Willow had been busy ever since she had returned to her hometown, dealing with the issues in her fashion house. She finally resolved all the problems and decided to have fun tonight. She went to a bar, where she used to go often.
As soon as she stepped into the lively, crowded atmosphere, all the tension seemed to melt away. The pulsating beat of the music, the clinking of glasses, and the heady scent of alcohol filled the air, washing over her like a wave of freedom.
She strode confidently toward the counter, her spirits high, and flashed the bartender a dazzling smile. "One scotch please." Her voice was a little louder than usual. Her bright smile was attractive and didn’t fail to lure others.
The man beside her turned, his eyes dark and sharp as they trailed over her with interest. "You like scotch too," he remarked, his deep voice cutting through the noise.
Willow turned to him, and for a brief moment, her breath hitched. His piercing brown eyes locked onto hers, holding her captive in their intensity. Her heart gave an unexpected leap.
’He is so handsome,’ her mind whispered.
She blinked, shutting her mind down. "Yes," she said, flashing a smile. "Every time I come here, that’s what I order."
"You mean you frequent here," he noted, his gaze pinning her in her place as he sipped his drink.
Willow nodded, taking in the vibrant energy of the bar. "I come here often. The vibe is great. It makes me feel like I am not alone in the world, you know?"
"Alone, you say! Are you lonely?" he smirked.
She shrugged, raising her own glass and taking a sip. "Kind of. Ever since my mom passed, it’s been... different. I have my brother and his wife—they’re great. They live in the neighboring city. I’m thinking about moving there soon."
"The neighboring city," he mumbled, his expression thoughtful.
"By the way, I’m Willow—Willow Taylor," she introduced herself, extending her hand with a bright smile.
The man’s lips curved into an inviting smile as he took her hand. "I’m Philip Walton."
Willow’s expression froze, her smile disappearing. "You – like the great Waltons!"
The name was synonymous with wealth and influence; she had heard so much about this family and had always been intrigued by the enigmatic heir.
"You are the heir to the Waltons!" she exclaimed, her heart racing. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Philip smiled, pulling his hand back. "You seem quite interested in my family."
Willow felt a rush of embarrassment flood her cheeks. "Uh... I’m just curious," she said, laughing awkwardly. "I never expected to meet you in person. You are here for work," she speculated.
"I am," Philip confirmed, finishing the last sip of his drink. "I’ll be attending an auction tomorrow evening at the city hall. Would you like to join me?"
Her heart skipped a beat at the invitation. "Of course! I’d love to," she replied enthusiastically.
"That’s great!" Philip beamed, handing her his business card. "This is my card. Feel free to reach out anytime."
He settled the bill and stood up, preparing to leave. "It was nice talking to you, Miss Willow." His gaze lingered on her a moment longer, an intensity in his eyes that made her pulse quicken. "My assistant will contact you tomorrow."
Willow felt captivated by his charm, the magnetic pull between them undeniable. She found herself wishing for just a little more time. "Are you leaving so soon? How about we share one more drink?"
"I have an important meeting tomorrow morning," he said.
"Just one more drink—I insist," she urged, a playful smile tugging at her lips. The night felt electric, and she wasn’t ready for it to end just yet. The allure of Philip Walton was too compelling to let slip away so soon.
Philip smirked, a teasing smirk playing on his lips as he studied Willow’s reaction. He could clearly see how drawn she was to him. And, truthfully, he found her beauty irresistible. He wanted to uncover more about this captivating woman.
Leaning in, he whispered in her ear, "I have a better plan. Why don’t you come with me? We can have a lot more fun." His finger brushed softly along the back of her hand, igniting a spark of electricity between them.
His touch sent tingles down her spine.
Willow felt a rush of warmth spread across her cheeks. The thrill of being in such a bold situation left her both nervous and exhilarated. Losing her V-card to such a handsome man didn’t seem bad. Besides, he was not an ordinary man. He was the heir to the Walton family.
"Okay," she murmured.
Philip’s grin widened, clearly pleased with her response. He took her hand in his, leading her out of the bar.
