Leaving You Bereft (Willow and Julian) novel Chapter 205

Chapter 205

Julian paid a high price and bought Willow’s apartment. He still dropped by every week as he had always done. He’d make a meal and a cup of coffee. Occasionally, he would even spend the night here.

Tonight, he slept on Willow’s bed. It was raining in spring, and he listened to the steady pitter–patter outside. One drop after another, rainwater fell on lush branches and leaves. Before long, they were glistening with rainwater.

From time to time, Julian would run into Annie at business occasions. She had done a marvelous job running Insight. Seeing her was like seeing Willow all over again, and it always took him an eternity to quell the tremors in his heart.

The same thing happened at tonight’s banquet.

Julian was smoking on the balcony by himself. The door to the floor–to–ceiling glass was pushed open, and someone stepped through it. It was none other than Annie.

He stared at her quietly, and it took him a long time to light the cigarette in his hand. He made it sound casual when he asked, Is she doing well lately?”

Annie looked at the horizon and responded nonchalantly, “She’s doing great. She has a boyfriend now.”

Julian’s eyes narrowed slightly. His lean fingers trembled faintly with the cigarette between them. After a while, he asked in the same casual tone, “Is it Caleb?”

Annie grinned nonchalantly. “I didn’t ask, but she was in a relationship.”

Julian dropped it. He raised the cigarette, put it between his lips, and took a fierce drag. He had never felt t. and he let it show on his face. It took him a while to finally murmur, “She’s starting over. That’s good.”

Annie smiled. “I think so too.”

ejected in his life,

Then, she left gracefully, leaving Julian alone. The air was thick with swirling smoke. If loneliness had a scent, this would probably be it.

Spring was gone, and summer came.

It was the beginning of May, and Julian needed to make a trip to Yarrowmere. Before he left, he returned to the Ziegler residence. He offered a prayer to Dominic and shared a meal with Liam and Melanie.

People had left the Ziegler residence one or another, and the place felt colder and more desolate.

After the meal, Melanie pondered it before she decided to open the door to Julian’s bedroom. He was packing up his suitcase. After some hesitation, she pulled out some pictures and put them on the coffee table.

“These young ladies stood out from the others, and I picked them the way you like it. All of them resembled Willow in some

ways.

“Your dad and I didn’t want to force you, but you’ve been alone for months. Aside from Esther, you haven’t let any lady get close to you.

“We’re really worried about you and how you wallow in your loneliness day after day. Trust me. It’s always better to have someone who cares about you and looks after you.”

Julian didn’t even cast a glance at the pictures. He responded icily, I will not marry again.”

Melanie wanted to say something, but she bit her tongue. Eventually, a sigh was all that she could manage,

Liam was about to wipe an antique tea set when she went back to their bedroom. He heard the door opening and asked, “What did Julian have to say about it?”

Chapter 205

+25 BONUS

She sat on the couch, drowned in melancholy. After a long time, she said, “He didn’t even look at the pictures. All he said was that he would never marry again.

“Liam, I wasn’t being pushy. I’m just heartbroken. He’s just slightly over 30 years old, and yet he’s already on the path to being single for the rest of his life.

“I might not be happy with it, but I would’ve been able to live with it if he were a playboy. But he just has to make himself suffer forever.

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