Tears filled Heather’s eyes. “They sure are.”

    No one was happier than her. She was a mother and also a woman she knew how painful it was for a woman to be unable to conceive. Now that Willow was pregnant, she didn’t care whether or not Julian was the father. What mattered was that her daughter carried the child; it was Willow’s.

    She and Timothy discussed the child’s future, from its gender to the color of its clothesb. /bThey even talked about which school the child would attend.

    Willow was moved to bits. No one had mentioned anything about Julian being the father, and no one had advised her to reconsider having the child. All they thought about was how they could give the child the best possible life.

    She lowered her head and gently caressed her belly. The baby would grow up well and lead a happy life… She was going to be a mother!

    Later that might, Willow leaned against the couch in the lounge with a hand on her belly. She imagined the baby’s future.

    Just thenb, /bthere was amotion at the door. She heard the vague sound of a maid speaking through the noise. She got up to see what was happening.

    She poked her head out of the lounge to see Caleb standing in the corridor with a suitcase. He said resolutely, “I’m moving in here from now on. I’m going to man up and bear the responsibility need to. From this moment onb, /bI’m a part of the Chapman family!”

    The mad covered her mouth andughed.

    Willow put a hand to her forehead and shook her head. “You really are ba /bchild who’s yet to grow up.”

    Caleb’s gaze darkened. He said gruffly, “I’ve long since grown up!”

    Alicia’s condition stabilized after being taken back to the VIP ward at Heartwell Hospital. She curled up in bed as she listened to the doctor’s advice. “Ms. Burke really isn’t in a condition to leave the hospital. That should be avoided from now on.”

    Julian nodded. “I understand. I’ll pay attention to that in the future”

    Once the doctor left, Julian looked at Alicia and said gently, “You should stay in the hospital and get all the rest you need from now on, Alicia. It’s better for your condition.”

    She leaned against her knees and shook her head, looking lost. “Nothing will make my condition better. Is there nothing in my life other than taking medication and doing dialysis? I can’t even sit through a stage y. I want to paint!”

    She got out of bed and went to her easel, which held an unfinished painting. The scene was of a church in Grandsburg and the white doves outside the window.

    She started crying after a few brushstrokes. “It’s been nine years, Julian! I’ve painted so many paintings, but they’re all of churches and white doves. I haven’t seen any other colors–my world only has white and gray. I miss us taking photos at Corealia National Tower and admiring the snow at Cloudspire…

    “Can you take me to see these things onest time if bI /bcan’t get a kidney for a transnt, Julian? Take me to the ces I want to go. I want to see Saint Sofea Grand Cathedral and Corealia National Tower again.

    “If I die during the journey, bring my ashes back and bury them in the suburbs outside Brindley. I want to wake up to sunlight and fresh flowersb, /bnot cold architecture. Can youe with me for thisst trip, Julian?

    “I don’t me you for not choosing me back then–we both had our reasons and difficulties. But now, I hope you cane with me on the final leg of my journey.”

    Alicia shut her eyes, feeling heartbroken. She couldn’t stop thinking about how reluctant Julian had been to leave Willow even as shey in an ambnce. Perhaps due to her heartache, some blood trickled down the corner of her lips, looking ghastly against her pale skin.

    The woman Julian had loved in his youth was close to death, and the sight racked him with guilt. He’d once given up on Alicia and banished her abroad for nine years. But now, she was about to leave this world. He couldn’t let her go so pitifully.

    He stood there silently as he weighed his options.

    Alicia wrapped her trembling, weak arms around his waist. “You once told me you loved me, Julian. Don’t be so cruel to me, please. Throughout the nine years I was in Grandsburg, you pursued her and enjoyed yourself with her…

    “You can still see her once I’m dead, but you’ll no longer get the chance to see me. Alicia Burke will bcease /bto exist in this world; your Alicia will no longer be around.”

    Julian lowered his head to look at her ashen face before softly agreeing to her request. He said, “I’ll stay by your side for yourst journey, Alicia.”

    He was dazed as he spoke. He knew what this meant–that there was no chance of anything ever happening between him and

    Willow.

    In truth, he wasn’t choosing Alicia over Willow. He was choosing to make up for the nine years he’d abandoned Alicia.

    She looked up at him, her face wet with tears. This time, the tears were joyful.

    C