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Leaving You Bereft
Leaving You Bereft
Penulis: Light Breeze

Chapter 1

Penulis: Light Breeze
After four years of marriage, before the seven-year itch could even kick in, Julian Ziegler already had a mistress.

At the gate of an upscale villa in Brindlewood, Willow Harper sat quietly in the backseat of an expensive car, watching her husband sneak around with another woman.

The woman was young. Dressed in a white dress, she looked innocent and enchanting.

They held hands like lovers, and Julian wore a tenderness Willow had never seen.

The woman tilted her head up and playfully pouted at Julian. "My feet hurt. Carry me, Julian!"

Willow thought Julian would refuse. After all, he was known for being a cold, unapproachable man with a short temper. No matter how much he indulged his lover, he'd never tolerate that kind of fuss.

But the next moment, Willow was slapped in the face.

Julian gently rubbed the woman's delicate nose, looking both aloof and tender. Then, he picked her up effortlessly, cradling her in his arms as though she were the rarest of treasures.

The woman's soft hands instinctively slid around the back of his neck. Her fingers lightly traced his hair.

There was a cherry angioma on Julian's neck, which looked seductive and felt sensitive to the touch.

Willow had once accidentally brushed against it in bed, and Julian had turned wild. He pinned her arms down and thrust into her, hard.

Sure enough, Julian couldn't control himself. He pushed the woman against a pillar in the gazebo with an intense gaze.

Willow shut her eyes, unwilling to watch any longer.

She had never seen Julian like this—so wild with passion.

So, what did that make her?

Before they married, Julian had actively pursued her, saying, "Willow, you're the perfect partner for me in this world of power and prestige."

That one sentence made Willow abandon her love for art. She threw herself into marrying Julian and plunged headfirst into the world of business, like a moth to the flame, consumed by passionate love.

In four years, Julian had seized control of the Ziegler family.

Since then, Willow had become a dispensable pawn. He found her too proper and lacking in femininity, so he kept a mistress on the side.

Willow blamed herself for being so naive. She was such a joke.

When she opened her eyes again, she felt nothing but indifference.

Love was gone, so now it was about the money.

The villa where Julian met his lover was their joint marital property.

Willow didn't want to let this shameless couple have it. She quietly asked her secretary, Annie Hudson, in the front seat, "Has Julian been with her for the past three months?"

Annie answered immediately, "The woman's name is Catherine Burke. She's Mr. Ziegler's childhood sweetheart, though not very bright. Three months ago, Mr. Ziegler pushed through objections and arranged for her to join his company, keeping her well protected."

She handed a stack of documents to Willow.

Willow skimmed through them. She felt like she could make way for Catherine.

As long as Julian was willing to split the joint property, she'd take her share and leave, with no second thoughts.

Outside, the autumn leaves were golden. The setting sun cast a golden glow. It looked dazzling and bright.

Willow steadied her emotions and dialed Julian's number. He was probably still having fun with Catherine, as the phone rang several times before he picked up.

His tone was cold and aloof when he answered. "What is it?"

Willow lowered her eyes. "It's my birthday today. Are you coming home for dinner?"

There was a long silence on the other end.

Julian didn't want to come home. Of course, he could make up any excuse to avoid it—another engagement he couldn't miss.

But Willow could clearly hear Catherine's voice on the other end. She was calling him, "Are you done yet, Julian? Don't talk to her."

Julian hesitated. After a moment, he awkwardly replied, "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up now."

The sound of the phone disconnecting followed.

This was typical Julian—always decisive and never dragging things out.

Annie shouted angrily, "Mr. Ziegler's too much! He actually forgot!"

But Willow didn't mind.

Oh, it really was a shame that Julian's sweet time with Catherine was interrupted by her! But what could they do about it, anyway? Willow was the legal wife, after all. If she was upset, then she'd make sure to rain hell on Julian and Catherine's parade as well.

Willow smiled faintly. "He hasn't forgotten. He just doesn't care. Annie, call and have the electricity, water, and gas shut off at that villa. He'll come home then."

Annie couldn't help but say, "You're really smart, Ms. Harper."

Willow didn't respond. She turned her face toward the window and stared at the outside world.

The setting sun painted the sky in gold, and the evening clouds gathered in a tranquil embrace.

She clearly remembered that on an evening just like this, with the sky painted in crimson, she had asked Julian if their marriage contract was for life and if they would never betray each other.

Julian had said yes, that Willow was the most important person to him.

