bIn /bthe other corner of the room, Julian leaned forward and stubbed out his cigarette.

With his perfect side profile and slender fingers, he looked charming even when he was just doing those simple movements.

Then, he stood up and walked over to the group. Julian ced one hand on Willow’s shoulder lightly.

“It’s time to go home, Willow.”

A heavy silence lingered in the air.

The others did not expect Julian to be so affected by this. They all assumed that he did not care that much about Willow.

Besides, Jeffrey had not overstepped his boundaries. He merely said something ambiguous. It was not as though he had actually

stolen something precious from Julian. Yet, Julian had reacted this way.

Even back then, he had never acted so defensive when it came to that person. It seemed like being officially married did make a

lot of difference.

Everyone thought that Willow would surely listen to Julian and follow him home since he had given in first. She would most likely

go back to being the good wife and choose to turn a blind eye to the scandalous gossip and news involving Julian. (1)

bTo /btheir surprise, Willow tantly rejected him.

She pushed his hand off gently and said in a soft voice, “It’s my friend’s birthday, and we’re still in the middle of a game. You can

head home first if you want.”

Julian’s eyes hardened.

The others sat bin /bplete silence. They had noticed the telltale signs of Julian being close to losing his temper.

Although they were all longtime friends, Julian was still considered different from them in terms of his background and status. bThe /bbscale /bbof /bNeb Group’s business was pretty much unparalleled in Brindley.

Furthermore, despite his disarming good looks, Julian had always been very cold and ruthless when it came to work. No one had

ever dared bget /bon his wrong side.

bYet/bb, /bbthere /bbwas /ban exception tonight.

bJeffrey /bbleaned /bagainst bthe /bcouch and twirled the king card around with his fingers. He smiled slightly. “You should join us,

Julian.b” /b

Julian directed his bgaze /bbto /bbJeffrey/b.

bThe /bgold bpen /bWillow had given Jeffrey bwas /bced in the pocket of his suit. It was bso /bannoyingly dazzling. Jeffrey was practically issuing ba /bchallenge bto /bbJulian/b, who was Willow’s legal spouse.

Julian reckoned that bJeffrey /bhad lost his mind. With how tightly their work and family businesses were connected, Jeffrey should

not be harboring any thoughts of coveting Willow,

Julian’s lips lifted in a contemptuous smirk. “A married couple like us have other things to attend to,”

He lowered his head and looked at Willow. “Let’s go.”

b+25 /bBonus

Willow knew very well that Julian would probably do something, which would be etched in her memories forever, in front of all these people if she stubbornly refused to go with him. She got up and turned around to leave. All the while, she felt unperturbed.

The possessiveness disyed by Julian would only make the hearts of naive youngdies flutter. Willow, who was no longer shackled by her feelings for Julian, waspletely indifferent and unaffected.

Suddenly, Julian grabbed her hand. Even a blind person could sense his overwhelming possessiveness. The others were in a state

of bewilderment…

Willow felt rather embarrassed. “Julian, you don’t have to act like this.”

Yet, Julian merely tightened his grip over her hand even more.

As the two of them walked to the door in that awkward state, Jeffrey’s calm voice came from behind them. “As a divorce attorney,

I’ve been meaning to ask this. Willow, why do you want to divorce Jun?”

Silence reigned. Everyone was briefly stunned.

Jeffrey had a solemn look on his face. It was as though he was discussing the fate of a couple in court instead of hosting avish party bto /bcelebrate his birthday.

Everyone thought that Jeffrey hadpletely lost it. Yet, none of them knew that he had followed Willow the other day.

bHe /bsaw Willow, who was hunched over the side of Grace’s bed in the hospital. He saw her going into the vi anding out with a dejected look on her face. There were red marks on her cheek. He saw a prideful woman in one of her most pathetic, devastated

moments. 1

Jeffrey did not go up to her since he was afraid of hurting thest bit of pride she was holding onto.

bHe /bbhad /bthought about bit /bfor a long time. In bthe /bend, he’d asked for Natalie’s help to invite Willow to the party anyway.

bIt /bwas not like Jeffrey had not considered the possibility of Julian showing up and the consequences of him incurring Julian’s

wrathb. /bbYet/bb, /bnone bof /bbthat /bseemed to matter whenever he recalled how frail Willow looked from the back….

P