Julian lifted his face with a satisfied smile, "Everyone says I've been acting out of character lately, like a lovesick fool. I don't even know when I started to fall for you, but I can't help thinking about you, even just seeing you once would be enough. I thought you had left just now and was about to lose my temper, but then you appeared, Lily. You don't know how happy that made me." Lily quietly let Julian hold her, and then neither of them spoke again. Julian patiently waited for her response. His cheeks were flushed from the fever, and the hallway was a bit chilly, but holding her in his arms, his heart slowly warmed. His gaze was tender as he looked down at her from this angle. Her eyelashes seemed exceptionally long, her eyes as clear as mountain spring water, deep and reflective. He remembered the first time he saw her; it was those eyes that had caught his attention. He had thought then, how could a woman's eyes be so bright, almost capturing his soul? Something deep insid
Lily gently shook her head."You don't love me, Julian. You're just in love with the thrill of the chase. If I had easily given in to you from the start, by now I'd probably be forgotten due to lack of novelty, just a trivial embellishment in your game of life. Julian Sterling, loving someone isn't like this. As you said, our beginning was too terrible, so there's no possibility for anything more.""How can you say there's no possibility?" Julian forced her to meet his gaze, his piercing eyes as if devouring her. "How do you know I'm just living some ridiculous game?"Lily's gaze was unexpectedly gentle as she calmly faced his anger. "Julian, you were the one who said it was all just a game, remember?"Julian was momentarily speechless, not expecting his past flippant words to become her weapon against him now. Annoyed and somewhat childish, he pouted and shouted, "That's because you don't understand me well enough."It's said that playboys skilled in the game of love, once truly smit
Standing there again, Lily Parker felt as if she had stepped into another world. She stood frozen at the door, tears blurring her vision as memories flooded back. They lived on the fifth floor, and she disliked climbing stairs. Every time she went out with Ethan Hart, she'd insist on being carried up, refusing to get down at the door until she'd fished the keys from his pocket to unlock it, then let him carry her inside. After washing her hands, she'd direct him in preparing vegetables and meat while she cooked. When he left, she'd clean and mop. Their upstairs and downstairs neighbors thought they were a newlywed couple. A couple – how much had they wished to be just that? But they couldn't. Wiping her tears haphazardly, Lily turned, intending to flee this place that had shut out all her happiness. But after just a few steps, she heard a clatter from inside. Not knowing whether to be happy or not, she instinctively searched her bag for the keys, her hands trembling as she unlocked
Tears streaming down her face, she nodded vigorously, even stepping forward to lean into his embrace. He smiled, leaning down for a light kiss on the corner of her mouth, like completing a ritual. Satisfied, he smiled, "There, the princess is awakened with a kiss, and the prince has fulfilled his mission and can now retreat."At the Lorehaven International Airport, a 9 PM flight was scheduled to depart for Los Angeles.Ethan Hart had almost no luggage, standing alone and unencumbered.Lily Parker insisted on seeing him off, telling him that this time, it was her turn to watch his retreating figure, to see him turn and walk away.Throughout the journey, they didn't speak a word, until they stood at the boarding gate. Watching the crowd of people coming and going, some leaving, others bidding farewell, she truly realized that he was leaving her for good.The boarding announcement echoed through the airport.He said, "Take care of yourself."She replied, "Have a safe trip."He smiled, ge
Lily Parker returns to school, seemingly realigning her life's trajectory towards a simple, dutiful existence. However, her heart remains incomplete, perhaps only to be healed by time. As winter deepens, she finishes her semester exams and preliminarily decides on her thesis and performance pieces with Professor Caldwell. Despite her father, Henry Parker, still refusing to see her, she visits him daily in the hospital. Fortunately, there's hopeful news: the hospital has consulted a renowned specialist in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, offering a chance for recovery. Returning to her dormitory, Lily is greeted by the warmth of the heater, a relief from the biting cold. She finds her roommate, Aria Mitchell, packing her belongings. Surprised, Lily asks why Aria is moving out before New Year's as planned. Aria, with a crescent-moon smile, explains she's found a place near her company and her boyfriend suggested moving in earlier. Aria and her boyfriend have decided to sett
Normally, Julian would have reacted angrily, but this time, he raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face as he held her hand, "Huh, getting a temper after not seeing you for a few days?" Lily felt the focused gazes around them, like spotlights. Although there were only a few people, she felt uncomfortable. She didn't want to deal with Julian, so she pulled away and walked towards the door. But as soon as she stepped down, the pain made her hiss. Julian's expression turned serious, worriedly asking, "Did you twist your ankle?" Seeing her stubborn silence, he glared at her and pulled her to sit in the audience seats, then knelt down himself. Lily tried to pull her foot away, but there was no escape. He pressed down on her knee, removed her shoe and sock, and his warm hand touched her icy foot, his face growing grimmer. He gently probed her ankle, "Does it hurt here?" Lily didn't respond, but her shrinking body couldn't lie. He added, "You might have twisted a muscle or bone. I'll ta
In the chilly hospital corridor, Lily Parker felt an overwhelming heat, not from the surroundings, but from Julian Sterling's intense gaze. She averted her eyes, breaking the silence with a slow, deliberate voice, "But I've already rejected you."It was a dance of pursuit and rejection, a prelude to a love chase.Julian stood backlit, his tall and imposing figure casting a shadow over her, bringing an oppressive sense of dominance. Lily rubbed her frozen fingers, her head aching as she pondered how to escape his vine-like entanglement.But who was Julian Sterling? A man who had grown up in the corridors of power, adept at steering situations to his advantage. He pushed the choice back to her, "Even if you reject me, you wouldn't reject a chance to cure your father, would you?" Like a hunter in love, he laid out his most tempting bait, closing in step by step.Lily's heart sank. She struggled to find a response, then looked up to see Julian, calm and composed. Taking a deep breath, she
Lily felt inexplicably restless. The beautifully packaged paper bag held not only the autographed album of the master she yearned for but also a pair of small, black, oversized men's sheepskin gloves, utterly unsuitable for her. She sighed helplessly, thinking of Julian, a man with a stern and profound demeanor, hard to refuse. She slowly walked towards the school. After a while, her phone rang. It was Eleanor Brown. Lily answered, but there was no response, just deep, intermittent sobs. She had never seen Eleanor cry in the half year they'd known each other, and she immediately became anxious. Tentatively, Lily called out, "Eleanor? What's wrong?" After a moment, Eleanor's voice came through, pleading like a child, "Lily... can you, can you come and keep me company in the studio?" "Of course, I'm on my way. Wait for me," Lily said without hesitation and immediately took a taxi to Eleanor's art studio in the east of the city. As soon as Lily Parker stepped into the studio, she wa
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