Grace still hadn’t woken up. She was in the ICU.

Separated by a transparent ss wall, Willow stood outside, staring nkly. Every minute and every second felt like torture to her.

Heather, feeling sorry for her, often brought food to help Willow stay healthy.

But Willow could barely eat. In just two days, she had lost so much weight that her chin had be noticeably sharper. Heather tried to persuade her, but it was useless. She could only silently stay by her side,

Jeffrey and his sister would drop by asionally to lend a hand.

Seeing Willow refuse food and drink, growing thinner and more haggard by the day, Natalie leaned against her brother’s shoulder, her voice trembling with tears. “Willow’s going through so much! Why did Julian do that to her? It’s so cruel!”

Jeffrey knew the reason, but he couldn’t say it,

Because the truth was even crueler.

That afternoon, Dominic sent Liam and his wife over.

Liam treated Willow with warmth and politeness, but Mnie wasn’t as tactful. She made insinuations, openly and subtly ming Willow for not taking care of her husband, which led to her son being scolded by Dominic.

Heather happened to be there. The moment she heard such nonsense, she flew into a rage.

She confronted Mnie, “You’re a woman too! How can you twist the truth like that and say such things?”

Mnie sneered, “Heather, our families have always been close. Let’s not make things unpleasant over an outsider.”

Heather’s smile was colder and more dignified. “Who’s the outsider? Do you mean the women Julian has outside?”

Mnie had no real argument, so she couldn’t say anything back.

Liam had no choice but to step in and smooth things over.

That only made Mnie even angrier. She shot her husband a furious re before storming off.

Liam turned back to Heather, apologizing sincerely. “Julian’s mother is in a bad mood. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Heather scoffed lightly and didn’t bother to respond.

Liam looked at her strikingly beautiful face and hesitated for a moment, lost in thought about the past. He sighed inwardly, then considered going over to offer someforting words to Willow…

Just then, the sound of polished leather shoes echoed through the hallway—steady and rhythmic.

Liam tensed. Julian was back.

He turned toward the sound, and sure enough, there was Julian. He looked travel–worn, a suitcase in hand, clearly having rushed back from Grandsburg.

Liam gestured toward Willow and said, “Go talk to your wife.”

Julian nodded. “Dad.”

Then, he walked toward Willow.

He stopped behind her, staring at her thin back. His voice was hoarse as he spoke, “Willow, I’m back.”

Willow’s body stiffened. She knew it was Julian, but she didn’t want to turn around.

She didn’t know him anymore.

The Julian she had once loved wasn’t like this. That night, on their wedding day, he said, “Willow, from now bon/b, we’re family. I’ll cherish you, and I’ll cherish our marriage. I’ll never make you sad.”

But not only had he hurt her, he had cost her grandmother her life,

After a long silenceb, /bWillow murmured, “Why did youe back? Shouldn’t you be with the one you really care about?”

Julian had no way to exin.

b+25 /bbBonus /b

He reached out to try and take Willow’s hand, but she jerked away.

She refused to let Julian touch her. Her voice was even colder now. “Don’t put on this act, Julian. You can’t cheat on me and still try to y the good guy.”

Julian felt a sharp pain in his chest. “It’s not like that between me and her.”

Willow lowered her gaze and sneered.

“Lover? Affair? Cheating? Whatever you two are, no one cares. Julian, no one’s stopping you from chasing thrills, but don’t bring your filth in front of me, okay? And more importantly, don’t bring it near my grandma.

“You call her Grandma and im she was family to you, Julian, but tell me, what did you do in the end? Do you want me to list it all out for you? If you have even a shred of dignity left, you won’t be here right now because you don’t deserve to be here.”