ulian could sense the gaze from behind him. He said softly, “When I was in my 20s, I lived abroad alone for a while. I learned back then.”

Willow didn’t ask any further. Their rtionship was ambiguous right now. Just because they had been intimate once didn’t mean anything

She had no intention of opening up to him. Besides, she was tired band /bdidn’t want to argue with him.

The pasta Julian made was quite goodb, /band bWillow /bate most of it.

bThen/b, she asked him to leave.

As he lett, Julian gazed at her deeply. “I’lle again tomorrow.“!

Willow thought he was joking. Julian can a corporation with zo thousand employees–he didn’t have that much free time.

b20 /b

But the next day, when she returned from the galleryb, /bbher /bapartment was brightly lit, filled bwith /bthe aroma a of Wisteran cuisine and red wine.

??? That bottle of red wine was one of Willow’s cherished collectibles, something she couldn’t bear to drink. And now, it was sitting there on the dining table.

Willow slowly bclosed /bthe door and looked at her soon–to–be ex–hushand with a trace of mockery. “Hiding out here like some fairy–tale housekeeper must bbe /bquite a grievance for a rich heir like you, filian, aren’t you supposed to be busy? Why do you keeping to my ce?”

Julian stepped out of the ldtchen, dressed in all ck. He looked elegant and dazzling.

He pazed at Willow intently, as if she were a priceless work of art. Then, with his voice sounding as smooth as silk, he said, “I find time when I see you. The dog bhas /bbalready /bbeen walkedb, /band I’ve balready /bcalled Grandma. Tonight, bit’s /bjust the two of us.”

bwillow /btossed aside her briefcase, sat on the couch, and eyed him. “When are you signing the papers?” she asked.

Julian dodged the question. “Let’s eat.”

Willow continued, “Julian, can’t you tell I find byou /bannoying?

Julian stared at her steadily and said softly, “Then I’ll stay until you don’t.”

bWillow /bwas speechless. bShe /bcouldn’t do anything abour Julian. All she could do was treat him coldly, hoping he’d take the hint band /bleave.

However, heclung to her like high–quality adhesive, refusing to bbudge/b. He even stole Snowy’s sleeping bspot /bbat /bnight

Willow simply focused on work and avoided physical contact with him

The night was silent–under the warm glow of themp, bWillow /bmeticulously flipped through the ledgers.

The gallery was just the beginning. Her ambition was to establish her own auction house and then ring the bell on the stock market. Willow had set a two–year deadline to reach this bgoal/bb, /bso she bcouldn’t /bafford to ckoff.

After working tillte, her eyes felt tiredb. /bbSuddenly/bb, /bba /bcup of Mendhling coffee appeared bbefore /bher.

willow looked bup /bband /bbsaw /bjulian gazing down at bher /bfrom above. He bsaid /bgently, “A little pickb–/bme–up.”

This was their past unspoken i understanding.

Willow didn’t take the coffee, Julian set it bdown /blightly, then leaned in to kiss her. It was soft and devoid of any camal desire.

After a long moment, lie basked /bin a husky voice, “How does it feel?“.||||

“It doesn’t feel like anything.”

Willow paused for a moment and then said seriously, “pulian, I admit that when you seriously suffered ion much because of you—I’m scared..

ly pursue a wor

ta woman, you’re charming and hard to resist. Hit

“As forst night. Yes, I admit I enjoyed it, but that was just a physical reaction. It doesn’t mearránythingb, /band it certainly doesn’t mean I’m willing toe back

turver been rejected by a woman beforeb. /bThis was the fint time.

He didn’t get angly Instead, he said greatly, “I’lle again tomorrow. You should rest earlier.”

didn’t look at him. A momentter, she band has footsteps bnd her and the sound of the apartment door opening and closing.

the coffer on the table, tilting her head back slightly to suppress her emotions. ……..

She had already decided to forget Julian, yet far refused bto /blet let g?

Willow

didn’t cair. She had her own things to du

+25 Bonus

A weektet, on ate night, Willow signed ba /bnew painter. They weren’t famous, but she saw great potential in them. Their artwork had a unique, almost soul–like quality.

COIN bBUNDLE/b: get more free bbonus /b