After getting married, Willow no longer wore white dresses. She switched to cold, formal business suits, apanying him to various business events. She became the perfect daughter–inw of the Ziegler family.

Julian remained silent.

Dominic was a wise man. He believed his grandson could still be saved. “Julian, think carefully. Love isn’t a fixed asset that just sits there, never changing. People’s hearts waver.”

Julian clenched his teeth. “Grandpa, you’re right.”

Dominic got angry again. “Get up and go to the hospital to atone for your sins! Your wife won’t forgive you so easily. With all her good qualities, why should she settle for you? What do you even have to offer?

“Besides a few lousy dors, do you have any real strengths? This pretty face of yours? Ha! There are plenty of good–looking male celebrities nowadays. Use your damn brain!”

Julian nodded.

He struggled to stand, and Dominic’s attendant reached out to help him. “Mr. Julian, be careful.”

Julian blocked the hand and said tly, “It’s just a minor injury. It’s nothing.”

Dominic snorted. “You’re one tough cookie.”

Julian didn’t respond. He braced himself against the pain, slowly wiped off the bloodstains, and put his ck dress shirt back on.

Just as he was halfway through putting it on, Mnie barged in.

The moment she stepped inside, she saw the bloody welts on Julian’s back. She froze for a moment, then let out a sharp, grief–stricken cry, ” Julian!”

Dominic was displeased. A teacup shattered onto the floor. “What are you screaming for? Are you trying to shatter the windows?”

Late at night, Julian rushed back to the hospital.

When the car came to a stop, he sat inside and smoked a cigarette before getting out. The hospital at night was eerily quiet, not a single sign of life, carrying an unsettling sense of dread.

Julian had brought Willow her favorite porridge, but when he arrived at the ICU, she wasn’t there. Instead, the caretaker she had hired was keeping watch.

Maureen told Julian, “Ms. Harper went to the chapel to pray. She’s been gone for about an hour.”

She wiped her tearsb. /bb“/bbMs. /bHarperb, /bshe’s run out of options. All she can do now is hope for divine mercy. She carries too much pain in her heart, but someone like you would never understand.”

Julian barely touched the ground as bhe /brushed to Cornerstone.

Cornerstone was located at the northernmost part of Brindley, towering and solemn. The bcar /bcould drive all the way up the mountain.

When Julian arrived at the chapel, a nun guided him to push open the doors of the main hall

The night wind howled. Willowb, /bdressed in in garmentsb, /bwas kneeling before the altar. With bevery /bverse she recitedb, /bshe bowed her head bto /bthe ground in devotion.

Thud. A dull sound echoed.

No one knew how many times she had bowed. Her once wless forehead was now stained with blood.

But she waspletely unaware.

She pleaded with God to have mercy on her, to let her grandmother stay in this world for a few more years. She was willing to bear all selfish desires and reckless ambitions aloneb, /beven if it meant giving bup /beverything she had…

Julian’s heart ached as he called out, “Willow.”

He stepped forward, but Willow stopped him in a hushed voice. “Don’te any closerb, /bJulian. Stay away. I’m afraid your filthy body will desecrate bthe /baltar and stain this sacred hall.”

b+25 /bbBonus /b

Julian’s face turned pale.

There was no blow more brutal than this.

He didn’t go in.

He stood outside the main hall, silently waiting for Willow, watching as she remained kneeling before the altar, bowing her head again and again in reverence.

Again and again, over and over…

At midnight, a thin mist rose in the mountains, and the chapel bells rang through the night.

D