Tears streamed down Rowena’s tiny cheeks as she sniffled, “I want my Mommy…”

    Willow gently wiped away the tears on Rowena’s face and kissed her softly on the cheek. “I’ll take you there.”

    She knew where the Gibsons‘ private lounge was, so she carried Rowena in her arms to look for Jeffrey and Rosabelle. It seemed that since the banquet had begun, the couple hadn’t appeared.

    This made Willow feel a sense of unease.

    The door to the lounge wasn’t fully closed, leaving a gap.

    As Willow approached, she could hear the sound of someone arguing inside, loud and heated. It was unmistakably Jeffrey and Rosabelle. Willow didn’t want to eavesdrop, especially not when Rowena was here.

    She held Rowena past the door and soothed her gently, “Looks like Mommy and Daddy aren’t here. How about we go look somewhere else, okay?”

    Willow was good with children. Rowena immediately cheered up and stopped crying. Behind them, the man and woman inside the lounge continued arguing.

    The night sky was dark as ink. Jeffrey stood before the floor–to–ceiling windows, gradually falling silent. He hated arguments.

    After a long pause, he looked at the dark sky and said softly, “Today is Rowena’s birthday. No matter how busy you are, couldn’t you have chosen another day to work overtime?

    “It’s been a month since she started kindergarten, but have you picked her up even once? No, you didn’t. You keep workingte in your office, choosing to be a career woman.

    “Isn’t that what you liked? Career women?” she asked.

    The silence grew heavier. Jeffrey turned around and fixed his gaze firmly on her.

    Rosabelle was dressed in a white suit. Instead of looking like she was here to attend her daughter’s birthday party, she looked like she was headed to a business meeting

    The youthful look on her face had vanished, reced by a polished sharpness that bore some resemnce to Willow from years ago.

    After a moment, Jeffrey asked hoarsely, “Who told you that I liked career women?”

    Liking someone had always been unrted to status, only about feelings.

    He had no idea what gave his wife the impression that he preferred career women. Could all these years of growing apart and arguments actually ster from such a ridiculous idea?

    Jeffrey put his hands on his hips and paced back and forth. “Get that thought out of your head. I don’t have that kind of preference.”

    “But you love her. You sacrificed so much for her, and you’re still not over her. During the years she’s been in Faeria, you’ve gone on business trips there every six months.

    “But you didn’t go there for work. You just wanted to see her,” Rosabelle said.

    As soon as she finished speaking, her heart ached. Her husband had always loved someone else, but she had no way topete or fight for his love.

    Jeffrey was infuriated. “Rosabelle, do you even know what you’re saying? Whenever I went to Faeria, it was for work. I’ve never once seen her.”

    Rosabelle lowered her head and chuckled bitterly. “Maybe not, but your heart was already there.”

    Jeffrey felt that he could no longermunicate with her, so he just stormed out of the lounge, leaving their argument unresolved.

    But when it came time to cut the caketer, they were back to ying the loving couple, showing no signs of having an argument moments earlier, just like Willow and Julian in the past.

    Willow carried Rowena with her, consciously looking for Dorothy. Eventually, she found her. In the corridor, Dorothy was also searching for Rowena anxiously. The moment she saw Willow, she heaved a sigh of relief.

    “So, Rowie was with you! I just stepped into the restroom, and when I came out, she was gone. Thank you, Willow.”

    Willow lowered her head and patted Rowena’s head gently. “Go on, go to Grandma.”

    Rowena rushed over and threw her arms around Dorothy’s neck, burying her aggrieved face into her grandmother’s shoulder like a delicate little doll.

    Rowena reminded Willow of Landon, who was like a soft little stuffed toy. She adored Rowena.

    Dorothy carried Rowena and walked with Willow toward the banquet hall, casually chatting along

    the way.

    After all these years, Dorothy thought about it for a moment before apologizing to Willow. She said softly, “Back then, I was acting out of anger. When you were inbor and things went wrong, I forced Julian to kneel before me.

    “I only did that to get back at him. I thought a man like him would never give up his pride and dignity. But unexpectedly, he actually knelt in front of everyone.

    “Willowi, /iI didn’t know what to feel at that moment was satisfied, but also saddened. I’ve watched Julian bgrow /bup. Seeing him begging me, my anger subsided, but I also felt a twinge of guilt.”

    Willow was stunned. What was Dorothy talking about?

    When she had a difficultbor, Julian had knelt and begged?

    Just as she was about to ask more, a tall figure came walking down the corridor. It was none other than Julian.