They soon arrived at the hotel. The door to his suite slammed shut behind them, and in an instant, he pressed her against the wall, capturing her lips with the fervor that took her breath away. His kiss grew fiercer with each passing second.
Willow was nervous. She wanted to savor the moment, to take things slow, but Philip’s urgency was overwhelming. His hands traveled down her back, pulling her closer. As his fingers deftly unzipped her dress, she felt both excited and a little apprehensive. His touch was rough and incessant.
"Philip!" she murmured, her breathing erratic. "Can you please slow down a bit?" Her voice shook as she spoke.
"Why?" He pulled back slightly and glanced at her with surprise. "What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
Willow’s heart sank when he saw the disappointment in his eyes. She shook her head instantly. "I-I am...nervous," she stuttered. "It’s my first – first time."
"What the fuck?" Philip exclaimed, stepping back as if struck by a sudden realization. His disbelief was palpable as he took in Willow from head to toe, his expression morphing into one of shock. "What do you mean by the first time? Are you a virgin?"
His expression and question made her embarrassed. It was as if he didn’t appreciate her being a virgin.
Under his scrutinizing gaze, her nervousness escalated. For years, her career and her mother’s illness had consumed her life, leaving no room for dating or casual flings. But tonight, with Philip, things were different. Something had changed in her, and she wanted to enjoy this moment. But his question made her wary.
"Yes," she replied. "Is there a problem?"
"No, of course not," he quickly reassured her, though uncertainty lingered in his tone. He scratched his brow, trying to gather his thoughts. "I just didn’t expect it. I thought..." His eyes narrowed as he assessed her, wondering why she was willing to lose her virginity to him. But whatever the reason was, he didn’t want to dwell on it.
He was already attracted to her and wanted her in his bed.
"I don’t know why you are willing to sleep with me," Philip murmured huskily. "But it’s too late now. I can’t let you slip away."
Before she could respond, he surged forward, pulling her toward the bed and pressing her down beneath him. Their gazes locked, their breaths mingling.
"You are beautiful, Willow," he whispered, his fingers gently caressing her face. At that moment, he leaned down and kissed her, his lips soft and tender against hers. "I’ll be gentle. Have faith in me."
Willow felt vulnerable yet safe in Philip’s arms as if nothing else mattered in that instant. She melted into the warmth radiating from him as he kissed her again, igniting a fire deep within her.
Her mind raced with uncertainty, knowing this was a boundary she had never crossed, yet her body seemed to respond instinctively, drawn to the heat between them.
Philip’s hands were gentle, almost reverent, as they moved along her body, and Willow could sense he knew—he could feel her hesitancy. His touch reassured her, making her feel cherished as they intertwined, letting passion take its course.
At the hospital...
Bella was finally moved to the ward, and Theodore came to see her. His eyes fell on Bella, lying still on the hospital bed, her face pale and fragile. A sharp pang of guilt twisted in his chest. He sat down on the chair beside her, taking her hand in his.
"I am sorry, Bella," he whispered an apology, gently tracing his thumb over her cool skin. He swallowed hard with emotion. "I’ve neglected you... I let you suffer all alone. But no more. You don’t deserve any of this."
He leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to her hand, his eyes growing wet. It hurt him to see her like this. "Things aren’t going our way, Bella," he continued softly, his voice breaking. "Grandpa is sick, and Claudia is all set to destroy this family. I can’t let her succeed in her plan."
His gaze moved to her face, peaceful and unaware in her sleep. He wished he could keep her close, protect her from all the chaos swirling around them. But he knew he couldn’t—not now.
"I am sorry, I have to let you go." His heart wrenched as he said it. "But I promise, I’ll come back for you. I’ll fix everything, and then I’ll make it right. You can hate me, curse me...just give me some time."
He bent forward, pressing his trembling lips to her hand once more. "Just don’t get close to Zack. I can’t bear that. Wait for me, Bella. I’ll make up to you later." His heart ached, torn between his love for her and the decision he felt forced to make.
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