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Chapter 207
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 1
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 sof
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
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 207
Julian grabbed Snowy by the back of its neck and carefully held it in his arms. The maid standing next to him said, "Mr. Ziegler, it's going to make your shirt filthy."The thing was, Julian didn't care about it at all. He rubbed Snowy's head fondly as waves of intense emotions rose in his chest. Willow loved Snowy deeply. She would never have left it behind if she had gone overseas, which was to say that she was actually still in the country. What was more, she was in Yarrowmere. She had been in Yarrowmere all along.Snowy stared at Julian adorably. When it noticed that he wasn't saying anything, it yapped and nestled its head against his chest, instantly ruining his 20-thousand-dollar suit.He held the dog in one hand and pulled out his phone with the other. After he dialed Esther's number, he said, "Get in touch with Willow anonymously and tell her that her dog was found. Arrange for her to meet with me tomorrow afternoon."On the other end of the call, Esther hadn't the f
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 206
The next day, Julian took a flight to Yarrowmere. An emergency came up at the company. So, the presents Melanie prepared were left in the villa for days. He didn't have the chance to bring them to the Chapman residence.Julian leaned on the chair in the CEO's office in Nebula Group's branch at Yarrowmere and rubbed his eyebrows gently. Esther opened the door, came in, and placed a stack of documents on his work desk. Her voice was soft when she spoke."Mr. Ziegler, please sign these."Julian opened them and started signing. He asked casually, "I don't have any business functions tonight, do I?"Esther shook her head. "Everything has been accounted for at all places. There's an opening ceremony of an art festival this Saturday. As the special guest, you have to give a speech on stage."Julian nodded slightly in response. Events like these were organized because the municipality needed to pull in some funding. The company paid for it, and he was just there to keep up appearances.O
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 205
Julian paid a high price and bought Willow's apartment. He still dropped by every week as he had always done. He'd make a meal and a cup of coffee. Occasionally, he would even spend the night here. Tonight, he slept on Willow's bed. It was raining in spring, and he listened to the steady pitter-patter outside. One drop after another, rainwater fell on lush branches and leaves. Before long, they were glistening with rainwater.…From time to time, Julian would run into Annie at business occasions. She had done a marvelous job running Insight. Seeing her was like seeing Willow all over again, and it always took him an eternity to quell the tremors in his heart. The same thing happened at tonight's banquet. Julian was smoking on the balcony by himself. The door to the floor-to-ceiling glass was pushed open, and someone stepped through it. It was none other than Annie. He stared at her quietly, and it took him a long time to light the cigarette in his hand. He made it sound casua
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 204
Julian stepped into the car. Esther sat on the passenger seat. She turned sideways and said softly, "The company's monthly meeting will be held in half an hour. Mr. Ziegler, here are the materials for your perusal."Julian halfheartedly leafed through it. He felt a little restless. It was like something was going to happen. Putting the document down, he relayed an order to Esther."Cancel the meeting and make it tomorrow."Esther was immediately stunned. After that, Julian drove alone to Willow's apartment. For a while now, he would swing by the apartment whenever he couldn't contain the yearning in his heart. He would spend his time cleaning the place and making a meal. He would convince himself that she was still with him and that they were still happily married. In his fantasy, she opened the door, surprised him, and said, "Julian, I'm home."How he longed to hear it. However, a word from her felt like a wish too distant for him to grasp.As usual, Julian cleaned up the apa
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 203
It was spacious in the limousine. Caleb wore a suit, and he was kneeling in front of Willow. After a brief moment, he said gently, "Be my wife. I'll look after you and your babies. I'll work hard so you won't have to worry about money."Willow didn't accept his proposal. Rubbing his head fondly, she said, "Caleb, there is a scar on my heart. People like me can never bring happiness to anyone, and I want you to be happy. To me, you are…""I'm not a young, naive man anymore!" Caleb shouted in a gruff voice. He grabbed her hand and made her fondle his bulging abs. Then, he wanted to guide it downward. However, Willow shook his hand away before she rubbed his head in silence again. He became anxious and said, "I turned into him for your sake, but you still don't love me. Tell me what I did wrong, and I'll change again. Alright?"She shook her head in response. Looking at the man who was fiercely loyal to her, she said gently, "Caleb, you're you. You're not somebody else. "Compared t
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 202
It was March, and things were busy at Nebula Group. Julian invested all of his time and energy into his work, propelling the company to new heights. At the end of the month, Julian attended a banquet. He might have lost some weight, but he still looked dazzling in a classic black-and-white tuxedo. Countless women looking for a husband could barely hold themselves back. He had a glass of champagne in his hand, but he was weighed down by loneliness. He could no longer see the one person he yearned for.Braxton walked over and said with a smile, "Julian, what are you doing here alone? There are plenty of ladies who would love to socialize with you."Julian grinned nonchalantly. "Mr. Young, you're too kind."Braxton saw the look on Julian's face and knew the latter was uninterested. So, he changed the topic. "Julian, thanks to your recommendation, Caleb looks more mature and manly now. On top of that, he could hold his own most of the time too. I have you to thank for all of this.
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
