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Chapter 218
Kaugnay na kabanata
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
Pinakabagong kabanata
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
