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Chapter 102
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 103
Willow bid the Gibson siblings goodbye at 9:30 pm.The gray Rolls-Royce Ghost gradually disappeared from her line of sight. Willow stood there for a moment longer and was about to head back into her apartment when she heard a low voice calling out, "Willow."Willow stiffened at the voice.Then, she locked eyes with Julian as the night breeze blew.He was standing next to his black Rolls-Royce Phantom. He had donned a classic three-piece suit, looking very refined.Still, Willow could tell that Julian had lost weight and gotten more tanned since they'd had last met.A breeze swept by, carrying with it the fragrance of tuberoses. It also brought with it the lingering echoes of their past. Those memories weighed upon them, unwilling to be forgotten.It had been two months since they had last met, two months since they had torn their relationship into shreds. Yet, it felt as though it had been centuries since then.They stared at each other for a long while before Julian approached
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 104
Julian nodded slightly. Then, he unbuttoned his suit as he walked toward the brightly lit foyer.The manor was the same as ever, but he couldn't help but find it cold and empty.He probably felt that way because Willow wasn't here.Blair took his suit jacket from him and asked in an attempt to gain his favor, "Would you like some supper, Mr. Ziegler? I've learned Mrs. Ziegler's spaghetti bolognese recipe."Julian paused briefly before inquiring, "Has my wife returned to the manor these past two months?"Blair shook her head.Julian was disappointed to hear that and didn't bother asking anything else. Instead, he went straight to the second floor's study.Nothing had changed, except there was a court summons on his desk. The hearing was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.The floor-to-ceiling windows in his study were immaculate and spotless. It was so clean that it reflected the lights… and the despondent look on his face.He was dressed in an impeccably tailored suit and ha
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 105
Reporters from every corner of the city made an appearance at Brindley Court.There were so many people there that the court's entrance was one person away from absolute chaos. The cameras' flashing lights were aimed straight at a black limousine as the reporters eagerly awaited their chance to take a picture of Julian. They knew that the picture of Julian walking out of his car would definitely become the trending topic for the day.Esther, who was also in the black limousine, turned to look at Julian. "Mr. Ziegler, should we get security? The reporters are broadcasting this live. I'm afraid it'll affect your reputation."Julian straightened his suit and said dispassionately, "It's fine."The chauffeur opened the car door for him. Julian buttoned his collar and left the car, striding toward the court. The cameras' flashing lights promptly bombarded his vision."Mr. Ziegler, are you going to sign the divorce papers?""Rumors have it that you and Mrs. Ziegler have been living se
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 106
A black Rolls-Royce gradually came to a halt before the Ziegler residence that night.The car door swung open, and Julian came stepping out of the vehicle. He stood straight-backed, exuding an indescribable aura of elegance.He went inside and strode to the study, pushing the door open.Dominic was playing chess all on his lonesome. When he heard the door creak, he couldn't help but say mockingly, "Look what the cat dragged in. Here comes the great actor, Julian. You must be pleased to see all those ridiculous comments online. Those women are all throwing themselves at you now."Julian had read the comments as well.He sat in the seat across from Dominic, playing chess with him. "I don't like those frivolous women."Dominic sneered. "Willow isn't frivolous, but I don't see you cherishing her all that much. You didn't hesitate to divorce her."Julian made a move. "She'll always be my wife."Dominic's eyes brightened with hope. "What are you trying to say?"Dominic hadn't gotten
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 107
There was no way Willow would go to Yarrowmere.So, she promptly hung up on Julian.After a beat, she stared at the phone in her hands as her mind raced a mile a minute. Julian wasn't serious when he said he agreed to the divorce. He only chose to let her go free as a temporary means to keep her in check. The touching speech he gave in court was merely an act.He truly was a fantastic actor.…Willow went to the Ziegler residence that evening.The sunset painted the sky with swaths of breathtaking colors. The two rows of Faeria's sycamore trees in the Ziegler residence stood tall, their branches lush and vibrant as they were bathed in a soft golden glow.Sebastian came to greet Willow at the door, saying respectfully, "Mr. Ziegler Senior has gone fishing with his friends. I'm afraid he won't be back tonight. However, Mr. Liam is at home. Would you like to meet him?"Based on his words, it was evident he was Liam's mouthpiece.Willow considered her options and eventually agreed
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 108
Willow ate her dinner with Jeffrey.Jeffrey didn't mention a single word about the Gibson family's financial issues. Instead, he merely talked to her about her day.Willow only felt even more guilty due to him putting on a brave front. She took out a check and placed it on his tidy desk. She had written the amount she had in her savings, totaling around two billion dollars.Jeffrey looked at the check and asked softly, "What is this?"Willow continued munching on her food. "You can consider that as me trying to give you a hand."Jeffrey slid the check back to her and intoned solemnly, "Willow, that's a lot of money. However, the company owes over 20 billion dollars because of this contract. We're still negotiating the terms, but it's going to be an arduous process."Besides, he would never allow himself to accept Willow's money. As for the reason why… Well, there was no need to put things into words.Willow had spent years of her blood, sweat, and tears just to save up all that
