Leaving You Bereft (Willow and Julian) novel Chapter 291

Esther's face was wet with tears when she finished reading the journal entry. Her sorrow couldn't affect a man who'd lost his memories, though.

Julian couldn't see, and he couldn't remember anything. He lived in his own world, which didn't even have day and night. All he knew was that he had Noah by his side.

The surface of the lake rippled, and the water lapped against the bank. For once, Julian couldn't sleep. He sat up in the darkness and said, "Noah."

Noah immediately sat up. "Is your heart racing? Do you need water?"

Julian shook his head. "Did something fall into the water? I keep hearing it lapping against the bank, and it's all I can hear. Can you help me out there so I can see it?"

He couldn't see anything, but he still wanted to take a stroll. Otherwise, he couldn't be at peace.

Noah tried to satisfy him wherever possible, so he helped Julian out of bed and straightened his clothes. He also wrapped a windbreaker around Julian's shoulders.

They embarked on a journey in the darkness. Noah held a flashlight with one hand while supporting Julian with the other. They slowly made their way to the lake.

Students were having a bonfire party there, and the flames tinged the sky crimson. They sang campfire songs, and the melody moved one's heart.

Julian listened to them for a while. Then, he and Noah forged ahead, finally stopping by the lake.

Noah said, "There are lights in the distance, and they make a beautiful sight. The students from earlier are also playing with sparklers. It's nice to be young, isn't it?"

Julian stood by the lake. His black windbreaker ruffled in the breeze, and his handsome appearance attracted the female students. They watched him curiously, finding him familiar. They felt like they'd seen him somewhere before.

He turned to the side as he listened to the water, his gaze unfocused.

Noah didn't know what he was thinking or what was going on in his world. He seemed to have calmly accepted his story drawing to a close like this.

He'd never been the type to resign himself to fate like this. He'd used his life to buy some time so he could pave the path for Willow and the children.

Noah figured Julian probably didn't regret anything. If he had the chance for a do-over, he would likely choose to walk the same path…

Noah was single. He'd spent his life serving the Ziegler family; he didn't have family or a wife. He couldn't understand the passion and love Julian felt.

…

Willow was discharged from the hospital after ten days. The Ziegler family sent a car to pick her up. Surprisingly, the car was empty save for the driver and Dexter.

When Dexter saw her in the ward, he said, "Uncle Liam, Aunt Melanie, my parents, and the kids are waiting for us at home. Julian's also arranged for a lawyer to meet us there. He probably has something important to announce."

Willow stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows with Evelyn in her arms. The leaves had turned yellow outside. She looked down at Evelyn and drank in the features that looked so much like Julian's. She asked softly, "Is he still alive?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about him." Dexter became slightly choked up.

Melanie tried not to cry. "Let's just hear what he has to say."

Zachary couldn't help lamenting fate when he saw Willow again. If someone had told him a few years back that a woman who wasn't a Ziegler would take over a billion-dollar company like Nebula Group, he would never have believed it.

Yet now, that was precisely what was happening. Nebula Group was in for a huge change!

He politely asked Willow to sit at the head of the table. Then, he asked the rest of the Zieglers to take their seats. He handed out copies of the document he'd prepared before conveying Julian's wishes.

"There are two parts to this document, and I'll start with the main part. It concerns Mr. Julian Ziegler's allocation of his shares in Nebula Group. He has authorized me to transfer 30% of the company's shares to Ms. Willow Harper with no conditions attached.

"With this transfer, Ms. Harper will hold 40% of Nebula Group's shares, making her its largest shareholder. This grants her sole decision-making authority."

He continued, "The second part is Mr. Julian's will. If he has yet to return to Brindley in three years, all of his movable and immovable assets will be jointly inherited by Ms. Harper and their three children.

"His shares in a media company under his name have already been transferred to Ms. Gabriella Harper. The remaining assets and properties—valued at over 20 billion dollars—will be inherited by Ms. Evelyn Ziegler. Finally, this villa has already been transferred to Ms. Harper's name."

All of this information clearly pointed to one thing—Landon would take over Nebula Group in the future. Of course, if Willow felt otherwise, her wishes would take priority. She could even turn Nebula Group into her company if she wanted.

Silence descended upon the room. The Zieglers weren't surprised by Julian's arrangements—they'd all guessed this and had no objection.

Willow looked at the document and said dully, "Julian is only 35. Why does he already have a will? Where is he? Is he sick?"