Julian grabbed Snowy by the back of its neck and carefully held it in his arms.

    The maid standing next to him said, “Mr. Ziegler, it’s going to make your shirt filthy.”

    The thing was, Julian didn’t care about it at all. He rubbed Snowy’s head fondly as waves of intense emotions rose in his chest.

    Willow loved Snowy deeply. She would never have left it behind if she had gone overseas, which was to say that she was actually still in the country. What was more, she was in Yarrowmere.

    She had been in Yarrowmere all along.

    Snowy stared at Julian adorably. When it noticed that he wasn’t saying anything, it yapped and nestled its head against his chest, instantly ruining his 20–thousand–dor suit.

    He held the dog in one hand and pulled out his phone with the other. After he dialed Esther’s number, he said, “Get in touch with Willow anonymously and tell her that her dog was found. Arrange for her to meet with me tomorrow afternoon.”

    On the other end of the call, Esther hadn’t the foggiest idea what had just happened. However, she was an excellent staff member, and it just took her a minute to piece it all together.

    Willow must’ve resided in Yarrowmere and lost Snowy in the afternoon. It ran all the way to Julian’s vi, and he had to rely on the dog just to meet with her.

    So, Esther used the phone in the hotel and arranged a meetup with Willow. Naturally, she was able to provide Snowy’s pictures. A dog with white fur had its paws firmly on the edge of a small, pink bathtub, waiting for someone to bathe it.

    She’d made an outrageous demand and asked for ten thousand dors. Will

    didn’t even suspect a thing

    Back in the bathroom, Julian took off his coat and tossed Snowy into the small bathtub.

    It narrowed its eyes and rested its paw on

    the

    contentment.

    of the tub, enjoying the massage it was giving itself. It even whimpered in

    Julian was scrubbing Snowy when he involuntarily thought about Landon again. If his baby boy were still with him, he would’ve been able to y with the dog.

    Julian’s gaze darkened at the notion, but he quickly smiled faintly, even though there was a heavy weight in his heart.

    After he bathed Snowy and dried its fur, it was still narrowing its eyes. As he watched, a flood of mixed emotions surged in his heart. Holding its head, he pecked it and said,

    Willow, I miss you deeply.”

    The next day, Willow arrived at the coffee shop at 2:00 pm. As she waited inside, she had a ss of water on one side and a paper bag with ten thousand dors on the other. She also had two assistants with her.

    Although thedy who found Snowy outrageously asked for ten thousand dors, Willow was still very grateful that she was bringing it back to her.

    The sunlight in the afternoon was warm and gentle. Willow leaned on her seat with a serene look on her face.

    The weather out there was bnice/bb, /band she wore a light–colored long dress. Her hair cascaded on her shoulder casuallyb, /bmaking her look gentle and graceful with a soft charm. The agonizing mncholy that used to haunt her was almost nonexistent. Julian was standing outside and looking at Willow through a ss taken aback by the sight of her bulging, rounded belly.

    Was that Landon in there?

    Landon had survived. His precious, baby boy was safe and sound in Willow’s belly. He was about to bbe /bborn and be a part bof /bbthe /b

    world.

    Julian was swept away by his emotions, his gaze fixated on her.

    Eventually, Willow noticed him too. It was the briefest nce, and yet it felt like an eternity had passed as their gazes met.

    They were both shocked as they locked gazes. None of them said anything. Instead, they looked into each other’s eyes.

    They shared so many memories, and yet all of them paled inparison to the bittersweet feeling rising in his chest now. No memory could possibly describe what he was feeling now.

    After a long time, Julian entered the coffee shop, slowly walked over to Willow, and stopped in front of her. His voice was so hoarse when he finally spoke.

    “Didn’t you go to Faeria? Weren’t you supposed to be with Caleb? What are you doing here?”