Chapter b232 /b

    The soft orange sunlight filtered through the windows, casting the room in a warm haze. For a moment, it felt like the past hadn’t happened at all like the pain and scars had never existed.

    Through the pale veil of smoke, Julian’s eyes darkened as he looked at Willow.

    “I know you hate me. I know you want Landon back. But Willow… I can’t let him go.

    “It’s not about favoring one over the other. It’s not about gender.

    “Landon is my entire world.”

    Because, at this point, Landon was all he had left.

    Seasons came and went. In the span of three years, Landon had spent ten months inside an incubator.

    After the crash, Julian was bedridden for two months. When he was finally able to move around, he transferred himself to the same hospital where Landon was. Every night, he would drag his broken body out of bed just to check on his son.

    He never once regretted the arm he lost function in.

    As long as Landon lived, nothing else mattered. He just wanted Landon to live.

    When Landon was finally stable enough to leave the incubator, Julian brought him home.

    Day after day, he took care of him–feeding him, holding him, keeping him alive. Piece by piece, he raised his fragile baby into the child he was now.

    Julian’s eyes glistened with tears.

    The cigarette trembled slightly between his fingers His voice cracked with the weight of it all.

    He gathered what was left of his pride just to say what he had never dared to before. “If you want Landon back… Let’s get married again.”

    Dusk was falling. The glow outside faded from burnt orange to a dusky purple.

    Memories echoed quietly between themb, /bthick and trelenting.

    Willow sat in the shadows, tilting her face up to him Her expression was calm andposed, with neither joy nor sorrow on her face.

    She said, “Julian, you know that’s impossible. Time dulls things, sure. The hate isn’t as sharp as it once was, but it’s still there,”

    They were tied together only because of their son, because of Landon.

    Julian didn’t argue. He just looked at her.

    There was something unmistakable in his gaze–an ache, a tenderness, a longing that never quite faded.

    They had loved each other once, but they had never fallen in love at the same time. When she loved him, he had been lost in a fantasy with someone else. By the time he turned back to her, her love for him was already gone.

    The study fell into silence.

    Then came a soft click of the doorknob.

    The door opened.

    Landon had woken up and found the bedroom empty.

    Still a little dazed, he hugged his pillow to his chest, his tiny bare feet padding across the floor as he searched for Julian.

    When he pushed open the door and saw Julian, his face lit up, and he threw himself into his arms.

    “Daddy,” he whispered, snuggling into his chest.

    His body was warm and soft from sleep, even his hair still fluffy and tousled.

    Julian grabbed a small nket from the side and wrapped it gently around Landon’s tiny frame. He held him close, rocking him softly with quiet patience, waiting for the little one’s post–nap grumpiness to fade.

    The look in his eyes was pure tenderness–like he was holding the most precious thing in the

    world.

    Willow’s heart clenched.

    She wasn’t even sure why she felt that way. Maybe it was because of Landon, or maybe it had something to do with Julian.

    Willow didn’t want to make things harder for Landon, but she also couldn’t bear to be apart from him.

    Her voice softened as she said, “I’m thinking of bringing Gabrie over for dinner. Would that be alright? The kids haven’t met yet.”

    She wasn’t really asking Julian–it was about Sacha bIf /bJulian and she were already together, then as the ex–wife, she knew her presence might be inappropriate.

    Julian’s voice came out low and hoarse. “It’s not a problem.”

    Willow stepped out of the study and dialed Heathers number.

    Her emotions were overwhelming, a tangled mess of joy and grief, and the moment she spoke, her voice cracked. “Mom, can you bring Gabrie over to Radiance Manor in a little bit?”

    “Of course, I’ll have someone bring her over.”

    “Landon… He’s alive. Mom, he’s here. He’s such a sweet boy, so well–behaved. He looks so much

    like me… Mom, he’s really here.”

    In the empty hallway, Willow covered her mouth with one hand and finally broke down, sobbing uncontrobly.

    There was no word in the world that could capture what a mother would feel in that moment. Only tears could carry the weight of such grief and joy colliding.

    Behind her, Julian walked over with Landon’s little hand in his. His heart felt heavy and raw.

    He looked down at Landon. “Go to your mom.”

    Landon padded over quietly, then wrapped his little arms around Willow from behind. He held on tight, warm and small, and murmured in his soft little voice, “Mommy.”

    Chapter b233 /b