But now, he made her feel like money was all that mattered.

A single tear slipped down Willow's cheek…

Willow returned to Grandview Manor.

Half an hour later, Annie brought in the divorce papers. Willow was asking for half of the joint assets.

After a bath, she was already dressed, but something made her turn back to the mirror. She slipped off her bathrobe and examined her figure under the bright crystal lights.

Her body, worn from years of hard work, was naturally not plump. Thankfully, her smooth skin made her give off an air of cool elegance.

But it was clear that she wasn't alluring enough for Julian. Otherwise, why would he be looking elsewhere?

Suddenly, Willow thought of Catherine and even imagined Julian in bed with her. How intense it must have been. It must be far more passionate than when he was with her.

She frowned slightly, feeling embarrassed by her comparison.

Just then, the closet door creaked open.

Julian was back.

He stood at the door of the closet.

His tall, lean figure was wrapped in a luxury black shirt and pants. His chiseled features glowed under the bright lights, exuding the charm of a mature man.

Willow couldn't help but think that even without his vast fortune, his looks alone would make countless women eager to have a fling with him.

She had slept with him for four years. To some extent, her marriage wasn't that bad.

The couple exchanged a glance and said nothing.

Julian walked slowly into the closet and stooped behind Willow as they both looked at their reflections in the mirror. Willow had already gathered her clothes, and her hair was neatly tied up. Even her post-bath look radiated a strong, capable woman.

Julian clearly remembered that on their wedding night, Willow was still somewhat fragile. She trembled with fear at the sight of his body.

But that night, nothing had happened.

Two weeks later, after a business mishap, Willow had curled up in his arms, whispering his name. He had hugged her tightly. That night, they had truly become husband and wife.

Their sex life had been sparse.

At home, Willow was the dignified Mrs. Ziegler; at Nebula Group, she was a powerful executive. She always wore an unapproachable mask, cold as ice.

Even in bed, Julian would say Willow had never truly let go and enjoyed it.

After some time, he found it boring.

Julian leaned in and teased, "You had the electricity and water shut off at the villa, didn't you? You're upset because I'm taking care of a respected elder's daughter?"

Willow stared at him in the mirror.

Julian knew it was her ovulation period.

He gently caressed her earlobe, his voice low as he murmured, "Was it for your birthday or your physiological needs? Mrs. Ziegler, you're just 26 and already so sexually demanding, huh?"

His words were crude, but Willow knew what he was after.

He wanted a child.

Julian's grandfather, Dominic Ziegler, still held 10% of Nebula Group's shares. Julian needed an heir to gain more leverage.

But what Julian didn't know was that having a child would be difficult.

During that accident, when Willow had pushed Julian away, she'd been violently kicked in the abdomen. This reduced her chances of pregnancy.

Willow gently closed her eyes to hide the pain.

But Julian seemed unusually eager.

He easily picked her up, carried her to the large, soft bed in the master bedroom, and quickly pinned her down.

But Willow wasn't willing.

She pressed her hand against his chest, her hair partially undone and spilling across the white pillow. Her bathrobe was slightly loosened. "Julian!"

Julian, however, couldn't take his eyes off her face. His gaze was feverish as he leaned down to kiss her. His body was already poised and ready.
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  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 2

    Willow clenched the bedsheet. Her fingertips left behind a mess of wrinkles.Even at a time like this, she found herself wondering if Catherine didn't satisfy Julian. Otherwise, why would he bother wasting time kissing her tonight instead of going straight to the point?Willow felt nothing other than disgust.So, she simply lay there like a plank, letting him do whatever he wanted. No matter how hard he tried, he wasn't getting a child out of her anyway.At first, Julian was aroused by the seductive Willow in her loosened bathrobe. But now, she just lay there like a lifeless plank on the sheets.Even the most eager man would find it uninspiring.What a mood killer.Sweat clung to the tips of Julian's hair. With a flushed face, he asked in a husky voice, "What's wrong? Not in the mood anymore?"They didn't sleep together often, but it still happened a few times a month. Those were his attempts to plant an heir in her womb.Willow lay on the white pillow, staring up at the man s

