bChapter /bb266 /b

    Julian and Willow bfixed /btheir gazes on beach /bbother’s /breflections in the mirror. Momentsterb, /bbshe /bhummed bin /bbresponse/bb. /b“I’m almost done.”

    She didn’t btell /bhim that she was pregnant because she was worried that it might be /bto nothing, but bshe /bwas definitely fired up about it. When she was eating the pies, she was a little out bof /bit too.

    Julian gave Willow some pies. “Have some. bIt’s /byour favoriteb./bb” /b

    She smiled faintly, lowered her head, and ate a piece bof /bpe.

    Karen noticed that things were going bgreat /bbetween Julian and Willow. She couldn’t help but bfeel /ba little jealous.

    Turning sideways, she said to Dexter, “When are you bringing Eleanor and the kid back? Your dad and I want to spend some time with our grandson too.”

    Dexter responded sulkily, “She doesn’t want anything to do with me. What can I do about it?”

    Karen got anxious. “Even the toughestdy can’t resist persistent man. Learn from Julian’s example! He’s good at this.”

    Everyone immediately fell silent.

    Then, Tyler ced a piece of meat on her te and said, ‘Eat your food and stop spouting nonsense!”

    Karen protested, “I’m just asking Dexter to learn from Julian. What’s wrong with that? You always said that families are supposed to love and care about each other. I’m just practicing what you said.”

    This time, no one responded to her.

    Julian drove his family home in the evening. Gabrie chattered excitedly in the car, asking, “Dad, what, does it mean when Great–Aunt Karen said ‘even the toughestdy can’t resist a persistent man?“”

    He nced at Willow before he exined it patiently. b“/bI love your mom, and I’ve been persistently pestering her every day. That’s what she meant.”

    She was speechless.

    Gabrie pped. “Oh, I know. It’s how things work between Landon and Thalia. He has a crush on her.”

    Julian lowered his bhead /band looked bat /bLandon. b“/bbIs /bthat te?”

    When he lowered his head, his cheeks were sleek and prominent, and his straight nose effortlessly stood bout/bb. /bHis side profile was nothing short of divine.

    Gabrie was dazed as she stared at Julian. He was strikingb! /b

    bLandon’s /bbface /breddened. “No, I don’t have ba /bcrush on herb” /b

    Thalia might have been tall and pretty, but she was fiere, and she knew how to fight.

    That said, Julian suddenly had a wicked taste for mischief. Looking at Willow, he put on an bopen/bb–/bminded

    tone and asked, “Will you agree to it if Landon wants to marry Thalia in the future?

    “It just so happens that you and Patrick are kind of closeb. /bIf they really got married, you guys would be closer than ever.”

    Willow knew what Julian was ying at, but she chose to ignore him.

    The car was dimly lit. Gabrie and Landon were ying with each other. Julian looked at Willow’s perky checks and couldn’t resist holding her hand. Not too bold or reckless, just gently holding it in his palmb. /b

    This moment was probably the embodiment of happiness and bliss.

    The car swayed gently as it cruised on the road. It was close to 7:00 pm by the time they arrived at Radiance

    Manor.

    Gabrie and Landon were exhausted and already fast asleep. The car door swung open, and Julian carried his little girl in his arms. Willow bent over and wanted to swoop Landon up, but he stopped her. 1

    “I’lle back and get himter. He’s quite heavy, and you’re not feeling well. Don’t tire yourself.” His tender voice blended into the orange glow of the setting sun seamlessly.

    Willow lowered her gaze and fell into deep thought. She had been sharing intimate moments with him for days and nights. That wasn’t even mentioning the fact that they were raising their kids together.

    It would be a bald–faced lie ito /isay that she didn’t have any feelings for him.

    Later that night, the restroom was brightly lit. A pregnancy test wasid on the sink, and two pink lines slowly surfaced on it.

    Willow’s lips trembled. Before long, tears welled up in her eyes. She was really pregnant.

    Landon and Gabrie slept soundly in the stillness of the night. Willow took turns kissing them. When she stood up straight, Julian wrapped his arms around her slender waist and spoke next to her ear.

    “How about we go to my room? I have something to give you.”

    Willow pondered on it and said, “What ia /icoincidence. I have to tell you something too.”

    Julian stared at her intently. i“/iWhat is it?”