Without the slightest sliver of mercy, the guards dragged Catherine away.

Very soon, her delicate limbs were covered in bruises that were especially stark against her pale skin. Her shrill, unrestrained

screams rang through the entire vi.

“You old hag! You’re just jealous because you can’t have children yourself. Julian will never forgive you. He’ll only love me more

and treat me better!”

Her words were like needles piercing Willow’s heart, inflicting a deep, unrelenting pain.

She walked up to Catherine, raising her hand to deliver another p.

But her hand nevernded.

Julian had arrived in the nick of time.

The evening twilight cast shadows over his face, making his grim expression all the more terrifying.

He took in the scene before him–the wreckage of the vi, Catherine’s swollen face, her bruised limbs. As the frail girl wept

pitifully, a storm brewed in the depths of his dark eyes. (1)

At that moment, his anger boiled over, clouding his reason. It drove him tomit a mistake he would regret for the rest of his

life.

A loud, crisp p echoed in the vast, empty vi, reverberating endlessly.

Willow’s face was whipped to the side. She stood still for a long time without turning back.

She was in such a sorry state.

Not because of the p across her face, or the physical pain. Not even because of the shock or heartbreak. Instead, it was her life.

Because she, Willow Harper, was leading a life ofplete and utter disgrace.

And at this moment, the shattered pieces of her life all came crashing down on her. They washed over her wave after wave, drowning her.

There was no healing from that kind of brokenness.

Willow burst outughing.

She brought a hand to her cheek, gently touching the spot where Julian had struck her. Ever so calmly, she turned her head to

look up at her enraged husband.

It was as if she didn’t know him.

It was like he was not the Julian she knew.

It was as though he was not the same man she once fell so deeply in love with.

+25 Bonus

Julian had rushed to Catherine, holding her close. The girl took full advantage of the moment to lean into his embrace, her gaze on Willow housing a triumphant glint. The silent mockery was somehow deafening to her.

It was then that Nancy’s words popped into her mind. She once said, “The one who isn’t loved is the real mistress.”

What did it matter that she had been married to Julian for four years? What did it matter that she was hiswful wife? At the end of the day, he hadn’t bothered to ask what happened when he saw all of this. He hadn’t asked a single question before pping

her.

Willow muttered to herself, “So it’s true. The one who isn’t loved is the real mistress!”

Julian didn’t catch what she said. Still furious, he questioned, “Willow Harper, what do you think you’re doing? Do you realize she’s not in good health? She…”

Tears started to roll down Willow’s cheeks. (1

But she didn’t feel them. Instead, she replied softly, “You can cherish that woman in your arms all you want. Julian Ziegler, do

you expect me to cherish her with you? You didn’t even ask why I came here today. You didn’t ask why I’m trying to take her

away. You’re not even going to ask what she did, are you?”

Naturally, Julian turned to look at Catherine.

Catherine wailed, pulling the most innocent look she could. “I didn’t do anything! I swear. I was just at home doing a face mask

when she barged in and tried to drag me to the hospital. She was saying something about sticking a steel needle in my belly.”

Julian’s eyes smoldered with fury. “You’ve gone mad, Willow!”

“That’s right! I must have gone mad,” Willow chuckled. “I must be mad to have ever loved you, Julian.”

Her heart was long dead.

From that moment on, she would never love Julian Ziegler again. Otherwise, she would spend the rest of her life burning in the

mes of a love that would never see an end.

Without further exnation, she turned and left. She was letting it all go.

After all, the entanglement of love and hate was no match for the simple act of letting go.

“Willow.b” /b

Who was thatb, /bcalling out from behind her?

Was it the Julian from their youth?

Sadly, the Julian from their youth was long gone. The man standing behind her was no more than a shell. A hollow shell she no

longer wanted anything to do with…

Annie trailed closely behind her, supporting her in silence.

Outside, the sky was already tinged with the hues of dusk.

Willow stopped in her tracks and tilted her head back, gazing up at the sycamore tree.

b+25 /bBonus

The wind swept past, rustling the few remaining leaves. It sounded like a weeping little girl. She stared at it for a long, long time before finally whispering, “The leaves have fallen.”

Annie’s emotions pricked her nose, and she let a tear escape.

She could hold it in no longer. She let go of Willow and ran back into the vi, shouting at Julian with all her might, “You don’t

know