MasukShare
Chapter 135
Bab terkait
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 136
"Five years. That's how long Julian had deceived you for."…Willow felt chills all over her body. "Do you have evidence to back up what you said?"Catherine wore a cold expression as she laughed, her voice completely hoarse. "There's a hospital next to Grandsburg Cathedral. You'll find everything about my elder sister's medical history there."Head over to Everlink Bank at Brindley. You're going to want to open strongbox 322 with the password '574574.' Once you see what's inside, you'll understand everything."Willow gave herself some time to process it before she asked. "Why are you telling me all this?"Catherine was dazed by Willow's question. She murmured, "That's because a younger sister is destined to kill another younger sister."Willow didn't understand what Catherine said at all. Instead, she walked back outside. The sun shone brightly, casting its brilliant rays to a spot at the end of the hallway. Meanwhile, Catherine gripped the black metal bars and screamed hyste
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 137
The sky was basked in the evening sun's gentle glow.Willow swung by Grandview Manor. Blair was very happy to see her, thinking that she and Julian had patched things up. She immediately ran over and said, "Mrs. Ziegler, you're home."Willow forced a smile and responded, "I left something in the storeroom, and I came here to take it."Blair didn't suspect a thing. Grabbing the key, she led Willow to the storeroom, saying, "It's been a long time since anyone went there. I've no idea if the stuff inside got moldy. Let me take a peek first, Mrs. Ziegler. Wouldn't want to make your shoes dirty."They arrived at the storeroom's door as they spoke. Willow told Blair that she wanted to go inside by herself. The latter pondered on it for a while before she agreed to it. As she unlocked the metal door for Willow, a foul, moldy stench wafted out of the storeroom.Blair turned on the lights. "Mrs. Ziegler, please watch your steps."Willow entered and quickly saw a piano in the corner of the
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 138
Julian said such loving words as he slipped the six-karat pink diamond ring onto Willow's finger. It was rare and precious, dazzling with brilliance. "Do you like it?""I do. It's wonderful."…They had all the privacy they needed in the restaurant. Julian wanted to give Willow a smooch, but she avoided it. She lowered her head and ate the desserts, trying to hide the tears in her eyes. "Julian, the dessert is very sweet. I like it a lot."He held her gently, "If you like it this much, we'll take some of it home."Willow smiled gracefully in response. They shared a bottle of red wine, had the best Ivalian dishes, and rested in each other's embrace as they enjoyed Brindley's night view. The way she saw it, no lady would be able to resist the romance and thoughtfulness Julian showed her tonight. The night was deep and serene. With Willow in his arms, he murmured lovely words to her, asking her to become his wife again. She didn't turn him down. She was giving him a chance to
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 139
Julian grabbed Willow's hand, looked into her eyes, and said in a serious tone, "It's not what you think. I've never shared Grandview Manor with Alicia, and we have never crossed the line. I've never slept with her."She immediately shook his hand off and took a step back. The truth was just unbearably cruel for her. Willow no longer had the strength or intention to hide the misery on her face. So, she allowed her tears to hang off the tip of her nose and smiled in a daze, exposing her unabashed sorry state to him. "That means the love you have for her is pure and innocent, but it is love nonetheless."Julian, back when we got divorced, you said in court that you wanted Grandview Manor and nothing else because it is a home we once shared. Well, you're wrong. It's not our home. It belongs to you and Alicia."On our first anniversary, things got slightly better for us. I asked you to play 'Für Elise' for me, but you smiled and said that you didn't know how to play the piano. "Th
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 140
Radiance Manor was the most high-end residence Brindley had to offer. The master bedroom on the second floor was adorned in dark Ivalian decor, accentuating its luxury and class.The night was chilling. Willow slept soundly on the dark bedsheet. The moonlight shone through the white curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. It was as if the bed was covered in a pale glass.Julian stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. There was gauze wrapped around his forehead. The family doctor dropped by and treated him earlier. The sounds of a car engine could be heard on the porch.Then, Esther led Liam and Melanie inside. The whole thing must've gotten a little out of hand and startled them. Melanie walked over and checked out Julian's wound, feeling utterly heartbroken. "Willow shouldn't have hurt you like this, no matter how unhappy she was."Julian responded dismissively, "It's nothing."She wasn't happy about it. "Keep defending her and see where it gets you. This ti
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 141
Melanie protested, "Liam, don't you think you're reading too much into it? Alicia is pure-hearted and wonderful."Liam looked at her. "Doesn't she strike you as a hypocritical young lady?"Feeling rather speechless, she reprimanded him. "Liam, you never fuss over the younger generation. What's more, you've known her since she was a little girl."He closed his eyes once more. "Willow is still the better match for Julian."…Willow woke up early in the morning. She was sleeping on a bed she wasn't familiar with, but she was wearing a bathrobe from the brand she usually wore. There was even a faint scent of the shower gel that was also present in Grandview Manor.She had a hunch that this place belonged to Julian.At that moment, the sound of a piano echoed from the lounge, and the melody was extremely familiar to her. It was a song that used to cause her emotional turmoil. Willow lifted the blanket and got out of bed. Then, she walked over to the door of the lounge in her bare f
