Willow was still sick, so naturally, there was no way for them to be intimate.

She went back to bed to rest.

The sound of running water drifted from the bathroom. Julian was taking a shower. The steady stream was oddly soothing, and before she knew it, Willow had drifted off to sleep.

Even in her dreams, Julian refused to leave her alone.

When she woke up again, it was already 1:00 am.

The bedroom was dimly lit by a single readingmp. Julian was sitting against the headboard, reading through some important documents. His features were striking. Even in a simple white robe, he looked effortlessly refined. Willow found herself stealing a few extra nces.

The subtle shift in the bed caught Julian’s attention. He lowered his gaze to her. “You’re awake?”

Willow nodded. “What time is it?”

Julian set down his documents, leaned back slightly, and wrapped an arm around her delicate shoulders. His voice carried a rare hint of warmth. “1:00 am.”

She wasn’t used to this kind of tenderness. She used the excuse of going to the bathroom to avoid their intimacy.

Julian didn’t call her out on it. He simply let her go.

Back in bed, Willow found that she couldn’t fall asleep again.

She didn’t dare toss and turn, afraid of disturbing Julian. But he noticed her restlessnessb. /bHe switched on the readingmp and stretched his arm toward the nightstand to retrieve something from inside.

“If you can’t sleep, I’ll read to you. It might help.” It was rare for him to be this considerate.

Julian pulled Willow into his chest, letting her rest against him. Her long hair spilled over his body like silk, creating an intimate scene neither of themmentedollion./li/ol

Julian nced down at her. Unable to resist, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

Although Willow had recovered, she didn’t have the strength to resist. Besides, she was too tired to struggle.

julian’s nose brushed against hers as he murmured, “Alright, I’m starting now.”

Willow closed her eyes, treating his voice like a luby. This had nothing to do with love.

His voice was refined and rich like the timbre of a fine cello. With its deliberate depth, it was irresistibly alluring.

But as the words flowed, her eyes suddenly snapped open. She lifted her head and red at him.

He was reading one of the love letters she had written to him years ago.

Willow’s face turned crimson. She pushed against his chest, reaching for the paper. Their bodies brushed against each other. But right now, she had no time to be embarrassed about that.

Julian stretched his arm out of her reach. She struggled, breathless from the effort.

Holding her closeb, /bhe chuckled softly. “What? A love letter doesn’t count as a book?”

Not only that, he lowered his head to hers, his voice deep and slow as he read aloud her past confessions. Each word was bced /bwith a teasing edge that sent tingles down her spine.

“Even if it’s hard, I still want to stay by your side. I will love you for a long, long time. Again and again.”

When Julian finished, silence filled the room. Their breaths mingled in the quietb, /bboth lost in the memories of what once bwas/b.

Neither of them knew who moved first. Maybe she leaned in. Maybe he did. But in the end, it didn’t matter. They kissed.

Itsted long enough that, at some point, Julian reached over and turned off themp.

bOutside/bb, /bthe bcrescent /bmoon hung low over the trees.

That night was, perhaps, the sweetest night of their lives–the closest they had evere to love.

Butterb, /bthey both forgot it.

The following week, Julian came home almost bevery /bevening on timeb, /bbHe /bhad dinner with Willow and shared intimacy with her. More often than notb, /bbit /bwas he who couldn’t get enough of her.

He was astonished by his own insatiable need for her. So much so that he decided to see ba /bpsychologist about it.

b+25 /bBonus

In a secluded room of one of Brindley’s psychiatric clinics, heavy curtains shut out every trace of light. With nomps turned on, the space was cloaked in darkness.

Julian sat in aer, his voice cool and detached as he recounted his marriage.