hree dayster, Willow retinted to Bundley.

    Heather had arranged a series of blind dates for he

    I meet anyone mutable.

    cher, Out of respect, Willow went along with it. However, she didn’t meri

    Julian had run into her on a cosmple of asions, but as he had promised, he hadn’t interferei

    A monthter, at Hidden Springs Restaurantb, /bbanother /bblind date had just endeid.

    Willow went to the testroom to bwash /bher hands betone heading home,

    The lighting was sott Willow’s Lace mythe mirror was serene. For tonight’s blindidate, she put on an elegant cocktail dress and tied upcher hair loosely.

    Atter washing her hands, she put on the diamond watch that she hatte moved eatliet

    When she looked up, she saw a mum in the minor, it was pun.

    He was wearing a ck button–down shit with stacks, but it wasn’t patiently sisal. He was leaning agatust the bwall/b, building acigarette between his fingers between putts.

    bWillow /bignored him and tamed off the faucet betone walking past him

    | halian blocked her path. Then, with a switt kick, he shat the resitanen door behind him.

    Willow’s tone was bcold/bb. /bolli“What are you/li/ol

    wie you doing?

    Julian stared–down at her, his gare deep and unteadable. After a long pause, he asked softly. “How was your date tonight? Did you like him?”

    willow repliedb, /b“He bwas /btine”

    hilian bchuckled/b. b“/bbIt /bthat’s the bcase/b, why don’t you te han? This is already the fifth blind te, right? Have you found someone suitable yet:

    Willow scoffed. ~11 this one doesn’t workoutb, /bI’ll just findanesber

    Julian’s expression darkened. He pulled her into his arms, lowering her face close to hers. “When that guy was looking at you. When I saw the blook /bin his eyes, I sweat, I wanted to rip him apart,”

    Trapped in his embrace, listening to his jealous words, bWillow /bfelt hetheart grow colder.

    She stared at his beyes /band manured, “Julian, do you want to hear the truth?

    For a woman like me who can’t have children, I don’t bhave /bthat many choices. The ones who are suitable mually care about it, and the ones who don’t might not

    be the ones I blike/bb. /b

    “This isn’t a supermarket where Lean just pick and choose like I’in buying vegetables, Julian, since this isn’t happening to you, you’ll never understand.”

    As soon as she finished talking, her heart ached.

    She wasn’t dead set on having children, but there was a difference between not wanting children and not being able to.

    Julian swallowed hard.

    For the first time, he felt as if his heart had broken into pieces. He could never make up for what he owed her in this lifetime.

    Making her bhis /bwife again had be his obsession.

    Willow turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand. His eyes pleaded with desperation.

    Suddenly, Julian’s phone rang

    Liam calling him, and his voice was sugent.

    Julian,e home right now. Dad fell off his horse and is in bad shape. This might be the bst /btime we see him.

    After ba /bshort pause, Liam added. “If it’s possible, bring Willow bene. Dad really wants to see her.”

    /

    Willow could hear every word through the phone

    Lan’s limbs went relid. He looked at Willow, his gaze filled with pleading

    Willow tonight of the past. During the nights when she had been gravely ill, Dominic stayed by her bedside, when Catherine caused trouble, Dominic stood his ground and shielded her

    Willow’s voir trembled slightlyb. /b“Let’s po

    On the way back to the Ziegler residence, Juliandure like ba /bmadman

    Less than 30 minutester, the ck Rolls–Royce Phantom pulled up at the Ziegler residence Julian quickly pushed out of the car and went straight to thaminic’s

    As be led them inside, he said, “Dad

    (out riding with some of his old friends.

    slip is wless, but today, he identally fell off the bo

    gine is minipletely shortened binding in He refused to stay in the hospital and kept bsaying /bhe bwanted /bbto /be home.”