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 3

    Julian gave Jeffrey a slight nod.Jeffrey smiled faintly and left, giving the couple, who were on different wavelengths, some space.After Jeffrey left, Julian glanced at Willow and frowned. "Why are you dressed like that? Go change. We're having dinner at the Ziegler residence later."Willow understood perfectly. When Julian mentioned "dinner", it was code for showing off their fake affection for Dominic's stake in the company.At times, Willow couldn't help but feel that Julian was a contradiction. He presented himself as polished and serene, but beneath the surface, he was more driven by ambition and wealth than anyone. He was perfectly suited for the world of power and status.Willow was willing to go along with it. Before they separated their assets, she would prioritize their interests.She returned to her office to change into a suit and met Julian in the private elevator.The elevator was empty except for the two of them.Julian glanced at his watch and said casually, "

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 4

    It was 9:00 pm when they left the Ziegler residence.As Julian fastened his seatbelt, he asked casually, "What were you and Dexter talking about? You two seemed to be having a good time."Willow replied softly, "Oh, just chatting about your childhood sweetheart."Julian was rendered speechless.After a brief silence, he reached over and lightly clasped Willow's hand. His voice carried a rare hint of gentleness as he said, "I never slept with her."Willow leaned back against the seat, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.She knew very well that Julian's tenderness was only because she was in her fertile window. He just wanted to plant his seed in her womb.It had nothing to do with love and even less to do with her.She wondered if Julian would still try to hold on to this marriage if he found out she couldn't have children anymore. Or would he rush to sign the divorce papers and start searching for the next woman fit to be his wife?He was putting in the effort tonight. He l

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 5

    Willow knew that once she spoke the truth, there would be no turning back between her and Julian.But when disappointment had built up to its breaking point, one would throw caution to the wind and let go of everything.Looking up at the man she had once loved so deeply, she was ready to peel open her wounds and expose them completely before him.When she spoke, her heart ached so much it felt numb. "Don't bother making any decisions, Julian. I don't want my position in Nebula Group or even the title anymore. Because I can't—"She never got to finish because Julian's phone rang.His eyes stayed locked on her face as he answered. On the other end, Esther's urgent voice came through. "Mr. Ziegler, Ms. Burke is in critical condition. You need to come now.""Okay."Julian hung up and turned to Willow. "We'll talk later." Without another word, he strode to his black Rolls-Royce, ready to leave.Willow stood frozen in place. A gust of night wind swept past, chilling her to the bone

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 6

    The autumn night was crisp outside, but inside the car, it was warm and quiet.Willow caught the scent of fresh tobacco. Jeffrey smoked the same brand as Julian. For a moment, in her hazy state, she got confused. She thought Julian was the one sitting beside her.Her eyes fluttered shut as she reached out, grasping his hand. "Julian."Half-asleep, she felt like she had slipped back in time. Back to when she and Julian were still a young couple.Jeffrey didn't pull his hand away. He didn't say a word either. He simply turned and looked out at the road ahead. The night was as deep and dense, eerily similar to the way he felt at that moment.Jeffrey had been with women before.But those had always been casual arrangements—no strings attached. He had never experienced emotions as intense as Willow's. For the first time, he wondered what it would be like to be loved by someone like her.In the distance, fireworks bloomed against the sky, their brilliance cutting through the night.W

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 7

    The next morning, Willow woke up with a headache.Blair was considerate enough to bring her some medicine.After taking it, Willow felt much better. She was about to take a shower when Blair huffed indignantly, "Mr. Ziegler is completely into that vixen. He came home last night and saw you completely drunk but still chose to drive away."That was how Willow found out Julian had come back the previous night.Blair suddenly remembered something else. "Oh, right, Mrs. Ziegler, Mr. Ziegler told us to have Mr. Gibson's jacket cleaned and delivered to him. At least he's still considerate toward you."Blair had no idea about Julian's real intentions. She thought it was a gesture of care.But Willow understood. Julian was just afraid of being cuckolded.She wasn't feeling well, so she stayed home for two days and took time to visit her grandmother.…On Monday, Nebula Group underwent a shake-up.A major project had gone awry, and all the evidence pointed to Willow's negligence. After

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 8

    Willow bumped into Jeffrey in the parking lot.Jeffrey seemed surprised to see her. He thought for a short while before walking over toward her. His eyes were deep as he asked, "Are you really leaving Nebula?"Willow hummed softly. "Yes. I'm leaving."She threw the box into the boot of her car and closed it. Then, she turned around and said faintly, "Thanks for your help the other night."Jeffrey looked closely at Willow's face. There was a faraway look in her eyes that concealed everything and revealed nothing. This was the Willow that he knew. Her fragile beauty that night had been nothing but a dream.His eyes dimmed considerably. Then, he nodded with reservation. "It was nothing," he responded coldly.Nonetheless, Jeffrey continued standing there as he watched Willow's car disappear out of the parking lot, seemingly in deep thought.…Willow finally arrived back at Grandview Manor around 8:00 pm later that evening. As soon as she got out of the car, she caught a whiff of os

