Chapter 26
Julian let out a quiet “mm,” feeling helpless as he held up the instant camera.
He had a feeling they’d need to stock up on a few more of these for the house.
Having a woman who loved taking photos around–well, there wasn’t much he could do
about it.
She looked stunning when she smiled, bright and full of life.
Mumbling to herself, she then spoke, her voice soft and languid, “I’m a little tired, babe. Hold me.”
They had booked a cozy little homestay in Willow Town.
From where they stood, the peach trees in the yard stretched out beneath the dim evening light, their fruit glowing like tiny lanterns.
It was a breathtaking sight.
“Julian, look! Isn’t there a saying–‘peaches bring good luck“?”
He tilted his head slightly, then hummed, looking down at her. “Still not tired?”
Zara shot him an exasperated look. “What’s with you? Didn’t I tell you not to be so shallow?”
With a grin, she plucked a ripe peach from a branch and handed it to him. “I’m serious- this means good luck. Take it.”
She caught the flicker of something in his gaze–desire, maybe–and narrowed her eyes.
“Ugh. Typical. What a shallow man. Hmph.’
She’d make sure to lecture him when they got back.
The moonlight in Willow Town was mesmerizing, casting a soft golden glow around her, making everything about the moment feel almost surreal.
And then, without warning, he caged her against the wall, one brow raised in amusement. “So… you’re really just going to sleep now?”
Zara’s cheeks flushed instantly, heat crawling up her skin. “What–what are you trying to do?”
Julian leaned in, his voice a murmur against her ear. “Remember what I said on the plane? I want to kiss you, Zara.”
And then he did.
His kiss was slow, deliberate–gentle, yet devastating. Like a soft breeze carrying a drizzle
melting into her skin.
She forgot to resist. Instead, her arms slid around his neck as she took in the familiar scent of him–the same scent as her usual body wash.
Sweet. Warm. Comforting.
Her fingers tangled into his tousled hair, her breath uneven as she gazed at him, completely
22:11 Sat, 15 Mar A.
‘God. How could someone be this beautiful?‘ Zara thought.
Meanwhile, just a few feet away from Zara and Julian, a man stood at the entrance of the alley, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Hatred coursed through him, drowning out everything else as he watched them, his gaze seething with barely contained fury.
The man in the shadow parted his lips slightly as he whispered, low and shaky, “Zara… don’t blame me. I just love you too much.”
Zara, still wrapped in Julian’s arms, whispered in a breathless, almost pleading tone, “Let’s go back, okay? Please.”
She
e was acting coy now, the softness in her tone unmistakable.
Julian chuckled, his voice teasing. “Tell that to yourself.”
Zara, still lost in her dreamlike haze, couldn’t shake the feeling that this was what happiness should feel like.
At that moment, she imagined what it would be like if she and Julian were already married.
But when she woke up-
There was no wedding.
No Willow Town.
No Julian.
Only cold fear. And Landon.
His face was unreadable with frustration and satisfaction.
“Zara,” he murmured, his voice eerily calm. “I warned you not to make me angry. You’re mine. No one can take you away from me. Not even Julian.”
She barely registered the pain in her wrists at first. It wasn’t until she struggled that she realized they were bound, red marks forming where the restraints dug into her skin.
A chill crept up her spine.
Zara shuddered. “Had he lost his mind? How the hell did he think he could just kidnap me?‘ Panic swelled in her chest. She prayed desperately that Julian would come for her. Right now, Landon was too far gone. If she provoked him, it wouldn’t end well.
She swallowed hard as she watched him pace, mumbling to himself, a low chuckle escaping his lips.
“I told you,” he muttered, eyes flashing with something unhinged. “No one is taking your from me.”
Then, with a terrifying sense of certainty, he added, “I’ll send you to Silvercrest. No one will ever be able to reach you there.”
His face was pale, but the flicker of obsession in his eyes sent a wave of nausea through
her.
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her.
Sat, 15 Mar
And in that instant, she knew–if she didn’t find a way out, he might really kill her.
As if sensing her fear, Landon suddenly smiled. It was a soft, almost tender smile.
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“I love you, Zara. I love you so much.” His voice dropped to a whisper as if he was trying to soothe a frightened child. “If you don’t want kids, we won’t have them. If you hate Cassidy,
I’ll make her disappear. It’ll be like nothing ever changed between us hate Cassidy.
okay?”
Just like befor
