Chapter 157
“The flower-growing estates are just behind the market,” Julian explained, pointing toward the distant fields.
“Most of these are harvested and sold directly, so they’re incredibly fresh. They’re used for perfumes, essential oils, gifts—you name it p>
Lexi’s thoughts immediately drifted to Sebastian.
He had come to Paris to expand the Blackwoods’ fragrance operation.
To produce perfume on a large scale, the Blackwoods needed their own flower-growing estates.
But Frank controlled most of the available land.
If Sebastian wanted permanent access, he’d have to negotiate with Frank sooner or later.
Lexi sighed inwardly.
Why was she still thinking about him?
Of all times.
She shook her head, determined to push Sebastian out of her thoughts.
Julian suddenly picked up a small wild daisy.
He gently tucked it beside Lexi’s ear.
For a fleeting moment, the gesture reminded her of Sebastian placing flowers in her hair at the Blackwood estate.
“Julian p>
Lexi smiled awkwardly and reached up to remove it.
Julian stopped her with a soft laugh.
“Don’t you like it p>
He studied her expression.
“Should I find another one p>
There was such genuine warmth in his eyes that Lexi couldn’t bring herself to refuse him outright.
So she let him choose.
One flower became another.
Then another.
For the next two hours, flowers of different colors and varieties kept appearing in her hair.
Eventually, they loaded everything they’d purchased into the trunk.
Julian wiped the sweat from his forehead and checked his watch.
“It’ll be dinner soon p>
He turned toward Lexi.
“You and Stephanie went through quite a scare today p>
His expression softened.
“As your boss, I think I owe you both a proper dinner. I’ll cook tonight p>
He smiled.
“We can stop by the market on the way home and pick up some ingredients p>
Lexi looked at him.
A long time ago, she’d wanted to taste Julian’s cooking.
But after he’d returned from Paris, there had been one crisis after another.
Arguments.
Cold wars.
Danger.
There had never been enough peace for them to simply enjoy being together.
Maybe this was their chance to make up for some of the time they’d lost.
Julian drove them to a local market.
They walked side by side through the crowded aisles, looking here and there while absorbing the warmth and noise of ordinary life.
After choosing several ingredients, Julian decided to make fish soup.
It took them a long time to find the right fish.
Eventually, they chose a large, plump one.
Unfortunately, the fish had no intention of cooperating.
The moment the vendor lifted it from the tank, it thrashed wildly and splashed water all over Lexi’s face.
She stood there, completely drenched and utterly stunned.
Julian couldn’t help laughing.
But after enjoying her misfortune for a few seconds, he quickly pulled out a tissue and gently wiped the water from her cheeks.
The shopkeeper watched them with a huge grin.
“What a loving young couple p>
His English was clumsy, but understandable.
Lexi immediately took the tissue from Julian.
“You’ve got it wrong. We’re not married p>
The shopkeeper simply laughed and continued scaling the fish.
“He’s speaking too quickly,” Julian said with a chuckle. “They can’t understand you p>
He reached up naturally and brushed a strand of messy hair away from Lexi’s forehead.
There was a trace of affection in his voice.
Lexi looked at him awkwardly.
Julian then turned to the shopkeeper and spoke fluent French.
The shopkeeper burst into laughter.
Before they left, he even gave them a few extra things.
Lexi couldn’t help wondering whether Julian had actually explained their relationship.
When people had mistaken her and Sebastian for a couple, she’d usually felt helpless about correcting them.
There was no point explaining something people had already decided to believe.
But when this shopkeeper assumed she and Julian were together, she immediately rushed to correct him.
Why?
It wasn’t like her.
Once upon a time, she might have secretly been delighted by such a misunderstanding.
Now, all she felt was discomfort.
“If I had never come to France p>
Julian’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“If I had never met Simone, what do you think our lives would look like now p>
He turned toward Lexi as they walked.
Lexi pressed her lips together and smiled.
“Probably exactly like they are now. What else would be different p>
There were no what-ifs in Lexi’s world.
She had always been too rational to waste time imagining a life that never happened.
Besides, she could feel the scales inside her heart slowly tipping toward Sebastian.
She thought about him everywhere she went.
It was almost as though someone had put a spell on her.
Julian gave a quiet smile.
He reached over and gently ruffled her hair, hiding the disappointment and conflict in his eyes.
Being able to spend time with her like this was already enough.
He couldn’t ask for more.
Julian’s home in Paris was the same old house he’d once rented with Isabella.
When they broke up, Simone had taken all her belongings with her.
She’d been afraid that seeing her things would make it harder for Julian to move on.
But she didn’t understand.
Her presence wasn’t contained in objects.
It lived in the walls.
In the rooms.
In the routines they’d shared.
In the memories.
Those things followed him everywhere.
There was no simply forgetting them.
By the time they arrived, the moon had already risen above the treetops.
“Let’s go inside. Stephanie will be here soon p>
Julian unloaded everything from the trunk, pulled out his keys, and unlocked the old, heavy wooden gate.
As soon as he and Lexi stepped into the courtyard, the motion-activated lights flickered on one by one.
They glowed like stars scattered across the night.
The warm light softened everything around them.
A cobblestone path led toward the house, winding beneath thick grapevines.
It was the height of summer.
Through the lush green leaves, clusters of ripe purple grapes could be seen hanging heavily from the vines.
Ivy covered the walls of the house, its broad green leaves shining beneath the lights.
The property wasn’t in the heart of the city.
It was quiet here.
Peaceful.
Every now and then, the sound of insects and frogs drifted through the night.
It felt almost like stepping into the countryside.
Because Simone had left and Julian rarely stayed here anymore, the house contained only the basic necessities.
Nothing extravagant.
Nothing excessive.
Just enough to live.
A large oil painting hung on the living-room wall.
Lexi stood before it for a long time, studying the strange shapes and colors.
She couldn’t figure out what she was looking at.
“Lexi, here p>
Julian came from the kitchen with a can of soda and handed it to her.
She accepted it without taking her eyes from the painting.
“Julian, what is this supposed to be p>
Julian stood beside her.
“It’s a bird of paradise p>
He paused.
“Some people also call it the footless bird p>
Lexi looked at him curiously.
“According to the legend, it’s an incredibly stubborn creature. Because it has no feet, it spends its entire life flying p>
His gaze settled on the painting.
“The only thing that can make it stop is death p>
His voice grew quieter.
“It’s a little like the way we loved when we were young p>
His eyes darkened with old memories.
“Completely reckless. Willing to throw ourselves into anything for love p>
He gave a faint, sorrowful smile.
“Only to discover, in the end, that we’d been flying straight into the flames p>
His voice carried a deep, almost haunting sadness.
For a moment, he wasn’t looking at the painting anymore.
He was looking at the past.
At Paris.
At Simone.
At the love they’d once had—and lost.
Lexi finally understood.
No matter how much time had passed…
Julian still hadn’t truly let Simone go.