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 109
Willow didn't leave for Yarrowmere.She knew Julian far too well. He did all those things and was lying in wait for her. Then, he was going to take his time bending her to his will.Yet, Gibson Group was in dire straits.Willow received a call. Jeffrey's mother, Dorothy, had invited her for coffee.Although the Gibson family was in financial trouble, Dorothy still dressed herself to the nines for a simple meeting.She was practically dripping with branded goods and sparkling jewelry.Willow and Dorothy made themselves comfortable in a high-end cafe. Willow looked at the wealthy but weary-looking lady across from her, well aware that the other woman was most definitely going to spew some harsh words. Unfortunately, she had no choice but to show up.As expected, Dorothy stirred her coffee and said snootily, "I never objected to your friendship with Jeffrey in the past because you were Julian's wife. I had assumed that Jeffrey would know where to draw the line. I didn't blame you w
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 110
Willow was rendered speechless. "Julian, do you think that's why I called you? Snowy's my dog. You've stolen my dog."Julian remained utterly unfazed as he replied blithely, "Don't you worry. I'll take good care of it."Then, he ended the call and sent her a picture.Snowy was on a green lawn. It had a red ball in its mouth as it happily bounded over the person taking its picture.Willow could tell that Snowy really loved its new owner.Willow couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness at the sight.Maureen, who had been standing next to her, said hesitantly, "Are we just going to let Mr. Ziegler get away with stealing Snowy?"Willow kept her phone away and answered emotionlessly, "You should address Julian by his name in the future."Maureen promptly fell silent, not daring to say another word.…Willow finally gave up and took a flight to Yarrowmere three days later.She had it all planned out. After all, she was confident that Julian wouldn't be home at 4:00 pm on a T
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 225
Melanie sneaked back to the Ziegler residence at 2:00 pm, looking disheveled.It was eerily quiet at home; the place seemed empty. None of the Zieglers seemed to be around.She grabbed a passing maid and asked, "Is Liam home yet?"The maid was taken aback. Then, she started crying when she saw it was Melanie. Choked up, she said, "You should hurry to the hospital, Mrs. Ziegler! Mr. Julian got into an accident, and his arm was crushed. We don't know whether he'll be able to keep it—he's still in surgery."Melanie was stunned. She couldn't care less about how unkempt she looked as she hurried to the hospital. The Ziegler family's relatives and friends stood outside the operating theater, looking grim, especially Liam. He was utterly despondent.She staggered to him and grabbed his arm with trembling hands, asking, "Where's Julian? Where is he? Tell me where he is, Liam!"Instead of answering her, he backed away. Meanwhile, Tyler cried, "You've made a huge mistake this time, Melanie
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 224
Liam held Gabriella and played with her. He was completely like his usual stoic self. She smiled in his arms and revealed her gums.He secretly cursed Melanie for her bad luck. Gabriella was adorable!Time was almost up, yet Melanie didn't show. Liam couldn't bring himself to ask Willow to wait any longer, so he reluctantly returned Gabriella to her. At the same time, he said, "Melanie's out of control. I have no idea where she's gone off to."Willow merely smiled. She and Melanie were on bad terms, so this didn't bother her.Now that their parting was imminent, Liam was tempted to ask Willow to give Julian another chance. However, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and ultimately remained silent.It was too late for things to change.…Julian entered the room at 10:00 am. He wore an expensive suit fit for a banquet, clearly wanting to leave Willow and Gabriella with the best impression possible. However, it didn't seem to occur to him that this would be the last da
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 223
Willow and Julian had agreed to live like a married couple for three days, but Julian was busy throughout those three days. Even when he was at home, he spent most of his time attending to work in his study.At night, he was rarely home. He would leave the villa every night and return before 5:00 am. After showering, he would fall asleep with Gabriella in his arms. He would sing her lullabies.He only had three short days with her, so he gave her his all—he exhausted himself physically and mentally just to be with her. He wanted her to grow up with memories of a father's warmth, no matter how brief it was.On Julian's last night with Willow, he returned home, overwhelmed by his despair as usual. He sat in the car, feeling drained as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. His hand trembled as he smoked his way through half of it.Each time he saw Landon felt like the last. He'd hired the world's best doctors to save Landon, whom he knew was in pain. He was such a tiny baby, yet he co
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 222
