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Chapter 191
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 192
Nebula Group reserved four floors of the Gloriosa Hotel and had their annual year-end banquet there. However, things were different this year. Tyler, Karen, Liam, and Melanie were all here.Julian was uncharacteristically low-profile tonight. After he had given the opening speech, he'd basically stepped out of the spotlight. It might've been because he was still wearing a wedding band or the photo released by the public relations department. In any case, no ladies flirted with him, even though he was single, which gave him a moment of peace. With that said, Julian still had to socialize with certain people. Various shareholders of Nebula Group aimed to marry their daughters into the Ziegler family and elevate their family status. At first, Melanie swapped pleasantries with them, but Liam shot her a look later. He was hinting to her that Julian and Willow might get back together. So, Julian wasn't in the market for girlfriends.When they had a private moment, she said softly, "J
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
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 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 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 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 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 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
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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
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 216
Willow didn't stay for dinner. She instead asked Julian to return her phone.Julian simply remained silent.Willow fought back her emotions and asked softly, "Are you planning to lock me up again, Julian? I don't have my grandmother anymore, though."Upon hearing her mention Grace, Julian couldn't help but feel a sharp ache. He swallowed hard and said softly, "I'll drive you home. I'll return your phone to you at your doorstep."Having heard that, Willow didn't bother to argue with Julian, merely changing into the clothes she had worn earlier. Jesse, who evidently sympathized with Willow's postpartum recovery, brought a thick shawl and thoughtfully draped it over her. Her voice trembled as she offered her a few comforting words.Willow couldn't help but feel a wave of grief washing over her. She settled into the car, her eyes brimming with tears. Though utterly exhausted, Julian still insisted on driving her home himself. He knew that this fleeting time together held immeasura
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 215
In the dead of the night, a white mist crept up the mountainside, swirling and obscuring the entire summit. Upon coming out of the columbarium, Willow was utterly lost in her grief, her frail body swaying unsteadily. She kept repeating Landon's name under her breath, still drowning in her immeasurable pain.Upon seeing Willow come out in such a state, Julian quickly approached her and took off his coat, draping it over her shoulders.Willow fixed him with a vacant gaze. Her eyes held no spark of life, only a deep, abiding sadness. She gently brushed his hand away, wanting neither his comfort nor his presence. His black coat then slid off her shoulders and landed on the ground.Julian swallowed hard, his throat moving noticeably as he said hoarsely, "You should take care of yourself even if you're still upset with me, Willow."Willow looked ahead into the night, her voice steady and unwavering as she said, "It's none of your business whether I'm in good health or not, Julian."Ju
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 214
In an instant, ten days had passed. Julian had to go to Nebula Group in Brindley in the evening to attend to a few urgent matters. He had barely stepped out of the elevator when Esther approached him, looking concerned. "Ms. Harper is here, Mr. Ziegler."Julian's steps faltered. He looked intently at Esther's face, remaining silent for a long time. It had been two years since Willow left Nebula Group, never once returning. If she had come today, it could only be because of Landon. He stood still for a moment, then asked softly, "Where is she right now?"Esther hurriedly replied, "I have arranged for her to wait in your office since Ms. Harper still hasn't completed her postpartum recovery. I noticed that she looked terribly sallow—probably due to postpartum fatigue—since it has only been ten days since she'd given birth."They chatted for a while before finally arriving at the entrance of the office, where Esther pushed open the door and tactfully excused herself. Julian walked
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 213
It wasn't long before blood flowed, drop by drop, through the transparent tube into Willow's veins. It could be seen that, under the stark glare of lights, she was soaked in sweat, as if she had been lying in a pool.She weakly opened her eyes and gazed at the figures above. Through the hazy vision, she seemed to have noticed Julian's face. She was somewhat bewildered, wondering if the person before her was really Julian. What was he doing here? Hadn't he gone to Grandsburg? Hadn't he insisted on going?She gently blinked her eyes, her vision slowly coming into focus on Julian's face. In her pain-induced haze, she thought she had gone back five years in the past—back to when they got married. She reached out her slender hand and grabbed Julian's shirt, her voice sounding raspy and choked with tears as she pleaded, "Please don't go to Grandsburg, Julian. Please don't go, alright?" Julian was stunned for a moment before realizing that Willow wasn't fully lucid. He kneeled, clasped Wi
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 212
Willow's entire body was drenched in sweat as she gasped for air, her eyes growing increasingly dazed.Heather cried, "You have to hang in there, Willow!"It took all her strength, gathered over what felt like an eternity, for Willow to turn her head and say softly, "I-I'll hold on. I'm going to have this baby."She then let out a blood-curdling scream as she tightly gripped the bedsheet, wracked with pain. There was a flurry of activity commencing within and beyond the confines of the delivery room.Maria stepped out of the delivery room with a grave expression and explained solemnly, "I'd like to inform you that she is currently suffering from a major hemorrhage. You should prepare yourselves for the worst. If absolutely necessary, we'll have no choice but to sacrifice the first baby to ensure the survival of the mother and the other baby." Laura remained stunned for a long time before releasing a long, heavy sigh. Melanie's eyes glistened with unshed tears, while Esther held
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 211
It was late into the night at the Obstetrics and Gynecology hospital in Yarrowmere. It seemed as if a huge chasm had opened up in the sky, unleashing torrential rain that scoured the world below until it gleamed with an unsettling clarity, a scene both otherworldly and strange.In the delivery room on the second floor, Willow had been lying on the delivery bed, breathing in and out steadily under the medical staff's instructions, pushing with all her might to give birth to her babies.It was around 12:00 am when Willow's water broke, and almost immediately, the first baby began to enter the birth canal. It was past the point for a C-section by the time they arrived at the hospital, leaving her with no choice but to deliver both babies naturally.It was thundering outside while Willow was lying on the delivery bed, her body completely drenched in sweat. Heather remained by Willow's side, holding her hand firmly and repeatedly calling out her name, offering her physical and emotiona
