Willow struggled briefly. “I haven’t decided yet.”

Julian said, b“/bThen decide now.b” /b

Her voice turned cold. b“/bbIs /bthis a threat or an enticement? Don’t take me for a fool, Julian.”

Before he could respond, Dominic’s voice rang out from insideb. /bb“/bbIf /byou two are going bto /bunt your love, take it somewhere else. Don’t rub it in the face of a lonely old man like me.”

A long silence followed.

Julian looked down bat /bWillow, then took her hand and led her toward his car. b“/bI’m taking you to bsee /bMr. Frostb./b”

It wasn’t until she got in that Willow realized it was that ck Maybach–the one they had driven during their first two years bof /bmarriage. Back then, they relied on each other and had no one else. There were too many unforgettable memories between them.

She let out ba /bsoft smile. (1)

Julian really would do anything to get what he wanted.

After buckling her seatbelt, she said lightly, “Don’t think that just because you’re helping with Grandmab, /bI’lle running back to you.”

Julian nced at her.

He was wearing a dark gray shirt beneath a lightweight ck cashmere coat. He was tall and good–lookingb. /bNo matter what he wore, he exuded the effortless charm bof /bba /bcold and aloof heartthrob.

He studied Willow for a long moment before pressing down on the gas pedalb. /bb“/bRxb. /bI’m just doing my part as a grandson–inwb./bb” /b

Willow said nothing throughout the drive.

After a while, they arrived at Leonard’s homeb, /ba secluded retreat nestled between the mountains and water–a perfect ce to bgrow /bold in peace.

bA /bhouse of blue bricks and red tiles stood nestled among the rolling hillsb, /bblending seamlessly into thendscape. With autumn crabapple blossoms in full bloom, the scene exuded an elegant charm.

bAs /bbsoon /bbas /bJulian parked, Leonard himself came out to greet them. b“/bbJust /byesterday, Zara bwas /bining that you never visit anymore, bring your wife around to bsee /bbus/bb./bb” /b

and that you

don’t beven /b

Julian stepped forward and embraced him. “Well, here bI /bam, Mr. Frost.”

After letting bgo/bb, /bhe turned to Willow and introduced him properly. “This bis /bMr. Leonard bFrost/bb, /bba /bsurgical expert. Alsob, /bMrs. Frost makes excellent home–cooked mealsb, /bso be sure to grab an extra helpingter.”

Willow naturally stood beside Julian and greeted him politely. b“/bbNice /bbto /bmeet you, Mr. bFrost/bb./b”

bLeonard /bsmiled. b“/bbYou /btwo seem to have ba /bgood rtionshipb./b”

He had met Willow once bbefore/bb, /bat their wedding. Back thenb, /bshe had struck him bas /bba /bbdelicate/bb, /bbpretty /byoung woman. Butterb, /bafter hearing about her from bDominic/b, he realized she was far bmore /bcapable than she appeared. No wonder she bcould /bbkeep /bJulian in checkb. /b

bNow/bb, /bseeing her againb, /bhe noticed that she had matured and changed quite ba /blotb. /b

Leonard btook /ban immediate liking to Willowb, /bbas /bdid his wifeb, /bZara Scott. She eagerly took Willow by the hand and led her around the garden bto /bbsee /bbthe /bbflowers /band bfish /bshe tended tob. /b

Willow was particrly drawn bto /bba /bbtree /bbin /bthe bgarden/b. It had ba /bsmall sign hanging bfrom /bbits /btrunk that bread /bb“/bUnder the Magnolia bTree/bb“/bb, /bwritten by bLeonard /bhimself.

Catching her thoughtful bexpression/bb, /bZara smiled. “Leonard likes bto /bdabble in calligraphy in his spare time.”

Willow reached bout/bb, /btracing the blettering /bwith her fingertips. b“/bHe has beautiful handwriting.”

bZara /bbbeamed/bb. /bb“/bbI’ll /bsend byou /ba few of his bpieces /bter. bHe’ll /bbe thrilled to know someone bappreciates /bbthem/b. bHe /bacts ball /bbserious/bb, /bbbut /bbdeep /bbdown/b, he bloves /bba /bblittle /bbttery/b.b” /b

Willow found bherself /bliking bZara /bbtoo/b.

Before lunch, Leonard breviewed /bGrace’s medical scans and assured Willow bthat /bthe situation wasn’t btoo /bconcerning. They bset /ba tentative bdate /bbfor /bthe consultation.

bWith /bbthat /bsettledb, /bshe bfinally /bbfelt /bba /bbweight /bblift /boff her bchest/bb. /bbOver /bdinnerb, /bbshe /bnaturally raised her bss /bbto /bbtoast /bbLeonard /bbin /bgratitude.

Julian intercepted bit/b.

Taking the ss from her hand, he turned bto /bher and said bgently/bb, /bb“/bbYou’ll /bbe driving us back. I’ll be the one drinking with Mr. Frost tonight. It’s bbeen /ba while since bI /bbst /bsaw himb./bb” /b

Leonard admired bthe /baffectionate bond bof /bthe young bcouple/bb. /b

+25 Bonus

After some drinks, Julian’s face was tinged with ba /bfaint flush. There was a hint of mischief in his eyes. Even Willow couldn’t help but blush at his teasing. Beneath the table, Julian quietly held her fingertips.

Willow lifted her gaze, and it suddenly hit her.

In four years of marriage, this was perhaps the most peaceful time they had ever spent together. No forced social gatherings, no hidden agendas. Just a quiet momentb, /buntouched by the outside world.

Julian had a few drinks too many and wasn’t in any shape to leave now. Leonard helped him to a loft to rest.

The afternoon sun streamed through the window.

Juliany on a bed. The room was warm, and he was only covered by his ck cashmere bcoat/b, which he had taken off earlier.

Willow had shed her own coatb, /bcurling up on a cushioned bench by the window with a book in hand while waiting for him to wake.

The world outside was still.

At some point, Julian stirred.

The sunlight was too bright, and he raised a hand to shield his beyes/bb. /bThrough the gaps in his fingers, he caught sight of Willow by the window.

She was wearing ba /bmuted lc dressb, /bexuding ba /bmature and feminine charm. Her long hair was casually braided Into a fishtail braid,plementing her delicate Jface.

Willow had always been beautiful.

Julian watched her quietly for a long moment before speakingb, /b“Pour me some water.”

Willow set her book down and looked up. “You’re awake?”

D