As dawn approached, Lily Parker once again lay stealthily beside Julian Sterling, still at a distance, still curled up, still with her back to him.
Julian cracked open his eyes to look at her, her petite and delicate silhouette, so thin it was heart-wrenching. He thought about how he should nourish her properly, but she hardly ate anything, and once she started crying, it seemed endless. How could she ever become strong? He pursed his lips and continued to feign sleep.
When it was time to go to work, Julian got up, quickly freshened up, and changed into a suit. Instinctively, he glanced towards the bed and found Lily watching him. Their eyes met, and she immediately closed hers in embarrassment, which delighted him. His lips curved into a slight smile as he approached her, bending down to plant a gentle kiss on her face, chucklin
Lily Parker went to the piano room to practice because only the piano belonged entirely to her. It held no hurt, no betrayal; it was the last sanctuary in her heart.Professor Caldwell had hinted that there was another chance at the end of the year to compete for an exchange student spot. She should strive for it. Not only had she not become an exchange student, but Serena Winters had also been eliminated. The spot remained vacant, and Vienna's side meant to reassess at year's end. Being in her senior year, this might be her last opportunity.But how could she go now?"You've played the wrong note six times in a row, and it's a Mozart piece," a voice suddenly broke the silence of the piano room.Lily struck a loud chord in error, which resonated sharply through the air. She turned around in astonishment, then her face fell, "May I ask what brings you here?"Isabella de Valois found a chair and sat down, her smile radiant, "Oh, finding a powerful backer does give you a different kind o
Such a name pierced right through Lily's heart, highlighting a wound deep within. If only she could erase all her memories, she wouldn't have to live in such pain. Yet, paradoxically, she clung to those memories, desperately recalling past sweetness to mask the bitterness of the present, like drinking poison to quench a thirst.Even she didn't know how she managed to utter that "Congratulations." It was as if driven by a single thought—she could not lose, not to Isabella. At least in front of her, Lily had to maintain the last shred of her dignity. She wouldn't allow Isabella to trample over her wounds and find joy. She didn't deserve that.Perhaps it was fate, but from that day on, Lily became a regular at the café, though she no longer sat by the window. The owner, Eleanor Brown, was an illustrator and a superb coffee
As if sensing her shock, he hurriedly said, “Lily, don’t hang up! Cough, cough!” His breathing became ragged, his chest wracked with discomfort, a relentless cough seizing him.Panicked, Lily blurted out, “What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?”It took a moment for Ethan to steady his breath, managing to say weakly, “I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”Lily could tell he was far from okay, her voice breaking into sobs, “Can’t you just... can’t you just…” let me have peace of mind?“Lily, I just wanted to ask you,” Ethan said, pausing after each word, “everyone says you wanted to break up with me, I don&
After a lengthy meeting, Julian Sterling stood in front of the elevator and suddenly asked his secretary, Elliott Harper, "Elliott, what else is on the schedule for today?"Elliott Harper replied, "Nothing, sir. You instructed me to keep tonight free, and I've arranged everything accordingly."Julian paused, then chuckled, "Ah, right, right, I'd forgotten."Elliott glanced at his notepad and added, "Mr. Sterling, General Sterling sent someone asking when you plan to return.""I won't be returning today," Julian's face darkened slightly, betraying a touch of displeasure.Having been his secretary for six years, Elliott knew well enough to not pursue the topi
Confused, Lily suddenly heard the blare of a car horn. She looked up, stunned—it was Julian's car. Why had he come to pick her up himself?This was the university town, bustling with people coming and going. Fearing recognition, she hurriedly dashed across the street, pulled open the car door, and slid inside without a second thought, asking, "Where's Jame?"Julian's lips tightened as he replied, "He's busy!" His petulant tone was almost childlike.Lily couldn't fathom what was bothering him and sat in silence, her face a mask of quiet contemplation.Once they had left the university town behind, Julian Sterling asked, "Was that the guy you went sketching with? What did he want?"
Lily Parker gave Julian Sterling's arm a gentle shake, her voice soft, "Maybe we should just eat out. I'm not very good at cooking." Her grandmother used to take her into the kitchen to learn how to make hometown dishes, but her mother was always too nervous, fearing she might hurt herself, and never allowed her to meddle in the kitchen. As a result, her culinary skills were nothing to boast about.Julian pursed his lips, silent. As soon as the pedestrian light turned green, he interlocked his fingers with hers and they crossed the zebra crossing together. Looking up, he saw the weekend supermarket bustling with people. A couple, carrying bags big and small, emerged from the supermarket, sharing a joke that made them both burst into laughter, a picture of warmth and intimacy.A thought struck him, and he gripped her hand tightly, his brows furrowing slightly in displeasure as he complained, "We can just whip up something simple, can't you just listen to me this once?"Lily really didn
Julian Sterling and Lily Parker spent a peaceful weekend together before Julian had to leave the country.Before his departure, Julian visited the military compound where his family lived. As soon as Mrs. Sterling saw him, she frowned, "If your father were here, he'd break your legs for this! He said he was finishing work early, but I think he rushed back just for your birthday. And you, you foolish boy, didn't even bother to come back!"Julian had always been the little tyrant of the Sterling family, adored to the core. Whenever something didn't go his way, he'd throw a fit. Once, on his birthday, Nicholas Sterling promised to be there but had to cancel due to an emergency. Julian, stubborn as he was, didn't speak for an entire month. He was the kind of person who had to have his way, spoiled to the bone.
Woken by the phone, Lily couldn't fall back asleep. Glancing at the clock, it was already past ten. She tried to get up to brush her teeth and wash her face, but her body was too weak to move. Julian had been relentless last night. Thinking back to the phone call, she sighed. No one was more unpredictable than this man.After breakfast, Eleanor Brown called Lily Parker, inviting her to meet at a high-end bridal boutique in downtown Lorehaven."What? Getting married? And you want me as your bridesmaid?" Lily sat in the lounge area of the shop, astonished by Eleanor's news, as shocking as when she first learned about Eleanor's son, Maxwell.Eleanor covered her mouth, teasingly, "Heh, why are you more excited than I am?"