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Chapter 69
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 70
The performance ended, and the violinist came out to take a bow. Willow left.Walking beneath the boundless neon lights, she thought life would come to an end, just like her and Julian.Behind her, someone called out. "Willow."Willow slowly turned around, her breath forming a white mist in the cold air, blurring their gazes.Through the haze, she heard Julian's trembling voice. "Do you still love me? Willow, can you still love?"She replied calmly, "I don't know if I can still love, but Julian, I will never love you again."Loving him once drained her completely.Loving him once cost her too much.Loving him once made her lose herself.She couldn't afford to love him anymore.As the white mist dispersed, Willow saw the tears in the man's eyes.The next second, she was pulled tightly into his embrace.Julian refused to let go and refused to divorce. Holding Willow in his arms, he kept whispering apologies in her ear, kept promising that it would never happen again, and kept
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 71
Willow leaned against the wall, laughing through her tears.She would not forgive him. Why should she?When she was drowning in despair, Julian had been with Catherine. Had he ever considered her anguish? Had he ever thought about the pain of losing a loved one?Willow lowered her head, gazing at Julian's face.She reached out with her slender fingers, touching his face as if caressing a lover. Her voice was soft, tender, filled with affection as she asked, "Does it hurt? Julian, do you even know what pain feels like?"Before he could answer, Willow threw her head back and laughed.Her laughter shook through her body, rising and falling with her breaths. Pressed tightly against her, Julian swore he could hear the sound of a heart breaking.Late into the night, it felt as if a requiem for love was playing in the air.…Julian had hit a wall.However, he still went to the hospital, staying by Grace's side and pleading for Willow's forgiveness.Before New Year's Day, he took a
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 72
Julian leaned against the sliding door, lowering his voice as he questioned Willow, "What's the meaning of this?"Willow set down the fruit in her hands and asked in return, "What do you mean?"He stepped closer, leaning against the dark-colored countertop, his sharp and handsome features looking down at her. "I'm talking about Jeffrey! Willow, are you keeping a backup while you look for something better?"Willow lowered her head and continued arranging the fruit. "Are you the backup?"Julian was furious.He grabbed her chin, intending to kiss her, but she bit down hard on the corner of his lips. As they struggled, the stainless steel kitchenware clanged noisily in the kitchen.After a while, she broke free and fled the kitchen. "Julian, I'm not as filthy as you are."Julian followed her out.The Gibson siblings had already left. The living room was empty…Willow stood there for a long moment, looking somewhat melancholic, which made Julian unhappy. "Do you miss them? Since wh
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 73
Grace's words lingered in Julian's mind for a long time.It was the end of the year, and Nebula Group was swamped with business affairs. The negotiations with Aurelia Group were moving forward at full speed, and Julian hadn't seen Willow in half a month.At the end of the year, Nebula Group hosted a banquet.At the event, Julian was alone. In previous years, Willow had always been by his side at this time of year. This year, he had invited Willow, but she never responded.With Nebula's president's marriage on the rocks, women eager to take her place lined up one after another.Esther dealt with them all.In a quiet corner of the banquet hall, Julian held a wine glass and silently gazed out at the night view of most of Brindley.A tall and slender figure appeared behind him. It was Dexter's girlfriend, Eleanor."Mr. Ziegler, how has Ms. Harper been lately?"Julian turned around and quietly studied her for a moment. "She's doing fine. What about you, Ms. Sutton? Have you and Dex
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 74
Willow blurted out, "No."Julian lowered his head and captured her red lips, kissing her deeply and repeatedly. She struggled against him, so he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head.He picked up the slender champagne bottle from the table and fed her the remaining half bottle until he got her completely drunk.Her long mauve dress was soaked with golden liquor, turning sultry and decadent.Her voice, too, became soft and alluring. "Julian, you bastard…"Julian caught her swaying body, his voice hoarse. "Yeah, I'm a bastard. A bastard who's taking you home."The night was intoxicating.A black Rolls-Royce Spectre was parked outside the apartment building. Even in the late hours, passersby couldn't help but steal glances. The car was simply too luxurious and dazzling.The driver, understanding the situation, stepped out for a smoke.Inside the car, Willow had fallen asleep.She was nestled in Julian's arms, wrapped in his light wool coat. She slept soundly with he
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 75
Before the New Year, Willow's gallery opened.The store covered 9,000 square feet and cost 20 million in renovations. Everywhere one looked, one could see the scent of money. From day one, it became the go-to spot for high society to flaunt their status.Buying art had become the new trend.Some up-and-coming artists saw their paintings skyrocket in value after being displayed at Willow's gallery. Fortunately, she had signed long-term contracts with them.Of course, Willow had her way of managing people. If anyone got too greedy, she wouldn't work with them again.At noon, the gallery closed for two hours.After an inventory check, 32 paintings had been sold, excluding pending contracts. This result had already exceeded expectations.To celebrate, Willow popped open a bottle of champagne with her 12 employees.Annie was the happiest of all. She had followed Willow to start fresh on her own, and it turned out to be the right move.Willow was paying her 800 thousand dollars a ye
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 76
