I Stopped Fighting for Love, and Love Finally Fought for Me novel Chapter 8

He suddenly shifted the topic. "But, Julian, you and Quinn actually got married. Legally, she's your official wife. What about Willow...?"

Julian fell silent for a moment.

Then he said coolly, "As long as she doesn't cause a scene, I won't mistreat her. She still needs me to cover her grandmother's medical bills."

He paused. "And Quinn... she's generous. She won't actually hold a grudge against her."

Lucas patted Julian's shoulder. "If you ask me, Julian, in our circle, who doesn't have a few side pieces? You marry for alliances and power, and you keep the rest on the side. When they stop being fun, you toss them out."

"But you, you're stressing over how to 'settle' her. Being too soft-hearted is just... a hassle."

Julian didn't reply.

He still decided to have his assistant go out before dawn to queue at that old street shop, buy a Signature Scone, and bring it to the hospital to see her.

He needed to coax her and explain things properly.

After all, he had never truly considered discarding her; they shared too many beautiful memories.

Besides, if he threw her away.

She would lose all hope of surviving.

...

Willow rested for a while before pulling out her phone to scroll through her photo album.

There were pictures of a little girl with round cheeks and big eyes, smiling like a tiny sunflower.

It was her daughter.

They had met her at the orphanage during Willow's second year with Julian.

Maya had only been one year old then. She was quiet and didn't fuss, but when she looked at you, it felt like she was looking straight into your soul.

Perhaps because Willow was an orphan herself, she instantly wanted to bring the girl home.

But back then, she and Julian didn't meet the adoption requirements.

In the end, the child was officially "adopted" under the name of Julian's older sister.

"It's just on paper, Willow."

Julian had promised. "We'll still raise her, and once we get married, we'll transfer the custody immediately."

For the past two years, Willow had been the one to rock her to sleep and watch over her when she was sick.

Even though they weren't blood-related, strangely enough, Maya grew to look more and more like her.