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?"
Ethan's intense gaze lasted only a second before swiftly shifting away, as if they were merely strangers who had crossed paths by chance. He calmly walked over to Isabella de Valois, smiling, "Which design have you chosen?" Isabella, reassured by their indifferent interaction, sweetly smiled and took his arm, leading him to sit aside, "Didn't I tell you not to come? The doctor advised you to rest more. Why do you always sneak out?" She fussed over him, seemingly trying to make up for her earlier discomfort and eager to display affection in front of Lily, "Come and see, I've picked a few styles but can't decide. It's driving me crazy." Ethan Hart chuckled lightly, "Actually, I'm pretty much alright now. It's just my mother being overly anxious, insisting on a few more days of observation in the hospital. I should be officially discharged in a few days." He explained with a meaningful tone, then took the bridal catalog, continuing, "Let me help you choose. I guarantee it'll look great.
The bar manager, fearing any mishap, had already called Oliver Sinclair to report everything happening there. Soon after, Oliver Sinclair arrived, accompanied by Jame. Dressed in a mysterious black casual outfit, Oliver Sinclair, with a cold expression and without a word, picked up the drunken Eleanor Brown. He nodded to Jame and then silently walked out, not too gently stuffing her into the car before driving off. Jame lingered at the door for a while, then entered the private room to try and help Lily Parker up. She forcefully pushed him away, but he persisted and managed to bring her back to the apartment, placing her on the long sofa in the living room. Lily Parker was drunk, not senseless. She recognized Jame and, pulling at his sleeve, laughed hoarsely, "Do you think, do you also think I'm despicable?" Jame pressed his lips together, looking at her flushed face from the alcohol. His usually cold voice softened slightly, "You should rest. I'll be leaving now." As he walked aw
As soon as Lily Parker pushed open the door to the apartment, she heard faint footsteps. Looking up, she was surprised to see Julian Sterling. He was dressed in a beige home outfit, wearing the soft slippers she had bought, descending the spiral staircase from the second floor. His hair was slightly damp, suggesting he had just come out of the shower. He stood at the top of the stairs, gazing at her intently. Lily felt an uncomfortable tension, a sense of urgency that had been absent for days. No matter how gentle Julian seemed, he always appeared dangerously unpredictable to her. Suddenly, the bag in her hand felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. Inside was the study abroad application she had just received from her professor, her lifeline to escape this place. Julian remained silent for a moment before slowly approaching her. She held her breath, but he simply walked past her into the open kitchen and opened the fridge. After a glance, he turned back to ask her, "Have you eaten
James was sent out of town, and she only saw Julian that one night in the entire month. Their daily calls also reduced to once a week. She thought perhaps he wanted to end their relationship with this coldness. Isabella de Valois had boasted in front of her that Julian's mother had already found a suitable girl for him, someone of high status, a perfect match. Isabella thought this news would hurt Lily, but she was wrong. If Julian could let go and marry a wealthy heiress, Lily would be more than happy. Heartbroken for him? Not worth it. She would rather stay far away from him, never to see him again. But she doubted whether Julian, a man so proud and unyielding, would willingly submit to his parents' wishes and an arranged marriage. Soon enough, her application was approved. Lily didn't care about anything else. She just wanted to escape this place of strife, to go somewhere where no one knew her, even if just for a day. That day, Lily Parker returned to her apartment to pack her
The master bedroom seemed to have been redecorated, still exuding extreme luxury, but the detested mirrored wall was gone. She forced herself to take a cold shower, the icy water clearing her muddled mind, reminding her that she was just a toy in Julian Sterling's hands, forever bound to be so unless he chose to let go.Suddenly, the showerhead was violently thrown to the ground, making a loud noise. She didn't need to turn around to know Julian had entered the bathroom. She was indifferent now, resigned to whatever he wanted to do.Julian, both frantic and furious, pulled her out of the shower. His grip on her wrist was so strong it made her bones creak, the pain making her grimace, but she endured stoically. She thought he was going to torment her again, but instead, he just dragged her to the bed, covering her with a large towel and roughly drying her off. The physical contact made her feel a bit feverish. He kept his back to her, so she couldn't see his expression."Oh, so you're d
In the study of the luxurious Sterling Penthouse in Lorehaven, the wooden floor was littered with cigarette butts, papers and documents strewn about, and anything breakable had been smashed to pieces. Julian Sterling stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, a half-smoked cigarette between his slender fingers. His eyes, colder and deeper than ancient wells, were fixated on a thought that revolved in his mind like a relentless wheel – Isabella de Valois's mocking words from earlier that day, "Julian, how could you not even keep a woman?"The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. His jaws clenched tightly, and in a fit of rage, he kicked a large, unopened picture frame leaning against the wall. The frame crashed to the floor, and he squinted at it, seemingly unable to recall why it was there. When he recognized the face in the photo, his anger surged from his feet to his chest, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, veins on his arms bulging. His usual proud self-control was
As Lucas Hartley opened the door to the private room, a princess-like figure, her face covered, ran out sobbing. Raising an eyebrow, Lucas peered inside to find Julian, his clothes disheveled, lying on a sofa surrounded by empty bottles, the air thick with the smell of smoke and alcohol. This was a far cry from the meticulous and fastidious Julian he knew. His chin was covered in stubble, his body reeked of alcohol, and his chest bore several lipstick marks.Lucas had been out of town on a project and had rushed back for an engagement party, only to find it absurdly canceled. No sooner had he settled down than he received a call about Julian being dead drunk at the club. Rushing over, he found Julian and joked, "Hey, what's wrong with you? Did your cousin-in-law come by, or did your wife run off with someone?"Lucas had always suspected something fishy when he heard Ethan Hart agreed to the engagement. How could a man who had caused such a stir in the city suddenly capitulate? He knew
Once, Lily Parker thought the happiest thing was simply holding Ethan Hart's hand. Even if they did nothing, even if they had nothing, just being quietly by his side, feeling his tender presence so close, was all she ever wanted. But now, after everything that had happened, she found herself at a loss for how to be with him. They sat together, wordless, their shared melancholy fate hanging between them.The moon over the Western Sea seemed especially large and bright, like a pearl set against the black velvet of the night sky. Its soft light spilled over the shimmering surface of the lake, reminiscent of the tenderness between lovers.They had rented a small boat, drifting across the misty waters, far from the madding crowd, with no one to disturb them.Ethan stood at the bow, still in his black suit that he hadn't had time to change out of, the first three buttons of his shirt undone. His hand was casually tucked into his pocket, his gaze fixed on the distant lights on the shore. His