"You're the one who forbade him to see me, right?" Catherine cried.…Two female caretakers rushed in, grabbing Catherine by the arms to keep her from thrashing around.But Catherine still had her mouth.She started hurling insults at Willow, her words vicious. "Julian never loved you! You're nothing more than a tool for his power struggle! If he truly loved you, why would he stay in Grandsburg instead of coming back?"Willow, you're pathetic for clinging to a man who doesn't love you. You have no self-respect at all!"One of the caretakers covered her mouth.But it was too late. Everyone had heard her, including Charlie and Nancy, who had just arrived, and Julian.The room fell into a dead silence.Willow's pride was trampled on once again…Julian's Adam's apple bobbed as he called out, "Willow."Willow first looked at Catherine, then shifted her gaze to her husband. She let out a faint smile. "Julian, she's not wrong. You don't love me, do you? Do you dare say it now that
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 77
News of Catherine's outburst reached the Ziegler family.In the middle of the night, Dominic summoned Liam and Melanie, scolding them furiously."That Catherine girl looks like trouble. Sure enough, she's brought disgrace upon us!"Melanie quickly explained, "Julian doesn't even like her."Dominic let out a cold laugh. "What about the one he does like? Doesn't she share the same mother as that troublemaker?"I doubt she's any better."Melanie didn't dare say another word.With a wave of his hand, Dominic dismissed the couple, sending them away like pests.Once they were gone, he pulled out his phone and personally called Willow.Willow was taken aback.She had been busy all day and had just returned to her apartment. She had just finished her shower when Dominic called her.He hesitated for a moment before steeling his resolve. He praised her for handling things well.He even made his stance clear. "I never liked anyone from the Burke family! But Julian's mother's values ar
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Leaving You Bereft Chapter 147
Though Willow had initially planned to refuse his invitation, Jeffrey suddenly said, "You should really come over, Willow. You see, Rosabelle is particularly looking forward to meeting you."In addition, Jeffrey felt indebted to Willow for entrusting him with Insight Corporation's affairs, which generated substantial revenue and a significant commission. Having given it some thought, Willow finally agreed to it.Her well wishes for Jeffrey and Rosabelle were genuine. Thus, on the following day, after a thorough and meticulous selection process, she chose a pair of his-and-hers watches valued at six million dollars as their engagement gift.It was after she had swiped the card and left the place that Caleb exclaimed, "How could you be so generous when it comes to spending on your lover? I merely make 12 thousand dollars a month, and you just blew six million dollars on your lover! It's six million dollars, for goodness' sake!"Willow glared at him and bellowed, "You should yell lo
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 146
Willow made no move to retreat. She walked up and met Julian's gaze. Her dark hair and white dress billowed in the sharp night wind, her striking crimson lips making the neon lights in the surroundings dim. She then said softly, "What's the matter? If it's about Caleb, I'd like you to know that I'm quite pleased with him. Thanks for sending him over."Julian's gaze hardened as he said, "If it pleases you, then that's all that matters."He seemed to have returned to his usual calm demeanor, no longer looking like the desperate man from before. He even added, "If you're pleased with him, then I'll find a few better ones and send them over to you tomorrow."Upon hearing that, Willow couldn't help but look at him differently, thinking that Julian was an absolute nutcase. Having thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle, Caleb reached out, pulled open the passenger door of the pink Rolls-Royce, and dramatically announced, "It's time to head home, Lady Harper."Julian furrowed his brow and aske
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 145
Charlie fixed Willow with a gaze of profound disappointment as he exclaimed, "You're just as heartless as your mother! How could you do this to Alicia? She's your sister, for goodness' sake!" Yet, before Willow could even respond to Charlie, someone tall suddenly sauntered into the office. He then tossed his backpack onto the coffee table, glared at Charlie, and barked, "Get out of the way!"Charlie raised his gaze, spotting a handsome youth before him. He felt a wave of disdain washing over him as he thundered, "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"Caleb sat on the coffee table and continued chewing his gum, looking like a hoodlum as he exclaimed, "I know who you are! You're the one I saw at the fertility clinic a few days ago, right? I guess you're missing something important down there."Charlie's face flushed crimson with rage as he snapped, "Why, you! I'll sue you!""Go on, sue me! You can take it up with my father's attorney! Oh, and in case you didn't know—my fathe
Leaving You Bereft Chapter 144
In the CEO's office of Nebula Group, Julian sat at his desk, reviewing the documents. He was dressed in a light gray shirt and black trousers, bathing in the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows—highlighting his noble and handsome features. It was then that Esther suddenly knocked on the door and said, "Mr. Braxton's son has arrived, Mr. Ziegler."Julian, without raising his gaze, instructed, "Please let him in."It wasn't long before the sound of footsteps echoed through the office, followed by a nonchalant voice asking, "You're Julian Ziegler, huh? My father told me to come find you."Julian raised his gaze and was immediately stunned. He noticed that the man before him, towering at six feet and three inches, possessed striking features. He was wearing a black shirt and a pair of dark blue ripped jeans, his physique resembling that of a model. Julian furrowed his brow as he wondered if the man before him was truly Braxton's son, Caleb, never expecting him to
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
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 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 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 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
