Patrick frowned. “Destiny? I don’t believe in that nonsense.”

    He wanted to ask Willow if she had feelings for him, but when he saw the tears in her eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to do so.

    Look at him, making a woman cry like that. What right did he have to talk about liking her?

    Patrick picked up the coffee on the table and finished it in one go. He looked at her intently and said, “If he ever lets you down again,e find me.”

    Willow smiled faintly and nodded. But deep down, she knew she never would. After all, they weren’t destined to be together.

    Willow got back into the car.

    After the car started, Julian leaned back against the seat, handling some simple tasks on his phone. He said casually, “You seem to like him quite a bit.”

    Listening carefully, there was a faint tension in his voice.

    Willow turned to stare out the window and replied indifferently, “It’s none of your business.”

    Julian didn’t press further. He lowered his head and returned to his phone. Roughly five minutester, he suddenly reached over and grabbed her hand.

    His forceful grip startled her. “Julian!”

    The inside of the car was dim, and Julian’s gaze was deep and unreadable. His voice was hoarse and low. “I won’t allow you to like anyone else!” 1

    He knew he shouldn’t say it, but he still did. “Willow, you’re mine.”

    Willow tried to break free and snapped back mercilessly. “Julian, are you done being so horny in the middle of the day?”

    Julian’s eyes darkened with a flush of red creeping. How could it ever be enough? He missed her so much that it hurt!

    Half an hourter, the car pulled up at a hospital. Willow’s assistant had already made an appointment in advance.

    Willow met with the doctor in charge, Dr. Sommer. She flipped through Willow’s medical records, nced at her, and then at Julian.

    “If neither of you has an active partner, I’d still rmend natural conception. IVF has many drawbacks, and generally, we don’t rmend it the first choice. Would you like to reconsider?

    Willow shook her head. “We’re divorced.”

    Dr. Sommer smiled. “If you both don’t have partners, it doesn’t vite any moral code. I’m your

    mother’s friend, so I’m giving you the most suitable advice from a personal standpoint.”

    Then, she looked at Julian, who nced at Willow, waiting for her to make a decision. In the end, Willow still opted for IVF.

    Dr. Sommer didn’t try to change Willow’s mind. Afterpleting the necessary tests, they began preparation for the trigger shot.

    It hurt badly, but Willow endured it. When it was done, she got off the bed slowly. Her lower back and knees were both aching.

    Julian had been waiting right outside. The moment she stepped out, he rushed over to support her. She was in so much pain that she didn’t even have the strength to push him away.

    In a rare moment, both of them leaned against each other as they walked toward the car.

    Once inside, Willow curled up, feeling ufortable. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and the back of her blouse was soaked through.

    She’d still have to get several more of these injections, but all she could do was grit her teeth and

    bear it. 1

    A mother’s pain threshold had no limit. In a state of pain, she seemed to be lying in Julian’s arms. She rested her face against his chest, and her nose was filled with his pleasant scent of aftershave and fresh soap.

    As her eyes were about to close, she heard Esther’s voice.

    “It seems like Ms. Harper’s body is particrly sensitive to such injections. If it doesn’t work, you may need to consider natural conception instead. This suffering is too much.”

    Julian murmured something in a deep voice, but Willow didn’t catch it. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep.