b+25 /bbBonus /b

Julian wanted to say something.

Suddenly, Jeffrey walked over. He grabbed Julian by the cor and shoved him against the wall, osting, “She begged you. She, a woman so proud, cried and begged you in front of all those people.

“Julian, are you made of stone? bIf /byou had even the slightest bit of warmth in you, you wouldn’t have forgotten that Willow is your wife. She’s been by your side for four years.

b“/bbIs /blove really that important? Julian, do you even know what love is?”

Julian threw a punch in retum.

Jeffrey staggered back a few steps, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He red at Julian.

This was the second time they had fought over Willow.

Julian’s chest rose and fell sharply. He pointed at Jeffrey and sneered. “Willow is my wife. Jeffrey, what right do you have to interfere in our private affairs?”

Jeffrey let out a softugh. “I love her. bIs /bthat a good enough reason?”

Off to the side, Heather froze.

iC /i

Afraid things would spiral out of control, she pacified Jeffrey and dragged him away. Soon, the hallway fell back into a deathly silence.

Julian looked at his wife.

In just a short few days, she had lost so much weight.

A thousand emotions surged through his chest, and before he could stop himself, he softly called her nameb. /b“Willow.”

Willow didn’t need him. She quietly told him to get lost.

She brested /bher head against the cold ss, her tear–filled eyes fixed on her sleeping grandmother’s face. The air conditioning made strands of Grace’s silver hair tremble ever bso /bslightly.

Willow had never believed in gods or fate. But right nowb, /bshe wished they existed.

Seeing her like this made Julian’s heart ache. 1

He stayed until evening, making bsure /beverything bat /bbthe /bhospital was taken care bof /bbefore finally approaching Willow again. His bvoice /bwas bgentle /bas he said, b“/bbI’m /bgoing home bto /bchangeb. /bbI’ll /bbbe /bback to keep watch overnight. You should rest a bitb. /bYou’ll wear yourself out like this.”

Willow didn’t spare him ba /bsingle nceb. /b

Julian felt ba /bbdeep/bb, /bcrushing weight in his bchest/bb, /bbut he knew bhe /bbwasn’t /bin any bstate /bbto /bstay. bHe /bhad bto /bbgo /bhome and pull bhimself /bbtogether/b.

By the btime /bhe returned bto /bGrandview Manorb, /bnight had begun to fall.

The housekeeper was bsurprised /bbto /bbsee /bhim. bIt /btook her a long bmoment /bbefore bshe /bfinally spokeb, /bb“/bSirb, /byou’re finally bback/bb. /bMrs. Ziegler has been through hell.”

Julian’s throat tightened. He let bout /ba bquiet /bhumb. /bb“/bI just bcame /bfrom bthe /bhospitalb./bb‘ /b

The housekeeper bdidn’t /bdare bsay /bbmore /band quickly hurried bto /bbthe /bbkitchen /bto bmake /bba /bmeal.

Julian carried his suitcase upstairs. As soon as he reached the second floorb, /bbhe /bsaw Snowy blying /bby bthe /bbbedroom /bdoorb, /bits tiny paws resting bon /bbthe /bbground/bb, /bdark eyes full bof /bgrievance.

When bSnowy /bbsaw /bJulian, it let out a soft whimperb. /b

Julian set his suitcase down and reached out to pat the dog’s head. bSnowy’s /bears drooped.

Inside the bedroom, the absence of its mistress made the space feel empty whenb, /bin bfact/b, there were new things in there.

A bouquet of white ca lilies sat in a crystal vase bon /bthe bedside table. But time had passed, and they were already wilting. On the sofab, /bthere was a shopping bag. Julian reached inside and pulled out two kitom dress shirts–one ckb, /bone gray. They bwere /bhis favorite colors

b+25 /bbBonus /b

His face turned ashen as bhe /bheld those items. He could picture Willow picking them out, her heart filled with excitement.

bHe /bdidn’t dare imagine how she would treat him if bGrace /bnever woke up. Would she… never want to see him again for the rest of her life?

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.

Through the frosted ss doorb, /ba tall male figure could be vaguely seen, the silhouette shifting through the steam…

Julian turned off the shower, ran a hand over his face, and casually grabbed a white towel, wrapping it around his waist before stepping out.

As he browsed the walk–in closet for something to wear, he hesitated for a moment before choosing the new dress shirt Willow had bought

him. He went with the ck oneb. /b

Just as he was fastening his belt, a voice came from outside. “The Ziegler residence called, sir. They bneed /byou toe overb. /b

Julian paused. After a brief silenceb, /bhe replied, “Got it.”