It was March, and things were busy at Neb Group. Julian invested all of his time and energy into his work, propelling thepany to new heights.

    At the end of the month, Julian attended a banquet. He might have lost some weight, but he still looked dazzling in a ssic ck–and–white tuxedo. Countless women looking for a husband could barely hold themselves back.

    He had a ss of champagne in his hand, but he was weighed down by loneliness. He could no longer see the one person he yearned for.

    Braxton walked over and said with a smile, “Julian, what are you doing here alone? There are plenty ofdies who would love to socialize with you.”

    Julian grinned nonchntly. “Mr. Young, you’re too kind.”

    Braxton saw the look on Julian’s face and knew thetter was uninterested. So, he changed the topic.

    “Julian, thanks to your rmendation, Caleb looks more mature and manly now. On top of that, he could hold his own most of the time too. I have you to thank for all of this.”

    Julian felt dazed for a moment when Caleb’s name unexpectedly showed up. Thetter was still working for Willow.

    Julian was in low spirits, but he had years of experience in the world of business, and he had mastered his craft a long time ago.

    Maintaining a sophisticated expression, he responded, “Caleb owes it to his extraordinary talents as well. I have virtually done nothing. If anything, the person you should thank is my…”

    Julian barely stopped himself from saying that Willow was his wife. She had cut him out of her life and swore not to see him anymore.

    After that tragic, fateful day, they had lost contact with each other. Timothy acted as a bridge ofmunication between them for Alicia’s case. She had blocked him on her phone and returned every supplement he sent her.

    On top of that, Willow virtually didn’t step out of her ce, and she didn’t show up on business asions. It was like she had disappeared from his world.

    Julian might’ve been a master of social interactions, but he could no longer bring himself to keep a smile on his face. Eventually, he said to Braxton, “I’m really not doing well. Please excuse me.”

    Braxton hurriedly responded, “Don’t let me keep you.”

    Julian left the banquet. He dismissed Esther and strolled the streets by himself. The sprawling neon lights entuated his loneliness.

    Never had he thought that he would run into Willow by chance.

    She wore a loose pink maxi dress with a ck coat draped over her shoulder and a pair of ts on her feet. Her face was visibly pale as Caleb carefully helped her into ba /bcar.

    “Willow,b” /bJulian called out to her. He knew he shouldn’t have done that, but he couldn’t control himself.

    Willow turned around. The wind howled. Julian exuded such sophistication that he was the undisputed embodiment of nobility.

    She looked at him in silenceb, /bnot uttering a single word.

    Julian’s lips parted. He wanted to tell Willow that Alicia was locked bup /bin an asylum and that the investigation bfor /bthe case was still going strong. Eventually, however, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything,

    bHe /bcould get bto /bbthe /bbottom of the bcase/bb, /bbut Grace was lost to them forever, band /bso was Landon. His rtionship with bWillow /bbwas /bgone for good as well.

    Tears welled up in his eyes. He wanted to take a step forward, but he was held back by nerves and hesitation.

    Willow remained quiet the entire time. Eventually, she turned around and left without so much as gracing Julian with a faint smile.

    As she walked past him, he grabbed her hand in the heat of the moment and said, “Willow, I’ve given Landon a…”

    “You don’t have the right to say his name. Let me go, Julian!”

    Julian was holding her lean wrist, but he slowly loosened his grip. The lingering warmth made it difficultb, /bbut he eventually let her go.

    Caleb nced at Julian before he opened the car door and led Willow into it.

    She sat on the backseat, and Julian could see the glistening tears in her eyes through the ajar door.

    Was she this sad because she saw him? It had been two months since her miscarriage. Why didn’t she regain any weight? Why was she this skinny?

    Then, the ck limousine slowly drove past Julian. bIt /bcaught the glow from the neon lights and reflected it on himb, /bentuating the loneliness that was eating him on the inside.

    The past memories came flooding,pletely overwhelming him.

    “Willow, do you want my love that badly?”

    “Willow, love is a luxury in the Ziegler family. It is something that would never have, and neither will you!”

    “Willow, I have everything that Jeffrey could possibly offer you.

    “However, I’m destined to be different from all the others. I hope you will keep me in your mind forever. The wind carries my scent in its soft embrace tonight. Sorrow and tears aren’t the only things I have brought into your life. I hope you’ll remember

    that.”

    “Willow, I will now let you live your life. You can have it back.”

    The past was carried away by the wind. Breathing wasn’t supposed to be painful, but it was for him.

    Julian grinned ever so faintly and fell into deep thought. “Yeah. I’ll blet /byou live your life.

    “You are free.”