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 9

    Julian read and re-read every single word on the yellowed piece of paper, over and over again, until his eyes finally turned sore and bitter.Suddenly, he understood the pain that Willow had been through. He understood her tears.He finally understood why Willow had screamed at him in the parking lot, asking him why he wouldn't even spare her one minute of his time, and why he had changed so much.She couldn't give birth anymore.He didn't love her. However, Willow was someone very important to him. She had been with him for four years. She had been by his side when he was at his lowest, and she had also witnessed him achieving his greatest successes.They had agreed to have two children after they got married. One would be a boy named Landon Ziegler, and the other would be a girl named Evelyn Ziegler.Julian slowly sat down on the bed.His usual handsome features suddenly looked like they'd aged by a few years. He grabbed a cigarette from his pocket, lit it up, and took a huge

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  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 189

    The snow in Brindley had finally melted.That morning, a convoy of a dozen black cars escorted Willow and Grace back to the Chapman residence. Years ago, this was how Julian had married Willow.And today, this was how he was sending Willow home, just like how Grace had insisted.No matter how it ended, he and Willow married each other legally.The polished black cars entered the Chapman residence one after another and slowly came to a stop.Inside the dimly lit car, Julian turned his head to look at Willow. He didn't say a word, but simply reached out to gently place his hand on her stomach, feeling the child inside of her.After a while, he grabbed her hand and held it gently.No matter how reluctant he was to let go, he had to. He had promised Grace to set Willow free.Grace had brought Willow home.Timothy and Heather had been waiting outside for a while. When Willow stepped out of the car, Heather, with tears brimming in her eyes, pulled Willow into a tight embrace.She r

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 188

    "Julian, you're not even 30 yet. You still have plenty of chances to have children of your own. I'm begging you, for the child's sake, please let her go."Willow isn't that weak. She can still write and see. She'll raise the child to be well-mannered and capable. Just let her come home. I promise you'll still get to see the child."Grace said a lot, and Julian just listened quietly until the very end.He neither agreed nor disagreed.He took the tiny pair of shoes from Grace's hands. They were for Landon. The shoes were sky blue and adorable. The soles felt comfortable to touch.Grace showed a kind smile and said, "I know you care about Willow. If it's meant to be, life will find a way to bring you back together. Otherwise, when you have another child someday, I'll sew them a pair of shoes too."Julian choked up. "Grandma."Grace reached out and patted his arm gently. "I know you're a good boy. Just send her back the way you brought her into the Ziegler residence back then. Her

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 187

    The night was quiet and serene.Julian stood alone in his study, staring out at the endless snow outside. His mind kept replaying the scene of Willow's distorted speech, as well as her tear-streaked face that was filled with despair.Willow herself must've found it unbearable!Julian looked at the night sky, his gaze unreadable.He realized that he seemed to never have truly made Willow happy. All he ever did was hurt her, disappoint her, and make her cry.This wasn't how loving someone was supposed to be.The next morning, Julian didn't appear in her room.Willow washed up on her own. Even if she barely had an appetite, she still walked out to find something to eat for the sake of the baby she carried.As she opened the bedroom door, she froze.Grace was standing outside the door, holding a basket in one hand and Snowy in the other. She stared at Willow with her gentle, loving eyes.Willow stood there in a daze before her lips trembled.In a broken, trembling voice, she cal

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 186

    The pregnancy hadn't made Willow's body bigger. She was still slender with her dark hair cascading down her shoulders. The hot water streamed down along her shoulder blades, trailing down to the small dip of her waist.There, a small reddish mole stood out."Let me help you."Julian grabbed her by the shoulders, wanting to help her bathe.Willow was startled, so she instinctively slapped him across the face.After striking him, she pressed herself against the warm ceramic tiles, her lips trembling as she stared at him. Since she couldn't hear him, she didn't know what Julian's intentions were.She was afraid that he was trying to initiate sex with her. After all, it had been quite some time since he had last done it.Julian's handsome face was turned to the side. It was quite embarrassing.After a while, he let out a self-deprecating smile and began writing on the palm of her hand.Only then did she understand that he was offering to help her bathe. She refused, but how coul

