Leaving You Bereft (Willow and Julian) novel Chapter 49

Julian walked over to Willow with a dark look in his eyes. “Why are you here?”

Willow lifted her briefcase. “Not for a date.”

Julian’s gaze deepened as he offered, “Come eat with us.”

Willow didn’t spare his dignity, and she didn’t even glance at Melody. Listlessly, she replied, “I’m quite full. Take your time talking to her, Julian. I’m heading home.”

Then, Julian grabbed her wrist with a frown. “Willow!”

Willow let out an airy laugh. She looked at him and said, “Aren’t you two talking business? I’m not that close–minded, you know. Our marriage is only contractual anyway. Once the time is up, we’ll go our separate ways. Who you spend your time with is none of my business.”

Julian’s frown deepened. He knew Willow was only saying that out of anger, but it was irritating enough to make him lose his patience and stop trying to persuade her. He simply let her go.

Willow had no intention of staying, so she turned and left without a second glance. She left Julian where he was, and his mood had soured completely.

When Melody saw Willow leaving, she thought that was her chance and walked over to comfort Julian in a charming tone.

“Is Mrs. Ziegler upset, Julian? Should I go explain what’s going on?”

Julian, however, called the waiter over and handed him around two thousand dollars in cash.

“No need for that,” he told her before disappearing into the night.

It hadn’t been easy for Melody to finally get him on his own, so she wasn’t going to let this opportunity go. She chased after Julian and followed him to the parking

lot.

It was a chilly winter night, and she was shivering from the cold, but she bravely asked, “Are you angry?“”

Julian’s hand was on the door handle, and there was an indifferent look on his face. “We’re not close enough for you to call me by my first name, Ms. Simpson.”

He lowered his head to think for a moment before vaguely adding, “I shouldn’t have come tonight.”

The reason why he felt such strong physical attraction toward Willow wasn’t because she was his type. He didn’t feel anything for Melody, at least. She had tried flirting with him, but it hadn’t affected him at all.

His time was precious, so he got into the car right after saying that and left Melody behind, disheveled in the wind.

She kept replaying the night over and over again in her head, unable to understand why Julian was so indifferent. She just couldn’t accept it.

Half an hour later, Willow returned to Grandview Manor. As soon as the car came to a stop, Snowy jumped inside and rubbed its snow–white head against Willow’s

arm. It let out two barks.

Willow was incredibly fond of it, so she took a treat out of the glove box and unwrapped it before feeding it to Snowy.

Once snowy was done eating, she carried it into the house. When Blair saw her, she asked, “You’re home from dinner, Mrs. Ziegler? Should I make you some tea to cleanse your palate? Restaurant food can be quite heavy on the stomach.!

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Willow ran her fingers through her long hair with a subtle smile. “Take the tea to the studio on the third floor.”

Blair happily agreed and got to work.

Willow first went to the master bedroom to change her clothes before heading to the studio on the third floor. When she turned on the lights, she was greeted by the half–finished piece on the easel, called “Lovers in the Rain“.

As Willow painted, Snowy obediently sat beside her with affection in its dark eyes. Soon, there was a knock at the door. Willow thought it was Blair, but to her surprise, Julian stepped inside.

Willow turned to glance at him before turning back to continue painting.

Julian walked in and placed the tea to the side. He hugged her from behind and whispered, “I thought you weren’t bothered. Why are you cooped up in here, then?”

Willow’s hand froze. “What do you want me to say, Julian?”

Julian tightened his grip and asked, “What do you think?”

Willow turned around in his embrace and fiddled with his collar, a playful look on her face. “Would you believe me if I said I loved you so much that I couldn’t help myself, Julian?”

His gaze was dark, like a bottomless pool. He stared at Willow’s face for a while before gritting his teeth. “You’re asking for it.”

He didn’t know why he was so worked up and angry. He was probably irritated by Willow’s cynical words and how she kept reminding him that she didn’t love him. A lot of the time, his anger transformed into something else.

He carried Willow into the bedroom on the second floor without even turning the lights on. Their bodies were entangled, and their figures overlapped in the

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darkness to form a vague silhouette.

Willow allowed him to do as she wished. She didn’t try to resist at all. She held onto his neck tightly as if she was a submissive woman who loved her husband deeply.

Julian, on the other hand, knew that no matter how affectionate she was, Willow didn’t feel a thing.

him.

It was a quiet night.

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