Julian bnodded /bslightly. Then,

n, he unbuttoned his suit as he walked toward the brightly lit foyer

The manor was the same as ever, but he couldn’t help but find it cold band /bempty.

He probably felt that way because Willow bwasn’t /bhere.

ir took bhis /bsuit jacket bfrom /bhim and asked in an attempt to gain his favor, “Would you like some supperb, /bMr. Ziegler? I’ve learned Mrs. Ziegler’s spaghetti bolognese recipe.”

pan paused briefly before binquiring/b. “bHas /bmy wife returned to the manor these past two month?

ir bshook /bher head..

Julian was disappointed bto /bbhear /bthat and didn’t bother asking anything else. Instead, he went straight to the second floor’s bstudy/b.

Nothing had changed, except there was a court summons on his desk. The hearing was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

The floor–to–ceiling windows in his study were immacte band /bspotless. It was so clean that it reflected the lights and the despondent look on his face.

He was dressed in an impably tailored suit and had styled his hair carefully. He looked wless, but the emptiness in his heart made him think that he might

hras

well look like a beggar.

Julian picked up ba /bcigarette case from his desk, drew a cigarette out, and lit it up.

The smoke drifted in the air as he wallowed in his thoughts.

His eyes were aldin to the dark depths of the abyss.

He finally came to a decision after smoking nearly half of his cigarette away. He tomed slightly to snuff it out, picked up his phone, and dialed a long–unused number, Jeffrey, let’s meet bup/b.”

Brindley Hidden Springs Restaurant bossted sleek Ivalian decor and ck crystals. It had ba /bfull wall of floor–to–ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of the airy lights.

Julian had spent go thousand dors just to book the entire venun

jeffrey arrived around half an hourter, only to find Julian standing by the window, julian’s silhouette exuded a sense of loneliness.

Julian didn’t turn around when he bheard /bthe sound of footsteps behind him. “Jeffrey, do you remember back when we were at Wallington Street? We made over four

million dors together. We celebrated like kings that night, drank on the power of money and ball /bit had to offer for the first time in our lives.”

jeffrey curled his lips into a faint smile. “How could I ever forget that right?”

Julian sounded more solemn than the dark night as he continued, “Jeffrey, we could be considered childhood friends. We’ve nevere to blows in business or even when we wereworkingb. /bYou could have anything you want, but I’ll never give Willow up. Not even to you.

“Jeffrey, I’m aware I owe you a great deal, but I’m bafraid /bI’ll never bbe /bbable /bto brepay /byou.”

Jeffrey had never once underestimated Julian.

Frankly, not a single scion in Brindley had ever won against Julian when it came to scheming and plotting. Julian was ba /bbnatural/bb–/bbommaniptor. He knew how to use everything and everyone around him to his advantage.

Their meeting right now was a good example of this. He sounded gentlemanly band /bnostalgic even though he wasying his cards on the table.

It was no wonder willow fell so hard for him

Regardless, Jettrey understood what

at palian was silently implying despite bthose /bsimple sentences, Julian was going to raise hell bagainst /bhim.

trill, he bwasn’t /bafraid. Instead, he approached julian band /bstood next to Júm, looking at the bright city outside the window.

After a moment, Jeffrey said dispassionately, “I didn’t rese Willow and stay by her side just to get into her good graces. I only wanted to help her leave a loveless marriage Julian, byou /bdon’t deserw her, especially not her love. Can you even bring yourself to confess the truth to her? Do you have the courage to tell her about

The night loomed over them.

The motize city seemed to be engulfed in shadowy tendrils after those words

cheese in his bespoker bck /bi The restaurant’s lights outlined his side profile, making him look as though he had walked out of a

He looked elegant and

sok at jetfory with a bottomless gare “Yes, you’re right, I don’t draeree het, but I still want to have her ”