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 185

    Willow was forced to stay here, subjected to Julian's arrangements. Every day, she simply sat there in a daze.After a while, she couldn't help but think that it wasn't just her who was sick. Julian was sick too.In fact, they were both sick.At the villa, everything seemed peaceful, as if it weren't affected by the outside world.But outside, things were an absolute mess.About half a month later, Liam somehow caught wind of what was going on and showed up at the villa.In the study on the second floor, the faint scent of tea lingered in the air. It was Earl Grey, Liam's favorite.But right now, Liam wasn't in the mood for tea. He pointed angrily at Julian and roared, "Send her back immediately!"You can't just take someone's daughter away like this after just leaving just a message. How am I supposed to explain to Timothy and Heather? That's their biological daughter!"The crystal chandelier sparkled, casting its light on Julian's expressionless face. "Dad, Willow is my wife.

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 184

    Late at night, in the Chapman residence, the moonlight shone through the white curtains, spilling onto the ivory white bed, wrapping the woman's body in a robe made of moonlight.Willow was sound asleep.Suddenly, a tall figure stepped into the room, bathed in the moonlight. He approached the bed gently and crouched down next to it.Since Willow couldn't hear a thing, she was unaware.Julian knelt before her, listening to her shallow breathing while staring at her pale face. After suppressing the urge for so long, he finally raised his hand and stroked her fragile features.If he could turn back time, that night, he would never have returned to Brindley. He would've stayed by Willow's side, not letting her be gripped by fear in the middle of the night.Every time Julian closed his eyes, he would recall the way Willow spoke. When he remembered how her voice was distorted, it tore him apart inside."I'm sorry! Willow, I'm so sorry!"Julian's voice trembled, his eyes glistening wi

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 183

    Julian turned to Alicia and asked softly, "Isn't this enough? Alicia, what else do you want?"Originally, he could have been happy.Willow and the child would have stayed by his side, surrounded by happiness. Even if he was burdened with countless sins, he could've had the chance to grasp happiness.But now, that was gone. After Alicia's repeated acts of self-harm and unreasonable demands, his patience had finally run dry. In the end, he and Willow had finally reached this point of no return.Julian's voice was low and hoarse. "Alicia, we're done."He turned around and walked away, ignoring Alicia's cries behind him. She fell to the ground in tears. "Julian… Julian…"But he never looked back.The team of specialists remained helpless when it came to Willow's condition.They were simply too late.This type of neurological disorder, triggered by the weather and atmospheric pressure, was extremely rare. There was no effective treatment at present.Moreover, Willow was pregnant,

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 182

    Julian's face was ghastly pale.Annie stepped forward with a grim expression, her voice colder than ever."Let me tell you what happened! After you rushed back to Brindley to comfort Alicia, Ms. Harper lost her hearing due to barotrauma. The snowstorm that night in Padstow was so severe that everywhere was covered in thick snow."We couldn't get a ride anywhere. Back then, I naively believed that you were in the hotel. I thought if I asked you for help, you'd certainly figure something out."After all, you've always been so capable, haven't you? However, you were back at Brindley."I had no choice but to call Mr. Chapman. Mr. Chapman and Mrs. Chapman immediately rushed to Padstow in the middle of the night."Mr. Chapman, a man in his 50s, carried Ms. Harper in his arms for half an hour through the snow, which was about 20 inches deep, to get to the helicopter."When they arrived at the hospital, his clothes were soaked through. Mrs. Chapman's legs were completely numb, and she c

  • Leaving You Bereft   Chapter 181

    Willow couldn't hear anything anymore.Her world had fallen completely silent.But Julian didn't know that.The snow in Padstow had finally stopped.Heather gently cupped Willow's face, her voice choked with sobs. "I'll take you back to Brindley for treatment! They have the best doctors there. We'll definitely find a way to cure this."Willow tried to comfort her. "Mom, I'm fine."The words were simple, but because she couldn't hear, her voice came out slightly distorted.Heather almost broke down right then and there, but she held it together. As a mother, she had to be strong for moments like this.That very day, Timothy and Heather brought Willow back to Brindley.Timothy had already made arrangements with top-notch specialists to consult on Willow's condition.They couldn't afford to waste any time. As long as there was the slightest chance, they wouldn't give up.At 2:00 pm, the Chapman family's black car entered the hospital.Ahead of them, a small crowd had gathered,

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