It had been ages since Willow had taken the initiative to hold Julian.

He lowered his beyes/bb. /bHis longshes trembled ever so slightly with an unspoken intensity.

Half an hourter, Julian’s car pulled up in front of a luxurious apartment building.

Catherine had finally left that old vi behind and was now living in a 2,800–square–foot apartment. Her days were filled with nothing more than clocking in at Neb Group, followed by endless beauty treatments and shopping sprees. It was a textbook existence for a kept mistress.

Esther had been waiting for quite some time.

As soon as Julian’s car bcame /bto a stop, she opened the door for him.

Stepping out, Julian frowned slightly. “What’s she up to now?”

Esther only managed a helpless smile. “You wouldn’t return her calls, so she’s been refusing to eat or drink, even breaking things. Not even Mr. and Mrs. Burke can handle her anymore.”

Julian paused in his steps. “The doctors bcan’t /bdo anything? Have they tried a nutritional boost, or even force–feeding her?”

Esther’s doubts began to stir.

She’d worked bfor /bJulian for years and still couldn’t fathom what he saw in Catherine. It wasn’t that he loved her passionately, but why did he spoil her so endlessly? Of course, being on his payroll, she dared not speak out of turn.

As they spoke, the pair entered the apartment where Catherine lived. Inside, Charlie and Nancy were already there. They were trying to calm Catherine down and urging her not to push Julian too far.

When the door swung open, Julian strode in.

At the sight of him, Catherine flounced forward like a little bird returning to its nest, desperate to nestle in his arms.

But Julian sidestepped her advancesb. /b

He walked to the couch, smoothed down his sharply pressed trousers, and said coldly, “We had an agreement. You’d enjoy a life of luxury in exchange for your contribution. So, why are you reneging now?”

Catherine’s face went as pale as paper. She looked up at him. Her lips trembled as she whispered, “She went back to your home, didn’t she?”

“Yes.” Julian’s tone grew even colder. “She’s my wife, and returning home is perfectly natural. What right do you have bto /bbsay /banything about it?”

Catherine’splexion turned even whiter, mortified beyond measure.

Nearby, Charlie stepped in to smooth things over. “Catherine is just confused right now. In time, she’ll understand that you’re married and she can’t keep acting out like this. We’ll handle her.”

Charlie was well–connected with the Ziegler family and was Julian’s respected elder.

Julian’s expression softened at Charlie’s words to show his respect. He turned and ordered the cook to prepare a bowl of chicken noodle soup for Catherine bto /bhelp restore her strength.

Almost without thinking, Catherine blurted, “Eat with me, Julian.”

But Julian said nothing in reply. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out a cigarette box. After retrieving one, he lit it and took slow drags with his legs crossed.

Charlie watched silentlyb, /bfully aware of the situation.

From the moment Julian arrived, he had kept his coat on. That was an unmistakable sign he intended only a brief visit. bNow/bb, /bas he smoked indoorsb, /bit was clear he didn’t care about Catherine’s health.

As expected, no matter how clingy Catherine tried to be, Julian remained utterly indifferentb. /b

Charlie guessed that Julian’s mind was with Willow at homeb. /b

Once Catherine finished her mealb, /bjulian promptly stubbed out his cigarette and left.

The moment he was gone, Catherine broke down in tearsb. /bb“/bJulian must have gone bback /bto that old woman at home. She must have found ba /bway to cling to him. bHe /bdoesn’t even like her.b” /b

“Enough!” Charlie snapped.

Nancy, clearly displeased, argued with him, “Did Catherine bsay /banything wrong? If it hadn’t been for bwhat /bhappened back then, would Willow be bable /bbto /bmarry Julian?”

Charlie sternly reminded Nancy and Catherine, b“/bbShe’s /bnow Julian’s legitimate wife. Don’t take bit /btoo far.”

b+25 /bbBonus /b

Catherine, with a defiant glint in her eyes, dered, “I’m going to win Mrs. Chapman’s favor! If I lead Project Aurelia, Julian will have no choice but to change his mind about meb./b”

Nancy beamed with pride at Nancy’s ambition, while Charlie’s face remained troubled.

Every time he heard Heather’s name, he couldn’t help but think of the daughter he’d never met. He heard that she bore a subtle birthmark.

By his count, she was already 26.

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