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
Lily held Ethan tightly, not speaking again, just silently shedding tears. Just moments ago, Ethan had tried to explain everything to Mr. and Mrs. Parker, but Henry Parker was too furious to listen, assuming explanations were just excuses, believing where there's smoke, there's fire. He sighed deeply, turning to Lily, "Sweetheart, as long as you break up with him and come home with us, you'll still be my daughter." After all, a child is always a parent's dearest concern, how could they bear to let go? Ethan Hart clutched Lily Parker tightly, the air around them thick with tension. Finally, in a fragile and slow voice, she said, "Dad, we've done nothing wrong. I just want to be with him." It was the first time Lily had ever defied her father so openly. At her words, Henry Parker, overwhelmed with anger, raised his hand high. Ethan quickly shielded her, ready to take the blow for her, but Henry, in the end, couldn't bring himself to strike. Disappointed, the elderly couple left. Lil
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