The night was as thick and heavy as a love song filled with sorrow ulian stood where he was bas /bhe watched Willow leave.

    He was the one who’d chosen to give her up, so why did he feel like he was about to cry? He felt weighed down by them and was almost unable to breathe.

    Hadn’t he prepared himself for this? Hadn’t he been ready to say goodbye?

    It turned out that farewells weren’t something one could prepare for. One could only feel the sorrow they brought.

    Julian left Moonlit, his dark clothes blending in with the night. He got into the backseat of his Rolls–Royce Phantom and told the driver to take him to Willow’s apartment.

    It was hisst night before leaving. He changed the ca lilies to fresh ones and made a cup of Willow’s favorite Mendhling coffee. Then, he walked around the apartment while sipping on it.

    Someone was helping to pack his luggageb, /bso he didn’t need to worry about anything being left out. Still, he couldn’t help feeling like he was missing something. What was it?

    Later, he realized that his heart was what was missing. He’d left his heart in Willow’s apartment; even he couldn’t take it with

    him

    4

    It waste at night, but he still called Esther. She’d just gotten into bed and had no choice but to get dressed again before driving to Willow’s apartment.

    Julian opened the door and handed her a key. “I’ll be away for a month or two. When I’m gone, I want you toe over once a week to clean the ce and change the flowers. Get white ca lilies–Willow likes them.”

    Esther took the key. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Isn’t Ms. Harper going toe by?”

    Julian sipped his coffee and said softly, “She hasn’t been here in a long time.”

    Esther sighed inwardly, filled with mixed emotions over the situation. Still, she didn’t darement on her superior’s private life. She soon left after tucking the key away.

    Julian remained at the apartmentb, /bsitting on the couch from night to day. He kept imagining Willow suddenly entering the apartment and asking, “What are you doing here, Julian?”

    But it didn’t happen. She wouldn’te to this apartment anymore.

    The rain didn’t stop. The droplets drenched the leaves outside, making them cling to the windows. There was something broken about them.

    Julian kept fiddling with his phone but ultimately didn’t make the call.

    The sky slowly turned bright, and an rm rang in the distanceb. /bJulian slowly got up and turned off all the lights before shutting Willow’s bedroom door. bIt /bcreaked slightly, but the sound was enough to make him stand there for a long time.

    He returned home to retrieve his luggage before heading to the hospital to pick Alicia up. Then, they would head to the airport.

    She was ready and waiting for him.

    Charlie and Nancy were even happier than her–they thought this meant they would be linked to the Ziegfer family through marriage.

    However, Julian treated them coldly. Charlie was disappointed when he realized the former would no longer give them the same

    treatment bas /bbefore.

    When Julian started the car, Charlie and Nancy couldn’t help but weep. Alicia would return in an urn.

    Julian drove to the airport. Alicia kept talking to him, but he barely responded. The despondency in his face told her that his heart and soul were still with Willow. Still, it was enough that she bad him with her, albeit only physically.

    He turned on the radio, which happened to y a sad song called This How We Lose Each Other“.

    The lyrics went like this:

    “We just brushed past each other.

    He said nothing when he left.

    But do the silent ones not cry?

    Is there anything else to regret?

    Regret is not having the time to say goodbye…”

    Julian lowered his gaze and turned the radio off.

    Alicia leaned back in the front passenger seat and bit her lip as she asked, “The song reminded you of her, didn’t it?”

    He was silent for a few seconds before saying, “Worrying over nothing will only make your condition worse, Alicia.”

    “I have no choice but to worry! Have you fallen for her, Julian? Are you in love with her?” she snapped.

    He gripped the steering wheel tightly and focused on the road, not answering her.