“I’m not. Let me go!”

    “You can’t lie to me. Willow, we’ve been married for years!”

    Julian looked into her eyes as he continued to fondly rub her cheeks. His gaze was so deep andced with tenderness. He didn’t stop touching her until his hand stopped at her belly.

    His tone was sentimental when he murmured, “Do you still remember it? Landon and Gabrie exist because we did it on this couch.”

    Willowy on her back, her ck hair cascading on the couch. There was a vulnerability to her allure, soft and haunting.

    Julian’s eyes were brimming with lust. Lowering his head, he kissed her lips and said in a hoarse voice, ” Let’s give it a shot.”

    What did he mean by that?

    Willow wanted to ask him, but he didn’t give her a chance. What happened next was unprecedented moments of madness, intensity, and eroticism as he unleashed his full desires on her.

    The night waspletely dark as it lingered on endlessly.

    In the blink of an eye, it was winter. 1

    Mouth-watering aromas filled the hallways of the Ziegler residence during the winter solstice. The maids were busy baking pies for the festive holiday.

    Willow was teaching Landon and Gabrie how to draw in the warm, cozy study. The little girl drew a handsome man, but Landon couldn’t make out the guy in the portrait, despite having stared at it for a long

    time.

    She said with a proud expression. “It’s Dad.”

    Willow took the portrait over and nced at it. She couldn’t help but smile and say affectionately, “I can see the resemnce.”

    Herpliment made Gabrie swell with pride.

    That was when the door to the study swung open, and in came Julian. “What are you guys talking about?”

    Gabrie gave him the drawing she made and said merrily, “I drew you, Dad. Mom praised me and said that it looked like you.”

    Julian looked at the portrait before turning his gaze to Willow. Then, he said slowly, “I can see the resemnce.”

    Gabrie suggested that she would draw Landon’s portrait. Tears immediately welled up in his eyes. He didn’t want to look like that. Having a bearded face terrified him.

    As the kids made a fuss, Julian nced at Willow’s painting. She also drew a man. He took a closer look and deliberately said, “I’ve been staring at it for a while now, but it looks nothing like the actor you’re going for.

    She scoffed. “You’re not as funny as you think you are.”

    Julian chuckled, dropped the topic, and asked the kids to get downstairs for pies, Gabrie rubbed her belly and said, “I want eight pies.”

    Landon’s face was red. “I want six.”

    Julian swooped Landon up with one hand, but Gabrie wasn’t jealous at all. Instead, she followed him and went downstairs.

    Willow stayed behind to wash the painting brushes before putting them in the dry holders. Usually, she loved the faint scent of paint, but it was unbearable today.

    Reaching up, she clutched her chest tightly. Then, she couldn’t hold it back and dry-heaved a little. Once everything calmed down, she was slightly stunned.

    Willow had given birth before, and she knew what this meant. It was likely that she was pregnant now. There was a new life in her belly, and it was her third child with Julian.

    She was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. Three months. Her baby’s timing was impable. Willow looked at her reflection in the mirror and rubbed her belly gently. After a while, she grinned faintly. If she were actually pregnant, she would name this child Evelyn Ziegler. May a new hope dawn in the family with her birth.

    She hoped that her third child would be a little girl. Landon had always wanted a younger sister. When he grew up, he could protect her.

    Willow’s

    welled eyes

    up with tears at the thought of Landon. A strong wave of emotions washed over her, and it was hard for her to calm down.

    At that moment, she heard footsteps in the study. Then, Julian’s voice echoed, sounding tender as he spoke. “Are you done? We’re waiting for you to get started on the meal.”

    Then, his figure showed up in the mirror.