Willow did not want to speak to him. She excused herself and went into the bathroom.

She leaned against the wall and stared nkly into space. Willow was waiting for Julian to take the hint and leave.

Ten minutester, the bathroom door opened with a soft creak. A ray of light streamed in through the opened door, and Julian slipped in shortly afterward.

There were only the two of them inside that dark space.

Willow did not look at him, a sign of her refusing tomunicate with him.

Julian stopped before her. With his tall form, he towered over Willow. Julian reached out and lightly ced his hand against her cheek. His voice was hoarse yet gentle. “Does it still hurt?”

Willow turned her face away. She was repulsed by his touch, and she made sure to show bit /bclearly.

However, Julian was not someone who would give up easily. He pushed one leg between Willow’s legs and held her chin. He gently caressed her cheek as if he was looking at something precious to him. Yet, Willow merely found his behavior absurd.

She tried to push his hand away, but Julian caught her wrist instead. As he held her wrist firmly, Julian stared at Willow quietly with an intense gaze.

As far as she could recall, Julian had never looked at her that way. Willow could not understand why he was doing this now when bit /bwas already toote.

bWillow /bsaid in a cracked voice, “Let me go!”

Julian took out a small tube of ointment from his pocket. He squeezed out some ointment and applied it carefully onto Willow’s

cheek.

bWillow /bhad no choice but to stay still arid let Julian do whatever he wanted. However, there was not a single trace bof /bwarmth in her eyes bas /bshe stared at him. Her eyes reflected a cold light. “Are you done? Let me go bif /byou are.”

Julian gazed at herb. /bb“/bDo byou /bhate it that much when I touch you?”

Willow replied immediately, “Yes.”

As if bhe /bbcould /bbno /blonger hold backb, /bJulian lowered his head and tried to kiss Willow. He wanted to remind her bof /bpast memories.

Willow wanted none bof /bthat, bof /bcourse. She kept turning her face away, trying to avoid any intimate contact with Julian.

Unfortunatelyb, /bJulian bcould /bbe stubborn at times. The more she refused, the more Julian wanted to do it.

The bcouple’s /bbodies were bstuck /bbclose to /beach other in that narrow bathroom. Eventually, Willow was forced to bept /bJulian’s

kisses and bcaresses /bbsince /bshe was no match for him in terms of strength.

Shafts bof /blight fell on her bsoft /bskin, bwhere /bbeads bof /bsweat appeared.

b+25 /bBonus

The veins on Julian’s forehead bulged, which was an indication of how hard he was trying to suppress his urges. Unfortunately, it

was not a good time or ce for them to be doing these things..

A short whileter, he buried his face in the nape of Willow’s neck. Julian muttered, “I’m sorry.”

Willow’s clothes were disheveled. Her hand was shaking as she lifted it and threw a p across Julian’s face.

Curiously, the sound felt much louder than it actually was in that dark space.

Julian did not resist or fight back. He held Willow in a tight embrace and whispered next to her ear in a shaky voice, “You’re the

most important person in my heart, Willow.”

Willow raised her head. A tear rolled down her face. A momentter, she pushed Julian away and walked out of the bathroom

silently.

Just like how some rtionships were not meant tost, some promises could be easily broken at any moment.

She and Julian could not possibly go back to how things were. Besides, there was nothing much to begin with since it had always

just been Willow having feelings for Julian and making sacrifices for him one–sidedly.

Now, Willow no longer wanted him. It did not matter to her anymore whom Julian considered was the most important to him.

Julian often visited Grace at the hospital.

If Willow was not around, he would chat with Grace to keep herpany. After being married for four years, it was as though

Julian finally had the time to meet and socialize with the only family Willow had. (1)

Yet, Willow was not moved. She was still looking for awyer to help her get divorced from Julian.

Meanwhile, the Ziegler family seemed to have learned of what happened since Catherine was not even trying to be discreet with

what she did.

Liam phoned Willow twice, asking her to drop by home for a meal together. Yet, Willow rejected both invitations. After being let down by Julian again this time, Willow could not even be bothered to visit the Zieglers for the sake of keeping up appearances.

A bweek /bbter/bb, /bbit /bwas ba /brainy night inte autumn.

In bthe /bbsilent /bnight, little pools of water formed on the dark ground. The fallen leaves, which were soaked in rainwater, gradually

blended in bwith /bthe ground.