Leaving You Bereft (Willow and Julian) novel Chapter 214

In an instant, ten days had passed.

Julian had to go to Nebula Group in Brindley in the evening to attend to a few urgent matters. He had barely stepped out of the elevator when Esther approached him, looking concerned. “Ms. Harper is here, Mr. Ziegler.”

Julian’s steps faltered. He looked intently at Esther’s face, remaining silent for a long time. It had been two years since Willow left Nebula Group, never once returning. If she had come today, it could only be because of Landon. He stood still for a moment, then asked softly, “Where is she right now?”

Esther hurriedly replied, “I have arranged for her to wait in your office since Ms. Harper still hasn’t completed her postpartum recovery. I noticed that she looked terribly sallow–probably due to postpartum fatigue–since it has only been ten days since she’d given birth.”

They chatted for a while before finally arriving at the entrance of the office, where Esther pushed open the door and tactfully excused herself.

Julian walked in and gently closed the door behind him, creating a hushed atmosphere.

In the late May weather, Willow was dressed in a loose–fitting dress with a light wool shawl draped over her shoulders. It was clear that she still hadn’t regained her health, as her face was etched with exhaustion and her chin was drawn so sharply it looked almost fragile.

He walked over and kneeled before Willow, his voice soft and slightly hoarse as he said, “You’re still in your postpartum recovery, Willow. Why did you suddenly come over here? How’s Gabriella? Is she taking her feedings well? Is she sleeping through the night?”

Willow offered no reaction. She fixed her gaze on Julian and asked flatly, “Where’s Landon? I want to see him.”

Julian swallowed hard, the movement of his throat barely noticeable.

Willow repeated her question, her voice sounding colder than before as she asked, “Where is Landon? I want to see him now. He’s the child I gave birth to after nine long months. You can’t just take him away without any explanation and deny me even a single glimpse.”

Julian lifted his gaze to meet hers. He remained silent for a while before saying hoarsely, “I’ll bring you there.”

It was already evening in Brindley, with the sunset casting a golden glow and the evening clouds merging in a soft, luminous haze. In the chapel deep in the mountain, the deep, resonant sound of bells rang out, echoing across the hills.

It was then that a black sedan slowly ascended the winding mountain road, eventually reaching Cornerstone. The chapel was surrounded by the fragrant smoke of burning candles, along with the clouds tinged with soft sunset hues encircling the area, creating an atmosphere of profound peace.

Having pulled up at the chapel, Julian turned to Willow and said gently, “You should pull your shawl tighter. It can get quite chilly up here.”

Willow remained silent. She tightened the shawl around herself and stepped out of the car. She then followed Julian into a vast and solemn columbarium, its high walls lined with orderly square miches–each about three feet square–containing small, personal offerings or artifacts.

In the most prominent niche, a pair of tiny, blue baby shoes had been carefully placed, and directly below them sat a small alabaster urn, its surface gleaming and clear. 1

Willow reached out, her hand trembling uncontrollably as she picked up the tiny baby shoes and gently caressed them. She then touched the cool surface of the alabaster urn, wondering if Landon was truly in there.

Her thoughts then turned to Landon, a silent conversation in the hollow space of her grief. “Is it really you, Landon? It’s Mommy speaking, Landon. Is it cold there? Is it scary? It’s so cold in the mountains, Landon. Do you have anything to keep you

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Chapter 214

warm there? Is anyone there to talk to you? Is there a comfortable rib for you to lie in there?”

She held the urn close as her tears fell drop by drop, wetting the sooth surface of the exquisite alabaster.

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Julian’s eyes brimmed with tears. He remained silent, merely reaching out and gently wrapping his arm around Willow’s shoulder. She was still in her postpartum period, so he was worried that she would cry herself into exhaustion.

Willow asked Julian to step outside, saying in a daze, “I’d like to have a moment alone with Landon.”

Upon hearing that, Julian’s heart ached with sorrow. He still turned and walked out of the columbarium in the end, though, giving Willow the space she needed to be alone with Landon.

It was already dark outside, and a gust of cold wind suddenly swept through the columbarium. Willow remained unfazed, though. She gently removed her shawl and wrapped it snugly around the small alabaster urn, hoping her warmth would reach Landon, making him feel as if he were still nestled in her embrace

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