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
Winter was approaching, and the damp air grew cold and desolate. Dark clouds obscured the moon, deepening the night's darkness.Feeling the chill, Lily shivered involuntarily. Ethan naturally pulled her closer, yet carefully, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.In this world, men and women are like incomplete halves of a circle, only becoming whole when they find their destined other half. He firmly believed she was his destined half. Even in the days of his coma, all he dreamt of was holding her, a simple yet seemingly insurmountable desire.Suddenly, Lily lifted her head, meeting Ethan's deep, ink-like eyes. Acting faster than her mind, she pressed her lips to his. Ethan, taken aback at first, soon lost control, entangling with her in a passionate kiss. Their tongues gently caressed each other, their eyes locked in an intense gaze, their souls seemingly drawn into each other's depths. It was a familiar longing, a deep affection from the heart.But for some reason
Before discarding her phone, Lily Parker saw that there were over a dozen missed calls and a text message. Julian Sterling never texted; he found it bothersome. Yet, he had sent one – "Do you really think you can start over together?" Such a piercing question. What had they done wrong, after all? They had merely fallen in love. Still, she wanted to believe in Ethan Hart, to gamble once more with fate. Ethan took her to a property not registered in his name, located in a modest neighborhood outside of Lorehaven. It was a simple one-living room, two-bedrooms apartment. He always planned meticulously; everything they needed for living was there, except there was no phone, no television, and no internet connection. The two of them were like a couple isolated from the world, content just to quietly be with each other. After her bath, Lily came out to find Ethan leaning against the door, his profile thin and his eyes betraying a hint of fatigue. She thought he must be truly exhausted.
The thunder eventually faded, and large raindrops pattered against the window glass. The howling wind stirred the curtains in a gentle dance, and the night outside was a blur of shadows. She fell asleep quickly in his arms, dreamless and undisturbed, sleeping soundly. He, on the other hand, stayed awake all night, as if reluctant to let these precious moments slip away in sleep. In the morning, Lily got up and looked out the window. The sky, washed clean by the night's rain, was exceptionally clear and blue. She smelled the faint aroma of rice and smiled as she ran out. Ethan, wearing an apron, was busy in the kitchen. The rice cooker simmered with millet porridge, and the frying pan sizzled with sausages and sunny-side-up eggs, the edges of the eggs slightly charred. She playfully flipped them with a fork, pouting, "They look terrible!" Ethan turned off the stove and playfully tweaked her nose, laughing, "If you think my cooking is bad, then you can cook from now on, and I'll just
They continued their journey back to Lorehaven by bus. Approaching their home, Lily mentioned she was thirsty, so Ethan went to a nearby store to buy mineral water. Coming out, he saw Lily standing there, waiting. He playfully called out her name twice, but she didn't respond, standing still, her gaze fixed ahead.Following her gaze, Ethan saw a striking Jaguar parked under a sparse tree. The person in the driver's seat was someone they both knew. The chilly autumn air enveloped them.He went over and took Lily's hand, only then realizing how cold and limp it was. He tried to lead her forward, but she stubbornly refused to move. Her face, even her lips, were pale, her expression as desolate as withered leaves, her eyes filled with despair.Julian Sterling flicked ash off his cigarette, smiling faintly, "Ethan, no matter what, she's with me now.""So what?" Ethan Hart closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.Julian's smile was suave. "You don't mind? Let me tell you, she has a birthmark