrenching pain. She was on edge, and Julian, sensing her tension, darkened his gaze briefly before saying, "I'll shower first." He picked up a bathrobe and headed to the bathroom.His words terrified Lily, making her legs wobble. She wanted to flee, but where could she go? She was well aware that Julian's family had even more influence than Ethan Hart's. No matter where she ran, he would likely find her and bring her back, possibly subjecting her to further humiliation.She despised her own insignificance, her helplessness, her cowardice, and ab
In the dim light of dawn, Julian Sterling felt a chill. The comforting warmth that had lulled him to sleep was gone. Half-awake, he opened his eyes to find that Lily Parker was no longer nestled in his embrace. Instead, she was curled up on the edge of the bed, perilously close to falling off, as if she had erected a barrier between them. Displeased by the distance she had put between them, he impulsively pulled her back to his side. His pull wasn't forceful, and she didn't wake. She merely made a small noise of discomfort, scrunching her nose. In the process, the buttons of her pajamas had come undone, revealing a patch of delicate skin, as luminous as the finest white jade. He swallowed hard, unable to take his eyes off her. Any man who doesn't react to such a sight is either a saint or impotent.
Julian wasn't sure what Lily's research entailed and was too proud to ask. Assuming she was interested in local folklore and traditions, he took her to the theater in the eastern part of the town. The venue often showcased local performances, making it a fitting choice. However, instead of the usual operas, today's performance featured a puppet show accompanied by the rhythmic beats of drums and gongs. After watching for a short while and finding it uninteresting, Julian stood up, ready to leave. But as he turned to Lily, he noticed her gaze fixed intently on the stage, completely engrossed. Biting his lip, he sat back down. He thought Lily was engrossed in the performance, but that wasn't the case. The Parker family used to live in an old mansion by the city's protect
After escorting Lily Parker to the apartment, Julian Sterling hurried off to the club he frequented, where Dylan Hayes, Tristan Caldwell, and Lucas Hartley were already waiting for him.Upon entering the room, Julian casually tossed his coat onto the sofa and took a seat at the bar, immediately inquiring, "What's the situation?"Dylan passed him a glass of red wine and nodded towards the documents on the table, patiently explaining, "We've gathered all the intel we could. Victor Blackwood bit off more than he could chew and now he's choking on it."Tristan, with a sly grin, clapped Julian on the shoulder and teased, "Don't tell me you're the one who stabbed him in the back? After all, he's been crying foul all over town lately, always trying to trip you up..."
Ethan Hart had only suffered a head injury; he wasn't brain-damaged or amnesiac. He had been awake for quite some time without seeing the one person he wanted to see, and his calls went unanswered. He sensed something was amiss. His first thought was that his parents were preventing Lily from seeing him. Initially, he was in too much pain to get out of bed, worried that Lily might be suffering again, yet he was powerless to do anything. The hospital staff was all arranged by his parents, and asking them was futile. Adding to his frustration, his childhood friends weren't on his side either. He felt utterly alone.He could only wait, wait to recover swiftly, wait for the right opportunity.That day, his assistant Graham Foster came to visit on behalf of the company. After the customary inquiries about the company's affairs, Ethan Hart