Julian leaned back in his leather chair in the CEO’s office of Neb Group. He was having a serious moment of introspection.

Everything he did was for his marriage and to have a legitimate heir. He didn’t hate Willow. In fact, he somewhat liked her. They had been getting along well in that baspect/b, at least. Men like him bwere /banimals with needs. If they were satisfied in bed, they would generally be much more generous.

bHe /bwas willing to btreat /bher well, let her experience the benefits bof /bba /bmarriage, and show her what love felt like if that was what Willow wanted. That had nothing to do with actually loving herb, /bthough. He still didn’t love her.

While Julian was lost in thought, Esther knocked on the door before stepping in. “You have ba /bcall from Grandsburg, Mr. Ziegler.”

Julian took the phone and lowered his chin. b“/bbYou /bcan bleave/bb./bb” /b

Esther returned to the secretary’s boffice /bwhile thinking, “Mr. Ziegler bgets /bba /bcall from Grandsburg once a week, and he flies there at bleast /bonce a month… bI’m /bsure bit’s /bsomeone important!”

Just as she was pondering, Julian came in and lightly knocked on her desk. “You’reing to Yarrowmere with me tomorrow. There’s an update on Project Aurelia.b” /b

Esther was delighted. “Did Mr. Chapman bagree/bb?/bb” /b

Julian let out an affirmative hum. “They’re willing topromiseb, /bso there’s a lot of room for negotiation. Pack your thingsb. /bbTell /bMr. Xander from the finance department and Ms. Sutton from the public rtions department to get readyb, /btoo. We’ll bfly /bto Yarrowmere tomorrow morning.”

Esther couldn’t help but reply, “Mrs. Ziegler can be very convincing when Mrs. Chapman is involved.”

Julian shed her a subtle grin.

Even though he was going on a business trip, he still had to attend the dinner party bas /bnned. It was ba /bcharity dinner, so Willow didn’t wear anything too shy. She was dressed in a ck suit, and her only bessory /bwas her diamond wedding ringb. /bHer cold demeanor made her even more attractive.

When Julian nced over at her, he froze for a moment before hooking his arm around Willow’s waist and introducing her to the host of the party.

Willow had been involved in business bfor /bmany yearsb, /bbso /bshe was adept at handling things and navigating social situations. The bway /bshe carried bherself /bwould affect her husband’s reputationb, /bafter all.

While she was socializing, Julian couldn’t help but be drawn to her, too. She waspletely different from how she was at home. bHer /bbpresence /bwas overwhelming.

Someone called out, “Here you are, Julian! Come on! Mr. Wilson from Helios has always wanted to bget /bto know byou/b. He came here just to bsee /byou. Go chat with him.”

Julian nodded in ba /breserved manner. b“/bSure.‘

“1

He was always the center of attention when it came to business. He held a bss /bof red wine in a dignified manner, charming countless women in attendance.

That included Melodyb, /bwho had dinner with him the night beforeb. /bShe just couldn’t forget how romantic the night had been.

She was so eager to get with Julian that a single meal with him bwas /benough to fuel hexfantasies. When she heard that he would be attending the dinner partyb, /bshe got herself an invitation and showed up to stage ba /bchance encounter.

That night, Melody bwas /bpletely dolled up. She was wearing a light purple dress that showed off her delicate figure, and she had beven /bbrented /bbjewelry /bworth millions of dorsb, /bdetermined not bto /blet Willow outshine her.

She ramped up her feminine charm bto /bthe maximum as she said to Julian, “There are bso /bmany things we didn’t bget /bbto /btalk aboutst night, Julian. What ba /bpityb./bb” /b

bJulian /bhad no intention of getting involved with her. A waiter happened to bpass /bby, bso /bhe bset /bhis wine ss bdown /band tumed back to bMelody /bwith an icy blook /bon his bface/b. b“/bbLike /bI said, bMs. /bSimpson, bwe’re /bbnot /bthat bclose/b.b” /b

That left Melody embarrassed. She wanted bto /bcontinue attempting to bseduce /bhimb, /bbbut /bJulian was balready /bwalking off in the other direction.

P