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 142
Catherine had died, her passing remaining a mystery. Her body was cremated in Searheim three days later and was later brought back to Brindley for burial.Thereafter, the Burkes stormed into the Chapman residence, causing an uproar. Nancy, overcome with grief, insisted that Catherine's untimely demise was a direct result of Willow's trip to Searheim.Heather sneered and retorted, "Catherine's death was only a matter of time! She did do one good thing before she died, though—exposing the collusive activities of both families in fraudulent marital arrangements, leaving my daughter robbed of five precious years. And you actually have the audacity to make a scene here? If that's the case, then let's settle our old scores once and for all!"Charlie hurriedly held Nancy back, saying, "That medical examiner had already confirmed that there were no signs of poisoning."Sean, having made a point of coming over, explained, "Ms. Harper's visitation of Ms. Burke was entirely within legal param
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 143
It was a captivating evening in Brindley, with a multitude of celebrities gathering at the banquet hall in Evergreen Grand Hotel.Julian, dressed in his finest, was holding a glass of champagne as he socialized with the other guests in a relaxed manner. His eyes would often wander to the entrance of the banquet hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of Willow. However, the banquet was well underway, and Willow was still nowhere to be seen.It was then he heard a familiar voice calling out to him, asking, "What are you looking at, Julian?"Julian turned and noticed that it was Braxton Young, the CEO of Aegis Group, talking to him, so he smiled slightly as he greeted, "Good evening, Mr. Young." Braxton patted his shoulder and said with a teasing smile, "I noticed that you had been looking a little out of it for a while now. What's the matter? Who are you expecting?"Julian replied with a polite smile, "I'm not waiting for anyone."Braxton, observing Julian's striking and polished demeano
Bab terbaru
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 201
At the end of January, Julian received a phone call from 618 Southlane, Brindley, which was where Brindley Asylum was located. Alicia had been interrogated for a month, and she actually remained tight-lipped the whole time. However, a certificate of mental illness landed her in the asylum.Her doctor, Jonathan Crane, was a middle-aged man in his 40s. He was tactful and sensible and would immediately inform Julian about her latest developments. They were on the phone now, and his voice was deep and composed. "Just moments ago, Ms. Burke had a miscarriage."Julian was sitting on a couch in front of a floor-to-ceiling window in his office at Nebula Group. With his phone in his hand, he wore an emotionless expression, and his voice was nonchalant when he spoke. "I'll be there in half an hour."Jonathan nodded. "I know what has to be done. Leave it to me, Mr. Ziegler."…Half an hour later, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom slowly drove into Brindley Asylum. The car door swung open, an
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 200
Julian prayed sincerely to the heavens. Landon wasn't even born and was completely innocent. If God wanted to punish anyone, he should be the sole target. He didn't care if it meant he could never come back from it or if he would be ripped to a million pieces. All he wanted was for the angels to give Landon a place to stay in the afterlife. …After Julian returned from the chapel, he fell heavily ill, leaving the doctors clueless and powerless to stop it. He didn't get better until two weeks later. It was evening, and the sky was bathed in an orange glow. A glistening black limousine slowly drove into Radiance Manor. After the car was parked, the driver got out and opened the door for Melanie. She had a delicate food container in her hand that held the mushroom soup she had made. A maid stepped over and said, "Mrs. Ziegler."Melanie passed the food container to the maid and asked as she climbed up the stairs. "Is Julian feeling better? Tell Esther to stop sending documents
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 199
As Julian walked out of the building. He thought he could still hear Alicia's blood-curdling cries in the hallway behind him. However, his surroundings were eerily silent as if there were countless demons lurking in the dark. He didn't believe in the existence of deities, but he believed that the demons had manifested in greed, anger, and delusion before infiltrating his soul. He got where he was today because of the darkness within his heart. If he hadn't been so focused on power, he would have known his feelings for Willow much sooner. Then, he wouldn't have let a woman who loved him deeply suffer for four long years. What was worse, she even ended up losing Grace and Landon. The great priest, Seraphion Lumas, once said that those who were fierce and antagonistic would harm the people around them. Happy endings would always remain out of reach.The wind roared in the night, lifting Julian's hair and chilling him to the bone. The glow from the street lamp stretched his shadow o
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 198
