Leaving You Bereft (Willow and Julian) novel Chapter 20

Annie took a deep breath.

Choking back her tears, she continued, “Catherine almost killed Ms. Harper’s grandmother! She lied and told Madam Harper she was pregnant with your child, causing such a shock that she almost died. Yet, here you are, slapping Ms. Harper for her instead.”

Julian was taken aback for a moment.

Catherine, pregnant? How was that possible?

His gaze darkened as he turned to her. “You told Willow’s grandmother that you were pregnant?”

Catherine was scared out of her wits.

Pitifully, she tried to explain to him, “I just couldn’t stand her! She’s always putting on airs in front of me, so I… Julian, I didn’t

mean any harm.”

He abruptly released her and strode out, ignoring her desperate calls.

He didn’t even spare her a second glance.

Catherine was left in shock.

For the first time, she had failed to keep Julian on her leash.

She refused to believe that Willow still held a place in his heart. Their marriage had clearly been a transaction. How could he

possibly develop feelings for her?

Annie spat at her before turning on her heels and following Julian out.

When Julian reached the door, Willow had already climbed into her car.

When the couple locked eyes with each other again, they both knew things couldn’t go back to the way they were.

Through the glass window between them, Julian said in a hoarse voice, “I was wrong to have blamed you.

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In truth, those words barely scratched the surface of what he wanted to say. But he had been too ruthless in his youth–too

ruthless with himself, and too ruthless with Willow. Now, he struggled to express tenderness and warmth; they were too foreign

on his tongue.

In those nights of illness and intimacy, Julian often watched Willow’s sleeping face. He would wonder silently if he had any true feelings for her beyond their marital bond.

He did, albeit not much!

Yet he knew, with absolute clarity, that he did not want to lose her.

Willow stayed put in her car.

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Chapter 20

“I will make it up to you, Willow!”

Willow harshly flung his arm aside.

“Make it up? What can you possibly do to make it up to me, Julian? As your wife, all I ask for now is your signature on the divorce papers. All I need is for you to return me to the peaceful life I once had. Thank you in advance, Julian Ziegler!”

Willow’s voice choked with emotion.

Julian’s palm rested over the back of her hand. The strength of the man overlapped with the softness of the woman; it was all his

pleading and all her disappointment.

She gritted her teeth. “Let go!”

Even then, Julian refused to let go. For more than a dozen seconds, he held on.

Then, he finally let go.

The tinted window slowly rolled up, separating the former couple into two separate worlds. Willow lifted her chin slightly, suppressing the tremor in her voice. “Let’s depart,” she commanded.

The driver returned a nod and stepped on the accelerator.

The black car slowly drove forward, its tires crushing the withered leaves beneath. It drove past Julian, putting more and more

distance between them.