As the sky darkened, the sound of a car approached from the courtyard below.

    The car slowly came to a stop, and inside were the nanny and Gabrie. It was the first time she would meet Landon, so Gabrie had brought a small cake to share.

    As the car door opened and she was just about to step out, a tall, handsome man was already standing there, his gaze fixed on her. Gabrie immediately recognized him.

    Gabrie froze for a moment, her small face looking especially pretty in the fading light.

    Of course, she was beautiful–she was Julian’s daughter. Every inch of her was perfectly shaped, as if from a mold.

    Julian knelt, not saying a word as he gently hugged Gabrie, his youngest daughter.

    He held her close, burying his face in her warm neck.

    When Gabrie left, she was just a baby. Now, she had grown up, and she was bright and beautiful. Any father would have loved their flesh and blood.

    Although Gabrie had grown up abroad, deep down, she was still a traditional child and couldn’t quite handle such a disy of affection.

    But he was her father.

    Gabrie had always been a tough little girl, but now her face crumpled, and she looked like she was about to cry.

    Julian tightened his hold on her, feeling the sting of the reunion after years of separation. At this moment, he hated himself.

    If it weren’t for him, his child wouldn’t have had to lose out on the love of both a father and a mother. They would have grown up in aplete family.

    After a long silence, Julian finally regained hisposure. He took the small cake from Gabrie.

    “Is this for Landon?” he asked.

    Gabrie nced over at Landon, who stood a full head shorter than her. She refused to see him as

    her brother.

    Somehow, she proudly said, “This is for Landon. I’m going to protect him and help him fight.”

    She threw a tiny punch in the air and gritted her little white teeth, looking fierce and proud.

    She looked just like Julian.

    Landon’s face flushed red. He was a shy little guy, and eventually, Gabrie coaxed him into calling

    her “E” a few timesb. /b

    Julian watched Gabrieb, /bseeing so much of himself in her, but also so much of Willow.

    He felt a sense of pride welling up inside him. He picked Gabrie up with one hand and started walking toward the brightly lit dining room. Landon followed obediently behind him, always sticking close to his father at home.

    A momentter, Julian set Gabrie down on a dining chair, ready for dinner.

    Gabrie blinked up at him. “What happened to your hand, Daddy?”

    Julian nced at his arm and casually said, “I was in a small car ident a couple of months ago. It’ll take about a year and a half to heal.”

    Children were easy to trick, even if she was very clever.

    It was rare for Willow to join them for dinner.

    During the meal, Julian fed Landon, probably because he felt he owed his son so much. He truly indulged him, and Willow didn’t want toment she didn’t want to make things awkward in front of her own child.

    Gabrie stuck her tongue out and teased. “Landon, you’re embarrassed? You’re four and still need Daddy to feed you?”

    Landon blushed, embarrassed. He dug into his food but soon leaned against Julian again. He looked like a soft, sweet baby, even more delicate than a girl.

    But Gabrie liked him.

    Landon was pretty, smelled nice, and looked like a porcin doll.

    After dinner, Gabrie offered up the small cake and generously shared it with Landon. She also insisted on sleeping with him.

    Landon looked to his father, his face full of hesitation.

    But deep down, he also wanted to sleep beside Gabrie.

    Julian considered for a moment and arranged for them to sleep in the nursery. The guest room next door was avable for Willow to stay in.

    Willow didn’t object. In the face of this reunion, theplicated love and hate between her and Julian seemed insignificant.

    As night fell, she gently cared for the two children, who had fallen asleep side by side.

    Gabrie held onto Landon, her face pressed agains his neck, her breathing even and calm.

    Landon, too, slept soundly.

    This was the scene Willow had longed for, and now that it had finallye true, she couldn’t bear to close her eyes. She wanted to stay up the entire night just watching them.

    Julian stepped into the room, ncing at the two sleeping children. He asked softly, “Are they both

    asleep?”

    Willow nodded and rose to return to her room. She didn’t want to be alone with Julian in thete hours, so she mentioned that they could talk tomorrow. But as she passed by him, Julian suddenly reached out and gently pushed her against the door

    The door softly clicked shut. Willow’s back was pressed against the door, her body trapped by his, as his hand cupped her neck.

    He leaned in, gazing at her with deep, unreadable eyes. After a moment, he slowly closed the distance, as if about to kiss her-

    Willow quickly turned her face away, her voice trembling. “Julian!”

    He pursued her, his gaze bing even more intense, filled with emotions she couldn’tprehend.

    Before she could protest further, his lips found hers.

    Their kiss was intense, turning into a tangle of limbs. Even the shadows around them seemed to echo with the heat of the moment.

    Julian’s pulse raced, his neck burning with heat, veins standing out in sharp relief. The warmth was so intense that it made Willow nearly lose her footing.

    She could only manage a soft, hoarse whisper, trying to regain his sanity. “Julian.”

    He paused, his dark eyes holding her captive. The masculine allure of him was almost overwhelming.

    After a long while, he slowly pulled back.

    Willow quickly pushed him away and hurriedly left locking herself in the guest room next door.

    Her back pressed against the door, her heart racing She lightly touched her lips, remembering the intensity of the kiss and the emotions it stirred in her.

    But the more she thought about it, the more she fell guilty. Between her and Julian, aside from their children, there should be nothing else.

    Tonight, Willow needed to process everything, to pn for what was toe.

    Landon was still alive, and she was overjoyed.

    She took a rxing bath, changed into a soft,fortable robe, and stepped out onto the terrace to look at the distant pine trees.

    She had been here before, thinking of it as a prison, but tonight, her heart felt light and at ease.

    Her phone rang, and she nced at the screen. It was Patrick asking about Landon. Willow answered, her voice softer than usual, more gentle, exuding a distinctly feminine warmth.

    Across the terrace, Julian stood silently, watching her. He noticed the softness of her demeanor and the spark inside him that had been smoldering eignited.

    His throat tightened as he returned to the bedroom to take a quick shower.

    His white shirty scattered on the floor.

    Julian looked down at his right arm, a flicker of shame passing through him. But with Willow in this house, something within him had been stirred something primal, something he couldn’t resist.

    In the bathroom, the steam enveloped him, hiding the turmoil he was feeling.

    Soon, everything calmed down.

    Julian leaned against the wall, droplets of water rolling down his chest as he closed his eyes, lost in thought,