Julian touched his box of cigarettes but held himself back. He sighed and said, "I don't want to have anyone else in charge of the company unless there's no other option. You know how many companies with billions in net worth have been ruined by those pests, right? Besides, the shareholders would never agree."Esther fell silent. Her heart ached for him.He lowered his voice and asked her a few things, to which she answered, "There hasn't been anything out of the ordinary."Despite that, he would still visit Landon every night and speak to the latter through the incubator. That night would be no exception.As for Gabriella, he also had plans for her. She was his flesh and blood, and he would ensure she grew up without worries, even if he couldn't be by her side. He wanted her to spend the rest of her life in bliss and do only what she loved. All that mattered was that she was happy.No one would expect her to grow up to become an heiress who would push herself harder than anyone e
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 221
Gabriella was awake in the swaddle. She had flawless skin, bright eyes, and tiny dimples. She looked just like Julian.Every father had a soft spot for their daughters, especially since Gabriella kept staring at Julian with her twinkling eyes. She could see clearly now and seemed to be curious about him.He stared back at her as his heart melted. He carefully took Gabriella from Willow's arms, feeling like something was lodged in his throat as he held her close.She was so soft and light. Julian couldn't help but lower his head and press it to Gabriella's cheek. She smelled sweet and had that unique scent that only babies had. It was a smell that filled him with joy.Tears filled his eyes, which was unlike him. This was what blissfulness felt like.Esther quietly wiped her tears. She was just a regular employee, but she'd formed a bond with Julian after working with him for so long. She hoped beyond hope that this moment of bliss would last forever.She said softly, "It's chilly
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 220
Willow went to the restroom to tidy up. This time, Julian didn't disturb her. When she came back, she said, "I want to see the guarantee letter."Julian's heart skipped a beat. After a moment, he said, "I've set a dinner appointment with the bank manager of Yarrowmere's Harkive Bank. We'll sign the letter tonight."Willow smiled faintly. "Nothing escapes your control, does it?"Julian also smiled, but it was bitter. He walked her down to her car. As the door shut before him, he continued staring at her through the window. His gaze was filled with his deep longing for her.That night, Joe Paxton, Harkive Bank's manager, flew to Brindley. Julian brought him to Moonlit, where they downed several bottles of hard liquor before the guarantee letter was signed. The bank would release the funds to Aurelia Group the following day.Water flowed from a golden faucet in the opulent restroom. Julian leaned against the wall with his head thrown back. His face was red—it was clear he'd had too m
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 219
It was pouring the following day when a black car pulled up outside Nebula Group's building. The driver circled to the back to open the door, and Willow got out with an umbrella over her head. However, the downpour was so heavy that a patch of her jacket was soon soaked. Esther was waiting for her by the car. She led Willow to the office on the top floor and got her a glass of milk. Then, she said, "Mr. Ziegler is in a meeting, but he should be here soon. Please have a seat and wait for a while."With that, she left the office.Willow didn't sit. Instead, she stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows and gazed out at the scenery of most of Brindley. Rain veiled the view in a soft, gray mist and soaked the streets… Perhaps also dousing the embers of one's youth and ambition.She stared outside for so long that time seemed to blur, making her feel like that day was no different from years ago.In a daze, she felt like she was taken back to the past, when she was still Nebula Group'
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 218
It was Timothy's idea to send Willow to Faeria, as the June climate in Faeria was known to be mild, conducive to healing. Heather would travel with her, with the intention of looking after Gabriella until she was six months old. Timothy had already bought a villa there and had also set aside ample funds to guarantee a luxurious lifestyle for Heather and Willow.Heather managed to arrange everything within a week. She had packed all the clothing and necessities for herself and Willow, covering all seasons, along with Gabriella's food, feeding supplies, and diapering essentials. Though she was still a baby, Gabriella's belongings completely filled four large suitcases. Heather saw to all the arrangements herself. Having taken care of everything, she looked at Gabriella—her ever lovely granddaughter—before rubbing her sore waist and returning to her room. Upon stepping inside, Heather noticed Timothy standing on the balcony, a cigarette in his hand and a deep frown creasing his fore
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 217
Liam and Melanie had rushed over as well.Landon, huddling in the incubator, gently stirred his fragile body. His small chest was rising and falling with labored breaths, a tiny warrior determined to survive.Melanie kneeled on the floor and gazed at Landon, her eyes brimming with tears. She then said, "You have to tell Willow about this, Julian! I mean, Landon is her own flesh and blood! You can't keep this from her forever. In addition, the Chapmans are planning to send her abroad. What if Landon doesn't make it? She'll never have the chance to see Landon again. That's a regret that'll haunt her forever!"Julian lowered his gaze, his voice rasping beyond recognition as he said, "He only has a 1% chance of survival, Mom. How can I tell her that? It would definitely crush her. It would eat away at her, steal her rest, and drown her in agony. I'd rather she hold resentment toward me; at least after the initial pain, she can live a decent life. "I'm certain that going abroad is the
