Willow leaned against the wall,ughing through her tears.

She would not forgive him. Why should she?

When she was drowning in despair, Julian had been with Catherine. Had he ever considered her anguish? Had he ever thought about the pain of losing a loved one?

Willow lowered her head, gazing at Julian’s face.

She reached out with her slender fingers, touching his face as if caressing a lover. Her voice was soft, tender, filled with affection as she asked, Does it hurt? Julian, do you even know what pain feels like?”

Before he could answer, Willow threw her head back andughed.

Herughter shook through her body, rising and falling with her breaths. Pressed tightly against her, Julian swore he could hear the sound of a heart breaking.

Late into the night, it felt as if a requiem for love was ying in the air.

Julian had hit a wall.

However, he still went to the hospital, staying by Grace’s side and pleading for Willow’s forgiveness.

Before New Year’s Day, he took a business trip to Yarrowmere. He returned on January 1st.

As dusk fell, smoke curled up from kitchen chimneys. A sleek ck Lincoln drove up to the Grandview Manor estate and came to a smooth stop.

The driver stepped out and retrieved the luggage from the trunk.

Julian got out of the car. The driver asked in a low voice, “Shall I carry your luggage upstairs?”

Julian rejected him. Later, he took the suitcase himself and walked toward the main hall.

As he stepped inside, the servants greeted him. “Wee home, sir.”

He unbuttoned his coat and asked naturally, “Where’s Snowy?”

Usually, the moment he got home, Snowy woulde running, wagging its tail. Over time, Julian had gotten used to it.

The servant thought for a moment before answering, “Mrs. Ziegler stopped by two days ago. She took the dog with her and packed a few changes of clothes. Oh, and Madam Harper has been discharged from the hospital.”

Discharged?

Julian frowned. Willow hadn’t told him.

Julian tidied himself up briefly before heading to bGrace’s /bce.

It was a single–family house with a 200–square–foot garden–perfect for an elderly person to retire in.

When Grace fell ill, Willow hired two additional caretakers. Maureen was pleasedb, /bfeeling that Willow was fair and reasonable in how she handled things.

Julian’s car rolled into the driveway,

Just as he was about to park, a familiar car caught his eye.

bIt /bwas a ck Rolls–Royce Ghost. It was Jeffrey’s car.

Julian stared at it for a few seconds before asking the new caretaker, “Mr. Gibson is here? How long has he been around?”

The caretakerb, /bknowing who he wasb, /bresponded cheerfully, “Mr. Gibson and Ms. Gibson have been here for about an hour. Madam Harper just got out of the hospital, so they came by to celebrate with her. Mr. Ziegler,e on in! We’re about to start making cakes.”

Julian was not pleased, but the caretaker didn’t notice.

b+25 /bBonus

A whileter, Julian stepped into the house.

He set down the health supplements he had brought and, as he took off his coat, swept his gaze around the room. Jeffrey and his sister were making cakes with the caretakers.

Willow, however, was nowhere to be seen.

Julian sneered. When did Jeffrey start making cakes? He was in his wife’s house, ying the perfect guest. He must be courting death.

Jeffrey saw him too.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense.

Julian and Jeffrey had once been close business partners, but because of Willow, their rtionship hadpletely fallen apart.

Now, meeting again, neither man acknowledged the other.

Julian even let out a mocking scoff before sliding open the kitchen door.

Inside, Willow was slicing fruit.

She had been surprised when the Gibson siblings suddenly showed up in the evening. She couldn’t turn them away when they hade with good intentions, so she invited them to stay for cake.

She hadn’t expected Julian to return from his business trip.