Alicia and Andrew were having hot, passionate moments with each other until she suddenly saw Julian. He was standing by the door and seemed to be looking at her calmly. However, there were some emotions in his eyes that he kept to himself. She could see disdain and revulsion in them, as well as some other emotions that she couldn't decipher. Alicia frantically pushed Andrew off. She was barely clothed when she got off the bed and ran over to Julian. Then, she begged pitifully, "Julian, this is a misunderstanding. Dr. Gabler drugged me and made me do this."Andrew curled his lips into a mocking grin. He slowly put on his clothes before walking out of the ward. As he brushed past Julian, he chuckled and added, "I'm just one of her many boy toys."Julian didn't do anything. The only thing he wanted to do now was find out if Alicia was behind the horrifying fire in the southern suburbs. Also, had she been actually ill all these years?His expression was cold and distant. There was n
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 197
Willow was very frail. Heather had to hold her arm and help her get into the car. She looked at the ultrasound report in her hand, which showed that she was actually pregnant with two babies. One of them hid behind the other during the last scan, and that was why it avoided detection. Willow was pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. That was right. Her babies were still alive and well, but she had no intention of telling Julian about it.She decided she would move to Yarrowmere when she was done with matters related to the listing. By all means, she wouldn't return to Brindley anymore. Her babies would grow up in Yarrowmere, and they would take her family name. They would be hers and hers only.Willow stared at the report for a long time. Heather held her hand and said to her gently, "You have to eat more. Both of your kids need nutrition to grow up strong and healthy."She nodded in response. Turning sideways, she looked out the car window. The sun was bright, and Julian was sta
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 196
Willow had suffered a miscarriage, but she hurried back to Grace's funeral without getting any rest. When she got there, she still wore her mourning clothes and kneeled next to the latter's casket as she burned some of the letters she had handwritten to Grace.A breeze swept through, lifting the burned remains of the letters and scattering them to the wind in the dark. Willow lowered her gaze as tears dropped one after another. "Grandma, I hope you know how much I miss you. Be happy wherever you are now. I will write you a letter on every big day."The funeral banner flapped in the wind, its loud snaps reminding her of the sound the axe made when Grace used to chop wood. "Willow, dinner will be served in another two hours. The spaghetti is going to taste absolutely divine this year."Willow's heart ached so much that she couldn't breathe. She could no longer hear Grace's voice. Raising her head, she looked at the dark sky and screamed the latter's name at the top of her lungs.
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 195
Nancy screamed, "It's blood! She's having a miscarriage."Julian's heart clenched. Lowering his head, he saw blood staining Willow's mourning clothes, giving rise to a frightening sight. He stepped forward, intending to carry her in his arms. "Willow, I'm going to take you to the hospital."However, she wouldn't have any of it. She didn't want him anymore. She rejected his very presence. Taking a step back, her face turned pale. "Don't come closer. Julian, it doesn't matter if the baby is dead or alive. It has nothing to do with you!"Willow didn't stop retreating until Timothy caught her and steadied her. Her feet were trembling uncontrollably, and blood was flowing down her thighs relentlessly. However, she insisted on walking on her own as she slowly left the place and got away from Julian. Willow held onto the frame of the door underneath the bright light. Her waist ached so much that she couldn't stand upright.It wasn't as if she didn't love her unborn baby, but she h
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 194
Willow leaned on the stone slab, and the sounds got clearer by the second. She could almost hear the sound of the crackling flames as they consumed everything in a frenzy. She almost seemed to hear Grace's weak voice. The latter was uttering the same lullaby that she used to sing when she was putting her to sleep. "The sky is bright, and the moon is so high. And precious Willow's sleep drew nigh."The sky is bright, and the moon is so high…"Eventually, Grace's voice faded.…Willow pushed against the stone slab with everything she could. She wanted to get out, but Grace put her weight on it, preventing her from coming out. The basement might've been cramped, but it gave her a fighting chance at survival.Willow pressed against the stone slab with both her hands as blood trickled downward and fell to the floor, drop by drop.She wasn't sure when it started, but tears were already streaming down her cheeks. Eventually, the sky turned dark. It was like one of the summer eveni
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 193
Back when Willow was a little girl, she looked forward to the New Year. Grace would let the baked goods cool off in the evening and stash them in the basement, where she kept the cabbages. Now, that place was basically Grace's treasure trove. She was traumatized by poverty. So, she would always buy some cabbages at dirt-cheap prices during winter if she could afford it. Every day, she would buy some meat and pair it with spaghetti. That would be a meal for her. She had always picked and cleaned the meat meticulously so that Willow would get the nutrition she needed. Grace spent wisely and saved up whenever she could, and that was how she raised Willow and sent the latter to school. She had never married anyone in her life, but she said that she didn't have any regrets. After dinner, their maid went back home to spend time with her family. Grace packed the baked goods away in a white cloth and tied it up before she moved them to the basement, where the cabbages were stored. In
