Chapter b178 /b

    Annie was the one who opened the door. It waste at night and cold in Padstow, yet Julian only wore a thin coat. It was evident this trip was an impromptu one.

    She appraised him before saying, “Ms. Harper is asleep. I’m sure whatever you want to say can wait until tomorrow.”

    Julian couldn’t wait, though. He said, “I’ll wait in the lounge for her to wake up.‘”

    Just then, Willow came out of the bedroom. She wore a cotton robe and her hair fell softly onto her shoulders. There was a hint of fatigue in her eyes. She looked at Julian for a while and then said “Come in.”

    He followed them into the room. Annie made a cup of tea before going to her own room.

    He looked at Willow in the dimly lit room and said, “It won’t take long. Alicia only has about three months left.”

    Willow didn’t look impressed. “What if she doesn’t die? Are you going to keep dragging me and the baby down as sacrifices for the love you harbored as a youth, Julian? You’re not her husband, yet you’ve done everything a husband would.

    “It’s been nine years–whatever feelings you had for her should’ve long since faded by now. You im to love me and that the baby means everything to you, but you have no idea how crowded this rtionship is because there are three people in it. Don’te to me ever again if you can’t let her go.”

    Julian left Willow’s room and got one of his own. Warm water poured down on him in the bathroom, and he leaned forward with one hand on the wall. The droplets trickled down his toned body.

    After a hile, he turned off the shower, cutting off the stream of water. He lowered his head, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

    The woman he’d protected with all his heart for nine years had turned into his burden, and the marriage he’d once scorned had be a precious treasure he coveted but couldn’t get. The power he’d schemed and manipted to obtain seemedughable under the circumstances.

    Yet it was as he’d initially said he knew he wasn’t worthy, but still wanted to have it.

    He wanted Willow.

    Julian’s phone rang where he’d left it in the bedroom. He walked out of the bathroom and checked it, but didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed his cigarettes and lighter before heading to the window. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

    The tendrils of smoke that came from it blurred his face, making it hard to read his expression.

    Willow hade to Padstow for work. Insight wanted to hold an auction in the city but had failed to secure a location thus far. So, Willow hade to negotiate that.

    One night, she treated the relevant people to a meal. It snowed that night, making the city look like it was made of fragile ss.

    Willow pulled her hair into an updo and put on a ck coat with arge brooch pinned to it. She looked elegant and ssy as she got into a ck car. Annie shut the door for her before getting in.

    As the car started moving, Annie turned to look at Willow. “It’s too bad Caleb isn’t with us. At least we’d have another person to help field the drinks.”

    Willow smiled. “He’ll need more practice with that. One drink is basically enough to take him out.”

    Annie nodded. “Don’t worry, Ms. Harper. I’ll make sure to take care of things tonight!”

    After a brief silence, Willow said, “Annie, you’ve been with me for five years now, haven’t you? Once Insight goes public, you won’t need to apany me for all this socializing anymore. You’re a young woman–you should have a life of your own. I’ll give you 5% of thepany’s original shares.”

    Annie’s eyes reddened. “What are you talking about, Ms. Harper?ve always been by your side for these things.”

    When they arrived and started wining and dining, Annie realized she’d underestimated the situation. Everyone in Padstow could hold their liquor, and she was no match for them. They were all enthusiastic, too. She was worried she’d be unable to help Willow fend them off if she were to get drunk.

    The other assistant was pretty much a gone case, but they’d still yet to get the green light for the venue they wanted.

    The person in charge, Steven York, kept moring for Willow to drink with him. He waved his ss around and said business deals were all secured over drinks–he didn’t care who he was dealing with. They had to drink regardless of their identity and

    status.

    Annie was about to stop him when the door to the private room swing open. Julian strode in.

    The moment he entered, Steven shot to his feet. “Mr. Ziegler! What are you doing here?”

    Julian took off his coat and handed it to a server to hang up. He smiled and said, “Call me Julian. My wife told me she had a business dinner tonight but didn’t mention it was with you, Mr. York.”

    Steven had never met Willow before, so he was gobsmacked to learn about her rtionship with Julian.

    Julian rolled up his sleeves and sat beside Willow, lookingpletely at ease. He picked up the ss Steven had ced before Willow and said, “She’s pregnant, so I’ll drink with you.”

    He downed the drink. He was handsome, so the sight of him tilting his head back as he drank was a pleasant one. There was something docile about the way he acted.

    Steven knew he’d offended Julian but didn’t let it show. He kept his smile in ce and said, “Who would’ve known that we were all family here? I didn’t expect you to be able to hold your liquor so well, Julian. Tonight, we’re drinking till we drop!”

    Julian smiled. “I’ll follow your lead, Mr. York.”

    Steven looked around at the people with him. “I’m sure all of you know who Julian is–the CEO of Neb Group, which is worth hundreds of billions of dors! I’m going to drink my heart out with him tonight!”

    Already drunk, he clutched his ss and spoke to Julian like they were close friends. Later, he even distributed a box bof /bcigarettes.

    Naturally, Julian wouldn’t be a buzzkill. He turned to Annie and said, “Take Ms. Harper to the lobby and wait for me there. Take the chance to sober up.”

    She looked at Willow. Thetter bade Steven goodbye, and he hurriedly said, “Take care.”

    Once she was gone, he uncapped his pen and immediately signed the agreement approving the venue for the auction. Then, he continued drinking with Julian.

    Julian had honed his alcohol tolerance over the years, so Steven was no match for him. Thetter flopped onto the table in a drunken haze half an hourter, still moring that he hadn’t had enough and wanted fnore

    Julian’s face was only slightly flushed as he walked out of the private room. His ck coat was draped over his armb, /band he looked dashing. Even the passing servers couldn’t help sneaking looks at him.

    After ba /bmoment, he found Willow in the lobby. She stood before the ss doors and stared into the distance.