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As the sky darkened, the sound of a car approached from the courtyard below.
The car slowly came to a stop, and inside were the nanny and Gabriella. It was the first time she would meet Landon, so Gabriella had brought a small cake to share.
As the car door opened and she was just about to step out, a tall, handsome man was already standing there, his gaze fixed on her. Gabriella immediately recognized him.
Gabriella froze for a moment, her small face looking especially pretty in the fading light.
Of course, she was beautiful–she was Julian’s daughter. Every inch of her was perfectly shaped, as if from a mold.
Julian knelt, not saying a word as he gently hugged Gabriella, his youngest daughter.
He held her close, burying his face in her warm neck.
When Gabriella left, she was just a baby. Now, she had grown up, and she was bright and beautiful. Any father would have loved their flesh and blood.
Although Gabriella had grown up abroad, deep down, she was still a traditional child and couldn’t quite handle such a display of affection.
But he was her father.
Gabriella had always been a tough little girl, but now her face crumpled, and she looked like she was about to cry.
Julian tightened his hold on her, feeling the sting of the reunion after years of separation. At this moment, he hated himself.
If it weren’t for him, his child wouldn’t have had to lose out on the love of both a father and a mother. They would have grown up in a complete family.
After a long silence, Julian finally regained his composure. He took the small cake from Gabriella.
“Is this for Landon?” he asked.
Gabriella glanced over at Landon, who stood a full head shorter than her. She refused to see him as
her brother.
Somehow, she proudly said, “This is for Landon. I’m going to protect him and help him fight.”
She threw a tiny punch in the air and gritted her little white teeth, looking fierce and proud.
She looked just like Julian.
Landon’s face flushed red. He was a shy little guy, and eventually, Gabriella coaxed him into calling
her “Ella” a few times.
Julian watched Gabriella, seeing so much of himself in her, but also so much of Willow.
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He felt a sense of pride welling up inside him. He picked Gabriella up with one hand and started walking toward the brightly lit dining room. Landon followed obediently behind him, always sticking close to his father at home.
A moment later, Julian set Gabriella down on a dining chair, ready for dinner.
Gabriella blinked up at him. “What happened to your hand, Daddy?”
Julian glanced at his arm and casually said, “I was in a small car accident a couple of months ago. It’ll take about a year and a half to heal.”
Children were easy to trick, even if she was very clever.
It was rare for Willow to join them for dinner.
During the meal, Julian fed Landon, probably because he felt he owed his son so much. He truly indulged him, and Willow didn’t want to comment she didn’t want to make things awkward in front of her own child.
Gabriella stuck her tongue out and teased. “Landon, you’re embarrassed? You’re four and still need Daddy to feed you?”
Landon blushed, embarrassed. He dug into his food but soon leaned against Julian again. He looked like a soft, sweet baby, even more delicate than a girl.
But Gabriella liked him.
Landon was pretty, smelled nice, and looked like a porcelain doll.
After dinner, Gabriella offered up the small cake and generously shared it with Landon. She also insisted on sleeping with him.
Landon looked to his father, his face full of hesitation.
But deep down, he also wanted to sleep beside Gabriella.
Julian considered for a moment and arranged for them to sleep in the nursery. The guest room next door was available for Willow to stay in.
Willow didn’t object. In the face of this reunion, the complicated love and hate between her and Julian seemed insignificant.
As night fell, she gently cared for the two children, who had fallen asleep side by side.
Gabriella held onto Landon, her face pressed agains his neck, her breathing even and calm.
Landon, too, slept soundly.
This was the scene Willow had longed for, and now that it had finally come true, she couldn’t bear to close her eyes. She wanted to stay up the entire night just watching them.
Julian stepped into the room, glancing at the two sleeping children. He asked softly, “Are they both
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asleep?”
Willow nodded and rose to return to her room. She didn’t want to be alone with Julian in the late hours, so she mentioned that they could talk tomorrow. But as she passed by him, Julian suddenly reached out and gently pushed her against the door
The door softly clicked shut. Willow’s back was pressed against the door, her body trapped by his, as his hand cupped her neck.
He leaned in, gazing at her with deep, unreadable eyes. After a moment, he slowly closed the distance, as if about to kiss her-
Willow quickly turned her face away, her voice trembling. “Julian!”
He pursued her, his gaze becoming even more intense, filled with emotions she couldn’t comprehend.
Before she could protest further, his lips found hers.
Their kiss was intense, turning into a tangle of limbs. Even the shadows around them seemed to echo with the heat of the moment.
Julian’s pulse raced, his neck burning with heat, veins standing out in sharp relief. The warmth was so intense that it made Willow nearly lose her footing.
She could only manage a soft, hoarse whisper, trying to regain his sanity. “Julian.”
He paused, his dark eyes holding her captive. The masculine allure of him was almost overwhelming.
After a long while, he slowly pulled back.
Willow quickly pushed him away and hurriedly left locking herself in the guest room next door.
Her back pressed against the door, her heart racing She lightly touched her lips, remembering the intensity of the kiss and the emotions it stirred in her.
But the more she thought about it, the more she fell guilty. Between her and Julian, aside from their children, there should be nothing else.
Tonight, Willow needed to process everything, to pn for what was to come.
Landon was still alive, and she was overjoyed.
She took a relaxing bath, changed into a soft, comfortable robe, and stepped out onto the terrace to look at the distant pine trees.
She had been here before, thinking of it as a prison, but tonight, her heart felt light and at ease.
Her phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. It was Patrick asking about Landon. Willow answered, her voice softer than usual, more gentle, exuding a distinctly feminine warmth.
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Across the terrace, Julian stood silently, watching her. He noticed the softness of her demeanor and the spark inside him that had been smoldering eignited.
His throat tightened as he returned to the bedroom to take a quick shower.
His white shirt lay scattered on the floor.
Julian looked down at his right arm, a flicker of shame passing through him. But with Willow in this house, something within him had been stirred something primal, something he couldn’t resist.
In the bathroom, the steam enveloped him, hiding the turmoil he was feeling.
Soon, everything calmed down.
Julian leaned against the wall, droplets of water rolling down his chest as he closed his eyes, lost in thought,
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