Willow heard those words for the second time tonight. A whirlwind bof /bemotions surged within her.

Just as she was about to speakb, /bthe sound of bfootsteps /bbechoed /bfrom the staircase. A momentter, Julian appeared.

In the blink of an eye, he was at her side.

It was as if the fight from that night had never happened. He looked at Willow and Jeffrey and asked casually, “What are you two talking about?”

Willow’s voice was indifferent. “Just making small talk.”

Julian studied her intently, as if searching for something in her expression. After a bpause/b, he smiled faintly. “Then let’s bget /btogether another time. It’s gettingte. We should bgo/b.”

Before Willow could react, Julian had already taken her hand, his grip firm and unyielding.

Under the bright lights, Jeffrey’s expression turned ice–cold.

Julian smirked as he led Willow past Jeffrey. When they brushed shouldersb, /bJulian noticed bJeffrey’s /bhand twitching inside his pocket. It seemed like he wanted to reach out bto /bstop her.

Julian stopped in his tracks. His voice was cutting as he said, “I hate when people bcovet /bbwhat’s /bmine. And Jeffreyb, /bbyou /bof ball /bpeople should know that bbest/bb./bb” /b

Jeffrey met his gaze, just bas /bcold. “Is that so? I just don’t think byou /bcan handle it all, Julian.”

“That’s none bof /byour concem.”

The night was as dark as ink.

A ck Rollsb–/bbRoyce /bPhantom sped down the road. Streetlights bcast /bflickering glows through the windshield, illuminating the faces of the silent couple.

Silence was the unspoken melody of the night.

Willow felt the car moving too fast. She gazed bat /bthe dark road ahead and said softly, b“/bSlow downb, /bJulian.”

He acted as if he hadn’t heard. Instead, he took her hand, absently ying with her fingers.

“Julian,” Willow called out again.

He nced at her, his beyes /bcool and unreadable. b“/bFeeling guilty?”

Willow bforced /bba /bsmall smile. b“/bWhat would I be guilty of?”

Julian didn’t answer. He floored the bgas /bpedalb, /bmaking the car go even faster.

bWillow /bbseriously /bthought he must have lost his mind.

bLess /bthan b20 /bminutesterb, /bbthey /barrived at Grandview Manor.

The bmoment /bthe bcar /bstopped, Willow moved to bget /bout, but Julian was faster. He grabbed her wrist and turned bto /bface her. b“/bbIf /bbyou’re /bbnot /bfeeling guilty, then show

me.b” /b

Show bhim/bb? /bbHow/bb? /b

bWillow /bbarely had time bto /bbprocess /bbhis /bwords before she found herself lifted into his arms.

Julian bcarried /bher straight bthrough /bthe brightly blit /bliving broom /band up the bstairs /btoward the master bedroom.

Under the bcrystal /bchandelierb, /bhis bface /bbwas both /brestrained and bdangerously /balluring. But his actions were anything bbut/b.

Willow pounded his shoulder, panting. “Are you out of your mind, Julian?”

His dark eyes locked onto hersb, /bban /bunreadable anger simmering beneath.

bAfter /bba /blong pause, his bvoice /bbdropped /bbto /bba /bmurmurb. /bb“/bYou’ll find bout /bbsoon /benough.”

bWillow /bbhit /bhis shoulder ba /bbfew /bmore btimes/b.

Julian knew what she was thinkingb. /bHe bsaid /bbindifferently/bb, /bb“/bThe housekeepers are ball /bbolder /bthan us. bIt’s /bperfectly normal bfor /ba young married bcouple /bbto /bbbe /bintimate at bhome/bb. /bThey won’t bsay /banythingb./bb” /b

With just a few words, he had already carried her into the bedroom and thrown her onto the luxurious bed.

Willow sank into the soft sheets.

Julian stood bat /bthe edge of the bed, watching her bas /bhe reached bup /bto undo the buttons of his shirt.

Willow knew there was no escaping this. She turned her head awayb, /brefusing to look at his domineering face.

Her nose bwas /bslightly red, her lips flushed and swollen. “Julianb, /bbI’m /bnot some bprostitute /byou bought. If I don’t want bto/bb, /bbyou /bcan’t bforce /bme.”

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